Over the last few weeks, we have been diving into Daniel 6; you could say we have spent the last few weeks with Daniel in the Lion’s Den.  This allowed us not only to dive into one of the most epic and popular stories of scripture, but it has also sent us into a challenging conversation about our faith and how we live our lives as Christians.  That may have snuck up on you as we move into this story, but it shouldn’t.  Life, pressure, adversity, gut-wrenching pain, these are the things in life that expose who we are. As Daniel walks through this terrifying ordeal, we can see how a person of faith responds to life, and that is challenging and humbling, and hopefully inspiring as we personalize this both as individuals and a spiritual family, to live out a life of faith, responding to life as Daniel does, regardless of what life throws at him next.  His life is so hard, his circumstances are beyond intense, painful, and terrifying, and what is squeezed out for the world to see?  They see God.  This is why Daniel has an impact on the world and its people. 

This is why Ken and I have been pressing in the last few weeks about your heart condition, inner healing, walking in spiritual health, and what your Christian experience is like.  Two weeks ago, I was with you talking about the importance of inner healing. Do you remember that?  For many people, this is the reason they aren’t experiencing all that their Christian life can offer them.  They love God and are good people, and may set out to change some behaviors, but the challenge for all of us is that Jesus loves us enough to lead us to a confrontation in our lives with our wounded selves. He cares so deeply for us that He wants us to engage our hearts, and that requires intentionality and effort and to be honest, most people today aren’t interested in more to do, we want enough of Jesus to go to heaven someday, but not necessarily enough of Jesus where He is disrupting our lives and how we live them, this is why so many never experience all that Christianity advertises.  I know that was a bit of a challenging talk, and hit some uncomfortable areas of our lives, but we love you too much not to address this stuff, because on the other side of this work of inner healing is everything we are looking for.  Life is hard, acting like something we weren’t created to be is exhausting, seeing life through our pain just makes it more painful, and our hard lives are hard enough without dragging our wounded selves around with us.  You know, as I left here two weeks ago, I kept wondering how you all heard or received that talk.  I know it was convicting, and I was hoping it was redemptive and received in a way that inspires action, because it could lead to our best lives possible.  As I drove home, I was praying over the day, and just kept having this thought.  I hope people understand this: There is a reason we don’t go straight to heaven when we accept Jesus into our lives.  Have you ever thought about that?  With life being so hard, and painful, and this world being controlled by the evil one, why wouldn’t God just take his children to heaven, the moment they join His kingdom?  It would be easier, for sure, wouldn’t it?

That thought weighed heavily on my heart and mind.  Then last week, what did Ken do?  He pressed in on our lives and asked us to look at our Christian experience.  He showed us how Daniel’s faith and character were on full display and revealed something easy to overlook in this particular story.  Daniel, during the most terrifying and intense circumstances, didn’t hide and didn’t change; he prayed as he always had.   

Daniel 6:10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. NLT

Ken challenged us last week to make four decisions to build our character and faith.  Do you remember what they were?  First, we need to live in reality.  Second, we must give our lives to God. Third, was to decide to pray, living with courage and gratitude.  Lastly, it was to make an incredibly important decision, one that has eternal consequences.  It was to advance God’s Kingdom through the local church. 

Today, we build off of that last decision: to invest, build, and advance God’s Kingdom.  As people, we can have so many thoughts and questions as we hear an invitation to advance God’s Kingdom.  Here are just a few: “What does it mean?  How can I do this?  I’m not super spiritual, or I don’t feel spiritual enough to do something with eternal consequences.  Isn’t that something people in ministry do, then just say to us to get us to do stuff they don’t want to do?  Ugh, more marketing of the church by another Pastor, who just doesn’t get how much we have to deal with in the real world.”  Let’s work through this concept today.

