Surrounded By Lions [Part 1]

Pastor Arthur and Bible teacher Alan run one of the ironies of this story is you can't say for sure exactly describe what Daniel was doing all my long alliance but we can infer that Daniel and Elias then had a much more peaceful night then did the king's Pastor Alan welcome to another message of good news that will help you see your life for no hold. I'm Daniel Britton excited for you to hear the teaching today. In the series called Daniel as presented in an older church in North Carolina. If you're not able to stay with us throughout the entire program.

I will make sure you know how to get our special resource right now you can be yours for your donation this month. Alan Wright Ministry as you listen to today's message go deeper as we send you today's special offer. Contact us at pastoralan.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860.

More on that later in the program but now let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan Wright and have you and Daniel chapter 6 today I'm grieving a little bit because with ending a bunch of messages on Daniel one day I'll come back, but for today will say goodbye to Daniel with one of the most famous stories not only from Daniel, but in all of the Bible that I hope today that you'll see in a holy way.

So while you're finding Daniel.

I want to give you another text that is foundational to understanding the symbol of the story of Daniel in the lion's den and that is first Peter need not turn their chapter 5 verse six humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. Be sober minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour resistant firm in your faith, knowing that he that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you suffered a little while, the God of all grace is called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and forever.

Amen that you never hear about the Godhead. The sideshow at the carnival they call out he said come on it all and see the lion lying down with the lamb.

Yes ladies and I'm in a real lion and a real lamb in the saying cage lying down next to one another. We will pay their little bit come and see it when they want to sideshow owners friends came and sought and sure enough there was a lion and a lamb real lion real lamb lying there peacefully in the cage together as friends that this is astounding. The Bible is come to life. How do you do this and owners. That's not that hard. I get is put a fresh lamb and there every so often are you ready for some good news today all come on.

I love lamb chops like lamb chops anyway. A for some good news today. We are in a spiritual battle and Satan, whose name literally means the accuser is at work in the spiritual battle to seek to accuse the people of God such that we would not only sabotage ourselves but disqualify ourselves and is relentlessly trying to push us either towards religion or rebellion and the gospel is a whole different way.

A new and living way. The writer of Hebrews says. And in this new and living way. Jesus has come, and he has taken the penalty for sin so that justice has been executed and all those who believe in Jesus are reckoned as if they are blameless. I give you the good news in the words of Samuel Whitlock Gandy's 19th century him what though the accuser roar of ills that I have done. I know them well, and thousands more Jehovah find if not, Daniel chapter 6 they please Darius to set over the kingdom hundred and 20 satraps to be throughout the whole kingdom and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one to whom these satraps should give account so the king might suffer no loss, then this Daniel became distinguishable on all other presidents in satraps because an excellent spirit was in him and the king plan to set him over the whole kingdom's policy or set the context of this Daniel is now 80 years old.

He has been a favored foreigner in the foreign coal courts of the rulers of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar had completely sacked destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and had deported all of its inhabitants and Daniel was amongst the first of those who would, and he had found favor in the court and they had been many instances of God's grace at work in his life and he had using the prophetic ability to interpret dreams and see visions in the Lord had done great things through him. But after Bell's shadows are empty, the ruler of Babylon in 539 had a an unholy feast and the handwriting of of of of God was on the wall that the kingdom was was going to fall in that very night Belshazzar and Babylon fell and the new Empire. Persia took over. It would be the policy of Persia under King Cyrus to return those that had been deported back to their homelands and so Persia would rule the known world, but the inhabitants of Jerusalem would be allowed to go back and ultimately to rebuild the city walls and to be really rebuild the temple in fact the Scripture talks about Cyrus is God's anointed one. Even though Cyrus is seemingly pagan ruler because God can use anyone he wants to for his purposes.

Has Cyrus was his appointed one. What's a little bit confusing here as there's much scholarly justice discussion about who is Darius in chapter 6, verse one Darius the Mead and some people say this is another name for Cyrus of Persia. There is some rather sophisticated argument for why that may be the case others they know this is one who was appointed as a governor under Cyrus soap were not absolutely sure exactly who dear Darius is but he is the ruler at this point. In 539 over the kingdom in which he sets up a new sort of system of presidents in satraps and Daniel is so excellent and winsome. He finds favor with Darius, and Darius is planning to exalt him over all of the other amongst his counsel so diverse for the presidency.

Satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom that they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful no error fault was found in him.

Then these men said we shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel.

Unless we find it in connection with the law of his God so what's happening here is basic jealousy. The other looking Satan, who is this exile who is this one is not even like us.

He's not even from here and why is he getting this great position of authority, and they began to hate him and they began to conspire in this is the way the conspiracy unfolds.

Verse six the president satraps came by agreement to the king and sent him poking there is live forever.

