Watch For the Traps
Griffith Baptist Church – 4/13/08
P.M. Service
Text: Daniel 6:1-9
Main Verse: Daniel 6:3-4 - 3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
The Introduction
In the kingdom of Babylon, there has been a change of administration
The Medes and the Persians are in command
Daniel has still shown integrity in the midst of a regime change
(Read and explain text)
Daniel was:
o Possessed of an extraordinary spirit (integrity, honesty, and responsibility)
o Faithful (to the task and his God)
o Incorruptible
The others around Daniel didn’t care for him and wanted to keep him from being promoted over them
They hatched a scheme to get Daniel in trouble (verses 5-9)
Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it’s simple. They’ve been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can’t get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.
Satan is always looking for something to trap us with.
Transition Statement: Satan uses certain devices to ensnare us in our walk with God.
Body
1. The Devices of Satan’s Traps
A. Deceit
i. The other’s around Daniel used trickery to try to destroy him (vs. 5-7)
ii. Ever since the garden this has been the #1 strategy
iii. Take some truth and add some lie to make it sound better or different and you have deceit
iv. Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Lincoln said, “Well, let’s see how many legs has a cow?” “Four, of course,” came the reply disgustedly. “That’s right,” agreed Lincoln. “Now suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?” “Why, five, of course,” was the confident reply. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong,” said Lincoln. “Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” Bits and Pieces, July, 1991
v. It is the attempt to mislead in order to achieve an end that detracts from the glory of God
B. Pride
i. Pride of life - unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem
ii. This is what caused the downfall of Satan (Is. 14:12-15)
iii. It was what caused Nebuchadnezzar’s fall (Dan. 4)
iv. It is displeasing to God above all other sins - Proverbs 6:16-17 - 16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
C. Pleasure
i. Daniel was not tricked by enticements of the flesh. He kept himself pure (v. 4)
ii. Lust of the flesh
iii. This is the “if it feels good, do it” philosophy
iv. A picture hangs in London that is one of the most tragic pictures ever painted. It portrays the last rough slope of a mountain leading to the edge of a precipice at the foot of which one catches a misty glimpse of a graveyard. A crowd of men and women, some in evening dress, some in the garb of toil, some in rags pack the slope, all struggling for a foothold on the highest point and tearing at and treading upon one another. They are gazing upward where the filmy, beckoning, mocking figure of pleasure floats out of reach. The picture is called The Pursuit of Pleasure. On that grim, ghostly sunless canvas the artist has not painted one happy face; not a smile, not a flicker of gladness; nothing but fear, hatred, selfishness, and pain is seen. That picture tells the story of the world’s pursuit of joy. Jesus tells us joy is not found there.
v. We get caught up in what makes us feel most comfortable
vi. Satan uses the trap of pleasure.
vii. Think about it: Lazy boy recliner versus the hard pews at church.
D. Materialism
i. He was not affected by power or possessions (Dan. 5:17)
ii. Lust of the eyes
iii. The pursuit of having is everywhere
iv. Turn on most game shows today and you win money and expensive prizes
v. We work hard to have nice homes, nice cars, nice clothes. The values that we teach our children are that as long as you have what you want in life materially, you are successful. Even is the things of God are put on the backburner.
vi. D.L. Moody didn’t appear in service one evening at the appointed time. Ira Sankey his song evangelist said, "Before long Moody will appear... but he will look differently to you." Soon Moody did come out carrying a big heavy sack. He walked back and forth on the platform several times and finally said, "How many of you think I can preach tonight while holding this sack?" None of the people at church thought that he could. He sat the sack down and then began to take things out of it... .Shirts, pants, shoes, lamps, books, etc. etc. etc. All legitimate things... not one sinful thing did he take from the sack. "Notice that all these things are legitimate things. . . nothing is sinful about these things I had in my sack," he said, "but you said that I could not preach carrying this sack. I want to tell you that what you say will hinder me in serving the Lord is exactly what is hindering you in serving the Lord... .THINGS!"
vii. When we even temporarily put Christ second to pursue work, education, possessions, career or some other seemingly important pursuit, we will rarely find our way back unless God hits us between the eyes. Those things get their grip on us.
