The Lion in Daniel’s Den Dan. 6:16,20. CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Like Daniel we face lions in our lives.  As 1 Pet 5:8 says, “The devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”  Paul said in 2 Tim 4:17, “I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”  In 1 Cor 15:32, Paul said, “I have fought with beasts at Ephesus.”  We need the Lord’s protection against the lions in the den.  We fall prey to lions when there is:

Pride – Dan 6:16, 20 – “servest,” “servant” – Daniel served the Lord.  He was a big man in the government of the country [Dan 6:1-3].  But he remained humble in his service to the Lord.  According to 1 Pet 5:6-9 and Jas 4:6-7, humility is the way to stay out of the paw of the devil.

Idleness – Dan 6:16, 20 – “continually” – Daniel was not idle.  An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.  People today are very idle because they are lovers of pleasures [2 Tim 3:1-4].  You have to keep moving and going for the Lord.  Every person must be doing his part.

Apostasy – Dan 6:10 – he prayed and gave thanks “as he did aforetime.”  The Devil is on your heels.  When you fall back he gets you.  2 Thes 2:3 says that before the tribulation there will be a falling away first.  We are surely in the age of apostasy.  What follows is strong delusion and believing a lie.  You must keep moving forward to keep from being engulfed in apostasy and devoured by the lion.

Lust – Dan 1:8 – “he would not defile himself.”  The devil uses lust to tempt you.  He did that to Jesus in Matt 4.  He did that to the Pharisees Jn 8:44. He will do that to you.  Walk in the Spirit to keep from being tricked by the devil and taken by him in his snare [2 Tim 2:25-26].

Ingratitude – Dan 6:10 – “gave thanks.”  Giving thanks is the will of God [1 Thes 5:18].  In Rom 1:21, the people didn’t glorify God, neither were thankful.  In 2 Tim 3:2 people in perilous times are “unthankful.”  When you are ungrateful, the devil will turn you toward sin and then to a reprobate mind and then to all manner of sin and then to destruction.

Sin – Dan 6:22 – “innocency,” “done no hurt.”  Secret sins will set you up for the devil.  In Ps 19:12-13, David was very careful before the Lord, desiring God to cleanse him from secret faults and to keep him from presumptuous sins.  These sins will manifest themselves and bring you down at precisely the time when they can do the most damage to you and others.

Unbelief – Dan 6:23 “believed in his God.”  The sin of unbelief will damn you for eternity.  You cannot let the devil fool you here.  Trust the Lord Jesus Christ to save you.

Conclusion: there are lions in the den in which we live.  At the rapture, the Lord will take us up out of this den. In the meantime, we must have the Lord’s protection, like Daniel did to keep from being devoured by lions.  You get his protection by living like Daniel did away from these sins.