Having the Faith to Face the Lions

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Daniel was a man of great faith and spiritual integrity. He was not ashamed of his faith and did his best to serve God and king faithfully.

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Faced Any “Lions” this week?

Any one here this morning a cat person? I personally do not like cats, I am allergic to them for one thing…but there is just something about cats that just disturbs me…they can stare you down for hours with this evil look (show picture of evil cat)...I just don’t like them…I think they know that too…because they come up to me and want to get in my face like “I know you are allergic to meeow…so here take that…achoo!”…I then have to go and take a shower…burn my clothes, etc. cats are just mean to do that to me.

Even though I do not like Fluffy the House cat, I do marvel at the majesty and raw power of lions…and I am so glad when we go to the zoo they are on the other side of the fence with a mote and a wall between us...if I had to face one of those beasts in the wild I would probably scream like a school girl…I would venture to say that every person here this morning would probably do the same thing…you would scream, cry, shout, faint, etc. if you ever stood face to face with a lion with nothing in between you...

Facing a real lion or a den of lions with nothing in between you and them to protect you from them would be terrifying…I would venture to say that not many of us in here this morning have ever or will ever encounter lions like that…but I do believe that at one point or another, perhaps even yet today, there are some here who are facing “lions” in their life and are terrified and trapped in a den of them...

Of course, we all did. We all did.

Maybe I ought to ask the question this way, what lions did you face this week?

Some of you are in a job situation right now where there is just incredible pressure from your boss…your employer is making unreasonable demands…or perhaps there is this fierce competition to get noticed…and so every day you go into work, you can almost hear the roars. You can almost see the sharp teeth that are set to tear into you and devour you…your place of employment is much like a lion's den.

Some are facing a sinful habit that's ready to pounce. You remember what God said to Cain? He said, "Sin is crouching at your door ready to devour you." You want to have victory, but the power of sin, and the power of your own lust and the power of our adversary, is incredibly strong. It's like that lion wants to pounce on you and swipe you with its huge paws...

Some are facing a sinful habit that's ready to pounce. You remember what God said to Cain? He said, "Sin is crouching at your door ready to devour you." You want to have victory, you want to get to a better place, but the power of sin, and the power of your own lust and the power of our adversary is incredibly strong. It's like that lion wants to eat you up, and some day you may feel like the lion's winning.

Perhaps you’ve just heard an extreme diagnosis of a health concern for you or someone close to you...maybe its an addiction you just can’t break free from...Or maybe your marriage is coming apart at the seams right now…you have a rebellious child who just won’t listen to your counsel...

Perhaps you are here right now and the world around you is just this den of lions that wants to destroy you and devour you…my friend there is hope!

With that open your bible to

Historical Context

With that you might open your bible now to Daniel chapter six

Whether you are new to our study or not, it is important for us to have an historical knowledge of what transpires in the book of Daniel…the first 6 chapters are actual historical accounts that begin with the establishment of Babylon as the world power in 605 BC...Daniel was a Jewish teenager who was deported to the country of Babylon along with several other choice young people by King Nebuchadnezzar.

At the beginning of this book we discover that Daniel was a Jewish teenager who was deported to the country of Babylon along with several other choice young people by King Nebuchadnezzar around 605 BC.

The title of this series is Standing Firm and Staying Faithful in the Sovereignty of God because this book is all about how Daniel and his friends were able to live faithfully for God even though they were in a foreign land, in the midst of a corrupt culture, away from any kind of godly parental authority or influence. They resolve in their hearts to be faithful, regardless of their circumstances, and God empowered them to do that.

By the time we get to , Daniel is nearing the end of his life and his ministry. Seventy years have passed. Daniel served several different Babylonian kings and now he is employed in the service of the Persian kings.

Last week we looked at and saw how Darius the Mede came in and conquered Babylon for the Medes and the Persians.

That is very significant for the simple fact that it proves the incredible accuracy of the word of God...Remember, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream back in chapter two about the four kingdoms…and now here in , we see the transition from the kingdom of Babylon, the head of gold, to the kingdom of Medo-Persia, the breasts and arms of silver.

Remember, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream back in chapter two about the four kingdoms…and now here in chapter 6 we see the transition from the kingdom of Babylon, the head of gold, to the kingdom of Medo-Persia, the breasts and arms of silver.

The Babylonian captivity is over…they are being allowed to return to Jerusalem…see & … you see the story of God's people beginning to go back to their homeland to rebuild the temple and rebuild the city…all in a direct fulfillment of the word of God…God uses Cyrus the king of Persia to not only send them back, but to fund that project as well.

So while the return is going on, Daniel is here in Babylon...