All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefix in the satraps of counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction that whoever makes petition to any God or man, for 30 days except you. A king should be cast into the den of lions now looking establish the injunction and sign the document so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.

Therefore, King Darius signed the document and the injunction so here's what they've done.

They have persuaded the king to write into law that anyone who brings any sort of petition to any God needs to do so through king derricks and most scholars would agree this is not really Darius trying to set himself up as a God, but a a a seemingly effective political strategy for uniting the new meadow Persian kingdom, so that all of these peoples would be united under under one authority Darius and so it's not actually forbidding them to to pray to other gods, but it must come through Darius as if he is the the intermediary. And so this is set into law. Darius is convinced while this seems like a reasonable plan for the next 30 days. Verse 10, when Daniel knew that the document and sign. He went to his house. We had windows in his upper chamber open towards Jerusalem and got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before Scott is done previously. These men came by agreement found Daniel making petition in plea before his God came near, and said before the king concerning the injunction, O King, did you not sign an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any God or man within 30 days, except you will king shall be cast into the den of lions and the king answered and said, the thing stands fast. According to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked in this policy are to encourage make a mental note of seeing that repetition of this statement about the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked that there's a big emphasis here on the irrevocable nature of the law that the law has to stand. Then they answered and said verse 13 said before the king.

Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah pays no attention to you oh king or the injunction you signed, but makes his petition three times a day and king heard these words as much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel remembered he loved Daniel he was gonna make Daniel his number one right-hand man and he labored till the sun went down to rescue him is trying to think of some way to get out of this and then the men came by agreement of the king and they said to the king, no. Oh king that is the law of the Medes and Persians.

Here it is again that no injunction or ordinance at the king establishes can be changed, then the king commanded and Daniel was broadcast into the den of lions.

The king declared the Daniel. May your God, whom you serve continually deliver you and the stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own segment with the Signet of Florence that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, no divergence were brought to him that really that word means no entertainment known then minstrels know most songster's no Netflix no PlayStation. Nothing was brought to entertain them and sleep fled from him.

One of the ironies of this story is you can't say for sure because it doesn't exactly describe what Daniel was doing all night long with the Lions but we can infer that Daniel in the lion's den had a much more peaceful night then did the king then at break of day the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions as he came near to the Denver Daniel was.

He cried out a tone of anguish became declared to Daniel O'Daniel servant of the living God has your God, whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lions talent right will have more teaching moment from today's important series. It's shocking how quickly American values of changed suddenly most people don't go to church or have a biblical worldview. Everything has changed so much that maybe you feel like a foreigner in your own culture. I was a Christian supposed to live in a post-Christian world we fight against it. We decide our light in the midst of it. We pull away from it. These are the same questions that faced the young exile named Daniel in Babylon 600 years before Christ. Though he was an alien God showed the young man favor when you make your gift to Alan Wright ministry today will send you pastor out eight messages on Daniel of favorite foreigner in an attractive CD album on a USB thumb drive for through digital download is our way of saying thanks for your partnership.

You may feel like a stranger in this world, but as God should favor to gain his farmland God's grace is upon you today. Your gift today will only help you walk in the grace of God during these troubling times. It will also help someone else. This ministry is only possible through prayerful support listeners like you when you give today will send you today's special offer were in the final days of this special offer being made available to you. Call 877-544-4860 or come visit pastor out.org today's teaching now continues here once again is Alan Wright. Imagine his surprise when Daniel said to the king okay live forever. My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouth, and they were not harmed me because I was found blameless before him, and also before you, oh king done no harm, then the king was exceedingly glad I commanded the Daniel be taken up out of the den, so Daniel was taken up out of the den and no kind of harm was found on him because he trusted in his God, and the king commanded those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions. They their children and their wives before they reach the bottom of the dandelions overpowered them and broke all their bones to pieces, just confirming that it was a real miracle that they were fat lazy overfed.lions they actually were hungry and then king Pierce wrote all the peoples, nations and languages that dwell old earth peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree in all my royal dominion that people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel and then Daniel gets promoted, it's just a fantastic story. It is one of the greatest stories of the Bible is one of the greatest stories in history and every Sunday school child is read heard about this this story and because it's so well-known is also preached often and sometimes after usually after I've already prepared most of my message. I'll go and I'll see what other people preached on attacks and you can find any number of sermons on Daniel online that you would like to find and most of them I'd say 98% of all the sermons that your read on Daniel in one way or another essentially have. This is their main point be more like Daniel here some examples of them. There is one that was well the highest ranked ones on one website had three points. Choose character over comfort choose discipline over disorder and choose love over life choose character state of worrying about how comfortable your life.

