Sermon Brief
Date Written: August 31, 2006
Date Preached: September 3, 2006
Where Preached: OZHBC (AM)
Sermon Details:
Sermon Series: Living a Life of Integrity
Sermon Title: Integrity is an ‘action’ word
Sermon Text: Daniel 2:16-18 (1-49)
16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter,
18 so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:16-18 (NASB)
Introduction:
Aint it great that this morning we had 4 wonderful young children who were obedient to the command of Christ to be baptized! Today they stood up to the world and boldly proclaimed, “I stand for Jesus!”
Thank you Jerry for the wonderful music and worship mood you have set for the breaking of the bread of life! Choir you never cease to amaze and impress me with your rich and full sound and your desire to use your talents for God!
I want to thank our youth for their participation in our service this morning. The reader’s theatre was wonderful and I hope we can do it again in the near future!
I want to also thank Cindy Wagner McBane for blessing us with that song. It is so wonderful to see talent being used as God intended for it to be used… AMEN!
Turn with me to the book of Daniel… chapter 2 and we are going to be reading v. 16-18, but we are going to focus on the entire chapter for our message this morning!
Now last week I asked you the question… What is integrity? And I told you that the Encarta Dictionary defined integrity as “…the possession of firm principles… the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards…”
Last week we learned that TRUE INTEGRITY can only come from God and that we do not have it within ourselves to have godly integrity. But when we are obedient to God’s commands He is with us and guides us to the utmost high integrity there is…
Today I want us to see the integrity Daniel has through his obedience to God… I want us to take notice that this integrity from God is not a passive thing… but integrity that comes from obedience to God is an action thing…
Now when we read the book of Daniel… especially the first 3 chapters they are similar to Genesis 1 and 2. Not in content but in the style of writing or how the information is presented…
Genesis 1 presents the overall Creation event in very broad strokes, where Genesis 2 takes a more detailed and personal approach to the same Creation event…
Well Daniel 1, 2 and 3 are similar in the fact that Dan 1 sets up the overall situation and brings Daniel and his friends into captivity and Daniel 1 ends by saying that Daniel continued to serve until the 1st year of a king of another kingdom… some 70 yrs in the future…
Whereas Chapter 2 relates a story that was specific to Daniel that happens during or toward the end of the 3 yr training that Daniel and his friends were going through…
The King has a dream and his wise men cannot interpret it… he will not tell them what the dream is because he feels that if they are wise enough to interpret…they are wise enough to know the dream w/o being told…
The king is furious that none of his wise men can interpret… this is a clue that Daniel is still in training because at the later part of chapter 1 when the King is introduced to Daniel… he holds Daniel is high regard…
Here in this passage we do not find Nebuchadnezzar asking for Daniel, so we must presume that Daniel is not known to the king at the time. The King sees NO benefit in his wise men and wants them ALL killed and we see that they begin to kill them and are seeking Daniel and his friends…
Now I believe that you would agree that Daniel is in a very awkward situation. Because of the decision of the king, his life is being threatened. But what I want to share with you this morning is that it did not matter to Daniel about his situation, he was going to remain obedient to God.
So this morning I want us to look at this passage and understand that the obedience to God that reveals TRUE INTEGRITY is an active action on our part! Our actions reveal the obedience of God in our lives and He grants us the integrity we need!
In the 2nd chapter of Daniel we can see 4 very specific actions that Daniel takes that reveal his obedience to God and shows the TRUE INTEGRITY that God gives to him…
1. The Action of Boldness (v.14-15):
14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard , who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; 15 he said to Arioch, the king’s commander, "For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent ?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.
Dan 2:14-15 (NASB)
The 1st action I can see that Daniel takes is really a willingness to be obedient to God in a stressful and very difficult situation!
Now I have often wondered why Daniel was able to simply walk up to this that was man seeking to kill him… and then live to tell about it?
When the king tells you to do something… you do it! But for some reason this man was willing to listen to Daniel. Do you know what it was? Well, I want us to look back at 1:9 and we will see what it was, “…Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials…” (NASB)
I believe this is why Daniel was not killed on sight, but here is something that impresses me so much about Daniel. We can see that he does not cower at the news of his impending death, but he reveals to those sent to kill him that God can and will work things out.
How often do we find ourselves in a situation when we need to share Christ and how God has changed our lives and how God can make this particular situation better, but we are cowardly in our witness and we are NOT obedient in sharing because we are afraid! We are not afraid of being killed, but we are afraid of being mocked, ridiculed and made fun of…
Obedience is an action on our part and God brings about TRUE INTEGRITY out of our obedience to Him. Integrity can be revealed to the world around us in many forms. Boldness to do the right thing regardless of the circumstances is one revelation of TRUE INTEGRITY!
Are you being bold in your walk with God? If not, it is most likely because you are not being obedient in your walk! But boldness is not the only action I see Daniel taking…
2. The Action of Prayer (v.16-18):
16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. 17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, 18 so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:16-18 (NASB)
Here we find Daniel requesting time to pray and they give it to him… this reveals to us how much Daniel was blessed by God and it was because of his willingness to be obedient to God even in difficult times!
Now many may say that because of what is says in v.18 that Daniel was in a panic and praying just to save his life. Well the will to live is strong in all humans, but I do not believe this was Daniel’s motives.
I believe Daniel to be a God-fearing man who shunned and fled from evil. I believe he prayed to God to spare his life for 2 purposes.
1st to reveal to this king the power of the Almighty God that Daniel served and,
2nd Daniel did not want to be lumped into the ‘magicians’ and conjurers and sorcerers of the day… He did not want his death to be associated with evil…
We can see that Daniel knew that he must go to God during this difficult and seemingly NO-WIN situation. Daniel knew that he could not handle this on his own so he went to God in prayer! Knowing this about Daniel, what does this say about Daniel?
