Daniel from the Old Testament was a man who served 3 kings from the age of 15 till he was 83. Not only did he survive, but he did exceedingly well in the King’s palace. He was a successful godly man who truly experienced God’s faithfulness in his life.Daniel had a prayer life and he chose to live a consecrated life. He was taught from an early age to live his life for God and never to compromise his godly values or to bow down to other gods Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
We are set apart from the world. There are huge differences between what the world practises and God’s values. For example, the world advocates individualism and no fault divorce but we advocate covenantal marriage till death do us part. The world hates us when we live by Biblical values and principles. It is like a light shining into their lives revealing all the ugliness, immoralities and evil. Jesus warned us that we will be persecuted for righteousness and for believing in His name. This is the only suffering that Christians will face without possibly being delivered because Jesus has warned us about it.
John 15:19-20 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
It is very important to have a prayer life in order to lead a consecrated life to God. When we consecrate our lives to God, the desire to walk in His will and holiness (set apart for God) will emerge. It is a lifelong process. We seek the face of God, rather than the hand of God. This means we ask God with humility how we should live for Him. This kind of prayer life is open to correction, rebuke and training in righteousness.
Living out a consecrated life is challenging for our flesh because our flesh needs to be brought into submission to the spirit. We have to deal with our pride, lack of faith, fear of losing control, uncertainty in God’s goodness etc. But this is not impossible, for we have the Spirit of God living in us. We have to submit to God’s plan and not our own. Jesus lived a consecrated life. Every step of His ministry, He submitted to the Father’s will. We too, should live consecrated lives for we are set apart from this world.
Sermon Series: The Daniels of Today (Part 2)
有别予世界 – 一个分别为圣的生命
旧约中的但以理是一位服侍了三位国王的人，从15岁直到83岁为止。他不但在王宫中存活下来，并且在王宫里做得非常好。他是一位敬虔的成功人士，曾在他生命历程中真正经历过神的信实。
但以理过着祷告的生活，并且他选择过分别为圣的生命。他自小就受教导要为神而活，绝不妥协属神的价值观或跪拜其他的神。出埃及记 20:3 除了我以外，你不可有别的神。
我们是从世界被分别出来的。世界的行为准则与神的价值观有非常大的区别。例如，世界提倡个人主义和离婚无错，但我们倡导婚姻盟约直至死亡将我们分离。当我们按圣经的价值观和准则生活时，世界就恨恶我们。那就像一束光照入他们的生命，揭示所有的丑陋，不道德和邪恶。耶稣警告我们，我们会因为行义和信祂的名而受逼迫。这是基督徒会面对的、唯一没有机会被解救的苦难，因为耶稣已经就它警告过我们。
约翰福音 15:19-20 19你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的；只因你们不属世界，乃是我从世界中拣选了你们，所以世界就恨你们。20 你们要纪念我从前对你们所说的话：‘仆人不能大于主人。’他们若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你们；若遵守了我的话，也要遵守你们的话。
要为神过一个分别为圣的生命，拥有一个祷告的生活至关重要。当我们为神而分别为圣时，我们就会渴慕走在祂的旨意和圣洁中（为神分别出来）。这是一生的过程。我们追求神的面，而不是神的手。这意味着我们谦卑地问神该如何为祂而活。这样的祷告生命对出于公义的纠正、斥责和训练是敞开的。
过一个分别为圣的生活对我们的肉体是具挑战性的，因为我们的肉体需要顺服予圣灵。我们需要对付我们的骄傲，信心不足，害怕失控，对神的良善不确定等。但这并不是不可能的，因我们有神的灵住在我们里面。我们需要服从神的计划，而不是自己的计划。耶稣过了一个分别为圣的生命。在祂每一步的服事，祂都服从天父的旨意。我们也应该过着分别为圣的生活，因为我们是从世界分别出来的。
现今时代的但以理 （第二部分）