Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cc37ca77-9049-4a9b-bd84-e2697b06db4e
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
18While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–22 ESV)
In the Gospels, Jesus Christ called various people to follow Him. Among the many followers, the twelve disciples were the famous ones.
Throughout the ages, around the world, so many individuals claimed to be the followers of Jesus Christ. On the one hand, numerous folks who are serious about the Christian faith and thought they are Christians, but sadly they don’t have a living relationship with the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, there are so many so-called followers of Jesus, but they simply don’t care about Jesus at all; they are simply cultural or nominal Christians.
How can a person be sure of himself or herself is a follower of Jesus?
Does baptism matter?
Different Christian denominations have various modes of baptism. Some believers are baptised by sprinkling. Others are baptised by pouring. Most evangelicals are baptised by immersion. It does not matter what mode you were baptised, or how many times you were baptised, you cannot prove yourself to be a Christian.
Does church attendance matter?
It does not matter how many years you have attended church service, you cannot prove yourself to be a Christian.
How about serving the church?
It does not matter how many hours you serve your church community in a week, you cannot prove yourself to be a Christian.
The born again experience is the starting point of the spiritual journey of a Christian. When a person fully commits oneself to following Jesus Christ, one will experience the second birth.
Following Jesus is not just a physical action, but it involves your mind, emotion and heart.
Although Daniel is an Old Testament believer, his character and actions have demonstrated that he is a genuine follower of Yahweh.
Daniel has gone through a series of tests, proving that he is a true follower of God.
If you have the Bible, please turn with me to Daniel 1:3–8.
3Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,
4youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
5The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.
6Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.
7And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
8But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. (Daniel 1:3–8 ESV)
Based on the first chapter of Daniel, there are four principles which relate to the spiritual formation of believers. Moreover, these principles can also be used to test the genuineness of a Christian. These are the four tests that we can examine ourselves whether we are Christians or not.
Let me sum it up with the acronym of TEST.
The first T stands for “Trust”, that is to say, Christians should trust in their Lord and Saviour in things big and small.
The E represents “Endurance”. As spiritual growth is a lifelong development, we need to have endurance.
S symbolises “Standpoint”. As followers of Christ, we must have the proper standpoints or viewpoints on life issues.
Finally, the last T stands for “Torment”. Torment is another word for suffering. As Christians, we all have sufferings in our walk with Jesus Christ, and we should depend on the Lord to go through these torments in our lives.
All Christians have to face all kinds of spiritual tests. Likewise, Daniel and his three friends first faced the test of trusting God. The second one was the test of endurance. The third one was the test of having a biblical standpoint. The fourth one was the test of withstanding torment.
- The Test of Trusting God (Daniel 1:8–15)
Among the four tests, the first one is the test of trusting God. Please refer to the passage of Daniel 1:8–15.
8But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
9And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,
10and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”
11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. (Daniel 1:8–15 ESV)
Facing the Test to His Faith
When Judah fell to the Babylonians, some of the influential Jews were being taken as captives. Among the numerous Jews, Daniel and his three friends were sent to Babylon.
The Babylonian king ordered the chief eunuch to feed Daniel and his friends with the food and wine served in the royal palace. Strangely, Daniel denied consuming the king’s food and drink in the palace. The reason was simple because the Babylonians would occasionally offer portions of their drink and food to their pagan gods. As for the Jews, they considered the food and drink offered to pagan gods as idol worship. The pious Jews straightly followed the diet that was ordered by God.
Although Daniel and his friends were still very young, they were determined to keep themselves clean. Please pay attention to one thing. It was the Babylonian king who gave this order. For those who refused to obey this order could lead to fatal consequence. Daniel and his Jewish friends knew the consequence but saw the king’s order was a test to their faith in God. They had the determination to trust in God.
My Spiritual Journal
In 2015, I spent time reading and typing up my handwritten journal that I wrote thirty years ago. Consequently, I could reflect on the things that God had done in me, for me and through me.
In the past, I had led some children to Christ and one of them came from a fisherman’s family. After receiving Jesus Christ as his Saviour, this young lad read the Bible and prayed on a regular basis. Most fishermen in Hong Kong are very superstitious, and they worship Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea. The Festival of Tin Hau is a big event to Hong Kong fishermen. This young believer told me that on the Festival of Tin Hau, his mother commanded him to worship this idol, but he refused, and told his mother he did not believe in such an idol. As a result, his mother slapped his face a few times. I was touched by the courage of this young Christian.
In the same year, I led a Muslim kid to Christ. Leaving the Muslim faith for Christ was a serious offence and disgrace to the Islamic families. Although this child came from a Muslim family, his newfound faith in Christ was very strong. As a young believer, he had the desire of leading his family to Christ. Like Daniel, these two young Christians had to face the test to their newfound faith. I am glad that they trusted in God wholeheartedly.
