Daniel 6:19-20 Is Your God Able to Deliver?
King
Darius has just HAD a miserable night of not being able to sleep!
A) He realized that he had been
hoodwinked by wicked men to condemn a man to death that he highly loved.
B) A man whom he respected,
and was considering to set over the whole realm.
C) These men had appealed to his vanity, and persuaded him to sign a foolish
decree that no one could offer a prayer or petition to anyone except him for a
period of thirty days.
D) The penalty for such an
offense was to be
cast into the lion’s den.
These
men were jealous of Daniel for they knew he was being considered for this high
post they were all coveting.
A) They also knew that he
was a man of such
honesty and integrity that they would
never
find any flaw in his performance.
B) They also knew of his
devotion to his God, and
his consistent prayer life.
1)
Thus the decree was designed to trap him.
When
Daniel knew that the decree was signed, he continued to pray three times a day before his open window
that faced
A) This breach of the
commandment was reported to Darius the king, and when he heard it was Daniel,
he knew that he had been played for a fool
.
B)
That whole next day – he sought earnestly for some loophole that would keep him
from having to follow thru and cast Daniel into the Den
C)
But according to the law of the Medes and Persians once a law had been sealed –
it was irreversible
D)
At evening time the men came to the King and insisted that He enforce the law
E) The King was stuck and
reluctantly went to follow thru on the decree –
1) Daniel was bound for the
Lions Den
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast
him into the den of lions. {Two compartments separated by a gate- feed and clean}
NOT KITTY CATS – WAKI –
But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you
serve continually, He will deliver you." {was Daniel thinking that’s easy for you to
say from up there!}
Wishful thinking
on the Part of King Darius – not really a word of
faith – comforted none the less
17
Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed
it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose
concerning Daniel might not be changed.
A) Here they thought they were fulfilling
their purpose to get rid of Daniel once and for all.
B) All the while they were
only playing into God’s purpose for this man’s life.
C) Storms of Correction –
Jonah {See warn
Storms of instruction – Disciples {don’t
assume
Storms of Glorification- Daniel
Though
the king had encouraged Daniel with those words, he did not fully believe them
himself, so he spent a sleepless night.
A) He didn’t eat dinner – he
gave the orchestra the night off – tried to sleep but couldn’t
B) So early in the morning –
he raced out to the Lions den and called out into the darkness
20 And when he
came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice {agony and desperation} to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel,
servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been ABLE to
deliver you from the lions?"
C) He was relieved when he
heard Daniel voice in response – V.21 O king, live
forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have
not hurt me.
Darius
asked the Question is your God Able?
Important
question for us to ponder.
A) This isn’t the first
Lion’s Den that Daniel found himself in.
B) He is now 90 yrs old –
but 73 yrs early when he was 17 brought to
1) Chosen to be trained in
the courts –
C)
Daniel refused to eat of the Kings Delicacies believing that God was
ABLE to sustain he and his friends on a limited diet – GOD DID
D) Wasn’t going to
compromise for acceptance – that can be a Lion’s den
In
Daniel Ch.2 Facing being put to death because the wise men couldn’t tell
A) Daniel brought forth –
B) Daniel said – Not me but
my God is ABLE….
C)
D)
1) Daniel interprets the
dream and tells
That
can be a lions Den – In a place where you have to tell the truth without
compromise.
A) You know God has put you
into that position
B) Telling the truth might
cost you your life
1) Cost you your job
2) Cost you a friend
C) You make a Decision to
not bow – or compromise
D) Daniel Knew that His God
was Able!
Look at v.23
remember Daniel is writing this
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that
they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the
den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
Daniel
believed in his God! Key – Believing God is able!
27 When Jesus
departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of
David, have mercy on us!" 28 And
when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to
them, "Do you believe that I am ABLE to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes,
Lord."
29 Then He
touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to
you." 30 And their eyes were
opened.
Some
of you might feel blind in a situation tonight
A) Lord I can’t see – can’t
discern what you are doing
B) Is He able to open your
eyes? Is He able to give that much needed Discernment? – YES
C)
Quit struggling to figure it out – make it work –
Say Jesus I believe that you
are ABLE –
1) Lead me open my eyes –
make it clear
D) He might tell you to walk
– take one step at a time as you go – your eyes will be opened
That
is what God did with Abe – promise Child nation – Waited Decades for the
fulfillment
A) Even though – Abe had his
moments where his faith wavered – He is a model – of trust
“He did not waver
at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving
glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also ABLE
to perform.”
B) I have to admit sometimes
I feel like that Dad with the Demon Possessed son- Jesus ask – Do you believe
1) Lord I believe but help
my unbelief. {Ability
C) I struggling NOT with God
being Able – but being willing! – Especially
when waiting – nvr decades
1) Cross -
“If
God is for us, who can be against us? 32
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he
not also with him graciously give us all things?” ESV
Fathers good
pleasure to Give us the Kingdom
Daniel
was innocent before God!
A) You are innocent – in
Christ
B) Listen there are
blessings that come from walking uprightly – promises
1)Clear conscience –
Confidence – for sure
C) But the blessings of God
are not contingent on walking uprightly - -
1) Come because God is
gracious –
D) He graciously pours out
blessing especially when we believe HE IS ABLE!
Looking
for stability in your walk – in a situation?
“Now to Him who
is ABLE to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ.”
In Need of
extra strength for the task ahead of you?
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
In need of a miracle?
Something so huge – can’t see a way out? Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to Him who
is ABLE to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Worried about something you
have invested time and heart into falling apart
“I know whom I
have believed and am persuaded that He is ABLE to keep what I have committed to
Him until that Day.”
Struggling
with temptation? He is Able
“For
in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is ABLE to aid those who are
tempted.”
Is there someone in your
life – quit praying to get saved?
“Therefore He
is also ABLE to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since
He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Afraid you are
not going to make it in the Christian life. Afraid
of falling away being lost?
Note
God did not deliver Daniel from the Lions den – He delivered him thru the Lions
den.
A) Daniel was not alone in
His lion’s Den – God was with Him.
B) We are not Alone either –
Jesus is with us – never leave us or forsake –
1)
Really only One Lion – Jesus – the Lion of the tribe of
C) Who beat back the Lions
that surrounded him?
Declawed that Lion Satan!
D) Because He was victorious
– He is ABLE to deliver us
E) Because He loved us
enough to die for us – HE WILL DELIVER US
Listen
When you believe that Your God is ABLE
A)
You pray – you cry out to Him!
B) You rest – you trust.
1) You are Joyful – at peace
2) You are hopeful!
If
your God is NOT able!
A) You worry!
B) You scheme – plot/ you
strategize
C) You fear –
D) You complain
E) You are not
a rest at all!
IS YOUR GOD ABLE?