At the beginning of this talk, I shared a thought that I had when I left here two weeks ago, and it may be the best way for us to discuss the concept of choosing to advance God’s Kingdom in our time on this Earth.  There is a reason that we don’t go straight to Heaven when we are saved.  Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just take you straight to Heaven when you accept Jesus into your heart and are saved?  As hard, disappointing, and painful as this world can be, why not bring us all home right away?  Well, it’s because God has a divine purpose for your life and gives us things to do while we are here to impact this dark world.  Every one of us is created on purpose with a purpose for our lives, that is why we are still here and not in eternal paradise today.  As ordinary or small as you may feel or convince yourself that you are.  You have a calling on your life, and you can make an impact on the advancement of God’s Kingdom and will when you find your purpose and engage it.  Your divine call and purpose are unique to you; you matter, and God has given you a mission in your time on this Earth.  For some, this is inspiring.  For others, it’s intimidating.  For some, this may be exhausting, and others have convinced themselves they just aren’t spiritual enough to have a divine calling, but every one of us does.  You are on this planet for a reason, created by God on purpose, with a purpose in mind. 

For some of us, we think well, a preacher does this, or a church leader may do that, or a missionary does that, but if you notice, most of the impact Daniel has isn’t big crowds of people watching him preach.  His impact on the people of the world who don’t know God is happening through his life, and how he lives, responds to life, and acts as life hits and hits hard.  This is so important to see and understand.  Daniel’s faith and character impact people and advance God’s Kingdom.  The way He stands up for God in a godless world not only shares God with people, but encourages others to do that as well!  As Daniel 6 comes to a close, we see how Daniel continues to impact those around him.

Daniel 6:15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed." 16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you." 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night. 19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions' den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?" 21 Daniel answered, "Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty." 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. NLT

This is amazing!  Darius is not only relieved that Daniel is ok, but has those who built this trap for him and their families thrown into the Lion’s Den, and by now those lions were hungry!  Then listen to how the chapter ends, and what Darius has to say about God.

Daniel 6:25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you! 26 "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. NLT

Daniel didn’t share God with these godless people through a speech or an incredible sermon.  It wasn’t done through sharing Christian posts and Bible Verses on Social Media.  It was how He lived his life, in the pressure cooker and brutality of the world he lived in, that showed God to the world and is advancing God’s Kingdom.  There are two things I want to point out that come from Daniel standing in his calling and living out his faith.

First, when you stand up for God in a godless world, it inspires others to do the same.  Courage can be inspiring and contagious.  Paul describes this same thing as he explains to the Philippian church what is happening around him because of what he is going through.

Philippians 1:12 I want you brothers and sisters to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News. 13 All the palace guards and everyone else knows that I am in prison because I am a believer in Christ. 14 Because I am in prison, most of the believers have become more bold in Christ and are not afraid to speak the word of God. NCV

Second, when you stand up for God like Daniel did here, it’s a powerful example to those who don’t know God.  You just saw how Darius responded to Daniel’s faith and courage.  He not only becomes another pagan King that Daniel leads to God, but also becomes another very effective tool for God to be shared with the entire world.

We can have so many emotions and thoughts when we hear that there is a reason we are on this planet.  That God created us on purpose for a purpose, and that we have a divine call on our lives.  We can have many emotions and thoughts when we are told that how we live our lives matters greatly, not just to God but for those around us, because we aren’t all looking to change how we live our lives…but this is so important, and can lead to so much more in your life.  Throughout Daniel's life, we see a man who lives his life in such a way that he brings God to a godless world, a world filled with people doing their best to deny God and push Him away.  As Christians, we can relate to that, can’t we? 

So let’s think about this today.  There is a reason that we are here, on this planet, living for God in a world pushing hard against God.  Every human being has a divine calling on their life, created on purpose with a purpose. So many Christian’s find their faith experience to be so opposite of the abundant life Jesus says He came to give them because they do not step into the life God called them to live.  They live in this world for themselves, unwilling to step into the true purpose for their lives.

