Staying True (4) - Live Courageous - Daniel 6:6-23 - September 24,2023

 

Staying True (4) – Live Courageous – September 24, 2023

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “Staying True in a World Far From GOD.”

Our focus scripture is Daniel 6:6-13, 16-17, 21-23.

Do the right thing in GOD’S strength.

Prayer is essential when we are living according to GOD’S will and purpose.

Background – Daniel 6:1-5:

6 Darius decided^[a] to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, ² and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. ³ Daniel^[b] distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. ⁴ The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

Jealousy is a tool Satan uses to get his work done through humans. Daniel had proved himself to King Darius and was chosen by the King to be put over the whole realm why?

We learn that the King Darius saw something special in Daniel and planned to set him over the whole realm. What do you think King Darius saw in Daniel?

When we are faithful to GOD, we are also faithful to the work GOD gives us to accomplish upon earth.

The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.

Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

Daniel’s faithfulness reflected GOD. Does our faithfulness reflect GOD in our lives?

Do you recall 1 Corinthians 3:11-14: ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

Gold is the reflection of GOD as Spirit-born people go about their daily lives being obedient to the calling of GOD. Daniel was in right relationship with GOD. Today people are in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS, thus the miracle of Spiritual Birth into GOD’S Family.

Let’s read Daniel 6:6-10:

⁶ So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever. ⁷ All the administrators of the kingdom—the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors—have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. ⁸ Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” ⁹ So King Darius signed the written edict.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

¹⁰ When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

Let’s read Daniel 6:11-13:

¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. ¹² So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands^[c] and is irrevocable.”

¹³ Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

Let’s read Daniel 6:15-17, 21-23:

¹⁵ Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”

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 continually serve, rescue you!” ¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions^[d] were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

The King had to save face with those he had chosen to be leaders in his kingdom. Faith in Daniel led to faith in Daniel’s GOD.

Do you think, when we live according to our faith in JESUS, others are drawn to seek JESUS? That is GOD’S plan and as we approach the second coming of JESUS, Spirit-born people through faith in JESUS will have the opportunity to reveal their faith in JESUS. Non-believers will be encouraged to join them in their walk with JESUS.

Daniel Released

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,^[e] “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

The King had faith in the GOD of Daniel. The King cried out to Daniel.

²¹ Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. ²² My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also, before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”

How did the King respond? WOW!!! What joy flowed over the King.

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God. ²⁴ The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel^[f] were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Let’s read Daniel 6:25-28:

Darius Honors God

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound. ²⁶ I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: (Now the testimony of the King. When we see in our hearts that JESUS is truly the Son of GOD, we rejoice and that is eternal salvation.)

The King’s testimony -----

For he (GOD) is the living God,
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his dominion has no end.
²⁷ He rescues and delivers;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,
for he has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and^[g] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel’s faithfulness to the One True GOD, YAWEH, is still in charge today through HIS only SON, JESUS. GOD, in HIS wisdom, gives to every Spirit-born person the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT to assure and guarantee us that we are GOD’S Son or Daughter. Every Spirit born person’s destiny is eternal life with GOD and JESUS.

Let’s look at the ending verse recorded in 1 Corinthians 3:

¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

Nothing from our earthly life will endure in Heaven, except what we do as led by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

Those who have placed their faith in JESUS are eternally secure. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit as found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: ¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.^[a]

 Spirit-born Christians serve the same GOD that Daniel served. We can trust HIM to take care of us and to educate us as we walk with HIM each day. What is often our problem? Lack of faith.

JESUS told HIS disciples in Mathew 17:20: “Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

If you are a Spirit-born person, do you believe that?

I believe as we are getting closer to the return of JESUS, we will witness a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we who know the truth work with GOD, as led by the Holy Spirit, in HIS vineyard, earth. JESUS said it best in Matthew 13:30: ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”

JESUS told HIS disciples to let the weeds and wheat grow together. Why? Because if we try to pull out the weeds before we can distinguish a weed from the wheat, we will destroy that which is good.

Folks we, who know the truth, must be led by the Holy Spirit and trust GOD and JESUS in their leadership and not lean upon our own understanding. We are in the last days and we who have JESUS are the light of the world and it is time, as never before, for us to let our light shine to glorify GOD and JESUS, Amen!

Things upon earth will grow Spiritually darker and those who are Spirit-born will be the only Spiritual light those lost in the ravages of sin will see. So, Spirit-born Christians, let your light shine and be prepared to share the plan of salvation, through faith in JESUS, with those seeking. May others see JESUS in us as we obediently serve HIM as we walk with HIM.

Blessings!!!