how did daniel prove his faith in god
Janne Epland "Daniel in the lion's den" is a story of both courage and bravery, but most of all, about true faithfulness. - taking a stand for God. - Jesus said --- Sanctify them through thy truth, thy Word is truthand Daniel was able to be Daniel because he was willing to take a stand for the truth. Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at Are you in some lions den, some tight spot, with people against you, being persecuted for righteousness sake, in the den of sin, of temptation or of despair? Thursday, September 9, 2010 - Do we have the Faith of Daniel? 2) Others need to make up their minds about the use of their tongue. - where, at least in certain situations under certain circumstances around certain people. - the words that are spoken are displeasing to God.. - and you may need to say, with Daniel this morning, I am purposing in my heart that I am not going to continue those kinds of habits. - Im planning now to change. - Ill get others to help me if necessary. - but Im making up my mind that things are going to be different. - others need to take such a stand regarding telling the truth regardless of the cost. - others need to do that regarding stealing. - some need to do that regarding wrong forms of entertainment. - others need to take a stand about they way they will express their sexuality. - but I believe that God would be greatly pleased for a number of us in different ways for different reasons saying this morning with Daniel.I am purposing within my heart that I am going to take a stand for God in this particular area of life. Daniel held a very high office in the court of King Darius in Babylon. An amazing prophecy in the book of Daniel is found in Daniel 8. Dan. Daniel wakes up and a new day is streaming in through the open windows. It contains prophecies that are so precise that some who do not believe that God foretells the future cannot believe it was written in the sixth century B.C. All rights reserved. - they are so ruled by the fear of man that they are hiding their light under a bushel basket and hoping desperately that no one finds out theyre a Christian.. - they are ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. - and had they lived during Daniels day they would have justified eating the food because of the unique circumstances. 2) Some believers, on the other hand.take positions on everything.theyve got an opinion on every subject [which isnt necessarily bad] until they baptize those opinions with the authority of Biblical truth.. - and they take a stand on practically every issue that comes up at work. - they take a stand on every issue that comes up in the community or the country.. - do you know anybody like that -- every issue is a drop dead issue. Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; let them show the former things, what they were, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare to us things to come. Poor Daniel! He oversees the staff, deacons, and all Faith Church ministries. Disclaimer: This web site and the services provided to you on and via this web site are provided on an "AS IS" basis. Yet, Daniel through it all seemed to prevail. It was great for Daniel to be the Prime Minister - but look at 2 Timothy 3:12. - Trust in the Lord with all your heart.. - someone might say --- PV, if I do what youre talking about doing..if I take a stand for God in my situation..Im not sure how it would turn out. - listen, whats the name of this church? Yes, that old roaring lion, Satan, is threatening to devour you (1 Peter 5:8). God can deliver those who trust Him from all evil - from a guilty conscience (Hebrews 10:22); from a sinful, unbelieving heart (Hebrews 3:12); from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4); from slander (Ephesians 4:31); from bad company (1 Corinthians 15:33); and from every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). 12:2 - to prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach - Phil. Daniel knew the consequences of violating the decree. His words are often quoted in biblical prophecy as to coming events. He is considered a prophet in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. Daniel was obviously a man who loved and obey God, from his young age his life's principle has been developed in life with God's expectation. What God wants most in our lives is simply that we trust Him, as Daniel did. He went on trusting God for this new situation in which he found himself. Like his father, Antiochus III the Great, he was enterprising and ambitious; however, he had a tendency to cruelty that bordered on madness. It means nobody else is- not the government, the law of the land, the market,the family, church leaders, your employer or anyone else. His backbone and sense of loyalty to God earned him the position of leadership in a godless kingdom. He delivers completely (2 Timothy 4:18)! - and he walks in the door and the house is a wreck, and the kids are screaming, and dinner hasnt been started. - now, whats the most important thing in this equation? True faith will always be tested. Of course He can! This is a story about true faithfulness. What kind of illness would lead you to despair? But the serene pose of a servant of God standing midst a violent army of starved, flesh eating animals was enough to make me stare for a while. At great risk of losing his life, he