"Going Places" - Part 3: "God's Call To Consistency" (Daniel 6:1)

So Far...

Abram was CALLED TO the UNKNOWN

Joshua was CALLED TO the IMPOSSIBLE

Today, Daniel will be CALLED TO CONSISTENCY

Background

Daniel was taken to Babylon as a teenager

With his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (aka - Rack, Shaq and Benny)

While there, the four Hebrew boys are promoted to various levels of leadership

Daniel remains in leadership under the new Medo-Persian rule of Darius

What we’ll see

God's Call on Daniel

Governor's Plan

Daniel's Obedience

A King's Promise

God’s Call

Daniel was esteemed not simply because he had gifts and talents.

Those gifts and talents were accentuated by his FAITHFULNESS to God!

In the midst of exile and hardship, Daniel was called to CONSISTENCY in his faith.

Governors’ Plan

We have talked about God's plan

Rest assured, the world has a plan, as well!

Governors tried to use Daniel's strength – his faith in the Lord – as a snare.

They had a law passed that made expressions of "unaccepted" faith wrong.

Violations carried with it heavy punishment.

Daniel’s Obedience

He didn't cower in fear.

He didn't hide his faith.

He did "as was his custom since early days"

There was a problem.

He took it to the Lord

Our Example

We need to take a minute and look at that.

Daniel could have:

Hidden

Petitioned Darius

Resorted to politics

He didn't. First stop – God's Throne

That needs to be our "go-to" response.

A King’s Promise

Darius knew Daniel and knew of his faithfulness to God.

The king KNEW Daniel's God could save him..."Your God, Whom you continually serve, He will save you."

That didn't stop him from worrying (verses 18-19)

Nor did it prevent doubt "has your God...been able to deliver you?"

We do that a lot!

We know God CAN...

We just doubt if God WILL!

That doubt freezes us in our tracks.

And prevents rest, consistency, and steps of faith.

Conditions -

Effective – Energetic

Fervent – Passionate

Righteous – in proper standing before God.

That was Daniel

Energetic, Passionate – Wouldn't you be energetic and passionate if YOU were asking God to save you from lions?

Righteous - "...because I was found innocent before Him..."

Result

God gets the Glory!

Daniel remained consistent through adversity

God delivered him

God receives the glory through it all!

2-fold purpose of the Christian Life

GLORIFY GOD

LET OTHERS SEE IT!

For us

How do we know if there is consistency in our lives?

Remove Sunday morning from our schedule

"Does my life look any different than that of my unbelieving friends, co-workers, classmates?"

My words, actions, attitudes?

"What do I do first when confronted with Crisis/Hardship?"

Signposts for us

Inviting friends, neighbors, co-workers to church

Go to God with prayers and supplications

Stopping crude/profane talk at lunch

Standing up for the Lord in the face of ridicule

Personal study/devotional time in the Morning/Evening

God Calls Us to a CONSISTENT WALK

How consistent is yours?

To find out more about BridgePoint Church, located in Gloucester, Virginia, lead by Pastor Robert McTurnal, visit us online at:

https://bridgepoint.church