Daniel: A Man of God

I want to welcome you and those of you here live with us this evening. Would you join me in prayer? Bow your heads and join me in prayer, please. Father, we thank you for this opportunity to gather this evening to worship you in song and to study your word, Lord. I would just ask that you would bless our service, just order it. I want to lift up the youth group that you'd bless them as they gather and the

other youngsters down in the hall there, that you'd bless them and the nursery workers and the little youngsters in the nursery, and that you'd bless our time here, Lord, as we worship in song and study your word together. Just fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit, Lord. We give you thanks in Jesus' name.

There we go. Okay. I had to hit the little button there. Oh. Well, I hope everybody's having a good week. And if you're not, I hope it gets better. Amen. Would you turn in your Bibles to Daniel chapter 6 this evening?

Daniel chapter 6. We're having a gathering at the roundtable here. Yeah.

Daniel 6. Would you join me in prayer? Father, we thank you for this opportunity to take a bit of time to dip into your word, Lord, this portion of word tonight. Would you use it in our hearts? Would you? Speak to us by your Holy Spirit. Lord, would you impart your spirit of wisdom to us and the revelation of the knowledge of you as we dip into this portion of your word.

Lord, enlighten the eyes of our understanding this evening. Cause us to really just reflect on that calling you have in our lives. You love us. You drew us with an everlasting love. And we thank you for that. Now just speak by your Holy Spirit and help me say what you once said. In Jesus' name, amen. We want to look at chapter six tonight in Daniel. And I've entitled the message,

Daniel, a man of God. And that is what he was. Just a brief outline here. I'll give you four little points we'll kind of be looking at as we go. Daniel, a man of God with integrity. Number two, we're going to see an attack on his integrity and faith in God. Number three, we're going to see a godly response. And then, of course, in number four, we're going to see the outcome.

We'll see Daniel delivered and God being glorified.

I'm going to put this over here and then we're going to jump in. The book of Daniel, of course, the first six chapters, you know, you get his experience with Nebuchadnezzar and, of course, his buddies, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are with him. And then by chapter six, well, and then, of course, at the end of chapter five, Nebuchadnezzar's grandson who had taken over, he gets quite an interesting experience. That's what leads us to chapter six in Daniel, is really then under a different empire as, you know, he and the captives.

And, of course, Daniel went through the whole 70 years, you know. And so as we dip into chapter six, we see this transition. There's going to be a different leader. The Babylonian captivity or the empire has been taken over, fallen. And let's just look at the last of chapter five, because, you know, God brings up leaders and he brings them down when it's his time.

Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, grandson, at the end of chapter five, we see him having a big time party. They've grabbed the actual items that were from the temple of God. And they, they began to drink using them. They began to really defiling the whole thing. And so this young man gets himself in a fix. And all of a sudden, toward the end here of the chapter,

while his, you know, his drunken party is going on, there's a handwriting on the wall. And there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a point at which his knees began to knock because he knows he's in deep trouble.

And so let, verse 24, then the fingers of the hand were, were sent, sent from, from him and writing was written. And this is the inscription that was written. Mene, mene, tekel, apar, apar, let's see, how's this last one? Apar, sir. This is the interpretation of each word. Mene, God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. Tekel, you have been weighed in the balance

and found wanting. Paris, your kingdom has been divided and, and given to the Medes and Persians. And then, of course, they bring Daniel, you know, they, they, Daniel ends up actually be, the, the, the queen mother remembers Daniel, you know, and, and, and he's the one that gives this interpretation because she remembers Daniel and his, what he had done for, and his relationship with Nebuchadnezzar. And so, of course, this king here, you know, puts a, a necklace around him and dresses him nice and he's all fancy, but, the end thereof for the, for the, the king there was, he was, he was done in.

And so, it's during this time in chapter six that we have a new king, a new empire, but it's a split empire, Medo-Persian, you see. And, it's kind of interesting because this is the second of those four empires that are mentioned in Daniel. And, we see the change of, of this taking place here in chapter six. Now, in verse one through three, let's read that.