First, I can see that it says that Daniel knew that he was not the source for the interpretation of the dream that the king had dreamed.
2nd we can see that Daniel not only knew HE was not the source, but Daniel knew WHO the source for interpreting the dream was and it is God!
Finally, 3rd we see that Daniel not only knew the source to interpret this dream, he knew the power behind the source of interpretation! Daniel believed in the power of God, and because of that Daniel took all things to God in prayer!
So often we cast prayer aside and forget or ignore the power of prayer in the life of a believer. The Bible shares with us that the prayer of a righteous man avails MUCH… in other words the believer who is obedient in their walk… their prayer carries a lot of weight with God!
Now don’t think we can manipulate God, because we cannot. God is sovereign and God is in control… but He listens with an intentional ear to those who are obedient to His commands!
What is your prayer life like? If it is NOT so hot… if you think that God is not listening to you… you need to check your life and how are you living? If you have sin in your life, you must first confess that sin and have God cleanse it… then and only then can you come before God as a righteous and washed clean believer… and it is then when God is going to listen intently to your prayer!
Daniel was bold and willing and Daniel knew prayer was the answer, but those are not the only action Daniel takes in this situation, we can also see that Daniel reveals…
3. The Action of Humility (v.19-23, 27-30):
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; 20 Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. 22 "It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. 23 "To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us the king’s matter." Dan 2:19-23 (NASB)
27 Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 "However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29 "As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 "But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind .
Dan 2:27-30 (NASB)
God reveals the mystery of the dream to Daniel and Daniel is humbled at God’s willingness to use him. He gives God the glory and praise for revealing the dream to him.
Then we find Daniel going to the king and telling him, King none of your wise men could do this… the implication here is that Daniel also understood HE could not do it either… BUT Daniel reveals to the king that there is a God in heaven who can and has revealed the dream to him.
Daniel shares with the king in v.30 that nothing he is about to hear was his doing but has been revealed to him by God. Daniel also says that God used Daniel as an instrument to reveal this dream to the king!
The implication from Daniel here was that he was no one special but that God had chosen to use him and he was willing to be used by God.
How often is it that even believers do not understand the meaning of humility? So often we take credit for what God is doing, either in our lives or in the life of the church.
It is not a pastor that causes the church to grow, it is obedient believers submitting themselves in humility before God that brings about the blessings of God and the ultimate growth of God’s church.
We can dig the ground, we can plant the seed, and we can water the seed… but we cannot make it grow! It is GOD who gives the increase and we must realize and understand that very important fact!
Daniel was bold, he was willing to pray and he was humble, but I want to share one other action that Daniel took and it was…
4. The Action Speaking the Truth (v.31-45):
In this passage Daniel tells the king just what the dream was about. He does not try to sugar coat it for the king, he lays it out plain and simple!
So often in ancient times when one bearing bad or disturbing news went before the king, their life would be in danger because out of rage or discouragement the king would kill the bearer of bad news!
Daniel was not afraid to speak the truth God had revealed to him! And we can see the reaction of the king when the truth was shared with him. He falls to his knees and gives God the glory!
The sad and disturbing reality about today’s believer is that we are so unwilling to share the TRUTH that has been revealed to us! The world needs to hear the truth about God and the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
But we try to sugar coat it and make it sound good… and when we do this we are being disobedient and we are misleading people into an easy believism that is NOT biblical…
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is GOOD NEWS but it is confrontational and it will make them struggle with the sin in their lives…
I am here to tell you that you cannot hear the true Gospel and be comfortable where you are… even when you are a believer… because when our sin is revealed to us we struggle with it until we confess it and God forgives it!
As believers the Bible instructs us to let NO unwholesome talk come out of our mouths… it instructs us to NOT bear false witness… it instructs us to be uplifting and edifying in our speech… in other words… we are to speak the truth in love and share the love of God in all we do…
Daniel was bold in his witness, he was prayerful in his approach, he was humble in knowing who was in control and he was willing to speak the truth in love regardless of the circumstances… this obedience to God revealed his integrity and the king exalted Daniel and ultimately gave praise and honor to God!
But the key to Daniel’s actions were the fact that he was ACTIVE in his obedience to God…it is like you wanting to get into shape. Well you cannot get in shape by merely reading about working out and talking about working out… you have to actually go and DO the action of working out!
Likewise we cannot be obedient to God’s commands without actually going out and DOING the work of service to God. We have to become active in our obedience to Him!
Conclusion:
Now you have heard this morning about being active in our obedience. If you are here this morning and you have professed Christ as Lord, but you have not been active in your obedience to God…
You may talk a good game or you may read about others being active… but you are just NOT doing what God has called you to do… let me share with you what the Bible says about that type of lifestyle…
1 John 2:4 says this, “…The one who says, "I have come to know Him [professes Christ as Savior]," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him…” (NASB)
In other words, you can say you are a Christian all you want, but if you are NOT active in your service and obedience to God… YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN and you will hear God on Judgment day say, “Depart from me, I NEVER knew you…”
This morning I call on you to come to this altar and cry out to God with a broken and repentant heart and God will forgive your disobedience and will set things right…
If you are here today and you do NOT have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ… you have NOT professed Him to be your Savior… then this morning is the morning you are being called to give your heart to Him.
Come to this altar, cry out to God with a truly repentant heart and He will forgive your sin and He will save your soul… you will be transformed and God will begin to lead you and guide you in your life…
Come to Jesus this morning; come as Bro Jerry comes to lead us in our invitation hymn…
