IN.FIN.8
part 5
“The
life of Daniel”
Sunday,
August 4th, 2013-MRWC
SHOW VIDEO CLIP
We
are in week five of our summer series called IN.FIN.8.
It’s in this
series that we have been at looking at 8 of the greatest Bible stories forever
told as chosen by many of you.
So far in our
walk through the pages of Scripture, we have looked at the lives of Joseph and
Moses; we saw how David defeated a nine foot tall monster of a man named
Goliath, and learned how God wants to use all of us, where we are, “at such a
time as this”.
(That quote is
taken from the book of Esther)
All of these
stories are extremely powerful and they remind us that God was at work in the lives of His people.
This still holds
true today. God is willing
and able to use anyone who is willing to acknowledge Him as Lord of--and over--all.
The writer of 2
Chronicles tells us that: “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to
strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (NLT2)
God is looking
for and will strengthen all who search for and find Him.
This truth is
expressed clearly in the 5th greatest story forever told as chosen
by some of you.
Today, we’re
going to examine an event in the life of Daniel, but before we do that, I want
to give you a very brief synopsis of who Daniel was.
Daniel was a
prophet who lived in Jerusalem until he was taken captive by the Babylonians in
605 BC.
Daniel was a
teenager at that time, and he was held captive for at least 70 years.
Upon arriving in
Babylon, Daniel and three of his friends were conscripted into the Kings court.
This court only
accepted certain individuals; those who were from “…Judah’s royal family and other noble
families…” (Dan. 1:3, NLT2)
These young men
were: “…strong,
healthy, and good-looking…well versed in every branch of learning…gifted with
knowledge and good judgment…” (Daniel 1:4, NLT2)
They looked
similar to this strapping young man (SHOW PM’s PHOTO) and, this strapping young man. (PHOTO OF ME)
The purpose of
taking Daniel and his three friends in the kings court was to try and take away
their Jewish identity and transform them into Babylonians, but Daniel stood firm
and proved that his heritage was worth protecting.
Among the things
the Book of Daniel is known for is dreams, visions and prophecy. These things
make up a significant portion of the book of Daniel.
Either Daniel was
interpreting visions and dreams, or he was prophesying about coming events.
Daniel is an
important book that is contained in the Bible.
It’s an excellent read, and I encourage you to take some time to read it
through.
With that very
brief history, I would like to dive into our lesson for today, and I want you
to consider a question: Have you ever
felt like someone was out to get you?
ILLUSTRATION- I have been in one of those
situations, at least once in my life.
I
remember this one particular event that took place when I was in middle school.
I had developed
a certain attraction to a young lady in our school.
For a while I
kept this news to myself, but I eventually told my friend- a guy named Tim,
about my crush on Danielle.
Not
too long after I had told Tim, did I notice him taking a liking to Danielle as
well, and in fact, he ruined what fraction of a chance I probably didn’t have
with Danielle.
This
bugged me to no end. I didn’t know what I did to Tim to have him treat me that
way. After all he was my friend, and friends don’t do that to each other, do
they?
Well,
I eventually had the last laugh with Tim, because one morning on the way to
school, Trevor, my brother picked him up and slammed him into a school bus and
demanded him to leave me alone.
It
seemed to me that Tim was out to get me.
Something
similar happened in the life of Daniel. Someone was out to get him. The story
unfolds for us in Daniel chapter 6.
Because
Daniel had found favor in the Kings court, he was promoted to a very high
position in the kingdom and when Daniel proved his worth in that position, the
king decided to promote Daniel one more time.
This
news aggravated the other officials whom the king also appointed.
Daniel probably made them look bad;
when they were on coffee break at Robins, Daniel was snacking on a broccoli
tree and looking for ways to improve the kingdom.
We’re
told in Daniel 6:4 that the: “administrators and high officers began searching for some
fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find
anything to criticize or condemn.
He was faithful, always
responsible, and completely trustworthy.” (NLT2)
Wouldn’t
it be wonderful if the same could be said about you and me in our daily lives? I
think it would, and with God’s help it is possible.
The officials
couldn’t find anything wrong with the way Daniel conducted business, so they
decide that the only way they can stick it to Daniel is if they find something
wrong with the way he practiced his religion.
