God Honors Those Who Honors Him | 1 Samuel 2:30, Daniel 6

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Alright, let's try this again today. Our goal is to look at honoring God honoring God's of our thing. This year has been to honor God God honors those who honor him. So what we've been learning is that whenever we honor God we decide to live for God to do the things that God has called us to do when we honor God that way that that means we take god. Seriously. God says he will honor us that's what we saw in the Book of James as it went for the book of gems and you still we did like a whole series. It's was all about honoring God and as we again continue in the book of 2nd or 1st Thessalonians in all our Series this year has been censoring like on that one thing God honors those who honor him. Emery found dead in 1st Samuel chapter 2 it says therefore the Lord God of Israel declared. I promise that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever. But now the Lord declares far be it from me. for those who honor me I will honor this is a direct promise from God. God says when you honor me when you take me seriously, when you do the things that I've called you to do when before you make any decisions you seek to honor me in your decisions. God says I will honor you would look at the caveat and those who despise me those who do not take me. Seriously those one they care about themselves those who do not take account of me when they making decisions or doing what they do. It says, I will likely a steam but God says Those Who honor me I will honor. A lot of us. We are very good at honoring God when we come together as Believers in church, and we honor God we honor God with our lives as we honor God, you know being make it a priority to be here, but often it's not the same case, you know in our workplace where it's kind of like it's two different people where we not honoring gotten our workplace. But when it says you're our will honor those who honor me it's not just those who honor God in the church, but honoring God in the workplace honoring God in our speech honoring God in our actions honoring God in every aspect of our life and God promised that when we honor him we take him seriously, he will honor us and I think that's one thing that a lot of us struggle with and as a result. We do a lot of things, you know, according to our own on the Sending according to our own ways and not do it God's way but God says however difficult it is God says when you all know me God says I will honor you so today. I want to look at an example of someone who honored God and that person is none other than Daniel. There's plenty of examples to look at in the Bible about people wanted God like Hannah right there in the book of 1st Samuel just where we saw the verse David how he honored God so many Paul how pawpaw honored God but really when you look at all their stories the same thread or Daniels companions Shadrach Meshach in a Bendigo all those people were people under God, but I think Daniel really stands out among them all their story stands out. But I really love the one about Daniel So Daniel was a young man in his country. Well, then another country came and took over their country and all the young man who had potentials. They took them into Exile moving them into the other country where now they started during their life, but when they when they are Daniel and his companions didn't never forget God They still kept their faith front and center in the first chapter of Daniel when they just got there. They wanted them to eat the king's Choice food what the king wanted for them to eat? But Daniel and his companions make a promise to the servant the chief servant and told them let us just only eat our own food. We don't need we don't eat that kind of food and you will see at the end. We're still going to look good and at the end of chapter 1 and chapter 2, we saw that Daniel and His companion, although they were not eating the king's Choice food. They still look better than all the other people that was a sign of them doing. What honoring God because the honor God God honored them in the end. And then as the story progress, you know, Daniel God gave him visions and dreams the gift to interpret the king's dreams and now we get to chapter 6 year with another king and that's where we pick up the story about Daniel in the Lion's Den in Reverse one of chapter 6. It says it please Darius does the king to set over the kingdom 120 so traps to be throughout the whole Kingdom and over them. Three High officials of whom was who Daniel was one to whom this say strap should give account so that the king might suffer no loss. So from the get-go here in chapter 6 year. We see Daniel being taken into Exile the gods favor and God blessing is still upon him. Why because he chose to always honor God. And