Daniel 6:22-23 (NKJV) 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.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.The world is like a “lions’ den” because it is getting more anti-Christian in its values every day. We may not be persecuted physically but we are facing a barrage of practices that are against our principles and values. We need to learn to lead and live in a lions’ den with the grace of God and show the world that there is a different way.
The family sphere is the most important among the seven spheres of influence because it is the most basic unit of society. When the family unit deteriorates, the whole society is thrown into chaos. Most of us will put a lot of emphasis on our children’s education and their physical development, but sadly we neglect the spiritual aspect of their walk with the Lord such as quiet time, prayer, worship, Christian values, sanctification, and consecration.
1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil wants to kill, steal and destroy our lives like a lion walking around to see whom it can devour. IF we do not teach our children the biblical way, then it is like throwing our children to the lions and letting the lions devour them as they please!
We as parents, need to model our walk with the Lord to our children and teach them not to conform to the world, starting at the formative years of their lives. It is more difficult to change a teenager, although through prayers all things are possible with God.
There are not many characters in the Old Testament who ended well in their lives. Daniel was able to stand up for his faith from when he was 15 years old. Now at the age of 80 years in this passage above, he was still able to hold onto his values despite the pressures he faced in the palace. Daniel must have had very good parents who instilled the importance of the fear of God in his life. May we be encouraged to be like Daniel in the marketplace and also bring up our children with the same attitude, values and outlook on life.
Sermon Series: The Daniels of Today (Part 3)
在狮子坑里生活与带领
但以理书 6:22-23 22 我的神差遣使者，封住狮子的口，叫狮子不伤我；因我在神面前无辜，我在王面前也没有行过亏损的事。 23 王就甚喜乐，吩咐人将但以理从坑里系上来。于是但以理从坑里被系上来，身上毫无伤损，因为信靠他的神。
这个世界就像“狮子坑”，因为它的价值观每天都在变得越来越反基督教。 我们可能不会受到身体上的迫害，但是我们面临着违反我们的原则和价值观的各种习俗，我们需用上帝的恩典，在狮子的巢穴中生活并学会带领，向世界展示还有另一个不同的方法。
家庭领域是七个影响领域中最重要的领域，因为它是社会的最基本单位。 当家庭单元恶化时，整个社会就会陷入混乱。 我们大多数人都将重点放在孩子们的教育和身体发育上，但可悲的是忽略了他们属灵方面的与上帝同行，例如安静的时间，祈祷，敬拜，基督教价值观，成圣和奉献。
彼得前书 5:8-9 8 务要谨守，警醒。因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。 9 你们要用坚固的信心抵挡他，因为知道你们在世上的众弟兄也是经历这样的苦难。
魔鬼想要像狮子走来走去看看牠能吞噬谁，杀死，偷窃和摧毁我们的生活。 如果我们不按照圣经的方式教导我们的孩子，那就有如把我们的孩子扔到狮群之中，让狮子任意吞噬他们一样!
作为父母，我们需要从孩子的成年开始，就仿效我们与上帝同行的步伐，并教导他们不要顺应这世界。尽管改变一个十几岁的少年会比较困难，但是藉着我们的祷告，靠着神，一切皆有可能。
在旧约中，只有不多的几个人能够做到善始善终。但以理在15岁的时候就能坚守他的信仰，写下这段经文时他已达80高龄，面对宫中的巨大压力，他依旧持守自己的价值观。能让但以理那么的敬畏上帝， 他必定有一对非常好的父母将敬畏上帝的重要性灌输到他的生命中。希望我们受到鼓舞，努力在职场上像但以理一样，以同样的态度，价值观和人生观抚养我们的孩子。
讲章系列： 当今时代的但以理 （第三部分）