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We’ll take a little hiatus from Luke this morning and go back in history six centuries from the time of Luke’s gospel. At this time Israel had been destroyed and dispersed as a nation. The best of the best were taken to the Babylonian palace. Daniel was with this deportation as a child. He never married. Never had any children. He was a eunuch who worked in the Babylonian palace and rose through the ranks to become the president, just under King Nebuchadnezzar, of the Babylonian empire. Daniel would go on to serve in the Persian empire as well, which is where we find Daniel in chapter 6. He’s probably in his 80s or 90s at this point in his life; a very old man.
What you’ll notice about Daniel’s faith is it is not a creed or a confession. Daniel’s faith is a lifestyle. His faith was obvious to those around him.
Faith that is profitable in all things (vss 1-3)
- Godliness is profitable in all things. Sometimes it seems like Christianity is reduced to read your Bible, pray, and pass out tracts. But there is so much more to godliness and its application at work, in the family, at school.
- Daniel was a humble, generous, kind, leader whose trust in the LORD gave him wisdom beyond every other man.
- Daniel is noted for an excellent spirit, meaning it wasn’t a physical feature that set Daniel apart. An excellent spirit means excellence radiated from Daniel.
- He excelled all other men.
- Being a follower of Jesus Christ will make you a better student.
- Being a follower of Jesus Christ will make you a better employer.
- Being a follower of Jesus Christ will make you a better employee.
- Being a follower of Jesus Christ will make you a better father.
- Being a follower of Jesus Christ will make you a better mother.
Faith that kept Daniel blameless (vss 4-9)
- He was unblameable in the eyes of men.
- His only snare would be that He trusted the LORD.
- His peers knew he was a man of God. How about your peers?
- The only thing for those who hated Daniel to do was to forbid faithfulness in order to trap him.
Faith that endured in consistency (vss 10-17)
- Daniel’s response is to continue in prayer.
- Consistent prayer, communing with the LORD
Faith that saves (vss 18-23)
- His deliverance is summed up in these words, because he believed in his God.
Faith that brings Glory of God (vss 25-28)