now when the king is using only 3 High officials What was part of it? Daniel was one of them and look at this 3 High officials of them. Daniel was one to whom this seat strap should give account so that the king might suffer no loss then this Daniel became what underline that in your Bible. Then does Daniel became distinguish above all the other high officials and say trips because what an excellent Spirit was in him. You see when you honor God God says he will honor you you will he he was distinguish among them and he had an excellent spirit in him and the King plan to watch work with me who said him over the whole Kingdom the king wanted him to become his prime minister. be a man just coming into Exile taking over his country and now the king plan to set him over the whole Kingdom. So here's the first lesson for license morning. When you honor God, you will stand out from the crowd when you honor God, you will stand out from the crowd as you saw Daniel stood out because it says dan this Daniel became distinguish. And I'm excellent Spirit was over him. You see you don't need to seek to be distinguish in your job. You don't need to speak to be distinguishing all different things. But what you need to do is to honor God, once your honor God you will automatically be the English and you will have an excellent Spirit over you wear what you do matters. So the first lesson when we honor God, we will stand out from the crowd. You see kids when you go to school by honoring God making good decisions. Guess what you will stand out and that's what I always pray for kids that God will put an excellent Spirit over them. Just like he did over Daniel and God promise when we honor him. He will honor us then the story continues in verse for it says in the high officials and the state result to find a ground full complaint against Daniel. We regard to the kingdom, but they could not find. No grounds for complaint isn't that the way to live as a Believer when people try all kinds of things against you but they cannot find anything to say the same thing. We learn in Philippians. It says we need to walk worthy of the call that has been placed upon our life. Paul tells us we need to live blamelessly. We need to live a life above reproach. That means that when people try to look at you and then try to find wrong you're not perfect but they cannot find a reason to accuse you because he was what faithful does that mean honoring God? The honoring God means to be faithful because Daniel was faithful. They could not find anything to accuse him. That's the way to live. That's the way that all of us need to strive to live and it says no error of all was found in him. That's why our walk with Christ matter. It matters tremendously, but eventually whatever is in the dark will eventually come to light when we are faithful like Daniel was they can keep turning they can keep searching they can turn it around they can just move it. This will move it that way but they will not find Anything because we are working blamelessly before God because our ultimate aim and our ultimate goal is to honor God and that's all God. God requires from us than this man said we shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel. They got it. This is there's no way we'll find anything. But unless we find it in connection with the lure of his cock be so there'll be have to create a situation. Is it when people want to accuse you? Let it be that they have to create they have to fabricate they have to make up something. but look at how it goes invoice 6, then does high officials and say trips came by agreement to the king and said to him walking there uczuc. Once you walk with Galaxy people at planning stuff behind your back. And you don't have to worry about it because God got your back. All the high officials in verse 7 of the Kingdom the prefix and the safe travels the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction that whoever makes petition to any good to any God or man for 30 days except to you or King shall be cast into the Den of Lions. So then you'll did everything right if other to get him they had to create something they had to create some bad laws. Just like in our country when they tried to legalize things that are just again. The ways of God is he ain't nothing changes. It's the win the win. The win win win Solomon says there's nothing new Under the Sun. There's nothing new Under the Sun you think they had to create a baudler so that now they can say that Sim that Daniel was a bad man because he didn't obey that bad law. Does that make a connection today? So now when you get to First Aid it says now okung established the injunction and sign the document so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the minis in the Persian which cannot be revoked. So that means the the president can not veto it.