He is now some eighty years old, the captivity is over, and so now Daniel can rest, he did his job…time to hang up the “prophet sneakers” and exchange them for some “retirement slippers”...

No…what we will see in the most famous historical account in Daniel is God is going to use Daniel again, in the twilight of his life, to be a trophy of His glory and grace…in this actual historical record we learn a very powerful lesson...

Main Point: God Wants To Help You Face Your Lions

Daniel was a man of great faith and spiritual integrity. He was not ashamed of his faith and did his best to serve God and the king faithfully…when life once again, took an unexpected turn for Daniel, he continued to trust God and allowed Him to work His plan...When life turns into a lion’s den…God can provide the strength you need to stand strong and stay faithful.

Daniel was a man of great faith and spiritual integrity. He was not ashamed of his faith and did his best to serve God and the king faithfully…when life took an unexpected turn for Daniel, he continued to trust God and allowed Him to work His plan

When life turns into a lion’s den…God can provide the strength you need to stand strong and stay faithful.

Let’s look at 3 Insights to Help Us Stand Strong and Stay Faithful When Facing our “Lions”

Those who want to be counted among the faithful will maintain a consistency of faithfulness and spiritual integrity trusting God to do His work in and through them.

Pleasing God Must Be Our Highest Priority (1-9)

Even though Daniel was in a foreign land, in the middle of a corrupted culture, he spent his lifetime seeking to honor God with his life and God gave him a faith that stood the test of time.

2 Corinthians 5:9–10 NASB95

Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Daniel knew God was watching…he knew there was nothing he could hide from God…so Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not allow himself to become tainted or corrupted...

Pleasing God Makes You Different In Character

Remember what Daniel purposed in his heart in chapter 1?

Read

Daniel 1:8 NASB95

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.

Read — “he distinguished himself” is written as a participle stressing the fact that Daniel kept distinguishing himself” …it was his nature to be a man of integrity…his heart was purposed to not be defiled...

Read

Daniel not only had wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams, but he also possessed great skill politically…Daniel served every king with integrity regardless of how bad and evil that king may have been. Even within a wicked government, Daniel still found reason and resolve to serve honorably…he was often in a place of high leadership… in , Neb. found him 10x better than his own highly educated men…in , he had earned the reputation for being a problem solver...

The new king was setting up a new government and so he appointed 120 officials to help him govern (satraps — means protector of the kingdom, used loosely to designate royally appointed officials), the Persian Empire was the largest Empire the world had known at that time, and so it was divided into many smaller territories...

The new king was setting up a new government and so appointed 120 officials to help him govern (satraps — means protector of the kingdom, used loosely to designate royally appointed officials), the Persian Empire was the largest Empire the world had known at that time, and so it was divided into many smaller territories...

their job was to collect taxes and provide security in all the territories and to prevent loss of land and money…he then appointed three commissioners over the satraps, one of whom was Daniel.

the satraps were to report their activities to the three administrators to ensure the Persian kingdom would not suffer loss — the indication here is that there was an element of distrust from the king towards the satraps

Darius somehow knew about Daniel’s track record with the other kings and his plan was to promote Daniel to “president” or “prime minister”… because he had possessed the integrity that he could be trusted to keep the corrupted administrators accountable…

Daniel was made the Prime Minister because he possessed the integrity that he could be trusted to keep the corrupted administrators accountable.

Daniel was promoted to “president” or “prime minister” because he had possessed the integrity that he could be trusted to keep the corrupted administrators accountable…

Daniel’s character was different because his priority was different…pleasing God.

suffering loss — refers to both financial loss an loss incurred by security breaches

Daniel was made the Prime Minister because he possessed the integrity that he could be trusted to keep the corrupted administrators accountable.

Pleasing God Makes You Different In Your Attitude

“an extraordinary spirit...”Daniel was made Prime Minister not just because he was honest, but because everything about him exuded godliness.

Think about how many kings Daniel has now served under, and not all of them were good and nice, and not once we do we get the impression Daniel ever had the attitude of “what’s the use”…or having the frame of mind to cut corners and say “good enough for government work”

Not only did Daniel do his work with excellence, he had a good attitude in doing it, regardless of who was the king…it’s clear the Holy Spirit had been working in and through Daniel throughout the entire book…there were even people who did not know God who attested to this…he lived in such a way that people around him said, he is different…he has an excellent spirit about him.

Push the pause button for a moment and consider the impact that ought to have on us today…do people naturally want to be around you because you display an excellent spirit that reflects the character of your God?…at work does your boss and your co-workers look forward to seeing you and talking with you because you have an excellent spirit, in your home do you have to have your 2 pots of coffee before anyone wants to say good morning to you, kids do your parents look forward to you getting out of bed in the morning because you have an excellent spirit that is reflective of your relationship with God?

