Courageous Faith #2: Daniel and the Lion's Den
Last wk—Rack, Shack, Benny
This wk—Daniel
Last wk—Spiritual Heroes live with:
Courageous faith in the face of opposition
Uncompromising integrity in face of temptation
Faith and Integrity in midst of an unfriendly world
Daniel’s story very similar to Rack, Shack, Benny
Dan 3 and 6 similar, but here is primary difference:
—Daniel minding his own business
—hasn’t defied the King to his face
—not looking for trouble
You the type that trouble finds you?
Ever been running along, and BAM, you run into an obstacle?
I want to show a clip that can help us understand Daniel’s world
Video Clip of Antelope running into a tree—
That’s how life is sometimes—
Running along
Minding your own business
Trying to do the right things
BAM!
This is Daniel’s story—
Making the best out of bad situation—exile
Working hard
Making good choices
Devoted to God
BAM!
Finds himself in the bottom of a den full of lions!
What do you do when that happens?
What do you do when you get blind-sighted by tragedy or opposition, or fear, or harm, or hardship, or persecution?
How to walk wGod while getting whacked in the face wa tree!
Read Daniel 6
I. People w/Courageous Faith Live Life Prepared for Trees
A) By Exhibiting Uncommon Integrity—vs 4-5
Daniel gave a lifetime of faithful service—prob 80 yrs old
1) Verse 4—Other palace officials upset
2) Began to look for things Daniel was doing wrong
a) We are in the middle of a Battle!
b) Satan not going to let someone get off easy!
c) Will be trees in your running lane
3) They couldn’t find anything.
(Verse 4) Daniel was: Faithful
Honest Not Corrupt
Always Responsible Not Negligent
Daniel is making good choices
People are plotting against him
4) Verse 5—Planning to use Daniel’s faith against him
Since can’t find anything—resort to his faith
Tells us about Daniel’s character
a) Was devout
b) Told others about God
c) He wasn’t putting on show—knew it had leverage
5) Daniel has been consistently above board
Most get tired
Easy to let things slide—esp. after years of faithfulness
6) Wouldn’t it be nice?
When all is said and done, and they go through your life with a fine-tooth comb, wouldn’t it be wonderful if all they could find to use against us was our faith?
7) If we think running into trees is no fun,
Adversity is difficult
People looking for things you’re doing wrong
Then think how bad life is when they do have dirt
People w/Courageous Faith Live Life Prepared for Trees
By: A) Exhibiting Uncommon Integrity, and by
B) Living Consistent Lives—vs 10
1) Daniel doesn’t change his behavior to suit others
i. Did this (pray) before the new law
ii. Doesn’t change w/new law in effect
2) Ever know anyone who was 2 faced?
Teddy Roosevelt
During one of his political campaigns, a delegation called on Theodore Roosevelt at his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. The President met them with his coat off and his sleeves rolled up.
“Ah, gentlemen,” he said, “come down to the barn and we will talk while I do some work.”
At the barn, Roosevelt picked up a pitchfork and looked around for the hay. Then he called out, “John, where’s all the hay?”
“Sorry, sir,” John called down from the hayloft. “I ain’t had time to toss it back down again after you pitched it up while the Iowa folks were here.” Bits & Pieces, November 12, 1992, pp. 19-20
3) When a person is used to changing who they are to make others happy, imagine how easy it is when there’s a tree in your running lane.
4) Are you the same person in one group as you are in another group?
5) Are you the same person in private and public?
People w/Courageous Faith Live Life Prepared for Trees
By: A) Exhibiting Uncommon Integrity,
B) Living Consistent Lives, and by
C) Praying Passionately—vs 10-11
1) Daniel prayed boldly
Left window open for all to see
2) Daniel prayed consistently—3 times/day
3) Always did this
4) 1 Thess 5:17 “Pray Continually”
a) “When Jesus becomes like oxygen, prayer becomes like breathing.” —Robert Gelinas
b) The regularity of our prayers is directly proportional to our dependency on God.
5) Daniel didn’t wait until things were bad to pray
6) How’s your prayer life? Mine needs work.
But what about when they actually get smacked?
What do people of Courageous Faith do then?
II. People with Courageous Faith Hang on When the Trees Come
A) Daniel not recorded as saying anything!
B) Daniel not recorded as taking any action
C) Read vs 19-23—Daniel alive
1) God sent His angel to shut the lion’s mouths
2) Daniel innocent before God
3) Daniel innocent before Darius
D) Why doesn’t Daniel do something?
1) Nothing Daniel can do.
2) He’s gotta hang on.
3) Has to Trust in God
E) Not a scratch—Because he trusted in his God!
1) In Other Words—Daniel hung on!
2) Read Story of hanging on to rope
People w/Courageous Faith Live Life Prepared for Trees
By: Exhibiting Uncommon Integrity,
Living Consistent Lives, and
Praying Passionately
People w/Courageous Faith Hang on when the Trees Come