Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: Can We All Just Get Along?

Where and How it Begins

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2024-07-20

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver examines Daniel 1:8 to show that spiritual growth and obedience require a deliberate purpose, practical preparation, and faithful performance. He challenges believers to move beyond mediocrity by setting spiritual goals and taking concrete steps to achieve them, using Daniel's refusal to defile himself as the model.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bibles today. Let's see here. Did you guess yet? All right. Daniel chapter one. Daniel chapter one. We're going to look at verse eight. The title of the message is where and how it begins. where and how it begins. So if you look in Daniel 1 and verse 8, the Bible says, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

[John Weaver] So let me begin by asking a number of questions for you to entertain in your mind. Have you Or let me change this. How much have you accomplished in your life? Are there certain things yet that you desire to accomplish that you have not yet accomplished? Have you tried numerous times and failed? Have you analyzed your failures? Are there some things that you've just simply given up upon that you're no longer even endeavoring to try to accomplish?

[John Weaver] Now, if this is true, in your personal, economic, and vocational life, I would then ask, is it also true in your spiritual life? So think about these questions. Are you doctrinally sound? Are you where you should be as a Christian? Are you competent in the scripture? Can you find any book of the Bible with speed and ease? Are you more satisfied with your progress and sanctification this year than you were last year, are you now more thankful, more grateful, and more appreciative this week than even last week for the Lord's mercy and grace? So this question then would be in light of that, why are we satisfied with mediocrity?

[John Weaver] Why is it that we do not pray, we don't focus, and we don't strive to be more holy, more obedient, and more godly? Why is it that we drift around, sit around, and oftentimes just simply waste our time. We spend so much time on our entertainment. We spend so much time on our relaxation. But we hardly ever spend nearly as much time on our education and on our sanctification.

[John Weaver] We set goals for our financial benefits. We set goals for our vocational benefits. We set goals for our recreational benefits. But we hardly ever set any goals for our spiritual benefits. So have you ever determined in your mind in your heart that you're going to read the scripture more, that you're going to study more, that you're going to pray more? And then the next question would be, have you done it? And a follow up question, if you have not done it, why is it that you have not done it?

[John Weaver] I talked with a friend of mine this past few months. And he's not nearly as old as I am, but he's certainly a grown man. And you got children and grandchildren. And he told me he said, I'm just reading through the Bible first time in my entire life. I thought, wow. So I'm asking these questions in order to demonstrate an answer to them from the Bible. Do you realize that there are only three men in the Bible of which we never ever read anything derogatory? And of course, those three men are Joseph, Job and Daniel. Now, there is another man in the Bible that is named as a man of integrity and a man of honor and a man of prayer. And that's Noah. But yet we do know that Noah got drunk.

[John Weaver] Now, it may have been an accident. I don't know that for a fact, but certainly in the book of Ezekiel, he's classified there as a godly man. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezekiel, holding the book of Daniel. I should say, turn back to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 14, and look, if you would, at verse 14. where God names these three men as being godly men. Ezekiel chapter 14. And notice, if you would, verse 14. God says, though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they should deliver their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord. So he's talking about the wickedness of the land and how wicked the people were. And he says, if these three men were in it, they would just simply deliver their own souls. Now, if you'll skip down to verse 20 in the same passage, he makes it even plainer, for he says, though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, said the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter.

[John Weaver] They shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness. So in this passage, he speaks about Noah, Daniel and Job rather than Joseph, Daniel and Job as well. So we may learn from each of these men, obviously and clearly. In fact, we may learn from other men in the Bible because there are men in the Bible that were men that were evil. There were men that had bad traits. There were godly men that had some bad traits. But what we may learn from them is to not fall into the same sins that they fell into, and not do what they did. But there are also many good godly examples in the Bible, and we're to emulate those individuals as well. Here's a principle, and I want you to look in your Bibles, holding Daniel chapter one, please, but to the book of Matthew chapter 21. So here's a principle that I want to enunciate and make it very clear in the sense that this message is of vital importance in one sense of the word because God demands that you and I learn and profit from his work in the lives of other people.

[John Weaver] So let's look at this in the book of Matthew chapter 21 beginning there in verse 28. So our Lord is talking to the scribes and Pharisees and he says this, but what thinking a certain man had two sons And he came to the first and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. And he answered and said, I will not. But afterwards he repented and went. He came to the second son and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir, and went not. Whether these twain did the will of his father, they sent him the first.

[John Weaver] Jesus said of them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. Now watch the next verse. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him, and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe him. Now note, if you would, He said, John came in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. But the publicans, the tax collectors, the hated individuals and the harlots, they believed him. That is, they repented. They were baptized. They were the ones who were following the teaching of John.

[John Weaver] And then he made this statement. And you when you had seen it, you knew what they were before their profession. And when you had seen it, you did not profit. You did not repent. You did not believe, even though you saw the grace of God in the lives of others. So the truth of the matter is this. We are responsible and our Lord holds us responsible to profit from the work of God in the lives of other people.

[John Weaver] Now, We must see the sin in the lives of other people that we may avoid those sins, but we must also see the righteousness in the lives of other people that we might emulate that righteousness as well. Now, when you consider Daniel, you cannot hardly ever think of Daniel without at the same time thinking of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these young men were taken captive into Babylon, undoubtedly when they were very young men. In fact, most scholars will tell you that probably these young men were from the ages of 12 to 20. In fact, most scholars settle on the ages of 15 to 17. So it's unusual to find such integrity in the lives of young men. It's unusual to find character in the lives of someone that is so young.

[John Weaver] And yet, at the same time, the Bible tells you in Second Timothy, chapter three and verse 15, the Apostle Paul said this concerning Timothy. And from a child, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise and a salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. So even from a child, Timothy knew then the scriptures. So the question that has to be answered, I would think, and the question that remains to be answered would be this.

[John Weaver] How in the world did Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego maintain their character, their integrity, while they were in the carnal world of Babylon, and while they were under the tyranny of Nebuchadnezzar? Now, I want you to stop and think that there's a parallel in this country, because we live now in a very wicked nation. And the world is very carnal. And basically, we're under tyranny in this day and time as well. So how in the world did Daniel and these boys keep themselves pure? And how in the world can we do so in the situation we find ourselves? So I want to give you three thoughts today. First of all, if you'll go back to Daniel one in verse eight, I want you to see Daniel's purpose. Look at this.

[John Weaver] But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now, Daniel purposed in his heart. So what in the world does that mean? Well, first of all, you have to consider the Hebrew word for purpose. It is how we would pronounce it is the word soon.

[John Weaver] And it literally means to set. To a point, direct, establish, determine and fix. So it means that Daniel fix his heart. He directed his heart. He established his heart. He determined in his heart. This word is closely connected to the truth found in Psalm 17 and verse 1. It was there that David said to God, thou hast proved mine heart. Thou hast visited me in the night. Thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing.

[John Weaver] I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. I'm purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. So this teaches us another truth. And that is, it is important to have a purpose in life. Now, if you are a child of God, you do already have a purpose in life. Your purpose, number one, would be to obey God, to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. Your purpose would be to be obedient. Your purpose would be to conform your life to the teaching of His Word, your purpose would be to live as a witness to His grace, mercy, and love. When you stop and think about the unsaved, in one sense of the word, they have no real purpose.

[John Weaver] Now, the only purpose they have is to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of eyes, and pride of life, to do what they want to do, And they find that oftentimes very unsatisfying and very unfulfilling. Although the flesh may be satisfied, there's an emptiness in their life. In fact, you have undoubtedly heard what I have heard so many times. People say who are unsaved, I have no purpose in life.

[John Weaver] It can also be said another way. I have no reason to live. I have no purpose to live. Will you stop and think about that? I've heard people say that. I've even heard professing Christians say, I've had no purpose to live. Well, I know better than that. I mean, I've got all kinds of purposes and reasons that I want to live. I want to continue to preach. I want to continue to teach. I want to continue to honor and glorify God. I told people I don't want to leave Alice. I mean, that's a purpose. I'm just simply saying we have a multitude of purposes.

[John Weaver] Now, the Bible said Daniel purposed in his heart. You will remember, I hope the message that I preached a number of years back on keeping the heart. It was from Proverbs four and verse twenty three, where God says, keep thy heart with all diligence or out of the issues of life.

[John Weaver] Now I'm not going to re-preach that message, but I'm going to remind you of one truth, and that is this. The Hebrew word le'ba or la'ba, however you would want to pronounce it, is translated in our Bibles, mind and understanding and reason over and over and over. Our hearts, according to the Bible, are our minds. Now it is true occasionally, sometimes the word art is used in reference to our affections, but usually it is used in reference to our mind and our understanding. So when you look at Daniel one in verse eight, when it says Daniel purposed in his heart, the word heart there is exactly the same Hebrew word lab or lava, which was used in Proverbs four in verse twenty three. So Daniel purposed in his mind. He purposed in his understanding. In other words, he purposed in his reasonability. So we normally refer to our hearts as our innermost being. So when we talk about our hearts as being our innermost being, it has to be our mind.

[John Weaver] Because not only what the scripture teaches, but when you see someone determined, what does he normally say? My mind is made up. You're not going to change me. My mind is made up. So when we say that, what we're demonstrating is that we have a purpose. We have an understanding, we have a determination that is absolutely strongly and firmly implanted in our minds, and we're not going to be moved from it.

[John Weaver] Now, here's a principle that you and I must grasp in light of this. If you and I are ever going to live a holy, godly life, a sanctified life, a life that is pleasing to God, a life in which our lives are brought in conformity to the Word of God, there must be a purpose. Daniel purposed in his heart. We have to purpose in our heart. In other words, there must be an understanding in our mind. There must be a conviction in our mind.

[John Weaver] And it has to be something that is absolutely unwavering. It is not going to change. It is not going to be tossed back and forth like the waves of the sea. It's not going to be tossed around like the wind blowing a leaf or some other object out on the street. No, no. It's got to be based upon a biblical principle. We have a purpose. We Daniel purpose in his heart. We have to purpose in our hearts as well.

[John Weaver] You have to remember this principles do not die. Principles do not have funerals. And so if we have a purpose that is based upon the word of God, it should never, ever change.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you this question, and I'm going to ask it because I want to show you scripture. Here's my question. Have you ever purpose in your heart? Have you ever purpose in your heart to cleave unto the Lord and to follow him? Now, here's the scripture. I want you to turn old in Daniel chapter one, but turn to the book of Acts and look, if you would, at chapter eleven. And look, if you would, please, at verse twenty three, actually eleven and verse twenty three. Notice, if you would. In fact, let's begin with verse twenty two, so you can see who's involved.

[John Weaver] Then tidings of these things came into the ears of the church, which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, who, when he came and seen the grace of God, was glad.

[John Weaver] Now look at this and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord. with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord. So if you do not wish to be a demis, if you do not wish to forsake the Lord in his ministry, you must have a purpose of heart or a purpose in your mind.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the interesting thing. The word purpose in the Greek here is the word prothesis, which is literally a setting forth. It is placing something in our view. All right, here we go. Pro would be a preposition, which means before or in front of. And actually, thesis is from the Greek word tithami. It would be pro tithami. And the word tithami means to cause to stand. So what does prothesis mean? It means something that is cause to stand, something that is plain view. And here's the interesting thing. This word is used in the New Testament of the showbread. You remember how that bread was baked every day and set forth in full view there in the tabernacles and in the temple as well.

[John Weaver] So this is what he's saying. With purpose of heart, you have to cleave to the Lord. In other words, here is something that you must see, that you must know, that you must recognize. It's something in front of you. It is something that you have purposed. It is something that you've determined is something that you are not going to forget. So the question is, have you purpose in your heart? Daniel purposed in his heart.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make a statement. I'm going to show it to you from scripture. It is insufficient to purpose in your heart. Yes, you must purpose in your heart, but that is just the beginning. If you go back in your Bibles to Daniel chapter one, look at verse eight to begin with. Look at this. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now, God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear, my lord, the king with appointed your meat in your drink.