I hope, by the way, you're letting the word of God already impact you. Like, when you go to work the attitude that you take in, the first thirty minutes of the day, "Wow, what an excellent spirit that person has." When you get up in the morning and start navigating around. Would your kiddies have reason to say or your hunny have reason to say, "What an excellent spirit."? If you're a young person here, would your parent say, "What an excellent spirit that sweet son or daughter has this morning as they came down the stairs, praising God and thankful for all the opportunities of the day. What an excellent spirit."?

Pleasing God Makes You Different In the Way You Live.

It causes you to want to be holy.

Read Daniel 6:4-5

"Lived in a way that was blameless."…the king’s plan to elevate Daniel really honked off some of the satraps and the two other administrators…so they began to examine his governmental activities to discover some flaw in his character or professional abilities…they were looking to impeach him…(sound familiar?)…but here is the kicker…they found nothing (yet it did not stop them…(again sound familiar?)

he was neither politically corrupt nor negligent in the performance of his work…(boy could we use some Daniel’s in our time!)…because he was driven to be holy…to live righteously...

He was faithful…there was no negligence or corruption at all in him... They couldn't find a charge. They couldn't find a fault because he was faithful to live a life of consistent holiness.

He was faithful…there was no negligence or corruption at all in him... They couldn't find a charge. They couldn't find a fault because he was faithful.

It causes you to obey God rather than man.

They concluded , there was only one area in which they might find a conflict between Daniel and the government…his religion…they looked for something in his religious beliefs that could disqualify him from serving (is history repeating itself today?)

they knew Daniel worshipped only one God…not the many gods of their culture…Daniel’s choice would be to obey God or man (laws of Medes and Persians) and they knew which one he would choose.

When Daniel prayed, what direction did he face? The passage says, "When Daniel knew that the document was signed he entered his house. Now, in his roof chamber he had windows opened." Toward where? Toward Jerusalem.

He knew that the promises that God had made to his chosen people seventy years before were true. Even though they had gone through this period of judgment and purification for seventy years, Daniel never questioned whether God would keep his word.

He believed in the importance of prayer.

"When Daniel knew that the document was signed he entered his house's roof chamber. He had windows opened toward Jerusalem... He continued kneeling."

Do you see that? Not he started. "Man things are getting hard, better pray." No. "He continued kneeling on his knees, praying and giving thanks."

Not griping or complaining, no pouting...he's giving thanks as he had been doing previously.

These guys knew that if they were going to get Daniel on something it would have to be in relationship to his God…not because he was in their face with it, but because that is simply who he was...His love for God, his desire to serve God, his allegiance to God, his passion for God was evident in all he did...It was a natural, and a regular part of who he was. It was a regular part of what he did...in the way he conducted business., the way he responded to and served the authority, even though they were godless...he believed and practiced God's word…he was faithful to pray consistently…EVERYDAY.

It's not because he rubbed it all over everybody inappropriately. Look, it just came out. His love for God, his desire to serve God, his allegiance to God, his passion for God it just came out. It was a natural, and a regular part of who he ... It just squirted out. In fact, you could be asking yourself right now, what squirts out of you? What squirted out of Daniel was his faithful love for God.

It is clear from the text that Daniel did not hide his convictions…he was not a secret disciple who was ashamed or afraid to speak of his God…it is also clear from the text that he was not going to compromise even in the face of punishment or death.

Daniel had been living this way for over seventy years. He was a godly man who had stood the test of time.

Listen, Daniel's faith was like that. It was just a regular part of who he was. It was a regular part of what he did. It squirted out. That's what I'm saying. It squirted out in the way he did business. Squirted out in the way he served authority even when the authority was pagan. Squirted out in the way he believed and practiced God's word. It squirted out in the faithful way he prayed. It just squirted out. Are you letting the word of God evaluate? What squirts out of you? What squirted out of you on Tuesday morning? What squirted out of you on Thursday night? What squirts out?

His love for God, his desire to serve God, his allegiance to God, his passion for God was evident in all he did and he was not going to be swayed from doing what he knew God wanted him to do...It was just a natural and a regular part of who he was. It was a regular part of the way he thought, and what he did...in the way he conducted business, and they knew his holiness and integrity would get in the way of their plans to get richer... the way he responded to and served the authority, even though they were godless...he believed it was his priority to practice God's word…EVERYDAY.

"When Daniel knew that the document was signed he entered his house's roof chamber. He had windows opened toward Jerusalem... He continued kneeling."

Do you see that? Not he started. "Man things are getting hard, better pray." No. "He continued kneeling on his knees, praying and giving thanks."

Please don't miss the point...this is not about Daniel.