As, as Daniel, and, and the interesting thing about Daniel, all the way through, God just gave him favor, you see. He, he was just a man of God. And so, let's see how this plays out here then in chapter six of Daniel, verse one. It pleads, it pleads Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be over the whole kingdom. And over these three, and over these three governors

of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them so that, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then, this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. And so, that's the setting. We've got a different, as we see in verses

one through three, we've got a different governing body and, and, and a different leadership established. You've got Darius, of course, the king, but he set these, 120 leaders and then the three governors over them. And so, this is Daniel's position and status in this kingdom, the Medo-Persian. God had given him favor with Nebuchadnezzar in the Babylonian captivity, you remember?

And we'll talk more about Daniel in the beginning of that time later. Daniel, we know, is a man of good report. And it's going to be evident to us that he has spent time with God. As we go through this section, he had been through various situations during these 70 years of captivity. And as the old saying is, this wasn't his first rodeo, you see. He knew in whom

he trusted, you see. He was a man of integrity.

Actually, Daniel was separated unto God. I was doing some looking, today. And you remember the Apostle Paul. When he wrote the, at the beginning of the epistle to the Romans, he talked about being separated unto God, you see. Well, it was interesting that he used that word because he was a Pharisee, which is what that meant, being separated, you know. But in this situation,

he was separated unto God. Now, as a Pharisee, he was quite a legalist, you see. And that's not the kind of separation we're looking at. We're looking at a separation unto God, a giving of your heart, a yielding of yourself to God and His work. This is the kind of separation Daniel had. And it began as a teenager, you see. It began as a teenager. Now, let's see what unfolds here,

okay? Let's look at 4 through 9 and then we'll do a little commenting. And so the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or fault because he was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him. Notice what takes place. Verse 5, Then these men said, We shall not find any error

or any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God. That's an interesting verse right there. Verse 6, So these governors and satraps thronged before the king and said thus to himself, to him, King Darius, listen to this, live forever. Boy, they're sucking up. Verse 7, 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 30 days except you, O king, shall be cast into the dark den of lions.

Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians which does not alter. Therefore, so as a result here, therefore, King Darius signed the written decree. Interesting stuff here. So in this section section 4, 4 through 9, we see the jealous hearts of those serving with him. They were envious,

weren't they? Because immediately what they, you see, God was giving Daniel favor. Daniel was, he was doing what he always did. He was being faithful to the responsibility he had to the point that King Darius was wanting to put him over the whole group. That didn't set well with the others. And so they attack his integrity and faith in God because they had no other charge

against him. They see that they can find no charge, you see. Nothing, there's nothing that, it wasn't that he was a perfect man, but he was, he was a man who was faithful to do what he was called to do. But notice how they use his faith in God against him. You see, you can always count on getting blamed for something sometime or other. And as Christians, there'll be those

that say, oh, those Christians, they're doing, you know, look what they're doing again. They're, you know, they're over just praying and they're just hypocrites, you see. We're going to get blamed. Just don't give them a reason to be blamed. May it be false always, you see. May we live a life that is that integrity that we're standing firm, you see. Of course, Darius,

he allows himself to let flattery overtake him. You see, they were pumping up his head, weren't they? Sucking right up because they had an ulterior motive. They knew that the king was impressed with Daniel. And that they had to come up with something that would affect Daniel's feelings so that if they get him to do this decree, they know what Daniel's going to do.

And so the whole Darius is flattered. He's overtaken by flattery and he really doesn't think things through. That's what flattery does to us, you know. And sometimes when there's too much flattery, you may step back and go, what's behind that? You know what I mean? And so that's what they were doing with him. That's what they were doing with King Darius. And they were obviously

out to get Daniel. When you hear those words throwing somebody in the lion's den, he wasn't on the popular side of those fellows, you see. And so they're tricking him. 1 Peter 5.8, says this, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Now remember, ultimately it comes down to a spiritual battle.

