CHARACTERISTICS OF A BOLD LIFE

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about a few old school games: hoop and stick, kick the can, hop scotch, etc.

We are spoiled with entertainment these days. You can watch any movie ever made with the tap of a finger, you can stream millions of songs in one app, and you can view countless youtube videos of turtles eating fruits.

In this day and age, entertainment is everywhere. In the past, people perceived fun differently. At the turn of the century, nearly every American anxiously awaited the arrival of circus tents and dancing clowns. In the 1800s, people would flock to baseball games and freak shows. In the 1600s, people would play marbles and a game called "hoop and stick."

In the ancient world of Daniel, their idea of entertainment was far more twisted than movies and marbles. Mesmerized onlookers would gather in ancient colosseums to watch people get tortured and eaten by wild animals. Yeah, that was their thing. That was their twisted idea of entertainment. They would get the kids dressed up, buy some snacks, and cheer as they watched a criminal get mauled by a grizzly bear. It's disgusting, and it's also the exact situation that Daniel found himself in towards the end of his life.

• Daniel in the Lion's Den is probably one of the best-known Bible stories in the world.

• When kids are coloring pictures of this scene in Sunday school, they are usually filling in the lines of a young man cuddling a large lion.

• It's cute, but it's not very accurate.

• This leads us to believe a big misconception: people assume that Daniel was a teenager when this took place.

• That isn't true. He was an old man in his late eighties.

• You heard that right.

• The members of the royal court threw an elderly man into a pit filled with hungry lions.

• How did he get there, though? Let’s break it down.

• Some of Daniel's competitors wanted to take him out, so they convinced the king to put out a decree that people could only pray to him.

• This was a surefire way to destroy Daniel because they knew that he prayed to God at least three times a day.

• The king signed the deal, and Daniel just became a three-times-a-day criminal. He didn’t back down. He was bold in his faith.

• Taking one final peek at the life of Daniel, let’s examine three character traits of a bold life.

ONE: Perseverance

• At the beginning of this chapter, life is a dream for Daniel.

• He's risen up the ranks of the kingdom once again.

• Now he is a "satrap" (6:1-3), which is basically a mayor with more power.

• Daniel exudes so much wisdom and promise that the king planned to promote him to oversee the entire nation. Jealousy plagued the rest of the rulers.

• They scoffed, "How could the king give so much trust to an old man from Judah? His people are captives of the kingdom. Why does our ruler adore him?"

• The other Satraps decided to create a scandal. They wanted Daniel gone, so they dug up a little drama.

• These leaders knew that Daniel openly prayed three times a day, so they lobbied for a new law to make prayer illegal.

• Once the law was on the books, they started stalking Daniel to wait for his rebellion.

• Daniel persevered, though. Despite it being illegal, he continued to pray three times a day publicly.

• He knew there would be consequences.

• He knew people were likely watching.

• He knew that the king had a den full of hungry lions.

• None of that stopped him from being persistent in his calling and devotion to God.

• We should strive to do the same.

• Be persistent in your relationship with God.

• Even when it's hard.

• Even when it's inconvenient.

• Even if it becomes illegal.

• A fearless life is a life of devotion, persistence, and discipline.

• Check out what happens in Daniel 6:19-20:

• This brings us to the second trait of a bold life as characterized by Daniel:

2. Protection

• Daniel's persistence leads to a lion-infested prison. Daniel's day took a sharp turn as he was arrested, prosecuted for praying and sentenced to execution.

• The Babylonians were grotesque in their treatment of criminals — especially through capital punishment. They didn't just kill people; they made a show out of it.

• They were so twisted that they threw an elderly man into a den of lions as the public peered over the ledge of the pit.

• Daniel found himself surrounded by blood-thirsty lions with no escape. He wasn't armed with a sword, shield, or catnip.

• He had nothing except his wrinkled fists and his faith in God. It sounds like the odds are stacked against him, but that's all he needed.

• When Daniel was surrounded by predators, God protected him.

• An angel visited to shut the mouths of the lions.

• When Daniel was trapped, surrounded, and overwhelmed, his faith made him fearless.

• His personal relationship with God protected him.

• You will find yourself in a pit like Daniel one day -- surrounded by lions with no escape.

• I am not talking about literal lions here, but metaphorical ones can be just as frightening.

• Perhaps you feel trapped in a pit surrounded by:

• Helplessness

• Doubt

• Apathy

• Stress

• Loneliness

• Rejection

• Abandonment.

• All of these can feel like blood-thirsty beasts circling you while you cower in the corner. However, God is stronger.

• To God, a lion is just a kitten.

• To God, stress is just a place to bring peace.

• To God, every impossible circumstance is a chance for Him to show up and show off.

• God protected Daniel, and God will protect you too.

• God shut the mouths of the lions for Daniel, and he can do the same for the lions you're facing too.

• A bold life is marked by perseverance and protection, but what does that look like in daily practice? This brings us to our closing point of the series.

• A bold life is a life of prayer.

THREE: Prayer

• Prayer is the key to unlocking a life of boldness. While surrounded by flesh-eating lions, Daniel prayed.

• His prayer ultimately protected him. In order for us to live bold lives, we must admit that we cannot do it on our own.

• We need God's intervention, presence, and empowerment.

• The moment Daniel found himself in a difficult situation, he prayed.

• How could he pray to God so calmly while hearing the low roars of lions?

• Because Daniel had learned how to rely on God's presence.

• He knew He wasn't praying and pleading with a distant God.

• God's presence was right there in the pit.

• I assume that mindset dramatically changed Daniel's approach to prayer.

Landing:

• God was with Daniel in the lion's den. He's with you too.

• You aren't promised a life free of pain, but you are promised His presence.

• God will be with you through it all.

• Daniel prayed in the pit while surrounded by blood-thirsty beasts.

• Do the same.

• When you pray, you aren't praying to a distant God hidden in the darkness of the universe. Not at all.

• You are praying to a God who is present with you.

• Even if you are in a pit with lions, God is present.

• Even if you have a hard time feeling it, God is present.

• Even when heartache throbs like a lion bite, God is present.

• Trust God. Focus on His nearness. He will come closer to you. He will be with you.

• He will protect you.

• That's the power of a bold life.

TALK IT OUT 

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week and what was the lowest part of your week?

1. What’s one thing that stood out to you about Daniel in today’s message?

2. Have you ever been condemned, made fun of, or rejected because of your faith? How did you respond?

3. What might help us persevere in our faith when we face pushback or difficult situations?

4. What should the prayer life of a bold Christian look like?

Application: Commit to praying every day this week for boldness in your faith. When can you commit to praying on a daily basis? Is there anything else Daniel has inspired you to pray for?

READING PLAN

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Ephesians 6:10-20 

Psalm 106:19-23 

1 Timothy: 1-7 

Matthew 5:43-48

Colossians 3:1-17

Colossians 4:2-6  1

Peter 3:8

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary. REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.