Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Sept 3, 2006
“Impact your World ”
Personal Responsibility Daniel 6:1-11
Part 1 of 3
· Welcome to a new mini-series on “Impacting Your World”... Let’s begin a three week look at a familiar story of Daniel and the Lions den... Personal Responsibility – Personal Pressures – Personal Victory!
· Impacting your world ALL begins with personal responsibility for your life – you’re accountable to God.
Ephesians 5:15-17 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
· Literally, “Therefore look that you walk carefully” – be wise, skillful how you live = to please the Lord.
· Making the right use of EVERY opportunity as you live in dark / evil days... not senseless but wise.
· Once we understand what pleases God/His will... than we will do it & impact our world for Christ.
Daniel 6:1-3 1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
1. Be aware of your Divine “Position” of Authority.
· Daniel gained much experience serving the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar for nearly 40 years.
· Daniel now about 83 years old was one of three Administrators in the kingdom, each over about 40 satraps.
· “Satrap” - "protectors of the realm." – modern day equivalent is our state Governor.
Aware of Your...
· Identity in Christ
o Daniel was born into the royal family... handsome, healthy, mentally sharp (1:3,6) – trained for 3 years (1:5), Daniel “resolved” not to compromise his convictions (1:8) – he knew who he was spiritually before the Lord
o We too must know that we are born again, God has a marvelous plan for your life – hope / eternity
o Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for YOU... catch the weight of your salvation – know your identity
o You are a child of God, you are a Christian, you are God’s heir... tremendous authority to make difference in our individual world that surrounds each of us!
· Calling in Life
o At the age of 16, Daniel was taken into Babylonian captivity... he was selected & trained & used
o In Daniel’s calling in life, God used him to interpret dreams... he was God’s man impacting his world
o Where does God’s “calling in life” find you? We must be aware of our divine position of authority...
o Mechanics, waitresses, homemakers, secretaries, financial/banking workers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, medical field, military, teachers/professors, lawyers, doctors, technicians, merchants, pilots, tradesmen, retiree’s, executives... or Government position just like Daniels, etc...
o As a believer, God has placed you in your calling... don’t stay in a dead end job... be wise in walk.
o Far too often we chase pie-in-the-sky dreams... bringing discontentment, disillusions, discouragement
o Understand this, God wants you to be content and faithful right where you’re presently at... LOOK
o Look around where you are at the mission field you’re in. Make a difference... Impact your World
1 Corinthians 7:17a Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him...
Daniel 6:3-5 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."
2. Be Fruitful where God Plants you.
· A person’s lot in life is not to have a bearing on whether or not he walks in Christ – I work for the Gov’t so I “can’t” witness for Christ or make an Impact for eternity... HOG-WASH
· The believer is to walk in Christ no matter where he is... Every vocation becomes Christian service performed for the Lord our Master (Eph 6:5-8)
· Tomorrow is Labor Day... a day we take “timeout” from working... yet we labor all day around our house!
· Daniel was a Godly believer who worked hard in the Government beauracy... aware of his calling.
· Making an Impact in the world around you begins with personal responsibility... you be the man or woman God has called you to be – NO EXCUSE. – I am (child of God), I can (do all things), I WILL
“To talk the talk w/o the walk” = hypocrisy
“To walk the walk w/o the talk” = mystery
“To walk the walk & talk the talk” = ministry
(Like Daniel) Good Testimony for Christ...
þ Unblemished Reputation – Daniel so distinguished himself... stood out, good reputation, productive, effective, efficient, great administrator
þ Exceptional Qualities – Daniel stood out in the crowd, he made heads turn... his peers became jealous... then they sought to “take him out”
þ No Corruption – Daniel was morally upright, deceit in all his ways in the workplace
þ Trustworthy – Daniel could be counted on... his word could be trusted
þ Diligent – Daniel was hard working, not lazy
· In the workplace we need to have a good testimony for Christ... like Daniel be an impactor.
· Daniels reputation & testimony for God was unblemished... creating friction in the workplace
· There will always be schism between light & darkness, truth & error, God’s children & the devils.
· If they persecuted Jesus... they will persecute you!
John 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Ephes. 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
As we pick up our story about Daniel...
Daniel 6:6-11 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
3. Be Faithful to God in All Circumstances.
· Daniel was “out-gunned” 122 to 1 - the odds were against him... they devised a plot to take him down.
· “You king Darius should be made the sole object of worship for the next 30 days!” – flattery/pride
· They “claimed” all the various leaders of the Gov’t had agreed... (not Daniel)
· Penalty for not obeying was to become lion food... flattered the king agreed & signed it into law
· Once signed into law – it could not be altered... not even by the king himself...
· Stay faithful to the Lord in all circumstances... in whatever comes your way – look at Daniel’s reaction...
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
Ø Situational Awareness
· Extremely important to pilots – to know exactly their situation (GPS/moving maps/charts, etc)
· Extremely important to spiritual leaders – discernment in the local church... being aware of the “big” picture/situations that take place... the spiritual condition of the flock you’re over.
· Are you aware of a co-workers spiritual condition? Some hurt or difficulty they’re experiencing?
· Are you aware of your neighbor’s struggle? Family member becoming distant? Lack of communication?
· Are you aware of your surrounding “world”... Jesus has the answers to life’s problems... Sin & Salvation
· If you had the cure for dreaded cancer... would you share it with anyone? Jesus is the answer for Sin.
· Being aware brings us to spiritual prayer... really connecting with God through Jesus Christ!
· Looking at vs 10-11 we see some characteristics that jump right out at us... When we come into difficult situations, when life seems to be spiraling out of control... run to the One who is “In Control”.
· Take time to shut up from complaining “Be still” and take requests to the Lord in prayer – genuine, real, authentic, powerful moving God answering prayer! You can’t BUT He can – do all things!
Ø Spiritual Prayer
o Unashamed (windows opened)
o Habitual (3 times per day as he had done before)
o Humility (got down on his knees)
o Thanksgiving (giving thanks in the midst of difficulties)
o Petitions (asking Almighty God for intervention & help)
· Oh God open the eyes of their hearts, Oh God save their souls, Oh God grant your servant boldness. Oh God help me in my job... family... friends... my world... my circle of acquaintances... those divine encounters with strangers... Oh God help me Impact my world for Christ!
· Knowing who I am in Christ - Having a good testimony for Christ – Faithfully praying... I’ll be...
My Personal Responsibility... Answer His call – Tell His story – Change your world!
Be Shinning Bright for Jesus!
Matthew 5:14, 16 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden... 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
· Don’t BRAG - About how great a Christian you are... I don’t smoke, cuss, drink or chew & I don’t run with women who do! - self-righteousness is repulsive
· Don’t NAG – Piously quoting scripture in a holier than thou attitude, pointing out everything they do wrong – it’ll turn them away
· Don’t LAG – A Christian should be the hardest worker on the job... not the laziest... get off your blessed assurance (butt) and pull your weight – great benefits – promotion, builds self-esteem, gives deep satisfaction of job well done & sense of worth – God is glorified... impacting your world.
· Don’t SAG – Another word for being carnal, don’t curse like the world, dress like, smell like, act like the world... – BE the LIGHT of the WORLD!
· Living out your Christian life by taking personal responsibility... being a Daniel
· Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus... a shinning beacon in a dark world... people will be attracted.
· Live as children of light – in goodness, righteousness, truth... pleasing the Lord
Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
God charges you this morning to – GO out and impact your world for Christ! You’re personally responsible
Let’s Pray