HONOUR BEGETS HONOUR

“BUT DANIEL PURPOSED IN HIS HEART THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE PORTION OF THE KING'S DELICACIES, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)

“Far be it from Me; FOR THOSE WHO HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR, AND THOSE WHO DESPISE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED.”
1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV)

• When you keep yourself for God, you honour HIM; and because of it, He will honour you in return when you made a request from Him.

• The foundation of Daniel’s success is holiness.
  DANIEL did not defile himself.
• God will honour you if you did honour Him by keeping yourself chaste and pure—undefiled (Ephesians 4:25-32; 5:1-7; 1 Peter 4:1,2).

1. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
2. teaching us that, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE."
   Titus 2:11,12 (NKJV)

• God works with our hearts.

• You cannot deceive Him or outsmart Him.

“Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” and, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.”
2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV)

• Whatever you do is plain or bare before God.
  IF you keep yourself clean, you will receive the reward, and if you defile yourself, the reward is awaiting you as well.
  WHATEVER you SOW, you will reap.

1. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; FOR WHATEVER A MAN SOWS, THAT HE WILL ALSO REAP.
2. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
   Galatians 6:7,8 (NKJV)

• Note:To be a vessel of honour in God’s hand, you must keep yourself pure.

1. “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour.
2. THEREFORE IF ANYONE CLEANSES HIMSELF FROM THE LATTER, HE WILL BE A VESSEL FOR HONOUR, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
   2 Timothy 2:20,21 (NKJV)

• After Daniel and his friends has graduated from the School of Strategic Studies, they were appointed to serve at the King's palace, they were to work alongside with the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 1:18-21).
AFTERWARDS the king had a dream which he was unable to remember when he woke up, and his spirit was troubled about it (Daniel 2:1).
HE wanted the Wise Men in his kingdom to tell him the dream and the interpretation, which none of them could do (Daniel 2:2-11).
THEN King Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be killed, because they were unable to tell him his dream and the interpretation (Daniel 2:12,13).

• Daniel sought the face of God that the dream and the interpretation might be made known to him, and God granted his request.

1. "Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
2. THAT THEY MIGHT SEEK MERCIES FROM THE GOD OF HEAVEN CONCERNING THIS SECRET, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
3. THEN THE SECRET WAS REVEALED TO DANIEL IN A NIGHT VISION. So, Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”
   Daniel 2:17-19 (NKJV)

• Daniel had the faith and courage to go before God that the secret might be made known to him: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in a time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
HE was able to do that because his relationship with God was cordial and intact (Hebrews 4:15,16; 10:21-23).
HE had kept himself for God, had not defiled himself, that is, he had honoured God by keeping himself for Him (Daniel 1:8).
GOD did honour him back, because he kept himself for Him (1 Samuel 2:30).

• If you live your life for God, you keep yourself for Him without defiling yourself, God will honour you back.
  WHEN you needed him at the time of predicament and you called on Him, He will answer you.
  HOWEVER, if you dishonoured Him by defiling yourself, when you needed Him and called on Him He may not answer (Proverbs 1:24-28; Zechariah 7:13,14).

"Therefore, it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, SO THEY CALLED OUT AND I WOULD NOT LISTEN," says the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 7:13 (NKJV)

• Purpose in your heart, like Daniel did, not to defile yourself with sin (Daniel 1:8).

• Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Study God’s Word, meditate or ponder on it, and be a doer of it (Joshua 1:8; James 1:22-25).
• God rewards our commitment and faithfulness, thus be committed and faithful in your God-given vision: "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).
• Seek to know God’s mind on whatever you want to do (Proverbs 3:5,6).

• It is my prayer that you will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!