chose to remain undefiled by pagan Babylon. Even though Daniel was an old man at the time, he refused to take the easy way out and abandon God. Remember, the book of Daniel was probably completed by 530 B.C., and this fourfold division of Alexanders empire occurred about 323 B.C. - were you like Daniel? Acts 11:24 Verse Concepts - taking a stand doesnt mean being arrogant.it doesnt mean being proud.it doesnt mean being condescending. Vintage colour lithograph from 1882 of King Darius signing the writing and the decree. But this one was kind of super cute. - so youve got the king of Judah on the one hand, despising and rejecting Gods Word, and this young teenager Daniel, loving and obeying Gods Word.and at the risk of his popularity, and his future, and his career, and his own life..was willing to stand up for Gods Word. - even the word order in Hebrew makes this emphasis.literally the verse could be translated, Placed Daniel his heart. - the issue here is what Daniel chose to put in his heart. Daniel Obtained Promises. - and hes had a hard dayand he just wants some peace and quiet. - and he just wants to enjoy a nice dinner.and sit in his perfectly cleaned home.and just relax in his castle. Daniel: Faithful to God alone - ActiveChristianity - one of those taken was a teenage young man named Daniel. He called upon the people to tremble before the God of Daniel. Never miss a post! [contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]. Many years ago now, I studied diligently and taught a series of lessons on the life of Daniel. Daniel had two, maybe three, names. What Is True Faith? How to Have True Faith in God? - GOSPEL OF THE God's people are most often in the minority. However, the last empire prophesied is widely understood to be the Roman Empire, and it is described as being more powerful and stronger than the others. The God who rescued Daniel from the lions is the same God today and forevermore. The relationship between God and Daniel was one for every person to sit up and take notice of. Dr. Steve Viars has served at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN since 1987. Daniel was in the lions den, under arrest and forced to pray to God. This is a story of both courage and bravery, but most of all, of faithfulness. Before whom would they bow down? Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray. existence of God, in religion, the proposition that there is a supreme supernatural or preternatural being that is the creator or sustainer or ruler of the universe and all things in it, including human beings. Daniel was one of the young men taken back to Babylon to be trained as a civil servant. What was Daniel, by faith, expecting God to do for him and his three friends? Each issue highlights new, ready-to-download Bible studies at ChristianBibleStudies.com, and other tools to help you become a dynamic teacher of God's Word. Then the large horn was broken and four notable ones came up in its place (verse 8). In fact, Daniel was so honest and hardworking that the other government officialsthose who were jealous of himcould find nothing against him to cause him to be removed from office. Daniel overcame his difficulties because his integrity was founded on faith in God. 1:17-20 . The teaching and worship in some churches does not help. Written by Stuart Murray-Williams, tutor in Mission, Director of the Centre forAnabaptist Studies, Chair of Trustees for the London Mennonite Trust, andfounder of Urban Expression. - Many times he has taken a stand for God and has earned the respect of his teammates for being willing to do so. Zavada, Jack. - I don't mean drawing inappropriate attention to your self. - I certainly don't mean grandstandingor being needlessly abrasive or offensive. - but taking a stand for God in the sense of seizing the opportunities God gives us to prove our love and devotion to Him.to prove or fidelity to Him. Many of us know Daniel and the lion's den (Daniel 6), but let's remember Daniel today as a young man who didn't compromise his faith in the midst of an ungodly world. The type you go to Monday through Friday, where you earned vacation and your vacation rolled over the beginning of each year. - taking a stand for God. Whatever the danger, we need to be able to say, with Paul, none of these things move me (Acts 20:22-24). However, there would be those few that would show up to worship and all who knew them would not be surprised because their lives have shown nothing short of determined faith and loyalty to the Lord. Steve is the author, co-author, or contributor to six books and numerous booklets. - because if he has placed in his heart that his home is supposed to be his castle, where his needs reign supreme, and where everyone else exists to serve him, and his wife doesnt do anything all day anyway so that house better be perfectly cleaned, and that 7 course dinner better be ready on time and on and on.. - that kind of man is going to walk in this house and explode, or walk in this house and pout..or behave in some other sinful way. - but the bottom line is hell miss an opportunity to take a stand for God because he did not put the right things in his mind before he ever walked in that door. Daniel's Faith And God's Providence At Work. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Daniel 6:10-11. But he knew more of the consequence compromising would have on all who esteemed him and the affect it would have on his Father in heaven. