Transcript INTEGRITY

• (Daniel 6:1-16) “It pleased Darius to set over the
kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who
should be throughout the whole kingdom; and
over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was
one; that these satraps might give account unto
them, and that the king should have no damage.
Then this Daniel was distinguished above the
presidents and the satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him
over the whole realm. Then the presidents and the
satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no
occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful,
neither was there any error or fault found in him…
• …Then said these men, We shall not find any
occasion against this Daniel, except we find it
against him concerning the law of his God. Then
these presidents and satraps assembled together to
the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live
for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the
deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the
governors, have consulted together to establish a
royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that
whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man
for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be
cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish
the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not
changed, according to the law of the Medes and
Persians, which alters not…
• …Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the
interdict. And when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house (now his windows were
open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men
assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and
supplication before his God. Then they came near, and
spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict: Have
you not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make
petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto
you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king
answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law
of the Medes and Persians, which alters not…
• …Then answered they and said before the king, That
Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah,
regards not you, O king, nor the interdict that you have
signed, but makes his petition three times a day. Then the
king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and
set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till
the going down of the sun to rescue him. Then these men
assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king,
Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians,
that no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may
be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought
Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king
spoke and said unto Daniel, Your God whom you serve
continually, he will deliver you.”
A Lesson from the life of Daniel
Noah and the…
David and…
The patience of…
The destruction of Sodom and…
Daniel and the…
I. Darius’ search for integrity
• Let’s turn our attention to what happened
before Daniel was fed to the lions
– (Dan. 6:1) “It pleased Darius to set over the
kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who
should be throughout the whole kingdom”
– (v. 2) “and over them three presidents, of whom
Daniel was one; that these satraps might give
account unto them, and that the king should
have no damage.”
Darius’ search for integrity
• The presidents were responsible for the activity of
the overseers
– (v. 2) “and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel
was one; that these satraps might give account unto
them, and that the king should have no damage.”
– (v. 3) “Then this Daniel was distinguished above the
presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit
was in him; and the king thought to set him over the
whole realm.”
• Note Daniel’s integrity in v. 3 very carefully
Darius’ search for integrity
• The presidents were responsible for the activity of
the overseers
– (v. 2) “and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel
was one; that these satraps might give account unto
them, and that the king should have no damage.”
– (v. 3) “Then this Daniel was distinguished above the
presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit
was in him; and the king thought to set him over the
whole realm.”
• Note Daniel’s integrity in v. 3 very carefully
II. Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• An excellent attitude
– (v. 4) “Then the presidents and the satraps
sought to find occasion against Daniel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no
occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault
found in him.”
II. Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• An excellent attitude
– (v. 4) “Then the presidents and the satraps
sought to find occasion against Daniel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no
occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault
found in him.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Faithful in his work
– (Prov. 20:6) “Most men will proclaim every
one his own kindness; But a faithful man who
can find?”
– (v. 7) “A righteous man that walks in his
integrity, Blessed are his children after him.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Personal purity
– (v. 4) “Then the presidents and the satraps
sought to find occasion against Daniel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no
occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault
found in him.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Personal purity
– (6:5) “Then said these men, We shall not find
any occasion against this Daniel, except we find
it against him concerning the law of his God.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
(6:6) “Then these
presidents and
satraps
assembled
together to the
king, and said
thus unto him,
King Darius, live
for ever.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Personal purity
– (6:7) “All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies
and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have
consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to
make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a
petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you,
O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.”
– (v. 10) “And when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house (now his windows were
open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Consistent walk with God
– (v. 10) “And when Daniel knew that the writing
was signed, he went into his house (now his
windows were open in his chamber toward
Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three
times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before
his God, as he did aforetime.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Consistent walk with God
– (v. 10) “And when Daniel knew that the writing
was signed, he went into his house (now his
windows were open in his chamber toward
Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three
times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before
his God, as he did aforetime.”
Daniel’s integrity—
the marks of godliness
• Consistent walk with God
– (Psalm 55:17) “Evening, and morning, and at
noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall
hear my voice.”
III. How to develop integrity
• Let’s review the marks of Daniel’s
godliness
–
–
–
–
–
Excellent attitude
Faithful at work
Personal purity
Consistent walk with God
(6:11) “Then these men assembled together,
and found Daniel making petition and
supplication before his God.”
III. How to develop integrity
• Let’s review the marks of Daniel’s
godliness
–
–
–
–
–
Excellent attitude
Faithful at work
Personal purity
Consistent walk with God
(6:11) “Then these men assembled together,
and found Daniel making petition and
supplication before his God.”
How to develop integrity
Three lessons as we consider Daniel’s life
– 1. You will seldom get what you deserve from
people, so don’t expect it
– 2. You will always get what is best from God,
so don’t doubt it
– 3. Your ability to handle both is directly related
to the consistency of your walk with God
How to develop integrity
• One man’s experience
– (Ezekiel 22:30) “And I sought for a man among
them, that should build up the wall, and stand in
the gap before me for the land, that I should not
destroy it; but I found none.”
“When you’re faced with a busy
day, save precious time by skipping
your devotions.”
--Satan
• Have you come to the place in your life
where you are not getting what you deserve
from people?
• Why should we deprive ourselves of the
fullness of life that Christ has promised us?
• If you are not a Christian, why not become
one today?
• If you are not committed as a Christian, do
whatever is necessary today
• Heaven is the goal, if we walk
with the Lord
The Lord’s invitation is simple
“Why do you
wait? Arise and
be baptized, and
wash away your
sins, calling on
the name of the
Lord.” (Acts 22:16)