Series: Stand—Stories of Courage from Daniel
Week 3: Stand Strong
Daniel & lion’s den
Daniel 6—King Darius—3rd King Daniel served under—administrative genius.
120 Satraps (Kingdom Protector), 3 administrators: Prevent rebellion, taxes & national financial matters.
Daniel 6:1-3
What looks like a promotion from the outside, actually introduces a lot of trouble from the inside. 2 other administrators—jealous—take down—stand strong.
THREE TRUTHS TO HELP YOU STAND STRONG
- WHEN GOD RAISES YOU UP—EXPECT PEOPLE TO TEAR YOU DOWN.
Daniel 6:4-5
Serving God—nothing should go wrong—opposition.
Whenever we’re moving the Kingdom of God forward, we can always expect resistance from the Prince of Darkness. And oftentimes, the Prince of Darkness works through people, even well meaning people.
If You’re not ready to face opposition for your obedience to God—you’re not ready to be used by God.
Other 2 administrators—buttered up King Darius: Issue a law anyone prays to any god but you next 30 days—lions’ den. Darius agrees.
This created a big problem for Daniel. What will Daniel do?
- Stop praying
- Pray silently.
- Keep praying and risk death.
How did he have such audacious faith? How did he stand strong?
- KNEELING TO PRAY IS WHAT GIVES YOU THE STRENGTH TO STAND. Daniel 6:10
Our first response to problems should never be panic—but always Prayer. All we can do now is pray…We can PRAY!
Daniel doesn’t announce it—he just does it! * GONNA PRAY! #I’msospiritual!
Done before—pre-decided—I seek God! If you haven’t pre-decided your plan to get to know God, chances are, you’re not going to get to know God.
How Daniel prayed: He knelt before God in prayer.
How did he stand? He stood strong before men because he knelt before God.
When life gives you something that knocks you down, you simply seek God in prayer. When life gives you more than you can stand, you kneel before Him in prayer, and He will give you the strength to stand.
Daniel—what if the lions eat me?
No guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to you:
All I can promise you….
- WHEN YOU DO WHAT’S RIGHT—YOU CAN ALWAYS TRUST GOD WITH THE RESULTS.
We know how this story ends (Daniel didn’t)—but not all end that way.
God doesn’t always give you what you want.
80 years God has been faithful to Daniel—so Daniel will be faithful to God.
If he saves me—I will trust him. If he doesn’t—I will trust him.
King Darius is devastated—drops in pit—we don’t know what happened in the lion’s den—only what doesn’t happen.
First thing in the morning—Did your God rescues you?
Notice Daniel 6:20
And Daniel answers: Daniel 6:22-23
King called the guys who falsely accused Daniel—thrown into pit. Issued a decree that everyone in the kingdom should fear the God of Daniel.
TRUTH: Kneeling to Pray give you the STRENGTH to STAND, Trusting God with the Results.