Don't Mess It Up! - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

Watch this Special Graduation Message here:

Don’t Mess It Up!

Daniel 1:8

Intro: When I read Daniel 1, I see many of you High School graduates.

There are so many similarities.

Just like you, these young people…

A. Were Talented – vs. 4 …and skilful in all wisdom,

You have talents and abilities that are unbelievable!

I have seen your projects for Fine Arts.

I have heard you play instruments.

I have heard you sing in the choirs and ensembles.

You are skillful!

B. Were Taught – vs. 4 …and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science,

You have had access to a level of education that most children in the world can only dream about.

You’ve had a safe environment and teachers that were committed to helping you learn.

You’ve had parents that sacrificed for you to be here.

You understand science!

C. Were Trained – vs. 4 …such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace,…

I have watched you perform your speeches and skits.

I’ve watched you stand and talk about spiritual things.

I have watched you go soulwinning and witness of Jesus.

You have been trained to stand before people and have something to say.

D. Were Targeted – vs. 4 …whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

You have been taught, but now you have another group that is just dying to teach you!

They’ve got a whole world of things they want to expose you to.

Bro. Ridgardo’s message in chapel last week – there are some things that God never wanted you to know!

They want you to think like them; reason like them, interpret world events like them.

They want to teach you how to do the opposite of what you’ve learned, and their tongue and language.

E. Were Tempted – vs. 5 …king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine…

They had everything you can imagine placed before them to entice their flesh.

F. But they were NOT Tainted – vs. 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured…

BUT – AS OF RIGHT NOW, TO GOD BE THE GLORY,

God’s desire is for the people of God to one day be presented…

·        Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Vs. 8 – DEFILE: to pollute; to stain; to desecrate

Daniel realized that he had a good thing going, and NOBODY COULD MESS IT UP BUT HIMSELF!

He purposed in his heart NOT TO MESS IT UP!

I. Don’t Mess Up the chance to be a LEADER. - vs. 8-12

The verse is clear – Daniel purposed in HIS heart, that HE would not defile HIMSELF.

But notice – three of his friends jumped on board with that commitment.

Because Daniel was a leader in his youth group, God let him become a leader of kings and presidents and princes.

Promoted by Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2:46-49

Promoted by Darius - Daniel 6

·        1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

·        2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

·        3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

II. Don’t Mess Up the chance for more LEARNING.

·        17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

They already had learning, but they didn’t mess up the chance for God to give them SPECIAL learning.

God has so much more to teach you, IF YOU DON’T MESS IT UP!

III. Don’t Mess Up the chance to be LOOKED UP TO.

·        18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

·        19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

·        20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

IV. Don’t Mess Up the chance for LONGEVITY.

·        21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel served under 4 kings – Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus.

The godly are like a TREE – PLANTED BY THE RIVER OF WATERS, not the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Conclusion: (hold up my high school graduation tassel). I showed it to Zane this morning, and he asked me, “Were your school colors BROWN???? I told him, “NO! They were burgundy and white. But this tassel has changed colors; faded over the years. But I pray that I have not changed. I pray that I have not faded. I didn’t want to mess it up when I graduated from Trinity Christian School in Conyers, Georgia 33 years ago. You can pray that same prayer tonight – Lord, please DON’T LET ME MESS IT UP!!