Dare To Stand Alone!

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). THE TRAP IS SET (vs 1-9)

• (a). Daniel is a success (vs 1-3)

• (b). Daniel is envied and targeted (vs 4-9)

(2). THE TRAP IS SPRUNG (vs 10-17)

• (a). Daniel is watched (vs 9-11)

• (b). Daniel is arrested (vs 12-17)

(3). THE TRAP IS SPOILED (vs 18-28)

• (a). Daniel and the king (vs 18-20)

• (b). Daniel and his reply (vs 18-23)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• In the earlier part of the service we sang the old children’s song: “Dare to be a Daniel”

• And over the weeks we have noted;

• That the faith of Daniel has been an inspiration to many young people;

• As a teenager of around 15-17 years of age;

• Daniel chapter 1 verse 8 tells us:

• N.I.V.: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine”

• K.J.B.: “But Daniel purposed in his heart...”

• GNB: “Daniel made up his mind not to let himself…”.

• NLB: “But Daniel was determined not…”

• So the faith of Daniel has been an inspiration to many young people;

• But the faith of Daniel should be an inspiration to many older people to!

• Daniel should also be an inspiration to elderly people;

• As an example of service and commitment in their “golden years”

• Because in this book we get to see and read of his faith as an older man,

• Scholars suggest that in chapter 6 he was probably in his mid-eighties.

Note:

• We often tell this story as a children’s story,

• And invite children to “dare to be a Daniel,” which is good and fine,

• But it is also an older persons story,

• And we should also invite the octogenarians in the crowd to dare to be a Daniel as well.

• (An octogenarian is somebody between 80 and 90 years of age)

• For years we have had a para-Church movement called ‘Youth For Christ’;

• Maybe it’s time to start another movement called; ‘Geriatrics For Jesus!’

Ill:

You realise that aged has many benefits:

• i.e. If ever held hostage you are likely to be released first.

• i.e. No one expects you to run into a burning building.

• i.e. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

• i.e. There's nothing left to learn the hard way.

• i.e. Things you buy now won't wear out.

• i.e. You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.

• i.e. You can party and the neighbours don't even realise it.

• i.e. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

• i.e. Your back goes out more than you do.

• i.e. Your eyes won't get much worse.

• i.e. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either!

Ill:

• On Camp last week I was holding baby Emily (Mark & Sarah Donaghy’s baby)

• I walked from table to table;

• Knowing that the baby would be a good conversation starter with the campers;

• Not realising I could hear;

• One girl camper turned to her friend and said; “I think he’s the baby’s granddad!”

TRANSITION:

• We are all getting old,

• But let’s make sure we are still growing UP in our faith and not just growing older!

• There are too many grey-haired babies in our Churches!

(1). THE TRAP IS SET (vs 1-9)

(a). Daniel is a success (vs 1-3);

“It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

• Chapter 6 starts off by informing us of Daniel’s success;

• We can say that he had stood the test of time;

• And was still viewed as one of the top heads of state in the land.

Quote: Reader's Digest magazine described success this way:

“A successful man is one who can make more money than his wife can spend.

A successful woman is one who can find this man”.

• We pick up the story in Daniel chapter 6;

• Where verse 2 tells us Daniel is given a key political appointment;

• He is one of three governors presiding over the kingdom.

Note:

• As we start to look at chapter 6;

• Remember that there is a new monarch on the throne,

• There has been a change of dynasty.

• Nebuccanezer is no more,

• The Babylonian Empire is now a thing of the past.

• It has been conquered by the combined might of the Medes and the Persians.