During the Korean War, I read where many of our soldiers under the awful
brainwashing of the North Koreans were not able to remain loyal to the
USA.
Some cursed their country, some spit upon the flag and some even disowned
their mothers.
I am not criticizing these men, for like the Indian said,
‘Don’t criticize another Indian until you walked a mile in his
shoes.’
But what I am saying is where these men failed under this pressure, Daniel
under pressure remained loyal, and faithful to God.
An unknown author compiled the following list, "You Know It’s Going
to be a Bad Day When"
You wake up by falling out of bed
You put both contact lenses in the same eye
The bird singing outside your window is a buzzard
You call the suicide hotline and they put you on hold
Your horn goes off and remains stuck as you follow a group of bikers on
the freeway
Your boss tells you not to bother taking your coat off
Daniel had a real bad day when he faced the lion’s den but he
remained true.
Some OT characters such David teach us not only by their goodness but by
their sins, but Daniel inspires us by his victories over temptation. In
our text, he is called by God, "Daniel the beloved." Let us look tonight
and see why he is called the beloved of God.
I-NOTICE DANIEL’S DEDICATION: 6:5
Joke- A mother was teaching her child to pray. When he got to the part, "I
surrender everything to Thee, everything I own," he abruptly broke off and
whispered to himself, "except my baby rabbit."
Daniel wan’t dedicated just partly, but he went all the way with the
Lord in his dedication. By the way he was between 80 and 90 years of age.
We need that kind of dedication in our day.
A-HE WAS DEDICATED TO THE WORD OF GOD: V-5
These men trapped him because they knew he would to be true to the Word of
God.
ILLUSTRATION: Proven True In Unusual Ways- A Haifa policeman, well versed
in the Bible, managed to track down a band of smugglers by applying a
passage from the Prophets. The gang used an ass drawn caravan to cross the
border into Israel and the policeman was able to capture some of the asses
but the smugglers got away. The cop let the beasts of burden go without
food for several days and then turned them free. And just as predicted in
Isaiah: "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib;" the
starving animals led police directly to the smuggler's hideout.
If you can't believe what God says in Gen. 1 when he speaks about the
earth, how can you believe what God says in Rev. 22 when he speaks about
heaven? If you can't believe what God says in the first eleven chapters of
the Genesis then how can you be confident in John 3:16? But we know that
It is the whole truth.
ILLUSTRATION: Bailey smith was flying on a trip and was seated next to a
liberal preacher. The stewardess asked them if they wanted cocktails. The
liberal preacher said he would take one. Brother Smith told her no. The
liberal preacher told him you must be a Baptist. Brother Smith replied,
yes I am a Baptist but more than than, I am a Christian and I believe the
whole Bible.
At the 1981 SBC Convention, it was passed to reaffirm our belief in the
Word Of God. Somebody stood and made fun of the idea, and said, how many
time do we have to reaffirm it? I thought to myself, well I been married
17 years and I told my wife 17 years ago that I love her. But it
doesn’t hurt now and then to tell her I still love her.
According to C. H. Spurgeon, "A Bible which is falling apart usually
belongs to someone who isn't!" The key to victory is "It is written."
B-HE WAS DEDICATED TO THE WILL OF GOD: 6:10
Back in as a youth, he purposed in his heart, that is, he dedicated
himself to the fact he wouldn't goes against God’s will in eating
the king’s meat and drinking the king’s wine.
He started right, so he remained right. We see him still doing the will of
God.
I heard a preacher once say, "Apply thyself wholly to the Scriptures and
apply the Scriptures wholly to thyself."
Some read the Bible but never apply its truths to thy life. They never
obey the Will of God found in His Word.
ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago, a woman in New York, said, she was
stripper for Christ. She said, I dance for Christ nude and I can feel his
spirit come over me?
To me that is blasphemy. It surely is not God’s will.
Illustration: Judson was called to a rich Boston Church as its pastor but
said it wan not God’s Will. Instead, he said, it was God’s
will for him to go to Burma. During his lifetime, the Church baptized a
couple of hundred, but Judson in Burma baptized over 50,000. Why? Because
he was in God’s will.
JOKE-A certain pastor claimed that his church people would be the first to
go up in the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus at the Second Coming "And on
what basis do you make this remarkable assumption?" asked a colleague. The
pastor replied with the following reason: "The Bible says, 'The dead in
Christ shall rise first'!"
Well many Christians are dead, that is they are dead when it come to doing
God’s will.
Be careful about how you act because you may be the only Bible some people
will ever read.
ILLUSTRATION:It is said that D.L. Moody was once preaching to a great
crowd and was pouring out his very soul with great earnestness. After the
service a man who was a leader in one of the fashionable churches of the
city, and who had been on the platform while Moody spoke, went to the
evangelist and said, "By the way, I noticed that you made eleven mistakes
in grammar tonight." "I don't doubt it," said Moody. "My early education
was very faulty. I have often wished that I had received more schooling.
