2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. Daniel 1:18-20(NIV) 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
1. Spirit of Excellence Vs 20 He found them ten times better
Daniel 6:3(NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
“Excellence is your best in progress.”
Ephesians 1:17–19 (NIV) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.
Wisdom & revelation are the Nuts and bolts of the knowledge of God
Daniel 2 Daniel 2:12–13 (NIV) 12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
God reveals the dream to Daniel. Daniel 2:19–28 (NIV) 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” 24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.” 25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” 26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?” 27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…
Daniel reveals the dream to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 2:34-35 (NIV) 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 2:44 (NIV) 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.
2. Wisdom Daniel 2:14 (NIV) Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. Daniel 2:37 (NIV) 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory…
Be Winsome: Wisdom is Winsome. Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NLT) Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
A. Be Understanding. Job 32:8 (NIV) But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
B. Don’t be reactive. Look beyond the urgency of the moment. James 1:19–20 (NLT) 19 You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
C. Don’t be quick to take a side. Proverbs 18:17 (NLT) The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. Bing calculated builds credibility.
D. Don’t die on every hill.
E. Get timing right.
2. Revelation Daniel 1:17 (NIV) Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
Growing in Revelation A. Encounter the Lord B. Spend time with the Lord. C. Meditate on the word. D. Steward, what revelation you have
2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
Selected to serve
Daniel 1:1-7 (NIV) 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Daniel and his friends.
They were labeled, but they never lost their true identity.
They were selected to serve Matthew 5:13–16 (NLT) 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Babylon represents our darkened world and its system. We can influence its kings and not be influenced by its systems.
1. Stand out. Don’t blend in Daniel 1:8 (NIV) Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.
Proverbs 22:29 -23:1-3 (NIV) 22:29 Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, 2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. 3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
2. Stay Educated Pay attention to language. Pay attention to ideaologies.
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NLT) 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
3. Watch your posture If knowledge looks like arrogance, consider it foolishness. If our purpose is serving, our posture is humility.
Daniel 1:8-9 (NIV) ….and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel….
Honor with humility & grace.
Daniel 1:14 (NIV) So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
Esther 1. Honor preparation Esther 2:12 (NIV) 12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.
Honoring preparation is honoring opportunity.
Esther 2:15 (NIV)Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.
Kingdom economics: Faithful over littler=Ruler over much.
Esther 2:17 (NIV) Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 3:8–9 (NIV) 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them …”
2. Honor Heritage & Values
In the book of Esther, God is not mentioned by name but represented by values.
He is present in his people! 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. Ephesians 5:15–17 (NLT) 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.(NKJV- redeeming the time, because the days are evil.)17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
3. Honor Advice Alignment influences assignment. Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Esther 4:14–16 (NIV) 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
4. Honor significance
Honor- Treat it as weighty.
Your significance is found in your segment of God's timeline.
“Doing what is right is risky.”
Luke 22:42 (NIV) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
2 Corinthians 2:14–16 (NLT) 14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.
We carry the fragrance of another.
Infusing the atmosphere 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT) You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. Culture is obsessed with artificial influence. "Just because you are impressive doesn't mean you have influence."
When we speak of leadership, we are speaking of influence. The currency of leadership is respect and relationship.
Joesph -Genesis 37-50
It's one thing to have God's favor; it's another to walk in it.
Favor's Fragrance. Joseph is favored by his father. Genesis 37:3–4 (NIV) 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
1. Favor produces confidence. Honoring others requires confidence. We can only honors others when we feel like we don't need it for ourselves.
Genesis 37:11 (NIV) His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Joseph is sold into slavey. Genesis 39:2–5 (NIV)2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
2. Favor isn't (just)for you. "When we carry God's favor, it is not just to bless but to bring increase the environment we are in."
Genesis 39:6-7 (NIV) Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"
3. Favor is attractive Favor will open doors you should not walkthrough. Favor doesn't mean we won't face difficulties; sometimes it attracts them.
Joseph is thrown into slavey. Genesis 39:20–23 (NIV) But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joseph promoted before Pharaoh Genesis 41:41–43 (NIV) 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
4. Favor grants us access to honor others. Genesis 50:20 (NIV) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Points of honor: 1. Honor the Lord in labor. Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
2. Honor the Lord in purity 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (NIV)18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