Of
course, they would never go toe to toe with Daniel in a sword drill, so they go
to the King and stroke his ego instead.
They
approach the king and tell him they want him to live forever, and that they are
all in agreement that the king should enforce a law that said: “…for the next
thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your
Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.” (Dan. 6:7, NLT2)
King
Darius liked this idea, and he signed it into law.
This
is where the story gets really interesting.
When Daniel
found out about this news via twitter:
“…he went home and
knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward
Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving
thanks to his God.” (Dan. 6:10, NLT2)
When something
happened that Daniel didn’t like, what did he do? (He picked up the phone and
called Aunt Gina to complain!)
He went home and
prayed about it… I think there’s a life lesson for us in there somewhere…
Once the law had
been signed into order, Daniel went home, and the officials went to Daniel’s
house to see what he was up to, and they found him: “praying and asking
for God’s help.” (Dan. 6:12, NLT2)
Immediately, the officials rush back into the kings presence and
they remind him of the law that he issued that said anyone who prayed to
anyone-divine or human- except to the king, for the next 30 days was to be
thrown into the lion’s den.
The king agreed with their interpretation of the law, and told them
that the law couldn’t be repealed and the officials say to the king:
“That
man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He
still prays to his God three times a day.” (Dan.6:13, NLT2)
Upon hearing this, the king was deeply troubled and he spent the
rest of the day thinking of a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
When nothing could be done, “the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown
into the den of lions.
The
king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” (Dan. 6:16, NLT2)
A stone was placed in front of the den and it was sealed with the king’s
ring, preventing anyone from rescuing Daniel.
The king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. “He refused his
usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.” (Dan.
6:18, NLT2)
It’s obvious to me that Daniel had an impact upon this king. Daniel
was faithful to his God and the king took notice.
Friend: you never know whose life you are impacting as you live for
God. It might be a king, but it’s more likely going to be a family member, a
co-worker, or even a neighbour.
I want to encourage you to remain faithful to God and He will use
your witness in ways that you could never begin to imagine.
Let’s go back and read the rest of the story:
19 Very early the
next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den.
20 When he got
there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your
God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered,
“Long live the king!
22 My God sent his
angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been
found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was
overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was
found on him, for he had trusted in his God. (Dan. 6:19-23, NLT2)
God showed up
and rescued Daniel that day. Many scholars believe that the angel who shut the lion’s
mouths was the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!
Jesus showed up
that day to rescue Daniel, and Jesus can show up this day to rescue you!
Are you in your
own version of a lion’s den? Is someone out to get you? I want you to know that
God can be trusted to
rescue you; God can
be trusted to deliver you; God can be trusted to be with you just as He was with Daniel.
If you are in a lion’s
den—either of your own making or of someone else’s doing, I want to give you a
specific step that you can take to help you get through that time in your life.
This is what
Daniel did throughout this story, and really, it’s what Daniel did throughout
his entire life, and this will serve us well when we are in the lion’s den.
If you are in a lion’s den, the
one thing you can do and should do is Trust God.
Daniel placed
His trust in God, and God didn’t abandon him during his time of need. If you
and I place our trust in God He won’t abandon us in our time of need either.
The temperature
might go up just a bit on our situations, but “God has said: ‘Never will I leave you; never
will I forsake you.’" (Heb. 13.5, NIV)
ILLUSTRATION- A while ago, I found myself
in a lions den, and I was concerned as to how it was going to play out.
Because my spiritual
gift is worry, I had to make a deliberate choice to pray and Trust in God.
Let me give you
a couple of verses that you can memorize and use when you are in the lion’s
den.
The first one
comes from Proverbs 3: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart (when you’re in the lion’s den, or when you’re out of
the lions den) and
lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov.
3:5-6, NIV)
Trusting in God will lead you
down the right path. Not necessarily the safe path, but the right path.
The second verse
comes from Isaiah 50:10 and it says: “If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord and rely on your God.” (NLT2)
So friend, here’s
what I want you to take away from today’s message: Trust in God, even in the hard times,
because He will help you.
This is what the
5th greatest Bible story forever told teaches us.
Trust in God,
even in the hard times, because He will help you
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