Daniel: Saved In the Lions Den (8)

(S1) —

Through the Bible: A Year in the Story of God's Grace

The Promise of God…

— two great kings: David/Solomon…

— Kingdoms divided/Fall…

— Temple (Jerusalem) Destroyed

How would God’s promise be fulfilled?

The people of Judah, exiled to Babylon (Iraq)…thrust into this multicultural, polytheistic, pagan empire far away from home—challenged with how to remain faithful to God

SERIES — Spoiler Alert......

More than a children’s story—a miraculous work of God

2. Why Daniel story is as important to us today as Christians…the ever increasing difficult times we live

Daniel’s story as is ours; is about living faithfully in the lions den

PRAY

(S2)

With the increased negativity towards the Christian faith, Daniel’s story helps us consider where we are as a church; as a minority in a largely pagan society.

Book— ‘Life in the Negative World’ by Aaron Renn, Christians in the western world

Pre 1994—Society at large retains a mostly positive view of Christianity.”

1994 to 2014—Society takes a neutral stance”

2014 to present—An overall negative view of Christianity”

How do we live our faith like Daniel...without losing it?

(S3) —

Daniel 6:16 “So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.””

…the foundation is in the Kings own proclamation

The Sovereignty of God—Daniel saved from the jaws of death, and the king who witnessed it

How Daniel served God without reservation — 5 lessons of his faithfulness…

Context

{Daniel 1:3–4}

(S5) —

Daniel’s age at the time of the exile…

2. Transition of Kings (Empires)—Nebuchadnezzar—Belshazzar (Babylon)—Darius (Mede’s/Persians)

3. Different way of governance...

Daniel served them all well for 65 yrs...in his 80’s when he was thrown into the lions den

…not really hungry—crevice—under straw. Modern day theologians

Daniel finds the favor of another King; Darius who was a wise leader who governed well..

6:1-2

…considered a way of governing like ours…held accountable by a justice system…when decrees were made they could not be easily be broken.

(S6) — 6:3

…Jealousy among the ranks…Imagine how they felt? Ever been passed over for a position you felt you deserved?

6:4

First lesson of Daniels faithfulness

(S7)

I. Live as a person of INTEGRITY

Daniel was not perfect, but he was faithful, responsible, and trustworthy; both in public square and in private…

One Sunday a pastor preached a sermon on integrity. Monday morning he took the bus took get to his office. He paid the fare, and the bus driver gave him back too much change. During the rest of the journey, the pastor was rationalizing how God had provided him with some extra money he needed for the week. But he just could not live with himself, so before he got off the bus, he proceeded to give back the extra money and said to the driver, "You have made a mistake. You've given me too much change." The driver smiled and said, "There was no mistake. I was at your church yesterday and heard you preach, so I decided to put you to a test this morning."

Daniel gained the trust of his own and those in the secular world...

Does who you are in the public square… match who you are in private?

Being a responsible employee and a person of character will not always make you popular with coworkers. Sometimes people who have little integrity themselves mock those who do

Proverbs 11:3 NIV

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

How would you stand the test if your Christian values were being tested in the public square? Daniel lived a life of integrity...

6:5-9

...so King Darius signed the law...

What did Daniel do?

6:10

Second lesson of Daniels faithfulness

(S8)

II. Prioritize PERSONAL Holiness

Just as he had always done...Not a new thing for Daniel to challenge a king—would not defile himself with food...

Daniel developed Holy Habits…

Prayer— upstairs window—looking towards...longing for Jerusalem

Quote: Francis Bacon (British Philosopher)

“It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong; Not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; Not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; Not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians”.

Spiritual disciplines—not to become like God to to be more like Jesus

1 John 4:17 “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”

The way of sanctification

1 Peter 1:15 “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”

What are your Holy habits? How do they glorify God who is holy?

11-14

...the kings stress and anxiety reveal that Daniel had influenced the king…he was deeply troubled

Third lesson of Daniels faithfulness

(S9)

III. Use your INFLUENCE for Good

15-16

The kings distress...Biblically this is called call conviction...the Holy Spirit’s work in the heart...Daniels life of integrity his practice of personal holiness had influenced the king...

Jeff/Banker

How can you influence others in your work, family, everyday life to see the God you serve?

17-20

(NIV) ...so that Daniels situation might not change—no way out...the den became a sealed tomb…

— Where have we heard this before? What did God do?

Fourth lesson of Daniels faithfulness

(S10)

IV. Expect that God WILL do something in the difficult

We don’t know what Daniel was doing...but we can guess—praying...expecting God to do something

God is working even when it feels hopeless

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God…

Most don’t belief that the Christian life is some eutopian experience filled with God’s blessings...you may not find yourself in a lions den, but your faith will be tested...and sometimes in the most difficult ways.

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””

“Sometimes we define ourselves according to our catastrophes” I am a divorce, an addict, failed business man, a person with a disability.

In Christ your difficulty doesn’t have to define you. Expect that God WILL do something in the difficult

If he took you to it, he’ll take you through it. Max Lucado

6:21,22

Fifth lesson of Daniels faithfulness

(S11)

V. Trust in God as LORD and SAVIOR

Notice the emphasis of his declaration…

My God sent his angel…

My God shut the mouths of the lions…

My God saved me from harm…

My God found me blameless…

My God…is Lord and savior!

Saying, “May the king live forever, was he talking about Darius or the God who saved him? Only the living God is able to rescue. This is a sharp contrast to the dead, false god’s of the Median and Persian belief system

Trusting in God as Lord, is to declare God as sovereign...over all things. The apostle Paul made such a declaration

{Colossians 1:15-17}

Colossians 1:15–17 “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”

My God is not only SOVEREIGN but SAVIOR

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament 6:1-28: Daniel and the Lions

Innocence by “Ordeal” describes a judicial situation in which the accused is placed in the hand of God using some mechanism, generally one that will put the accused in jeopardy. If the deity intervenes to protect the accused from harm, the verdict is innocent. Most trials by ordeal in the ancient Near East involved dangers such as water, fire or poison. When the accused was exposed to these threats, he or she was in effect being assumed guilty until the deity declared otherwise.

Saved from the lions…because he trusted God as Lord.

(S12)

Daniel 6:23 NLT

The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

Daniel had a lifetime in a foreign land and by the grace of God, he...

— Lived as a person of integrity

— Prioritized personal holiness

— Used his influence for good

— Expected that God would do something

—Declared God sovereign and savior

The questions still remains, how would God’s promise be fulfilled? How do we live out our faith; live like Daniel, without losing it

There is a another like Daniel...

Another lion…the lion we don’t have to fear...who came to save us in the lions den

(S13)

Revelation 5:5 “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory.

How can you be a person of integrity—Prioritize personal holiness—Use your influence for good—Expect that God will do something and Trust in Jesus as Lord…and your savior