Spiritual warfare that goes on. Just like it's going on now, it went on then, you see. In fact, it goes way back to the garden, doesn't it? And Satan continually trying to thwart the work of God in some way. He's lost the battle, but those scrimmages get hard, so he keeps trying to fight with us, fight against us, you see. But ultimately, it is that spiritual battle

that goes on. And remember, we fight not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities in high places and in the middle of the world. And that's what we're doing. And that's what we're doing. And that's what we're doing. And that's what we're doing. And darkness, you see. That's why we're to put on that spiritual armor. This is what Daniel did.

But notice, we see that Darius is willing to sign the decree. He hasn't thought it through. He was impressed with what they were saying about him. After all, he was king, and he was king over a big bunch of folk. He had all those leaders so that he wouldn't be taken advantage of, you see. And what? What are some of the leaders doing? Taking advantage.

And the fact of the matter is, once this, in the Medo-Persian government, once that was set, the decree was set, that he couldn't change it. Now, Nebuchadnezzar, that was a different ballgame. He ruled over it all, and he could decide to do anything he wanted to do. But in this setting, it was different. And so, this decree has taken place. And it can't be changed.

He couldn't change it if he wanted. The interesting thing is, notice this. It's pretty obvious that all didn't agree with this decree that they had come up with, right? Because wasn't Daniel one of the governors?

You see? They're working against him. A man who was full of integrity did not compromise. Actually, it was a compliment on the government. It was a compliment on this man's life when they said, we can't find any charge against him except for if we can come up with something against he and the law of his God. Because they knew the integrity was in him. What he would do

when they purposely did the decree because they knew what he would do with that decree. How he would respond to that. Daniel wasn't going to say, oh, I'll quit praying for 30 days. And then when this thing is dropped, you know, I'll start back praying. I'll start back reading my Bible. No.

So you see, all of them didn't agree because Daniel, he wouldn't have gone for that. Now let's look at verses 10 through 11.

10 and 11, I should say. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home and in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as was his custom since early days.

Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And so you see how it's playing out. We notice that Daniel's godly, we notice his godly response and the reaction of the other leaders.

You remember earlier I said this wasn't Daniel's first rodeo. When you go back, you see, the interesting thing is as they were just waiting for him to go up home and pray like he always did.

Daniel knew that he was going to pray. Did the decree had happened? Did it change his behavior? No. Now, obviously, you know, we're to be submissive in all those things, but when it goes against God's law, that's a different ballgame.

What a witness he was to those he was in contact with at all times. That's what Israel was to be, you remember. They were a channel. They were God's channel, chosen nation for a reason. Way back when God called Israel and God called Abraham and said, through thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. And then as you read through, you know, continuing through Genesis

and Exodus and all, you see how God called Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. He had those 12 boys, you know. And then Joseph. You know, Joseph and Daniel are interesting to compare. You know, you've got Joseph who ended up, you know, sold over and taken into Egypt. God gave him favor too.

And then the boys, the family, Jacob and his family ends up over there in Egypt. And before it's all said and done, you know, and one of the things that Joseph told the boys after his father died there in Egypt, they were afraid that Joseph was going to retaliate because of them selling him. And he told them, he said, don't worry, fellas. What you meant for evil, God meant for good.

And you see, God did a work. He was doing a work in Israel. And of course, later they become enslaved there in Egypt. And Egypt is a picture or type of the world. And as they're going through that period of time, you see, they're delivered. It's a picture of what God does with us. We're born into this world. And I'm going to tell you, we're in bondage to sin.

And our precious Savior delivers us, redeems us when we come to Him. You see, they were a channel. Israel was a channel through which the Messiah would come. They were to be witnesses, you see. And oh, wasn't Daniel such? He and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and all those others we don't hear about. I'm sure there were others witnessing. We see Daniel's devotion

and commitment to God from an early age. Why don't you go over it? Let's go over to chapter one of Daniel because that, let me put this marker right here. Chapter one of Daniel because, you see, I had said this wasn't his first rodeo. You see, he had to deal with some stuff right off the bat. You remember when they're taken captive, particularly, Nebuchadnezzar wants to take,

he takes a lot of the young fellows that are, you know, real intelligent, good looking and all. And he has in mind to bring them to Babylon and change their, whole mindsets. Make them his representatives, you see, and so forth. And so Daniel, right off the bat, is faced with, he and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they're faced with being forced to eat food that would be undefiled.

