Stand Strong for God Publicly

Series on Daniel - 8th test Daniel faces. He is now about 82 years old.

He has survived 2 kings and now, Darius the Mede has just killed his old boss Belshazzar and ransacked the city of Babylon. This is unusual because usually when a new administration comes in, they clean house and bring their own people in. Darius just killed Belshazzar, Daniel’s boss, but goes, I’m keeping Daniel.

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Daniel 5:29–6:2 NLT

29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed. 31 And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. 1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.

Daniel keeps getting promoted, even with different bosses. It makes you go… why?

WHY DID DANIEL KEEP GETTING PROMOTED AT WORK?

1. HIS PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE MADE HIM STAND OUT.

It’s clear that Daniel was a gifted leader and he was as good as he is because Daniel was a learner. He was a student of the scriptures but he was also a student of the culture and understood what had to be done. He spent his entire life learning and so he became wiser and wiser. He just kept getting better and better.

Some careers end pretty early in life. Then you will be replaced by someone younger.

Gymnest peaks at 17

NFL player peaks 26 or 27

If you decide to be a man or woman of wisdom, you never peak, you just keep becoming wiser and wiser. Daniel kept growing in his competence and skill. He had more skill and he was more effective than the others.

When Darius took over the kingdom, he re-organized. He set up an organization of 120 administrators over each of 120 provinces, 3 governors over them. Daniel was one of the 3 most powerful people the empire.

Daniel did such a good job that it was recorded...

Daniel 6:3 NLT

3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Daniel, at 82 is getting another promotion. He is being put over the entire kingdom under the emperor.

Daniel’s professional competence made him stand out.

2. HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER MADE HIM STAND OUT.

It wasn’t just his professional competence, but it was his personal character. He was a man of integrity, generosity, humility, godliness, goodness, kindness and wisdom.

Daniel 6:4 NLT

4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.

No wonder he kept being promoted. He was a great employee… anyone in their right mind would want him on their team.

The Bible doesn’t say why, but these underlings began trying to get rid of Daniel. Chances are that you have some people at work who are conspiring against you. They want your pay check, your office, your job… Maybe because of your faith, they just want you out.

These guys hear that Daniel is about to be made the 2nd most powerful man only to the king in the country, so they conspire to bring him down. The only problem was they could not find any fault in his job. His work was so excellent that they could not find anything against him at work.

They went looking for dirt and could not find any because His professional competence & personal character made him stand out among the rest.

3. HIS PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO GOD MADE HIM STAND OUT.

Daniel didn’t just have professional competence and personal character, he was very publish in his commitment to God.

Daniel was very open, very public about his faith in and love for God. He prays in the open, he talks about God in the open… remember, he lead Neb.. to faith. Everyone knew where Daniel stood with his faith.

You may have some co-workers who are conspiring to get you fired at work. Daniel did, they were conspiring to get him fired.

Daniel 6:5 NLT

5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

The healthcare worker who did not believe in Birth Control… police who believe in the Bible...

A Judge Candidate being blasted this week by Senator Feinstein because she believes in God - she is Catholic. That’s illegal BTW.

Another Senator attacked a nominee for the Budget office because he believed the Bible.

When you commit to God, it will draw good attention, but it also will sometimes draw the wrong kind of attention and that’s what happened to Daniel.

A Conspiracy to get rid of Daniel (vs. 6-9)

These guys go to the king … listen to this…

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Daniel 6:6–9 NLT

6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.

These guys were so set on getting Daniel, they were trying to pass laws aimed at hurting one man - Daniel.

don’t think that happens - look at our politics. For 8 years one party tried to go against everything the President did… even good things. Now, the other party is trying to go against everything our president is doing. It’s wrong both times.

Everyone has to pray to Darius for the next 30 days. The plotters are only worried about getting Daniel. They knew he would not pray to the king and they would be rid of him.

Look at Daniel’s options.

HOW DID DANIEL RESPOND TO THE NEW TEST?

Daniel’s options

1. Accept the law and fake pray to the king for 30 days

2. Publicly protest with picket signs.

Not a good idea because no freedom there like here.

3. Appeal privately to the king.

Darius liked him. He had promoted him and was preparing to place in charge of the kingdom. He has a relationship with him. However, the king could not reverse the law.

4. Just stop praying to God for 30 days.

Don’t pray to anyone… not good either.

5. Keep praying but just do it in secret.

He would still be breaking the law, but his enemies wold have won what they wanted because they wanted to embarrass him and cause him to back doewn from his faith.

Daniel prayed in public. Probably prayed before his meals. I know some people who are afraid to pray in public. Some people are afraid to pray over a meal at Chili’s because they are afraid of what people might think.

6. Keep praying publicity as he’d done all his life.

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

The easiest? the most convenient? or the one that would get you thrown into the lions den?

It’s one thing to stand strong at church. What about at job, online, at school, golf course? fishing, hunting?

