SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS | SLEEPING WITH LIONS

SERIES: “Summer Blockbusters” SERMON: “Sleeping With The Lions”

A blockbuster asks one question:

Can the Avengers save the world? Will Woody overcome technology? Will the Hobbits make it home?

Daniel 6 Asks: “Will Daniel Get Eaten By Lions?”

“Champions aren't made in the ring; they're merely recognized there. What you cheat on in the early light of

morning will show up under the bright lights.” Joe Frazier

The lion's den was simply the bright lights.

The battle everyone sees is won in the place no one sees.

Revelation — “I am the kind of person that lions can’t destroy.”

Pressures of Babylon:

1. Rob you of your identity. “…renamed them…”

2. Rob you of your security. “ …eat from king’s table…”

3. Rob you of your destiny. “…enter the kings service…”

Daniel 6 “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. So the governors and satraps

sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom;

"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way." Booker T. Washington

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in

him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him

concerning the law of his God.”

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! …

establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days,

except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. … Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

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.

We don't pray toward a place. We don't try to find God's presence. Jesus has already brought us near. We pray from a Person.

We live in it.

Prayer is enjoying the relationship Christ secured.

So they answered and said before the king, “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 the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on

Daniel to deliver him they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to

Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the

mouth of the den,

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 to

Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you

from the lions?”

Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 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.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him,

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them

into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their

bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.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 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.”

5 Observation From The Text:

1. Excellence Flows From Union

Private communion produces public courage.

You don't rise to the occasion; you fall to the level of your revelation.

The battle everyone sees is won in the place no one sees.

2. Victory Is Rooted Divine Interruptions

Daniel 6:10“…three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since

early days.”

Live in Divine Rhythm: "Jesus is here.” "Give thanks.” "Rest."

3. Thanksgiving Fosters Immunity

Daniel didn't panic. He gave thanks.

Before the lions … there was worship.

Gratitude doesn't deny reality; it declares a greater reality.

4. Pressure Reveals Formation

Daniel wasn't made courageous in one night.

The lions simply exposed years of hidden faithfulness.

Don't prepare for lions in the lion's den.

5. Jesus Has Defeated Our Lions

Daniel was innocent.

Jesus was sinless.

Daniel was sealed in a den.

Jesus was sealed in a tomb.

Daniel walked out God rescued him.

Jesus walked out He conquered death itself.

Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem.

We pray in union with Christ.

Daniel hoped for God's presence.

We live in God's presence.

Prayer is not our attempt to reach God.

Prayer is our joyful participation in the relationship Jesus has already secured.

The greatest miracle isn't surviving lions.

The greatest miracle is living every day in union with Christ.

Daniel's faithfulness is inspiring.

Jesus' finished work is transforming.

"I am with you always."

An excellent spirit is not formed in extraordinary moments.

It is formed in ordinary moments, surrendered to an extraordinary God.