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Schooled - Daniel & the Lion’s Den

SPEAKER: Pastor Charlie Riley
October 29, 2022

Schooled- The Lion’s Den
October 29, 2022

587 B.C. – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – Daniel 3
539 B.C. – Cyrus, Emperor of Persia, Captures Babylon
539 B.C. – Cyrus, Emperor of Persia, Appoints Darius the Mede as Viceroy in Babylon
540 B.C. – Darius Comes To Power and Daniel

Daniel 6:1-7
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

What Is Our Greatest Threat On The Planet?

Government Is Made of People
People are Sinners and Sinners with Power Are Dangerous

Lord Acton (1834-1902)
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

2 Years Ago
Stop Meeting
Stop Worshiping
Stop Hugging
Stay Home
Stay Locked Down
2 Weeks To Flatten The Curve

TWO WEEKS “TO CONTROL THE SPREAD” BECAME TWO YEARS “TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE”

William Pitt
“Necessity is the plea (of) for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves … Get people afraid and they will do whatever you want. A fearful society will always comply and a panicking people will believe anything.”

John Hopkins University Study
February 2022

Page 2
“While this meta-analysis concludes that lockdowns have had little to no public health effects, they have imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted. In consequence, lockdown policies are ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic policy instrument.”

Page 35
Overall conclusion on SIPO studies
“We find no clear evidence that SIPOs had a noticeable impact on COVID-19 mortality.”

“The overall effect measured by the precision-weighted average is -2.9%. The result is in line with Nuzzo et al. (2019), who state that “In the context of a high-impact respiratory pathogen, quarantine may be the least likely NPI (LOCKDOWNS) to be effective in controlling the spread due too high transmissibility” and World Health Organization Writing Group (2006), who conclude that “forced isolation and quarantine are ineffective and impractical.”

Anti-Christ Is A Government Leader With Unchecked Power
Rev 13:16-17
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Was Paul Anti-Government?
He Was Anti-Moral and Spiritual Darkness Promoted By Government

Paul Was In Violation of Government Mandates More Than Anyone In The Bible
Arrested By Government
Detained By Government
Imprisoned By Government
Beheaded By Government

Romans 13:3-4 NKJV
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

1. Persecution Is Inevitable

2 Timothy 3:12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

John 15:19-20
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

2. Boldness is Indispensable

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Proverbs 28
The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

3. Trust Is Essential

Daniel 6:16-18
So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.

Polycarp A.D. 155 Smyrna
“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Better To Die With A Conviction Than To Live With A Compromise

4. Deliverance is Always Possible

Daniel 6:19-22
Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 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.”

Philippians 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Isaiah – Was Sawed In Two
Peter – Was Crucified Upside Down
Paul – Beheaded

5. Influence Is Unmistakable

Daniel 6:25-28
Then King Darius wrote: 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. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

The Blessing of God Is Irrevocable
You Can Be Blessed Even In Babylon (Persia)

Persecution Is Inevitable
Boldness is Indispensable
Trust Is Essential
Deliverance is Always Possible
Influence Is Unmistakable
The Blessing of God Is Irrevocable