Anyone can be a secret disciple. Will you stand for God in Public?

WHICH ONE DID DANIEL CHOOSE?

Lady Clairol Commercials - Only your hairdresser knows for sure… lady clairol Christians - only God knows for Sure. Nothing in their life gives any indication they follow God.

Daniel had a decision to make…

Daniel 6:10–11 NLT

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.

He knows this will get him thrown into the Lions Den.

WHY WAS DANIEL NOT AFRAID TO STAND OUT AND SPEAK UP FOR GOD IN PUBLIC?

I know a lot of Christians who are afraid to stand up for God at work… afraid to speak up about their faith. They are not Daniels. Why did Daniel do this?

1. HE REMEMBERED GOD WAS FAITHFUL IN PAST TESTS

Daniel had already been through several tests and God had taken care of him and promoted him each time.

When he would not eat the Kings food. When he would not bow to the king’s statue. when he delivered bad news to the king. God took care of him.

He remembered that God took care of him in the past. If you start to become scared like that wondering what will people think about me if I stand up for my faith or my values or my morals and ethics? Remember, how God has taken care of you in the past.

Here is his secret...

2. HE HAD A CONVERSATION WTIH GOD 3 TIMES PER DAY

Daniel 6:10 NLT

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

Ques - Do you think that of you spent time with God three times per day for your entire life, you would be stronger in your faith? more bold? more confidence? Of course you would.

The secret to standing strong is kneeing often.

The more you kneel in prayer the stronger you will be when the heat is on.

Daniel just went home and did what he had done 3 times per day for his entire life… he knelt and prayed. Why?

3. HE KNEW THE REWARDS WERE GREATER THAN ANY RISK.

Was it risky to break the law? Yes, he could be punished… even put to death in Daniel’s case.

Peter to the Sanhedrin -

Acts 5:29 NLT

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

Listen, this is important because as America continues to change, there will be some laws you just cannot abide by. abortion, not talking about God in public,

You will eventually have to decide, am I going to be like Daniel? Like Peter and the disciples? We must obey God rather than men… What’s Daniel doing here? He is doing passive civil disobedience. He is saying, “I can’t obey that law. My number 1 allegiance is to God so I can’t obey that law.” That’s passive civil disobedience.

Daniel goes home and prays in public like he always does. He is not hiding… not going someone might see me… not worrying if someone will say something about him…

He knew the Rewards greatly out weighed the risk. He also knew the cost of doing wrong would be devastating.

Let’s look at some benefits of Standing for God publically. Anytime you want to overcome something that causes you fear, you need to minimize the negative possibilities and maximize the benefits of doing the right thing. Stop doing the “what if’s” so many of you like to do.

Maybe you are here and you are like a man who said he felt guilty but worried about the fact he was supposed to be a witness at work, but had never told anyone he was a Christian. He was afraid he would not be promoted… might lose his job and felt like a coward.

The way you overcome that fear it to focus on the benefits.

6 WAYS YOU AND I BENEFIT FROM STANDING UP FOR GOD PUBLICLY

1. STANDING FOR GOD IS A VICTORY OVER FEAR.

Every time you stand for God in public, you are experiencing victory over fear.

here are a few things about fear.

Fear is just a feeling & it cannot last.

Often when you are feeling a certain way, especially negative or fearful, you begin to think it will last forever. It won’t.

Emotions are temporary… the good ones and the bad ones. When you are going through a situation NEVER trust your emotions. They will change.

Fear is uncomfortable, but it won’t kill me.

Sometimes when you are afraid it feels like you might die, but you won’t.

FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real

Fear grows when I give into it, but lessens when I move against it.

Every time you give into fear, it grows stronger in your life. It become more dominant and will isolate you if you let it.

You can’t argue your way out of fear. The only way you can eliminate fear in your life is to move against it. Fear does not respond to reason. It’s unreasonable. Fear responds to action. You have to step into the Jordan and then it parts.... you have to step out of the boat and then you walk.

We make a lot of decision in out lives while being afraid but we make the decisions anyway. How can we do this? Because we believe we should live our lives based on our convictions and commitments and not on our fears.

We have to refuse to let fear dominate us - that’s called courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s often doing the right thing even though you are scared to death.

Are you a courageous man? Woman? When is the last time you moved against the thing you feared? reconcile with a person / forgive someone / ask forgiveness / tell someone about Jesus

Fear Grows when you give into it. But fear lessons when you move against it. The fear is always worse than the real thing.

me getting shot as a kid. I was screaming I wasn’t going to get the shot when they told me I had already had it. My fear of the shot was much worse than the shot.

Stop inviting fear back into your life. Do the thing you are afraid of.

In the ays when Peter said what he did, it was against the law of Rome to be a Christian. If you announced that you were a Christian, you might find yourself in the Colosseum with lions or on a cross lighting the roads as you burned.

Here is what the first Christians prayed… Peter and John

Acts 4:29 NLT

29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

Write it out on a card… Lord you know the threats people make at work, give me great boldness in preaching your word.

