We are going to consider that in a world that often values comfort over courage, convenience over conviction, we’re faced with a tough question: Culture’s Greatest Challenge: What would you stand for?
When faced with difficulties, what will you choose? Will you bow to the pressures around you, or stand firm in your beliefs, no matter the cost?
Rollo May, the distinguished psychiatrist, wrote a book called: Man's Search for Himself, and in this book, he says: “The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice; it is conformity.” And there you have the trouble today: Its conformity, people acting like the world. We are in the world but not of the world.
Culture loves to drive a wedge between our convictions and our worship. Will We Keep Worshipping God When the Pressure is on?
In Daniel 6, we read of a very popular story, you probably learnt this famous story in kids’ class – Daniel in the lion’s Den.
In a nutshell, we see Daniel’s unwavering commitment to God, even when faced with a law that would put him in adversity, a law that would put him in a difficult situation. Daniel stood firm in his faith.
Daniel 6:10 (NIV)
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.
Hebrews 11:33, 36-37 (NIV)
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised, who shut the mouths of lions 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated.
John 16:33 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
May the Lord bless the reading of his word.
What do you do when you’re on the menu in a Lion’s den?
I read somewhere that A CATERPILLAR is slow, slimy, and it takes all day to go two feet, but when it undergoes the process of metamorphosis and the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, something beautiful is born. There’s only one reason a butterfly can fly: its wings are strengthened by the work it does to break through the cocoon. If a bystander were to slit open a cocoon prior to the butterfly breaking itself loose from the cocoon, it wouldn’t fly. Its wings are developed through the struggle. No struggle, no flight. Sometimes God allows adversity to come to strengthen our wings.
As a believer YOUR INTEGRITY WILL BE TESTED. I heard this the other day - A pastor preached a sermon on honesty one Sunday. On Monday morning he took the bus to get to his office. He paid the fare, and the bus driver gave him back too much change. During the rest of the journey, the pastor was rationalizing how God had provided him with some extra money he needed for the week. But he just could not live with himself, and before he got off the bus he said to the driver, "You have made a mistake. You’ve given me too much change." And he proceeded to give him back the extra money. The driver smiled and said, "There was no mistake. I was at your church yesterday and heard you preach on honesty. So, I decided to put you to a test this morning." Integrity - one's deeds match one's words!
BIBLICAL NARRATIVE:
Daniel 6 begins with the reign of King Darius the Mede beginning his reign. Nebuchadnezzar was removed as predicted, the Medo-Persians, now have been established as the dominant world empire. Judah has been in exile 70 years in Babylon. Daniel in Daniel 6 at this time was an old man in his 80's according to the chronological structure of Daniel.
Daniel was a government employee surrounded by a foreign culture.
- Daniel was a man of character – He had an excellent spirit.
- Daniel was a man of consistency – (Faithful)
- Daniel was a man of conviction.
- Daniel was a man of conscience.
- Daniel was a man of courage.
- Daniel was a man that stood firm in his faith: His story leaves lessons for us.
Today, as we examine the subject: HOW TO STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH. In a nutshell consider 4 ideas:
1. Recognize that your faith will face adversity.
2. Respond with courage.
3. Rely on God’s strength.
4. Remember your reward.
Transitional statement
? Doing right is no guarantee everything will go right. Daniel had become the target of envy/jealousy in the new Persian government.
? Bear in mind that temptations come at the threshold of elevation. Popular statement: For every level there’s a new devil.
? So, we must:
1. RECOGNIZE YOUR FAITH WILL FACE ADVERSITY.
? It is quite interesting that the story of the three Hebrew boys and the story of Daniel in the lion’s Den are very similar. It was a different story but SAME ENEMY. A DIFFERENT HEAD – SAME SPIRIT. Pressing questions in both stories: Who will you worship?
In Daniel 6, some folks became jealous of Daniel’s success and elevation, and began to try to set him up by looking for corruption in him. The commissioners, satraps began to seek grounds to accuse Daniel, but because he was faithful, no negligence or corruption was found in him.
