What an amazing story!!
This story is one we’re all familiar with, so I’ll just jump right to the application.
If you didn’t get a chance to listen to the sermon, check it out on our YouTube channel.
Here are the basic points of application I brought up in the sermon:
Be Like Daniel
• Be Consistent (Disciplined)
He strived after holiness his entire life.
• Focus on God’s Will
Is being in the dead center of God’s will your primary desire?
• Have a Great Attitude
In the face of many difficulties, he had a great attitude.
• He Pursued Righteousness & Sanctification
They couldn’t find anything to accuse him of
What could others accuse you of?
What are you known for?
What is your reputation?
• Daniel Trusted God
Daniel obeyed God and trusted Him for the outcome.
His theme song: Trust and Obey
In light of all this:
Self Evaluation Checkpoints
__ Evaluate your Attitude
Do you tend to complain about things?
Or are you pursuing a positive perspective?
Dwelling on the problem is easy. It doesn’t take work or effort - that comes naturally.
Daniel had an excellent spirit
Here’s a passage that perfectly describes Daniel here in Chapter 6
Philippians 2:14-15 – Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world
What’s your attitude?
What are you known for?
What needs to change?
__ Don’t Be Hasty
The King made a hasty decision because he listened to the wrong people.
Who are your “go to” people when making decisions? Are they going to speak godly wisdom into the situation?
Are they coming in with an agenda?
Determine to Pursue God’s Will
Spend time in God’s Word
And much time in prayer
Seek input from People with Godly wisdom
__ Persist in Prayer
Is your commitment to prayer be so obvious to others that they know that’s where they could trap you?
I’m adding one that wasn’t in the sermon:
__ Respond with Praise
In any situation, there will be something you could complain or be upset about (see “Attitude” above).
Instead, look at what God has done. The King, when he saw how the Lord worked in the situation responded with an amazing psalm of praise to God.
We should be on the lookout for how God is working (Hint: He’s ALWAYS working) and quick to praise Him for what He has done!
Ultimately, however, this passage is about
The GOSPEL
It points us to the final judgment.
Daniel - who had done nothing wrong - is a picture, or a “type” of Jesus, pointing to judgment day, a day when He will judge the world in righteousness.
Daniel went down into the Lion’s Den.
He was not guilty
He was lifted up out of the Den.
The guilty ones, when thrown into the den, were destroyed.
When Daniel went into the Lion’s Den - he emerged safely.
Why? Because he was found NOT GUILTY
So the Lions did not harm him
They were God’s agents of judgment.
And those who plotted against Daniel were judged, found guilty, and destroyed.
Pointing to the final judgment
On that day - those who are in Adam -
declared guilty - face destruction
Those who are in Christ - not guilty
you will be lifted up
Jesus was innocent - but He suffered a punishment that we should have endured.
He suffered for the guilty ones.
When we repent of the sin of unbelief, the sin of rejecting who Jesus is and what He did, we become part of the people redeemed from the pit through His death.
We get His verdict because He took ours.
We get His “NOT GUILTY”
Because He took our “GUILTY”
Lions are fierce, deadly animals
And only when you’re in Christ - united with Jesus through repentance… through faith will the mouths of the lions be closed
God is faithful
He will hold on to us
Through all the struggles of life.
He will lift us up out of the pit
sometimes in this life
ultimately we’ll be lifted up to be with Him
forever in heaven.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob
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