Sermon on Daniel – Lessons On Obedience, Wisdom and Prayer

1. We read how Daniel would not defile himself with the king’s meat and wine.

1) Evidently the king wanted Daniel to eat things that were prohibited in the Jewish diet.

2) It would have been easy for Daniel to just do what he was told.

3) After all, he was a slave in a foreign country.

4) Why should he worry about obeying God?

5) Surely God would understand his situation.

6) But the text says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan.1:8).

2. How about us today?

1) What happens when we come across a situation where man challenges what God has told us to do?

2) What do we do when our buddies gets angry and upset because we choose to go to worship instead of participating in recreational activities with them on Sunday?

3) Do we try to find excuses to go with them?

4) Or do we obey God? (Matthew 6:33)

5) Daniel was a slave in a foreign land, but he found a way to obey God.

6) Today, we are not slaves of another country, we are free.

7) Do we value that freedom?

8) If we do, then let us make the right choices and always put God first.

9) Hebrews 5:9-Jesus saves those who obey Him.

1. Summarize Daniel 2 – We read how Daniel used wisdom to save himself and his friends from death.

1) King has a dream.

2) Death is threatened to those who cannot tell it.

3) Daniel asks for time.

4) Daniel prays.

5) God gives the dream and interpretation.

6) Daniel tells this to the king.

7) He and his friends are spared and Daniel is promoted to the king’s service.

2. How about us today?

1) When we encounter a difficult situation, how do we handle it?

2) Many people today would cry out that their “rights” have been violated.

3) Many would get angry and respond violently.

4) Many would simply ignore the problem and leave.

5) Daniel didn’t have those luxuries.

6) Daniel placed his cares and concerns in the hands of the One who could provide relief.

7) When we need wisdom, we should ask. James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…”

8) 1 Peter 5:9 says “casting all of your care upon Him because he cares for you.”

9) Phil.4:6 “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

1. Daniel 6 – How Daniels enemies conspired against him to have him killed.

1) Daniel was promoted over all the governors and satraps under Darius.

2) They wanted him out, but they could not find any fault in him.

3) So they devised a way to get him executed by getting the king to sign a law saying that no one could pray for 30 days except to the king. If they did, they were to be case into a den of lions.

4) After this was passed, Daniel went home, opened his windows, and prayed to God.

5) His enemies saw him and reported him to the king.

6) The king did not want to deliver Daniel to the lion’s den.

7) But the law was unchangeable under Medopersian rule.

8) So Daniel was cast into the lion’s den.

9) The king fasted and prayed that evening.

10) He rose up early in the morning.

11) He called out for Daniel.

12) Read Daniel 6:22, 23.

2. How about us today?

1) We have great freedom in our country and society.

2) We have tremendous blessings at our disposal.

3) The likelihood is that we will never be cast into a lion’s den for praying.

4) Do we pray?

5) We do no crime against God or against man when we pray.

6) 1 Thess.5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

7) Eph.6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.