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. Two equally evil kings demonstrated two equally vital messages: God's complete pardon for the humble and God's sure judgment for the proud. Zavada, Jack. Throughout the first six chapters of Daniel, we learn about how to remain faithful in all circumstances. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not operate on the popular notion that faith is about having confidence in expected or desired outcomes. We have a . 12:2 - to prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach - Phil. Download as PDF Paul's Use of Old Testament Scripture Jared W. Ludlow Throughout the New Testament, Jesus, Paul, and others often quoted from Old Testament scripture in their sermons and letters. He went up to the upper room of his house and opened the windows that faced toward Jerusalem. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ( 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). In this study we will notice the faith of Daniel - the quiet trust that he had in his God! Exegesis Daniel and his friends faced two kinds of active persecution: the demand that they worship another god (ch. - Jehoiakim ---- and what was his relationship to the Word of God? Every photo of grandchildren is cute! Daniel in the Lions' Den Bible Story and Lessons - Learn Religions The obvious conclusion is that the book of Daniel was written by someone who had been given supernatural revelation of a framework of future events. The Character of Daniel - Steps to Life How Organic Chemistry Convinced Me of the Creator, A Science Teachers Arguments Against Evolution, The Duck-Billed Platypus: A Wonder of Gods Creation, How Darwins Theory of Evolution Changed the World. Had Daniel been weak in the faith he would surely have given up his worship of God, his prayer habit of years, and he would have found some excuses for not obeying the dictates of his enemies, but he remained loyal in the hour of testing. I am praying today that I will have the courage of Daniel to stand true to what I believe even when times are difficult and the demand is great. 1) Maybe it was in the area of ethics. Let's see what we can learn by studying the character of Daniel in relationship to our preparation for the soon appearing of Christ. salt. The temple was desecrated by Antiochus IV. Wars will end (Micah 4:3); animals will have their nature changed (Isaiah 11:6-9); and the deserts of the earth will become fruitful fields (Isaiah 41:18; Isaiah 35:1-7). His heart, as well as his head, was involved in his faith. It produces within the believer the experience of Isaiah 26:3. - its not simply behavioral modification ---- its an attempt to help others change from the inside out. Look at verses 18 to 20. He simply knelt in prayer where he had knelt yesterday and the day before. As this article has demonstrated, prophecy is indeed a proof of Gods existence and the accuracy of His book, the Holy Bible. The doors of opportunity were obvious on every hand and Daniel used them all to glorify his Master. Read Daniel 1:1-21 (Daniel chooses to honor God) Read the passage to the children as they follow along in their own Bible. Free Sunday School Curriculum For Children - Daniel (Lesson 1) A Beyond the lions' den If we quickly say no and stand firm for what is morally right, we build a strong reputation for doing good. The value of Christianity lies in it's distinctiveness. - are you putting the kind of ideas in there that position you to take a stand for God? Who Was Daniel in the Bible? - Learn Religions 15 Bible Verses about Believing In God Most Relevant Verses Acts 6:5 Verse Concepts The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. - when, and where?.he didnt know. In chapter four, Daniel used King Nebuchadnezzar's conversion to affirm that the repentant reap the rewards of grace, however bleak their pasts. When our duty is clear, action should be immediate there are grave dangers in postponing the principles of conscience. To many, compromise for thirty days would seem justified, but to God, Daniel and others like him, unacceptable. Once Daniel began to pray, God commanded the angels to go out and help him. Daniel was thrown to the lions although he was such a godly man. 2.2.1. Daniel 4. As long as we pray and confess to the Lord, our sins will always be forgiven by Him. 7 Fascinating Facts That Will Change How You Read the Book of Daniel As they stand strong in the face of trails, they bear witness to the reality of their Lord and Savior. This faithhas powerful consequences according to the book of Daniel: What would it take to destroy your faith in God? Daniel relied on an Authentic Trust in God, Daniels commitment to God was sacrificial, rather than superficial -. Soon his enemies made things really hot for him. You agree that the site editor reserves the right to modify or discontinue provision of this web site and its services, and to remove the data you provide, either temporarily or permanently, at any time, without notice and without any liability towards you, The site editor will not be held responsible or liable for timeliness, removal of information, failure to store information, inaccuracy of information, or improper delivery of information. Over a century ago Bounds said, I can hear the reasoning now. Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Dictionary states: Antiochus IV (175-164 B.C. Antiochus IV was one of the cruelest rulers of all time. - now, theres an obvious contrast going on in this text on this particular point. For a quick recap, let us note that Daniels name means God is my judge, and he lived his life with that truth in mind. He was fervent in his beliefs and not wishy-washy. Daniel was more than 90 years old when these events unfolded. These two well-known stories in thebook of Daniel the three young men in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions den bothencourage us to develop a rugged and robust faith that continues to trust in God regardless ofcircumstances, a faith refined and strengthened by pressure, rather than crushed and destroyedby problems. They are facing his beloved hometown Jerusalem. After the king naively signed the decree that no one was to worship any person or object except the king for thirty days, Daniel just did as he always had done. This meant the emperor was not,despite his claims. What we face in post-Christendom western societies is not active persecution and 90-foot statues, but the smotheringinfluence of various hidden idols. He rapidly conquered the Medo-Persian Empire and formed the Greco-Macedonian Empire. Barnabas and Paul experienced sharp contentions. 7 LESSONS FROM DANIEL ABOUT FAITH - I Need A Word Three times every day, he bowed down on his knees to pray and praise God. "The Story of Daniel in the Lions' Den." For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. - most of us, could take a lesson from him there. - heres where you really have to hold on tight. He was the Prime Minister, and at this time he was between 80 and 90 years of age. Nevertheless, Daniel's purpose and convictions have remained unchanged and without compromise. Daniel's Faith was the Foundation of His Unshakable Integrity. Darius was the king of a new empire, Medo-Persia. Prophecy 1: Alexander the Great. Finally, Darius made comments which imply certain knowledge of specific details which pre-dated his reign. 2:15 - to prove yourselves doers of the word and not hearers only - James 1:22 - to prove yourselves zealous for what is good - I Peter 3:13. Unknown to the king at the time that his kingdom was quickly fading away and about to enter the hands of another tyrant, he sought to glorify the Creator of all things as it should be. I am grateful to O.S. At the end of the ten-day period, the eunuch admitted that their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh that all the children, which did eat the kings diet. And God heard him. The story of Daniel in the lions den is one of the most dramatic incidents in the Bible and it is, surely, to this that Hebrews 11:33 refers. What genuine faith looks like when the bottom falls out He authoritatively quoted Daniel the prophet (Matthew 24:15), giving the ultimate Christian stamp of approval to his authenticity. - to make it to the Super Bowl, and play before the largest TV audience of the year. He ran into several trying situations that may have caused him to lose faith or bend from his beliefs, but Daniel stayed strong. Daniel was uncompromising. - friend, let me ask you this.why did God want you to hear what weve just said? What an ordeal for a servant of God! Probably none of us can answer these questions when they are hypothetical. 5 Mighty Lessons from the Miracle of Daniel in the Lion's Den Blair Parke Writer June 23, 2023 There he was, staring back at the eyes of ferocious lions. Read Steve Viars Journey to Faith for the full account of how the Lord led Pastor Viars to Faith Church. - but Daniel left all of that up to God. What had Daniel predecided? He was trained in the king's court and then elevated to a high rank in the Babylonian and Persian kingdoms. - friend, Id like to ask you a question this morning.Did you have any opportunities this week to take a stand for God? Read Daniels inspiring story about faith in God through all things. Do what Daniel did - trust in God; and do not be surprised that your faith is being severely tested. Christians throughout the world and through history have faced such persecution. : Grace Theological SeminaryD.Min. Through the years I have found it comforting to spend some time getting to know this character better through the pages of the inspired record. Daniel 2. Jacob cheated. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. In particular, Daniel 9:24-27 gives a meticulous timeline of when Israel's Messiah would appear and the events that would follow. We need to have the same courage as Daniel to stand up . Daniel 5. Daniel's history had been proof of it. Daniel lived out this kind genuine holiness. In this section we also find the following passage where God shows that prophecywhich often includes Gods announcement of future eventsis a proof that He is God and not these pagan gods: Present your case, says the LORD. The prophet Daniel faced a number of trials during his time in captivity, but he always stayed true to his faith in God. Pastor Viars leads and equips Faith Church as Senior Pastor with a focus on preaching and teaching Gods Word and using his organizational skills in guiding the implementation of the Faith Church mission and vision. We maybe more vulnerable than we think. time in 605 BC (as proven by Daniel 1:1,2). 