Sermons

Surviving the Times

07-12-2020 • Daniel McGinty

What did Daniel do to Thrive in his faith when ALL his normal was removed?

Surviving the Times

What did Daniel do to Thrive in his faith when ALL his normal was removed?

1) Avoid compromise, as it’s easy to get lost.

Daniel 1:8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself.

Daniel 6:4-5 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
  A) Compromise is the engine of assimilation.
  B) Even the slightest degree of deviation will drive you far off course in enough time.

2) Preserve friendships that will strengthen your resolve to push on.

Daniel 2:17-18 Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter, 18urging them to ask the God of heaven for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.

  A) Intentional connections with fellow believers encourages you through tough times.
  B) Isolation creates a vacuum that lies naturally tend to fill.

3) Seek God’s wisdom as a light in the dark.

Daniel 2:20-22 May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. 21He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

  A) God’s voice of reason needs prime-time if we’re to drown-out our fear.

4) Pray as if your life depends upon it.

Daniel 6:10-11 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

  A) When our daily routines are gone, new healthy habits must replace them.

The Wilderness is a place of chaos, but God is still in control, our north star.