The amazing thing about all this is it didn't just start happening yesterday, huh? Daniel had been living this way for over seventy years. A godly man who had stood the test of trial. A godly man who had stood the test of time. You understand, don't miss the point, ultimately this is not about Daniel. Ultimately this is about the god of Daniel who could take a frail human being and help that person become a faithful trophy of grace. Can I ask you this morning, is it the desire of your heart that you would be a man or a woman of faithfulness? I'm not talking about this just getting by Christianity. God deliver us from that, or "McChurch," or the person who starts fast and burns out quickly. I'm talking about is it the desire of your heart that you would have Daniel kind of faith that stands the test of time?

Not griping or complaining, no pouting...he's giving thanks as he had been doing previously.

His love for God, his desire to serve God, his allegiance to God, his passion for God was evident in all he did and he was not going to be swayed from doing what he knew God wanted him to do...It was a natural, and a regular part of who he was. It was a regular part of what he did...in the way he conducted business., the way he responded to and served the authority, even though they were godless...he believed it was his priority to practice God's word…he was faithful to pray consistently…EVERYDAY.

Please don't miss the point...this is not about Daniel.

This is really about the God of Daniel who could take a teenager and over the course of his life turn him in to a trophy of grace.

This is really about the God of Daniel…the God of Daniel took him when he was a teenager, and placed him in a wicked and godless environment for over 70 years…why?

God needed someone with spiritual integrity and the spiritual fortitude to stand strong in Him, to be that much needed example of a life that is fully commited to Him with unwavering faithfulness.

Implication — Is Pleasing God Your Highest Priority?

That means not being satisfied with a nominal Christianity…is the desire of your heart that you would have Daniel kind of faith that stands the test of time?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a horrible past, or a terrible reputation…it doesn’t matter whether the bulk of your life is nothing but a history of messed up decisions…you can still be like Daniel…How? Because God is the God of grace and mercy...

We’re going to see that next week when we study …God is full of grace and mercy because He sends a Messiah…His Son, Jesus Christ…that is who the book of Daniel is really about…that is who the Bible is about…The Bible is about God reaching down to man and rescuing him from his sin, and intervening for him…it is about Jesus the Messiah living faithfully and dying in our place so we could experience the forgiveness, grace and mercy of God.

There is nothing you could bring into the presence of God that would cause Him to reject you and tell you there is no way you can be like Daniel.

If the desire of your heart is to be like Daniel, and you're willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and put forth some effort, God can take you right now where you are and turn your life into a marvelous display of grace and produce in you Daniel-like faith.

I understand, some people they come to Christ at an early age and they live faithfully for God all of their days and other people just mess up their lives big time, and maybe for an extended time and then come to Christ and live faithfully for the Lord the rest of their days. Listen, the Lord can be equally glorified by men and women in each category. What I'm saying is that there's nothing that you could lay on the table that would cause God to shake his head at you and say, "There's no hope for you to ever be like a Daniel." If it's the desire of your heart to be like Daniel and you're willing to put effort in cooperation with the holy spirit of God, we're about to talk about that. He can and he will help you develop a lifetime of faithfulness.

You have to start with a personal relationship with Christ.

You’ll never accomplish what we are talking about here this morning on your own..Christianity is coming to a place of admitting I can't be the kind of person God wants me to be in and of myself…you need to humble yourself and acknowledge that you have a sinful nature.

The corollary to that in my mind is how many persons might be attending our church right now who don't yet have a personal relationship with Christ and actually might hear a message like this and wrongly conclude, "Well, what Steve is saying is I have to pull myself up by my own spiritual bootstraps. I have to find some way of living faithfully in my own strength and then I earn merit before God and that's how I have a real- ... " No, no, no, no, no. Christianity is coming to a place of admitting I can't be the kind of person God wants me to be in and of myself. Then to humble myself and acknowledge that I have a sinful nature.

Christianity is coming to a place of admitting I can't be the kind of person God wants me to be in and of myself. Then to humble myself and acknowledge that I have a sinful nature.

Then to humble myself and acknowledge that I have a sinful nature.

You’ve got to make a decision on whether you are going to believe that or not and then what you are going to do with it...

Daniel had a faith that stood the test of time because he purposed in his heart as a teenager to live for God, regardless of who was around him and in spite of the negative circumstances.

Is the desire of your heart that you would have Daniel kind of faith that stands the test of time?

You're not born into the family of God...You're not born into the family of God, you're born on the wrong side of the tracks.

That comes a point of decision, a point of decision, you're not born into the family of God. I know your grandma may have told you that. I love your grandma, but she was wrong about that. You're not born into the family of God, you're born on the wrong side of the tracks. There has to be a decision that is made at a point in time to acknowledge your sin and then place your faith and trust in Christ, the savior Lord. Friends, it will be impossible to have this kind of faithful life without first making the decision to trust Christ. Without faith it's impossible to please him. A few would say, "You know, I've never made that decision." Can I just urge you to make it right now? You can pray in the quietness of this moment.

