Be Resolved; Be excellent!
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Be Excellent!
Be Excellent!
We are called to be excellent in all that we do, and do all things in the name of the Lord (Col3:17). Daniel is going to be a great example of being excellent in our passage today.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
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Scriptures referenced in intro section, Col3:17; Dan5:31; Dan5:26-28; Dan2:36-44; Dan1:2; Dan2:21)
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We have seen Darius receive the throne (Dan5:31)
We saw why the throne was taken from Belshazzar (5:26-28)
We see now the transfer of kingdom as prophesied to King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan2:36-44)
In our passage and the proceeding we do not see the fighting for the kingdom, just that the kingdom was received. May we remember that God instills and replaces (Dan1:2, 2:21) kings and kingdoms. Regardless of circumstances, whoever is the President, Governor or County, City officials God is still in control and we are called to be resolved as Christians and be excellent in word and deed.
Be excellent in trust
Be excellent in trust
Excellent, that is a great thing to strive for isn’t it? But how can we be excellent in trust? Let’s look at a biblical example.
1 It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.
3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
First thing we can notice is a wise leader surrounds himself with wise people, people he can trust (Pro1:5)
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
(wise counsel picture inserted here)
Darius surrounded himself with 120 Satraps, 3 commissioners, of which Daniel was one. Daniel was one with an extraordinary, or an excellent spirit depending on the version you read (vv.1-3).
Daniel because of his extraordinary, excellent spirit was distinguished and that brought about jealousy (v.4)
Darius did not try to do it alone, he had a team around him, and that pleased him.
Do we try to do it alone or do we surround ourselves with wise people to help us to learn, to grow and to make wise decisions and take wise actions?
How can we know if someone is wise, worldly wisdom or godly wisdom?
Daniel was known to be excellent in his work. He was known to be extraordinary. His actions backed up his words. His words pointed and gave glory to God (Mt6:33)
Daniel because of his excellent spirit, excellent work the commissioners and the satraps could not find anything to accuse him of, except? ? ? - - - hold onto that one just for a minute, we will get there in just a couple of minutes
Application: May we be excellent in trust, in action, in words that there is nothing that anyone can accuse you of except being a Christian and may there be sufficient evidence to prove that.
So, how can we be excellent in trust, action, words so that no one can accuse us? How can we have our integrity intact and not compromise it?
Seek God first, Daniel did and that will get him in a den of trouble today.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Be ready for accusations
Be ready for accusations
Daniel was resolved, he was committed, he was uncompromising and sometimes, as in our passage here, it may lead to problems, but remember who we serve and how we are to serve. Daniel did not forget, well, neither did the king.
5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.” 6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever!
7 “All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.
8 “Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
So Daniel was faultless and he was excellent (v.4)
There was no fault found in him, and they knew the only thing they could do with him would be concerning his God.
It brought about jealousy and a scheme (v.5-9)
It brought about jealousy, a scheme to deal with Daniel and get him out of the way
So they went to the king, fed on his ego (v.6)
The plan was laid out (vv.7-9)
There was a problem though, look at (v.7) it said “all” and Daniel was not there was he?
The decree, the petition to be signed was true, the king was considered a god and they are telling, commanding the people to worship the king/god, knowing Daniel would not do that because he was a man of great resolve and faith in the God of Israel.
The king was played, was manipulated so they could get Daniel out of the way.
The king signed the statute and it could not be changed under the law of the Medes and the Persians. Why, because the king was considered a god and a god cannot be wrong.
Daniel was resolved, committed to his faith and to prayer (Dan6:10; 1Kng8:22; Dan9:1-4; Act5:29; 2Cor12:9)
Daniel was not ignorant to what was going on
Daniel was committed to His God and his prayer life to His God and was not going to compromise it for anyone.
Daniel was not just excellent in work, he was excellent in prayer, look at his example
Prayed three times a day, so, habit of prayer
Prayed toward Jerusalem, where he heart was
Prayed lifting up his hands even, as exampled in (1Kng8:22) in the prayer of Solomon.
Daniel prayed for the people as seen in (Dan9:1-4)
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
Application - may we be people of resolved faith and prayer like Daniel unwilling to compromise and having a heart for the people, even those who may be against us. Daniel had reverential fear more for God than fear of man. A good N.T. example is
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
P. T. Forsythe says “Toward Jerusalem or Babylon.” Most of the work day begins looking toward the world and hoping to get something from it, but the Christian believer looks to the Lord and His promises and enters each day by faith and what the Christian has to give to the world. - outlook determines outcome!