They didn't want to be undefiled. Remember Leviticus, in the book of Leviticus, there were certain foods they were, they were to eat and not to eat. And Daniel knew this. Well, Nebuchadnezzar wanted to feed him the best and give him the wine and get him all plump and, you know, in good condition and really be prime examples for him, you see. Daniel's concerned about this

because he knows that they're going to force him to eat some things that would be against what he knew the Word of God said. Verse 8, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now, God had brought Daniel into favor into favor and goodwill of this chief eunuch guy.

And so, as it goes, Daniel's asking that they can just have, you know, basically the cereal and water and not all that other stuff. And, of course, the eunuch, he thinks a lot of, he likes Daniel and all, but he's also thinking about his head. And he says, I understand what you're wanting, and this is paraphrased. I'm not going to read it all like this. He said,

I understand what you're wanting, but remember, if you come out skinny, that's going to be bad news for me and you too, probably, you see. So, what does Daniel do? He appeals to him. He's not rude. He's not rebellious. He said, let's do it this way. Give us 10 days with eating what we would request. And we know what the result is. The result was, you see, God gave him favor.

You see, he was faced as a teenager with needing to make a stand for God and God's law early on in a strange land, you see. And so, we're going to continue to see Daniel as an example for us to stand strong in the Lord. And so, you see that integrity standing out.

I think it's obvious he knew the Word of God. He didn't want to defile himself with the foods that they would be giving him that was against the law, you see, of God. And so, God gave him and his three friends favor, you see. And oh, how God used Daniel and those three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel could be used of God. He obviously knew the Word of God, didn't he?

He was a prepared vessel, wasn't he? He was a prepared vessel, wasn't he? And he was a prepared vessel, and we'll think about how that preparation takes place. Daniel was a prepared vessel that could be used to serve God. He was a man who knew the Word of God and a man of prayer. We see that right, we saw that immediately. Notice, he did what he always did.

He went and prayed. And he looked toward Jerusalem on his knees three times a day. Now, let me get back over here to where I was, and we'll keep on talking. Over in 1 Kings 8, verses 48 and 49, you remember when Solomon had, the temple had been built, and so it's at this time, after the temple is built, and he's up before the people, he's praying, he's dedicating the temple, and I just want to pick out a couple of verses here.

But, you know, the chance, the possibility of them getting taken captive or if they would turn against the things of God, what might happen? Notice what Solomon is praying here in verse 48 and 49. And when they return to you with all their hearts and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to you toward the land which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the temple which I have built for your name, in verse 49, then hear in heaven your dwelling place. Notice, the temple was just a point of reference that they would, you notice what Daniel did.

He got up in his room, he opened the window that was toward Jerusalem in the direction of the temple. And so, but God was in heaven, but that was a point of reference. You remember the tabernacle? When God gave Moses direction for the tabernacle, which was really an earthly, a temporal earthly picture of heaven.

Well, once they got settled in Jerusalem, they didn't need, they, you know, David kept saying, I live in this nice house, we need to build the God of temple, you see. Of course, he couldn't because of his war, being in war and shedding blood and all, but his son did. But this was an earthly picture, kind of, and this is what they would look toward when they prayed, wherever they were, you see. The temple was very important.

Then hear in heaven your dwelling place, their prayer, and their supplication, and maintain their cause, you see. Well, Daniel knew what that said. He did exactly what he was to do, you see. And he looked toward heaven. Notice what he didn't do. And of course, remember, when a decree was made, it couldn't be changed, but you don't see recorded here, he didn't run to the king,

in this case,

and moan and fight for his rights. And say, they were being unfair. Or why did you sign that decree, you know? Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there aren't times for us to speak up. I'm not saying that at all. But in this situation, you don't see that recorded. And I'm sure Daniel knew he needed to go to God because this was a decree that was set, you see.