[John Weaver] For why should he see your faces worse lacking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall you make me to endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Ananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, prove thy servants I beseech thee ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink, Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat. And as I'll see us deal with our servants. So he consented to them in this matter to prove them 10 days. Now, what in the world did Daniel do?

[John Weaver] What did these boys do? They came up and they said. What we would like to do is for you to just give us pulse peas, maybe some other vegetables, but just peas, and we'll drink water. I don't know about you. But if you're from the south, peas happens to be good food, especially black eyed peas and some of the other bees and That's what they're saying. This just gives you give us false. Give us veggies that we will take that and water. We don't want anything else.

[John Weaver] So he said, why in the world should your flesh not be as beautiful and as fair as all these others who's eating this meat? Daniel said, prove us 10 days. Just give us 10 days and look upon us and then just deal with us.

[John Weaver] Now, You've heard the old expression about someone's cooking, it was food fit for a king. And you have heard about people who ate like a king. Those are expressions that we've used. And I guess you've also heard about gout. Gout is often called the rich man's disease, which is a form of arthritis, which is caused by your rates in your body, which form around your joints and are extremely, extremely painful at times. And so Daniel said, Look, we don't want the king's food. We don't want the rich man's food.

[John Weaver] Just give us pulse and just give us water. Now when he said Daniel purpose in his heart that he would not defile himself. The word defile there means he did not want to become polluted or unclean. So here's a good question. Daniel and his friends did not wish to drink the king's wine. But they did drink wine. So why would they not eat or drink the king's wine? Daniel and his friends also ate meat. Why would they refuse to eat the king's meat?

[John Weaver] What in the world is coming off? If you look in your Bibles to the book of Daniel, chapter 10 and verses two and three, Daniel is doing a partial fast. And look what he says. And he's doing a partial fast in order to understand. So in Daniel, chapter 10 and verse two, he said, in those days, I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh or wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all till three whole weeks were fulfilled." So notice he did drink wine, he did eat flesh, but he was not going to drink the king's wine, nor was he going to eat the king's flesh. Why?

[John Weaver] Because the heathen normally dedicated their wine and they normally dedicated their food to their false gods. And Daniel understood this and Daniel knew this.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to read a brief article to you. This article is from the old Puritan John Trapp, and he's going to list five reasons as to why Daniel and his friends would not drink the king's wine or eat the king's meat. And here's what he says. Number one, Because it was often such as were forbidden by the law of God and of course There were certain things that were considered unclean.

[John Weaver] I like the swine I like the the shellfish and all this kind of thing. And undoubtedly, they ate those things. And so Daniel says, no, we're not going to eat that. And then number two, because it was so used as would defile him and his fellows against the word of God for the heathens to the shame of many Christians had their grace before a meal, as it were, consecrating their dishes to their idols before they even tasted them. And of course, he mentions that in Daniel chapter five in verse four. And then, of course, in the New Testament, it's mentioned in First Corinthians chapter eight. Here's the third reason.

[John Weaver] He said they could not do it without offense to their weaker brethren with whom they chose rather to sympathize in their adversity than to live in excess and fullness. Well, that's a good reason as well. And then number four, they well perceived this is a good thought. They well perceived that the king's love and provisions were not single and sincere, but that he meant it for his own profit to assure himself the better of the land of Judah that they might forget their religion.

[John Weaver] In other words, he was not feeding them for their benefit, but for his benefit. And then lastly, they knew the intemperance that in temperance was the mother of many mischiefs, as in Adam, Esau, the ritual, etc. And then he concludes with this. Now listen carefully. He says there's a memorable story that is recorded by William Shikard concerning 11 Jewish doctors whom the heathen king of Burgundy, having in his power, put them to the hard choice, either to eat swine's flesh or to drink wine that had been concentrated to idols or to lie with certain harlots. They chose rather to drink the wine than to do either of the other two. But when they had drunk wine liberally, they were easily drawn to do the other two things also.

[John Weaver] Any one of these five reasons had been a force enough to prevail with Daniel and the other three to forbear. They knew well that the least hair cast to the shadow of barley corn laid on the side of the eye will keep out the light of the sun as well as a mountain. The eye of the soul that will see God must be kept very clear.

[John Weaver] Now, the whole point that I'm trying to make right now is this. If you and I have a purpose, there must be preparations or our purpose is never ever going to be fulfilled. So Daniel purpose in his heart is not going to defile himself. And what he did, he came to the prince of the eunuchs and said, We don't want the king's wine. We don't want the king's meat. We're going to prepare ourselves. And what we're going to do is just eat pulse and drink water. So listen, if I'm going to fast, I have to prepare my body and I have to prepare my mind. And I'm going to fast, I'm going to have to stay away from food. I'm going to stay away from odors and smells that would tempt me away from my purpose. If I purpose that I'm going to study, I must stay away from anything and everything that is going to distract me from my study, and I must have the materials on hand from which I'm going to study.

[John Weaver] In other words, I've got to prepare if I'm going to do this. If I'm going to pray, if I'm going to worship, I have to prepare my mind. I have to say, Lord, help me. I have to do whatever's necessary to tune out any and everything else. My purpose is to avail if there are no preparations in my life. So if I have a purpose, I have to prepare. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezra, Ezra, Nehemiah. Look, if you would, Ezra chapter seven, right after second Chronicles, you have Ezra. Look in Ezra chapter seven and verse 10. Look at what the Bible says concerning Ezra. Look at this, Ezra 7 and verse 10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. So Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. That is, he purposed in his heart. And then he prepared that heart. Not only to seek it, to know it and understand it, but to do it and then to teach it. Now, if you will turn back a few books to First Chronicles, chapter four, First Chronicles, chapter four. And look, if you would please, at verses nine and ten. First Chronicles, chapter four. Look, if you would please, at verse nine.

[John Weaver] Here's a passage you and I really need to. Master. First Chronicle, Chapter four, look at verse nine, and Jabez was more honorable than his brethren and his mother called his name Jabez because I saying because I bear him with sorrow. But look at verse 10. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, O that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it might not grieve me. And God granted him that which he requested. Look at that. He besought God to bless him, to enlarge his coast, that his hand might be upon him, And that God would keep him from evil that it might not grieve him When I read this passage, I think of this lord. I want to be kept from evil That it might not grieve me But i'd also like to be kept from evil that I might not grieve thee So here are men that purpose in their heart now Let me show you something turn if you would write over to second chronicles chapter 12 And

[John Weaver] look, if you would please, for a contrast in verse 14. And this happens to be Rehoboam, who was the son of Solomon. Second Chronicles, chapter 12. Look, if you would please, at verse 14. Second Chronicles 12, verse 14. Let's read just, let's read verse 13. So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. For Rehoboam was one in 40 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 17 years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naaman, Ammonitus. And he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. Wow. He did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. So here's the point. Daniel purposed in his heart, and then he prepared to fulfill that purpose. Many times we purpose in our hearts, but we make no preparations to fulfill our purpose. Without preparations, our purpose fails. Preparations demonstrate the reality of our purpose. Preparations demonstrate the intensity of our purpose. Preparations demonstrate as to whether or not we're going to succeed in our purpose.

[John Weaver] Without preparations, everything fails. Now, I want you to go back to the book of Daniel, and I want you to look at this. Daniel chapter one, we've seen his purpose. We've seen his preparation. Now I want you to see thirdly, his performance. Look at this. Daniel and his friends actually accomplished their purpose. I am sure that each of these boys had the same conviction and the same determination.

[John Weaver] Let me make an obvious deduction here. It is a whole lot easier to fulfill your purpose and prepare to do so If you have friends around you, who have the same purpose, and are making the same preparation, in other words, you can encourage each other, you can help each other. It's just that simple. And you and I are always encouraged when we get around brethren that think the way we think and believe the way we believe and want to perform the way we want to perform as well.

[John Weaver] So Daniel and these young men not only purpose they prepared and because of this they also Performed so if you look in verse 17 look at this As for these four children God gave them knowledge and skill and all learning and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams so God Honored their purpose. He honored their preparation and the Bible says he gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom Well, that's pretty good But hang on it gets better so look in verse 18 Now the end of the days that the king had said that he should bring them in and Then the prince

[John Weaver] of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. Look at this. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, the king inquired of them. He found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all of Israel. Ten times better! Ten times better than all! Blessings always follow obedience.

[John Weaver] If Daniel and these boys were around today and they refused the king's wine, the king's meat, the world would say, that these boys were literally insane for rejecting the king's cuisine. It was the best that Babylon had to offer. Undoubtedly, it was because it was coming from the king and the king always had the best. But the truth of the matter is this. Truth of the matter is this. Whatever Babylon had to offer was not good for these boys, even the best. that Babylon had to offer was not good for them. So we have to learn a very simple truth, and that is this. The world is not our friend. And the best that the world can give us is not for our good. There's a hymn.

[John Weaver] Am I a soldier of the cross? A follower of the lamb? There's a stanza in that hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross? And here it is. Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend of grace to help me unto God? And the answer, of course, is no. The world is not our friend. It's our enemy. It tempts us and it seduces us away from God away from our purpose, away from our preparations to keep us from performing that which God has allowed us to purpose and prepare for.

[John Weaver] And I quoted his name earlier. But you remember what Paul said concerning Tim, concerning Demas in Second Timothy, chapter four and verse 10. Listen now. He said, For Demas hath forsaken me. having loved this present evil world and has departed in this likeness. So the best the world had to offer was not a help for Demas. It was his destruction. So the world does not have anything to give us.

[John Weaver] We will never perform according to our purpose and our preparations if we have a divided or a double heart. That's why the Bible says in James 1 8 that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. We're tossed to and fro, backwards and forwards. So if you and I are going to purpose in our heart, there must be preparation. there must be ultimately performance.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to think with me. I've given you three things today. I've told you about a purpose, preparations and performance. I want you to understand something. These three truths go together. These three truths are integrated truths. You cannot have one without the other two. If you purpose, you must prepare. If you purpose and prepare, you must perform. If you do not prepare, you're not going to perform. And you cannot perform without a purpose and without preparation.

[John Weaver] So Daniel tells us basically why most of us as Christians just drift around. never really accomplish anything, never really reach any spiritual goals, never really master theology or anything, because we have no purpose, we have no preparation, and therefore there is no performance. Period. These three truths must go together.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications. Here is my first one. It's a question. And in light of these truths, I would ask you to answer this question. You don't have to answer it out loud. But I would ask you to answer it in your mind anyhow. Do you really float through the day or float through the week without having a purpose? And without preparing to fulfill that purpose? Do you consciously think when you awaken each morning, I've got a purpose today? I have a purpose this one.

[John Weaver] Yes, I know that we all have duties. We all have responsibilities. Understand that there are things that we want to do. And there are things that must be done. But that's not what I'm talking about. Do you wake up and say I've got a purpose? My purpose today is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. My purpose today is to honor Him. My purpose today is to obey Him. My purpose today is to bring my heart and my life in conformity to His word. My purpose is not to sin against Him. Do you have a purpose each day? Do you have a purpose each week? Do you have a purpose each month? Do you have a purpose for the entire year? If we don't have a purpose, We're not going to prepare. And if we don't prepare, we're not going to perform. Here's my next question. Is your purpose to please God? Is your purpose to abstain from anything and everything that is displeasing to him? Or there would be sin against him? Is it to be, is your purpose to be that you would not grieve him, quench him, or vex him?

