Shut The Mouths of Lions

If you’re visiting with us today, I’m so glad you are here. As believers, we have experienced the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ and have been born again into his family. We want to share that love with you this morning and invite you to become apart of God’s family as well. Because of the perfectness of Christ God offers a perfect salvation to imperfect people like me and you. As we get closer to the end of the message today, I will give further instruction on how you can become a child of God as well. Let’s dive into the message this morning.

Last week we discussed the change that is taking place in morality in our country from traditional or Judio-Christian morals to self-fulfillment. Instead of asking the question, “What brings God glory?” the questions become, “What brings me joy and fulfillment?” The sad thing for me is watching this change happening in the church.

In a seeker-friendly or attractional church, the change is seen in the compromise of doctrine to accommodate self-fulfilling morals. But what about in a discipleship-based church like ours?

Our goal has always been to equip people with the gospel and send them into their community to bear witness to Jesus Christ. When the mindset is self-fulfillment in a discipleship church, the disciples think the teaching and the training are only for their betterment. So, everyone is getting trained, but few are sharing the love of Christ.

The focus from outward to inward can happen so subtly that you don't even realize that you have changed.

One of the mind shifts we need to make to remain “Unshakable” in this changing cultural climate is the idea of how we share our faith. When I say, "share your faith," we get this picture of leading people in a sinner's prayer of pitching the gospel in some form or fashion. For example, "If you were to die today do you know if you would spend eternity in heaven with God?" Most of us will not do that in our daily routine; therefore, we dismiss the possibility and responsibility of sharing our faith. The Evangelism I see in the Bible has three components illustrated in Daniel Six.

A Healthy Reputation

A Heart that’s Resolved

A Hope of Resurrection

A Healthy Reputation

Daniel 6:1–4 (ESV)

1 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. 4 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.

An excellent spirit

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Walking in step with the Spirit of God

Galatians 5:24–25 ESV

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Bearing the fruit of the Spirit of God

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

A blameless life

A good conscience before God and Man

2 Corinthians 4:1–3 ESV

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.

Blameless in all things

Daniel 6:5–9 ESV

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.

Blameless is not perfection.

Blameless is living a lifestyle of repentance before God and humanity.

Do you have unresolved issues in your life that are causing a question of your character?

Are you living a life of integrity so that christianity is your real self?

Evangelism today must start with healthy reputation of Christ centered living. People will see your life before they ever hear your words.

So what do you do if your reputation is in recovery? Let them see a radical transformation!

“A radical transformation leads to a new reputation.”

Transition:

Daniel had this healthy reputation before God and Man because long ago as a teenager he resolved in his heart not to defile himself with the things of Babylon, but that he would reserve himself to God and only for God’s glory.

A Hart that's Resolved

Daniel 6:10 ESV

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.

God remained the top priority in his life.

He continued his spiritual disciplines.

He kept his daily office of prayer.

He was not hiding his faith, even though it would cost him his life.

He was a faithful follower of God

Luke 14:26–27 ESV

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

He put God first and above all.

He would live for Christ even in the face of death.

He counted the cost.

He placed his life in the hands of God and not men.

With the moral revolution that is happening around us, we can no longer trust in the laws of the land to protect our Judeo-Christian lifestyle. Christianity is not looked at as the salvation of mankind but the oppressor of freedom. The laws being written now are to ensure freedom of sin and unrighteousness and not the glory of God. So, How do we stand against a people that has turned their back on God?

We love unconditionally.

We stand on the truth of God’s Word.

We endure the punishment and even death if necessary for the name of Christ.

We let God be the judge.

A Hope of Resurrection

The world provides no hope for salvation.

This life is all they are living for.

The world believes this moment is the only moment you have.

Daniel 6:14–18 ESV

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!” 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. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Our Hope is in the Lord.

The King put his trust in God.

Daniel 6:19–20 ESV

19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 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?”

Daniel put his trust in God.

Daniel 6:21–22 ESV

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.”

God sent his Angel to shut the mouths of the lions.

That Angel was Jesus, the lion of Juda.

Maybe you feel the lions circling. Maybe your being thrown into the lions den because of your faith. Jesus is still delivering people for the den of lions today.

The Lord found Daniel blameless.

The Lord didn’t save accusers.

We too can put our trust in God.

1 Corinthians 15:35–36 ESV

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

1 Corinthians 15:42–44 ESV

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV

49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 ESV

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

A Hope to the Nations

Daniel 6:25–27 ESV

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Conclusion

Being “Unshakeable” steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord is hard in our culture, but this is not the first time God’s people have been in this situation.

Daniel and his friends were sentenced to death for their walk and faith in God, but the world could kill them. They were resurrected from the fiery furnace and the lions den.

Jesus and his disciples were sentenced to death for their walk and faith, but the world could kill them. Jesus was resurrected on the third day.

Jesus followers of faith will be sentenced to death both socially and physically, but rest assured the world can’t kill you any more than Jesus Himself. We, with all the saints will be resurrected to every be with the Lord.

Final Questions:

In whom do you place your trust for salvation? Do you even see a need for salvation? What you believe about God doesn’t change the facts about God. Jesus is returning for the righteous in Him. Judgement is coming on all ungodliness of humanity. Every person must choose to trust in Jesus or deny him.

What change do you need to make for a healthy reputation before God and man?

What is your daily practice to glorify God and keep your heart resolved to the Lord?

Where are you placing your hope for the future?