The Only Way To Get Rid Of Daniel

David Sproule

Daniel was in his mid-80s.  He had been taken captive by the Babylonian warrior-king Nebuchadnezzar when he was just a teenager, and he had lived through the entire 70-year captivity (Jer. 29:10).  Then, under Darius the Mede, Daniel was again promoted to a high position in the kingdom, as one of the king’s three governors, “and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm” (Dan. 6:1-3).

The other governors and satraps wanted Daniel out of the way, so they first “sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful” (6:4).  Well, if there wasn’t “any error or fault found in him” when it came to the kingdom, their only other alternative (and guaranteed option) was to find a “charge against this Daniel…concerning the law of his God” (6:5).  What a reputation Daniel had!  His enemies knew that Daniel would not violate the will of God!

So they devised a scheme by which they lied to the king (for not “All” of the governors agreed to their plan, as Daniel was one of the governors) and convinced the king to sign a decree that made it a capital crime to pray to the God of heaven, punishable by death in the den of lions (6:6-9).  Once it was signed, his enemies knew they had him!

Verse 10 tells us that “Daniel knew that the writing was signed.”  He knew that the ruling officials were after him and were trying to bring him down.  He knew that it was now illegal for him to practice his faith.

But that did NOT stop Daniel.  HE opened his windows (i.e., he was not going to hide his faith and his obedience to his God) and he prayed.  Not only that, in the face of everything that was going on, he “gave thanks before his God” (6:10).

Friends, there is a certain segment of our society that is working behind the scenes and in front of our faces to (1) make it difficult for Christians to live out their Christian faith, or (2) at the very least, to make Christians uncomfortable to live out their Christian faith.

Will we yield (Gal. 2:5)?  Will we permit shame to enter our hearts (2 Tim. 1:12)?  Will we question our God (Psa. 43:1-8)?  Will we let doubts arise (Jas. 1:6)?  Will we conform to this world (Rom. 12:2)?  Will we begin to approve of things that are not right in the eyes of God (Rom. 1:32)?  Will we put our trust in our God (Prov. 3:5-6)?  Will we be even more diligent to grow in our faith (2 Pet. 1:5-11)?  Will we learn to be thankful, even in difficult times (Eph. 5:20)?  Will we be determined to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29)?  Will we be like Daniel in all of these ways, more concerned about the law and will of God than of man?

Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 4

Wade Webster

The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus?  So far we have noticed that the words of Jesus were gracious, thoughtful, true, and good. This week, we will notice that they were calm words.

Calm Words

Peter wrote, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:18-23). There is no question that Jesus suffered wrongfully.  Although Jesus didn’t deserve the unjust treatment that He received,  He took it patiently. When Jesus was reviled, He didn’t revile in return . Revile is from the Greek word antiloidoreó and means to return abusive insult. Jesus didn’t threaten or respond in anger. He calmly and compassionately asked God to forgive those who were mocking and murdering Him (Lk. 23:43). He knew that they didn’t know what they were doing.  When one of the two thieves who was being crucified with Jesus stopped mocking and requested remembrance Jesus promised the penitent man that He would be with Him that day in paradise (Lk. 23:39-43). If we want the beauty of Jesus to be seen in our speech we must never let angry words from the tongue unbridled slip (Mat. 5:22). To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).

If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech, we must speak like Jesus. We must speak gracious, thoughtful, true, good, and calm words.

Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 3

Wade Webster

The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus?  So far we have noticed that the words of Jesus were gracious, thoughtful, and true. This week we will notice that they were good words.

Good Words

Jesus declared, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (Mat. 12:33-37).  The good man and the evil man bring out of their hearts or treasure chests good and bad things.  To the saints at Philippi, Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9).  Please notice that Paul began with good thoughts and then referenced what they had heard from him and seen in him.  Good thoughts in Paul’s mind had produced good words from Paul’s mouth and good deeds from Paul’s life. Good is translated from the Greek word agathos which means “excellent in nature, useful.” Evil” is from the Greek word poneros and means “bad.” We are not to let bad words come out of our mouths.  To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”(Eph. 4:29).  Corrupt is from the Greek word sapros which means “rotten, unfit, putrid.” Certainly, curse words and crude talk would all fall among that which has been described and forbidden. Sadly, sometimes I think that we may feel as if we have used our tongues properly if we do not say bad things.  While it is very important not to say bad things, it is also very important to say good things. Notice the rest of Paul’s inspired instructions: “…but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” We are to speak good words that build up and impart unmerited favor.  Solomon wrote, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad” (Prov. 12:25).  Again, he wrote, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (Prov. 15:23).  Just think of all the good words that Jesus spoke in the gospels.  Think of how he encouraged and comforted people through His words.  For example, think of the words that He spoke to His disciples as they sadly and fearfully contemplated His departure.  “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).  These good words must have edified and ministered grace to them. They continue to do the same for us. If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech then we must not let bad words and we must let good words come out of our mouths.  To the saints at Colosse, Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6).

Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 2

Wade Webster

The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus?  Last week we noticed that the words of Jesus were gracious and thoughtful. This week we will notice that they were true words..

True Words

Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:21-23). Deceit wasn’t found in His mouth. Deceit is from the Greek word dolos which means bait or treachery. Jesus dealt with on many occasions those who were trying to catch Him in His words. They were baiting Him with their words and questions and trying to catch Him in His words. They never were successful because Jesus, unlike them, was full of truth (John 1:14). In fact, He was truth . He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Often, in the gospels, Jesus used the words verily , truly, or most assuredly to make a statement. For example, in his conversation with Nicodemus, he said, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Jesus had a reputation for truth. Matthew records, “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Mat. 22:15-17). The context makes clear that the motives of those who came and posed this question were not good. They were likely trying to use flattery to gain an advantage. Yet, their assessment of Jesus could not have been more accurate. In spite of the fact that He told them and all men the truth, they sought to kill him (John 8:40). If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech then we are also going to have to speak true words. In Proverbs, wisdom declares, “For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.” (Prov. 8:7-8),. To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25). All lies are to be put away, even the little white ones (Rev. 21:8).  Not only must we speak the truth , but we must speak it in love. Within the same context, we read, “ But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Eph. 4:15).

Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 1

Wade Webster

The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. In the fourth verse the song speaks of letting the beauty of Jesus be seen in all that we say. The fourth verse also urges us to strive to keep sweet. Although keeping sweet doesn’t have to refer to speech, it is likely included. In the third verse, the song speaks of remembering how Jesus was treated and reviled when someone is unkind to us and speaks some word that pierces us through. Clearly, the implication is that we should show the same restraint in our speech that Jesus showed in His speech.

There are just under 65,000 words in the four gospels. A little over 31,000 of those words are from the lips of Jesus. Jesus spoke often in the gospels and we can learn much from what He said and how He said it. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus?

Gracious Words

Luke records, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Lk. 4:22). As you know, grace refers to unmerited favor. Jesus spoke with favor that had not and could not be earned. Just think of the words that Jesus spoke from the cross. To those who had shouted for Him to be crucified, He prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). To the woman who was taken in the act of adultery and cast down at His feet for sentencing and stoning, Jesus asked,“Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” (John 8:10). When she answered, “No man, Lord,” Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). This woman came fearing severe judgment, but she left having found saving grace. It should not surprise us that Jesus spoke gracious words. You may recall that Jesus taught that the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart (Mat. 12:34). This is the reason why Solomon instructed us to keep our hearts with all diligence because out of it are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). As we think in our hearts we are (Prov. 23:7). Our works and our words just reveal the condition and the contents of our hearts. When John spoke of the incarnation of Christ, he described Jesus among other things as being full of grace (John 1:14). Since Jesus was full of grace, that is what came forth from His mouth. If we have the mind/heart of Christ, then grace will be what comes out of our mouths too (Phil. 2:5). To the Christians at Colosse, Paul wrote, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6).

Thoughtful Words

Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”(Mat. 12:36-37). Idle is from the Greek word argos which means lazy and useless. Idle words are words that are uttered without thought. We must give great thought to our words because of the power that they contain. Solomon declared, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Prov. 18:21; cf. Jam. 3:5-6). Life was in the words of Jesus. On one occasion, He declared, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). What about our words? Do we give the thought that we should before we speak? Solomon wrote, “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Prov. 15:2). Again, we read, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit” (Prov. 17:27). Are we slow to speak? James wrote, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jam. 1:19). Do our words tend toward life or death?