Therefore King Darius signed a document in injunction. So now when Daniel knew that the document had been signed he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open to would your wrestling he got down on his so, how do you fight your battles? on your knees

he got down on his knees how many times three times a day and prayed and

I thought you would go and God look. Are they trying to trap me guy that you do? I'm in trouble that I'm scared right now with this new rule though. They're really trying to get me in trouble. But Daniel went and what did Daniel do?

You pray and give thanks to God that you don't have to worry about your enemies. You don't have to worry about people trying to trap you got already knows. But Daniel Wynn and Brayden give tanks before his God has he had done. Previously, it was nothing new for Daniel.

See, that's why we need to have a regular time of prayer. We need to have a regular time of pray that he is our next lesson when you honor God Favored Me. problems And persecution or setbacks. Blood remain faithful and pray when regularly when you honor God expect problems than persecutions or said backs would remain faithful and pray regularly a good model to follow see when problem comes your way. You don't try to solve it on your own. I know that the tendency of most of us including me when does the problem I'm trying to find a solution that all I need to do this. I need to move this around. I need to move that around and then we keep prayer as the last resort, but it was prayer Last Resort for Daniel. The moment the lowest sign Daniel knew that the document has been signed. He went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open told you were someone so Daniel realized I am just as Sojourner here. I am an ambassador in this place that the real place for me is Jerusalem just like us Christians here on Earth like we fighting for riches fighting with the government for this finding government for that. That's not our home. Our home is in heaven. So that's why we need to go to our closet go to our bedroom will do our office wherever our place of prayer is when things get tough when something goes against you know, what we expecting instead of trying to fight instead of trying to rearrange this rearrange that it's kind of like you lose your job. Now the first thing you do start looking for another one might be the best thing. The first thing to do is to go to God in prayer and that got even tells you that, you know, I need you to move in a different direction and the thing that's a lot to do. The things we need to do now is see Daniel do his part but it starts with prayer and he went to his own chamber open Toys R Us learn. That means he's not focusing on temporary things, but looking forward to Jerusalem just like in the Book of Revelations. Cuz we need to look look toward the New Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and give tanks before his got nothing. Also look at the seriousness of the prayer a lot of us today. Mostly pray casually. Well, we in our bed or while we just standing sitting at the table. But when was the last time you actually went to a secluded place just you and God and you kneel down and prayed to him. Or if you are on able to kneel down, but you really good were secluded place. You make it like a serious prayer not the Casual prayers. Most of us do most of the time but here you see that was no casual prayer for Daniel got down on his knees and he did that regularly and often three times a day and prayed and remember the element of giving thanks to God in our prayer and you see that was a lifestyle for you because Parker was a lifestyle lifestyle for Daniel. See, that's why he was on autopilot when problems come you just went to pray because that's why he knows then the story continues in verse 11. It says then this man came by agreement and found Daniel making petition. Did they plan to work?

It seems to work. Seem to work so far. So then they came here and said before the king concerning the injection okeene. Did you not sign an injunction that anyone will makes petition to any God or men within 30 days except you. I shall be poking shall be cast into the Den of Lions the king answered and said the thing spins fast according to the law of the means and the Persians which can that be revoked. This is the law of the land.

But they had to make up that law in other to trap him then they answered and said before the King Daniel who is one of the exiled from Judah pays no attention to you. Okay, or the injection you have sign but makes his petition three times a day. What is that a trap? You bet. It was sleep. Some people are looking at your every single move and see how they can bring some accusation against you. Once you are leaving. I got a life that is honoring to God. So that's why I as Believers. Don't be a surprise when problems come when persecution comes when you have setbacks know that this is the normal Christian life. Amen, then they answered and said before the King Daniel is one of the exiled from Judy pays no attention to your king or the injunction you have signed but makes petition three times a day. Then the King when he heard this words was much distressed and said he's mine to deliver Daniel. Isn't that amazing? Isn't it? Amazing that where is he is helping coming from from The King The King 6 to deliver him and if you labor until the sun went down to rescue him and this man came by agreement to the king and said to the king. No Old King that it is the law. It is a love that means in the Persians that no injunction ordinance that the king establishes can be change then the king commanded and then was breath and cast into the Den of Lions is the law the king declared to Daniel. May your God whom you serve continually deliver.

Wow, and a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den and the King sealed it with his own signature and where the Signet of his Lords that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his Palace and spent the night fast thing their King. No diversions were brought to him and sleep fled from him. Then I'd break up day the king arose and went in haste to The Den of Lions as he came near to the Dan where Daniel was he cried out in the town of anguish. The king declared the Daniel old Daniel servant of the Living. God has your God whom you serve continually be able to deliver you from the lines that they got to love the story. Can that make this one out?

Verse see that's the next lesson when you honor God your help and support can come from very unlikely sources. When you honor God your help and support can come from very unlikely sources, if you've never experienced that starred on the ring go on in living room or for God and you will see how God opens do for you can get the same thing. It says in Psalm 23 delay like a table before your enemies. He prepares a table before my enemies. You know, that's the pre pre prepare the table in the presence of my enemies. That's what God wants to do your help will come from the most unlikely place. The King The King cared about Daniel the king the men want him to go to the lies that the king believed in Daniel's God that God could save him.

