Everything But Evangelism
Week 5 - Examples
About the Study...
The idea behind the study is to cover all the aspects of living as a Christian in a non-Christian society other than the actual specific act of Evangelism.

joseph and daniel
both were successful
joseph was the number 2 person (gen 41:40)
daniel was "ruler over the province of babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men" (dan 2:48); then under darius he was one of 3 commissioners over the satraps [governors] and was to be promoted over the rest.
why were they successful?
because :
gen 39:3 because "the lord was with him"
gen 41:39 because "joseph was wise and discerning"
dan 1:4 because daniel was "good looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court.
dan 2:46,47 because daniel revealed the kings dream and worshipped a god of gods and a lord of kings
dan 6:3 because 'daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possesed an extraordinary spirit'
note : both consistently gave all glory to God.
dan 2:27-28 "...there is a god in heaven who reveals mysteries..."
dan 5:17-28 (the speech is very much about the glory of god over the king)
application :
1. do good work
you may not have all the gifts of daniel/joseph, but you can pray for wisdom...james 1:5
recall col 3:22-25 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men"
this is not only an issue of obedience but also of witness/representation.
make sure that terms people would use to describe you would match what could be used of god/christ.
both received persecution for righteousness
- joseph because he refused potiphar's wife's request for adultery (gen 39)
- daniel because the commissioners and satraps were jeaulous of his success (dan 6)
what made people dislike them?
their character that interfered with the desires of others
they didn't get into any trouble when their good deeds didn't impact others; but when they conflicted with the evil of others, they got in trouble - both times because it had personal consequences on others
john 3:19-21 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

application
if you are moral and others aren't, sooner or later you'll make them look bad.
it's worth noting that this is what they were persecuted for...not being annoying, or breaking the rules in other areas, etc...
1. be careful to be moral
2. be ready to suffer for being moral
go read 1 peter...

both were in circumstances they "shouldn't" have been in
- joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, then betrayed by potiphar (wife esp)...then was kind to his family.
- daniel was carried off by a pagan people, and forced to serve them
how did they react?
their reaction (not pouting) enabled them to be effective; they avoided this sin.
whatever situation god puts you in...you can work within.
application
1. by god's grace, you can overcome your circumstances/past
i have little perspective on this; i won't insult those of you who have some past to work against.

summary :
- you can be a powerful representative in your job...
do well - work hard, be wise
be moral -
overcome all things
 
note that neither of these people were priests...
not to diminish full-time christian ministry; it's what i want to do, and it's upheld as worthy of honor.
but normal jobs are a forum for the gospel as well. do them well.