Kingdom Influencers
In The World: Daniel • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
When a person begins to think about the impact of his or her life, they often start at their funeral. What do I want people to say about me when this life is over?
Once you write your own eulogy in your mind many begin to make decisions, determination, and strategies to bring that eulogy to pass.
What if you were to pass (God forbid) right now.
What would people say about you?
How would they remember you?
What accomplishments would they celebrate?
What contributions have you made to the world?
My hope and prayer is that you all live for many years to come but time is a precious thing. Life is but a vapor. Here today gone tomorrow.
What will you do with the time you have left?
As we look in the Bible many times we have the history of a man’s entire life recorded before us.
We can see the hurts, pains, and struggles, but we can also see the victories, contributions, and influence that people had and some still have on the world today.
As we look at the end of Daniel’s life in , we see a man that has been influential over several kings and kingdoms and has managed to live his life without scandal and with much honor before the Lord. His influence has turned the hearts of kings to worship the one true God that he serves, and we are still being influenced by his life today.
What does it take to have this kind of ministry for God’s kingdom?
What is the formula for living a life that literally changes the course of others?
What does it take to simply live blesses others and shares the love of God with them?
As I was looking over the life of Daniel it made me think of another kingdom influencer. This is a modern day kingdom influencer we just lost last February. His name was Billy Graham.
In the 99 years of Billy Graham’s life it is estimated that through his crusades he personally preached the gospel to 215 million people. The is close to the same amount of people that were on the Earth in Daniel’s day.
Mr. Graham was a spiritual adviser to the last 11 presidents. When they need spiritual answers they asked Billy. When Billy Graham many presidents and dignitaries attend the memorial service.
Over all the many decades of ministry there was not one scandal or inappropriate activity recorded in his life or ministry.
Over all the many decades of ministry there was not one scandal or inappropriate activity recorded in his life or ministry.
How did these men become the kingdom influencers they were?
What can we glean from their lives that we can use to become kingdom influencers in our time, today.
I believe their are 4 markers of kingdom influencers that can be identified in the life of Daniel. These are not special talents or abilities. They were not super heros. But they did make some of the same choices that I believe are the markers that we can have in our lives as well.
4 Markers of Kingdom Influencers
Marker #1: A Kingdom Influencer determines not to defile yourself with things of this world.
Marker #1: A Kingdom Influencer determines not to defile yourself with things of this world.
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
Dan 1:
A Resolution of Love toward God
A Resolution of Love toward God
Loving God is a choice that only you can make. It can’t be forced or fabricated.
Daniel’s love for God determined his course of action.
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Loving God is a choice that only you can make. It can’t be forced or fabricated. A Resolution of Purpose toward God.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
A Resolution of Purpose for God.
A Resolution of Purpose for God.
A Resolution of Purpose toward God.
A Resolution of Purpose toward God.
Love is the driving force behind any great ministry.
A Kingdom Influencer guards the calling on their life.
1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
2 Cor 4:
The kingdom Influencer is not his own but lives his life unto God who purchased him.
Marker #2: Kingdom Influencers Live by God’s Word.
Marker #2: Kingdom Influencers Live by God’s Word.
Now we go to the end of Daniels life in chapter 6. Daniel is about 90 years old in this Chapter. There is not mention of any scandal or accusation on the life of Daniel.
He, like Billy Graham has always been an adviser to the king and promoted accordingly.
He is now in like to rule the entire kingdom of Babylon under Darius and others are not happy.
So like any good campaign they look for something to smear Daniel’s name through the mud. The problem is this guy doesn’t have so much as a parking ticket.
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
Daniel was faithful to keep the commandments and statues of God.
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
You will never have kingdom influence living like the world.
The Word of God must be your final authority for all life and practice.
Dan 6:
6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!
7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
The trap is set.
The executive order has been signed.
A choice must be made.
Marker #3: Kingdom Influencers are faithful even in the face of death.
Marker #3: Kingdom Influencers are faithful even in the face of death.
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Dan 6:
True faith in God doesn’t change just because the circumstances get tough.
True faith in God doesn’t change just because the circumstances get tough.
Faith is the strength that carries you through the hard times and persecutions of life.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Faith is a predetermined conclusion based on the power, nature, and character of God.
Faith is a predetermined conclusion based on the power, nature, and character of God.
Dan 6:16
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
The Kingdom Influencer lives his life and dies his death for the glory of God.
God knows how and when to save for his glory.
Marker #4: A Kingdom Influencer is blameless before God and Man.
Marker #4: A Kingdom Influencer is blameless before God and Man.
20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Dan 6:
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Dan
Blameless is not sinless but “above reproach.”
To be blameless is to not have any unresolved issues in your life between God and Man.
Are you living a repentant life toward God?
Have you handled your earthly relationships in a God-honoring way?
Review
A Kingdom Influencer:
determines not to defile yourself with things of this world.
Lives by God’s Word
Faithful even in the face of death
Blameless before God and Man.
Reminds me of another Kingdom Influencer (Jesus)
Jesus like Daniel was found perfect in all his ways.
Jesus like Daniel was desired to make King.
Jesus like Daniel was falsely accused and sentenced.
Jesus like Daniel was cast into the pit and the stone was rolled over it.
17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
Daniel like
Dan 6:17
Jesus like Daniel rose again from the place of death.
23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Dan 6:
Closing Thoughts
Take moment and evaluate your love for God.
Have you placed your faith and trust in the God that can save you from the lions den?
The Bible describes Satan as that roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
Do you love him with all your heart?
But God has the power to shut the mouths of the lions and save you from death.
This is the key factor of any kind of faith or service toward God.
If you don’t love him you won’t be faithful to him.
Have you given yourself to God?
God protects and saves his children.
You become a child of God by receiving forgiveness and salvation from Jesus his Son.
Are you ready become a kingdom influencer.