A Journey Through the Book of Daniel
Our world desperately needs models worth following. Real, genuine, honest heroes. People of integrity whose lives inspire us to pursue what’s right … to pursue what’s best …to inspire us to pursue Christ passionately — to just do it!
The Bible gives us sort of a spiritual “hall of fame”—raw, uncensored, gritty stories of men and women who often soar spiritually, and even stumble sometimes through their incredible life journey of faith. We see them wrestle with the kind of things that we struggle with today. Their incredible and inspiring biographies are part of the unfolding story of God to us – not just because of their faith in God but because of God’s faithfulness to them.
Daniel is one of those authentic heroes in the Bible. Over the next few weeks we’re going to journey through his life and not only learn to appreciate him as a genuine role model – even for today – but we’ll also glean some relevant principles for our own lives to help live life the way God intended. The story of Daniel tells us that even in the midst of a godless culture – one life ca make a difference.
Deep Roots: Part 1 – God is …
~ God has always existed.
Psalm 90 [2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
~ God has revealed Himself to everyone.
Romans 1 [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
~ God is present everywhere.
Psalm 139 [7] Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? [8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! [9] If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, [10] even there your hand shall(M) lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,“ [12] even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
~ God is unchanging.
Psalm 102 [25] Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [26] They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, [27] but you are the same, and your years have no end.
~ God is pure.
Isaiah 6 [3] “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! Leviticus 11 [44] 44 I am the Lord your God. Keep yourselves holy for me because I am holy.
~ God is powerful.
Job 38 [4] Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. [5] Who marked off how big it should be? Surely you know! Who stretched a ruler across it? [6] What were the earth’s foundations set on, or who put its cornerstone in place [7] while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted with joy? [8] “Who shut the doors to keep the sea in when it broke through and was born, [9] when I made the clouds like a coat for the sea and wrapped it in dark clouds, [10] when I put limits on the sea and put its doors and bars in place,
[11] when I said to the sea, ‘You may come this far, but no farther; this is where your proud waves must stop’? [12] “Have you ever ordered the morning to begin, or shown the dawn where its place was [13] in order to take hold of the earth by its edges and shake evil people out of it? [14] At dawn the earth changes like clay being pressed by a seal; the hills and valleys stand out like folds in a coat. [15] Light is not given to evil people; their arm is raised to do harm, but it is broken. [16] “Have you ever gone to where the sea begins or walked in the valleys under the sea? [17] Have the gates of death been opened to you? Have you seen the gates of the deep darkness?
[18] Do you understand how wide the earth is? Tell me, if you know all these things. [19] “What is the path to light’s home, and where does darkness live? [20] Can you take them to their places? Do you know the way to their homes? [21] Surely you know, if you were already born when all this happened! Have you lived that many years?
(2) ELOHIM – God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong.
~ God is the one and only Creator.
Genesis 2 [1] Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [2] And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. [3] So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. [4] These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Isaiah 43 [10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. [11] I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
~ God is transcendent.
Hosea 11 [9] I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
~ God is a Preserver.
Psalm 86 [15] But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. [16] Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. [17] Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Deep Roots – Get a Fresh Start for 2009
During its lifetime, a tree undergoes an amazing transformation. From the time it is planted in the ground until the time it becomes fully mature, each tree is a testament of strength, struggle and survival. More than anything else, it’s the roots that keep a tree standing strong and tall no matter what. Spiritually speaking, God wants us to plant our roots deep in the truths and promises in the Bible. As we do that, we can stand strong and tall no matter what comes our way in 2009.
And when several trees are joined together, a forest takes shape and provides an environment of growth and development. That’s a picture of church.
Get a fresh start for the New Year. Discover what the Bible has to say about about God, faith and spirituality, and begin to plant deep spiritual roots in 2009.
Phil 4 ~ Think On These Things
A JOY-FILLED LIFE COMES IN CANS AND A JOYLESS LIFE COMES IN CANNOTS.
Believing that you can succeed as a follower of Christ takes no more effort than believing that you can succeed. What do we mean by that? Let’s unpack it and learn about how to experience more joy.
v. 6 — I CAN STOP THE POWER OF WORRY, STRESS AND ANXIETY IN MY LIFE — AND EXERIENCE JOY AND PEACE — I CAN stop worrying about everything — How? By praying about EVERYTHING by being thankful about everything … How can I do that? What is the object of your faith? God! Can we trust God? Yes! Why does this work? When I stop and really pray — I can’t worry – it’s impossible. Worry has the do with the way we view things.
v. 7 What’s the result if I CAN do this? Joy! THEN and only THEN — the peace of God will guard you like a sentry.
On Veterans Day, I saw a program on how they guard the tomb of the unknown soldier 24/7. The same word guard here is the same idea about the peace of God in this verse – guarding your like a sentry when you cast all of your worry on Him.
When you live out v.6, you can’t worry. Worry often has to with how we view things. Most of what we worry about never come to pass anyway. The language of worry is WHAT IF. Some of us worry before something happens and we worry even when we pull the trigger to go ahead and do something.
