Resolved: Daniel's Faith!

1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

So, what does resolved faith look like in the bible?

Daniel’s resolved faith previously (Dan1:8)

So here is what we are looking at this morning.

Daniel’s resolved faith asks questions (Dan2:14-16)

Daniels resolved faith in Prayer (Dan2:17-18)

Daniel’s resolved faith’s return (Dan2:19-24)

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So, now, what does resolved faith look like in those you know, how about in you? I want you to think and consider that as we look at Daniel’s resolved faith in our passage today.

Dan2:14-15

Daniel 2:14–15 NASB95

14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; 15 he said to Arioch, the king’s commander, “For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.

Daniel 2:16 NASB95

16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.

Daniel 2:17–18 NASB95

17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, 18 so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2:19–20 NASB95

19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; 20 Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.

Daniel 2:21–22 NASB95

21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. 22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.

Daniel 2:23–24 NASB95

23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us the king’s matter.” 24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king’s presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.”

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Daniel’s resolved faith asked questions

Is it OK to ask questions? OK, maybe that is a rhetorical question, of course it is. In fact if you want to grow oftentimes it comes with asking questions. Look at this section at the questions and the way Daniel goes about asking the questions.

The search was on, so better give you more context first (Dan2:12-13)

Daniel 2:12–13 NASB95

12 Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.

The King was not a happy camper that his wisemen could not answer his question about the dream and the interpretation.

What as the order given by the king?

Now then it brings us to first part of our passage tonight, you can look at your bible at (vv.14-16) and lets learn from Daniel

How did Daniel come to answer Arioch (v.14)?

Counsel and Wisdom - wonder where he got that, lol.

Bad news travels fast doesn’t it- Daniel was not there when the command was given, but now here is Arioch there to carry out the command on Daniel,

Did Daniel tell Arioch the command, or was it visa versa?

Look at Daniels question and you have the answer, Daniel told Arioch and asked about the urgency

Then Arioch confirmed it to Daniel (v.15)

Notice how Daniel approached the question with Arioch and then with the king, with discretion and discernment, it went hand in hand with the respect he previously had shown to authority (Dan1:8)

Daniel 1:8 NASB95

8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

some things we can see from the passage

Daniel’s resolved faith was sure, he was not concerned about the consequences of asking a question of the king’s executioner

Daniel’s resolved faith was sure where he did not fear going before the king and asking a question either.

What was Daniels question, or request of the king (v.16)?

Scripture tells us why the request was made too, what was it (v.16)?

Look again at (v.16) what else can you tell about Daniel’s resolved faith before the king?

Daniel was resolved that God would give him the interpretation that then he may give it to the king.

Hum, interesting thought, there is no where in the scripture that said that Daniel had the ability to interpret dreams prior to this, is there? So, Daniel, you will see when we get there gives the credit to the One who gave it to him, the ability that is.

God gives you what you need to accomplish what God wants you to accomplish, even if you have no gift or talent in an area before if God called you for it now, He will give you what you need to accomplish His will.

So, thus far we have Daniel and his resolved faith that was not concerned about consequences, but confident in God and what God would do. That leads to the next point.

Daniel’s resolved faith in prayer

Prayer, it does the body good, right? Of course, and we know we are commanded to pray, but, can we struggle with the practice of prayer? Daniel was resolved in prayer, look at what we can learn from this section of scripture about Daniel and prayer (by the way, this is just one example in Daniel of this, more will follow).

Daniel 2:17–18 NASB95

So, Daniel just left the king, asked for time so can interpret the dream so he may tell it to the king (v.16) and now lets look at the events that transpired next.

(Daniel’s prayer partners picture)

Where did Daniel go after leaving the king?

What did Daniel do?

What was Daniel’s hope?

Daniel went home and sought prayer partners (v.17)

Daniel was purposed, specific in prayer (v.18)

Daniel was confident in his prayer too (v.18)

Daniel recruited prayer partners to join him to plead for the God of heaven for compassion and mercy. May we remember what is at stake here, their very lives and those of the wise men of the region, the executioner had already been there. Daniel in his resolved faith already told the king he would interpret the dream. Daniel spoke as if it had already happen.

Other biblical examples to pray confidently

Jesus told the apostles to pray as if too, check out (Jn14:12-14)

James said pray without doubt (Jm1:6-7)

John 14:12–14 NASB95

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

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James said pray without doubt (Jm1:6-7)

James 1:6–7 NKJV

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

Prayer fervently, pray confidently, pray consistently, pray always and recruit prayer partners to join you! Daniel set a great example, we should follow it.

Daniel’s resolved faith’s return

ROI means return on investment. Who does not want a good return on their investment? Daniel was confident in his faith, in his prayer that the prayer would come to fruition and that lead to praise too.

Daniel 2:19–20 NASB95

Daniel 2:21–22 NASB95

Daniel 2:23–24 NASB95

(Daniel’s night vision)

Because of Daniel’s faithful confidence what are the results of their faithful prayer (v.19)

How did the revelation happen (v.19)

What was Daniels response to the revelation (v.20)?

Daniel’s faithful confidence, and confidence in prayer pays off and the dream is given to him (v.19)

Daniel’s answered prayer ends in praise to God (v.20)

Do we do that, do we pray confidently and praise commonly? Prayers of thanksgiving, prayer of Gratitude,

now moving on to the praise.

What did Daniel praise God for (v.20)?

What did Daniel acknowledge about God, through praise (v.21-22)?

what was Daniels attidude

What was Daniels attitude (v.23)?

What was Daniels decision (v.24)?

Answered prayer let to praise and thanksgiving

Answered prayer acknowledged God and His sovereignty

Answered prayer lead to confidence regardless of consequences

Daniel praised God, blessed God and His name. He acknowledges that all wisdom and might are His. Might is not strength, but resolve to persevere, to endure, to press on no matter what because of his revolved faith.

Now look at (v.21-22) He acknowledges the sovereignty of God who removes and places kings, he gives the wisdom,He reveals the deep and secret things (consider Lk21:28)

Some food for thought about God’s sovere

Luke 21:28 NASB95

28 “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

when the going gets tough, know God is in control and in charge, He is sovereign. the world may say all is doomed, all is lost, give up, throw in the towel.Jesus says look up! God is at work, working out all things, for you know. Remember God is with you, so be resolved, be prayerful, be confident and be praising.

These things that God has already done for us.

For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom5:8)

We were dead, but God made us alive (Eph2:4-5)

God gave us mercy, when we deserved death

He gave us grace in place of eternal condemnation

He gave us His Son so that we may have our salvation

He gave us his Word so we can learn to have the resolve of Daniel

Your resolved faith

We are to be confident in our salvation, in the God of our salvation. Each day we have an opportunity to grow in our resolve. May we consider another good biblical example of resolved faith and reason to have it (Act17:22-31)

Acts 17:22–23 NASB95

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Acts 17:24–25 NASB95

24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

Acts 17:26–27 NASB95

26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

act17

Acts 17:28–29 NASB95

28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

Acts 17:30–31 NASB95

30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

ACt17:30-31

Paul was resolved to live, to exist, to speak of the known God.

We are not to wonder or quesiton about do I have it right or not, we need to believe who God is and he is the rewarder of those who believe in Him according to Heb11:6.

Be resolved in your faith, not your ability, be resolved in Your God and the finished work by Jesus on the cross.

Be resolved in your hope for Jesus Christ is our hope according to 1Tim1:1.

Remember Daniel was resolved and spoke up as if it was before it was even (Dan2:16); may we be willing to do the same, pray in confidence knowing God will work all things out!