What must they say about your God?
Daniel 6:12-27 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 altereth not.
Dan 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Dan 6:14 Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Dan 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Dan 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Dan 6:18 ¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Dan 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Dan 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Dan 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Dan 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Dan 6:24 ¶ And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Dan 6:25 ¶ Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
Dan 6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
The punishment that the men received and what King Darius said concerning Daniel’s God.
This is what the King said of Daniel’s God
He [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
Dan 6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Exodus 5:2And Pharaoh said, Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
This is what Pharaoh said of Mosses God.
Exodus 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD [is] righteous, and I and my people [are] wicked.
Exodus 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
In order for others to see who our God is through us we must first understand who God is to us.
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results:
GOD is like a FORD ... He’s got a better idea.
GOD is like COKE ... He’s the real thing.
GOD is like HALLMARK CARDS ... He cares enough to send His very best.
GOD is like TIDE ... He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
GOD is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He brings good things to life.
GOD is like SEARS ... He has everything.
GOD is like ALKA-SELTZER ... Try Him, you’ll like him.
GOD is like SCOTCH TAPE ... You can’t see him, but you know He’s there.
GOD is like DELTA .... He’s ready when you are.
GOD is like ALLSTATE ... You’re in good hands with Him.
GOD is like VO-5 HAIR SPRAY ... He holds through all kinds of weather.
GOD is like DIAL SOAP ... Aren’t you glad you have Him.
Don’t you wish everybody did?
Who is God to you? Make a list. Who is God to me? Then for the next 30 days add at least one thing more each day. Let’s look in the word.
In Genesis, He is the Creator God.
In Exodus, He is the Redeemer.
In Leviticus, He is your sanctification.
In Numbers, He is your guide.
In Deuteronomy, He is your teacher.
In Joshua, He is the mighty conqueror.
In Judges, He gives victory over enemies.
In Ruth, He is your kinsman,
your lover, your redeemer.
In 1 Samuel, He is the root of Jesse.
In 2 Samuel, He is the Son of David.
In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, He is King of Kings
and Lord of Lords.
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles, He is your intercessor
and High Priest.
In Ezra, He is your temple, your house of worship.
In Nehemiah, He is your mighty wall,
protecting you from your enemies.
In Esther, He stands in the gap to
deliver you from your enemies.
In Job, He is the arbitrator who not only
understands your struggles, but has the power
to do something about them.
In Psalms, He is your song and your reason to sing.
In Proverbs, He is your wisdom, helping you
make sense of life and live it successfully.
In Ecclesiastes, He is your purpose,
delivering you from vanity.
In the Song of Solomon, He is your lover,
your Rose of Sharon.
In Isaiah, He is the mighty counselor,
the Prince of Peace, the everlasting Father, and more.
He’s everything you need.
In Jeremiah, He is your balm of Gilead,
the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
In Lamentations, He is the ever-faithful one
upon whom you can depend.
In Ezekiel, He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel,
the one who assures that dry, dead bones will come alive again.
In Daniel, He is the ancient of days,
the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
In Hosea, He is your faithful lover,
always beckoning you to come back,
even when you have abandoned Him.
In Joel, He is your refuge,
keeping you safe in times of trouble.
In Amos, He is the husbandman,
the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
In Obadiah, He is Lord of the Kingdom.
In Jonah, He is your salvation,
bringing you back within His will.
In Micah, He is Judge of the Nation.
In Nahum, He is the jealous God.
In Habakkuk, He is the Holy One.
In Zephaniah, He is the witness.
In Haggai, He overthrows the enemies.
In Zechariah, He is Lord of Hosts.
In Malachi, He is the messenger God.
In Matthew, He is King of the Jews.
In Mark, He is the Servant.
In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John, He is the Son of God.
In Acts, He is Savior of the world.
In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.
In 1 Corinthians, He is the rock that followed Israel.
In 2 Corinthians, He is the triumphant, victorious one.
In Galatians, He is your liberty ... He sets you free.
In Ephesians, He is Head of the Church.
In Philippians, He is your joy.
In Colossians, He is your completeness.
In 1 Thessalonians, He is your hope.
In 2 Thessalonians, He is your patience and discipline.
In 1 Timothy, He is your faith.
In 2 Timothy, He is your stability.
In Titus, He is the truth.
In Philemon, He is your benefactor.
In Hebrews, He is your perfection.
In James, He is the power behind your faith.
In 1 Peter, He is your example.
In 2 Peter, He is your purity.
In 1 John, He is your life.
In 2 John, He is your pattern.
In 3 John, He is your motivation.
In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.
In the Revelation, He is your coming King.
Because Daniel knew who his God was he introduced some people to his God with out ever saying a word. Are you showing people who your God is with our ever saying a word or are you saying one thing about your God and showing something else.
Are you saying “He’s my great provider.”, but your wringing hands are saying “I really don’t trust him.”
Are you saying “I love Him“, but your sins saying “I don’t mind hurting Him.”
Are you saying “I believe in His word.”, but your doubting won’t allow you to overcome your fear.
Are you saying “I know He forgives me, but the enemy keeps you in guilt.
Are you saying I know I’m covered by His grace, but your heartache over past failures keeps your head hanging low.
Are you saying “I know nothing can separate me from His love, yet our sin causes us to run from God instead of running to Him for forgiveness.
We can all quote scripture about who God is, but it isn’t about what we say it’s about what we do. They will see our actions far above our words. The old saying Don’t do as I do, do as I say, but what do our kids do? What we do. The king responded to Daniels troubles in the same manner he knew Daniel would. He fasted. Dan 6:18 ¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
We must be careful of our actions. They don’t just speak of who we are, but they speak of the God in whom we serve.
What do other say about the God who you serve?
If we dropped Joyce in the middle of the jungle in the mist of a tribe of people who had never heard of Jesus Christ and they watched her everyday life what would they say about he God she served? Better yet what if a camera crew came and lived in you home for the next 6 months and filmed your every actions and your every word, and we showed that video tape to those tribesmen what would they say about your God? Or what if we could somehow even show them your every thought what would they say about your God. This has changed my view on prosperity. You see have said God I want to be prosperous because I want to be good to my children. I want to be able to help them when they need a helping hand. I want better for them. I don’t want to see them struggle. I want to be able to help those who are in need. To continually be a giver. I love to bless people. Most people take great joy in being able to help one another. And while all those things are great, I want to be prosperous because I want people to say great things about my God. I want sinners to look at Philip and I and say they surely serve a mighty God. The God they serve He’s powerful, He’s great and mighty , He’s merciful, He’s kind, He’s forgiving, He is a Father who loves unconditionally and I want to know their God.