But I am using all the grammar I know in the service of Christ. How is it
with you?" The man had no answer
II-NOTICE DANIEL’S DISCIPLINE: (HIS CONTROL)
A-WE SEE HIS DISCIPLINE IN HIS PUBLIC LIFE: V-4
This is the way a person ought to live, so that when he is examined, there
is nothing in his life to bring dishonor.
What made Daniel valuable to the king made him the envy of his peers. He
possessed something they lacked – INTEGRITY.
ILLUSTRATION: When Charles Spurgeon was threatened by blackmailers, he
said, publish what you want about me, write what you know about me in the
heavens.
I have done nothing to be ashamed of.
We are to live our lives in such a way that instead of seeing faults in
our life, people ought to see Jesus. A little girl followed her father in
newly planted clumps of St. Augustine grass. She stepped exactly where he
stepped. She said, "Daddy, if you don't get mud on your feet, I won't get
any mud on me!"
The Bible says Zacchaeus could not see Jesus for the press of the crowd. I
wonder how many people today cannot see Jesus because our lives our in the
way?
ILLUSTRATION: Cecil Northcott in A Modern Epiphany tells of a discussion
in a camp of young people where representatives of many nations were
living together. "One wet night the campers were discussing various ways
of telling people about Christ. They turned to the girl from Africa.
'Maria,' they asked, 'what do you do in your country?' 'Oh,' said Maria,
'we don't have missions or give pamphlets away. We just send one or two
Christian families to live and work in a village, and when people see what
Christians are like, then they want to be Christians too.'" In the end the
only all-conquering argument is the argument of a Christian life.
ILLUSTRATION: What if our gov't decreed that you could only attend church
one time a week? Once a month? Not at all? What if they said you couldn't
pray? Couldn't take the Lord's Supper except once a year? What if they
said you had to accept a practicing homosexual as your minister or one of
your elders? What if they said you could do everything the way you've been
doing, but simply had to take a pinch of incense, throw it on a fire in
front of a picture of some Supreme Ruler and say, "Supreme Ruler is God."
Would you die for your faith?
B-WE SEE DISCIPLINE IN HIS PRAYER LIFE: V-10B
Daniel's response is briefly summed up in verse 10 - "Now when Daniel knew
that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof
chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling
on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God,
as he had been doing previously."
Daniel didn't start praying when the trial came. He continued praying when
the trial came.
He didn’t complain, didn’t feel sorry for himself, but did
what he had always done, he prayed. He ate 3 times a day, but he also
prayed 3 times a day. To him, prayer was just as important as eating. He
prayed because of one main reason , he believed in prayer, do you?
JOKE- A carload of ministers was returning to the city after a church
conference in the country. While they were travelling along a deserted
stretch of road, the engine stalled. The ministers all piled out of the
car, and each one had a turn at fiddling under the bonnet and turning the
ignition key - but all to no avail. "Brothers," said Rev. Jones, "all is
not lost. Let's pray and ask the LORD for help. If we pray in FAITH, I
have no doubt that He will answer us." Thus the other ministers knelt
around him on the side of the road, while Rev. Jones prayed that the Lord
would start the car.
After they had prayed, he opened the driver's door, and turned the key in
the ignition. The engine sputtered. Then it roared into life. As a result,
Rev. Jones staggered back from the car, and went as white as a sheet.
"What's the matter, Jones?" asked his colleagues. "Aren't you feeling
well?" "Good heavens!" Rev. Jones muttered to himself, "Good heavens! It
actually STARTED!"
Jesus, wisest of all, said: "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
(Luke 18:1)
Jesus, who, on one occasion, "Went out into a mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12)
Jesus said: "Pray ye." (Matt. 6:9; 9:38; 24:20; Mark 13:18; Luke 10:2)
James wrote: "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much." (James 5:16)
Peter said, "Watch unto prayer." (1 Peter 4:7)
Paul wrote: "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thess. 5:17)
Prayer most of all is the personal fellowship enjoy with our Lord Jesus
Christ.
ILLUSTRATION:A little girl of five was saying grace at the table. She
prayed as she had heard others pray, "Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest."
Then turning suddenly to her mother, she said, "But, Mother, I do not want
Jesus to be our Guest!"
"Why dear?" asked the horrified mother.
To which the little one replied, "Well, a guest is one who comes here
sometimes. I want Jesus here all the time!"
III-NOTICE DANIEL’S DARING-FAITH:
A-HE HAD FAITH THAT ATTEMPTS: V-10A
Daniel had a good attitude, he saw that God was his only hope. He was
positive.
JOKE- Three people were visiting and viewing the Grand Canyon -- an
artist, a pastor, and a cowboy. As they stood on the edge of that massive
abyss, each one responded with a cry of exclamation. The artist said, "Ah,
what a beautiful scene to paint!" The minister cried, "What a beautiful
example of the handiwork of God!" The cowboy mused, "What a terrible place
to lose a cow!"
