Dwelling Place

Al Pittman: Today on the Dwelling Place. When we have faith in the lions' den, that's when the world wants to look into your life and see what makes you tick. Everybody at work is running around with their hair on fire because of a layoff notice, but you're walking around here whistling. What? Faith in the lions' den. Because you're not worried about the situation because your faith is in your God, in the power of God.

Guest (Male): Thank you for listening to the Dwelling Place, a radio ministry from Pastor Al Pittman of Al Pittman Ministries. The purpose of this radio program is to encourage you, strengthen your walk with the Lord, and grow. To support this program financially or learn more about the ministry, visit us online at AlPittmanMinistries.com. That's AlPittmanMinistries.com. Thank you for partnering with us. Now, here is Pastor Al.

Al Pittman: His purpose was to destroy Daniel. And the devil's purpose for you is to destroy you, for he has come to kill, steal, and to destroy. Daniel is doomed from the world's perspective. There is no hope for him. His heart could have been filled with fear, but he is focused on his God.

That debilitating voice of fear that some of you may be entertaining even now here at Creekside or those who are watching online, that debilitating voice of fear is not the voice of God. That voice that says, "Oh, you messed up last night, God hates you." That voice that says, "Just quit, give up." That's not the voice of God.

How do I know that? Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 7, he said, "God has not given you a spirit of fear." Whenever you're afraid, check the source. Where is that coming from when you're afraid? God has not given you a spirit of fear, but that of power and of love and of a sound mind. Amen.

So what comes from God? This open book test: Power, love, peace of mind. Amen. All else is by design to rob you of the peace of God. Daniel refused to let that happen. In verses 14 and 17, of course, we just read that, but the king is unable to undo the dilemma he created. And I thought, you know what, that king, what a fool. I can't believe he did that. He really got backed into a corner.

But then I started thinking, how many times have I myself decreed things in my life that I've become a victim of my own doing, found myself in a situation I couldn't get myself out of because of something I've done? Amen. So we can't be too hard on the king here. So he had to deliver Daniel over. He was signed, sealed, and delivered to a certain death, which brings us to Daniel's third response in verses 18 to 23, and that is a response of faith, faith in the power of God.

Now listen, he didn't take it personally. He knew it was spiritual, it was God's battle. He prayed. He took it to the Lord, took it to the Lord. And after he prayed, he's waiting upon God. He's trusting in the power of God. How many times have we prayed about something, and as we're ending our prayer, we're picking up the phone to try to resolve the issue ourselves?

"Lord, I just pray that You do that. In Jesus' name, amen. Hey, hey, I was wondering if you got a couple of dollars? I need to hold something until Tuesday." Amen. How many times have we prayed, "Oh, Lord, I just give this area right here," and then we try to do something about it? Where Daniel, he prayed, and now he's trusting in the power. He wants God to show up.

He's trusting in God because I don't see him saying, "This isn't fair!" He's not protesting. It's not recorded that he protested. He's just going with it, trusting in God. "I've given it to the Father, and that's enough. The Lord knows all about it." Faith in the power of God.

In verse 18, it says now the king went to his palace and it says he spent the night fasting. There was no entertainment for him, no musicians and all that. He didn't sleep very well at all. He got up early the next morning and he went down to the den. Verse 20 says the king spoke with a lamenting voice. And he said, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

The king shows up at the tomb. He said, "Daniel, has your God been able to deliver you from the lions?" What a question in relationship to what the world actually serves. It is a great question for the world: Has your God been able to deliver you? And you may be watching online, you're here at Creekside, the question to you: If you don't know Christ or if you know the Lord but you've been seeking refuge elsewhere, has your God been able to deliver you from the lions?

What would your answer be? There's a noted Hollywood actor that's pretty popular who is going into rehab again, I read the other day, for the third time. My prayer is that God brings him to the place that he realizes that the god he serves is not able to deliver him, that he might come to the God who is able to deliver. Amen. That he might come to Jesus Christ.

Some of us need to ask that question, that what you've been serving, whether it's alcohol or whether it's drugs or it's illicit sexual relationships or it's power, it's money, whatever it is, has it been able to deliver you from the lion, from the one who has come like a roaring lion seeking to devour and to destroy your life? The king cries out to Daniel, "Is your God that you serve continually able to deliver you?"

Listen to what the psalm says about our God's deliverance, Psalm 34, verse 19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." I love that. That's life, that's real life, that's real talk. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. If anybody tells you, "Oh, come to Jesus, and it's just a bed of roses," they are lying to you.

