Countenance

*Recap of Be Inspired Bible Studies Thursday 08th August 2019*

*Anchor:* Sister Leah Adepeju

*Topic:* Countenance

*Text:* Daniel 1:1-21
During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon. ” The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. But he responded, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.
Daniel 1:1-‬21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.1.1-21.NLT

Lord as we go into your word teach us enlighten us do not let us learn unto damnation but to the glorification of your name in Jesus name.
Okay the topic is on Countenance. In our own words what do we understand by the word countenance???
*Sis Bimbo*: Facial expression
*Sis Leah:* Yes sis Bimbo
The scripture above detailed what happened to Daniel and his friends
It was in the 3rd year of the reign of king Jehoiakim, king Nebuchadnezzar declared war against Jerusalem, He specifically gave order that they should gather among their slaves the agile ones
*Bro John*: Could also be a sign of approval

*Sis Leah:* The young and strong looking ones... the message translation says the king told Ashpenaz head of the palace staff to get some Israelites from the royal family and nobility the young men  who looked healthy and handsome, the well-educated and intelligent one with good prospects for leadership positions in the government as perfect specimens.
Hang on a minute how do you choose someone with all the above characteristics and criteria as specified by king Nebuchadnezzar?

*Sis Ohla*: Very difficult task

*Sis Leah:* True I agree yet the king was specific about his choice and as we know the word of the king carry power so the chief of staff better not fail
*Bro John:* He told them to go to house of the royal and the nobles to pick. I think he knows he will be able to get all these qualities from there

*Sis Leah:* I am totally in agreement He knew the Israelites well and knew where those kind of criteria's would be

*Bro Lionel:* You will just have to use your own definition of what you think He wants, all the while hoping to keep your head.

*Sis Leah*: True right intuition. Let us carry on...
Then he later said indoctrinate them in the Babylonian language and lore of magic and fortune-telling. The king them ordered that they be served from the same menu as the royal table, the best food, the finest wine.. After 3 years of training they would be given positions in the king’s court.
Imagine the way he planned what will happened to the person or persons that will be chosen.. 3years of indoctrination. Lord save us from evil platter that is presented as gold and godly platter in Jesus name.
The countenance of those the people requested for matter for them to even be chosen in the first place.

Does it mean it was all the young educated people in the royal and noble homes and palaces of Israel that was chosen. I do not know but I do not think so... So the countenance they carried either draw the messenger of the king to them or chase the messenger of the king away. But that isn't our focus for this evening it is far deeper than that.
Then from verse 6... It says four young me. From Judah Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were omg those that were selected. The head of the palace staff even changed their names
Daniel- Belteshazzar
Hananiah - Shadrach
Mishael - Meschach
Azariah - Abednego
If you have ever read about the slave trade that happened many centuries ago you will see that the slaves lost their names once they were bought. Many of the slaves once transported became a property of their slave master and their original names disappeared.
Many of them came from backgrounds that likes to give names with meaning but once they crossed that ocean of slave trade they cease to exist not to talk of those who lost their lives in transit. So it has been happening since the day of the Bible.

Further down in this passage Daniel vowed not to defile himself by eating the king's food but was ready to be fed with vegetables and water and he approached the chief of staff to request that he only wants vegetables and water
And his 3 friends too followed suit and the chief of staff remember this guy is under strict instructions from the king but guess what, Daniel's countenance wasn't just an ordinary countenance he was a true believer to the core.
So instead of the chief of staff arguing he actually agreed with him and said we will do it for ten day and see if there is any difference between you and those who are eating the varieties🎂☕🍞🥯🥐🥓🥩🍗🍕🥫🍕🌭🍺🍯🍯🍩🌰🍪🍻🥃🍿

Imagine if it were to be our present days the varieties would be so luxurious cause it was a banquet with a royal touch on it but Daniel instead said no, just vegetables🌽🍅🍆 and water will do.
So they were exempted from the royal menu...

Verse 17-19 is the main deal...
God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life. In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding all sorts of vision and dreams. At the end of the time set by the king for training, the head of the royal staff brought them in to Nebuchadnezzar, when the king interviewed them, he found them far superior to all other young men. None were a match for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Verse 19-21 says And so they took their place in the king's service whenever the king consulted them on anything, on books or on life, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom put together, Daniel continued in the king's service until the first year in the reign of king Cyrus Hallelujah
The countenance you carry will determine where you dwell who you dwell with and what you allow to dwell in you.
As a believer what you allow to dwell inside of you regardless of the situation you find yourself matters.

Remember that Daniel and his friends were reputable people in their countries who were taken away through slavery. Into a country they were now subjected to live within the doctrine and ways of that country according to the decree of the king.

But guess what, what singled them out initially was the true knowledge of God inside of them they knew that they might be in a position that seem like it's finally gonna break them but because they know that greater is He that is in them than he that is in the world they were not ready to succumb to that order of the king.

Do you think they wouldn't have been tempted to eat all those food🥯🥯🥐🥐🥞🥨🍞🥯🥒🥖🍗🥒🍙🍘🍨🍡🥟🍱🍢🍚🍣🍘🥠🍘🍱 there was Taco night, pizza night, grill night, beer 🍺 night, etc.
There were delicacies that will make dead appetite wake up, but Daniel and his friend were determined they were so bent on vegetables and water.
They have understanding beyond that of the king they said no let us try this.

The countenance you carry as a true believer should always single you out and not make you blend in
If you find yourself in a place and you easily blend in and that place is far from the will of God you need to check. Your Countenance comes as a result of the spirit of the living God inside of you
The countenance of Christ inside of us will radiate through the suit we wear as our outward appearance which is our body
Some carry the countenance of complain murmuring and groaning.

Imagine being taken to the palace of the greatest monarch of this earth and they say you must eat their food many of us will be tempted in fact the moment some cross over they will accept the change of name.
But did you notice that even though the names were given to them at the end of the chapter they were still referred to as their real name.

What countenance do you carry?
You need to stand right for what you stand for. And what is it you stand for?
That is a question you and I must ask ourselves
We cannot crave the countenance of Christ in and through us if we are blending with all mix. Do you know when you carry the countenance of God the aura around you and the fragrance that follows you is supernatural.
👠👠👠💃💃🕺💃🕺
Some of us are like Sister Leah what is this again?

Some of us are surprised... Yes we are because we are not sure should I drop into the royal banquet or stay with the vegetables and water.
You cannot carry the countenance of Christ and dwell in same place year in year out especially spiritually.
Does it mean that challenges will not rise no but you will definitely overcome.
Look at Daniel and his friend from comfort to discomfort then to supernatural placement and comfort.

Your countenance should not be controlled or ruled by the law of the land by what you see or hear either in the News or whatever.
Your countenance should be controlled by the Holy Spirit inside of you and your body should translate that everywhere.
Honestly we need to get to that stage when they entice you with things that will not bring glory to God you are not fussed about compromising you stand tall because you know what you stand for and what is standing in you.
Your countenance has an aura that is directed by the spirit of God always.

*Let us pray*

Lord almighty we worship your name. Father we thank you for your word we know father that you are the greatest teacher. We believe Lord that we are nothing without you and we trust you always.

Lord we ask that you help us to understand the aura of your countenance produced in and through us in Jesus name.

Father we pray that in your mercy, you break off every compromise we are attached to, that will rub off your divine countenance in Jesus name.

Lord eternal even in situations where it seems unbearable help us to stand for what is true because you only are the way the truth and light in Jesus name.

Lord we pray for many among us struggling to stand with you we ask that you visit us in a special way in Jesus name

Thank you Abba for answered prayers in Jesus mighty name
🙏🙏🙏Amen