There is no retirement for being a servant in God's eyes! We are never too
old to be used by God! There was no "coasting" for Daniel...though old, he
still is responsible and willing to work, still faithful to God and
country. As God's servants we cannot afford to just coast through our life
without real responsibilities...the results can be tragic!
JOKE- A newly retired couple cashed in their stocks and bonds to purchase
one of the finest motor homes on the market. This is a true story....one
of the features on this new motor home was "cruise control". As they were
traveling up the West Coast, the husband became tired and asked his wife
to drive while he went in the back to take a nap. As she was driving she
put the camper on cruise control and it worked perfectly. After an hour of
straight highway driving she got up to go to the bathroom. She thought
cruise control was the same as automatic pilot, this is what she told the
Highway Patrol after the accident! The motor home was totaled, although
neither the man nor his wife were seriously hurt. How many Christians have
done this with their faith after getting saved?
Peter had been criticized about taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking on
the sea. But at least he attempted to get out of the boat. I would have
rather sink with Jesus in the water than be in the boat without Jesus.
B-HE HAD FAITH THAT ACCEPTS: V-16A
But Daniel is going to suffer. Not because he's wicked, but precisely
because he's godly. Daniel's life is a bill-board - a flashing neon sign
to young and old alike. This world is organized against the godly. Not the
religious, but those who honor God and follow His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus
said that those who followed Him were to expect that there would be
special problems they would all face because of their relationship to Him:
John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may
have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have
overcome the world."
When we step out for God, we have to accept some things. Daniel did, and
he was put into a Lion’s den.
St. Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword at a distant
city of Ethiopia.
St. Mark expired at Alexandria, after having been cruelly dragged through
the streets of that city.
St. Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in the classic land of Greece.
St. John was put into a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a
miraculous manner, and was afterwards banished to Patmos.
St. Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward.
St. James the Greater was beheaded at Jerusalem.
St. James the Less was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the temple, and
then beaten to death with a fuller's club.
St. Philip was hanged up against a pillar at Heiropolis in Phrygia.
St. Bartholomew was flayed alive.
St. Andrew was bound to a cross, where he preached to his persecutors
until he died.
St. Thomas was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East
Indies.
St. Jude was shot to death with arrows.
St. Matthias was first stoned, and then beheaded.
St. Barnabas of the Gentiles was stoned to death by the Jews at Salonica.
St. Paul after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded
at Rome by the Emperor Nero.
Adoniram Judson, the renowned missionary to Burma, endured untold
hardships trying to reach the lost for Christ. For 7 heartbreaking years
he suffered hunger and privation. During this time he was thrown into Ava
Prison, and for 17 months was subjected to almost incredible mistreatment.
As a result, for the rest of his life he carried the ugly marks made by
the chains and iron shackles which had cruelly bound him.
C-HE HAD A FAITH THAT ACCOMPLISHES:V-22
God allowed him to go into the lion’s dens, but he didn’t
forget about him and send his angels to deliver him from the lions.
ILLUSTRATION: Years ago a small group of Japanese believers were heckled
and abused whenever they assembled to worship the Savior. But the
persecutors could not shake the faith of the new converts. Each time the
Christians gathered, the mob would throw stones at them, but they still
faithfully continued to have their weekly meetings.
Eventually the opposition became so great that the outdoor services had to
be temporarily abandoned. Later, when a time of relative peace and
tolerance had come to the community, many were won to Christ. Returning to
the spot where the believers had frequently been attacked, they began to
pick up some of the rocks. Using them as part of the building materials,
they constructed a small house of worship, rejoicing that God had worked
all things together for good.
Jesus says that His followers will meet with suffering and heartache, but
He admonishes them not to be discouraged. Earth's sorrows are meant to be
stepping stones in the process of sanctification. Indeed, we "must through
much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Glorying in
affliction will turn our troubles into spiritual triumphs!
ILLUSTRATION: There is a story about a rich baker who sent for 20 of the
poorest kids in town and said to them, "In this basket is a loaf of bread
for each of you. Take one loaf and come back every day and I'll give you
more." Immediately the kids began pushing to try and get the biggest loaf,
and then they all ran off except one little girl who waited until they
were all done getting what they all wanted and then she walked up quietly
and took the smallest loaf which was all that was left. Taking the hand of
the baker she kissed it and ran off. The next day the same scene erupted,
but when the little girl's mother cut open the small loaf she brought home
that night out spilled many silver coins! The little girl brought the
coins back to the baker but he said, "No my child, it was not a mistake, I
put them into the smallest loaf to reward you." It may seem sometimes that
we Christians get the smallest loaf now in this world, but our reward will
one day spill out...and how glorious it will be!
Conclusion-In the closing verse of this chapter we read, "So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian."The person with the excellent Spirit will be the person with the
blessing of the Lord.
