Daniel – A Devoted Statesman

 

 

Central Thought: We can live for God wherever we find ourselves.

 

Hymn: Stand up, Stand up for Jesus

Text: Daniel 6 & 7 (Reading Text: Daniel 6:1-28)

 

 

Living for God is a must for all who are obedient to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always available to guide a child of God through any position or height that one climbs.  Christian leaders should never forget who they are in the midst of many ungodly comrades.  The scripture says that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Matthew 5:13-16.  It is important that we maintain our integrity as children and ambassadors of a holy and true God.   It is in this strive to stand for truth and righteousness that the enemy, Satan, tries to fault the effort of man.  Daniel at the point of no compromise decided that the “vegetables” were more nourishing than the king’s meat and therefore called the king’s meat a defilement.  He also chose to obey the Lord than to cease worshiping God.  The leaders of the land could find no other way to accuse him other than faulting his obedience to God, Daniel 6:4-5.  Many leaders today forget who they are when they climb to positions of authority.  Rather than shining for Christ, they allow the darkness to overshadow them.  The light should shine in darkness and darkness should not overshadow it.

Believers should not hesitate to declare their identity with Christ and to confess the nature and pattern of life we are made for. This will go a long way to save us from the ungodly demand of the world.  There has to be a personal commitment to God no matter the heights we have reached.

 

Lesson Objectives:

1. To understand that living for God involves self-denial.
2. To emphasize that God rewards faithfulness.
3. To appreciate the fact that God’s word can be applied in all situations.
4. To appreciate that God vindicates His children.

 

1. Why was Daniel preferred above all the presidents and prices?

Daniel, although in a strange land, allowed his light to shine as a believer in God. He did not hide his identity.  The Bible records that he was a man of integrity.  It should be recalled that Dairus who had just conquered Babylon could have imprisoned Daniel since he served in the government that was conquered.  On the contrary, he was promoted.  Daniel left the trail of God in his activities in the kingdom.  No wonder the Bible says that God will make our enemies to be at peace with us if our ways please Him, Proverbs 16:7.  He was a man with an excellent spirit.

We have been chosen of God to show forth His praise, 1 Peter 2:9. We are Christ’s ambassadors here on earth as Christians, 2 Corinthians 5:20.  It is very regrettable today that some of us have often misrepresented heaven.  The name of God is blasphemed when we live dishonorable lives.  Daniel in his day proved himself a worthy ambassador.

Joseph was another true ambassador in his day. He was guided by the fear of the Lord.  He had the opportunity to commit adultery with his master’s wife without any body knowing but he was very conscious of God’s presence and who He is.  Anytime the name of God is glorified in our lives, He promotes us by Himself.  We must learn to acknowledge Him in all that we do so that he can direct our paths.

 

2. What was Daniel’s reaction to the signing of the decree?

Daniel knew that daily communion with God was the secret of his excelling all other presidents. To forbid to pray for 30 days was to rob God of all the attribute He has from man and to rob Daniel of all the comfort he has in God.  The easiest thing the natural man would have done would have been to retire from praying to God for the 30 days or so, but not Daniel who made praying to God his way of life.  Thus the man of God stood his ground utilizing the opportunity to honor God before his enemies.

Prayers for a Christian are not optional. It is a command if we must succeed in the race that is set before us, 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  Every now and then, the devil places before us the choice of either obeying God or man.  God is looking for people who will stand for Him against every form of ungodliness in our generation.  We must choose to rather obey God and live eternally, than obey men and die eternally.  Daniel set the correct example by choosing to obey God than man as did also the Apostles, Daniel 3:10-16; Acts 4:18-20.

Many a time, some of us have compromised our stand as Christians for fear of what the devil will do to us. We must not forget the injunction of the Lord, “fear only Him that has the power to destroy both body and soul in hell.”, Luke 12:54; Matthew 10:28.  If Jesus being the Lord, could die for us, there should be no sacrifice too great to make, hence we must take our stand for Him.  Let us not be ashamed to bear the marks of Jesus Christ on our bodies.  It is a denial of faith for us to retreat when we are supposed to show forth the praise of Him who has called us.

It was not true that Daniel did not regard the king but when it gets to the point of choice, we must obey the King of Kings rather than any other leader. Nothing should stand in the way of our pleasing God by the very way we handle situations.

