Scripture: Daniel 6:16-24
On this Resurrection Sunday, refuse to allow any daunting, haunting or taunting situation to threaten you because the same God that rose up Daniel, is the same God that rose up Jesus, and is the same God that wants to get you up.
Psalmist Darwin Hobbs sings: “God is able to do just what He said He would do. He’s gonna fulfill every promise to you. Don’t give up on God cause He won’t give up on you. He’s able.”
Darwin was suggesting that no matter how daunting, haunting or taunting the situation that threatens you and no matter what fiery furnace or lion den you may find yourself in this Resurrection Season, please remember God has the power to raise you up.
In Daniel 1, we find Daniel in the midst of some unfavorable times, yet the favor of God is on his life. This favor and blessing propelled him to the position of secretary of state and for Daniel, that is when his problems really emerged.
In Daniel 6:4, those whom realized that Daniel’s anointing was getting ready to elevate him, they started plotting to get him impeached from office. But Daniel was a man of character, integrity, accountability, and trustworthiness, hence, they could not charge him with corruption or negligence
In Daniel 6:5, because they could not get him in the physical, they went after him in the spiritual. If you are to rise this Resurrection Season, you must realize that the battle you are fighting is not physical, but spiritual. Daniel, who was unashamedly and unapologetically a devout follower of God, does not cease to pray or give thanks unto God.
Daniel 6:11-13 informs us that the devious men who were plotting against Daniel reminded the king of his decree that everyone was to bow down and worship him or be tossed into the lion’s den. The king, realizing he had been placed in a trick-bag, tried all day to save Daniel but to no avail. There are some situations that God will not allow anyone but Him to save, rescue, or deliver you.
As Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den, the king declared, “May your God whom you serve continually, rescue you.” In typical devil fashion, a stone was rolled in front of Daniel’s tomb (sounds familiar?), sealed with the king and nobles’ signature, a sign that what was on the inside was not to come outside.
Verse 18 states all that night the king could not rest. God is about to cause a restless spirit to fall on every intended and unintended enemy that would dare to rise up against you and your God.
Verse 19, pointing to Calvary, declares that early in the morning (it will be all over in the morning) the king made it down to the lion’s den and cried out, “Daniel, O Daniel, did the God you serve continually rescue you?” Daniel cried out, “My God that I serve continually dispatched an angel ahead of me.” You will never be aware of the danger headed your way because God has dispatched an angel to go ahead of you!
Eventually, the same king that ordered Daniel into the lion’s den, now ordered Daniel up out of the lion’s den. Another reason it will be all over in the morning is because the thing that is threatening to destroy you, God is going to elevate you above it.
In the beginning epilogue of verse 24, the men who falsely accused Daniel were tossed into the lion’s den and before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them, crushed them and broke all their bones. Yet, verse 28 shouts that Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and Cyrus
The lions should have broke Daniel, but God simply positioned Daniel to prosper and bounce back from it. It will be all over in the morning because the thing that is threatening to break you, God is going to position you to prosper and bounce back from it.
Bishop Sherman A. Gordon is the founding pastor of Family of Faith Christian Center in Long Beach. This sermon originally appeared in the March 26, 2010 issue of the L.A. Sentinel Religion section.