"In this world you will have tribulations," Jesus said. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Why? Because they live in a world that has rejected light and has rejected Christ. But the Lord is able to deliver them out of them all. Thus Daniel answers the king, verse 21: "Then Daniel said to the king, 'O king, live forever!'" Wow. He's in the den, but yet he's still respectful.

"My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me because I was found innocent before Him, and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." Wow. Now the king was exceedingly glad for him and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him because he believed in his God. Amen. He believed in his God.

Daniel relied upon the power of God. In Zechariah chapter 4, verses 6 and 7, the prophet Zechariah records how God has spoken to him to speak to a man by the name of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the appointed governor over Judah, appointed by the Persian Empire by King Cyrus. And Zerubbabel was frustrated because they were trying to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and they had given up and were frustrated and discouraged.

Things weren't really going well at this particular time. And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah to Zerubbabel in Zechariah chapter 4, and that's where we find these famous words: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." And then he says, "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring forth the capstone."

He will complete the work I called him to do with shouts of grace, grace to it. Amen. I love that. We always think about not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord. But then the Lord speaks to the mountain that Zerubbabel is facing. What is the mountain you're facing this morning? What is the mountain that's before you?

You know what God does because you belong to Him and because you are empowered by Him? He speaks to your mountain and says to your mountain, "Who are you before My servant?" Amen. You're feeling all weak and discouraged and God is saying to the mountain, "You've got nothing on My servant. You will become a plain before him, and he will finish what I called him or her to do with shouts of grace, grace upon it." Amen. I love it. Hallelujah.

That's the power of God. Not by might, not by who you are, your reputation, your bank account, but by My Spirit, says the Lord. Now let me just say this, I don't believe Daniel knew he would be delivered. I don't think Daniel walked into the lions' den going, "Oh, I've got God, He's going to get me out of here. I'm just going to positively confess He's going to get me out." I don't think that was on his mind.

I don't think he knew he'd be delivered, but he was trusting in the Deliverer. There is a difference. Job put it this way: "Yet though He may slay me, I will serve Him." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, "Our God's able to deliver us. He can do anything. But if He doesn't, we're not bowing down to your god." Amen.

I don't think Daniel really knew, but he still believed God. Verse 23, that word believe, the Hebrew word 'aman', it means permanent, quiet, to foster as a parent or nurse, morally to be true or certain. He believed God. He was more interested in that permanent, quiet place of rest and fellowship with God than he was with deliverance.

A lot of times the lesson is we get into a trial, we get into a lions' den situation, and we're always looking for the exit. And when God doesn't give us what we want or deliver us in the time we think He ought to deliver us, then all of a sudden we say, "There is no God." But Daniel was not focused on the deliverance. The deliverance was not the goal; God was. Wow. It'll make a difference in a lions' den.

He sought a permanent, quiet place in God's parental care for his life. This was his confidence. I've lived by these words for 21 years since I've been pastoring this church. I've lived just trusting in God. Because many lions have come around or people who are imposters or spirits roaring. Oh, is this going to end? And you start worrying. I had some sleepless nights and different things that people have said, and we all go through these things.

But God has always brought me back to Isaiah 41 where He said, "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am," He makes it personal, "your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you, couldn't stand you, shall be ashamed and disgraced."

"They shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them, those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" Amen. That'll get you through some tough times.

Paul said it more simply by saying if God is for me, who can be against me? It is the power of God Daniel trusted and rested in, the power of God. "Lord, I'm resting in Your parental care for my life, come what may." That's how you can stand, yes, even in the lions' den. Here's some application I want to give you quickly before we close our time, application of this text.

Number one is that faith in the lions' den is convincing faith. People are not convinced by your faith when everything's going your way, when you've got all the money that you need, all the bills are paid, and you just won the lottery. Anybody can come to church then and say, "Hallelujah! Jesus is good!" That's not convincing faith.

Faith in the lions' den is convincing faith. And I look at the reaction of the king after Daniel is delivered. Interesting. Verse 24: "And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the lions' den—them, their children, and their wives." Gentlemen, your sin not only impact your life, but it can destroy your family.

And the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. These lions were hungry, but not when it came to Daniel, for God had shut their mouths. Then the king, now listen to what the king says, this is a pagan king. You think our politicians are bad now? These guys, they rule. We don't know what it is to be under a king. You have no rights under a king, no equal opportunity, nothing, because he's the king.

