Year of Thrive: The Six Things Babylon Looked For

Sermon outline

Daniel and his friends thrived in a system built to keep them slaves because they met Babylon's six criteria without bowing to its culture, so believers must equip themselves, solve problems and put God first to thrive in the marketplace in 2026.

1. Called according to His purpose

   God has saved us and called us according to His own purpose, and the purpose matters more than the calling, because you can be called and never fulfil it. The purpose is twofold: you are called either to people or to a person. Thriving means to grow vigorously and flourish because of your foundation, despite your circumstances, which is the mandate of Genesis to be fruitful and multiply. God cannot be the omega of your year if He is not its alpha.

   “The purpose is twofold. You're either called to people or to a person.”

   • 2 Timothy 1:9
   • Genesis 1:28

2. Embrace problems, because you are promoted by the problems you solve

   We want a stress-free life, but nobody is remembered for nothing they solved. Joseph, Daniel, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were all elevated by the problems they solved in the middle of chaos. In the workplace nobody is promoted for staying in the same place; you are trusted with more because you understand and solve bigger problems. Saying "I receive" without God's wisdom and practical application leaves you frustrated and passed over, because the men of this world are not foolish.

   Illustration: When he started working he asked the Lord for a company full of nice Christians, and learned that light shines in darkness.

   “Until you solve a problem, brothers and sisters, in 2026, you will not be elevated or be rewarded.”

3. Babylon took the best, changed their names, but not their values

   Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, carried off the temple treasures, and ordered his official to bring young men of royal and noble families into the king's service. Babylon is a type of Satan's kingdom, which does not create talent but takes the best from the church, the musician who leaves to sing for the world or the accountant who leaves. The young men, fifteen to seventeen, were taught a new language and literature and given Babylonian names, Daniel meaning God is my judge renamed after the god of Babylon. They changed their names but never their values, and refused to bow to the system.

   “By changing their identity, never change their values.”

   • Daniel 1:1-7

4. Keys one and two: without defect, and handsome inside and out

   Without physical defect speaks of health, discipline and excellence in personal care, the inside make-up as much as the outside. Handsome is not only outward, because bad character overshadows a beautiful face. We thrive spiritually in church, but most of our time is spent in the marketplace, where our light must shine so that people see our good works and glorify the Father.

   “Decide this year that I'm going to put God first.”

   • Matthew 5:16

5. Key three: an aptitude for every kind of learning

   Satan has never cared how young a child is, from the boys killed in Moses' day to those killed in Jesus' infancy; what he fears is children filled with the Holy Spirit, the Word and vision. Equip your children with skills for the marketplace. Be a student of the Word and of new skills, and do not say you are too old to open a book or go back to college. God does not work by magic but by His principles, and a man without God in business, the marketplace or the family should not be alone.

   “He doesn't work with magic. He works by his principles.”

   • Exodus 1:22
   • Matthew 2:16
   • Genesis 2:18
   • Proverbs 16:3

6. Keys four and five: well informed and quick to understand

   Well informed means a practical knowledge of life, able to apply what they knew and not merely hold information, so decide not to be a lazy Christian: read, pray, study and attend seminars. Quick to understand speaks of discernment and God-given wisdom, the spirits of the Lord available to us by faith. Going back to work, you can complain about the holiday ending or ask God to let you solve problems for your company. Jesus at twelve was already about His Father's business, so there is no excuse for the young to be unequipped.

   Illustration: He prays that when people speak of you this year they will say, go to that brother, he is a master carpenter in his field, because of the excellence of your service.

   “Let me solve some problems for my company this year.”

   • Isaiah 11:2
   • Luke 2:49

7. Key six: qualified to serve in the king's palace

   The king's palace was where decisions were made that change laws and the destiny of nations. There the four young slaves solved the king's problems and rose to the highest offices, and when Daniel came out of the lions' den King Darius decreed that the whole nation honour the God of Daniel. Your placement is never for your own glory but for the people God wants you to touch. Joseph said God sent him ahead to preserve life, and David received the king's reward only after he killed Goliath.

   “In God's kingdom, men were rewarded according to the problems that they've solved.”

   • Daniel 6:25-27
   • Isaiah 1:19
   • 1 Samuel 17:25
   • Genesis 45:5

8. Trust in your money and down you go

   The righteous will thrive like a green leaf, but those who trust in money go down. When Daniel was offered the king's food, he did not simply refuse but negotiated a ten-day test of vegetables and water, and found favour because he understood protocol and authority. Believers belong where decisions are made, so join the committee, be the prefect or head boy, and oppose bad decisions with God's wisdom.

   “Before you're quick to say no, learn the art of negotiating.”

   • Proverbs 11:28
   • Daniel 1:8-16

In this message