E. Knowledge
i. Daniel had plenty of learning but even greater spiritual wisdom
ii. The most important knowledge is the knowledge of the holy
iii. Heart knowledge not just head knowledge.
iv. In some meetings of the Salvation Army in Birmingham England one of the worst men in that city was converted. It was not long before some of his evil associates began to make fun of him, and such a conversation as the following ensued: "You say you are a Christian; who was the father of Jesus Christ?" "I don’t know." "Who was his mother?" "I don’t know." "When did he live?" "I don’t know." "How old was he when he died?" "I don’t know." "How did he die ?" "I don’t know." "Well, you are a pretty Christian; you don’t know who was the father of Jesus, or who was his mother or when he lived or when he died or how he died; what do you know?" Then the rough but genuine Christian man lifted his head, and looking those who were taunting him in the face replied, "I know that he saved me." --R. W. Dale
v. Knowledge, by itself, is not an evil thing
vi. Knowledge humbleth a great man, astonishes a common man, and puffs up a little man.
vii. We are to grow in the knowledge of Christ, gain knowledge for our careers or other worthy pursuits of life
viii. Too much knowledge is a dangerous thing. We get puffed up with intellect and find ourselves being every one else’s judge
ix. Did you ever know someone who is constantly correcting everyone?
Transition Statement: Now that we’re aware of his devices we should also be aware of his designs, or the goals he has in mind, for us.
2. The Designs of Satan’s Traps
A. Trick us into false security
i. Thinking we are okay so that we don’t see the dangers around us
ii. We become self-satisfied or think that we are beyond temptation or failure
B. Lull us into complacency
i. Someone once told a teenager that the greatest problem he faced was complacency. He responded, "Who cares?" - A Father Of A Teenager, Bill Gordon
ii. We can get bored real quick
iii. We live in the entertainment age and must have something interesting to occupy us
iv. We are satisfied with the status-quo, the way things are
C. Keep us full of activity
i. So Christ does not come first
ii. Activity is alright except when it replaces what is most important
iii. We feel we always have to be busy with something.
iv. Satan doesn’t care if we are busy, he doesn’t even care if we are busy at church, but he doesn’t want us to be busy and effective for Christ
D. Distract us with worry
i. According to an old Swedish proverb, worry gives a small thing a big shadow.
ii. Bills to pay, gotta work
iii. Keep up or surpass the standard of living, gotta be successful
iv. When things are going fine, we worry that something is bad is going to happen to ruin that.
v. When things finally do go awry, we worry how we are ever going to fix that or if this will ever be right again.
vi. We worry about stuff that never takes place.
vii. Why did He say in 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
viii. Philippians 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing . . .
ix. We have a lot of jigsaw Christians today. Everytime they’re faced with a problem they go to pieces."
Transition Statement: How can we ensure deliverance from Satan’s traps so that we can have the same reputation and victory as Daniel?
3. The Deliverance from Satan’s Traps
A. Staying on the path Christ is leading
i. Daniel followed His God no matter what. He stayed on the proven path.
ii. Walking by faith
iii. Psalms 23:3 - He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
iv. We are His sheep and He is the great shepherd
v. We can trust Him for every step of the journey
B. Setting our hearts for daily biblical living
i. Reading and heeding His Word
ii. Diligently looking for opportunities to serve Him throughout our day
iii. Praying over everything – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.
iv. Being on fire for Him – Matthew 22:37 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
C. Standing firm for the truth that is liberating
i. The schemers in Daniel knew he would not bend nor break and they were banking on it.
ii. We need to hold our ground - Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
iii. 1 Corinthians 16:13 - Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
iv. Philippians 1:17 - But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
v. We hold absolute truth in our hands and hearts and it is worth dying for.
vi. It sets us free and is worth defending
Conclusion:
Are you aware that Satan is after you right now?
Daniel had earthly lions that he was facing but we also face a lion ourselves. In 1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
What are you doing to stay out of his traps?
