Faith at All Times
Notes
Transcript
Text: Daniel 6:1-28
Introduction
-How should a person of faith live in an environment filled with darkness? You have a job with co-workers who don’t believe in God and love debauchery. What do you do? You go to school where the popular kids influence others to do bad things (drugs, alcohol, etc.). You watch a movie that has illicit things in it. What can we do when the people around us live completely different lives?
-Daniel was a man faithful to God even when shipped off to a foreign country, given a new name, and placed in service of a pagan king. Let’s learn how he lived by faith while surrounded by the faithless.
I. He Possessed an Extraordinary Spirit (above reproach) (vs. 1-4)
A. God was with Daniel and blessed him with being put in a position of influence (vs. 1-2)
1. King Darius the Mede set 120 satraps (“kingdom protectors” or “princes/rulers”)
a. Daniel was one of three commissioners over the satraps
b. Daniel, the commissioners, and the satraps were accountable so Darius would not suffer loss (vs. 2).
c. No loss of peace, sleep, or kingdom
2. Daniel worked for a pagan king (needless to say, someone with very different values and morals than a follower of Yahweh). He faced some difficult choices along the way
B. Daniel was blessed with success because of his character as a Godly man (vs. 3)
1. He was different, he distinguished himself (was preferred) from everyone else
a. Why? Because his spirit was extraordinary
1. Of course, God was with him. God’s Spirit was upon him to interpret visions and dreams
2. But the word “extraordinary” can be translated “excellent”, or “excelling”
b. Daniel was different because his spirit excelled in the truth and love of the Living God
1. Daniel had higher morals, higher character, a higher calling, and a higher God
2. His actions reflected living above and beyond the status quo, because he was living for the excellence of God
2. We are called to excellence by God through the gospel
a. Our lives ought to reflect the Living God, Jesus Christ
b. Our morals, beliefs, words, and actions ought to be above reproach
c. When we live for excellence in God’s eyes then people will begin to notice
1. God notices and He blesses us
2. For Daniel, that blessing was being preferred by Darius to be appointed a higher position of influence and power. All for the glory of God
C. Even evil men notice a man with an extraordinary spirit (vs. 4)
1. The other satraps and commissioners were jealous of Daniel’s success
a. They tried to find grounds for some kind of accusation, but nothing stuck
b. No one could find any corruption in Daniel’s words or actions. He lived above reproach
2. Can the same be said for you?
a. Do you live a life worthy of the name of Christ?
1. A life imitating Jesus is a a life of high morality, high kindness, high mercy, high truth, and high consistency
2. Living a life above reproach
b. Yes, people may try to make you stumble and fall. But if you live a life of excellency to God then you cannot fall. “If God is for you, who can be against you?”
II. Avid Devotional Life (vs. 5-18)
A. The commissioners/satraps tried to find a way to discredit Daniel according to his faith (vs. 5-9)
1. They stroked the king’s ego to enforce a law where no one could worship any god except him for 30 days
2. That’s a lose-lose situation for Daniel
a. If Daniel obeys that decree then he is caught in forsaking his God
b. But if Daniel disobeys the command then he is going to be thrown into the lion’s den
3. Of course, the idea sounded good to the king. But little did he know that it was a trap for his greatest servant
B. Despite the government’s command, Daniel obeyed God (vs. 10-13)
1. Daniel lived out the principle “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)
a. He was found innocent by God for not submitting to a sinful command (vs. 22)
b. Daniel continued to pray to the Living God despite the risk of death
1. He knew the king’s command, but he could not follow it. His faith in God triumphed a worldly decree
2. He continued to do what he always did, pray to God three times a day
2. Daniel was not going out of his way to defy the king’s command by praying. He simply did what was his normal practice
C. Daniel’s prayer life was such a major part of his life that everyone seemed to know about it (vs. 11-13)
1. The satraps caught him, their plan was a success
a. King Darius was distraught when he realized what he had done (vs. 14)
b. He was so distressed that he worked hard, he labored to save Daniel, but his hands were tied. It couldn’t be changed (vs. 15)
2. They brought Daniel in for the punishment of worshiping his God alone (vs. 16-17)
a. Faith was produced in Darius through Daniel’s lifestyle
b. King Darius knew that Daniel served God constantly and he hoped that faith would pay off
3. The King was so concerned for Daniel that he couldn’t sleep (vs. 18)
a. He fasted and had no entertainment brought in
b. He cared so much for Daniel that he was up all night waiting to see if God really would deliver Daniel
D. We deal with toxic environments around us by an avid devotional life
1. Thanking God in prayer for a meal in a school cafeteria might be frowned upon, religious conversations may be forbidden in the work space, and people may try to get you punished because of your integrity
2. Keep being faithful to God first. An upright heart and action might make enemies (because they won’t be transformed by God) and God is able to preserve, save, and give success to His followers
3. Daniel kept practicing intentional prayer. We ought to intentionally pray and be in God’s Word on a regular basis if we want to combat the difficulties of life
III. Gives God the Glory (vs. 19-28)
A. Daniel was rewarded for his faithfulness (vs. 19-23)
1. God was willing and able to protect Daniel from the mouths of starving lions
2. Daniel was not injured because he trusted God (vs. 23b)
a. That’s an amazing statement!
b. God is faithful to His people and will reward those who are faithful to Him
c. What a testament to our God! What a demonstration of His glory!
B. Daniel was brought out safe and sound but it didn’t go so well for the other satraps (vs. 24)
1. Woe to the person who is against God
a. Those people didn’t even hit the ground before the lions dominated them
b. All of their bones were crushed and they were devoured
2. Punishment always comes to the wicked in God’s own time. Just like reward comes to the righteous in His own time
C. When you are faithful to God and are righteous in your conduct then even unbelievers will rejoice and praise God (vs. 25-27)
1. Men were to fear and tremble before Daniel’s God. For He…
a. Is the Living God who endures forever
b. His kingdom will never be destroyed
c. His dominion is eternal
d. He delivers, rescues, and performs signs and miracles in heaven and on earth
e. As proof of that fact, Daniel was rescued from the power of the lions
2. There was no other explanation than God saved Daniel
a. When we live above reproach to God and let Him work through us then things will happen that cannot be explained outside of God
b. He can and will work through you if you let Him
3. When He does use you, give Him the glory. Treat yourself as a servant and Him as the glorious God who did something awesome! Because that’s the reality
Application and Conclusion
A. We ought to have a Godly character, just like Daniel
1. He was distinguished because of an extraordinary spirit (vs. 3).
2. He was above reproach in all actions (vs. 4).
3. Prayed 3 times a day continually (vs. 10).
4. The King acknowledges Daniel’s consistent/constant service to God (vs. 16).
5. Daniel’s strong faith produced faith in others (vs. 16b, 20).
6. Daniel trusted his God (vs. 23b).
7. God was glorified (vs. 25-27)
B. Our faith in God should be our lives
1. We ought to live above reproach in every facet (possessing an extraordinary spirit)
2. We ought to have an avid devotional life (fasting/prayer/Bible intake)
3. We ought to trust God and give Him the glory in our lives