2013-12-08
Daniel Part 6 - Preparing For The Lion's Den
Steve Lane

A. Review/Intro
God reserves His real work of changing men's hearts to the humble.

The search for satisfaction born out of pride

Fear but no humility Dan 5:5 – 9

The Drawing and Repelling power of true Humility Dan 5:10 - 16

B. Daniel and the Lion's Den [Daniel 6]

Daniel knew how to live this life. Didn't start off to good!

I don't want to waste this life

Story of Daniel and the Lion's Den

Dan 6:3, 22, 28 He had excellence, he was innocent, God blessed him

Should not produce guilt and shame. God rescued you out of that

He was who God wanted him to be and where God wanted him to be

Dan 6:10 But Daniel's preparation for the lion's den had been going on the last 65 years

A life well lived had put him there!

C. Living like Daniel? The Character of Daniel.

Excellence, love for God's people, love for the purposes of God in the world...

Love for the person of God, He knew God, humility, desire for God's glory, love the Word, discipline and resolve, courage, Faith

When you are put in a high place... how will you fare? When you tumble from a high place...

D. Daniel's life prepared him for victory in either extreme (and he understood seasons)

Three principles that Daniel's life was ordered around.

The courage, the faith, the humility of Daniel flowed out of living by these principles:

Love for the people of God Phil 1:3 – 8, 25 Partnership. Supernatural joy

Love for the purposes of God Phil 1:18 – 21 Sacrificial at times but not a burden Phil 2:17 - 18

Love for the person of God Phil 3:7 – 11

He cultivated joy in all of these and out of this flowed faith, humility, excellence, courage

E. Next Steps for a life well lived:
1) Read any one of the first six chapters of Daniel

2) Read Philippians looking for the description of joy in the these three “P's”

3) How can you cultivate joy in all of these? What specific steps do you need to take?

4) Start looking for the development of the character of Daniel in your life.