And of course, it wouldn't have done him, you know, he knew that he was going to be a king. He knew that he was going to be a king. The only thing he could do was pray. He didn't speak up and all that. Of course, those leaders, you see, knew he was a man of integrity and devoted to his God and just waited, you see. Remember, I said that earlier. He just waited for him

to do what he did. What he always did. Now, let's look at verses 12 through 17. Okay? And we're going to, we're going to see what goes on. And they went before the king and spoke concerning the king's decree. Remember, they've already caught him, you see. Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within 30 days except you, O king,

shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The king answered and said, The thing is true according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter. So they answered and said before the king, Now notice, boy, they're just, notice this attitude. That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day and notice.

And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed. So the king gave the command and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.

But the king spoke, saying, Daniel, your God, whom you serve, continually, he will deliver you. 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 signet of his lord's that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. And so notice here then, so the plot thickens, doesn't it? As they tattle to the king.

Now it looks like it's all playing out just right for them. Let's just keep on looking. The interesting thing is the king sees now the reason behind their desire to institute this 30-day decree, you see, to honor the king. Ha ha. So the king was being used, wasn't he? Yeah. And he kind of picks up on that, but it's a lot. A little late now. But you see the kind

of witness Daniel was because how does Darius respond? You're God who you continually serve. He'll deliver you, you see. He knew and Darius knew there's nothing he could do, but he also knew that Daniel served his God, the God. When they said Daniel's name, the king was sad. You see, he really wanted to figure out a way to get him delivered from this whole thing.

But of course, what do they do? Remember, they remind him. Don't forget about that decree, king.

You see. But we see that Daniel was a strong man, a strong witness for the Lord. The jealous leaders knew it, and so did Darius. Notice verse 16 and 17. You see, the witness he was. And again, as you look at 16 and 17, you see their reaction. So the king gave the command. He had to go ahead and give the command and brought Daniel and cast him in the den, you see.

And actually sealed it, you know. And so we notice the witness that Daniel was to the king because why do you think he wanted him in such a leadership role in the first place? He knew who Daniel was. So don't you, can you imagine? I wonder, you know, it could be that his knees were knocking a little bit when he actually sealed that. But, however, God was in control.

And let's look at verses 18 through 20 because it's a neat, it's a neat section what the whole chapter is. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. He doesn't mention prayer, but he does mention fasting. And no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste

to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying, Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lions? You see that heart he had. He knew what he had done. And you see what Darius does. We also see what he doesn't do.

I think it was pretty common for the kings to have a lot of entertainment, musicians playing, dancing, ladies dancing, all kinds of things going on at the palace at night before he goes to bed. Not this time.

His heart is heavy. Also notice, you see that behavior when he actually arrives at the lion's den. It's not just a mere, Daniel, what's up, man? Has the lions got you? No, he's lamenting and concerned. About what happened to Daniel. You see, let's look at verse 21 here. Then Daniel said to the king, and notice what he says here. Oh, king, live forever. Verse 22.

My God sent his angel and shut the lion's den, the lion's mouth, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before God. And also, oh king, I have done no wrong before you. And that's kind of interesting because remember, the decree that was made made him guilty with that decree to make him look bad. You see, after all, he worshiped something besides an angel.

He showed honor to a god and didn't show it to Darius and all this. And so he's saying, and by the way, king, I haven't showed you anything wrong at all either. And so, you notice the heart of Daniel in what he says to the king. He just poured out his heart. He said, I've done, and not only that, the angel kept the lion's mouth away from me. I'm not hurt. It's interesting,

in this situation, Daniel's put in the lion's den. Over there, earlier, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they're thrown in the furnace. Both times, they're protected. The angel, you know, was that the angel of God, the Lord, you know, Jesus? It's talked about that over in, where the three kings are thrown in the fire. In the furnace, you see. But the angel of God

protected them. And you see, we have that same protection today. In a world that we're living in that's opposed to God, we have that same protection today. God is with us. He is in control. We can rest in that. Verse 23 and 24, Now the king was exceedingly glad for him and commanded, that they should take Daniel up out of the den. I'm sure Daniel's happy. So, Daniel was taken up

out of the den and no injury whatsoever was found on him because he believed in his God. Now notice verse 24.

