Hear God call you to worship through his word:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

—  Isaiah 6:1–3

Song 1 – Holy, Holy, Holy

Song 2 – Only a Holy God

Song 3 – Great is Thy Faithfulness

Song 4 – How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

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Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen. 

Let us come before the Lord together as his precious children, in full confidence of his love for us, and together with one voice confess our sin before him and each other.

I, a poor sinful person, confess myself before you, my Lord God and Maker, that sadly I have sinned much, with my senses, thoughts, words, and deeds, as you, eternal God, know very well. I regret them and beg your grace. Amen.

           (- Heinrich Bullinger)

According to God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures, all who confess faith in Jesus Christ can stand fully assured of his forgiveness for our sins. Let us therefore joyfully and with one voice affirm his grace, mercy and forgiveness by reading together from Romans 8:31-23.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

– Romans 8:31–34

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Daniel and the Lions’ Den

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; ² and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.³ Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.⁴ Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.⁵ Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

⁶ Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! ⁷ All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” ⁹ Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

¹⁰ When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. ¹¹ Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. ¹² Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” ¹³ Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

¹⁴ Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. ¹⁵ Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

¹⁶ Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” ¹⁷ And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

¹⁹ Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! ²² My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” ²³ Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. ²⁴ And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. ²⁶ I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

²⁸ So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Living Consistently Under God’s Rule
            – Daniel chapter 6

Sermon Points
1. A Malicious Attack vv 1-9
2. A Consistent Life vv 10-16 
3. Trusting God  vv 17-28

Song 5 – It Is Well

Song 6 – May the Peoples Praise You

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

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In particular, please note the Marriage Seminar date has changed to April 29th.

Our Basics to Christianity class is ongoing from Feb 12th to March 12th – all are welcome. 

Introduction

1. As Christians we live as exiles in the world (1 Pet. 1:1). In light of the fact that God rules, He expects us to live consistent lives, so that when a tough test comes we will not be found wanting and will stand courageously. From a first reading of the chapter, how are we encouraged and inspired to do that?

Into the Text (use as a review, about 10 min max)

1. Chapter 6 gives an insight into Daniel’s life. What do we learn about the way he lived and how his faith impacted his life? (vv. 1-9) 
2. What tactics did those who sought to undermine Daniel employ? (vv. 4-9, 11, 15) Who lies behind this? 
3. What direct and hostile challenge to his faith did Daniel face? 
4. How did Daniel react to the king’s decree and what does this reveal about him? (vv. 10-16)
5. What did God do? (vv. 17-23) 
6. How did Darius react? What did he do? (vv. 24-28) 
7. What parallels are there between the events described here and the Gospels? What is the significance of this? 

Application

1. What lessons from Daniel’s life can we take from this chapter? Think of his age, the long years between the events recorded in the book, his private life, his public life, his devotional life. 
2. Is it harder taking a stand when you are an older or a younger Christian? 
3. What kinds of tactics does the Devil use to undermine our faith and witness? 
4. What kind of direct and hostile challenges to their faith do Christians face in the world today? Are there circumstances when we face such direct challenges? 
5. God expects us to live distinctively, showing our allegiance to Him. What’s our motivation for doing this? What stops us doing it? 
6. The way Daniel took his stand is striking. What can we learn from his manner and approach? 
7. If we stand for God, how will He use our witness to advance His Kingdom? 

 Close in prayer.