Daniel 6 In the midst of a hostile environment Daniel somehow managed to survive and thrive spiritually. Likewise, we as Christians live in a world of spiritual hostility where the temptation to compromise our faith is with us every day. The world doesn't want its conscience pricked and doesn't reward those who dare to stand up for what they believe. As we conclude this series in Daniel we can see here in God's Word how we can live for Him in a hostile environment. Two facts to remember: 1.) Daniel came to Babylon as a teenager and has grown to be an old man, over 80 years old, spanning the service of a whole series of various pagan rulers. 2.) Here we find Daniel serving under a new king named Darius who is ruling over a new kingdom, the Medo-Persian empire. The names have changed but the spiritual challenge is the same. Will he remain faithful when the pressure is on? Outline: 1. A Faulty Deception (Vv. 1-9) - Daniel was faithful in his duties - Daniel was faultless in his character - Daniel was fervent in his prayers "Doing right is no guarantee that everything will go right." 2. A Faithful Devotion (Vv. 10-17) The secret of Daniel's greatness can be seen in Daniel 6:10 "When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before." The greater miracle than Daniel surviving a night with the lions may be that he was able to continue to pray when his life was on the line. "Ever heard of the saying, 'Get the small stuff right and that will take care of the big stuff.'?" I believe the three boys in the fiery furnace had been daily living their faith. When threatened with death, they kept on keeping on. Dependence on God is practiced daily, so when the crisis comes, the reaction is almost a given." ~George Pollard Daniel's three "Did Nots:" - He did not try to escape the consequences of his decision to obey God. - He did not know what would happen. - He did not make a deal with God to save himself. "When Christ calls a man, he bends him come and die." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer "If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 3. A Fruitful Display (Vv. 19-28) "When all is said and done, it is better to be a child of faith in a lion's den than to be a king without God in a palace." 5 Lessons for Modern-Day Daniels: - It is possible to live a Godly life within a troubling pagan world - Faithful Christians should expect opposition - God can use you to reach the unlikeliest when we are faithful to him - God is able to deliver his people from any danger they face - God always delivers in his own time and in his own way DOUBLE DARE: Even though it will cost you, faithfully walk the path God set before you.