Shut Your Mouth?

Shut Your Mouth?

Daniel Chapter 6

I would like to preach a message today that is so incredibly ENCOURAGING! On a topic that I am so comfortable with – SHUTTING OUR MOUTHS!

We are going to look at an incredible example in the Word of God today – an example that we have looked at in the past – THE PROPHET DANIEL.

Last time we looked at Daniel, he was just a young man – but even then, God was setting him apart for something incredible!

Daniel 1:8 8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Even as a young man, Daniel “purposed in his heart” that he wasn’t going to go along with this world. Instead, he was going to follow God and His incredible plan!

Because of his decision to be faithful, and because of the incredible things that God was able to do in and through him, the Bible tells us: Daniel 1:19-21 19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel and his companions were found to be 10 times better than the best this world had to offer – as young people and through their adult lives! Today we aren’t going to go as far as Cyrus, but we will be looking at his predecessor: King Darius of the Medes and Persians.

Daniel 6:1-5 1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Just to lay a little foundation here – Darius was king of the Medo-Persian empire: they basically took over after the Babylonians lost control, and this empire encompassed most of the civilized world in that day.

A) DANIEL’S DEDICATION

The king of the known world at that time is seeking to promote Daniel to second in command – head of the leaders of the kingdom.

Remember who we are talking about here – this was a refugee Jew stolen out of his homeland as a boy.

Daniel’s entire life has been spent in positions of power and leadership in a land that is not his home!

HOW CAN THIS BE? WHAT WAS DANIEL’S SECRET?

Daniel 4:8-9 8But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

Daniel 5:11-12 11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

Daniel 6:3 3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit of God would come upon and indwell Daniel, giving him supernatural wisdom, knowledge, and understanding: Daniel was DEDICATED to use his supernatural relationship and abilities to glorify God in every aspect of his life.