Orchard Community Church
As people of faith, there will always be pressure to compromise and trials to face, but we’re called to be counterculture by standing firm in faith and facing trials with trust in God.
Counterculture (Part 2)
The Book of Daniel
We live in a culture that is often foreign and hostile to our faith. The book of Daniel is a collection of stories and prophecies written about Jewish believers living in the hostile foreign land of Babylon during the Exile. Therefore, the book of Daniel can teach us a lot about standing firm and living faithfully counter to the culture in which we find ourselves.
Today we’ll be looking at one of the most well knows stories in the Bible, Daniel in the Lion’s den!
This morning as we look at the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den we’ll focus on the fact that although we’re probably never going to face a den of real-life lions, the truth is life is full of other kinds of lions, trails, pressures, temptations. So our goal is to see what we can learn from Daniel about how to face life’s lions!
Daniel 6:1-9 NIV
If you think that because you’re older God is done with you, if you think he doesn’t have a use for you in his kingdom, you’re mistaken.
With v. 3 it says Daniel “distinguished himself’ because of his “excellent qualities.” The Hebrew here is literally, because of his “excellent spirit.” I think that means he had a great attitude, you’ve got to love a person with a great attitude. What kind of spirit or attitude do you face life with?
V.4 - “They could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” This doesn’t mean he was sinless or perfect, no one is, but it does mean that counter to his culture he was a man of character!
Daniel was a man of conviction, he knew what he believed and he lived it no matter who was watching or what was happening. How is your conviction?
With vv. 6-7 a group of these officials go and basically manipulates the king. After offering the customary greeting, “O king Darrius, live forever!” they start by lying. They propose a decree aimed at puffing up the king’s ego.
We’ve seen pride in all the kings in the book of Daniel and here we see it in Darius too.
Daniel 6:10-18 NIV
Again we see his conviction, we see again that Daniel’s faith wasn’t just nice words, he actually lived it. He lived his faith, and not just when it was easy, but also when it’s hard, and in that way, we also see Daniel’s courage.
As we seek to stand firm in our faith and have conviction and courage like Daniel, we also need to be careful. Careful that we are standing firm in our actual faith, in what the scripture actually teaches, and not adding to that category all of our own opinions and ideologies. There are a lot of people today warping every opinion they have up in faith with no root in scripture and that is not okay.
vv. 15-16 - The fact that the king says this seems to show that he believes Daniel’s God may be able to that. It seems to show that Daniel had spoken to him about God. You get the sense that Daniel wanted Darius to come to faith just as Nebuchadnezzar had!
Daniel 6:19-28 NIV
It says in v. 19 that at dawn the king got up and hurried to the lion’s den. Clearly, he believed there was a chance Daniel was alive, that God had saved him.
Then with vv. 25-27 we have a letter king Darius wrote to all the nations. It’s similar to the one Nebuchadnezzar wrote to the nations in chapter 4 about how God humbled him. In it, Darius calls for everyone to fear and reverence Daniel’s God.
Darius has come to faith!
When we face life’s lions, we need to follow Daniel’s example, four things that are pretty counter to our culture:
1) Daniel had a good attitude or spirit about him.
2) Daniel had character.
3) Daniel had conviction.
4) Daniel had courage.
Daniel’s example of how to face life’s lions began way before he encountered them. From the start of this book, when we met Daniel as a young man we’ve seen him seeking to know and live for God and in doing that he was building a foundation on God, one that helped in develop a godly attitude and character, to develop conviction in what he believed and a courageous faith.
Today's Music
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190
Worship Options
We are excited to be able to worship under the Tent together. If you are not wanting to be under the Tent, feel free to sit in the front row of parking spots of the Orchard Parking Lot your car and tune your radio to 100.1 FM to listen to the service.
1. Masks must be worn while on the Orchard Campus (both inside and out)
2. Please maintain the Social Distance
3. Sunday Morning Children's program. Children are always welcome in the service and we do not mind the noises that come with children. Children are a healthy sign of a healthy congregation.
Orchard Kids Sunday School (For preschool through 5th grade)
We encourage families to bring your own blanket and beach chairs and distance on the lawn as much as you like. Children will worship with their families and be dismissed following the kids’ message, escorted by our Orchard Kids’ Leaders to our beautiful outdoor classroom space in the children’s play yard. We will have our Bible story, activities, crafts, and games in a specially designed format following current health and safety guidelines. Parents, please come to the children’s area immediately following the worship service and find all of your children in one place. Each family will receive a “My Church Bag” to be brought each week with basic supplies already included plus items from home: water bottle and mask for each child and a blanket for all siblings. Our team is so excited to see your family! See you Sunday!
Nursery care for children birth to 3 years old is available by RSVP only to Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.
Interested in being a Volunteer? Middle school through adult, please contact Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.
While we understand that some may not feel comfortable coming back in person or having to wear masks while on the Orchard campus, we encourage you to stay home and join us online with our Live Stream.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursdays from 10 am to noon.
Masks and social distancing are required.
If you are unable to make it in during our office hours, please send an email to info@orchardventura.org and or leave a message at (805) 647-3757.