SIDEBAR: There is a difference between the peace of God and peace with God. Peace with God is permanent once we begin a relationship with Him. Peace with God has to do with being a child of God. Once we begin a relationship with Christ, we have a permanent connection with God. Romans 5 [1] Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Nothing can take it away. You are eternally secure forever and you can’t lose your salvation. Then, there’s another kind of peace that is conditional — it’s the peace of God — the same peace of God mentioned in this verse. The peace mentioned here is the contentment and joy that you experience each day of your life. It’s the practical living peace. And, it’s conditional. The condition is living a life of faith and trust in God.
1 Peter 5 [7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Psalm 62 [8] Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
HOW MANY WILL START TODAY AND APPLY THIS SIMPLE TRUTH AND START TO STOP THE POWER OF WORRY IN MY LIFE?
The next practical principle for joy-filled daily living is positive believing.
I CAN CHOOSE TO PRACTICE POSITIVE BELIEVING AND EXPERIENCE JOY AND PEACE. (Phil 4:8 – 9)
“Whatever is true …” Paul is suggesting that we refocus our thinking. What we think about triggers our emotions. ILLUS: – If I think that someone that I had a relationship with didn’t like me, I would probably feel hurt. Now, it may not be true but if I believe it to be true, that it impacts my emotions. What we think, whether it’s true or not, creates emotional responses. What you think about determines how you act and it will also determine you inner spiritual climate control.
You ever think about how much you think about — how much goes on inside of our heads each day? Thousands of thoughts go through our mind. Where do your thoughts come from? We don’t know! Thoughts just kind of erupt – don’t they?
LOOK AT SOME POSITIVE BELIEVING THINGS THAT WE CAN START TO PRACTICE:
Why should I give into unhealthy habits or sin when the Bible says I can say no to them because of Christ in my life now (Rom. 6:11)?
Why should I feel depressed when I can recall to mind God’s loving kindness, compassion, and faithfulness to me (Lam. 3:21-23)?
Why should I say I can’t when the Bible says that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)?
Why should I live a life without joy when the Bible says that I can experience inner freedom all of the time (Gal. 5:1)?
Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and all of its mess (John 16:33)?
These are the things that are true, honorable, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise. These are just some of the promises of Scripture that are ours as we think and dwell and chew them over and over in our minds.
v. 9 — as we practice these things — the peace of God will be yours!
Phil 3 ~ Engage
Some thoughts from Philippians 3
How do we do practically live out faith in Christ? How can Jesus continue to be my life focus – where I experience his joy continually in my life. In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul says …
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14
1) v. 12 – Press on = pursue my purpose and as I do Jesus will be there to help. We’re imperfect people, living in an imperfect world … trying to get along with imperfect people. But, be encouraged, press on – in spite of imperfection … Christ is our deliverer … Christ is our perfect Savior who can and will help us deal with all of the imperfections — so … press on with hope!
2) v. 13 “This one thing” means that he was focused. “Forgetting what lies behind” – the past is over let’s move on from it. Don’t look back with a sense of longing or regret because the focus is on moving forward. The idea that Paul was communicating was an athletic picture. It means as a runner, you never look back — you focus on that tape!
Some of the unhappiest, joyless people that I have known keep looking at life in the rear view mirror. They live their lives looking back and blaming the past. Why do we look at the past? Either to revel in some accomplishments and have a sense of pride about it or look at our failures, defeats, failed plans, dashed dreams, heartaches and discouragements that only arouse feelings of guilt and shame. There are few joy stealers more damaging than looking at the things in our past that haunt us and hurt us. Moving forward doesn’t mean pretending that things never happened. Rather, it means that we have faced the past, dealt with it and now we move on.
3) v. 13 – “Straining forward to what lies ahead” … means stretching after something with focus. Picture the ancient chariot races at the Olympic Games — the chariot racer is straining forward standing in the small two-wheeled cart with long, leather reigns in his hands. The whole time he is moving forward, leaning forward to keep his balance.
Have you faced your past? He you dealt with and now left it? Are you making progress — some kind of deliberate progress in your life? Are you passionately pursuing some dream — some focused goal right now? Some dream or goal that God wants you to pursue?
Robert Ballard’s name comes to mind. Do you remember him? He was a man on a quest. He wanted to find the Titanic .. and on 9/1/85 — he discovered the sunken ship in the North Atlantic more than 350 miles off the coast of New Foundland. Listen to what he said when he found the Titanic
My first direct view of the Titanic lasted less two minutes, but the stark sight of her immense black hull towering above the ocean floor will remain forever ingrained in my memory. My lifelong dream was to find this great ship and during the past 13 years the quest for her has dominated my life.
What is your particular quest? What are you leaning forward for — what prize? There’s something about dreaming and pressing on into the future that helps us stay younger, think better, and experience more joy. Don’t let life just pass you by. You don’t have to! You can take it by the reigns and attempt some great things for God here and now.
Think of Paul — When Jesus captured his heart, he discovered what really mattered most: knowing Christ and making him known to the world. Paul was focused on what mattered most: the prize — in v. 14!
What matters most is cultivating your spiritual life with Jesus Christ just like Paul said here. It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress.
4) v. 14 “Press on” – Keep moving forward — toward the goal which which was the prize — or the eventual experience of an eternal relationship with Christ in heaven forever. Staying focused on what matters most means having a determined attitude – no matter what.
