Don’t worry about the Lions
Daniel 6
Intro
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Good Morning.
This morning we are going to talking about Daniel and the Lion’s Den.
Now when I mention Lions, you either think about the Lions’ you have seen at the zoo or at a circus
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Lions that look like this and are laying there on a rock and are peaceful.
Or
Maybe you think of that famous Lion, Simba from the Lion King
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Our picture in our minds of Lions as sometimes just big kitties is not all that accurate.
Lions can be very ferocious.
I am going to show you a video of just how scary even so called tame Lions can be. Now I want you to know that everyone in the video is ok, but it shows how scary it would be to be in a Lion’s den.
Video – Lion Attack
Slide after Video
That is pretty scary and those Lions could have easily killed that man if there were not others that were helping him and if they did not have those sticks. When we here the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den, we need to realize that God really did an incredible miracle in saving Daniel and that is the same God we serve today!
Transition
Now, today, Probably none of us are going to get thrown into a lion’s den, but we do face dangers in this world every day that we wake up.
Some face bullying at school
Others face co-workers who try to sabotage our jobs.
And all of us face the uncertainty in this world even in our everyday activities just like those in Colorado who thought they were just going to see a movie.
This world is a dangerous place.
How are we going to be able to deal with the dangers that we face, even when we are not doing anything wrong, in a way that doesn’t keep us locked up in our houses too afraid to even leave?
How do we face dangers and still live life?
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I believe that one of the reasons we get to read about Daniel and the Lion’s Den is so that we know how to do that, so we know how we can live a life that pleases God when things are scary.
Now before we begin, I just want to catch you up to where we are in our story of Daniel.
If you have your Bible you can turn to Daniel chapter 6 while I catch us up.
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Background
Daniel and his friends were taken as captives from Israel to the land of Babylon when Daniel and his friends were about 15. Daniel has lived in Babylon a long time and many kings have come and gone and while he had a lot of influence and power early on when he was in Babylon, for the past 25 or so years, he did not have much power.
Now a new King has come to power named Darius. Let’s read what it says in God’s word, the Bible to see what the King did.
Daniel 6:1-4
6 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. 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.
Those other leaders did not want Daniel to be the ruler over them, so they looked for something to charge against Daniel so the king would not put Daniel in charge, but they couldn’t find anything.
Apply
If someone were to look at your life, follow you around where ever you went, watched you when you were taking a test, or at home on your computer; if someone were to see you when you thought no one was watching, would they be able to find something against you?
Probably for most of us, but not for Daniel. They couldn’t find anything to use against him, he was such a person of character.
Those other leaders knew this and didn’t want him in charge of them probably because they wanted to use their power to steal from the King. And that is just why the king wanted Daniel in charge.
So when these other leaders couldn’t find anything to use against Daniel, what did they do?
Let’s keep reading and find out.
Daniel 6:5-9
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."
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.
So, that is the plan they came up with to find something to charge against Daniel. They made a new law that would make it illegal to pray to God.
They knew Daniel was a godly man and that he prayed up in his room with his window open toward Jerusalem 3 times each and every day.
Now, they have made it illegal for him to do that. Not only is it illegal, but it would get him killed by being thrown to the lions and we saw how ferocious lions can be even when we think they are trained.
What could he do? How could he avoid getting thrown into the lion’s den?
(Actually ask the kids)
Well I suppose he could keep praying but just not let anyone know it.
Daniel could shut the window so nobody saw him.
He could just go for a walk by himself and pray in his heart as he walked along and nobody would be the wiser. If someone asked he could just say he was taking a walk. That wouldn’t really be lying because he really was taking a walk. He just wouldn’t tell them he was praying to God.
Apply
What would you do if they made it illegal to pray?
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At School
What if you were at school and they said you couldn’t pray and give thanks before you ate your lunch? Would you do it? Would you do it, but hide the fact that you were doing it?
Chances are that we are not going to face that choice where it is illegal to pray.
But what if it were illegal to go to church?
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What if there were people in government that did not like what the Bible said and what the church taught and said, it is illegal to go to church.
Now maybe it wasn’t punishable by death, but what if every time you came to church a law enforcement officer would write you a ticket.
What would you do?
That would be scary. Don’t you get scarred when you see flashing lights behind you when you are driving, even if you weren’t speeding?
This is what I think you might do.
If you were a person that made it a regular habit to come to church every week and be with God’s people and be encouraged in your relationship with God, I bet most of those people would keep coming.
They would know how important it is to be gathered together with God’s people and encouraged in our relationship with God.
In fact the author of Hebrews says,
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Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
But if you were a person who did not come all the time, a person that when other things came up, NOT just once in a while, but regularly, you put that ahead of your relationship with God, you would not be strong enough to make this hard choice.
You see if we are going to face the dangers of life and still live to please God, then
We must Grow in our relationship with God
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How do we do that?
We can do that in a lot of ways, but without question, some of those ways are by
Praying
Daniel made prayer a priority in his life. It was one of the things that strengthened him to be able to continue to pray when it became dangerous to his physical life.
The Apostle Paul tells us as well to “pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
We also grow by
Reading the Bible
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Paul tells us that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Kids, it is important for you to start reading the Bible. Maybe for your Birthday or Christmas, you can ask for a Bible that is easy for you to read. Parents, set aside some time with your young children to read the Bible together and talk about it.
So we want to read the Bible
And another way we grow in our relationship with God is by
Going to Church
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At church we get to learn more about God and meet with God’s people and encourage each other when it is hard, just like it told us in Hebrews.
