Consistent no matter the cost

Daniel's Unyielding Faith: Standing Firm in a Changing World

We are on trait number 3!

Affectionate

Available

Whose Standard?

Jesus

Today we move on to Consistent.

With all things, lets look at the ACE approved definition of Consistent

“Not wavering from God’s principles and His Holy Word.”

Today we are going to talk about a very well known story from

Daniel 6

Famously known as Daniel and the lion’s den.

Tell Story

Daniel was one of the most trusted leaders in King Darius’s kingdom. The king noticed that Daniel had an extraordinary spirit and planned to promote him to rule over the entire realm. (Dan 6) But this success made other officials jealous and angry.

The other leaders searched for something to accuse Daniel of, but they found nothing—he was trustworthy and completely honest. (Dan 6) So they came up with a sneaky plan. They realized the only way to trap Daniel was through his faith in God. (Dan 6)

These jealous officials went to King Darius with a tricky request. They convinced the king to make a new law stating that for thirty days, anyone who prayed to any god or person except the king would be thrown into the lions’ den. (Dan 6) The king signed this law, not realizing it was designed to catch Daniel. (Dan 6)

Now lets read

Daniel 6:10–11 “When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.”

The jealous officials caught Daniel praying and reported him to the king.

The heartbroken king had no choice but to throw Daniel into the lions’ den.

Daniel 6:16 “So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you!””

But God protected Daniel through the night—the lions didn’t harm him because God shut their mouths. The next morning, the king rushed to the den and found Daniel alive and unharmed.

The king then threw those that plotted for the death of Daniel into the lions dens and the scripture reads.

“They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.”

Pretty amazing story right?

So what do we see here?

A Miracle

This was a miracle right? These lions were clearly hungry, but God sent an angel to protect him.

But lets look at this through the lens of being consistent

Be Consistent

But let’s look at Daniel’s behavior. He did not know that he would be saved. Many people have died for their faith up until now in history, yet even when the decree was signed, what did Daniel do?

Three times a day guys. With windows that open toward Jerusalem.

Talk about brave.

The Scripture says Daniel 6:10 “When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

This was not character trait defiant or fearless.

it is that last line that we want to focus on

“Just as he had done before.”

Consistent. Not wavering from God’s principles and His Holy Word.

Daniel knew that this could mean death and yet he prayed just as he had done before.

What did he not do?

Pray in a corner, a secret room, prayed quickly when no one was watching.

He did not let the ways of man, the rules of man change his love for God.

Think about that for a moment.

I know that only a few of you in here are believers. I know that even those that are have parents or friends that do not understand the word of God and there is pressure to stay with what you know.

Your whole like, you are surrounded by those that might not believe the word of God. People might not understand or even try to pressure you into worshipping something else.

For 30 days a decree was signed that you could only worship the king.

What would you do?

Its hard right? It is hard to bow your head when you know that people around you just do not understand. It is hard to go to church when others spend that time outside, with family, or doing other activities. It is hard to dedicate yourself to God when you are surrounded by the world.

Now, God is not asking you. He did not ask Daniel to be defiant. He did not ask him to be rebellious or attempt to disobey the King. Even when Daniel came out of the den he was happy to serve King Darius. God was asking for him to be consistent with his love for him

Daniel was known for his faith and it was his faith that those men wanted to turn against him.

Daniel did not let them. Daniel prayed just as he done before and trusted God’s plan.

Daniel was consistent.

And what could it have cost him? Everything.

The king had no choice. He had to throw Daniel into the lions den, calling out for Daniel’s God to save him.

And we know from the story that an angel from God came and shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was saved.

Salvation doesn’t always look like this though. It does not have to be an angel coming down and stopping lions.

It can be something as simple as another person joining you in prayer when you pray in public

Or people listening when you talk about a God that they do not believe in instead of getting angry and walking away

Maybe even someone that does want to harm you for your faith, but someone walks in or a teacher walks by at the last second and they back away.

Sometimes it looks like getting eaten by lions because you put God above all things…. That last one is very hard.

So, the question for you all today is

What in your life is stopping you from being consistent with God?

What stops you from praying at every meal?

Opening your bible each morning for quiet time?

Praying to God when you are in trouble?

And what can we do about it?

We just try. We build a habit. We come to God when we need him and eventually it becomes natural. It stops feeling weird that you are talking to God each day. It stops feeling weird that we are asking him for help for the little things. It becomes familiar.

And we become consistent, and just like Daniel, we do not let the world bend our relationship with God. God does not bend.

Remember, praying and loving God when things are wonderful and happy is important, but God wants you to come to him when things seem hard or impossible. He wants you to lean on him when it is hard, not run and hide.

Open the windows in the upper room, let people see you in the good times and the bad. Let people know that God is forever. Be consistent.