Just focus on your character. Focus your life will disciplines like prayer and don't let you have a disorderly life and choose love for God over love for your own life and in things go well for you. That was on the popular one. Another said in in public purity should be your goal. I like this one because Daniel was 80 years old at the time semi's got one sermon that was on said stay positive. Whatever your age now, I want to go on record saying I agree with that principle, no matter your age stay positive. Yes. And yet I think this story is about a little bit more than that, don't you, I don't.

I don't think Jesus died for us and gave us this great and glorious gospel so we could tell people on Sunday morning.

Stay positive.

Regardless of your age.

Other sermons were about prayer.

Pray, like Daniel, pray three times a day, pray season without ceasing some of them own nonviolent resistance somewhere about practicing your faith basically quote one said we need more Daniels we need more people who are willing to open their windows and honor him before watching world.

And I agree we do need more of that and another says, look at how we give thanks he gives thanks so often and says, quote here's a good test of the depth of your prayer life. How much your time and energy and prayer is spent complaining about the circumstance of your life and asking for things to be different and how much is spent giving thanks for God's overwhelming goodness. And honestly, after you read about 10 of these online is going yeah no wonder the lions devouring me I'm nothing like Daniel Yassin telling people they ought to be more like Daniel. Then make a more like Daniel and in fact the matter.

Moralism and moralistic ways of reading the Bible calls a great harm.

What's wrong with what I'd say moralistic reading of the Bible is, it is several different harms it. First, it misses totally what the Bible is all about the Bible yes is chock-full of divine wisdom. And we do well to heed that wisdom and walking its way with the Bible is not primarily a set of instructions about how you should live.

Sometimes people look at the Bible as if you just apply all of these instructions for godly living. And that's a secret how it will go well for you. Now there is a lot of secret wisdom in the Bible. The Bible is not a set of instructions about how you ought to live. The Bible is a story about Jesus Christ is a story about the great redemptive purposes of God from the beginning until the end. It is about the majesty and glory of the king who is so why that though no one else could have figured it out. He found a way to not violate his own justice or law to bring punishment against sin and at the same time deliver his people from their sin and take them into glory with him. It is the most incredible story and so when you read the Bible you read the Bible first saying where does this story fit into the big story. How does this story through its good news. Lead me to greater faith, joy, and obedience.

Another problem with moralism and moralistic ways of reading the Bible is it doesn't build faith because if you say if we could all be good. Like Daniel, then God would really be with us.

It is in the end, a discouraging word because who can be that righteous, who can just call Molly, just every time there's a major threat against your life if you just be more secretive about your prayer life just go and be open about who is going to be so righteous is all of that but furthermore it misses the whole point of Jesus is coming, because if you announce that if you be good. Like Daniel, then God will be with you.

You have entirely missed the point of the gospel because the point of the gospel is that Jesus Christ came it exactly the right time for the ungodly. The whole point of the gospel is the Lord and his intense unquenchable love was with infinitely attracted to you despite your sin and even further. Jesus says I'm like a physician and I've come for the sick gospel is not a story about the people there were already righteous and therefore God came and blessed them and and and deliver them from the lions den the story of the gospel is about how the lion is roaring, but God did something to shut the lion's mouth right in today's teaching, shutting the mouth of the roaring line. It's shocking how quickly American values of change suddenly. Most people don't go to church or have a biblical worldview. Everything has changed so much that maybe you feel like a foreigner in your own culture was a Christian supposed to live in a post-Christian world we fight against it. We decide our light in the midst of it. We pull away from it. These are the same questions that faced a young exile named Daniel in Babylon 600 years before Christ.

Though he was an alien God showed the young man favor when you make your gift to Alan Wright ministry today will send you pastor at eight messages on Daniel of favorite foreigner in an attractive CD album on a USB thumb drive or through digital download is our way of saying thanks for your partnership.

You may feel like a stranger in this world, but as God should favor to gain his farmland God's grace is upon you today. Your gift today will only help you walk in the grace of God during these troubling times. It will also help someone else. This ministry is only possible through prayerful support listeners like you when you give today will send you today's special offer were in the final days of this special offer being made available to you.

Call 877-544-4860 or come visit pastor out.org Helen this is one of the most familiar stories of Scripture.

If you had a just pick out a few the just about everybody knows you get Adam and Eve got no in the ark you get the 10 Commandments you've got Daniel in the lines then write one of the greatest stories and and any any school Sunday school child is heard the story and it's a great story Daniel. Just in the value of seeing the miraculous power of God.

But this story Daniel more than any other in all of the Daniel narrative.

This story reminds us that all of Daniel's narrative all the big story is always pointing us to Christ. There was another one who was put into a tomb was sealed by a stone who the lion are user wanted to devour but instead emerge victoriously on that first Easter day.

What a great picture ultimately not just of Dana Lyons. But Jesus who emerges today's good news message is a listener supported production Alan Wright ministry