Daniel 6:4-5 (NIV)
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. 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.”
- The devil is called the accuser of the brethren.
- Jesus told peter that the devil desires to sift him like wheat.
- Satan told God he was going to and fro. (moving LIKE a roaring lion seeking whom to devour).
I wonder this morning if you were ever accused of been holy, devoted, or prayerful, would you be found guilty? Can they trap you with your prayer life?
Consequently:
THE REALITY OF LIFE: SUFFERING
? Suffering is evitable. Suffering will test the limits of your faith and reveal what is hidden in the depths of despair.
? Theologians have debated about the place of suffering in the world. The doctrine of theodicy – Where is God in the presence of evil and suffering in the world?
o Why Does God let us suffer for our faith?
o How does God use suffering?
o How God encourage us in suffering.
God's people have always been a suffering people. It's important to note that God did not immediately remove Daniel and his friends from the fire or the lion's den – nor did he prevent their suffering. Rather, God was with them in their suffering.
- The emblem of our faith is a cross not a crown.
This is why I don’t agree with people that believe that those who are believers should not suffer. There’s good and bad theology.
Good Theology of Suffering
- God is a good father, he understands our adversity, is present with us and shares in our pain (Hebrews 4:15).
- God is sovereign, and allows suffering to refine our character, deepen our faith and our dependance on Him (Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.)
- Suffering is temporary, with eternal rewards. Therefore, enduring suffering faithfully glorifies God (2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Peter 4:16).
- Suffering is a by-product of a fallen world. (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21).
Bad Theology of Suffering
? Suffering is because of personal sin (Job 4:7-9).
? Faith will shield you from hardship.
Rely on God's Sovereignty: Sovereignty reflects 4 ideas: God’s Absolute control, foreknowledge, divine degree, and providence.
• Absolute Control: God is not subject to any external forces and has the power to act as He chooses within His creation.
• Foreknowledge: This attribute implies that God knows everything that will happen before it occurs, including human choices.
• Divine Decree: God's "decretive will" refers to His predetermined plan for all events, including both good and evil.
• Providence: This refers to God's active involvement in guiding and sustaining His creation, ensuring His plan unfolds.
People who suffered in scriptures
- Job (had a PhD in suffering)
- Abel suffered death in the hand of Cain.
- Joseph was thrown into a pit because of his dreams.
- David suffered in the hands of Saul. Anointed king but running from his father-in-law who wanted to kill him.
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego suffered.
- Noah suffered ridicule.
- Jesus our savior and Lord suffered with beatings, floggings and the ultimately nailed on the cross.
Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 "So that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know."
? Suffering is the indication that you are in the will of God. Not a lack of.
2 Timothy 3:12 "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2. RESPOND WITH COURAGE.
Daniel 6:10-11
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.
- Daniel didn’t change his routine just because it became dangerous. His conviction to pray, to honor God, was greater than any threat or law.
- Daniel turned and prayed face in Jerusalem, even though I said that time Jerusalem had been destroyed, but he’s very act of sticking with his culture and custom showed his reliance on the God of restoration that the God that I’m serving is able to restore my homeland.
- It is also quite interesting that when the law was passed, Daniel did not go down to the City Hall to fight for his right to worship. He didn’t complain to Man. He didn’t call Shadrach … hey buddy what should I do? He didn’t call a committee. He went straight and followed his convictions. He went on his knees. No, I’m not against peaceful protest, but there is no arm, strong enough than a man on his knees to his God, many of us are quick to complain to everyone else about injustice down to us, but we forget our knees in prayer.
Daniel’s Integrity Amidst False Accusations (Daniel 6:4-5)
The officials who opposed Daniel couldn’t find any legitimate fault with him, so they devised a scheme that would force him to either violate his faith or face punishment. The Test That Come Against You Will Come Against Two Ground - Grounds of faith, and grounds of compromise.
- Despite being wrongfully accused; Daniel maintained his integrity. As believers, we must live above reproach: Daniel’s faithfulness to God and his commitment to excellence in his work made him a target, but it also made him blameless in the eyes of his accusers. In the midst of a corrupt society, our calling as Christians is to live with integrity.
