Power, Love and Self-discipline: On Learning Daniel 1:1-6, Isaiah 1:17 and 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 2 Timothy 1 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

This story takes place in difficult circumstances The people of Israel are captive In a foreign land Foreign language Foreign culture Fear looms

Daniel 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.

But even in tough times… Certain people have an advantage What you know Who you know

the royal family and the nobility 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in 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.

The king is looking for people who know and want to know more “Healthy” Good appearance “Knowers of knowledge” Informed Able to understand Serving in “strength” / “power”

These young men Who had learned Who were deemed teachable Were to be fed the best foods Trained for three years Because the king wanted nothing but the best

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 these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Why were there young men chosen? Train the trainable Teach those who already know Those who know how to study Those who want to know more

Parable of the talents The more you have… The better you manage it… More will entrusted to you

Learning and studying is a basic Christian tenant Bible Teach Worship

Acts 8 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Isaiah 1 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

We also live in a world In an economy In a particular time When education is important In 605 BC

In this world we live… It is important to be educated To want to know To be curious To want to learn To know how to study

We live in a time in which… we need to be educated About our faith and our values What we believe in In a trade or skill A specialty or degree Be prepared

Ephesians 4 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…