If we don’t’ make prayer, reading the Bible and coming to church a priority, then we are not going to be strong enough to face the dangers we will encounter in this world and still live life in a way that pleases God.
So parents, this doesn’t mean you can never miss a Sunday. You will miss some Sundays.
But this does mean that you make choices recognizing the big picture of things.
If everyone has been sick for a Sunday or 2, schedule that day at the beach for a Saturday instead of a Sunday.
Realize that the longer you are out of being in fellowship with God’s people, even with legitimate reasons, the easier it is for the Devil to keep you away and get you unconnected and you will never have the strength to make the hard decisions that help you to really live life and experience God’s mighty power.
Transition
Now, even though we don’t live in an environment right now that is physically dangerous to us for believing in and growing in our relationship with God, it is getting more difficult.
Chick-fil-a
Just look at the turmoil over the interview that Dan Cathy, the owner of Chick-fil-a, gave when he stated that he supports the “biblical definition of the family unit.”
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271
That is all he said in the whole article, that he supports the biblical definition of marriage and now some cities want to ban chick-fil-a from opening restaurants in their town. It is getting more and more hostile in our country toward those who believe the Bible.
That is why each of us have got to be growing in our relationship with Christ like Daniel was, if we are going to be able to face the dangers of this world and live life to please God.
Continuing
So what does Daniel do when confronted with a new law that will get him killed if he continues to do what he always has?
Daniel 6:10-18
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. 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. 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.
Transition
So Daniel prayed like he always did, opening up his window and praying to the God of heaven. Daniel did not change to appease man, despite the consequences.
The other evil administrators found Daniel praying like he always did and reported it to the king
The king doesn’t want to throw Daniel to the lions, but the law is the law and even the king can’t change a law that has been set.
So, Daniel gets thrown to the lions to be eaten for praying to God.
Question
Where is God in all of this?
You would think that with the relationship that Daniel had with God with all the praying he did, God would rescue Daniel from being thrown into the lion’s den.
But God doesn’t save him from being thrown into the lion’s den.
Apply
Sometimes we are going to find ourselves in tough situations solely because we are believers in God.
Sometimes your “friends” will ridicule you because you go home early on a Saturday night so you can go to church.
Sometimes if you pray and give thanks at your lunch table or at a restaurant, people may look at you like you are weird.
Sometimes if you stand up for someone who is being bullied, you may find yourself being bullied by the bullies or even beat up!
Sometimes when we stand and are counted as one who believes and affirms the Bible and its views on things, we are going to be persecuted.
Even though you feel like you may have been thrown into the Lion’s den, we have to remember that God is in control of the lions and
We must let God Deal with the Lions
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Look with me at the rest of this chapter
Daniel 6:19-28
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."
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.
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.
Daniel focused on growing in his relationship with God and he let God worry about the Lions.
He trusted God and God rescued him.
If we trust in God, He will always rescue us, but He may not rescue us in the way we expect.
He may not rescue you from getting cancer, but instead may save you in the midst of it.
He may not rescue you from dealing with your parent’s divorce, instead, He may join you in your sorrow and give you strength during it.
He may not rescue you from the pain that you are enduring, but instead draw you close so that your pain pales in comparison to the joy of being close to Christ.
Or He may rescue you out of the difficult circumstance and out of the hardship and from the pain you are enduring.
Whichever it is, to God be the glory.
That is how Daniel lived, He focused on what he could do, grow in his relationship through prayer, and he let God deal with the things only He could deal with, in this case the lions.
And even if God doesn’t rescue us like we think He will, realize that our ultimate hope is not for being rescued in this world, but to be rescued for eternity!
And that is exactly why the Father sent His Son, Jesus.
You see Jesus wasn’t rescued from the cross, which the Father could have done. Instead, He endured the pain, the hardship and the difficult circumstances of the cross so He could rescue you and me.
Jesus is God who came from Heaven and became a man so He could go through the pain of being separated from the Father so we would not have to.
He has provided us with the ultimate rescue, if we would trust Him like Daniel did.
Listen to these verses that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colosse
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Colossians 1:10-14
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Conclusion
Do you trust God?
Have you received the rescue that God has provided through Jesus Christ or you trying to rescue yourself?
The Bible tells us that Jesus came to rescue us.
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John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV
And for the powerzone kids here today, Jesus wants you to come to him with a child-like belief.
He tells us in
Mark 10:14-16
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Have you trusted in Jesus to rescue from more than the lion’s den, but from the real danger of us being apart from Him forever?
The Bible tells us that when we believe in Him, that He is, God in the flesh, and believe in what He did, dying for our sins, and rising from the dead, then He rescues us from dying and going to hell and gives us the free gift of heaven.
Kids, adults, have you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior?
You can do that this morning by confessing your belief to God.
I will lead in a prayer and if that is what you believe, you can pray along with me and receive Jesus as your Savior.
And for those of us who are Christians, who struggled with some of the questions I was asking earlier about what we would do if confronted with certain choices, perhaps we need to be praying more like Daniel, or studying God’s word, or being more committed to being in fellowship and being connected to God’s people, so we can be strengthened in our relationship like Daniel was, to be able to stand in the face of the Lions and trust that God will do what is best for us for our eternity.
Let’s pray and seek to be rescued if that is what we need, or to be strengthened to follow no matter what.
Pray
We are going to close in the song “Our God” It is truly a song of worship that exalts Our God who is greater and unlike any false god that the world worships. Let’s worship Him this morning.
