Text: Daniel 6:1-28, Title: Unassailable, Date/Place: NRBC, 8/31/09, AM
A. Opening illustration: define Unassailable: immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with; "an impregnable fortress," without flaws or loopholes, secure against attack; impregnable; undeniable, incontestable or incontrovertible. 74% say they are concerned about the moral condition of the nation. That point of view is only slightly more pronounced among Christians. When asked the basis of their moral choices, 44% cited their desire to do whatever will bring them the most pleasing or satisfying results. 17% base moral decisions on what they believe will make other people happy or minimize interpersonal conflict. 17% credit the values they were taught by their family as the dominant influence on their moral considerations. Only 24% of born again adults rely upon the Bible or church teachings as their primary source of moral guidance. Get kids to be the lions roar!
B. Background to passage: Remember that last time we looked at Daniel, Belshazzer, the last king of the Babylonians, had seen the writing on the wall, and been told that he had been weighed in the balance, and found wanting, and thus was slain that night according to the word of the Lord. Now Darius the ruler under Cyrus, appointed Daniel among the wise men of his court. And again, the favor that Daniel had with God caused them to be jealous and seek to harm this nearly 80 year old man of God. So a plot was hatched, carried out, but the Almighty God and Daniel his servant were unassailable.
C. Main thought: Daniel is one of the few bible characters that we have a considerable amount of material on who is not found wanting in some area. And in the twilight of his life, he finishes well!
A. Unassailable Character (v. 3-5)
1. The bible speaks here of Daniel having an excellent spirit. The word means exceedingly, surpassingly superior. It means outstandingly special, preeminent or exceptional, and having much wisdom. So excellent even that the king was planning to set him over all the wise men there. Their jealousy raged, and a plan was sought to catch him in a scandal. But the bible says that he was “faithful,” or trustworthy. His character was impeccable. The bible says that they could not find fault in him. James Boice, the late Presbyterian commentator, said that he wished this could be said of more believers. In fact they decided that the only way to snag him was to use his relationship with God against him. Of course they didn’t know that it was impossible.
2. 1 Tim 3:1-7, 6:1, Titus 2:5,
3. Illustration: There are approximately 1,090,000 divorces per year in the U.S.7 Since the Christian divorce rate is essentially the same as the nation’s overall divorce rate, and since 41% of population is born again, number of Christian divorces equals 1,090,000 x .41 / 365 = 1,224 per day. 1,500 pastors leave their assignments every month in the United States because of conflict, burnout, or moral failure, Chuck Swindoll wrote, “Character is the moral, ethical, and spiritual undergirding that rests on truth, that reinforces a life in stressful times, and resists all temptations to compromise.” That is the kind of character God wants to develop. Why? Because our character determines how we interpret God’s will. When asked about cheating on exams, students from non-religious independent schools had the lowest cheating rate, 47 percent, compared to 63 percent of students attending religious schools. Of greater concern, 93 percent of students surveyed indicated they were satisfied with their own character and ethics saying that when it comes to doing what is right, they thought themselves to be better than most people they knew.
4. Someone once said that character is what you do when no one else is around. In 1 Tim 3 the bible uses the word blameless to describe leaders in the church. They are commanded to be blameless, self-controlled, have orderly lives that demonstrate a love for strangers. They must have well-managed homes, obedient children, and biblical use of financial resources. And most of the list of qualities that are presented there are character traits commanded of believers in other parts of scripture. As a believer, do you distinguish yourself from your peers and co-workers? Do you stand head and shoulders above the rest? Do people look to you as an example of biblical standards and truth in action? Are you all encouragers of others? Pray that your character would be impeccable, and your spirit be excellent, and the only faults that are able to be pinned on you have to deal with the law of your God.
B. Unassailable Discipline (v. 10-11)
1. We are told here that it was Daniel’s custom to open the windows of his room and pray toward Jerusalem every morning, noon, and night. The interesting thing about this is that it tells us that when Daniel knew that the law was a signed law, then he went to pray. Now remember the command was simply not to pray to any god but the king for 30 days. Wouldn’t it have seemed reasonable to simply pray in secret for 30 days, or fast from pray for 30 days (some of you may go a couple of weeks without prayer) so why no thirty days? Maybe just close the windows, or pray with your head under the covers, but no change? Is he kidding? It seems like it would be so easy to compromise his faith for just a few days, right. But Daniel was determined to please an audience of One regardless of the cost! Marriage power statement.
2. Gal 5:17, Luke 14:28, Heb 13:13, John 11:16, Acts 21:13
3. Illustration: NEVER! West Point’s "Harder Right" This quotation is from the "Cadet Prayer." It is repeated every Sunday in chapel services at West Point: "Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be contented with half truth when whole truth can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice & injustice and knows no fear when right and truth are in jeopardy." Winter was coming on and a hunter went out into the forest to shoot a bear out of which he planned to make a warm coat. By and by he saw a bear coming toward him and raised his gun and took aim. “Wait,” said the bear, “why do you want to shoot me?” “Because I am cold,” said the hunter. “But I am hungry,” the bear replied, “so maybe we can reach an agreement.” In the end, the hunter was well enveloped with the bear’s fur and the bear had eaten his dinner. We always lose out when we try to compromise with sin. It will consume us in the end. Quote from Ravenhill, p. 25 about prayerlessness,
4. Our minds aid us in self-justification when in comes to compromise. O how our flesh deceives us and wars against the Spirit. The culture at large bids us to come to it, adopt its values, goals, and ways. And the core Christian disciplines of prayer, fasting, bible intake, giving, and gathering with other believers are under vicious attack. Are you committed to the disciplines? How much does it take for you to forsake your spiritual disciplines? If someone made it illegal, what would you do? If we are not willing to agonize in prayer or giving or bible reading or fasting or gathering while it is legal and convenient (with padded pews, A/C, and limited time commitment), what makes us think that when persecution comes, bibles taken away, laws passed, etc. that we will triumph in godless when it is inconvenient or even dangerous? Why must we constantly preach on disciplines? Why must we be continually reminded and shamed that we have no time with Jesus? This also brings up the question of civil disobedience.
