IS YOUR FAITH UNSHAKEABLE AND STEADFAST?
Daniel 6:1 - 9
By: Dr. Robert F. Toney
Daniel only spent one night in the "den of lions." . But, he spent from a boy of about 17... To an age of about ninety in the Palace of Pagan Kings which was a more dangerous place than the den of lions, really.
Daniel chapter 6 has a message for us today. It is a good illustration of what God can do in His keeping power.
The message here, for us today is in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 5:8 we read: "Be sober, vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Note: Verse. 8,9) Christians must be sober and watchful, responding to Satanic opposition with faith and firm resistance (see Eph. 6:10-18; James 4:7, 8).
Notice with me here:
I DANIELS POSITION IN THE KINGDOM
A. Darius was pleased to set 120 Princess over the whole kingdom.
B. Verse. 2 Daniel was made one of the three presidents, of whom:
Daniel was preferred and chosen to be FIRST: [preferred:= permanent, over- seerer.]
Now, the kingdom of Babylon had disappeared.
It is now the Media Persian Empire in rule.
The three presidents, served as liaison officers, between the princes and the King.
"So that the King should have no damage." [ suffer loss or hurtful]
Daniel is not a young man anymore, now.
II. VERSE 3, DANIEL WAS THE PREFERRED MAN FOR THE KINGDOM
A. Daniel had seniority, and he had superiority
B. "because of an excellent spirit that possessed him.
"Excellent spirit": permanent spirit. Excellent mind...
III. VERSE 4, THE PLOT TO DESTROY DANIEL
A. Daniel was remarkable man.
The Presidents and Princess tried to find fault against the kingdom.
B. these men could find nothing so they could remove Daniel from the Kingdom.
They could find nothing but faithfulness...
And a flawless character.
We can’t stop people from talking about us.
But we can lie down at night, without our conscience troubling us.
C. the only thing in Daniels life, as they saw it, was his religion.
Or his relationship with his God.
their plot is in verse 6 and 7.
Darius vulnerable spot was "Flattery".
These men flattered Darius, and he yielded.
Darius established and signed the decree, which could not be changed.
They made a statute of the King, and he elevated himself to the position of Deity.
And prayer could only be offered to the king.
That Put Daniel in a "hot spot." which brings me to my next point.
IV. VERSE 10, DANIEL WAS A PRAYING MAN
Verse 10)"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
A. Daniel knew of Darius' decree. He knelt, in humility.
B. He maintained his regular prayer habits.
Daniel went into his house as usual, "his windows being open in his chamber Towards Jerusalem.
He kneeled down upon his knees, three times a day to pray, and to give thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
When we are facing a crisis time of testing, will we stay with God and worship Him, will our faith be steadfast? Unshakeable?
Daniel turned an obstacle into an opportunity. Obstacles can become opportunities to trust God and let Him work for us.
C. God vindicated Daniel's courage. Prayer should not be an emergency measure.
D. Prayer should represent habitual communication and fellowship with God.
Thanks and petition are parts of regular prayer.
E. Now, the other two presidents and the princess
Sought to find occasion against Daniel, concerning the kingdom."
They were waiting for him, and found him praying as usual to God.
Daniel worshiped God, not the king.
Conclusion:
They reminded the king of the decree that he had signed, which could not be changed.
And that Daniel had not obeyed his decree...
This caused the King to be "sore displeased".
"He set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he labored until the going down of the sun to deliver him."
But he failed, and Daniel would be thrown into the "Den of Lions."
Application:
Don’t turn away from that which is right. Do like Daniel did, pray, and be faithful to God.
