Dare to Be a Daniel: Dare to Stand Alone

 

Daniel is one of the most preached prophets in churches today. He is famous for his many visions, interpretations, and prophecies. His prophecies cover a wide range of topics, including the rise and fall of empires, the coming of the Messiah, and the end times. Some of his most noted visions and prophecies are - The Four World-ruling Empires (Daniel 2:1-43); The Kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14); The Little Horn (Daniel 7:7-8, 21, 24-25);  The 70-weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27); The Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 11:31; Matthew 24:15). The Time of the End (Daniel 11:40; 12:1; Matthew 24:21); and The Resurrection of the Dead (Daniel 12:2).

 

I remember when my friend preached a message titled, “Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to Stand Alone”. He looked at the actions of the prophets and his accomplishments but ignored his humanity and the real-life issues that he may have faced. Let us examine Daniel the man and glean some truths that we can apply to our own lives.

 

Traumatic Upheaval.

 

Daniel's name means "judgment of God" or "God my judge." He was a Jew and is believed to be a part of Judah's royal family. We don’t have much information about his earlier life. What we know is that he was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, and was made to serve as a eunuch in the Babylonian palace. Can you imagine how traumatic that experience was for him? Firstly, he experienced the devastating defeat of his king and the army of Judah. Secondly, he was taken out of his home and country and taken to a foreign land where he was castrated. Generally, when a man is castrated he will experience hot flushes and his penis will shrink. His erections will be rare and weak if they occur at all.

 

What Daniel experienced in being forcibly removed from his country, is similar to what the slaves who were taken from Africa must have experienced, the Jews during the Holocaust, and now the people in Gaza and Ukraine. Fortunately for me, I have never had such a horrible experience. Can you for a minute, imagine how you would feel if you had Daniel's experience? Based on what we learned about how Daniel was used by God, it is safe to assume that during the war with Babylon, Daniel was praying that God would give Judah victory. In our lives, when we are faced with challenging issues we fast and pray for deliverance. I think Daniel was doing the same before Judah lost the war.

 

Holy Spirit Intervention

 

When Daniel along with the other young Israelites were taken into captivity and brought to Babylon, castrated, and forced to learn the ways of the Babylonians, he could have lost faith in his God. I believe that it was the Holy Spirit in him that sustained him and prevented him from losing his mind. Many times, when we are in difficult situations and are not sure what to do, the Lord speaks to our spirits through the Holy Ghost assuring us in our spirit not to give up. Romans 8: 26-27, “But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

 

When we are facing such hurt, the Holy Spirit has to help us because we cannot make it on our own strength. 2 Corinthians 1; 3-5, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

Give Good Service

 

Even though it may have seemed hopeless, Daniel trusted in God's provision. He felt that the Lord would change his situation and work it out for his good. Daniel faced various trials, but he kept his integrity and remained steadfast in his belief. His refusal to compromise demonstrates the value of staying true to our principles, even when faced with tempting offers or pressures to conform.

 

Daniel adapted to life in Babylon and carried out his duties, but kept his religious principles and customs. He maintained his diet, and his prayer life, and continued to worship his God. The quality of his work was outstanding, so he was promoted on the job and was highly respected by the king. This teaches us that when we are not in our desired field of work, wherever the Lord has placed us, we should still perform at our best and give excellent quality service. When you operate in this way, you will have favor with God and man. The Lord will open unexpected doors for you.

 

Life is Like That

 

As Daniel grew in favor of the king, there were some individuals who despised him and plotted to kill him. Sometimes people just don’t like you. That is just a part of life, especially when you are a devoted Christian, Satan uses people to try to destroy you. Faced with the prospect of death because of his prayer life, Daniel did not deviate from his practices or his beliefs. This highlights the importance of maintaining a strong spiritual connection with God and remaining consistent in prayer. Daniel remained steadfast in his faith. His perseverance in the face of adversity teaches us the importance of resilience and perseverance in times of trial.

 

Through Daniel's story, we see God's faithfulness to those who remain faithful to Him. His deliverance from the lion's den and from other trials, serve as a testament to God's faithfulness and His continued provision for His people.

 

Your Life an Example

 

Daniel's life, his sufferings, victories, visions, prophecies, service, and prayer life are examples we can learn from. Daniel’s faithfulness to God landed him in a lion’s den, where his detractors were sure he would be devoured. God, however, sent an angel that “shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:22), and Daniel was miraculously spared. This reminds us to live with courage, integrity, and humility, and to trust that God will provide for us, even during adversity. His unwavering faith inspires believers to stand firm in their convictions, and to remain faithful to God, regardless of the circumstances. I hope that, as Christians, our faith and lifestyle, like Daniel's, will inspire other believers to stand firm in Christ regardless of their circumstances.