And this paganistic king writes this: "To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom, men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

That's a pagan king making this declaration because he is convinced because Daniel had faith in the lions' den. When we have faith in the lions' den, that's when the world wants to look into your life and see what makes you tick. Everybody at work is running around with their hair on fire because of a layoff notice, but you're walking around here whistling. What? Faith in the lions' den.

Because you're not worried about the situation because your faith is in your God, in the power of God. Let me just say this, that faith in the lions' den is really our legacy. It's not our faith in prosperity; it's our faith in the lions' den that really creates our legacy. Our children need to know what it looks like to stand in the lions' den. They need to know what it looks like to stand in the lions' den.

And when they have trials in their life, they're going to look back to you as a reference. I saw Daddy go through a hard time. He was out of work, but he did what he could and he continued his faith was intact. And they're going to look back to that as strength. It's part of the legacy.

Now every time you get in the lions' den, you walk out on your marriage. You get in the lions' den, you quit your job. You get in the lions' den, you've got attitude, you're fighting somebody, the cops have got to come to the house. Amen. That's the legacy you're leaving for your children. And when they get in trouble now in your 60s and they say, "I don't know why he in jail," it's because of you! He's just following your example, your legacy.

Faith in the lions' den, I always want to show my children what it's like to struggle and still hold on to Jesus. I want to be an example for them. I don't want to say, "Hey, life is always good and just hunky-dory." No. I want them to see Mom and Dad in adversity and us still praying and seeking God. Because I know when I'm long gone, they're going to look back at that as an example of faith. Faith in the lions' den is your legacy.

And listen, we wonder sometimes, "I don't know why I'm always going through trials. I thought by now everything would be just great." What a selfish thought. And we've all had it. I've had it. But the reality is God sends us through trials so He might test our faith, which is more precious than gold, that it may be proven to be genuine so that our kids can have something to hang on to that's real.

So your legacy is not your comfort and ease, not a vacation to Maui, even though we love those, amen. Your legacy is your faith in the lions' den. Here's the second point of application, and that is: Satan's plan works for God's purpose. Verse 28: "So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian." Well, that sounds a lot different from the Medo-Persian law, which cannot be changed. God changed it.

What is impossible for man is possible for God. God's not intimidated by the Medo-Persians or Romans or the Greeks or anybody else, United States, Russia, China, all the rest. I don't care what legislation is passed, what God purposes no one is able to reverse it, Isaiah says. And Satan's plan was to destroy Daniel. God's purpose was to prosper him.

And God's purpose for you is to prosper you. Jeremiah 29:11: "My thoughts toward you are not thoughts of evil, but of good, to give you a future and a hope." God's purpose is to prosper you. The devil's purpose is to destroy you. In conclusion, Daniel was signed, sealed, and delivered to a certain death. Hopelessness was all around.

But his experience was just a foreshadow of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Jesus too was signed. Pilate decreed, he gave the Jews the authority to crucify Him. He was delivered to a cross to die for our sins. He was sealed in a tomb with a Roman seal. And the devil said, "We got him now."

But God said, "Here's the decree that I'm going to change." And on the third day, He rose again. Amen. This, my friend, is our victory. This is our hope. This is the anchor of our soul. The book of Revelation says as much against the imposter, against the one who roars like a lion.

This is what the Bible says: Revelation 12, then John said, "I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come. For the accuser, the imposter who roars like a lion, the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down.'"

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives to the death. That is our victory. The lion can roar, but it has no impact or effect upon us, for we have overcome him through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Faith in Christ calls us to live above the intimidating roar of our times, understanding this: 1 John 4:4, that "you are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." Amen. Glory to God. Praise His holy name.

Father, we thank You. We thank You for Your word today. We pray, Father, You would help us, dear God, to not be intimidated by the roar of the lion, the imposter, but to look to the Lion of the tribe of Judah who is risen, that we might live, that we might have life everlasting and be free of all condemnation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Guest (Male): Learn more about Pastor Al and his ministry by visiting AlPittmanMinistries.com. Also consider supporting us financially. You can send a check to Al Pittman Ministries at PO Box 50584, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80949, or visit us online. Thank you for your prayers and your support. Your generosity keeps this radio ministry going.

Lastly, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing info@AlPittmanMinistries.com. That's info@AlPittmanMinistries.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Again, thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next time on the Dwelling Place. God bless.