- God values our integrity more than our comfort or success. Daniel did not allow external pressure to silence his relationship with God, when under pressure, our commitment to God should remain steadfast.
Illustration
John Bunyan was a Preacher and Christian writer in the 17th century, famous for his allegorical masterpiece The Pilgrim's Progress. However, his story of standing firm in faith goes far beyond his writing. In fact, it’s deeply rooted in his imprisonment for preaching the gospel without a license during a time of great religious persecution.
In 1660, England was under a harsh regime that banned unlicensed preaching. John Bunyan, a humble tinker (a metalworker), became a bold preacher of the gospel. He began to gather people in secret meetings to share the Word of God, despite the government's prohibition. Bunyan’s dedication to preaching the gospel and his refusal to stop led to his arrest. Like Daniel, Bunyan faced intense pressure to conform to the law of the land, which forbade him from preaching the gospel. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, he chose to stand firm.
He was imprisoned in Bedford Gaol for 12 years, separated from his wife and children. His prison experience was harsh, but it became a significant period of spiritual formation. He was offered release on the condition that he would stop preaching, but Bunyan refused. He famously said:
“If I were out of prison today, I would preach the gospel again tomorrow, by the help of God.”
He said: “Do not despair but press on with courage. For there is hope at the end of the road.”
— The Pilgrim’s Progress
Throughout his time in prison, Bunyan’s faith did not waver. His physical confinement didn’t restrict his spiritual freedom. Instead of succumbing to despair, he wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory of the Christian journey, which became one of the most widely read books in the world, second only to the Bible. His unshakable commitment to his faith and preaching despite being faced with the possibility of never being released showed that his convictions were far stronger than any human authority.
THE FRUIT OF COURAGE: ACTION.
• Courage looks up, stands up and speaks up. Courage comes from the heart.
In Hebrews 11:33, 36-37 (NIV) People of faith over centuries of biblical history overcame tremendous obstacles and endured suffering—all for the sake of their conviction. Jesus assures us of victory in spite of challenges. The early church suffered as well, but they were encouraged to keep the faith in courage.
• Your condition is not your conclusion, because every problem has an expiry date.
Acts 14:22 "They strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said."
3. RELY ON GOD’S STRENGTH
• God has never seen a situation he cannot solve. He has never seen a mountain he cannot move. He has never seen a sinner he cannot save, and he has never seen a substitute for his son.
• DANIEL WAS THROWN INTO THE LION’S DEN. BUT HE RELIED ON GOD’S STRENGTH.
Daniel 6:16-18
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.
Daniel’s Confidence in God’s Protection (Daniel 6:22)
When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he didn’t rely on his own strength or wisdom to survive. Instead, he trusted fully in God's power and ability to deliver and protect him. His faith was not in his circumstances but in the character and power of God.
Daniel’s survival was not due to his own abilities but to God’s intervention. When facing overwhelming trials, we must remember that our strength is limited, but God’s power is unlimited. In our weakest moments, God’s strength is made perfect. God is sovereign, ever-present, and faithful.
2 Corinthians 12:9 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Daniel did not know how God would act, but he trusted that God would. Even when facing the ultimate test, Daniel’s faith was rooted in a confidence that God’s plans are always good, even if we cannot see the full picture. Deliverance from trials may not always happen in the way we expect, but ultimately, we are called to trust that God works everything according to His will. Sometimes deliverance means being preserved through the trial, and sometimes it means enduring it for the glory of God.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
• Faith over fear: Daniel did not fear the lions because he knew God’s hand was upon him. Likewise, we are called to rely on God when we face fears, knowing that He is our refuge and strength. In our trials, it’s essential to shift our focus from the threat to the One who is greater than the threat.
Isaiah 40:29 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."
Daniel’s devotion was so powerful that not only was the king fasting, but the lions also decided to fast.
• Lions don’t do 21 days of fasting. So why did they fast.
