"The Man Who Broke The Law To Celebrate Thanksgiving" Series

"The Man Who Broke The Law To Have Thanksgiving"

Text-Daniel 6:1-26

Introduction:

How do you respond when your faith is under fire?

Do you get weak knees, and feal like you are going

to faint, or do you become more resolute, more det-

ermined not to compromise what you believe?

In Chapter 6 of the book of Daniel, we find that

King Darius chose 120 princes over his whole king-

dom, to serve him, and 3 presidents, one of which

was Daniel, to manage his affairs. It wasn’t long

before Daniel proved himself to be worthy of being

the leader of the entire group. Let’s notice some

of the great leadership qualities that he manifest-

ed.

1. First of all, DANIEL HAD AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT.

In other words, he had a good attitude, and was

industrious, and dependable.

2. Secondly, we find that DANIEL WAS FAULTLESS.

The jealous presidents and princes who had been

out-classed by Daniel attempted to bring about

his ruin, but they could find nothing that he was

doing that was wrong.

Of how many of us, do you suppose, that could be

said.

Thirdly, the wicked, unbelieving princes and

presidents came to the conclusion that they could

find no fault in him, unless it involved his being

faithful to his God.

3. Thirdly, it says that DANIEL WAS FAITHFUL TO

HIS GOD.

Are we what we profess to be-followers of Jesus

Christ?

4. Next, we see that DANIEL WAS UNCOMPROMISING

IN HIS DEDICATION TO HIS GOD.

When the wicked princes and presidents had

tricked Darious to sign a law that anyone who re-

fused to pray to the king as god be arrested he

passed a law that Daniel could not obey. He con-

tinued to kneel and pray to his God 3 times a day.

5. Fifthly, we see that DANIEL CELEBRATED THANKS-

GIVING BEFORE THERE EVER WAS A THANKSGIVING, AND

HE BROKE THE KING’S LAW IN ORDER TO PRAY AND GIVE

THANKS TO HIS GOD.

I wonder what we would have done under the same

circumstances. I hope that we would be faithful

like Daniel.

6. Next, we find that DANIEL WAS CAST INTO THE

LION’S DEN. That was the punishment for disobeying

the law of the king.

The king wanted to rescue Daniel from his

ill-advised law, but among the Medes and Persians,

once written, it could not be altered.

7. Then, according to the king, DANIEL SERVED HIS

GOD CONTINUALLY. It was his manner of life, his

lifestyle. Daniel was cast into the lion’s den,

but the king wished him the protection of Daniel’s

God. The king spent a sleepless night, and fasted.

He then arose early the next morning and rushed to

see what had become of Daniel.

Notice what happened, when he came to the lion’s

den, he cried with a lamentable voice, "O Daniel,

servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou

servest continually, able to deliver thee from the

lions?"

Daniel answered and said-"O king, live forever, My

God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’

mouths, they they have not hurt me: forasmuch as

before Him innocency was found in me; and also

before thee, O king, have I done no hurt."

The king was exceedingly glad, and had Daniel re-

moved from the lions den; then, he had those who

had betrayed Daniel cast into the lions den with

their families, and all of them were torn to shreds,

and their bones broken.

When we are faithful to God, God can deliver us, if

He so chooses, and can glorify His name through our

deliverance. Darius passed a law that in every

dominion of his kingdom men tremble and fear before

the God of Daniel, for He is the living God. He

delivereth and rescueth."

Daniel knew how to observe Thanksgiving. Do we?