But that's what happens when you honor God when you honor God your help will come from the most unlikely place has the most unlikely people most unlikely sources that you would not expect. Then the story continues then Daniel said to the king. Oh King live for ever. May God sent his Angel and shut the lock in my God. He's an angel then shut the lion's mouth and they have that Army. Remember the no weapons formed against me shall prosper. That's where the Christian can never live in fear. Never. Because the Bible says our steps are ordered by God when we walking in his ways when you walking with God your steps are ordered by him. So when the problems it was part of when the persecution come it was part of God's plan when you get the stand back seat was part of God's plan. So when you're honoring God you can leave in Freedom because the Bible says, you know, there is freedom, you know, when we come to Jesus when we believe God's word when it says that I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.

So we have nothing to fear filled for the believer. You just relax whenever you face your problems because God got you. My God said he's Andrew and shut the lion's mouth and they have not harmed me because I was found what you see blameless because he was honoring God give me that's why our work is important. Our work is our protection and before God see because he was blameless. He was honoring God now. He steps are ordered by God that even the problems the persecutions the setback. They were all part of God's plan.

And also before you opening I have done no harm. I feel good when people like use you, but you know that you did nothing wrong. It's a really good feeling. If you've never experienced that, you know, you got to wait your turn and just when it comes like it when people just excuse you and then you just smiling. Cuz you know you did nothing wrong and it just like they will be ashamed that's you because you were doing everything right before God and you were doing everything right before men and that was Daniel's story here. He was doing everything right before God and also he was doing everything right before the king. If he is the lesson for us on the ring God opens the door to share your testimony. Don't miss it. Honoring God opens the door to share your testimony. Don't miss it. I'll look at it look at it again. It's his damn Daniel said to the king Old King live for ever. My God said he's an angel and shut the lion's mouth and they have not harmed me because I was found blameless before him and also before you or King, I have done what no Harem. That's why when you get an opportunity to share the gospel when you get an opportunity to 22 lift God's name hye-yoon. through tickets see Daniel here did not focus on himself, but he was giving the glory back to who he was giving the glory back to God. So honoring God will open doors to share your testimony. Don't miss it. Don't miss it. Don't miss it. Use those opportunities to share the gospel with others and lift God's name high. So let's in the story there than in verse 23 says then the King was exceedingly glad

The king exceedingly Glide and commended that Daniel be taken out of the den So Daniel was taken up out of the dead and no kind of arm was found on him because he had trusted his God. Is it important to say Faithful is it important to trust God in any and every circumstances did Daniel only trusted God when he was put as as one of the high officials when everything was going right for him. But what about when things were going sour for him getting the lines then being accused?

He still trusted God and he was still faithful So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no kind of arm was found on him because he had trusted. What you doing? Right don't worry about people let them talk. Let them do whatever they want to do after you let them persecute you let them do all their stuff whatever they want to do. Because God got your back. When God got your back you want anybody else to get you back when God got your back. You don't need anybody else to get you back and you see Daniel trusted in his God.

Cuz I'm that no harm was found him. Look at verse 24 now this very thick thicker twist now. and the King commended and those men who had maliciously accuse Daniel were abroad and cast into

The Bill O'Brien's have you ever read The Book of Proverbs was your enemies plan for you? They fall into their own pits in the Psalms. You don't have to worry about people it was so many times. We fight so much to defend ourselves. We fight so much. Don't worry about people God will take care of them. Whatever the plan for you either will fall on their own head. They their children and their wives. See all of their surrounding. And before they reach the bottom of the Den of Lions overpowered them and broke all their bones and pieces. Do you see the difference down?

That's it. That was it. They were overpowered by the lines. But Daniel was sleeping. Down in the lions den.

