God Is In Control

Title: God is in Control

Theme: To show that God has a plan even in our persecution.

Text: Daniel 6:1 - 28

Introduction

For some reason or another over the years I have never preached from this passage. I have used it in some way as an illustration but not directly from these scriptures. It might sound strange to you but I have just found occasion to preach from here. I believe they are often misinterpreted and misused and taken out of context. The Lord is trying to tell us something here but we must take the whole story in to get it.

Well I have found occasion.

Dan 6:1-28 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; (2) and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. (3) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. (4) So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom (the laws of the land); but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. (he was a man of character, a man of integrity)

Pro 10:9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.

(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

1Pe 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (17) For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1Pe 3:16 MSG Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.

(6) So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! (7) "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

This is a petition, on the surface it did not look like prayer. What it looked like was they were saying, just consult or petition or get advice from. In other words the king should come first and he should be consulted first and any advice should come from him. To the king it sounded reasonable.

(8) "Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." (9) Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Here we learn a lesson on making a decision on pride. If Darius was smart he would have noticed that Daniel was not there. This was Daniel the man that he wanted to put in charge of everything.

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

(10) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. (just as he had always done)

Matthew 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psa 34:1-3 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. (3) Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.

(11) Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. (12) And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." (13) So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."