6:1-28. - how does this fit together. - so he been forcibly removed from his home. - he was being schooled in Babylonian ways and customs.. - his name was changed to one that honored a Babylonian god. - and he was offered food and wine from the kings table. Let's look at 3 principles Daniel gives us. Presently, he serves with the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, pastoring congregations in Morgantown, West Virginia, and Athens-Parkersburg, Ohio. 1.2. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. As their health improved, they were permitted to continue with their chosen diet. And yet you invite us to share our deepestlongings with you and to trust you in all situations. The coach would always know where Johnny would be when the saints were worshiping and would not fathom that he would show up to play when he could be worshiping with the saints. He has survived the bungled leadership of Nebuchadnezzar and his son, and now finds himself under new management with new rules live by. The judgment of grace - a third principle we see in this text is. - Daniel went into this situation believing God.trusting in God. He was known by everyone for his piety and for his faith in God, and in consequence he had many enemies. Lets look at what this means for the average SUP rider. The answer, according to the major monotheistic religions, including the Catholic faith in which I was raised, is that an all-powerful, supernatural entity created us. - Quoting from James Davison Hunter, the author of the book Culture Wars, Pastor Henderson rightly pointed out that what divides us as a culture is not so much our views on abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, or capital punishment.. - the real issue is our view of truth.. - whether absolute, final truth is revealed to human beings through an outside source. - or whether human beings have the ability to find fresh truth within themselves to apply to contemporary life. Larger deportations of hostages. Here are two ofthe most influential: 1) Mars, the god of war, the myth of redemptive violence, the sacrifice ofyoung men and women on the battlefield to defend national interest and maintain global injustice. Daniel was more at rest in the prison with the lions than Darius was in his palace with all his comforts and luxuries. The king denied his own philosophers just to hear the words of the servant Daniel. This was not an eternal decree, just thirty days! He went against everything that the king stood for spiritually and yet he was his closest confidant. Peter was profane. Describe Daniel and his friends from information in Daniel 1. - what decisions are you making in your mind? Enduring Word Bible Commentary Daniel Chapter 6 Because of the lions' den experience, Darius reached this conclusion about God: The king issued a decree, ordering the people to fear and reverence the God of Daniel. He does this three times a day, and today is no exception. Daniel: A Lesson in Courage, Humility, and Respect - Alyssa J Howard To achieve this, we must first purpose in our hearts. The key is not to put your focus on your situation but on your all-powerful Protector. 2) Mammon, the god of wealth, the hoarding of resources, self-indulgence, shopping as a culturalpursuit, manipulative advertising, money as a taboo subject in the church. Understanding can wait; obedience cannot. It is surely impossible to be one-hundred-per-cent loyal to the Lord Jesus and to escape persecution - see 1 Peter 4:12-14. Daniel understood that God is all he needed, 2.2.2. Here is a prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled, and yet it is the most important of all. Here is an accurate prediction of what would happen more than 200 years after Daniel recorded this prophecy. He had confidence IN God because he had communicated WITH God. - now we don't believe in kicking a Christian brother when he is down.and thats certainly not why I raise this story this morning. Daniel wrote the book of Daniel during the sixth century B.C. I believe the key to his success if found in Verse 8 of Chapter 1. - Id like to propose to you this morning that in these verses we can find three principles to help us take a stand for God. Daniel 6:15-28 - Safe in the Lions' Den. With Daniel, as with Abraham and others, faith was a principle of life. I found myself going back to the scene of Daniel in the den of lions over and over. Daniel 6:7-10 - "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel from a child loved God with all his heart and soul. The Story of Daniel Lesson - Ministry-To-Children In a culture where persecution is rare, where we expect doctors to cureillnesses, where death is kept at arms length, disappointment can lead to loss of faith. - now why was that? Study 9 THE DELIVERANCE OF FAITH - DANIEL - in other words, what did you put in your heart?.what kind of a heart did you bring to the equation? Service Times8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. 1920 Northwestern AveWest Lafayette, IN 47906, Biblical Counseling in Pre-Engagement Counseling, Biblical Counseling in Winter Break Childcare, The Hope of Avoiding Poisonous Responses to Trials, Daniel - Summary - Daniel, Jesus, and You, Daniel 9 - The Prayer that Grabs God's Attention, Daniel - Overview - Putting Daniel in his Place, Daniel 10-12 - When Things Aren't Going As Planned. Genuine faith remains strong amid dire circumstances and uncertain outcomes.
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