You have to start at the cross…GOSPEL.

There is nothing you could bring into the presence of God that would cause Him to reject you and tell you there is no way you can be like Daniel.

There has to be a decision that is made at a point in time to acknowledge your sin and then place your faith and trust in Christ, the savior Lord. Friends, it will be impossible to have this kind of faithful life without first making the decision to trust Christ. Without faith it's impossible to please him…you can do that right now…in the quietness of your own heart...Father, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I can't save myself. I know I can't be reconciled to you on my own merit. I want to place my faith and trust in what Christ did on the cross as my only hope of eternity. You can make that decision right now and we would urge you to do that...That's the only way you can ever achieve a Daniel -like faithfulness...are you certain you are on your way to Heaven?

…God is full of grace and mercy because He sends a Messiah…His Son, Jesus Christ…that is who the book of Daniel is really about…that is who the Bible is about…The Bible is about God reaching down to man and rescuing him from his sin, and intervening for him…it is about Jesus the Messiah living faithfully and dying in our place so we could experience the forgiveness, grace and mercy of God.

Father, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I can't save myself. I know I can't be reconciled to you on my own merit. I want to place my faith and trust in what Christ did on the cross as my only hope of eternity. You can make that decision right now and we would urge you to do that. If you'd say, "I've got some questions. I need some things answered before I make that decision, but yeah, the passage is working on my heart. I'm more interested than ever." Would you please do this? Send us an email.

There is nothing you could bring into the presence of God that would cause Him to reject you and tell you there is no way you can be like Daniel.

You have to start with a personal relationship with Christ.

You’ll never accomplish what we are talking about here this morning on your own...Christianity is coming to a place of admitting I can't be the kind of person God wants me by myself…you need to humble yourself and acknowledge that you have a sinful nature…you have to make a decision...

I think sometimes people think, "The pastors are busy, they wouldn't want to hear from me." Seriously, we work one day a week and we take half of that day off. I mean, it's a racket. It's an absolute racket. We would love to talk with you. Listen, you could pick the time, you could pick the place. You could pick the place, we'll meet you wherever. If you'd say, "Are there any nice people to talk to?" Yeah, we got nice people, ladies, you pick. Listen, don't miss the opportunity of the holy spirit working in your heart and life. That's the only way you can ever achieve faithfulness, Daniel six kind of faithfulness. I'm just asking this morning, do you know that you know, that you know that you're on your way to heaven, Christian friend?

You have to make a decision about whether or not you are going to believe what God says about your spiritual condition and how He wants to change that...

You're not born into the family of God...You're not born into the family of God, you're born on the wrong side of the tracks.

You have to make the decision to acknowledge your sin and then place your faith and trust in Christ, the savior Lord. Friends, it will be impossible to have this kind of faithful life without first making the decision to trust Christ. Without faith it's impossible to please him…you can do that right now…in the quietness of your own heart...Father, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I can't save myself. I know I can't be reconciled to you on my own merit. I want to place my faith and trust in what Christ did on the cross as my only hope of eternity. You can make that decision right now and we would urge you to do that...That's the only way you can ever achieve a Daniel -like faithfulness...are you certain you are on your way to Heaven?

If you want to have the faith that empowers you to face your lions, you have to cultivate a relationship with Christ.

You have to cultivate your relationship with Christ.

You have to make a decision…both your eternal destiny and how you want to live…you have to make a decision of whether or not you want to be like Daniel…to possess the kind of trust in God that communicates to others very clearly that the “Spirit of God” is within you…you’ve got to make a decision of whether or not you are going to come alongside everything that God has given you to grow and change and put forth some effort to be different…to distinguish yourself...

1 Timothy 4:7 NASB95

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

It's like any other relationship. You have to put effort into it.

Discipline or Exercise is the Greek word, gymnodzo…where we get gymnasium from…why do you go to the gym? You want to get stronger, more fit, etc. And what do you do? You work out.

1 Timothy 4:7 NASB95

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

NASB95

Discipline or Exercise is the Greek word, gymnodzo?…where we get gymnasium from…why do you go to the gym? You want to get stronger, more fit, etc. And what do you do? You work out.

You don't sit on the machine and say okay machine make me fit and stronger and do nothing....

