Faith's response
Good morning brothers and sisters. We have been looking at Daniel. We all know the story but we are looking how Daniel's story applies to our lives. Did you read what got Daniel thrown into the lion's den in the first place? Did you read how Daniel responded? Did you read how the king responded? Now let's look how faith responds. How being faithful to God brings forth so much good? Daniel 6: 18-23. 18- Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Now the king responded with fasting and no rest. He was worried as to what he would find from lion's den. 19- Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. He was anxious! He believed that Daniel's God would save him. 20- And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the the living God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions? The king knew who Daniel served. And he wanted to know if that God was able to save him. 21- Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! 22- My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." Daniel responded. God had saved Him! Why? First Daniel was innocent. Second, Daniel's faith. When the trouble came, He prayed to God. He did what he knew needed to be done. He wasn't doing it to break the law out of spite. He was doing it because God had commanded us to worship or bow down to anything or anyone else except Him. He trusted in God. And Daniel had truly not done anything to the king except make him prosperous. But jealousy, pride and greed got in the way. I wonder if the others ever thought, "If I give my life over to God, like Daniel, how much more I could prosper?" No, that thought didn't even enter into their minds. 23- Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. God takes care of His own faithful people. So if you are in the lion's den, hit your knees and seek out God. He is waiting. He won't leave you. And like Daniel, you will walk out unharmed! Repent, refresh, revive! Rise up children of God, rise up!