[John Weaver] The Bible tells us that we must walk pleasing unto the Lord, but that means we can also walk displeasing unto him as well. So if you've got a purpose that you really want to please the Lord, what are your preparations to do so? How do you prepare your life? But let me give you some answers. Our Lord in his high priesthood prayer in John 17, 17 said this as he was praying for his disciples.

[John Weaver] Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. If we're going to be sanctified through his truth, we must know his truth. We must not only know it, we must be able to apply it and bring our lives in conformity to it. Ha! Most of us in this meeting today are older men and women. But I'm still going to quote Psalm 119, verses 9 through 11. Because it applies to old men and old women just like it does to young men and young women. Here it is. David asked, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? Listen to his answer, by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Ah! Listen to the next verse.

[John Weaver] With my whole heart have I salt thee. That is, I have a purpose. Oh, let me not wander from my commandment. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. Did you hear that? Think about that. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? Any man. How are you going to cleanse your way? By taking heed thereto according thy word. with my whole heart have I sought thee. That's my purpose. What's my preparation? Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. If I've got a purpose, if I've got preparations, I'm going to perform. If I don't have a purpose, if I don't have preparation, I'm not going to perform.

[John Weaver] You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 26 in verse 41? He said, Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Watch and pray. That's right. Watch and pray. A heart that is prayed up and a mind that is filled up with the word of God and taught by the spirit of God. is prepared and will undoubtedly perform and accomplish that for which it purposed and prepared.

[John Weaver] We are not going to live a godly, obedient life without a purpose, without preparation. We will never, ever perform.

[John Weaver] Now, I told you, and I want you to think about this, I told you The title of this message was Where and How It Begins. So I want you to think about this. Where it begins is in our minds. How it begins is what we purpose or determine in our minds. Hang on. Our purpose that begins our minds will either be holy or unholy. It'll either be righteous or unrighteous. It'll either be godly or ungodly. Because I don't care if it's a holy purpose or an unholy purpose, it begins in the mind. And if I'm going to steal from Gary, And I think he's got it. I'm going to steal from him. Guess what? I'm going to be preparing in my mind the way to steal from him and not get caught. You see what I'm trying to tell you?

[John Weaver] It doesn't matter if we're talking about holiness or unholiness, righteousness or unrighteousness, obedience or sin. Everything begins in the mind. And then how we make preparations to fulfill that purpose, which we have determined. Even the ungodly do this without understanding it. But you and I understand it. And so we must have a purpose. We must prepare our hearts and our lives. Especially since we're sinners, we must prepare ourselves so that we can perform in a biblical framework.

[John Weaver] and live a life that's pleasing unto the Lord and glorifying unto him. And we will never do that without purpose, without preparation. Those two are necessary for performance. If we want performance, there must be preparation and there must be purpose. Let's pray. Father, we ask you in the name of Jesus Christ that you would help us, lead us, guide us, direct us, And give us, Lord, your grace and your mercy today. Help us to purpose in our hearts that we had not sinned against thee, that we had not grieved thee or quenched thee or vexed thee in any way whatsoever. Lord, help us to prepare and then help us to perform. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

Where and How it Begins

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	C_SvGYZ3uv4
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: Can We All Just Get Along?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2024-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 082: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 2 — Chapter 43
Source Timed Segments	69

Formatted Transcript

Opening

All right, let's open our Bibles today. Let's see here. Did you guess yet? All right. Daniel chapter one. Daniel chapter one. We're going to look at verse eight. The title of the message is "Where and How It Begins." Where and how it begins. So if you look in Daniel 1 and verse 8, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 1:8

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

Introduction: Questions About Spiritual Progress

Weaver poses reflective questions about personal accomplishments and spiritual growth, highlighting the common satisfaction with mediocrity and lack of spiritual goals.

So let me begin by asking a number of questions for you to entertain in your mind. Have you—or let me change this. How much have you accomplished in your life? Are there certain things yet that you desire to accomplish that you have not yet accomplished? Have you tried numerous times and failed? Have you analyzed your failures? Are there some things that you've just simply given up upon that you're no longer even endeavoring to try to accomplish?

Now, if this is true in your personal, economic, and vocational life, I would then ask, is it also true in your spiritual life? So think about these questions. Are you doctrinally sound? Are you where you should be as a Christian? Are you competent in the scripture? Can you find any book of the Bible with speed and ease? Are you more satisfied with your progress in sanctification this year than you were last year? Are you now more thankful, more grateful, and more appreciative this week than even last week for the Lord's mercy and grace? So this question then would be in light of that, why are we satisfied with mediocrity?

Why is it that we do not pray, we don't focus, and we don't strive to be more holy, more obedient, and more godly? Why is it that we drift around, sit around, and oftentimes just simply waste our time? We spend so much time on our entertainment. We spend so much time on our relaxation. But we hardly ever spend nearly as much time on our education and on our sanctification. We set goals for our financial benefits. We set goals for our vocational benefits. We set goals for our recreational benefits. But we hardly ever set any goals for our spiritual benefits. So have you ever determined in your mind, in your heart, that you're going to read the scripture more, that you're going to study more, that you're going to pray more? And then the next question would be, have you done it? And a follow-up question, if you have not done it, why is it that you have not done it?

The Example of Daniel and Other Godly Men

Daniel is presented as one of three men in Scripture with no recorded derogatory actions, alongside Joseph and Job, and God's commendation of Noah, Daniel, and Job in Ezekiel 14 is noted.

I talked with a friend of mine this past few months. And he's not nearly as old as I am, but he's certainly a grown man. And he's got children and grandchildren. And he told me, he said, "I'm just reading through the Bible for the first time in my entire life." I thought, wow. So I'm asking these questions in order to demonstrate an answer to them from the Bible. Do you realize that there are only three men in the Bible of which we never ever read anything derogatory? And of course, those three men are Joseph, Job, and Daniel. Now, there is another man in the Bible that is named as a man of integrity and a man of honor and a man of prayer. And that's Noah. But yet we do know that Noah got drunk.

Now, it may have been an accident. I don't know that for a fact, but certainly in the book of Ezekiel, he's classified there as a godly man. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezekiel, holding the book of Daniel. I should say, turn back to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 14, and look, if you would, at verse 14, where God names these three men as being godly men. Ezekiel chapter 14. And notice, if you would, verse 14. God says,

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:14, 20

"Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord."

So he's talking about the wickedness of the land and how wicked the people were. And he says, if these three men were in it, they would just simply deliver their own souls. Now, if you'll skip down to verse 20 in the same passage, he makes it even plainer, for he says,

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:14, 20

"Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter.

They shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness." So in this passage, he speaks about Noah, Daniel, and Job rather than Joseph, Daniel, and Job as well. So we may learn from each of these men, obviously and clearly. In fact, we may learn from other men in the Bible because there are men in the Bible that were men that were evil. There were men that had bad traits. There were godly men that had some bad traits. But what we may learn from them is to not fall into the same sins that they fell into, and not do what they did. But there are also many good godly examples in the Bible, and we're to emulate those individuals as well. Here's a principle, and I want you to look in your Bibles, holding Daniel chapter one, please, but to the book of Matthew chapter 21. So here's a principle that I want to enunciate and make it very clear in the sense that this message is of vital importance in one sense of the word because God demands that you and I learn and profit from His work in the lives of other people.

The Principle of Profiting from Others' Examples

Using Matthew 21:28-32, Weaver teaches that God holds us responsible to learn from His work in others' lives, both to avoid sin and to emulate righteousness.

So let's look at this in the book of Matthew chapter 21 beginning there in verse 28. So our Lord is talking to the scribes and Pharisees and He says this,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 21:28-32

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.' And he answered and said, 'I will not.' But afterwards he repented and went. He came to the second son and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' and went not. Whether of these twain did the will of his father?"

They said unto him, "The first." Jesus said of them, "Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Now watch the next verse. "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him, and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe him.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 21:28-32

" Now note, if you would, He said, John came in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. But the publicans, the tax collectors, the hated individuals, and the harlots, they believed him. That is, they repented. They were baptized. They were the ones who were following the teaching of John.

And then He made this statement. "And you, when you had seen it," you knew what they were before their profession. "And when you had seen it, you did not profit. You did not repent. You did not believe," even though you saw the grace of God in the lives of others. So the truth of the matter is this. We are responsible and our Lord holds us responsible to profit from the work of God in the lives of other people.

Now, we must see the sin in the lives of other people that we may avoid those sins, but we must also see the righteousness in the lives of other people that we might emulate that righteousness as well. Now, when you consider Daniel, you cannot hardly ever think of Daniel without at the same time thinking of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these young men were taken captive into Babylon, undoubtedly when they were very young men. In fact, most scholars will tell you that probably these young men were from the ages of 12 to 20. In fact, most scholars settle on the ages of 15 to 17. So it's unusual to find such integrity in the lives of young men. It's unusual to find character in the lives of someone that is so young.

Daniel's Purpose: A Determined Mind

Daniel 1:8 is examined, showing that Daniel 'purposed in his heart'—a Hebrew term meaning to fix, establish, and determine—emphasizing the necessity of a firm, unwavering conviction.

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Now, Daniel purposed in his heart. So what in the world does that mean? Well, first of all, you have to consider the Hebrew word for purpose. It is how we would pronounce it—the word "soon." And it literally means to set, to a point, direct, establish, determine, and fix. So it means that Daniel fixed his heart. He directed his heart. He established his heart. He determined in his heart. This word is closely connected to the truth found in Psalm 17 and verse 1. It was there that David said to God, "Thou hast proved mine heart. Thou hast visited me in the night. Thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing.

I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." I'm purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. So this teaches us another truth. And that is, it is important to have a purpose in life. Now, if you are a child of God, you do already have a purpose in life. Your purpose, number one, would be to obey God, to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. Your purpose would be to be obedient. Your purpose would be to conform your life to the teaching of His Word. Your purpose would be to live as a witness to His grace, mercy, and love. When you stop and think about the unsaved, in one sense of the word, they have no real purpose.

Now, the only purpose they have is to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, to do what they want to do. And they find that oftentimes very unsatisfying and very unfulfilling. Although the flesh may be satisfied, there's an emptiness in their life. In fact, you have undoubtedly heard what I have heard so many times. People say who are unsaved, "I have no purpose in life." It can also be said another way. "I have no reason to live. I have no purpose to live." Will you stop and think about that? I've heard people say that. I've even heard professing Christians say, "I've had no purpose to live." Well, I know better than that. I mean, I've got all kinds of purposes and reasons that I want to live. I want to continue to preach. I want to continue to teach. I want to continue to honor and glorify God. I told people I don't want to leave Alice. I mean, that's a purpose. I'm just simply saying we have a multitude of purposes.

Now, the Bible said Daniel purposed in his heart. You will remember, I hope, the message that I preached a number of years back on keeping the heart. It was from Proverbs 4 and verse 23, where God says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Now I'm not going to re-preach that message, but I'm going to remind you of one truth, and that is this. The Hebrew word "leb" or "lab," however you would want to pronounce it, is translated in our Bibles as mind and understanding and reason over and over and over. Our hearts, according to the Bible, are our minds. Now it is true occasionally, sometimes the word "heart" is used in reference to our affections, but usually it is used in reference to our mind and our understanding. So when you look at Daniel 1 in verse 8, when it says Daniel purposed in his heart, the word "heart" there is exactly the same Hebrew word "lab" or "leb," which was used in Proverbs 4 in verse 23. So Daniel purposed in his mind. He purposed in his understanding. In other words, he purposed in his reasonability. So we normally refer to our hearts as our innermost being. So when we talk about our hearts as being our innermost being, it has to be our mind.

Because not only what the scripture teaches, but when you see someone determined, what does he normally say? "My mind is made up. You're not going to change me. My mind is made up." So when we say that, what we're demonstrating is that we have a purpose. We have an understanding, we have a determination that is absolutely strongly and firmly implanted in our minds, and we're not going to be moved from it.