• The lions' mouths were shut: An angel from God shut the lions' mouths so they couldn't hurt Daniel - so even if they had tried to open their mouth, they wouldn’t be able to.
• Same God that opened the donkey’s mouth in ballam’s time, shut the mouth of the lions for Daniel. God can shut or open.
Our God is the mighty provider, way maker, water-walker, and mountain mover. (Song)
God specializes in the impossible when we have unwavering faith.
Need a few examples?
· It was God who did the impossible - When the children of Israel were thirsting to death but only had a pond of bitter-tasting water, God used a nearby tree to make the water sweet and drinkable.
· It was God who did the impossible – when he commanded Gideon to reduce his large army of 32,000 down to just a mere 300 men and instructed them to go up against an enemy of tens of thousands...with NO weapons!
· When Peter needed money to pay the temple tax, Jesus provided a coin from a fish’s mouth.
· He led Elijah to flood the altar with water three times in a row before striking it with fire to prove to the Baal idol worshippers that he was the one true God.
· When Ruth was a poor widow from a foreign country, working in the hot fields and gathering leftover grain to survive, God provided for her.
· When Paul and Silas were chained in prison for preaching the gospel, God caused an earthquake to loosen their chains and free them along with the other prisoners.
· Can we talk about Moses and Israel before the Red Sea? (The sea saw them and fled.
· Or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the burning fire.
· Or The woman with the issue of blood.
· Or Gideon, Sarah, Mary.
· Or Lazarus coming out of the grave.
Our God is a great God.
THE TEST OF ADVERSITY: TRUST
Daniel 6:23.
Trust grows through struggle, finds strength in vulnerability, and takes the leap.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
? Relying on God’s strength, rather than our own, allows us to face trials with a peace that surpasses understanding.
? Keep your eye on God, not on the enemy God will deal with the enemy. He did not put any energy towards the enemy.
Our approach to suffering should be to:
? Remain joyful in every situation. (James 1:2-4)
? Reflect on God’s promises. (Romans 15:4)
? Resist the temptation to doubt His goodness. (James 1:12)
? Reaffirm your confidence in God’s timing through prayer. (Psalms 37:7)
? Rest in His peace that surpasses understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7)
4. REMEMBER YOUR REWARD
Daniel 6:26-27 (NIV)
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.”
Daniel’s trials became a Testimony (Daniel 6:25-27)
When God miraculously delivered Daniel from the lions' den, it wasn’t just for Daniel’s benefit—it became a powerful testimony to King Darius and the entire kingdom, proving His sovereignty over the natural world.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
God uses our trials to testify to others: God doesn’t just rescue us for our own sake; He uses our trials and deliverance as a way to reveal His glory and power to the world. When we remain faithful during hardship and God delivers us, it becomes a witness to others of His goodness and might.
James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
THE REWARD OF FAITH: TESTIMONY OF VICTORY.
Perseverance refuses to quit, steadfastly rebounds and triumphs over trials.
After seeing Daniel’s miraculous deliverance, King Darius issued a decree that all people should fear and honor the God of Daniel.
Our steadfast faith can lead others to recognize the power of God and bring glory to His name.
Revelation 12:11 (KJV) 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; ...
As we face Culture’s Greatest Challenge: What would you stand for?
Would you stand for Jesus today?
We stand when we:
• Recognize that your faith will face adversity.
• Respond with courage.
• Rely on God’s strength.
• Remember your reward.
CLOSING
A runner spends months preparing for a marathon. Most of this preparation is invisible to the world—long hours of training, strengthening muscles, and enduring discomfort. When the race day finally comes, people are amazed at the runner’s speed and endurance, but they don’t see the pain and effort that went into the preparation. The race is won not just because of the runner’s ability, but because of their preparation and commitment when no one was watching.
Application: Standing firm in faith is much like preparing for a race. It’s not just about the big moments when the pressure is on; it’s about daily disciplines—reading God’s Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship with others. These are the moments that build spiritual endurance, and when the storms come, we will have the strength to stand firm. Don’t expect to stand firm in your faith only when adversity comes; you need to be prepared long before the trial comes.