 

3. How should we react when people plot against us?

The final reaction of a natural man is to prepare for self-defense. The plot against Daniel was motivated by envy and jealousy and we know who was behind all the plots – the devil.  No wonder the Bible says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:10-11.  The Bible did not say that our enemies will not gather, but the Bible says that since such a gathering was not ordained by God, they will scatter, Isaiah 54:15.  We are admonished to commit our souls to God when we suffer as Christians, 1 Peter 4:16; there is no shame in suffering for Christ’s sake.  We should count ourselves privileged to have suffered for the Lord.  When the Lord Jesus stood in Pilate’s hall, he declared that he found no fault in the Master, John 18:38.  Earlier, the master declared that the price of this world comes but he has nothing in Him, John 14:30.  We have to pray to God to help us live a life void of offence towards God and men.  This will make us to be bold as a lion.  Our righteous living provokes the enemy hence the attack.  If we live godly lives, we should be ready to suffer persecution, 2 Timothy 3:12.

 

4. What does the safety of Daniel in the lion’s den show of God?

God is a covenant keeping God. He stands to defend His name.  He has promised to keep us as the apple of His eyes, Psalm 17:8.  Testimonies abound in the Bible, of God’s faithfulness in keeping those who stood for Him.  God is abundantly able to deliver those who trust in Him.  It is good to remember the name of the Lord in time of trouble.  The Bible says the arm of flesh will fail us.  Daniel declared that innocence was found in him.  He had a right standing with God and God defended his innocence.  We must be able to declare that the devil comes but he has nothing in us.  Let us live a life that is above the accusation of the devil to experience the faithfulness of God.

His name is a strong tower, which the righteous runs into and is safe, Proverbs 18:10. Daniel waited upon God in prayers.  God in His faithfulness was with Daniel in the lion’s den.  God is always our refuge in times of trouble.

 

5. Why did God give Daniel the vision of what was going to happen?

The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear Him. God reveals His mind to a man of a quiet spirit.  The secret things belong unto God but the revealed things are for the sons of men, Deuteronomy 29:29.  Yet the Bible says that God will not do a thing without revealing it to His servants.  Daniel did not allow his captivity to rob him of his communion with God.  No wonder God showed him things that will happen in the future.

It is necessary that we discover how God speaks to us as individuals. Many find it strange when they hear other people say God spoke to them.  We need to ask God to circumcise our hearts, eyes and ears.  We must not allow our situation to consume us to the extent that we do not hear when God speaks to us.  Our personal revelation of God has a greater impact on us than other people’s experiences.  God still speaks today to us through His word, vision, prophecy, dreams, inner voice, etc.  We need to keep our spirits connected to God so that He can speak to us.

 

6. Does it matter if we do not hear from God?

Our communion with God is a two way process; we speak to God and He speaks to us. If there was no rapport between God and man, Christianity would have been meaningless.  We thank God that He is alive and a very present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1.  The essence of hearing from God shows that we belong to Him.  Communication is not complete if there is no response.  God speaks to us for comfort, direction, warning and assurance, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  No child of God should feel too busy to fulfill God’s call on him.  Obedience to God for fellowship with Him should be our primary concern even in the midst of our other secular engagements.

Right from the time of creation, God has always spoken with man. God speaks to people He has relationship with. The degree of uncertainty, darkness, confusion, frustration that would have been in the world can only be imagined if God was not speaking to men.  God speaks to us every now and then.  We need to ask God to heal our ears so that when He speaks we can hear and obey.

We need to maintain a quiet spirit before God, 1 Kings 19:9-13. God will only stop speaking to reprobates or people who have continually grieved the Holy Spirit through disobedience.  We should cry out if God has stopped speaking to us. It means we are no longer in tune with Him.  This could be very dangerous for our existence as Christians.   We must not be like the children of Israel who refused to hear from God, Hebrews 12:18-20.

 

 

Daily Living Application:

We have been called by God to show forth His praise in this world, 2 Peter 2:9. Like Daniel, we must daily yield ourselves unto God so that we can have fulfilled Christian life.  If we must succeed in this race set before us, our focus must be on the Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 12:1-3.  The Lord Jesus Christ and the saints who have gone before us have assured us that we can make it.  Let us remember that the night is far spent and the day is at hand.  The name of the Lord must not suffer shame in our time or as a result of the exalted position or office we hold.

 

Memory Verse:

Romans 12:11 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”