Now, here's a principle that you and I must grasp in light of this. If you and I are ever going to live a holy, godly life, a sanctified life, a life that is pleasing to God, a life in which our lives are brought in conformity to the Word of God, there must be a purpose. Daniel purposed in his heart. We have to purpose in our heart. In other words, there must be an understanding in our mind. There must be a conviction in our mind. And it has to be something that is absolutely unwavering. It is not going to change. It is not going to be tossed back and forth like the waves of the sea. It's not going to be tossed around like the wind blowing a leaf or some other object out on the street. No, no. It's got to be based upon a biblical principle. We have a purpose. We—Daniel purposed in his heart. We have to purpose in our hearts as well.

The Call to Purpose in Our Hearts

Acts 11:23 is cited to show that believers must purpose in their hearts to cleave to the Lord, with the Greek word 'prothesis' illustrating something set plainly before the mind.

"Then tidings of these things came into the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, who, when he came and seen the grace of God, was glad." Now look at this: "And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." With purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. So if you do not wish to be a Demas, if you do not wish to forsake the Lord in His ministry, you must have a purpose of heart or a purpose in your mind.

Now, here's the interesting thing. The word "purpose" in the Greek here is the word "prothesis," which is literally a setting forth. It is placing something in our view. All right, here we go. "Pro" would be a preposition, which means before or in front of. And actually, "thesis" is from the Greek word "tithami." It would be "pro tithami." And the word "tithami" means to cause to stand. So what does "prothesis" mean? It means something that is caused to stand, something that is in plain view. And here's the interesting thing. This word is used in the New Testament of the showbread. You remember how that bread was baked every day and set forth in full view there in the tabernacle and in the temple as well.

So this is what he's saying. With purpose of heart, you have to cleave to the Lord. In other words, here is something that you must see, that you must know, that you must recognize. It's something in front of you. It is something that you have purposed. It is something that you've determined. It is something that you are not going to forget. So the question is, have you purposed in your heart? Daniel purposed in his heart.

Daniel's Preparation: Practical Steps

Daniel's request for pulse and water demonstrates that purpose must be accompanied by preparation; he took concrete action to avoid defilement, recognizing the food was dedicated to idols.

Now, let me make a statement. I'm going to show it to you from scripture. It is insufficient to purpose in your heart. Yes, you must purpose in your heart, but that is just the beginning. If you go back in your Bibles to Daniel chapter one, look at verse eight to begin with. Look at this. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now, God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, 'I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink.

For why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.' Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 'Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat. And as thou seest, deal with thy servants.' So he consented to them in this matter to prove them ten days. Now, what in the world did Daniel do? What did these boys do? They came up and they said, "What we would like to do is for you to just give us pulse—peas, maybe some other vegetables, but just peas—and we'll drink water." I don't know about you, but if you're from the South, peas happen to be good food, especially black-eyed peas and some of the other peas. And that's what they're saying. "Just give us pulse. Give us veggies. We will take that and water. We don't want anything else."

So he said, "Why in the world should your flesh not be as beautiful and as fair as all these others who are eating this meat?" Daniel said, "Prove us ten days. Just give us ten days and look upon us and then just deal with us." Now, you've heard the old expression about someone's cooking, "It was food fit for a king." And you have heard about people who "ate like a king." Those are expressions that we've used. And I guess you've also heard about gout. Gout is often called the rich man's disease, which is a form of arthritis, which is caused by urates in your body, which form around your joints and are extremely, extremely painful at times. And so Daniel said, "Look, we don't want the king's food. We don't want the rich man's food.

Just give us pulse and just give us water." Now when he said Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, the word "defile" there means he did not want to become polluted or unclean. So here's a good question. Daniel and his friends did not wish to drink the king's wine. But they did drink wine. So why would they not eat or drink the king's wine? Daniel and his friends also ate meat. Why would they refuse to eat the king's meat?

What in the world is coming off? If you look in your Bibles to the book of Daniel, chapter 10 and verses 2 and 3, Daniel is doing a partial fast. And look what he says. And he's doing a partial fast in order to understand. So in Daniel, chapter 10 and verse 2, he said,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 10:2-3

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh or wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

So notice he did drink wine, he did eat flesh, but he was not going to drink the king's wine, nor was he going to eat the king's flesh. Why?

Because the heathen normally dedicated their wine and they normally dedicated their food to their false gods. And Daniel understood this and Daniel knew this. Now, I want to read a brief article to you. This article is from the old Puritan John Trapp, and he's going to list five reasons as to why Daniel and his friends would not drink the king's wine or eat the king's meat. And here's what he says. Number one, because it was often such as were forbidden by the law of God. And of course, there were certain things that were considered unclean.

Like the swine, like the shellfish, and all this kind of thing. And undoubtedly, they ate those things. And so Daniel says, "No, we're not going to eat that." And then number two, because it was so used as would defile him and his fellows against the word of God, for the heathens, to the shame of many Christians, had their grace before a meal, as it were, consecrating their dishes to their idols before they even tasted them. And of course, he mentions that in Daniel chapter 5 in verse 4. And then, of course, in the New Testament, it's mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Here's the third reason. He said they could not do it without offense to their weaker brethren, with whom they chose rather to sympathize in their adversity than to live in excess and fullness. Well, that's a good reason as well. And then number four, they well perceived—this is a good thought—they well perceived that the king's love and provisions were not single and sincere, but that he meant it for his own profit, to assure himself the better of the land of Judah, that they might forget their religion.

In other words, he was not feeding them for their benefit, but for his benefit. And then lastly, they knew that intemperance was the mother of many mischiefs, as in Adam, Esau, the rich fool, etc. And then he concludes with this. Now listen carefully. He says there's a memorable story that is recorded by William Shickard concerning eleven Jewish doctors whom the heathen king of Burgundy, having in his power, put them to the hard choice, either to eat swine's flesh or to drink wine that had been consecrated to idols or to lie with certain harlots. They chose rather to drink the wine than to do either of the other two. But when they had drunk wine liberally, they were easily drawn to do the other two things also.

Any one of these five reasons had been force enough to prevail with Daniel and the other three to forbear. They knew well that the least hair cast to the shadow of a barleycorn laid on the side of the eye will keep out the light of the sun as well as a mountain. The eye of the soul that will see God must be kept very clear. Now, the whole point that I'm trying to make right now is this. If you and I have a purpose, there must be preparations or our purpose is never ever going to be fulfilled. So Daniel purposed in his heart he's not going to defile himself. And what he did, he came to the prince of the eunuchs and said, "We don't want the king's wine. We don't want the king's meat. We're going to prepare ourselves. And what we're going to do is just eat pulse and drink water." So listen, if I'm going to fast, I have to prepare my body and I have to prepare my mind. And if I'm going to fast, I'm going to have to stay away from food. I'm going to stay away from odors and smells that would tempt me away from my purpose. If I purpose that I'm going to study, I must stay away from anything and everything that is going to distract me from my study, and I must have the materials on hand from which I'm going to study.

In other words, I've got to prepare if I'm going to do this. If I'm going to pray, if I'm going to worship, I have to prepare my mind. I have to say, "Lord, help me." I have to do whatever's necessary to tune out any and everything else. My purpose is to no avail if there are no preparations in my life. So if I have a purpose, I have to prepare. Let me show you.

Biblical Examples of Preparation

Ezra 7:10 and 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 show men who prepared their hearts to seek God, while 2 Chronicles 12:14 warns that Rehoboam did evil because he did not prepare his heart.

I want you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezra, Ezra, Nehemiah. Look, if you would, Ezra chapter 7, right after 2 Chronicles, you have Ezra. Look in Ezra chapter 7 and verse 10. Look at what the Bible says concerning Ezra. Look at this, Ezra 7 and verse 10.

Scripture Reading — Ezra 7:10

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

So Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. That is, he purposed in his heart. And then he prepared that heart. Not only to seek it, to know it and understand it, but to do it and then to teach it. Now, if you will turn back a few books to 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, 1 Chronicles, chapter 4. And look, if you would please, at verses 9 and 10. 1 Chronicles, chapter 4. Look, if you would please, at verse 9.

Here's a passage you and I really need to master. 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, look at verse 9:

Scripture Reading — 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bare him with sorrow.'"

But look at verse 10.

Scripture Reading — 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it might not grieve me.' And God granted him that which he requested."

Look at that. He besought God to bless him, to enlarge his coast, that His hand might be upon him, and that God would keep him from evil that it might not grieve him. When I read this passage, I think of this:

Scripture Reading — 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"Lord, I want to be kept from evil that it might not grieve me. But I'd also like to be kept from evil that I might not grieve Thee."

So here are men that purposed in their heart. Now let me show you something. Turn, if you would, right over to 2 Chronicles chapter 12, and

look, if you would please, for a contrast in verse 14. And this happens to be Rehoboam, who was the son of Solomon. 2 Chronicles, chapter 12. Look, if you would please, at verse 14. 2 Chronicles 12, verse 14. Let's read just—let's read verse 13.

Scripture Reading — 2 Chronicles 12:14

"So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. For Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord."

Wow. He did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. So here's the point. Daniel purposed in his heart, and then he prepared to fulfill that purpose. Many times we purpose in our hearts, but we make no preparations to fulfill our purpose. Without preparations, our purpose fails. Preparations demonstrate the reality of our purpose. Preparations demonstrate the intensity of our purpose. Preparations demonstrate as to whether or not we're going to succeed in our purpose.

Daniel's Performance: God's Blessing

Because Daniel and his friends purposed and prepared, God gave them knowledge and wisdom, and they were found ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in Babylon.

Let me make an obvious deduction here. It is a whole lot easier to fulfill your purpose and prepare to do so if you have friends around you who have the same purpose and are making the same preparation. In other words, you can encourage each other, you can help each other. It's just that simple. And you and I are always encouraged when we get around brethren that think the way we think and believe the way we believe and want to perform the way we want to perform as well.

So Daniel and these young men not only purposed, they prepared, and because of this they also performed. So if you look in verse 17, look at this. "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." So God honored their purpose. He honored their preparation, and the Bible says He gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. Well, that's pretty good. But hang on, it gets better. So look in verse 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. And the king communed with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. Look at this. "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, the king inquired of them. He found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." Ten times better! Ten times better than all! Blessings always follow obedience.

If Daniel and these boys were around today and they refused the king's wine, the king's meat, the world would say that these boys were literally insane for rejecting the king's cuisine. It was the best that Babylon had to offer. Undoubtedly, it was because it was coming from the king and the king always had the best. But the truth of the matter is this. The truth of the matter is this. Whatever Babylon had to offer was not good for these boys, even the best that Babylon had to offer was not good for them. So we have to learn a very simple truth, and that is this. The world is not our friend. And the best that the world can give us is not for our good. There's a hymn.

"Am I a soldier of the cross? A follower of the Lamb?" There's a stanza in that hymn, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" And here it is. "Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend of grace to help me unto God?" And the answer, of course, is no. The world is not our friend. It's our enemy. It tempts us and it seduces us away from God, away from our purpose, away from our preparations, to keep us from performing that which God has allowed us to purpose and prepare for.

The Integration of Purpose, Preparation, and Performance

These three elements are inseparable; without purpose and preparation, there will be no spiritual performance, explaining why many Christians drift without achieving spiritual goals.

So Daniel tells us basically why most of us as Christians just drift around, never really accomplish anything, never really reach any spiritual goals, never really master theology or anything, because we have no purpose, we have no preparation, and therefore there is no performance. Period. These three truths must go together. Now, let me make some applications. Here is my first one. It's a question. And in light of these truths, I would ask you to answer this question. You don't have to answer it out loud. But I would ask you to answer it in your mind anyhow. Do you really float through the day or float through the week without having a purpose? And without preparing to fulfill that purpose? Do you consciously think when you awaken each morning, "I've got a purpose today. I have a purpose this one."

