Watch For The Traps Series

Watch For the Traps

Griffith Baptist Church – 4/13/08

P.M. Service

Text: Daniel 6:1-9

Main Verse: Daniel 6:3-4 - 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.

The Introduction

In the kingdom of Babylon, there has been a change of administration

The Medes and the Persians are in command

Daniel has still shown integrity in the midst of a regime change

(Read and explain text)

Daniel was:

o Possessed of an extraordinary spirit (integrity, honesty, and responsibility)

o Faithful (to the task and his God)

o Incorruptible

The others around Daniel didn’t care for him and wanted to keep him from being promoted over them

They hatched a scheme to get Daniel in trouble (verses 5-9)

Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it’s simple. They’ve been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can’t get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.

Satan is always looking for something to trap us with.

Transition Statement: Satan uses certain devices to ensnare us in our walk with God.

Body

1. The Devices of Satan’s Traps

A. Deceit

i. The other’s around Daniel used trickery to try to destroy him (vs. 5-7)

ii. Ever since the garden this has been the #1 strategy

iii. Take some truth and add some lie to make it sound better or different and you have deceit

iv. Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Lincoln said, “Well, let’s see how many legs has a cow?” “Four, of course,” came the reply disgustedly. “That’s right,” agreed Lincoln. “Now suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?” “Why, five, of course,” was the confident reply. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong,” said Lincoln. “Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” Bits and Pieces, July, 1991

v. It is the attempt to mislead in order to achieve an end that detracts from the glory of God

B. Pride

i. Pride of life - unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem

ii. This is what caused the downfall of Satan (Is. 14:12-15)

iii. It was what caused Nebuchadnezzar’s fall (Dan. 4)

iv. It is displeasing to God above all other sins - Proverbs 6:16-17 - 16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

C. Pleasure

i. Daniel was not tricked by enticements of the flesh. He kept himself pure (v. 4)

ii. Lust of the flesh

iii. This is the “if it feels good, do it” philosophy

iv. A picture hangs in London that is one of the most tragic pictures ever painted. It portrays the last rough slope of a mountain leading to the edge of a precipice at the foot of which one catches a misty glimpse of a graveyard. A crowd of men and women, some in evening dress, some in the garb of toil, some in rags pack the slope, all struggling for a foothold on the highest point and tearing at and treading upon one another. They are gazing upward where the filmy, beckoning, mocking figure of pleasure floats out of reach. The picture is called The Pursuit of Pleasure. On that grim, ghostly sunless canvas the artist has not painted one happy face; not a smile, not a flicker of gladness; nothing but fear, hatred, selfishness, and pain is seen. That picture tells the story of the world’s pursuit of joy. Jesus tells us joy is not found there.

v. We get caught up in what makes us feel most comfortable

vi. Satan uses the trap of pleasure.