Your Test
As Christians, we all have to face some sort of a test to our faith. Are you ready for these tests? Do you trust in God wholeheartedly or do you trust in Him half-heartedly?
The Principle of Determination
Daniel and his three friends requested to eat only vegetables and drank water at mealtime, but he chief eunuch was afraid that they would become weak. Moreover, he scared he would lose his life because the king commanded him to take care of these youths. However, Daniel and his friends were very determined to keep themselves clean. The first principle that we can draw from this passage is the determination to trust in God.
The Determination to Trust in God
Daniel and his three friends consumed vegetables and water instead of the royal drink and food for ten long days. This was an unusual action, indicating they trusted God instead of the earthly food supply. Amazingly, they were strong and healthy after this period of ten days. They trusted in God wholeheartedly.
How about us? If you call yourself a Christian, do you trust in God in things large and small?
Let me ask you a few questions: If you are still single and want to get married in the future, do you trust God will bring you the person when the time is right? If you are looking for a new job, do you trust God will provide the right job?
If you regard yourself as a Christian, trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is the first step.
If we want to grow to be more like Christ, we must learn how to trust in Him in things large and small. Trust in God relates to the spiritual formation of Christians.
- The Test of Endurance (Daniel 1:21)
The second test is the test of endurance. Daniel 1:21 speaks about this point.
21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus. (Daniel 1:21 ESV)
The Teenaged Daniel
How old was Daniel when he was sent to Babylon? Most Bible scholars reckoned Daniel was only 16 years old.
The Elderly Daniel
How long did Daniel live in the land of captivity? According to many Bible scholars, Daniel lived in the foreign place of Babylon until he died as an old man of eighty-five years old. For almost seventy long years, Daniel served various kings. As a believer of the one and only one true God, Daniel endured the test of time.
Fervent as New Believers
Generally speaking, most Christians lived fervently for Christ as new believers. However, some believers started off as lukewarm followers of Christ, and that’s tragic. Let’s blame their pastors! Ha ha!
Need Endurance for Our Spiritual Journey
It is easier to start off as fervent Christians as new believers than to be passionate followers as veteran Christians. Like the famous saying says, “The good seaman is known in bad weather.” How true!
My Embarrassment
When I was a young believer in Christ, a fellow believer came to talk to me. He told me that he hadn’t seen a person who loved the Lord like me before. I was a bit embarrassed because I always thought I hadn’t loved the Lord enough. If I loved the Lord very much when I was a young believer, but how about now? As a mature Christian, loving the Lord and glorifying Him in all things is still a huge challenge to me.
Our Hurdles
If we want to grow in Christ, we must jump over a lot of hurdles. When you are a student, you have to allocate your time well. Do you still do your devotion and go to church during examination? These are the questions that you have to ask yourself all the time. As you work for a living, you must make well use of your resources. Apart from working, would you set aside your time, your money and your energy to serving God? We all need to have companions and soul mates. Before you start dating, would you pray for a godly boyfriend or girlfriend? When you are married and have kids, would you put God first, instead of your spouse and children?
All followers of Jesus Christ need to have endurance.
My Testimony
As a pastor for many years, I must testify to you is that it’s hard to have the endurance for our spiritual journey. If we want to complete our spiritual journey on earth well, the endurance to love God and depend on His grace is a must.
- The Test of Having a Standpoint
The third test to see if we are genuine Christians is the test of having a standpoint. Living in this world with no moral absolutes is never easy. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must live according to His teachings.
Royal Academy
If you like, the chief eunuch could be seen as the principal of the Babylonian royal academy. As the king wanted to immerse the Jewish teenagers in Babylonian culture, he wanted them to learn astrology, mathematics, write and speak the official language. The programme lasted for three years like a modern-day university course.
Name Change
Moreover, the Babylonians changed the names of these Jewish teenagers. The meaning of Daniel is “my judge is God”. After the name change, Daniel becomes Belteshazzar, which means “may Nebo (Bel or Marduk) protect his life”. Hananiah means “Yahweh has been gracious”, becomes “Shadrach”, which means “the command of Aku” (the Sumerian moon god). Mishael means “who is what God is”, becomes Meshach, that is, “who is what Aku is”. Azariah, which means “Yahweh has helped”, becomes Abednego, meaning “servant of Nego” or “Nebo/Marduk”. As you know, the Babylonians worshipped and glorified their gods. The Babylonians wanted to infuse their culture into these young Jews.
Proper Standpoint
As Christians, we should have the proper attitude or outlook on cultural issues. Daniel and his three friends had to face pagan cultural issues but they derived their standpoints from God.