Application: Living with Daily Purpose

Weaver challenges listeners to wake each day with a conscious purpose to glorify God, and to prepare by hiding God's Word in their hearts, as Psalm 119:9-11 teaches.

Yes, I know that we all have duties. We all have responsibilities. Understand that there are things that we want to do. And there are things that must be done. But that's not what I'm talking about. Do you wake up and say, "I've got a purpose. My purpose today is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. My purpose today is to honor Him. My purpose today is to obey Him. My purpose today is to bring my heart and my life in conformity to His Word. My purpose is not to sin against Him." Do you have a purpose each day? Do you have a purpose each week? Do you have a purpose each month? Do you have a purpose for the entire year? If we don't have a purpose, we're not going to prepare. And if we don't prepare, we're not going to perform. Here's my next question. Is your purpose to please God? Is your purpose to abstain from anything and everything that is displeasing to Him? Or that would be sin against Him? Is your purpose to be that you would not grieve Him, quench Him, or vex Him?

The Bible tells us that we must walk pleasing unto the Lord, but that means we can also walk displeasing unto Him as well. So if you've got a purpose that you really want to please the Lord, what are your preparations to do so? How do you prepare your life? But let me give you some answers. Our Lord in His high priestly prayer in John 17:17 said this as He was praying for His disciples. "Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth." If we're going to be sanctified through His truth, we must know His truth. We must not only know it, we must be able to apply it and bring our lives in conformity to it. Ha! Most of us in this meeting today are older men and women. But I'm still going to quote Psalm 119, verses 9 through 11. Because it applies to old men and old women just like it does to young men and young women. Here it is. David asked, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" Listen to his answer: "By taking heed thereto according to thy word." Ah! Listen to the next verse.

"With my whole heart have I sought thee." That is, I have a purpose. "Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." Did you hear that? Think about that. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" Any man. How are you going to cleanse your way? "By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee." That's my purpose. What's my preparation? "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." If I've got a purpose, if I've got preparations, I'm going to perform. If I don't have a purpose, if I don't have preparation, I'm not going to perform.

Conclusion: Where and How It Begins

Everything begins in the mind; whether holy or unholy, purpose originates there, and preparation determines performance. The sermon closes with prayer for grace to purpose, prepare, and perform.

Now, I told you, and I want you to think about this, I told you the title of this message was "Where and How It Begins." So I want you to think about this. Where it begins is in our minds. How it begins is what we purpose or determine in our minds. Hang on. Our purpose that begins in our minds will either be holy or unholy. It'll either be righteous or unrighteous. It'll either be godly or ungodly. Because I don't care if it's a holy purpose or an unholy purpose, it begins in the mind. And if I'm going to steal from Gary—and I think he's got it—I'm going to steal from him. Guess what? I'm going to be preparing in my mind the way to steal from him and not get caught. You see what I'm trying to tell you?

It doesn't matter if we're talking about holiness or unholiness, righteousness or unrighteousness, obedience or sin. Everything begins in the mind. And then how we make preparations to fulfill that purpose, which we have determined. Even the ungodly do this without understanding it. But you and I understand it. And so we must have a purpose. We must prepare our hearts and our lives. Especially since we're sinners, we must prepare ourselves so that we can perform in a biblical framework

and live a life that's pleasing unto the Lord and glorifying unto Him. And we will never do that without purpose, without preparation. Those two are necessary for performance. If we want performance, there must be preparation and there must be purpose. Let's pray. Father, we ask you in the name of Jesus Christ that you would help us, lead us, guide us, direct us, and give us, Lord, your grace and your mercy today. Help us to purpose in our hearts that we had not sinned against thee, that we had not grieved thee or quenched thee or vexed thee in any way whatsoever. Lord, help us to prepare and then help us to perform. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Necessity of Spiritual Purpose

Summary: A deliberate, fixed determination in the mind is essential for living a holy life; without it, believers drift into mediocrity.

Evidence: Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (Daniel 1:8). The Hebrew word means to set, direct, establish, determine, and fix.

Preparation as the Bridge to Performance

Summary: Purpose alone is insufficient; practical preparations must be made to fulfill spiritual goals, as seen in Daniel's request for pulse and water.

Evidence: Daniel requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself, and proposed a ten-day test with pulse and water (Daniel 1:8-14).

The Integration of Purpose, Preparation, and Performance

Summary: These three elements are inseparable; failure in one leads to failure in all, explaining why many Christians do not grow spiritually.

Evidence: If you purpose, you must prepare. If you purpose and prepare, you must perform. Without preparations, our purpose fails.

Learning from Biblical Examples

Summary: God expects believers to profit from the examples of both righteous and sinful individuals in Scripture, emulating the good and avoiding the bad.

Evidence: Matthew 21:28-32 shows that the Pharisees saw the publicans and harlots repent but did not profit from it; we are responsible to learn from God's work in others.

The World as an Enemy to Grace

Summary: The world's best offerings are not for our good; they tempt and seduce believers away from God, as seen in Demas's love for the present world.

Evidence: Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present evil world (2 Timothy 4:10). The world is not our friend; it's our enemy.

The Mind as the Starting Point of All Action

Summary: Both holy and unholy purposes begin in the mind; therefore, believers must guard their thoughts and set their minds on godly goals.

Evidence: Where it begins is in our minds. How it begins is what we purpose or determine in our minds. Everything begins in the mind.

Key Arguments

Spiritual mediocrity stems from a lack of purpose and preparation.

Summary: Weaver argues that Christians fail to grow because they do not set spiritual goals or make concrete plans to achieve them.

Evidence: Why is it that we do not pray, we don't focus, and we don't strive to be more holy? We hardly ever set any goals for our spiritual benefits.

Daniel's integrity was rooted in a deliberate mental determination.

Summary: The Hebrew word for 'purposed' indicates a fixed, established decision, showing that holiness begins with a resolved mind.

Evidence: Daniel purposed in his heart... The Hebrew word for purpose... literally means to set, to a point, direct, establish, determine, and fix.

Purpose must be followed by practical preparation.

Summary: Daniel did not merely resolve to avoid defilement; he took the concrete step of requesting an alternative diet, demonstrating that preparation is essential.

Evidence: Daniel purposed in his heart... Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Then said Daniel to Melzar... Prove thy servants... ten days.

God honors purposeful preparation with blessing and performance.

Summary: Because Daniel and his friends prepared, God gave them knowledge and wisdom, and they excelled above all others in Babylon.

Evidence: As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom... the king... found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.

The world's best is detrimental to spiritual health.

Summary: The king's food, though the finest in Babylon, was dedicated to idols and would have defiled Daniel; similarly, the world's offerings lead believers away from God.

Evidence: The heathen normally dedicated their wine and they normally dedicated their food to their false gods. The world is not our friend.

Without a prepared heart, evil results.

Summary: Rehoboam's failure to prepare his heart to seek the Lord led to doing evil, illustrating the negative consequence of neglecting preparation.

Evidence: And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14).

Scripture References

Daniel 1:8

Context: The foundational text: Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king's food or wine.

Ezekiel 14:14, 20

Context: God names Noah, Daniel, and Job as righteous men who would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.

Matthew 21:28-32

Context: Jesus teaches that the Pharisees should have profited from seeing the repentance of publicans and harlots.

2 Timothy 3:15

Context: Timothy knew the Holy Scriptures from childhood, showing that young people can have spiritual understanding.

Psalm 17:1

Context: David says he is purposed that his mouth shall not transgress, illustrating a determined heart.

Proverbs 4:23

Context: Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life; the heart is the mind.

Acts 11:23

Context: Barnabas exhorted the believers that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Daniel 10:2-3

Context: Daniel's partial fast shows he normally ate flesh and drank wine, but refused the king's because it was dedicated to idols.

Ezra 7:10

Context: Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach it.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Context: Jabez called on God to bless him, enlarge his coast, and keep him from evil, and God granted his request.

2 Chronicles 12:14

Context: Rehoboam did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

James 1:8

Context: A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, warning against a divided heart.

2 Timothy 4:10

Context: Demas forsook Paul, having loved this present evil world.

John 17:17

Context: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:9-11

Context: A young man cleanses his way by taking heed to God's word; hiding it in the heart prevents sin.

Matthew 26:41

Context: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Historical References

John Trapp, Puritan commentator

Context: Weaver reads an article by John Trapp listing five reasons why Daniel and his friends refused the king's food, including idol dedication and intemperance.

William Shickard's story of eleven Jewish doctors

Context: Trapp recounts a story where Jewish doctors chose to drink idol-consecrated wine and were then drawn into eating swine's flesh and lying with harlots.

Important Quotes

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Significance: This is the central verse of the sermon, establishing Daniel's deliberate determination and the immediate action he took.

And you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe him.

Significance: Used to show that God holds us responsible to profit from seeing His work in others' lives.

And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Significance: Demonstrates the New Testament call to have a determined purpose to follow the Lord.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Significance: Shows the biblical pattern of preparing the heart to fulfill a spiritual purpose.

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

Significance: The negative example of Rehoboam, illustrating the consequence of failing to prepare the heart.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.

Significance: The key preparation for holy living: internalizing God's Word to prevent sin.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'purpose in your heart' in practical terms, and how can you cultivate such a determined mindset?

Context: Based on the definition of the Hebrew word for purpose and the call to have a fixed, unwavering conviction.

Why is purpose alone insufficient for spiritual growth, and what kinds of preparations are necessary?

Context: Daniel not only purposed but also requested an alternative diet; preparation bridges purpose and performance.

How can we identify and resist the 'king's meat' in our own lives—things the world offers that may defile us?

Context: The king's food was dedicated to idols; the world's best is not for our good.

In what ways have you seen the principle of 'purpose, preparation, performance' work in your spiritual life, either positively or negatively?

Context: The integration of these three elements is essential; failure in one leads to failure in all.

What practical steps can you take to 'prepare your heart' daily to seek the Lord, as Ezra did?

Context: Ezra prepared his heart to seek, do, and teach God's law; we need daily preparation.

How does hiding God's Word in your heart serve as a preparation against sin, and what methods have you found effective for Scripture memorization?

Context: Psalm 119:11 is cited as the key preparation: hiding God's Word to avoid sin.

Applications

Set specific spiritual goals.

Summary: Believers should consciously determine to read Scripture more, study more, and pray more, rather than drifting without purpose.

Evidence: We hardly ever set any goals for our spiritual benefits. Have you ever determined in your mind... that you're going to read the scripture more?

Make practical preparations to fulfill spiritual purposes.

Summary: If you purpose to study, remove distractions and have materials ready; if you purpose to fast, prepare your body and mind.

Evidence: If I'm going to fast, I have to prepare my body and I have to prepare my mind... If I purpose that I'm going to study, I must stay away from anything and everything that is going to distract me.

Begin each day with a conscious purpose to glorify God.

Summary: Wake up each morning with the deliberate intention to honor God, obey Him, and conform your life to His Word.

Evidence: Do you wake up and say, 'I've got a purpose. My purpose today is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.'

Hide God's Word in your heart to prevent sin.

Summary: Memorize and meditate on Scripture as a preparation to avoid sinning against God.

Evidence: Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.

Surround yourself with like-minded believers for encouragement.

Summary: It is easier to fulfill your purpose when you have friends who share the same convictions and preparations.