And I'll tell you what this portion of Scripture reminds me of. Do you remember over in Esther, Haman, Mordecai, that situation? Do you remember how Haman had prepared that Haman's noose for Mordecai? Who ended up in the noose? Haman. You notice how they prepared this den for Daniel? This lion's den? He was thrown in all right. Well, let's see what happens in 24.

And the king gave the command to Daniel. And they brought those men who had accused Daniel and they cast them into the den of lions. Their children, their wives and the lions overpowered them. This kind of thinking of the details of this kind of goes, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. The den. You see. And so these very people

that had meant evil for Daniel, it got turned around. And you know, what was meant for evil for Joseph? How many times those kind of things happen where something has meant evil and God turns it for good? Remember, all things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose and plan. It doesn't mean you won't go through rough times.

But those times that are gone through, those different situations bring about character in our lives, you see. So we see in verses 23 and 24, we see the king's response and his resolve concerning those who had come up with a plot against Daniel. Now, notice what the king writes in response to the work of God in Daniel's life. I think it's neat. We're coming to a close here.

But notice in verse 25 here, we're going to read, we'll just read 25 through 28 and we'll do just a little more commenting. Then King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations and languages, that dwell in all the earth. Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom, men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God

and steadfast forever. His kingdom is the kingdom of God. His kingdom is the kingdom of God. He is the one which shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues and he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. And then verse 28. So this Daniel prospered in the reign

of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. You see.

Interesting section. So you see what we see concerning Daniel in verses 28. Well God wasn't finished with him.

He lived out that old age. He lived through the whole 70 years and when God's finished with him he goes to be with him. I want to read a couple of got a couple of quotes and definition I want to share with you. One of the times I was listening to David Jeremiah and when he gave this this quote that a fellow had given him he was young and had a family and he had those times of when he would need to travel he got uncomfortable about that at times and he was concerned and he was concerned and a fellow he was visiting with told him this.

He said God's man in the center of God's will is immortal until God is finished with him. Amen. And that's the truth. But all those times we get fearful you see because we're just but flesh and it wants to creep up. And so you think about the different ways you think about the different ways you think about the different ways you think about the different ones

throughout the scriptures and the different ones who have been missionaries and what has happened to different ones. You think of Jim Elliot and how young he went but God started to work with those men. And then you look at their wives that did what they did as a result of that. You see God God and his sovereignty knows what's going on. Now here's a brief definition

of what God did of the word providence. The unceasing activity of God the creator in working in the affairs of man. And he does it supernaturally through natural means as individuals are walking living their daily lives in Christ. They are directed sometimes unbeknownst. Oh they're praying and God directs and sometimes they don't really always realize it. They look back

and they're back and say oh that's that's why I went that direction. I was supposed to talk to that person. You see how God uses natural means to do supernatural things. He is at work you see always. Ephesians 1.11 let's read that verse real quick. In him also we have obtained an inheritance because we have being predestined according to the purpose of him who works

all things according what? To the counsel of his will. You see his providence. Amen? I have one more quote I want to give you. Most of you have probably heard the name A.W. Tozer. He was quite a fella. And this is very to me this quote when I had had it written down and I it was I found it and I hadn't seen it for a little bit but as I was doing this section

and as I think of our condition in the world now and all that's going on here's what A.W. Tozer said. While it looks like everything is out of control behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered authority. Amen? Yes. Remember God is in control. He is sovereign. So what he rules is always right. Now let's try to finish up here. Let's reflect just a minute.

