Centennial Park Baptist Church – Sunday November 29th, 2009 – 10:30 am

 

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE LION’S DEN

 

Although Daniel in the Lion’s den is a very familiar story to many, let’s take a fresh look at it because:

 

            The Story Reveals the 4 Greatest Needs of Every Human Heart

 

Need # 1 – COMMUNICATION - Daniel 6:10

 

            10 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.

 

“Dialogue can bring a relationship into being, and it can bring into being once more a relationship that has died.”

 

PRAYER is dialogue, communication

 

“ So often did James pray that he was referred to as ‘ Old Camel Knees’, because he developed knots on his knees from his long sessions of prayer.” – early Christian writer

 

Mark 1:35 – 35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

 

 

Need # 2 – PROTECTION

 

King Darius had his heart set on delivering Daniel.  The nature of the Christian faith marks all of us for the LIONS

 

I Peter 5:8 - 8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

II Timothy 3:12 -Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

 

Suffering and testing are inevitable in the life of a Christian.  Daniel was not kept from the lions, but he was kept in the midst of them.  “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths.”  Daniel 6: 22

 

 

Life Principle:  God has not promised to keep us FROM difficulty, but He

 

Has promised to KEEP us in the midst of it. 

 

 

 

 

Purpose of Difficulties?

 

            1. GLORIFY God

 

            2. PURIFY us

 

 

Need # 3 – FORGIVENESS

 

Daniel 6:18 – 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him

 

Why was Darius a mental wreck?

 

            1. Daniel was Darius’ FRIEND

 

            2. Darius had been FLATTERED and FOOLED

 

            3. Daniel was FAULTLESS

 

 

Consider Daniel 6: 21 -  21Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever!

 

 

This is the HORIZONTAL dimension of forgiveness

 

The vertical dimension is need # 4

 

 

Need # 4 – SALVATION

 

Was King Darius saved?  Consider his response!

 

Daniel 6:26 -  26"I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel,  For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
 And His dominion will be forever.

 

 

This is the first Sunday of ADVENT, when we anticipate and

 

joyfully prepare for the coming of Jesus.  All 4 of the greatest needs of every human heart

 

are addressed in the INCARNATION.

 

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