Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Oct 21, 2007
“Storms of Life ~Daniel”
Daniel 6 (Page 630 in pew Bible) Part 2 of 3
Job 14:1 “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”
 |
Last week we looked at the life of Job and we learned how he handled the storms of life. |
|
Job lost his fame, fortune, family and health… Our unseen enemy the Devil was behind it all. |
|
Storms of life are designed for my benefit… either to draw me to salvation or become more Christ-like. |
|
I know some of you here this morning are engaged in a storm… the winds are powerful… wise/learn |
|
Today our message is on the Storm that came blowing into Daniels life and how he handled it. |
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.
Daniel 6:4-5 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."
1. Daniel Chose Character over Status-Quo.
|
Daniel was about to be promoted over the three administrators & 120 satraps (governors/assistants) |
|
Distinguished himself – exceptional qualities – trustworthy – not corrupt – not negligent |
|
God tells us Daniel was of good character… Character comes from a Greek word that means to "engraved, make a furrow, to stamp or mark deeply (as on coins or seals), a branding mark… not easily rubbed away or erased…Character is developed by difficult circumstances. It’s also degraded by sin, character is strengthened as we undergo testing being evaluated by God (heart of the person). |
|
D.L. Moody used to say that "character is what a man or woman is in the dark," when there's no one looking, no one listening. It is the thought, the desire, the intention that counts in the sight of God. |
|
Daniel had no skeletons in his closet… it’s so easy today to fit into the crowd… and lowering the bar. |
· Abraham Lincoln said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Daniel chose character over status-quo.
|
Status quo is a Latin term meaning the present, current or existing state of affairs. It’s the don’t rock the boat mentality – continue to live in mediocrity . Often living lazy, unproductive, unfulfilling, without purpose lives. Laurence J. Peter is reported to have said, "Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status." |
|
A man who lives right, and is right, has more power in his silence than another who has many words. |
|
Christians need to be more Christ-like rather than world-like… We been bought with a price – live right! |
|
Raise the bar, get into the game, surrender to the Lordship of Christ… character matters. |
· Righteous Living Stirs God’s Enemies
2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
o We saw last week how Job was blameless, impacting his world… Satan accused him.
o The Lord tells us all who live Godly will be persecuted… Always Building & Battling!
· Storm Clouds began to Build (Eph 2:2-3)
Life’s Battleground… Always remember who/what’s behind all these storms (root cause = sin)
· Unseen Enemy – Satan planting thoughts (you will not die, Gen 3:4)
· Sinful Nature – yielding to the flesh (dead in our sins, Eph 2:1)
· World System – providing the mechanism (controlled by Satan, Mt 4:8-9)
Ephesians 2:2-3 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
At This… Daniel 6:6-9 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.
· 122 of them went as a group to Darius… buttered the king up… all agreed
· Issue & enforce decree – must pray to you O king… nonrepealable law…king suckered into the plot
Daniel 6:10-11 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.
2. Daniel Chose Discipline over Compromise.
· Daniel learned about the decree that cannot change… prayer was his normal routine…
· Long before the storm… Daniel prayed… He had a relationship with his Lord.
· Three times a day, not hiding away but trusting God, open windows / testimony before the world.
· Why do some people succeed while others fail? Comes down to discipline or lack thereof.
· It takes discipline to excel… proficient pilot, teacher, athlete… discipline over compromise…
· We all have areas we can become more disciplined in… tongue/gossip, faithfulness to church or giving or sharing your faith… how’s our devotional life? Daniel prayed…
Prayer: ACTS – Acts Confession Thanksgiving Supplication
Daniel 6:12-17 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed." 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.
· Storms Affect others around us (Luke 8:22-25)
o The king was greatly distressed, I’m sure Daniel’s circle of friends… affects others
· Storm Experiences Grows our Faith
James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3. Daniel Chose Faithfulness over Life.
Daniel 6:18-22 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" 21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
· Daniel wasn’t interested in becoming Lion meat, he did not choose to be in a lion’s den.
· Daniels allegiance was to the Lord… his priorities were right: God, family, church, everything else
· He knew staying faithful to the Lord can be costly… even unto death.
· Daniel who serve the living God… has He rescued you from the lions?
· God intervened – found innocent / faithful before my God and before you O king.
Daniel 6:23-24 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
· No wound found on him because he trusted in his God – Genuine, Real Believing Faith!
Briefly…
o King can’t sleep.
o Lions can’t eat.
o Daniel can’t die.
o Wicked can’t live.
Isn’t God great? Whatever situation we’re in, He can turn it around. With amazing outcomes!
4. Results of Daniel’s Storm
Daniel 6:25-28 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly! 26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
ü World is Impacted!
ü Daniel is Blessed!
ü God is Glorified!
Daniel chose character over status-quo.
Daniel chose discipline over compromise.
Daniel chose faithfulness over life itself.
WHY? Daniel had a relationship with the Lord… Making a difference, growing spiritually, glorifying God
How’s your relationship before God?
Dare to be a Daniel.
Let’s Pray
Next Week: “Storms of Life ~ Elijah”