The Book of Daniel 6: 1-28
It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom... and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one)... Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God."... Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously... Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions' den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you."... Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions' den. When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?" Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."... So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:1-28, NASB)
Sermon Summary
On Sunday, Pastor Russell Johnson explored Daniel 6 by emphasizing that "adversity not only builds character, it reveals it"—and at 80 years old, Daniel's character was on full display when his excellence led to promotion and persecution. Pastor Russell highlighted that Daniel's enemies "could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption" in his government work, calling this "one of the biggest miracles in all of scripture"—"a squeaky clean politician!" with work that "stands on its own." The sermon emphasized that Daniel had "faith that makes you vulnerable" because his enemies knew he would choose loyalty to God over anything else, making him predictable in his faithfulness. Pastor Russell unpacked "the secret of consistency" found in Daniel's prayer life: "Time" (three times a day, scheduled faith) and "Place" (roof chamber facing Jerusalem), noting that Daniel "didn't start praying because of the adversity; he just kept doing what he'd always done." The message explored how "we seldom receive what we deserve from people/man, either criticism or honor, but we always receive what is best from God, even when the package and the timing are not what we expect"—Daniel wanted deliverance before the lions' den, but God's timing allowed His glory to be on full display. Pastor Russell identified three "heart idols" that drive us to external idols: Power (need to feel in control), Security (need to feel safe), and Approval (need to feel liked), concluding that "the story of Daniel seems to be less about the lions and more about his loyalty to God."
Sermon Summary
On Sunday, Pastor Russell Johnson explored Daniel 6 by emphasizing that "adversity not only builds character, it reveals it"—and at 80 years old, Daniel's character was on full display when his excellence led to promotion and persecution. Pastor Russell highlighted that Daniel's enemies "could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption" in his government work, calling this "one of the biggest miracles in all of scripture"—"a squeaky clean politician!" with work that "stands on its own." The sermon emphasized that Daniel had "faith that makes you vulnerable" because his enemies knew he would choose loyalty to God over anything else, making him predictable in his faithfulness. Pastor Russell unpacked "the secret of consistency" found in Daniel's prayer life: "Time" (three times a day, scheduled faith) and "Place" (roof chamber facing Jerusalem), noting that Daniel "didn't start praying because of the adversity; he just kept doing what he'd always done." The message explored how "we seldom receive what we deserve from people/man, either criticism or honor, but we always receive what is best from God, even when the package and the timing are not what we expect"—Daniel wanted deliverance before the lions' den, but God's timing allowed His glory to be on full display. Pastor Russell identified three "heart idols" that drive us to external idols: Power (need to feel in control), Security (need to feel safe), and Approval (need to feel liked), concluding that "the story of Daniel seems to be less about the lions and more about his loyalty to God."
Discussion Questions
- When was the last time you were "shaken" by adversity—and what came out? Did it reveal faithfulness or something else you've been fostering in your heart?
- Pastor Russell called Daniel's spotless reputation "one of the biggest miracles in all of scripture" because they "could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption" in his work. If people watched you where you live, work, and play this week the way Daniel's enemies watched him, what would they see—faithful, cutting corners, or somewhere in between?
- How does our understanding that Daniel had "faith that makes you vulnerable"—where people could use his predictable faithfulness against him—challenge us about whether our own faith is strong enough to make us vulnerable?
- Pastor Russell identified two keys to Daniel's consistency: Time (three times a day, scheduled faith) and Place (roof chamber facing Jerusalem). Which of these two do you most need to establish or strengthen in your own walk with God?
- The sermon asked, "What does it take to get us on our knees?"—pointing out that for Daniel it was "gratitude and a previous faithful commitment" rather than just trouble or adversity. What typically drives you to prayer, and how can you shift from crisis-driven prayer to gratitude-driven consistency?
- Pastor Russell noted that "we seldom receive what we deserve from people/man, either criticism or honor, but we always receive what is best from God, even when the package and the timing are not what we expect." Share about a time when God's "package" or "timing" was different than you expected—how did that reveal His glory in ways your preference wouldn't have?
- Pastor Russell identified three heart idols that drive us to external idols: Power (need to feel in control), Security (need to feel safe), and Approval (need to feel liked). Which of these three heart idols most often pulls you away from trusting God alone, and what external idol does it lead you toward?
Look up and read these passages about consistency in faith and trusting God over idols:
Psalm 55:17 - Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 3:2 - An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.
Psalm 37:5-6 - Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.
How do these passages expand our understanding of consistent, scheduled faithfulness versus crisis-driven faith? What common thread runs through all of them about trusting God rather than the heart idols of power, security, or approval?
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