Introduction 

“Not sir but servant” – servant leadership exemplified

How did a pagan king characterise Daniel? Servant of the living God! (v.20)

When we truly serve the King, we will be:

A. FAITHFUL IN STEWARDSHIP (vv.1-5)

Daniel the servant of the living God was not a church worker but a civil servant!

King Darius expected his satraps to be corrupt, but he trusted Daniel to be full of integrity.

Daniel repaid this trust by wisely and righteously managing the king’s resources, serving without fear or favour.

Four areas of stewardship: work, ministry, family and self

B. STEADY UNDER FIRE (vv.6-13)

Before Daniel was thrown into den of lions, he was living in a pit of vipers! He was overseeing officials who wanted to take him down.

Daniel knew what to do when under fire: he stepped out of the king’s palace, and came before the throne of the True King.

Daniel had spent a lifetime forming his habits, and was now formed by his habits. Will we allow God to shape our spiritual habits, or will we allow the world to do so?

4 aspects of Daniel’s counter-cultural habit of prayer (vv.10-11): reverence, rhythm, rejoicing and requests.

C. SAFE IN GOD’S HANDS (vv.14-28)

Dramatic tension: the king was in despair (vv.16-17). But Daniel was delivered supernaturally, and didn’t become the lions’ Deliveroo dinner!

What does the story of Daniel’s deliverance mean for us today? We must beware two extremes: presumptuous faith and cynical doubt.