Overcoming Control Pt. 2

Welcome Back to WOPCC's Virtual Bible Study!!

We’re starting this summer off with:

Daniel 5: 13 - 16

[Context: King Belshazzar (king after Nebuchadnezzar) threw a feast for his lords, wives, and concubines. While they were drinking and praising their idols, Belshazzar saw writing appearing on the wall by a hand. He wasn't able to interpret it, so he called in fortune tellers, and people of the like to tell him what it meant. Whoever could read and interpret would be given purple clothes, given a gold chain, and would become the third highest ruler in the kingdom. No one could read it. The queen mother then heard of this and told the king to relax because there's someone in the kingdom who can interpret. She encouraged him to call for Daniel.] 

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king [Nebuchadnezzar] brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. [this reminds me of Jesus' parables. Not many people understood them unless they were believers. Mark 4:10-12 Not being able to interpret what was written on the wall exposed people; it separated those who were in God and those who weren't.] 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 6

[Context: Daniel told Belshazzar what the writing meant and basically explained how Nebuchadnezzar was in right standing with God until he was filled with arrogance and as a result, he lived a poor quality of life. Belshazzar kept his promise and gave Daniel the purple, gold, and the position of the third ruler in the kingdom. Belshazzar was killed that night. Darius was up next as King.] 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps [other form of a governor], to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them [in other words, the satraps reported to Daniel and the other two governors], so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit [the Spirit of God] was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. [because of who Daniel was and who he was connected to, control and authority was considered to be given to him] 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom;[haters!; crazy thing here is that they were on the same team as Daniel, they were fellow governors. Their desire for control manifested in the form of jealousy. They didn't want Daniel higher than they were.] but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 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.”[Their jealousy caused them to conspire and plot against Daniel just so that they could get what they wanted. It's not clear whether they even wanted to be higher than governor, they just didn't want Daniel higher than them. This should encourage us to check the motive for why we want to control something. When we start to plot and plan for the fall of someone else or when negative results come from our pursuit of control, there's a chance we likely shouldn't have that level of control.]

6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together [it's unclear whether they went back and consulted with all these other people they mentioned, but they either lied to have their plan prevail or they went the extra mile to bring in other people on this plan just so they can have their way] 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. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. [why didn't the king ask any questions?]

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. [oh, the consistency even though he knew what was against him! He understood that not doing what he was used to doing could result in his death in this situation]

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except 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 does not alter.”

13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” [In a position of control, Darius is showing that it is very important to know the kind of people you have working for you. Darius was never out to have Daniel killed, but he listened to those he trusted with no questions asked. However, in all of this, Darius was a pawn being used by other officials to have Daniel killed.]

14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”[The person who had control kept allowing these lower level people to convince him to not use his authority. Lord, please give us the wisdom to know how to appropriately use the control we have been granted.]

16 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.” [Clearly Darius was not a fellow Christian because he didn't say, "our God", but he definitely had an understanding and respect for God and what He can do. Makes me wonder why he didn't just claim Christianity] 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, [the people during Jesus' time should have known something about what happens when stones enclose people of God by reading this story] 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.

18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting [fasting and praying on behalf of others is quite a powerful act. Nehemiah did the same thing and found favor with the king to be able to go help rebuild the wall with some pretty important people. We have a level of spiritual control where we can make requests with and for others that I'm certain doesn't get ignored by God.]; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 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?”

21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 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.”

23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. [Finally using his control as a king...] So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. [Daniel's faith alone likely could have gotten him saved from the lions, but I believe the fasting of the king was also significant.]

24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions [your pursuit of control that never had your name on it will lead you to a place of danger that you can't handle]—them, their children, and their wives [other people will be affected by your pursuit of control]; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

25 Then King Darius wrote:

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

26 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.
27 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.

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

What amazes me after reading the story and hearing the sermon is the realization that the account of this story does not express Daniel putting up a fight or crying or complaining about being put in a den of lions. If it were me, though I love God with my entire heart and I believe in Him, there would have at the very least been a few tears. Clearly, the king was easily influenced, so I would have tried to talk my way out of it or something, especially if he knew me as this faithful and devout person. However, it isn't written that Daniel did any of that. My assumption is that Daniel understood the importance of his presence in the den and his ability to get out of the den. Pastor explained to us that some of us need to stay in the den so that when it's time to come out, you can tell others about how God has delivered you. "There's someone you haven't met yet who needs to see you in the den so they can see you come out."

Those governors, satraps, and others were so focused on getting Daniel trapped that they didn't even take the time to think about Daniel's track record. It was very clear that Daniel and "His God" were no secret. Thinking ahead would have let them know that Daniel wasn't about to be eaten by those lions. "The trap they set up for Daniel turned up being the trap they set for themselves" and right after they freed Daniel from the trap, they and their family went in that same trap and immediately became lion food before they could even hit the dust of the den. 

This visual lets us know that there are lanes to control - there are things I can control and things I cannot control. Wisdom reveals the difference. The line between the two needs to be a very saturated line where the likelihood of it being or becoming blurred is slim to none.

What Daniel Could Control:

-Prayer

-Worship

-Consistency 

Things We Can Control:

-Our Tongues (Ephesians 4:29)

-Our Thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5)

-Our Actions and Reactions (Galatians 6:5-7)

I can fix what's on the inside of the circle, and whatever is on the outside of the circle, I'll have to:

We have to be real with what we're able to control. If we can't control it, that's cool, we just have to make an adjustment.

Adjusting isn't always comfortable because it means we didn't initially have our way, but it is necessary. "Adjustability is one of the keys to contentment."

If I am not settled in whether I have control or whether I have to adjust, I have the potential to lose my mind. It's important that we perfect our okay-ism with either situation. Our okay-ism cannot be dependent on things outside of our control or we'll never be okay.

We can't mix our way with God's way because when we try, it's a sign that we aren't 100% okay with God's way.

"Our internal cannot be predicated on the external." We have to take our affections off of the things that change. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our affections on the things above; the things above are God related things and we know He is a constant.

Wisdom is the principle thing!

Thank You, God for the things I can control and thank You for the things I cannot. For those things I can control, please give me the wisdom (as it is written in James that it is given freely to those who ask for it) to know how to appropriately use my control and authority to ultimately give you glory through the decisions I make. If there is any ill intent that I am unaware of, please make me aware and show me how to change my ways of operating in the control I do have. I choose to control my tongue, my thoughts, my actions, and reactions, and I rely on you to help me to remember and act on my decision. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Facebook Live: Sunday, May 26, 2019

Upcoming Events:

- June 22, 2019: WOPBI Graduation @ Wise High School

Until Next Week,