Evidence: It is a whole lot easier to fulfill your purpose and prepare to do so if you have friends around you who have the same purpose and are making the same preparation.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T19:43:01Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T21:29:41Z

Clean Transcript

Where and How it Begins

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles today. Let's see here. Did you guess yet? All right. Daniel chapter one. Daniel chapter one. We're going to look at verse eight. The title of the message is "Where and How It Begins." Where and how it begins. So if you look in Daniel 1 and verse 8, the Bible says, "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."
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So let me begin by asking a number of questions for you to entertain in your mind. Have you—or let me change this. How much have you accomplished in your life? Are there certain things yet that you desire to accomplish that you have not yet accomplished? Have you tried numerous times and failed? Have you analyzed your failures? Are there some things that you've just simply given up upon that you're no longer even endeavoring to try to accomplish?
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Now, if this is true in your personal, economic, and vocational life, I would then ask, is it also true in your spiritual life? So think about these questions. Are you doctrinally sound? Are you where you should be as a Christian? Are you competent in the scripture? Can you find any book of the Bible with speed and ease? Are you more satisfied with your progress in sanctification this year than you were last year? Are you now more thankful, more grateful, and more appreciative this week than even last week for the Lord's mercy and grace? So this question then would be in light of that, why are we satisfied with mediocrity?
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Why is it that we do not pray, we don't focus, and we don't strive to be more holy, more obedient, and more godly? Why is it that we drift around, sit around, and oftentimes just simply waste our time? We spend so much time on our entertainment. We spend so much time on our relaxation. But we hardly ever spend nearly as much time on our education and on our sanctification.
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We set goals for our financial benefits. We set goals for our vocational benefits. We set goals for our recreational benefits. But we hardly ever set any goals for our spiritual benefits. So have you ever determined in your mind, in your heart, that you're going to read the scripture more, that you're going to study more, that you're going to pray more? And then the next question would be, have you done it? And a follow-up question, if you have not done it, why is it that you have not done it?
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I talked with a friend of mine this past few months. And he's not nearly as old as I am, but he's certainly a grown man. And he's got children and grandchildren. And he told me, he said, "I'm just reading through the Bible for the first time in my entire life." I thought, wow. So I'm asking these questions in order to demonstrate an answer to them from the Bible. Do you realize that there are only three men in the Bible of which we never ever read anything derogatory? And of course, those three men are Joseph, Job, and Daniel. Now, there is another man in the Bible that is named as a man of integrity and a man of honor and a man of prayer. And that's Noah. But yet we do know that Noah got drunk.
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Now, it may have been an accident. I don't know that for a fact, but certainly in the book of Ezekiel, he's classified there as a godly man. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezekiel, holding the book of Daniel. I should say, turn back to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 14, and look, if you would, at verse 14, where God names these three men as being godly men. Ezekiel chapter 14. And notice, if you would, verse 14. God says, "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord." So he's talking about the wickedness of the land and how wicked the people were. And he says, if these three men were in it, they would just simply deliver their own souls. Now, if you'll skip down to verse 20 in the same passage, he makes it even plainer, for he says, "Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter.
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They shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness." So in this passage, he speaks about Noah, Daniel, and Job rather than Joseph, Daniel, and Job as well. So we may learn from each of these men, obviously and clearly. In fact, we may learn from other men in the Bible because there are men in the Bible that were men that were evil. There were men that had bad traits. There were godly men that had some bad traits. But what we may learn from them is to not fall into the same sins that they fell into, and not do what they did. But there are also many good godly examples in the Bible, and we're to emulate those individuals as well. Here's a principle, and I want you to look in your Bibles, holding Daniel chapter one, please, but to the book of Matthew chapter 21. So here's a principle that I want to enunciate and make it very clear in the sense that this message is of vital importance in one sense of the word because God demands that you and I learn and profit from His work in the lives of other people.
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So let's look at this in the book of Matthew chapter 21 beginning there in verse 28. So our Lord is talking to the scribes and Pharisees and He says this, "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.' And he answered and said, 'I will not.' But afterwards he repented and went. He came to the second son and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' and went not. Whether of these twain did the will of his father?" They said unto him, "The first."
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Jesus said of them, "Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Now watch the next verse. "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him, and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe him." Now note, if you would, He said, John came in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. But the publicans, the tax collectors, the hated individuals, and the harlots, they believed him. That is, they repented. They were baptized. They were the ones who were following the teaching of John.
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And then He made this statement. "And you, when you had seen it," you knew what they were before their profession. "And when you had seen it, you did not profit. You did not repent. You did not believe," even though you saw the grace of God in the lives of others. So the truth of the matter is this. We are responsible and our Lord holds us responsible to profit from the work of God in the lives of other people.
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Now, we must see the sin in the lives of other people that we may avoid those sins, but we must also see the righteousness in the lives of other people that we might emulate that righteousness as well. Now, when you consider Daniel, you cannot hardly ever think of Daniel without at the same time thinking of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these young men were taken captive into Babylon, undoubtedly when they were very young men. In fact, most scholars will tell you that probably these young men were from the ages of 12 to 20. In fact, most scholars settle on the ages of 15 to 17. So it's unusual to find such integrity in the lives of young men. It's unusual to find character in the lives of someone that is so young.
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And yet, at the same time, the Bible tells you in 2 Timothy, chapter three and verse 15, the Apostle Paul said this concerning Timothy. "And from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus." So even from a child, Timothy knew then the scriptures. So the question that has to be answered, I would think, and the question that remains to be answered would be this.
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How in the world did Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego maintain their character, their integrity, while they were in the carnal world of Babylon, and while they were under the tyranny of Nebuchadnezzar? Now, I want you to stop and think that there's a parallel in this country, because we live now in a very wicked nation. And the world is very carnal. And basically, we're under tyranny in this day and time as well. So how in the world did Daniel and these boys keep themselves pure? And how in the world can we do so in the situation we find ourselves? So I want to give you three thoughts today. First of all, if you'll go back to Daniel 1 in verse 8, I want you to see Daniel's purpose. Look at this.
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"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Now, Daniel purposed in his heart. So what in the world does that mean? Well, first of all, you have to consider the Hebrew word for purpose. It is how we would pronounce it—the word "soon."
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And it literally means to set, to a point, direct, establish, determine, and fix. So it means that Daniel fixed his heart. He directed his heart. He established his heart. He determined in his heart. This word is closely connected to the truth found in Psalm 17 and verse 1. It was there that David said to God, "Thou hast proved mine heart. Thou hast visited me in the night. Thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing.
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I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." I'm purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. So this teaches us another truth. And that is, it is important to have a purpose in life. Now, if you are a child of God, you do already have a purpose in life. Your purpose, number one, would be to obey God, to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. Your purpose would be to be obedient. Your purpose would be to conform your life to the teaching of His Word. Your purpose would be to live as a witness to His grace, mercy, and love. When you stop and think about the unsaved, in one sense of the word, they have no real purpose.
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Now, the only purpose they have is to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, to do what they want to do. And they find that oftentimes very unsatisfying and very unfulfilling. Although the flesh may be satisfied, there's an emptiness in their life. In fact, you have undoubtedly heard what I have heard so many times. People say who are unsaved, "I have no purpose in life."
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It can also be said another way. "I have no reason to live. I have no purpose to live." Will you stop and think about that? I've heard people say that. I've even heard professing Christians say, "I've had no purpose to live." Well, I know better than that. I mean, I've got all kinds of purposes and reasons that I want to live. I want to continue to preach. I want to continue to teach. I want to continue to honor and glorify God. I told people I don't want to leave Alice. I mean, that's a purpose. I'm just simply saying we have a multitude of purposes.
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Now, the Bible said Daniel purposed in his heart. You will remember, I hope, the message that I preached a number of years back on keeping the heart. It was from Proverbs 4 and verse 23, where God says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."
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Now I'm not going to re-preach that message, but I'm going to remind you of one truth, and that is this. The Hebrew word "leb" or "lab," however you would want to pronounce it, is translated in our Bibles as mind and understanding and reason over and over and over. Our hearts, according to the Bible, are our minds. Now it is true occasionally, sometimes the word "heart" is used in reference to our affections, but usually it is used in reference to our mind and our understanding. So when you look at Daniel 1 in verse 8, when it says Daniel purposed in his heart, the word "heart" there is exactly the same Hebrew word "lab" or "leb," which was used in Proverbs 4 in verse 23. So Daniel purposed in his mind. He purposed in his understanding. In other words, he purposed in his reasonability. So we normally refer to our hearts as our innermost being. So when we talk about our hearts as being our innermost being, it has to be our mind.
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Because not only what the scripture teaches, but when you see someone determined, what does he normally say? "My mind is made up. You're not going to change me. My mind is made up." So when we say that, what we're demonstrating is that we have a purpose. We have an understanding, we have a determination that is absolutely strongly and firmly implanted in our minds, and we're not going to be moved from it.
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Now, here's a principle that you and I must grasp in light of this. If you and I are ever going to live a holy, godly life, a sanctified life, a life that is pleasing to God, a life in which our lives are brought in conformity to the Word of God, there must be a purpose. Daniel purposed in his heart. We have to purpose in our heart. In other words, there must be an understanding in our mind. There must be a conviction in our mind.
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And it has to be something that is absolutely unwavering. It is not going to change. It is not going to be tossed back and forth like the waves of the sea. It's not going to be tossed around like the wind blowing a leaf or some other object out on the street. No, no. It's got to be based upon a biblical principle. We have a purpose. We—Daniel purposed in his heart. We have to purpose in our hearts as well.
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You have to remember this: principles do not die. Principles do not have funerals. And so if we have a purpose that is based upon the Word of God, it should never, ever change.
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Now, let me ask you this question, and I'm going to ask it because I want to show you scripture. Here's my question. Have you ever purposed in your heart? Have you ever purposed in your heart to cleave unto the Lord and to follow Him? Now, here's the scripture. I want you to turn—hold in Daniel chapter one, but turn to the book of Acts and look, if you would, at chapter 11. And look, if you would, please, at verse 23, actually 11 and verse 23. Notice, if you would. In fact, let's begin with verse 22, so you can see who's involved.
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"Then tidings of these things came into the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, who, when he came and seen the grace of God, was glad."
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Now look at this: "And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." With purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. So if you do not wish to be a Demas, if you do not wish to forsake the Lord in His ministry, you must have a purpose of heart or a purpose in your mind.
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Now, here's the interesting thing. The word "purpose" in the Greek here is the word "prothesis," which is literally a setting forth. It is placing something in our view. All right, here we go. "Pro" would be a preposition, which means before or in front of. And actually, "thesis" is from the Greek word "tithami." It would be "pro tithami." And the word "tithami" means to cause to stand. So what does "prothesis" mean? It means something that is caused to stand, something that is in plain view. And here's the interesting thing. This word is used in the New Testament of the showbread. You remember how that bread was baked every day and set forth in full view there in the tabernacle and in the temple as well.
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So this is what he's saying. With purpose of heart, you have to cleave to the Lord. In other words, here is something that you must see, that you must know, that you must recognize. It's something in front of you. It is something that you have purposed. It is something that you've determined. It is something that you are not going to forget. So the question is, have you purposed in your heart? Daniel purposed in his heart.
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Now, let me make a statement. I'm going to show it to you from scripture. It is insufficient to purpose in your heart. Yes, you must purpose in your heart, but that is just the beginning. If you go back in your Bibles to Daniel chapter one, look at verse eight to begin with. Look at this. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now, God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, 'I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink.
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For why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.' Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 'Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat. And as thou seest, deal with thy servants.' So he consented to them in this matter to prove them ten days. Now, what in the world did Daniel do?
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What did these boys do? They came up and they said, "What we would like to do is for you to just give us pulse—peas, maybe some other vegetables, but just peas—and we'll drink water." I don't know about you, but if you're from the South, peas happen to be good food, especially black-eyed peas and some of the other peas. And that's what they're saying. "Just give us pulse. Give us veggies. We will take that and water. We don't want anything else."
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So he said, "Why in the world should your flesh not be as beautiful and as fair as all these others who are eating this meat?" Daniel said, "Prove us ten days. Just give us ten days and look upon us and then just deal with us."
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Now, you've heard the old expression about someone's cooking, "It was food fit for a king." And you have heard about people who "ate like a king." Those are expressions that we've used. And I guess you've also heard about gout. Gout is often called the rich man's disease, which is a form of arthritis, which is caused by urates in your body, which form around your joints and are extremely, extremely painful at times. And so Daniel said, "Look, we don't want the king's food. We don't want the rich man's food.