D.L. Moody stated “. . . true faith is man’s weakness leaning on God’s strength.” - - - check out this verse
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Is your faith, your resolved faith, your uncompromising faith being perfected in your weakness so that the power of Christ may dwell in you?
(Transition) Remember Daniel was being accused because of his excellence, his extraordinary Spirit. It was known, it was seen, it was evident, it was believed - may we too have this true in us! For that leads to our next point
Be confident in God’s power vs. man’s authority
Be confident in God’s power vs. man’s authority
Being resolved in something comes with confidence doesn’t it? As we look at this next section, look closely, who is resolved here, is it Daniel or Darius?
12 Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
13 Then they answered and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.”
14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.”
17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. 20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.”
23 Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
We have already established Daniel of a man of resolved faith, quickly look over the passage, does Daniel’s resolved faith have anything to say prior to (vv.21-22)? But We can see God’s power all throughout Daniel so far, here are some reminders:
God’s power was demonstrated in Daniel’s resolved faith (Dan1:8)
God’s wisdom gave ability for Daniel to interpret a dream (Dan2, 4)
God’s power delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego from fiery furnace (Dan3)
God’s word, God’s power spoken through God’s prophet (Jer32:27)
27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
So, here is where we are at now.
Daniel was accused (Dan5:11-13; Rom3:15; 2Tim3:12)
They spied on him knowing they would find him praying
They, the accusers, ran to the king
They were swift to run to violence you can also look at (Rom3:15)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
So, it should not be of any surprise that those who live for God, would face persecution.
Puritan preacher Henry Smith said.
“God examines with trials, the devil with temptations and the world with persecutions.”
The King’s distress (Dan6:14-18)
(Distress picture inserted here)
The king’s distress over a death warrant for Daniel, may we remember God allowed this to happen so that the liars, the accusers would be found out and judged. According to Eph1:11 “God works all things after the counsel of his own will.”
Distressed that there was no way out (Dan6:15-16)
So, think back to the question I posed earlier, whose faith, resolved faith is being displayed, revealed here?
the king had had faith in Daniel and the God of Daniel.
Distressed that the sentence had to be carried out (Dan6:17)
Remember it was a decree that had been signed, sealed, delivered
Now Daniel had to be delivered to the lion’s den
God’s power to carry out God’s plan in protecting Daniel, but after a fitful night sleep for the king (Dan6:22)
Jim McGuiggan said “His sleep fled from him. No wonder! While the righteous lay amid hungry lions the ungodly were Rejoicing. And how do we sleep these days? Does unrighteousness keep us awake?”
Victory! May God get the glory (Dan6:19-23)
You see the kings cry (v.20)
The kings hope (v.20)
The kings proof (v.21)
Daniel’s resolved faith proclaimed again (Dan6:21-22)
Kings order given (v.23) - take him out!
(transition) - Be resolved, be excellent in trust, be excellent in your commitment to your faith, be excellent in your confidence of God’s power and one more quick point to make.
Be excellent in dedicaton
Be excellent in dedicaton
A night of confinement ended in a morning of victory. A morning of glory to God.
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “May your peace abound!
26 “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.
27 “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Excellent outcome, God’s peace proclaimed (Dan6:25; Pro11:8)
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.
Daniel was delivered and the wicked take his place
Excellent declaration (Dan6:25-27)
The first decree declared Darius as a god; the second one declare that the God of the Hebrews was the true and living God.
Excellent theology (Dan6:26)
Like Moses, David or Paul this declaration shows God (Jehovah) to be a living and eternal God whose kingdom will never end or be destroyed.
Excellent servant prospered (Dan6:28)
In the eyes of God and man, the man of God finds favor. Daniel found favor and was prospered.
(Draw a conclusion picture inserted here)
The message for the people of God needs to be.
When facing the fiery furnace of life or the roaring lion be resolved in your faith.
Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you and will exalt you in due time
Be resolved, be excellent
Trust in the Lord
Be ready for any accusations and hard times that may come
Be confident in God’s power
Be dedicated in your faith and your prayer life
Be His! (pray, close)