“Chap 1-6” Choosing to Follow God

“Chap 7-12” Prophecy

Chapter 6: “Decision Time”

We love courageous men and women!

OverviewDaniel – threatened with death –If he continued to be faithful to God.He chose to be courageously faithful

Question: If we encountered that level of persecution, would we be openly faithful?

- 70 million martyred First 2000 years

- 35 million 20th

century

- 100,000 per year each year from 2000 – 2010

Christian Persecution is very Real

Christian Persecution today

www.opendoorsusa.com

Question: If we encountered that level of persecution, would we be openly faithful?

Decision TimeWalk with Jesus or walk away

2 Keys to Walk with God1- Love God• Mt 22:372- Future / heaven• Rom 8:18• Mt 6:20• John 3:15

Walk away1- Now• John 6:66• 1 John 2:162- No fear ofjudgment• Rev 20:15

Daniel faced intense persecution – decided to follow

How the persecution came to DanielHe had the favor of King Darius

:1, King Darius appointed 120 rulers – administrators:2, And 3 supervisors over the 120 – Daniel was one of the 3:3, Daniel excelled because of his extraordinary spirit. King Darius planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom

Dan 6

Daniel’s Story Highly successful

:4, Tried to find grounds of accusation. No negligence or corruption could be found. (Col 3:23):5, Have to write a law that made the practice of his faith illegal

Ungodly men

Used the Judicial system against Daniel

:6, ungodly men spoke to King Darius:7, write a law – only pray to you for 30 days – if they pray to any other man or God lions den:8-9, The King wrote and signed the law

All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions' den. Dan 6:7 (NASB)

Only forgot two things: 1- God is real and 2- He is in charge!

They forgot these verses• 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching

the evil and the good. Prov 15:3 (NASB)• 17 For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not

hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes. Jer 16:17 (NASB)

• 13 He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. Prov 17:13 (NASB)

• 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccl 12:14 (KJV)

Apparently, none of the 120….

Had the courage to stand up for GodIn the presence of their peers

Don’t hang around with those who mock God!Forgot Gal 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Don’t let peer pressure ruin your life!

Everyone Knew that

Daniel Prayed 3x / day

Satan passeda law to

stop prayer

Satan’s goals: 1) destroy Daniel and 2) discredit God

God’s goals:• Strengthen our faith• Show His great power• Bless His children

Persecution is an opportunity for courageous faith.Courageous faith leads to God’s blessings

Daniel’s decision confirmed his love for God10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Dan 6:10 (NASB)

Persecution: reveals what we really believe about God.

Daniel made a Decision that he loved God

more than life.

Question: Have you already decided how you wouldreact to Christian persecution? Stay faithful unto death?

Daniel’s understood the “Big Picture”

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12 (KJV)

Remember, Persecution leads to:• Stronger faith• Blessings:• Now- probably• Heaven for sure

Satan uses ungodly men / women and the

judicial system to:1) Destroy Christians2) Discredit God

Today - many havecourageously

remained faithfuland are in the lion’s den:• Baker• Photographer• Pizza owner• Many – lost jobs

Question: Have you already decided how you will respond

to persecution?

Daniel chose to remain faithful in the face of death.What was he thinking?

He feared God more than men! Job 28:28, 1 PT 1:17,John 14:15

2 Keys to courageous faith:1- love, reverence, obedience to God2- focus on heaven

• :11-15• Forced King Darius to enforce the law and throw Daniel into the lion’s den.

33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. 1 Cor 15:33-34 (NASB)

King Darius was trapped by Satan and ungodly menSeemed as though……

King Darius was forcedBy the law of the landTo throw Daniel into

The Lion’s Den:16-17

King Darius was very sad:18, fasted, stayed awakeall night. (I believe he prayed fervently to God)

King Darius prophesied:16, “Your God whom you constantly serve

Will Himself deliver you.”

Daniel and Darius musthave had some long

Conversations about God

19 at the break of day, and the King went in haste to the lions' den. 20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?" Dan 6:19-20

Each one of us must answer these questions:1- Is God real? All-powerful? Can He really save me?2- Really give me eternal life in heaven? 3- I have to make a decision - Love and follow or not.

The King – really asking…. 1- Daniel, is your God real?2- Is He powerful enough to deliver?

God is able !!!!!!1- He loves his children,2- Especially those with courageous faith.

21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, " O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime." Dan 6:21-22 (NASB)

God judges the ungodly

24 The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Dan 6:24 (NASB)

Men – for the sake of your families- have courageous faith!

31 They said, " Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:31 (NASB)

Judgment is Coming

Men – our families desperately need to “man-up”!1- To Be the spiritual leaders of the family2- To Have courageous faith like Daniel3- That our families may make it to heaven

Men – don’t you want your children and grandchildren to spend eternity in heaven?

In God’s presence is fullness of joy; In His right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11

Courageous Faith Spreads the Gospel:25, King wrote all people:26, Fear and tremble before the God of Daniel:• Living God – endures

forever• Kingdom will never end• His dominion will be

forever• :27, delivers / rescues• Performs signs /

wonders In heaven / earth

• Delivered Daniel from the lions

Chap 6, Have you decided to be Faithful in the face of persecution?

• :1-3, Daniel – enjoyed worldly success• :4-5, ungodly men - hated Daniel• :6-9, ungodly men - used the law against Daniel • :10, Daniel – courageous Faith (Love / Heaven)• :11-15, ungodly men – forced Darius to kill Daniel • :16-17, Satan takes you farther than you want to go• King Darius’ response – • :18, King fasted and prayed • :19-20, sought Daniel and praised God• :21-23, God delivered Daniel• :24- Ungodly judged along with families• :25-28, Knowledge of God was spread

America

Satan

As America drifts from God

Will we have courageous Faith in the face of persecution?

America Satan

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Isaiah 5:20 (NASB)

Question: Have you decided that you love God more than this life?

24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalms 31:24 (KJV)

When Persecution comes….

God loves courageousChristians!

Courageous Faith is a Decision! Do You have it?

All of these are professing Christians

How many of them have already made the decision• That they will remain faithful….• Even if it costs them their earthly life

You? Faithful in the face of death?

Why did Daniel have suchCourageous Faith?

• Loved God and • Trusted God