(Read Daniel 6:26-28)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Last Friday I introduced you to this passage and I told you there was too much here to deal with in one day. Friday’s message was entitled, “The Test is Part of the Process”. Let’s go back to this passage this today and see what the Lord says.
The Bible says, “I am making a new law. This law is for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the God of Daniel. Daniel’s God is the living God; he lives forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His rule will never end. God helps and saves people. He does amazing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the lions. So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.”
So what does this mean to you today? I will attempt to tell you by focusing on the words, “God helps and saves people.”
1. Our God helps and saves people.
a) After hearing about what God did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and after seeing (with his own eyes) God save Daniel from the lion’s den, King Darius said, “God helps and saves people.”
b) Many are quick to acknowledge the fact that God saves. He saved the Hebrew Boys from the fiery furnace and Daniel from the lions, but our God does not just save. We serve a God who also helps. He will save you when you are in a dire situation, but He will also help you every day, in every way.
c) God is powerful enough to save, but He is also loving enough to help. While there is clearly nothing too big for God, because of His power. There is also nothing too small for God, because of His love.
2. Our God helps and saves people by grace.
a) God did not save Daniel from the lion’s den because Daniel somehow earned it. No, while Daniel was clearly an exceptional man and a dedicated servant, Daniel did not earn God’s blessing. God did what He did for Daniel because of His grace.
b) We can never earn or deserve what God does for us. What could we do to earn Jesus’ sacrifice? What could do to earn God’s favor? What could we do to earn the assignment God gave us before the world began? No, God’s blessings are not earned, they are simply received, because they are a gift given by grace.
c) You don’t work FOR grace, you work BY grace. You don’t work hard to earn God’s goodness, you work hard because of God’s goodness towards you. Paul said, “If by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). If you earned it, then it is payment and not a gift given by grace.
3. Our God helps and saves people on purpose.
a) Our God is a purposeful God who does all He does for a reason and with His purpose in mind.
b) God’s purpose for your life is fixed and it was established before the foundations of the world.
c) You were born when and where you were born, because of WHY you were born – God’s divine purpose.
d) God allocated you the grace for your purpose before the world began. Everything you need to become the person God called you to be is IN you.
e) God often steps in to protect you for your purpose. He does this because He loves you and because He is committed to the plans He made for you.
4. Our God helps and saves people as a witness.
a) God will help and save you in a very public way, so that people can see and acknowledge His power and love.
b) King Darius was able to see God’s power and love manifested in the lion’s den. This left a lasting impact on the king.
c) King Darius was so impacted by God’s protection of Daniel that he, a secular non-Jew, signed a new law stating, “Daniel’s God is the living God; he lives forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His rule will never end. God helps and saves people.”
d) God will help and save you so people in the earth can SEE His goodness and call on His name!
e) When God does something for you, don’t keep it to yourself. He wants you to tell the world of His goodness, kindness, mercy, love and grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. For years I put more emphasis on my faith than Your grace. Studying Your grace is taking a great deal of the pressure off of me and I am now able to simply receive, by faith, all You want to do in my life. Your grace fuels my faith. You are a God who helps and saves people. You have saved me and I believe You will continue to save me for my purpose, whenever I am facing a situation that is dire and dangerous. However, Your love and power are not reserved for those occasions ONLY. You also help me. You help me every day, in every way. While there is nothing too big for you, there is nothing too small for You either. You love me, You are committed to the plans You made for me before the world began, and You want me to get You involved in every area of my life. Nothing too big, nothing too small, You are my Lord and You are the Lord of all! So Father, I love You, I worship You, I adore You, and I honor You with my life and living. As You bless me richly, the world will see it, the church will be edified, You will be glorified, and satan will be horrified! Because You are a God who helps and saves people. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