2. STANDING FOR GOD BUILDS MY FAITH & CHARACTER.

Faith and Character are like muscles… the more you put them under stress the stronger they become. You grow your muscle by exercise… not sititng around. You put pressure in them with weights or hard work and you become stronger.

That’s how you become stronger too. Every time you stand for God at work, or anywhere else, it builds your character. You become more Christ-like.

2 Timothy 1:8 NLT

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

Standing for God is a victory over fear and builds your character.

3. STANDING FOR GOD GIVES GOD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A MIRACLE.

Truth is, most people have never seen a real miracle… because they have never put themselves out on a limb. Listen the fruit is out on the limb.

You will never see miracles until you step out of the boat onto the water. When you stand for God at work, at school, with a neighbor who is a skeptic… every time you do that, you give God an opportunity to do a miracle. If you don’t, you won’t see miracles.

You will know that God can solve your problems, if you never “have” any problems. You will never know that God can do a miracle in your life if you never risk anything… if you never say, “OK God, I am willing to do whatever because I know what you said to do.”

Daniel saw a miracle because he gave God the opportunity to do the miracle. He went home and did what he had always done, open the windows and kneel and pray. They caught Daniel and threw him into the Lions Den. We know this broke Darius heart … look at this…

Daniel 6:19–23 NLT

19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” 23 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.

That was a miracle. Famous painters have painted the scene of Daniel in the Lions Den… because of this historic moment.

He came out without a scratch. Has God ever rescued you from a pit? First, you have to be willing to be put into the pit. Maybe you are in a pit of your own making, but you praise Go in that pit.

Daniel asked God to come to his rescue. He did. Standing for God is victory over fear, it builds your character and it gives God the opportunity to do a miracle.

4. STANDING FOR GOD ENCOURAGES OTHER BELIEVERS TO STAND UP.

When you stand up for God at work, at a game, at school, anywhere else, it goves other believers encouragement. They see your courage and courage is contagious.

When you have a cowardly leader, everyone else is cowardly. When you step out for the Lord, Other people will start coming out of the shadows.

Paul -

Philippians 1:14 NLT

14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Not only is it an encouragement for Believers…

5. STANDING FOR GOD IS A POWERFUL WITNESS TO UNBELIEVERS.

How we stand for God in public and how we handle pain are our two greatest testimonies and our two greatest examples to unbelieving friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers.

When we stand and say we can’t do something because it violates our faith, our morals… it’s a powerful witness to believers and non-believers.

We see this in the lives of Peter and John.

Acts 4:13 NLT

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

The more time you spend with Jesus, the stronger you will be. You stand strong when you kneel often. Peter and John were not superstars… not educated, they were fishermen… normal people, and the enemy looks at them and recognizes that they have been with Jesus.

We want people to look at us and say they have been with Jesus.

We see this when King Darius becomes a Believer.

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Daniel 6:25–28 NLT

25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! 26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Because Daniel stepped out, Darius became a believer. Wouldn’t you like your boss to become a Believer because you stood strong?

18 Generations later we still see the impact of Daniel’s life

In about a month, if not sooner, the stores will be putting out Christmas stuff… my favorite time of the year.

Matthew 2:1–2 NLT

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

These men came from Babylon… Iran and Iraq… they read the scriptures because of Daniel and here they are coming to see the newborn king of glory. They are there because 18 generations after a man stood for God in a pagan culture, he prayed in public, led 2 emperors to faith in God and both proclaimed Daniels God to be the real God. That’s why these wise men were at Christmas - because of Daniel. That’s Long Term Impact.

When we do that it will be a model for our kids, our grand kids, and the future generations.

6. WE WILL BE REWARDED IN ETERNITY

Jesus promised it. He said we will be rewarded and the rewards will last forever. Your fears will last about 10 seconds, or a few minutes, but the rewards will last forever.

Matthew 5:11–12 NLT

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

make sure to point out this is talking about people coming against us because of Jesus…

Don’t forget these 6 Benefits. They will help you to finish strong.

Most people don’t end strong, but Daniel did. Why?

WHY DID DANIEL END STRONG?

We see Daniel starting strong as a teenager, then in his young 20’s and 30s. Historians say that Daniel made his greatest contributions in his 80’s. A lot of people check out much earlier… society seems to look for the youth movement. My mom gave up heading her church’s visitation program at 93. He stayed in conversation with God. He prayed at least 3 times per day for about 80 years. His quiet times with the Lord were a daily habit.

For most of you, your greatest contribution to the kingdom might come in your 80s. Who knows… Retirement is not in the bible. I don’t know about you, I want to finish strong. How did Daniel do it?

he had at least 3 conversations with God each day for 85 years.

DO YOU THINK IF YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH GOD 3 TIMES PER DAY FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE YOU WOULD BE LESS AFRAID AND MORE STRONG?