That's why Paul said in that great passage in first Timothy four-seven, "You have to exercise yourself to godliness. You want to be faithful, you have to work at it." Exercise. Greek word, [gymnodso 00:31:22]. Anybody want to guess what English word we get from the Greek word gymnodso? Yah, gymnasium. When you go in the gymnasium, what do you do? Please tell me you work out. All right? You don't lay in the corner and hope some muscles are going to grow, right? See, I tried that, it didn't work. I know, I know. You have to work at it and that's exactly what we're talking about here. Let's just face it, many people who call themselves Christians are not particularly faithful because they're not working at it. They're not putting the kind of effort into growing that God desires. A chapter like Daniel six can be both challenging and convicting. If that's what needs to happen in your heart and life this morning, let God's word have that effect.

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

But sadly, that is how many people who call themselves Christians believe it ought to work…that God will somehow just zap them with a level of maturity that needs no work…they aren’t particularly faithful because they're not working at it...They're not putting the kind of effort into growing that God desires.

can be both challenging and convicting…what is going on in your heart right now.

The practical side of this means you are going to put forth effort to be faithful…you’ve got to be willing to say in your heart, "I'm going to be faithful to the worship services at our church…I’m going to be faithful to surround myself with people who love God…I am going to be faithful to come and sing great songs with them and to have a heart that is willing to be challenged and changed by the word of God."

Discipline or Exercise is the Greek word, gymnodzo?…where we get gymnasium from…why do you go to the gym? You want to get stronger, more fit, etc. And what do you do? You work out.

You don't sit on the machine and say “okay machine make me fit and stronger” and then just sit there and do nothing…you sweat a little or a lot…you expend energy...

But sadly, that is how many people who call themselves Christians believe it ought to work when it comes to having the spiritual strength to face their lions…they believe that God ought to somehow just zap them with a level of maturity that needs no work…they can’t handle the lion’s den of their life right now because they aren’t particularly faithful…they’re not working at it...They're not employing the weapons of warfare that God equipped them with and they are not putting the kind of effort into growing that God desires.

You’ve got to be willing to say in your heart “I need to spend more time in God’s gym instead of Gold’s gym.”… “I’ve got to be faithful to do my part to grow the way God intended for me to grow”..."I'm going to be faithful to the worship services at our church…I’m going to be faithful to surround myself with people who love God…I am going to be faithful to come and sing great songs with them and to have a heart that is willing to be challenged and changed by the word of God."

I want to speak honestly and lovingly here to you this morning…there are some of you here this morning that never miss a day at the gym…your workout schedule is set in concrete…but when it comes to faithfulness to the house of God, you simply squeeze it in or squeeze it out...I want encourage you to step up that faithfulness if you want to be like a Daniel.

can be both challenging and convicting…what is going on in your heart right now.

We have other times beside Sunday AM worship when we gather to learn God’s Word, fellowship and encourage one another…we even have a time set aside to pray corporately…or with your ministry team…we want to develop small groups but we need people who will be faithful to commit to lead those small groups and then people who will be faithful to attend those groups because much of the growing process takes place in the crucible of relationships…

I want to speak honestly and lovingly here to you this morning…there are some of you here this morning that never miss a day at Gold’s gym (or whatever name it has)…your workout schedule is set in concrete and you discipline yourself to be faithful to your workout plan…but when it comes to faithfulness to the house of God and following His workout plan, you simply squeeze it in or squeeze it out...I want to encourage you to step up that faithfulness if you want to be like Daniel.

We have other times beside Sunday AM worship when we gather to learn God’s Word, fellowship and encourage one another which are all part of God’s workout plan…we want to develop small groups, but we need people who will be faithful to commit to leading those small groups and then people who will be faithful to attend those groups because they recognize that much of the growing process takes place in the crucible of relationships…

We could also mention here this morning your personal time in the word…or your personal time in prayer...

We could also mention here this morning your personal time in the word…or your personal time in prayer…is the only time you read your Bible on Sunday or prayer is limited to bedtime or before meals? Look at Daniel…he committed himself to God as a teenager and kept that commitment into his eighties...

Pleasing God was Daniel’s priority and it made a difference in the way he faced the lions...

God delights in helping his people develop faithfulness…is that what you want? Are you taking concrete, specific steps to cooperate with the work the Holy Spirit of God wants to do in you?

Here’s the second insight we gain from Daniel’s life...

How You Handle Trials Communicates the “Bigness” of Your God (10 - 23).

Your God is bigger than your opposition so don’t give up or in when life is stacked against you.

Notice the threat of punishment and death never changed his spiritual disciplines....it was Daniel’s custom to pray and give thanks to God three times a day…he was a man of prayer...

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"When Daniel knew that the document was signed he entered his house's roof chamber. He had windows opened toward Jerusalem... He continued kneeling."

Do you see that? Not he started. "Man things are getting hard, better pray." No. "He continued kneeling on his knees, praying and giving thanks."

Not griping or complaining, no pouting...he's giving thanks as he had been doing previously.