You think that's why you don't have to worry about your problems your persecution because God didn't say that you will not have problems Bible says in this world. You will have problems but God says I will be with you in your problems. That was the same for Shadrach Meshach in a Bendigo when they put them in the fiery furnace. God didn't prevent him from going to the fiery furnace they went but what did they say when you read the story and in chapter 1 and 2 But there was a fourth man in the fire. You see you will have problems. God will walk along with you and your problems but not avoiding is you from getting problems. Okay. I know we're going to have to just take them off. Right but God doesn't promise that he will take away problems from us, but he said he will be with us in our problems. And if we are with God we will be all right just like God was in the fiery furnace with a drug me sack in a Bendigo just like he was in The Lions Den with Daniel. He will also be with you in your problems and whatever I can stations that you faced you walking with God. They their children and their wives and before they reach the bottom of the den of the Lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. This is why you don't have to fight. You don't have to fight with anyone then King Darius wrote to all people all the peoples Nations and language is that well in all the Earth peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in all my worry Old Dominion people are too and fear before the god of Daniel. God wants to use your life as a testimony. God wants you to go through problems so that he's named can be lifted high. It's not going to be all fine. And it's not going to be all grades always but God wants to use your problems because people identify word problems because all of us go through problems, right? Because when people go through problems, that's when you really know what they made out of. If they're folded their problems, you know that their God was not that strong that they said that their God was during good time. All of us can say we love God all of us can worship God and seems like a we really dedicated to God. The robber really miss the road when problems comes our way when we have persecutions and when we get setbacks in our lives, do we still trust and believe in God, do we still trust and believe in God when we Face our trials when we Face our problems? The king made the cream that all is Royal Dominion people are to tremble and fear before the god of Daniel at the end of the day will get the glory. It's not about us a lot of us. We want to get the glory. That's why we fight so much to show to prove ourselves to show that how I am that and what they saying that I am you fight you fight your fight so that you can show how great you are. But God is saying a little prayer, you know, I'll give it to me and I'm going to make my name great in all of it while I deliver you from all of it. And even when you try to make a great name for yourself, you can not even deliver yourself from those problems. But God say I will deliver you and also people will know your God for testifying isn't that crazy for he is the Living God and doing forever his kingdom shall never be destroyed and his Dominion shall be to the end. Is it at the end of your trials at the end of your problem at the end of your setbacks? You want people to come to know Christ? They want people to live God's name High because we know that God honors those who honor him when you live got named high. God will be honored and you also will be honored he delivers and rescues people people have problems. But now the King has known a God who can deliver and rescues from problems. If people have ever been going well for them, you know, they don't need to rescue the nun in the delivery room. Missy B. But but most people go through trouble because just like job says we were made for trouble. You know we were made for trouble. It says he delivers and rescues you work signs and wonders in heaven and on Earth he who has saved annual from the power of the Lions. That's the king testify that is that is beautiful. You cannot make up a story like that. Then lastly verse 28. It says so does Daniel So does Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the Reign of Fire race the Persian busy in here? Not only he prospered during the Karen king's ring, but even prospered with the next king. Emergency, that's what God does God doesn't just give us temporary Prosperity. But God gives us long-term Prosperity. God gives us true prosperity. And so many of us to look for temporary Prosperity we fight for it. We kick we work hard for it. but in the end it doesn't lie, but the prosperity the kind of frustrated that God gives us it's a Prosperity that last For a long time see the last lesson for us today. Is that honoring God leads to Prosperity Despite All Odds? Did it seem like Daniel was going to rain wind and the situation? You have all those High officials all the say trips. That's like 120 at least + 2. against you they plotting against you. And their blood works at least seems to be working. You do you face consequences for things that you did not really do. It was just like a farce. Get you into the lions den, but in the end ultimately eventually who prospered. Daniel what happened to all those people who are accusing Daniels, they went to the lines then that they were preparing for Daniel.

That's how God works. Honoring God's ultimately leads to Prosperity Despite All Odds. And as you already know, it's not free from problems. Amen. That was Daniel's story. About how he honored God so my question for you this morning is what's your story? What is your story about honoring God? You see because Daniel honor God now we reading about it today because it was a story worth while sharing. What's your story? Do you have a worthwhile story to share that will help other people just like Daniel story is helping us this morning. So, how are you? Honoring God father? Thank you for your grace. Thank you Father for teaching us reminding us that you honor those who honor you products my prayer for every single one of us here this morning. That you would help us Lord. To honor you in everything that we do be magnified be glorified. Thank you for teaching us through the Book of Daniel today.

Teaching us about Daniel's life of Prayer. The bother me we have a life of prayer maybe remain faithful despite our problems. They spied all that we face. May we trust you knowing that you have it covered. Bother me when I try to fight our own battles, but may we give our bottles to you for you? Say great peace of those will love your lord. Nothing makes them stumble. Do father we commit all our battles before you this morning that you be magnified and be glorified now and always we love you and we praise you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. God honors those who honor him weather