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Just give us pulse and just give us water." Now when he said Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, the word "defile" there means he did not want to become polluted or unclean. So here's a good question. Daniel and his friends did not wish to drink the king's wine. But they did drink wine. So why would they not eat or drink the king's wine? Daniel and his friends also ate meat. Why would they refuse to eat the king's meat?
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What in the world is coming off? If you look in your Bibles to the book of Daniel, chapter 10 and verses 2 and 3, Daniel is doing a partial fast. And look what he says. And he's doing a partial fast in order to understand. So in Daniel, chapter 10 and verse 2, he said, "In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh or wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." So notice he did drink wine, he did eat flesh, but he was not going to drink the king's wine, nor was he going to eat the king's flesh. Why?
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Because the heathen normally dedicated their wine and they normally dedicated their food to their false gods. And Daniel understood this and Daniel knew this.
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Now, I want to read a brief article to you. This article is from the old Puritan John Trapp, and he's going to list five reasons as to why Daniel and his friends would not drink the king's wine or eat the king's meat. And here's what he says. Number one, because it was often such as were forbidden by the law of God. And of course, there were certain things that were considered unclean.
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Like the swine, like the shellfish, and all this kind of thing. And undoubtedly, they ate those things. And so Daniel says, "No, we're not going to eat that." And then number two, because it was so used as would defile him and his fellows against the word of God, for the heathens, to the shame of many Christians, had their grace before a meal, as it were, consecrating their dishes to their idols before they even tasted them. And of course, he mentions that in Daniel chapter 5 in verse 4. And then, of course, in the New Testament, it's mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Here's the third reason.
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He said they could not do it without offense to their weaker brethren, with whom they chose rather to sympathize in their adversity than to live in excess and fullness. Well, that's a good reason as well. And then number four, they well perceived—this is a good thought—they well perceived that the king's love and provisions were not single and sincere, but that he meant it for his own profit, to assure himself the better of the land of Judah, that they might forget their religion.
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In other words, he was not feeding them for their benefit, but for his benefit. And then lastly, they knew that intemperance was the mother of many mischiefs, as in Adam, Esau, the rich fool, etc. And then he concludes with this. Now listen carefully. He says there's a memorable story that is recorded by William Shickard concerning eleven Jewish doctors whom the heathen king of Burgundy, having in his power, put them to the hard choice, either to eat swine's flesh or to drink wine that had been consecrated to idols or to lie with certain harlots. They chose rather to drink the wine than to do either of the other two. But when they had drunk wine liberally, they were easily drawn to do the other two things also.
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Any one of these five reasons had been force enough to prevail with Daniel and the other three to forbear. They knew well that the least hair cast to the shadow of a barleycorn laid on the side of the eye will keep out the light of the sun as well as a mountain. The eye of the soul that will see God must be kept very clear.
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Now, the whole point that I'm trying to make right now is this. If you and I have a purpose, there must be preparations or our purpose is never ever going to be fulfilled. So Daniel purposed in his heart he's not going to defile himself. And what he did, he came to the prince of the eunuchs and said, "We don't want the king's wine. We don't want the king's meat. We're going to prepare ourselves. And what we're going to do is just eat pulse and drink water." So listen, if I'm going to fast, I have to prepare my body and I have to prepare my mind. And if I'm going to fast, I'm going to have to stay away from food. I'm going to stay away from odors and smells that would tempt me away from my purpose. If I purpose that I'm going to study, I must stay away from anything and everything that is going to distract me from my study, and I must have the materials on hand from which I'm going to study.
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In other words, I've got to prepare if I'm going to do this. If I'm going to pray, if I'm going to worship, I have to prepare my mind. I have to say, "Lord, help me." I have to do whatever's necessary to tune out any and everything else. My purpose is to no avail if there are no preparations in my life. So if I have a purpose, I have to prepare. Let me show you.
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I want you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezra, Ezra, Nehemiah. Look, if you would, Ezra chapter 7, right after 2 Chronicles, you have Ezra. Look in Ezra chapter 7 and verse 10. Look at what the Bible says concerning Ezra. Look at this, Ezra 7 and verse 10. "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." So Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. That is, he purposed in his heart. And then he prepared that heart. Not only to seek it, to know it and understand it, but to do it and then to teach it. Now, if you will turn back a few books to 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, 1 Chronicles, chapter 4. And look, if you would please, at verses 9 and 10. 1 Chronicles, chapter 4. Look, if you would please, at verse 9.
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Here's a passage you and I really need to master. 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, look at verse 9: "And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bare him with sorrow.'" But look at verse 10. "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it might not grieve me.' And God granted him that which he requested." Look at that. He besought God to bless him, to enlarge his coast, that His hand might be upon him, and that God would keep him from evil that it might not grieve him. When I read this passage, I think of this: "Lord, I want to be kept from evil that it might not grieve me. But I'd also like to be kept from evil that I might not grieve Thee." So here are men that purposed in their heart. Now let me show you something. Turn, if you would, right over to 2 Chronicles chapter 12, and
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look, if you would please, for a contrast in verse 14. And this happens to be Rehoboam, who was the son of Solomon. 2 Chronicles, chapter 12. Look, if you would please, at verse 14. 2 Chronicles 12, verse 14. Let's read just—let's read verse 13. "So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. For Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord." Wow. He did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. So here's the point. Daniel purposed in his heart, and then he prepared to fulfill that purpose. Many times we purpose in our hearts, but we make no preparations to fulfill our purpose. Without preparations, our purpose fails. Preparations demonstrate the reality of our purpose. Preparations demonstrate the intensity of our purpose. Preparations demonstrate as to whether or not we're going to succeed in our purpose.
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Without preparations, everything fails. Now, I want you to go back to the book of Daniel, and I want you to look at this. Daniel chapter one, we've seen his purpose. We've seen his preparation. Now I want you to see thirdly, his performance. Look at this. Daniel and his friends actually accomplished their purpose. I am sure that each of these boys had the same conviction and the same determination.
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Let me make an obvious deduction here. It is a whole lot easier to fulfill your purpose and prepare to do so if you have friends around you who have the same purpose and are making the same preparation. In other words, you can encourage each other, you can help each other. It's just that simple. And you and I are always encouraged when we get around brethren that think the way we think and believe the way we believe and want to perform the way we want to perform as well.
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So Daniel and these young men not only purposed, they prepared, and because of this they also performed. So if you look in verse 17, look at this. "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." So God honored their purpose. He honored their preparation, and the Bible says He gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. Well, that's pretty good. But hang on, it gets better. So look in verse 18. "Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince
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of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. Look at this. "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, the king inquired of them. He found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." Ten times better! Ten times better than all! Blessings always follow obedience.
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If Daniel and these boys were around today and they refused the king's wine, the king's meat, the world would say that these boys were literally insane for rejecting the king's cuisine. It was the best that Babylon had to offer. Undoubtedly, it was because it was coming from the king and the king always had the best. But the truth of the matter is this. The truth of the matter is this. Whatever Babylon had to offer was not good for these boys, even the best that Babylon had to offer was not good for them. So we have to learn a very simple truth, and that is this. The world is not our friend. And the best that the world can give us is not for our good. There's a hymn.
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"Am I a soldier of the cross? A follower of the Lamb?" There's a stanza in that hymn, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" And here it is. "Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend of grace to help me unto God?" And the answer, of course, is no. The world is not our friend. It's our enemy. It tempts us and it seduces us away from God, away from our purpose, away from our preparations, to keep us from performing that which God has allowed us to purpose and prepare for.
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And I quoted his name earlier. But you remember what Paul said concerning Demas in 2 Timothy, chapter 4 and verse 10. Listen now. He said, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present evil world, and is departed unto Thessalonica." So the best the world had to offer was not a help for Demas. It was his destruction. So the world does not have anything to give us.
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We will never perform according to our purpose and our preparations if we have a divided or a double heart. That's why the Bible says in James 1:8 that a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. We're tossed to and fro, backwards and forwards. So if you and I are going to purpose in our heart, there must be preparation. There must be ultimately performance.
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Now, I want you to think with me. I've given you three things today. I've told you about a purpose, preparations, and performance. I want you to understand something. These three truths go together. These three truths are integrated truths. You cannot have one without the other two. If you purpose, you must prepare. If you purpose and prepare, you must perform. If you do not prepare, you're not going to perform. And you cannot perform without a purpose and without preparation.
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So Daniel tells us basically why most of us as Christians just drift around, never really accomplish anything, never really reach any spiritual goals, never really master theology or anything, because we have no purpose, we have no preparation, and therefore there is no performance. Period. These three truths must go together.
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Now, let me make some applications. Here is my first one. It's a question. And in light of these truths, I would ask you to answer this question. You don't have to answer it out loud. But I would ask you to answer it in your mind anyhow. Do you really float through the day or float through the week without having a purpose? And without preparing to fulfill that purpose? Do you consciously think when you awaken each morning, "I've got a purpose today. I have a purpose this one."
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Yes, I know that we all have duties. We all have responsibilities. Understand that there are things that we want to do. And there are things that must be done. But that's not what I'm talking about. Do you wake up and say, "I've got a purpose. My purpose today is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. My purpose today is to honor Him. My purpose today is to obey Him. My purpose today is to bring my heart and my life in conformity to His Word. My purpose is not to sin against Him." Do you have a purpose each day? Do you have a purpose each week? Do you have a purpose each month? Do you have a purpose for the entire year? If we don't have a purpose, we're not going to prepare. And if we don't prepare, we're not going to perform. Here's my next question. Is your purpose to please God? Is your purpose to abstain from anything and everything that is displeasing to Him? Or that would be sin against Him? Is your purpose to be that you would not grieve Him, quench Him, or vex Him?
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The Bible tells us that we must walk pleasing unto the Lord, but that means we can also walk displeasing unto Him as well. So if you've got a purpose that you really want to please the Lord, what are your preparations to do so? How do you prepare your life? But let me give you some answers. Our Lord in His high priestly prayer in John 17:17 said this as He was praying for His disciples.
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"Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth." If we're going to be sanctified through His truth, we must know His truth. We must not only know it, we must be able to apply it and bring our lives in conformity to it. Ha! Most of us in this meeting today are older men and women. But I'm still going to quote Psalm 119, verses 9 through 11. Because it applies to old men and old women just like it does to young men and young women. Here it is. David asked, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" Listen to his answer: "By taking heed thereto according to thy word." Ah! Listen to the next verse.
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"With my whole heart have I sought thee." That is, I have a purpose. "Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." Did you hear that? Think about that. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" Any man. How are you going to cleanse your way? "By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee." That's my purpose. What's my preparation? "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." If I've got a purpose, if I've got preparations, I'm going to perform. If I don't have a purpose, if I don't have preparation, I'm not going to perform.
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You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 26 in verse 41? He said, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Watch and pray. That's right. Watch and pray. A heart that is prayed up and a mind that is filled up with the Word of God and taught by the Spirit of God is prepared and will undoubtedly perform and accomplish that for which it purposed and prepared.
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We are not going to live a godly, obedient life without a purpose, without preparation. We will never, ever perform.
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Now, I told you, and I want you to think about this, I told you the title of this message was "Where and How It Begins." So I want you to think about this. Where it begins is in our minds. How it begins is what we purpose or determine in our minds. Hang on. Our purpose that begins in our minds will either be holy or unholy. It'll either be righteous or unrighteous. It'll either be godly or ungodly. Because I don't care if it's a holy purpose or an unholy purpose, it begins in the mind. And if I'm going to steal from Gary—and I think he's got it—I'm going to steal from him. Guess what? I'm going to be preparing in my mind the way to steal from him and not get caught. You see what I'm trying to tell you?
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It doesn't matter if we're talking about holiness or unholiness, righteousness or unrighteousness, obedience or sin. Everything begins in the mind. And then how we make preparations to fulfill that purpose, which we have determined. Even the ungodly do this without understanding it. But you and I understand it. And so we must have a purpose. We must prepare our hearts and our lives. Especially since we're sinners, we must prepare ourselves so that we can perform in a biblical framework
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and live a life that's pleasing unto the Lord and glorifying unto Him. And we will never do that without purpose, without preparation. Those two are necessary for performance. If we want performance, there must be preparation and there must be purpose. Let's pray. Father, we ask you in the name of Jesus Christ that you would help us, lead us, guide us, direct us, and give us, Lord, your grace and your mercy today. Help us to purpose in our hearts that we had not sinned against thee, that we had not grieved thee or quenched thee or vexed thee in any way whatsoever. Lord, help us to prepare and then help us to perform. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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so so
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T19:43:01Z

Where and How it Begins

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver examines Daniel 1:8 to show that spiritual growth and obedience require a deliberate purpose, practical preparation, and faithful performance. He challenges believers to move beyond mediocrity by setting spiritual goals and taking concrete steps to achieve them, using Daniel's refusal to defile himself as the model.