Even though he had been part of their culture now for seventy years, the expression in “one of the exiles of Judah” was a slam against Daniel…for the mere reason of humiliation and giving the appearance of disloyalty…they even persuaded the king that Daniel was disrespecting him…the opposition was severely stacked against him, yet Daniel did not waver in his faith or practice because he believed in a much bigger God.

Daniel deliberately defied the law of the land because he recognized there was no higher authority in his life than God…see …

there may be times when those lions in your life threaten great loss or even death unless you compromise…as the world becomes further separated from God and more sinful as a result of that separation, you will find that you have to take an unpopular stand or position, sometimes that stand may violate the law…don’t give in or give up just because the threat is real…

Remember your God is bigger than all that so commit yourself to God who judges rightly and trust Him.

Your God is bigger than your trials, so you need to be sure your responses clearly communicate that to others.

Remember Daniel is some eighty years old now and he experiences perhaps the greatest trial of his life, yet there is no questioning God here…there is no “God I’ve been faithful to you for so many years, its time for the young ones to step up…there is no “God I’m tired...” regardless of how Daniel must have felt, he never stopped being that example God wanted him to be.

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The order is carried out and Darius proclaims a wavering belief that God was going to rescue him……the way Daniel responded to life and this particular trial was noticed by Darius…even though it was a weak faith statement from Darius, there was still a recognition of the reality of Daniel’s God and his power.

He looked for loopholes in the law but found none.

The culture of the day prescribed the penalty be administered the same day as the crime, so he only had until sundown to solve the problem.

At the end of the day, they reminded the king the law could not be changed and called for Daniel’s execution.

now look at — Up to this point Darius did not possess a sufficient faith in Yahweh…he was hopeful that God would rescue Him, but not sure.

Daniel must have had an impression on Darius because Darius characterized Daniel as one who served his God continually…His lifestyle was noticed…how Daniel responded to life in the Empire and all the things associated with it were noticed by Darius and the other Jews as well.

Recognize that Trials Can Come At Any Stage of Life.

Your God is big enough to deliver you, so trust Him even if He chooses not to deliver you in the way you want or expected.

The text says that Daniel prayed three times a day…he didn’t just start doing it…he did it for years…and yet he still experienced probably the hardest trial of his life.

Even after Daniel faithfully served God…even after he had developed these years of habits of consistency....even after he had handled significant trial and tasks in his younger years...God allows him to face his toughest test when he's in his eighties.

God never promises a trial free life…even when you’re in the prime of life.

God could have prevented him from going into the lion’s den…but He chose not to…even though by our standards we would have concluded he was too frail to endure such hardship…think of all the things God could have done and things we believe He should have done…Remember God’s ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts.

Believe God can deliver you.

Be Quick to Give God Praise

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Daniel explains that God sent his angel to protect him against the lions because he was innocent in God’s sight and that he had done nothing wrong against the king…the lions were unable to bite or claw him.

Who was the “angel” who spent the night with Daniel? The Greek Translation of the OT, the Septuagint, identifies this angel as God himself…the same individual that was in the furnace in …he is believed by most scholars, I agree with them, that this angel is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.

Here is something we don’t want to miss...

Here is something we don’t want to miss...that wasn't going to be the end of Daniel until God said it was going to be the end of Daniel…so what that means for us is that we are immortal until God’s plan in us and for us is complete!

I probably need to throw some balance on this, too. There is a limited sense in which faithfulness to God makes for an easier life. How's that true? Then you don't have to deal with the consequences of living disobediently. Proverbs thirteen-fifteen, "The way of the transgressor is hard." Don't transgress and don't have to face the hardness. Proverbs twenty-eight-thirteen, "He who covers his sin will not prosper." Don't cover it. Confess it and forsake it as the text goes on to say. Galatians six-seven, "Don't be deceived, God's not mocked. Whatever a man sows that will he also reaps."

Proverbs 13:15 NASB95

Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard.

Proverbs 28:13 NASB95

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

Galatians 6:7 NASB95

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

That wasn't going to be the end of Daniel until God said it was going to be the end of Daniel. So what that means for us is that we are immortal until God’s plan in us and for us is complete!

choosing to live for God there are all sorts of natural consequences for sin that can be avoided. We would be misrepresenting the scripture this morning if we gave the impression that if you seek to live a faithful consistent life, then God is obligated to keep your latter years trial free. Obviously the exact opposite is what happened here. . In fact, you could make the argument that Daniel rightfully handling trial early in life was simply preparing him to handle more significant trial later in life. Which means, let's be honest, we each have to get to the place of recognizing that God's primary purpose for us is not to make our lives trial free. Can I get a mm-hmm (affirmative) on that? To conform us to the image of his son.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB95

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Our belief in the sovereignty of God says that God can do what he wants, however he wants and that our job is to be faithful to proclaim his goodness no matter whether we live or die…Daniel never proclaimed God would deliver him…much like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego..."Look, God can deliver us from the fiery furnace if he wants to but let it be known, king, even if he doesn't choose to deliver us in this particular situation, we're not bowing down to your gods."