Okay? Maybe see what we can glean from observing Daniel's life. It was obvious that he was he had spent time with God. We can glean that. It's always important that we spend time with God. May people notice like they did in Acts when those fellas didn't they weren't real educated and all but they had took note they had spent time with Jesus. Amen? Oh that we would

always be spending time with Jesus. You see what we bring in is what comes out. You see garbage in, garbage out. God's word in that begins to be what comes out. You see not necessarily that we're quoting a scripture but as we're living it out you see. He had been taught the word of God and we see that from a teenager probably younger than that he wanted to be obedient

to what God had commanded him you see. Oh. But that but that that took time you see to walk with God always takes time. Character building. The word of God and prayer were important in his life and it's what he leaned on when the trials came upon him. You see remember what you lean on.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he'll direct your paths. Amen? We see that as he went through the trials he looked to God for wisdom and strength to walk through whatever he faced in his captivity. Oh how important for us to do that. We also see him being real and authentic as he lives his life

in a captivity in a world that's opposed to the things of God. That's the kind of world we system we live in and so that's what we're faced with. It's how we face that and who we face it with.

As I stand here I'm asking as I ask you I'm looking back at me how are we doing with that in this world that's opposed to the things of God. It's a tough thing sometimes. There's no doubts. And as I said earlier we are faced daily with input that we have to filter. I remember my college days, oh my I had to do a little bit of filtering. Maybe a lot. But you see

as we spend that time in God's word prayer as we're spending time together as believers you see we become more and more prepared you see prepared vessels. As Ryan has said before God uses prepared vessels. He'll use us anyway but if we're prepared then how many times the Holy Spirit brings a scripture to your mind in a situation you see. Prepared vessels. We live in a world

that is opposed to the things of God. Don't forget it.

And anytime anytime we're dealing with opposition to God you really don't know what may come of it sometime. That's why it's so important that we're grounded grounded , you see. Continue to be grounded and as you read the word pray the word.

So let's become let's keep being prepared vessels yielding our will to the will of God through the study of the word and prayer as God always as God allows the trials of life to build character you see. Ephesians 2.10 For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus on two good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Now if we're His workmanship poema work of art you see He's the one doing the work He's the one shaping and molding us. We think of potter and clay we being the clay that clay has to be for it to become what the potter wants it to be it's totally yielded and it starts off with just a ball of mud right?

What are we doing? What are we? Dust but as we yield ourselves to God oh He loves us. And of course all of you are doing that I know but like Peter said in 2 Peter before he knew he was going to he knew he was going to be departing he said I need to put you in remembrance of these things. We all have to be reminded all the time I just want to encourage us to just

hang in there because we're seeing things unfold before us that could unnerve us at times but He's faithful and you know what? We can be confident Philippians 1, 6 of this very thing He who began a good work in us will continue to perform it until the day of Jesus. That's a promise. So I want you to be encouraged tonight God loves you and when the trials come they will James said count it all joy that's kind of tough isn't it?

He said count it all joy but as there used to be the ladies used to hear this thing but read about you know a teacup becoming a teacup you know and all that that teacup went through to get there you think of Steve Fry over there in Elk Falls with his you know pottery will and all and what he does to work that clay you know dig it out and plop it up there and oh if the clay had feelings it has some things to say oh that hurt you pushed that lump out yeah but you're smoother aren't you? You're becoming more pliable and usable for the king you want to be Jesus said if you want to follow me you got to take up your cross you got to have yourself take up your cross and follow me so to follow you know he's talking about really dying to self Paul said

I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lived with me and the life I now live I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and saved me gave his life for me right? Amen shall we stand?

Father we thank you for this opportunity to look at your word tonight I would pray that you would just encourage each of us in our walk and witness for you I would ask that you'd bless each one here that you would draw each of us closer and closer to you day by day as we spend time getting to know you through your word and prayer Lord and as we fellowship one with another encouraging one another in our walks edifying iron sharpening iron and all those kind of things that go on as you use us all as believers in each other's lives we give you thanks and again we ask that you bring all our Ryan and all our leaders back safely and we'd ask that you would bless us and give us a good week Lord in Jesus name Amen God bless y'all have a good evening

and a good remaining week