C. Unassailable Faith (v. 14-23)
1. What I wouldn’t give to see how Daniel said those words, “O King, Live Forever.” The king worked so diligently to free him from impending death, but we don’t see Daniel fretting. The king tells him that God will deliver him, but we never hear a word from Daniel. I am sure that he was allowing his impeccable transformed, heavenlied perspective shine through. He was probably like the young Hebrew boys in chapter three, confident in his God and unwavering in his commitment to pray to Him. Maybe he thought dying with lions might be better than cancer. Maybe he was so satisfied with God that he figured whatever way God wanted him to die was the best way.
2. Heb 11:33-40, 10:35-39, 12:12-15, 1 Kings 18:21-24, Luke 17:5,
3. Illustration: Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us.” — Oswald Chambers, one of my favorite songs says, “my faith is like shifting sand, changed by every wave…so I stand on grace…I’ve begged you for some proof for my Thomas eyes to see, A slithering staff, a leprous hand, And lions resting lazily, A glimpse of your back-side glory, And this soaked altar going ablaze, But you know I’ve seen so much, I explained it away
4. Whatever the case, Daniel said that he was found innocent by God, because he had done nothing wrong to the king. And he was taken out of the pit with no injury (like no smoke smell). The bible says that this occurred because he believed in God. Our confidence in God should be so rock solid. For He is totally worthy of such a deep, abiding, enduring faith. But what if you feel like the songwriter adrift without the foundation of faith that could confidently jump into the pit or the furnace? Rely on God’s grace in the same hour necessary. Lift some spiritual weights. Gather with giants in the faith. Serve the Lord
D. Unassailable God (v. 24-28)
1. Three things demonstrate to us that the reason that all of this happened is that unassailable Daniel served (and we serve) and unassailable God. First, those who tried to undermine the man of God (and their wives and children) were all cast into the pit, and the hungry lions devoured them before they got to the bottom. Secondly, Daniel is exalted and prospers back in the Kings court, probably even more so since his ordeal. But finally there is a royal decree (not needed, but accurate) that all men should fear and tremble for the only Living God. The One whose kingdom will never end, and who has the power to deliver and rescue and work signs and wonders among His people. This decree gives honor where it is due, and pleases God because it makes much of His name.
2. Rev 21:8, 1 Cor 15:58, Jude 1:24-25, 1 Tim 1:17,
3. Illustration: When we speak of the transcendence of God we are talking about that sense in which God is above and beyond us. He is higher than the world. He has absolute power over the world. The world has no power over Him. Transcendence describes God in His consuming majesty, His exalted loftiness. He is an infinite cut above everything else. The Holiness of God p. 55, Sproul, Quoting the English preacher John Daniel Jones: He lived from 1865-1942, this is from his sermon The Sovereignty of God In our absorption in the thought of God as Father, we have almost lost sight of the fact that He is the Holy Sovereign, ruling the world in righteousness. The result has been that to a large extent, we have lost the sense of religious awe, of reverence, and of godly fear. To make our religious life deep and strong we need to recover that lost sense of awe. We need to be taught afresh the fear of the Lord. And to recover that lost sense of awe, to create a feeling of reverence, we need a fresh vision of God as the Holy Sovereign. The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble. Why (should the nations tremble)? He is holy. We have only to realize that God is the Holy Sovereign, and the awe is bound to come back. The will that rules is a holy will. The power that governs is a holy power. All who sin bring themselves into collision with the sovereign will and power of the universe. If the realization that a Holy God is sovereign fills us sinful men and women with awe and godly fear, that same realization of God as sovereign ought to fill those of us who love goodness and long for the triumph of Christ with a happy confidence.
4. Nobody gets the better of our unassailable God. The wicked may look like they are prospering, but all accounts will be settled in the end. Conscious, everlasting torture awaits those who have attempted to assault the all-wise, all-powerful, and most importantly HOLY God. Be sure that your sin will find you out. There is stored up wrath for those who are against God. You can also rest assured that if you serve God with purity of heart in His will, He will be faithful to reward you. Sometimes in this life, sometimes in the next, but no one’s labor will be forgotten. All of our works will be tested and rewards given. He is the everlasting, sovereign God; there is no one else like Him! Higher and greater than all beings! The one to whom we owe all honor, all gratitude, all praise, all adoration. He is ultimate greatest reality in the universe. And men should tremble. And the only reason that we can be unassailable is because He is, and He wills us to be so!
A. Closing illustration: Navigators Seven Crucial Characteristics of Finishing Well, Living dangerously. That was one of many themes in Brennan Manning’s superb book The Signature of Jesus. Manning presents a radical alternative to the normal everyday, ho-hum, “comfort zone” mentality lived out by so many “so-called Christians.” His final statement in the book: The Signature of Jesus is offered to Christians who want to live by faith and not by mere “religion,” for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological, [for those] who see Christianity neither as a moral code or a belief system but a love affair, who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ, who know that following Him means living dangerously, who want to live the gospel without compromise, who have no greater desire than to have His signature written on the pages of their lives.
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