Paul said it this way in second Corinthians three-eighteen, "We all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed." Sometimes via blessing and sometimes via trial at the merciful hand of our sovereign god. The sooner we get on board with that plan and program, the better, friends. Even after all these years of faithfulness Daniel is plotted against by his enemies and wickedly thrown in a den of lions. Long term faithfulness may result in great trial.

Sometimes via blessing and sometimes via trial at the merciful hand of our sovereign god. The sooner we get on board with that plan and program, the better, friends. Even after all these years of faithfulness Daniel is plotted against by his enemies and wickedly thrown in a den of lions. Long term faithfulness may result in great trial.

"Look, God can deliver us from the fiery furnace if he wants to but let it be known, king, even if he doesn't choose to deliver us in this particular situation, we're not bowing down to your gods."

The king seemed to be sure that God was going to protect Daniel in a miraculous way, but Daniel made no such claim.

Listen, we're not going to get smug about this. I mean, I realize you've got real life experience that illustrates what we're talking about right now. We're not going to get smug about it, and we're not going to get stoical about it, but there is a sense in which maturity sounds like this. If trial is what is needed to draw me closer to Christ or to put me in a position where I can better magnify him, then what? Then bring it on. Bring it on.

He was very similar to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego earlier in the book when they said to Nebuchadnezzar, "Look, God can deliver us from the fiery furnace if he wants to but let it be known, king, even if he doesn't choose to deliver us in this particular situation, we're not bowing down to your gods."

God makes a point to inform us that his deliverance of Daniel was because of Daniel’s trust.

Just because you trust God, He may not always deliver you in miraculous ways…it may be part of God’s plan that you have to suffer as martyrs…it is God’s choice.

Biblical faith is not believing that God will. Biblical faith is believing that God CAN and then trusting Him with whatever He decides to do that is in your best spiritual interest.

Having the faith to face the lions means 1) Pleasing God is Your Highest Priority, 2) Your Responses to Trials Communicates the Bigness of Your God and 3)...

Your Willingness to Let God Do His Work In and Through You Often Opens the Door For Blessing(24-28).

Let God Vindicate You

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Daniel’s integrity was vindicated by God himself.

the king demands those who maliciously (lit. eaten Daniel’s pieces) accused Daniel be thrown to the lions…not just them, but their families also…this was a practice according to Persian custom to prohibit retaliation from family members.

Just so we don’t think the lions were tame, old or just not hungry enough to devour Daniel, the text says the lions did not let them reach the bottom of the pit…they overpowered them and crushed their bones…once again proving the miracle of God’s deliverance.

Be Sure to Honor God

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Darius issues a public decree for people in all the land to give proper recognition to the God of Daniel…He is the only living and eternal God whose sovereignty never ends.

God delivers and works in our lives, in various ways, so that we and the world around us, can see His power and His reality.

Watch God Bless Your Faithfulness

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Remember Daniel was in his eighties and went through perhaps the hardest trial of his life, yet he never stopped being faithful…God would continue to use Daniel by promoting him to 2nd in command in all of Persia…this would prove beneficial as the Jews were now allowed to return to Israel to begin the rebuilding projects…see & ...

Daniel allowed God to use him in his old age and he became an example of the power of God to use an uncompromising life.

Lesson For Life: Trust God To Always Work For His Glory and Your Good

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Live Consistently Even When People Are Stacked Against You (5-11)

Romans 8:28–29 NASB95

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Faithfulness Requires the Right Character.

Faithfulness Requires the Right Spirit

Faithfulness Requires the Right Lifestyle

Faithfulness Requires the Right Standard

Faithfulness Requires the Right Prayer

Lesson For Life: God Will Always Work For His Glory and Your Good

Submit to God’s Will Over Man’s Authority (12-23)

God’s Faithful People Submit To His Power Above Man’s Authority (12-23).

You and those lions you face right now are in God’s den…God will always work, even when the lions are roaring their loudest and ready to pounce on you, He will always work to make sure you have the opportunity to grow in your trust of Him…and to conform you to His Son

God’s Glory Is Your Highest Priority (24- 28)

God’s Faithful People Live For His Glory (24-28).

Wise is the person who knows and lives faithfully for him.

God’s People Submit To His Power Above Man’s Authority (12-23)

Lesson For Life: God Will Always Work For His Glory and Your Good

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