As we start landing the plane on this talk today, let’s try to personalize this with a question or two.  Why do you think God allows us to be saved, and then doesn’t just take us home to eternal paradise right away?  Why are we here?  When you hear that you have a divine calling, that God has created you on purpose for a purpose, how does that make you feel?  Do you dismiss that?  Does it make you feel uncomfortable?  Does it inspire you?  Does it make you wonder what that purpose is?  And hey, while I’m asking questions, why do you think we talk so much at MRC about serving?  Is it marketing?  Is it that we want you to do things we don’t feel like doing?  Or could it be that we love you and want you to thrive? 

Let me show you four things about serving today. 

First, God Made You to Make a Difference, and You Can!  Listen, God created you on purpose with a purpose, and many wonder where this faith life is because they aren’t living in their true purpose.  We were put on earth by God to make an impact for Him.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV

These "good works" are the ‘serving’ we encourage you to do. When you step into a life of serving, you are advancing God’s Kingdom; when you serve others, you are serving God.  This isn’t just something pastors do; this is the Christian life.  This is why God doesn’t just take us straight to Heaven when we are saved.  Once you are saved, God intends to use you to fulfill his purposes. God has a ministry for you in his church and a mission for you in the world.  Consider that and ask yourself this question.  Is there anything holding you back from accepting God's call to serve him? 

Second, we don’t serve out of guilt, fear, or obligation but joy, love, and gratitude for what God has done for us.  Listen, we are not saved by serving, but because we are saved, we serve.  That is an important distinction. If we add the preceding verses to what Paul just told us about the works God planned in advance for us to do, this becomes clear.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV

Through God’s incredible saving grace, our past has been forgiven, and we know what our future holds (eternity in Heaven), and we also get to live a life of deep meaning, on purpose with a purpose to fulfill, which is amazing, and leads us to the full life we all desire.  Think about it, what causes people to struggle, and stray into things they shouldn’t?  They don’t have any direction in their lives.  What is the number one question in our hearts and minds?  What am I here for?  It’s your soul screaming out that there is more to life!  And you will experience that as you align with your true purpose, which God wired into you.

Third, serving is the heart of the Christian Life.  If you remember, Jesus tells us that He came to serve, not be served, and that His followers will live a different life than those of this world…

Matthew 20:26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." NLT

Serving should define your life. It's not something to be tacked onto our schedules when we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life, and shows God to the world because it is the opposite of our human instincts to love and serve.  So when Ken talks like he did last week about investing in a local church to advance God’s Kingdom, it can hit some nerves.  Why?  Because the human instinct is to be served, not to serve, and we look at our churches as the place that should meet our needs and bless us, rather than a place for us to serve and be a blessing. 

Lastly, the way to experience your best life is to serve. If you want to come fully alive and experience everything Jesus told you He came to give you, well, He tells you how repeatedly. It’s to serve.

Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to him, along with his followers. He said, "If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me. 35 Those who want to save their lives will give up true life. But those who give up their lives for me and for the Good News will have true life. NCV

So many of us walk through life wondering why we aren’t experiencing everything Christianity advertises, but if we are honest, we aren’t willing to give up the things we want and step into a life of love and serving.  We aren’t willing to give up our lives and follow Him. You know, Jesus teaches this five times in our Scriptures, and I always like to point out that when Scripture is repeating itself, we need to pay attention.  So many of us are looking to find ourselves, wondering why we can't, and Jesus says we won't until we lose ourselves and live for Him!  If you are not serving, you are just existing because God has created you on purpose with a purpose; it’s why you are here on this planet.

So, a couple of questions as we close.  Do you ever wonder internally or out loud why God would have you here, on this planet, in this place, at this time? How does it hit your heart to think that God created you on purpose with a purpose?  And the question I want you to wrestle with today is this.  What is holding you back from a life of serving?  What holds you back from stepping into your divine calling?  What is it?  Do you feel inadequate?  Are you too busy?  Would you just rather God and the church leave you alone?  Are you frustrated or bored in your faith?  Do you want to thrive, not just survive, in life?  Then it is time to step into the life God called you to live, and experience everything Jesus told you that you can experience, and it all happens when you decide to live for Him and serve.