Opening

Scripture Reading — Daniel 1:8

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

Introduction: Questions About Spiritual Progress

Weaver poses reflective questions about personal accomplishments and spiritual growth, highlighting the common satisfaction with mediocrity and lack of spiritual goals.

The Example of Daniel and Other Godly Men

Daniel is presented as one of three men in Scripture with no recorded derogatory actions, alongside Joseph and Job, and God's commendation of Noah, Daniel, and Job in Ezekiel 14 is noted.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:14, 20

"Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord."

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:14, 20

"Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter.

The Principle of Profiting from Others' Examples

Using Matthew 21:28-32, Weaver teaches that God holds us responsible to learn from His work in others' lives, both to avoid sin and to emulate righteousness.

So let's look at this in the book of Matthew chapter 21 beginning there in verse 28. So our Lord is talking to the scribes and Pharisees and He says this,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 21:28-32

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.' And he answered and said, 'I will not.' But afterwards he repented and went. He came to the second son and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' and went not. Whether of these twain did the will of his father?"

Scripture Reading — Matthew 21:28-32

" Now note, if you would, He said, John came in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. But the publicans, the tax collectors, the hated individuals, and the harlots, they believed him. That is, they repented. They were baptized. They were the ones who were following the teaching of John.

Daniel's Purpose: A Determined Mind

Daniel 1:8 is examined, showing that Daniel 'purposed in his heart'—a Hebrew term meaning to fix, establish, and determine—emphasizing the necessity of a firm, unwavering conviction.

The Call to Purpose in Our Hearts

Acts 11:23 is cited to show that believers must purpose in their hearts to cleave to the Lord, with the Greek word 'prothesis' illustrating something set plainly before the mind.

Daniel's Preparation: Practical Steps

Daniel's request for pulse and water demonstrates that purpose must be accompanied by preparation; he took concrete action to avoid defilement, recognizing the food was dedicated to idols.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 10:2-3

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh or wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

So notice he did drink wine, he did eat flesh, but he was not going to drink the king's wine, nor was he going to eat the king's flesh. Why?

Biblical Examples of Preparation

Ezra 7:10 and 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 show men who prepared their hearts to seek God, while 2 Chronicles 12:14 warns that Rehoboam did evil because he did not prepare his heart.

Scripture Reading — Ezra 7:10

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

Here's a passage you and I really need to master. 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, look at verse 9:

Scripture Reading — 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bare him with sorrow.'"

But look at verse 10.

Scripture Reading — 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it might not grieve me.' And God granted him that which he requested."

Scripture Reading — 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

"Lord, I want to be kept from evil that it might not grieve me. But I'd also like to be kept from evil that I might not grieve Thee."

So here are men that purposed in their heart. Now let me show you something. Turn, if you would, right over to 2 Chronicles chapter 12, and

Scripture Reading — 2 Chronicles 12:14

"So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. For Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord."

Daniel's Performance: God's Blessing

Because Daniel and his friends purposed and prepared, God gave them knowledge and wisdom, and they were found ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in Babylon.

The Integration of Purpose, Preparation, and Performance

These three elements are inseparable; without purpose and preparation, there will be no spiritual performance, explaining why many Christians drift without achieving spiritual goals.

Application: Living with Daily Purpose

Weaver challenges listeners to wake each day with a conscious purpose to glorify God, and to prepare by hiding God's Word in their hearts, as Psalm 119:9-11 teaches.

Conclusion: Where and How It Begins

Everything begins in the mind; whether holy or unholy, purpose originates there, and preparation determines performance. The sermon closes with prayer for grace to purpose, prepare, and perform.

Where and How it Begins

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	C_SvGYZ3uv4
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: Can We All Just Get Along?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2024-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 082: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 2 — Chapter 43
Source Timed Segments	69

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: Questions About Spiritual Progress: Weaver poses reflective questions about personal accomplishments and spiritual growth, highlighting the common satisfaction with mediocrity and lack of spiritual goals.
The Example of Daniel and Other Godly Men: Daniel is presented as one of three men in Scripture with no recorded derogatory actions, alongside Joseph and Job, and God's commendation of Noah, Daniel, and Job in Ezekiel 14 is noted.
The Principle of Profiting from Others' Examples: Using Matthew 21:28-32, Weaver teaches that God holds us responsible to learn from His work in others' lives, both to avoid sin and to emulate righteousness.
Daniel's Purpose: A Determined Mind: Daniel 1:8 is examined, showing that Daniel 'purposed in his heart'—a Hebrew term meaning to fix, establish, and determine—emphasizing the necessity of a firm, unwavering conviction.
The Call to Purpose in Our Hearts: Acts 11:23 is cited to show that believers must purpose in their hearts to cleave to the Lord, with the Greek word 'prothesis' illustrating something set plainly before the mind.
Daniel's Preparation: Practical Steps: Daniel's request for pulse and water demonstrates that purpose must be accompanied by preparation; he took concrete action to avoid defilement, recognizing the food was dedicated to idols.
Biblical Examples of Preparation: Ezra 7:10 and 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 show men who prepared their hearts to seek God, while 2 Chronicles 12:14 warns that Rehoboam did evil because he did not prepare his heart.
Daniel's Performance: God's Blessing: Because Daniel and his friends purposed and prepared, God gave them knowledge and wisdom, and they were found ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in Babylon.
The Integration of Purpose, Preparation, and Performance: These three elements are inseparable; without purpose and preparation, there will be no spiritual performance, explaining why many Christians drift without achieving spiritual goals.
Application: Living with Daily Purpose: Weaver challenges listeners to wake each day with a conscious purpose to glorify God, and to prepare by hiding God's Word in their hearts, as Psalm 119:9-11 teaches.
Conclusion: Where and How It Begins: Everything begins in the mind; whether holy or unholy, purpose originates there, and preparation determines performance. The sermon closes with prayer for grace to purpose, prepare, and perform.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Spiritual mediocrity stems from a lack of purpose and preparation.

Weaver argues that Christians fail to grow because they do not set spiritual goals or make concrete plans to achieve them.

Why is it that we do not pray, we don't focus, and we don't strive to be more holy? We hardly ever set any goals for our spiritual benefits.

Daniel's integrity was rooted in a deliberate mental determination.

The Hebrew word for 'purposed' indicates a fixed, established decision, showing that holiness begins with a resolved mind.

Daniel purposed in his heart... The Hebrew word for purpose... literally means to set, to a point, direct, establish, determine, and fix.

Purpose must be followed by practical preparation.

Daniel did not merely resolve to avoid defilement; he took the concrete step of requesting an alternative diet, demonstrating that preparation is essential.

Daniel purposed in his heart... Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Then said Daniel to Melzar... Prove thy servants... ten days.

God honors purposeful preparation with blessing and performance.

Because Daniel and his friends prepared, God gave them knowledge and wisdom, and they excelled above all others in Babylon.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom... the king... found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.

The world's best is detrimental to spiritual health.

The king's food, though the finest in Babylon, was dedicated to idols and would have defiled Daniel; similarly, the world's offerings lead believers away from God.

The heathen normally dedicated their wine and they normally dedicated their food to their false gods. The world is not our friend.

Without a prepared heart, evil results.

Rehoboam's failure to prepare his heart to seek the Lord led to doing evil, illustrating the negative consequence of neglecting preparation.

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14).

Scripture References

Daniel 1:8: The foundational text: Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king's food or wine.
Ezekiel 14:14, 20: God names Noah, Daniel, and Job as righteous men who would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.
Matthew 21:28-32: Jesus teaches that the Pharisees should have profited from seeing the repentance of publicans and harlots.
2 Timothy 3:15: Timothy knew the Holy Scriptures from childhood, showing that young people can have spiritual understanding.
Psalm 17:1: David says he is purposed that his mouth shall not transgress, illustrating a determined heart.
Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life; the heart is the mind.
Acts 11:23: Barnabas exhorted the believers that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Daniel 10:2-3: Daniel's partial fast shows he normally ate flesh and drank wine, but refused the king's because it was dedicated to idols.
Ezra 7:10: Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach it.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10: Jabez called on God to bless him, enlarge his coast, and keep him from evil, and God granted his request.
2 Chronicles 12:14: Rehoboam did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.
James 1:8: A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, warning against a divided heart.
2 Timothy 4:10: Demas forsook Paul, having loved this present evil world.
John 17:17: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Psalm 119:9-11: A young man cleanses his way by taking heed to God's word; hiding it in the heart prevents sin.
Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Historical References

John Trapp, Puritan commentator: Weaver reads an article by John Trapp listing five reasons why Daniel and his friends refused the king's food, including idol dedication and intemperance.
William Shickard's story of eleven Jewish doctors: Trapp recounts a story where Jewish doctors chose to drink idol-consecrated wine and were then drawn into eating swine's flesh and lying with harlots.

Important Quotes

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

This is the central verse of the sermon, establishing Daniel's deliberate determination and the immediate action he took.

And you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe him.

Used to show that God holds us responsible to profit from seeing His work in others' lives.

And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Demonstrates the New Testament call to have a determined purpose to follow the Lord.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Shows the biblical pattern of preparing the heart to fulfill a spiritual purpose.

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

The negative example of Rehoboam, illustrating the consequence of failing to prepare the heart.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.

The key preparation for holy living: internalizing God's Word to prevent sin.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does it mean to 'purpose in your heart' in practical terms, and how can you cultivate such a determined mindset?

[Context]

Based on the definition of the Hebrew word for purpose and the call to have a fixed, unwavering conviction.

[Question]

Why is purpose alone insufficient for spiritual growth, and what kinds of preparations are necessary?

[Context]

Daniel not only purposed but also requested an alternative diet; preparation bridges purpose and performance.

[Question]

How can we identify and resist the 'king's meat' in our own lives—things the world offers that may defile us?

[Context]

The king's food was dedicated to idols; the world's best is not for our good.

[Question]

In what ways have you seen the principle of 'purpose, preparation, performance' work in your spiritual life, either positively or negatively?

[Context]

The integration of these three elements is essential; failure in one leads to failure in all.

[Question]

What practical steps can you take to 'prepare your heart' daily to seek the Lord, as Ezra did?

[Context]

Ezra prepared his heart to seek, do, and teach God's law; we need daily preparation.

[Question]

How does hiding God's Word in your heart serve as a preparation against sin, and what methods have you found effective for Scripture memorization?

[Context]

Psalm 119:11 is cited as the key preparation: hiding God's Word to avoid sin.

Applications

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