Faithfulness

Welcome fam, let's have joy together, let's praise the Lord for He is good. If you are new, a big welcome to you, this is the Lord's house filled with bread and living water for you and I.

Let's pray:

Father we thank you for your bread, let the word speak to every situation in our lives, breathe a fresh flow within us, we love you, Amen.

Let's break bread.

Today we would be dinning in the book of Daniel chapter 6, many of you may know the story but others don't know. I want all of us to zoom in today.

As usual let me give you a background.

Daniel is from one of the noble or royal families of Judah. He is a captive in Babylon along with many of his brethren.

From Daniel chapter 1 to chapter 5 you see the hand of God over his life, giving him favour, wisdom, an aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and the gift to interprete visions and dreams.

Daniel had determined to walk in the ways of the Lord and you'll see God's loyalty, how God honours and promotes him above his peers.

Now this sparks jealousy and the formation of enemies. He found favour with the king because of his great ability, he was faithful and trustworthy.

I would say he applied his relationship with God to his work (advice for someone). Now when his enemies couldn't find fault in his work they targeted his relationship with God and set a trap.

Daniel 6:7(NLT)

7 We are all in agreement - we administrators, officials, high officers, advisors, and governors - that they king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human - except to you, Your Majesty - will be thrown into the den of lions.

Guess what Daniel did? He continued to worship as usual with his windows open in his upstairs room and knelt down as usual.

He didn't hide. Now these people entered his home, knowing he would be in prayer and reported to the king. The king was deeply troubled and tried to save Daniel but according to the law the kings signature can't be changed.

Daniel 6:16(NLT)

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you serve faithfully, rescue you."

Now they sealed the mouth of the den, the king couldn't sleep at all that night and was fasting, just a side question:

Don't you think the King was praying for Daniel and how did the king come to know God? This is for you to think about. Let's continue.

Very early in the next morning the king hurried to the den.

Daniel 6:20-22(NLT)

20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, ”Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions? "

21 Daniel answered, "Long live the king!

22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."

The king was so happy, ordered Daniel to be lifted from the den and threw his enemies along with their families into the den, before the people could touch the floor they were torn apart by the lions.

Due to this the king made a decree in honour of the Lord to every race, nation and language throughout the world.

Babylon was a superpower at that time, (read Daniel 6:25-27), this was a decree for all to tremble in fear before God for He is the Living God who Endures forever.

Let's pray:

Father we love you, create in us faithfulness and loyalty to you, give us strength to remain in you daily, we receive it, Amen.

Do you want to know Jesus, say with me:

Dear Jesus, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Saviour, I repent of my sins, I believe you died on the cross to reconcile me back to God, I receive your love and new life, Amen.

Be faithful! Keep on! He sees you and is proud of you!