Cultural Shock
Definitely, Daniel and his three friends had to face cultural shock. According to a scholar, there are four stages of cultural shock. Due to the restriction of time, I won’t go into it.
American Culture
As Canadians, we are affected by the American way of life. The American entertainment and sports greatly influence Canadians.
Canadian Culture
According to my understanding, in its broadest sense, Canadian culture is a mixture of British, French, and American influences. The question I have to ask you is that “Do you have the proper standpoints in cultural issues?”
Family-centred Culture
Many North Americans put their families first. Some say it is a family-centred culture. Many churchgoers, leaders and even pastors are influenced by such belief as well. It is a good thing that we all should treasure our family members. A pastor says he doesn’t like to have ministry meetings on Saturdays because it is his family day. I am not saying family-centred culture is bad or good, but it is just a way of life in North America.
Church-centred Culture
Some mature Christians embrace another culture, which I call church-centred culture. It simply means their existence revolve around their local church. In a simple sentence, they live only for their local church. In a simple sentence, they put church first in everything.
Christ-centred Culture
After all these years of ministry, let me tell you, family-centred culture is good, and church-centred culture is great as well, but most importantly, we should cultivate a Christ-centred culture in our own church community.
- The Test of Withstanding Torment (Daniel 1:1–2)
The final test to our Christian faith is the test of withstanding torment. Nobody likes torment, but as Christians, we can grow in spiritual maturity in the midst of our sufferings.
Let’s refer to Daniel 1:1.
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. (Daniel 1:1–2 ESV)
Losing and Leaving His Homeland
The Bible text spoke plainly that the Jews lost their homeland to the barbaric foreigners. Although the Bible passage didn’t say explicitly, one thing we can be sure of is that the Jews were devastated by the loss of their country. As teenagers, Daniel and his three friends were brought to a foreign land of hostility. As you can see, their pain must be very great.
CBC
To those who are born in Canada, you claim Canada as your homeland, and you don’t have the experience of pain of leaving your homeland for another country.
Rice Cooker
Rice cooker is a must for most Asian families. I am not a great fan of rice, but when I was a student in England, I missed Chinese cuisine and rice; and because of that, I bought a rice cooker when I went to Hong Kong on holiday. Leaving home is a challenge to many people.
Daniel’s Loss
Losing your country is a pain. Losing your identity is a pain. Losing the choice of your food is a pain. As a teenager, Daniel lost his homeland. The Babylonians forced Daniel to change his name, meaning losing his identity. Daniel was ordered to consume the royal drink and food. Losing the freedom to drink and eat what you like is painful.
My Experience of Pain
I suffered from asthma when I was a child. As a child, I loved to attend wedding banquet or any kind of banquet, meaning I could savour delicious food. Once my whole family was invited to a banquet. As my parents sat with other guests, my siblings and I had to sit somewhere else. Somehow the guests of my table found out that I was suffering from asthma. According to the old Chinese belief, asthma sufferers have to abstain from eating some food. And because of that, I had a lousy evening. My distant relatives who were sitting with me forbade me from eating a lot of dishes. I know why now because they could have my share of delicious food that night. Ha ha! As you can see, losing the choice of your food is a pain.
Burning and Shining
In the midst of suffering, can believers shine for Jesus? Let me quote the famous saying of Viktor Frankl. The Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist said, “What is to give light must endure the burning.” Oftentimes, Christians are burning in pain, but when we can endure the scorching fire. As a result, we can shine for Jesus.
Christians Growing in Pain
Let me ask you a question, “Can Christians grow in pain? Yes or no?” When children learn how to walk, they stumble for a hundred times before they can walk; thus hurting themselves is a process. Before they can walk successfully, they have to endure pain. Can you see hurting is a part of growing? If you want to grow in spiritual maturity, we must have the determination to face suffering.
Conclusion
Daniel and his three friends faced difficult challenges as young believers in Yahweh. Daniel one speaks of four features of spiritual formation. Moreover, we can use these principles to test our Christian faith.
If we want to deepen our relationship with God, there are four elements you have to bear in mind. First, the determination to trust in God is crucial in our spiritual formation. Second, the factor of time plays a key role in spiritual formation, thus we need endurance. Third, in the midst of pagan culture, we need to have the biblical standpoint to stand firm in our faith. Lastly, there are pains and sufferings in our spiritual walks, thus we need God’s grace to endure torments in our lives.
If you claim to be a Christian, have you passed the above four tests to your Christian faith? Jesus Christ calls us to follow Him. Let’s commit ourselves fully to follow His footsteps.
Kenneth Thumb Ministry 譚約珥事工 