He Is With His Faithful Followers
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Introduction
Introduction
Think about one person who has had a significant positive influence on your spiritual growth.
What about him or her influenced you so much?
We recognize that these men and women are human beings; all with their own flaws, just like us. But, something about them impacted you in a positive way that has helped you to become more of the man or woman that God is calling you to be. That person’s faithfulness impacted your faith, and you are better off for it today.
We have no idea who, if anyone, had a significant influence on Daniel’s life. Yet, as we’ve looked at the first five chapters of Daniel, we’ve seen four men who truly lived out what it means to be faithful men. And they discovered that God is always with His faithful followers, regardless of what comes in this life.
This morning we will look at probably the most famous of all Old Testament narratives, Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Turn to Daniel 6.
Body
Body
Verses 1-3
Darius...
Satraps & the high officials
“an excellent spirit was in him...”
“…the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”
Verses 4-5
Jealousy leads to scheming...
“…but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful and no error or fault was found in him.”
This means they couldn’t find any corruption in him.
“…unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
Verse 6-9
Their plan relied heavily on Darius’ vanity and his desire to establish his rule in Babylon...
What does it mean to make “petition”?
Why does Darius have a den of lions?
Verses 10-13
Daniel ignores the injunction and worships the Lord three times a day, as he had always done.
Daniel isn’t putting on a show...
Why didn’t he just do it privately?
The fear of man is the undoing of many believers faithfulness...
For the jealous officials, Daniel fell right into their trap.
Verses 14-18
“…the king…was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.”
“May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
The king has a sleepless night.
Verses 19-22
I find Darius’ question here pretty amazing. He believed that there was at least a chance that Daniel’s God was powerful enough to save him.
Of course, he didn’t believe it unquestionably, because he had a sleepless night. But he believed it enough to call out to Daniel the next day.
I’m sure to the shock of everyone standing there, Daniel answers them!
An angel shut the lions mouths.
Why? Because Daniel was blameless, before God and before Darius.
Verses 23-28
The jealous officials and their families are executed.
This is proof that Daniel wasn’t saved because the lions weren’t hungry. It shows that God indeed did close the mouths of hungry lions to save Daniel.
Darius then both praises God and makes a decree the Daniel’s God is to be respected by all peoples.
So What?
So What?
Daniel is an amazing example of a faithful man in the OT; one who’s example should be learned from and emulated:
He had a excellent spirit in him that even people who were pagans and ignorant of the One True God could clearly see.
His lifestyle among people was without reproach.
He continued practicing his faith even though doing so would likely cost him his life, in a most horrific fashion.
While it’s is true that Daniel is one of the great examples of a faithful man in the OT, if we left off there we would miss a far more important point:
See we shouldn’t just simply look at the life of Daniel and this, “Man, what a faithful guy! I hope I can be that faithful someday!” Or, “Yeah, Daniel was faithful, but my situation is different.” Or, “It was easier for Daniel because he got to see God do some amazing things that I haven’t seen.” Or, insert your own statement here.
But, here’s what’s so important: If you believe in the same God that Daniel believed in, then I want you to consider this:
When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved from your sins, the “excellent spirit” that indwells you is the Holy Spirit; the promise of Christ Jesus, God’s presence with His people, the One who guides us to all righteousness.
The Holy Spirit gives us guidance in God’s Word, through prayer, and through His church, so that we too can live as forgiven people, without reproach before God and man.
And Daniel’s courage to worship God in the face of likely death came because “he had trusted in his God”, as we see in verse 23.
The point being, it’s not Daniel’s great faith that is on display here; it’s really Daniel’s great God who proves Himself over and over again as worthy of great faith!
And that same God is with those of us who believe today!
So, the first thing to ask yourself is: Have you put your faith in Daniel’s God?
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Next, if you have put your faith in Him, are you growing in your faith or are you simply trying to run out the clock, waiting until heaven comes?
Daniel had a growing faith, even in the twilight of his life. He was well aware that if you aren’t growing in your faith you will not be ready when the threats of fiery furnaces or hungry lions come (and they will come!)
So, could verse 5 be said about you?
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.”
How about verse 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.
A growing faith is a ready faith.
How do I have a growing faith?
Consistent Bible study...
Persistent prayer...
Commitment to the church...
Commitment to worship...
Intentional accountability...
Godly mentors and teachers...
Practicing what you are learning...
Finally,
Our lives should influence the lives of others.
Daniel’s life influenced people for God because he was fully committed to God and fully committed to seeing all of his life as service to the Lord.
Your job should be a service unto the Lord;
Your family should be a service unto the Lord;
Your relationships should be a service unto the Lord;
Etc...
Who can you influence for the Lord this week? How can you do it?