FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

A STANDARD THAT GOD STANDS BY
[Re-Installation of Officers and Rededication of Disciples of Christ]

6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 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

8 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.
Daniel 1:3-8 New Living Translation

This past Sunday was our re-installation of officers and re-dedication of our Disciples of Christ. This message was to place emphasis on not just a standard but a STANDARD THAT GOD STANDS BY. When I did a synonym search on the word standard, it gave me words like: ordinary, average, and normal. However, when I look at God’s standard, I don’t see ordinary, average or normal. God’s standard is one that goes beyond the realm of ordinary and average.

So, this message is to encourage and equip those in the faith community of Deity’s standard that is not just acceptable but exceptional.

• One of the points we made regarding God’s standard is that: IT REQUIRES YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE DEITY IN ME.

We are introduced to Daniel and his 3 friends. We know them to be Shaderack, Meschack and Abendego. However, there God given names were: Hanniaiah, Mishael and Azariah. These names recognized the God in them.

THE DIETY WAS ATTACHED TO THEIR IDENTITY
DANIEL NAME MEANS: GOD IS MY JUDGE
HANNANIAH MEANS: GOD IS GRACIOUS
MISCHAEL MEANS: WHO IS LIKE GOD
AZZARIAH MEANS: GOD WHO HELPS/GOD IS ABLE

The relevance of this is to know whenever the enemy wants to oppress, suppress and depress a group of people; he wants to strip them of their identity that gives them a sense of their history regarding who they are and whose they are. What is interesting is that Daniel’s name was changed to Betleshazzar but the book we are reading is called Daniel. Daniel is the role model for being able to cooperate without compromise. Daniel teaches us that it’s not what people call you but knowing who you are and whose you are is what matters. A standard God stands but is our recognition of Deity that is placed within Humanity.

For example: Paul tells us in Ephesians 3 that, “…HE is able to do an exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ever ask or think; according to the POWER THAT IS WORKING WITHIN US.” There is a power at work that represents the Deity within our Humanity that empowers us to do all things through Christ that strengthens us.

Rev. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor