The Lord Of The Breakout!
Daniel 6:21-23NKJV
Have you ever found yourself in a lions den?
Do you find yourself in need of deliverance from a situation? Do you feel you are under spiritual attack and need God to Delivery? Do you find yourself trapped in a predicament and can’t find a way out?
Let me share with you one of the greatest historical stories of deliverance in the Bible.
-Daniel in the lions den.
Daniel was in exile. He served as a political figure in Babylon, then in the Persian government. He distinguished himself as a person of integrity, in both his work, and his worship. But one day he found himself, the- object of personal attack, jealousy, and persecution.
This is an interesting fact, Men who were jealous of Daniel could find no basis for accusing him in his work, so they turned toward his worship of God.
In the NT, have you ever thought Acts 16, when Paul and Silas were in the inner-most part of the prison, unjustly beaten, but at mid-night Paul and Silas begin to worship and call on the name of the Lord.
Have you ever wondered was this a test? I believe like Daniel, this was Paul and Silas’ loins den!
They trusted in the Lord of the breakout!
Micah 2:13ESV He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the LORD at their head.
Say, “The Lord of the breakout!”
Hear this, King Darius of Persia favored Daniels trusted counsel.
However, some lobbyist and politicians convinced the king to sign a bill for 30 days that no one could pray to any man or god except the king.
What would we do if our personal freedom of worship was taken away?
You know, there are good laws and bad laws. This law was a bad one.
The Medes and Persians also had another law that was worse than this one, if the king passed a law, he could not reverse it!
It’s good to know that in the free nation as ours, Bad politics and bad laws can be reversed! Listen, If we don’t like our politicians, we can vote them out of office.
When Darius signed this, he quickly realized his foolishness, because Daniel was incriminated by it.
King Darius tried to get Daniel out of the legal jam, but there was no way.
The King went with Daniel that night to the lions den and watched him enter.
Daniel 6:16, records the king saying, “May your God, whom you serve, continually, rescue you!” -The king was encouraging Daniel.
The Bible records that King Darius was sleepless thinking of Daniels safety. Then at the first light of dawn, The King ran to the den called out to Daniel, Daniel 6:20 has your God, whom you serve, continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?
What relief came to King Darius when he heard Daniel’s voice;
Daniel 6:21-23AMP Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God has sent His angel and has shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23 Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatsoever was found on him, because he believed in and relied on and trusted in his God.
Quickly, the king ordered those who had set Daniel up to be thrown into the den, and the lions devoured them. Remember this, “People always reap the hatred they sow.”
Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land. Daniel 6:26–27NKJV I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Our God proves himself over and over again. These are the words of a pagan King– Who is this God?
Again I quote King Darius: He is to be feared among men, for He is a living. God is steadfast forever. His kingdom never ends, and will never be destroyed. God delivers and rescues, He works signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth.
This is the God who delivered Daniel from the power of the Lions. -The Lord of breakout!
The Hebrew name for, God our deliver: Mefalti
Strong’s Concordance number: 6403.
Psalm18:2NKJV The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
This is the God I want to introduced to you, He rescues, and He saves; He performs signs and wonders; and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Hebrews 13:8.
Three key ingredients when it comes to Daniel’s success:
Number one. Daniel distinguished himself in his work...
Daniel 6:3-4NKJV 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; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.”
Daniel served in a foreign land under two governments that were very different from that of Israel. -Yet he served faithfully without compromising his faith and values.
Again, regarding Daniel’s work ethic, they could find no place for criticism.
Colossians 3:23TPT “Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.”
You could say that in our day, and time Daniel was a politician. However, He was a man of God.
If you’re a politician, remember, Jesus is the king.
If you are a lawyer, remember, Jesus, is our defense attorney.
If you do manual labor, remember, Jesus was a carpenter.
If you are an educator, remember, Jesus was the great teacher.
If you are a pastor, remember, Jesus is the good shepherd.
If you are a counselor, a psychiatrist, or social worker, remember, Jesus is the wonderful counselor.
If you are a financial advisor, remember, all the treasures of wisdom are in him.
If you are a builder, or an artist, remember, Jesus created the universe.
If you are an electrician, remember, Jesus is the light of the world.
If you are a farmer, remember, Jesus is the sower of the word of God.
If you are an Musician, remember, Jesus is the song of all ages.
If you are a doctor, remember, Jesus is the great physician.
Again, Whatever you do, your work should be honorable, so work at it with all your heart!
Number two. Daniel disciplined himself in his worship.
In spite of the 30 day decree forbidding prayer and worship, Daniel 6:10 Daniel prayed and gave thanks just as he had done before.
Nothing was going to stop him from worshiping God in the privacy of his house or his heart.
Daniel practiced his faith in private, but when he was challenged, he stood up for his faith publicly.
I want you to notice what Daniel did.
In, Daniel 6:10, Daniel opened his windows toward Jerusalem as a sign of hope that God would eventually bring them out of Babylon and take them back home.
A). Ventilation.
B). Current events/ Jerusalem.
-The God of Breakout!
Daniel looked to the promise, not to the problem! He looked to the future with hope based on Jeremiah‘s prophecy.
Jeremiah 29:10–14NKJV For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I- think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
Number three. Daniel was delivered because he waited on God.
Again, God sent his angel to rescue Daniel, because he trusted in his God.
Ever noticed, waiting and trusting run parallel?
Also notice, God did not take him out of the lions den; he kept him safe in the lions den.
Psalm 40:1-3TPT I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry. 2 He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path. 3 A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him!
I heard the Lord say, “I’ll be with you during your appointed loins den!”
God doesn't get us out of every situation. But he will keep us safe in every situation.
God sends angels to protect us. The word angel means, messenger.
There are 108 old testament references and 165 New Testament references to angels.
The writer of Hebrews puts the ministry of angels in perspective when he ask,
Hebrews 1:14 are not all angels, ministering spirits set to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Then the writer of Hebrews closes the letter with a most fascinating challenge:
Hebrews 13:2NKJV Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane to prepare to get himself on the cross for our salvation, an angel came and strengthen him, Luke, 22:43.
When you face your own lions den, remember,
Psalm 34:7 the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
God shut the mouth of the lions. He shut the mouth of the spiritual lion, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour, 1 Peter 5:8.
Paul says that at his trial, I was delivered from the Lions mouth, 2 Timothy 4:17-18, symbolic of those who slander him. Then he adds, 18 the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely in his heavenly kingdom.
In closing, I want to share with you something I read:
People are like buzzards, bats and bumblebees when it comes to getting out of a difficult situation.
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6‘ x 8‘ and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for a life in a small jail with no top.
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nibble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly, and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
The bumblebee, if dropped into an open cup (tumbler), will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.
The bee can never see the means of escape at the top, but persist in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.
It will seek away, where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up.
Daniel looked up to God and trusted him and was delivered. We too, can look up, and God will reach down and deliver us from the den of difficulty!
Benediction. If you find yourself in a lions den, wait on God, look up to God trust and serve him faithfully. The Lord of the breakout is on your side!
