Stand--Week 3 (stand under persecution)

Intro

We’ve been talking the last 3 weeks about standing for God.

The first week we talked about not following the Crowd

Following the crowd usually takes you down the wrong path

Last week we talked about not bowing to idols in our lives

Idolatry always leads to persecution and vice versa

Today, we’re going to be talking about Standing under persecution

What’s the heaviest pressure you’ve ever had in your life. Have you ever found it difficult to perform under pressure?

Best man speech

It takes a special person to stand up to immense pressure

There are some basketball players who play better under pressure (MJ)

There are some bball players who play worse under pressure (LBJ)

How do you respond when there is pressure in your life?

Daniel responded well because he decided in his heart he was going to do right

Daniel’s Demeanor (Dan. 6:1-3)

English Standard Version Chapter 6

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

It seems Daniel was one of the highest, possibly the second highest in the whole kingdom. And it was possibly getting Higher.

Why do you think that was?

Daniel Treasured God above else

Daniel had no other idols

v.4 says Daniel was faithful

Daniel placed God first

It’d be wrong to think that if you love God he’s going to make you king over Babylon…But when you love God, He is going to guide you into His perfect will and His will is going to be life changing for you and others.

Daniel’s Detractors (Dan. 6:4-9)

English Standard Version Chapter 6

Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 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.”

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

Whenever you succeed, there is always going to be someone jealous of your success…Especially when success comes with power

Daniel had people constantly looking over his shoulder

But they couldn’t find anything wrong with Him

WOuld the people you surround yourself be able to find anything wrong with you?

Would they care if they could find anything wrong with you?

Sometimes we choose to be with people because it is what’s easy

Daniel’s Decision (Dan. 6:10-16)

English Standard Version Chapter 6

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. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

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!”

Daniel Didn’t run away

Daniel didn’t hide what he beleived

Daniel didn’t submit to the persecution or fold under pressure

Daniel did what he thought was right…and God rewarded him and changed the heart of Darius (26-27)

How about you?

What happens to you when you’re persecuted?

This is a little bigger than a bad best man speech

Do you stick to what you know is right? Or do you submit?