Third Street Church 
Conference Call-Midweek Prayer and Bible Study
Wednesday, August 5, 2020 - 6pm

Introductions/ Welcome/ Opening  Prayer:  Pastor Reid

Opening Song:  Spirit Fall Down- Luther Barnes 
Spirit Holy Spirit Fall Fresh on Me… we need your Spirt Lord!! We are not worthy to call out your name.  But we are calling on the Spirit of the Living God. Fall Fresh on Me.

The Word: 
Daniel 6:1-28  English Standard Version  Daniel and the Lions' Den

The Plot Against Daniel
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement[a] to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
Daniel Saved From the Lions
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,for he is the living God, enduring forever;his kingdom shall never be destroyed,and his dominion shall be to the end.27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Key Terms: Satraps- Officials who administered a large regions call satrapies where were subdivided into provinces ruled by governors

 Reflection:

in Daniel chapter 6 we see Daniel and how he is thriving in exile. Darius is now king and he divided the kingdom into 120 provinces and set a leader (satrap) over each. Daniel was one of three administrators over the satraps and distinguished himself in such a way that Darius wanted to make him leader of all the administrators and satraps. All of Daniel’s success was built on his obedience and faithfulness to following the God of Israel. It was Daniel’s obedience that the other leaders used as a weapon when they want to keep him from advancing. Daniel was saved from the lions. The king declared the people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,for he is the living God…6:26   
 Guiding Questions for Bible Study Discussion

1.	What idea did the satraps and administrators bring to Darius solely to get Daniel in trouble? ( 6:7)
2.	What was Daniel’s response to the decree that he could not pray to anyone but Darius for 30 days? (6:10)
3.	What was Darius’ response when he found out Daniel had been praying to his God? 
4.	Who was Daniel told to call on to be delivered? (6:16) 
5.	 A __________ was placed at the mouth of the lion’s den. (6:17)
⁃	   6.   Daniel insists on his legal innocence and___________ were sent by God to do what? _________________________. (6:22). Reference Psalm 91:11
6.	  7. What did Darius do when he saw Daniel’s faithfulness to his God rewarded?(6:23)    What does his next decree focus on? (6:25)   
7.	  8. What does King Darius’s decree say about the sovereignty(strength, power) of God? ( 6:26-28)
8.	  9.It is unlikely we will be thrown into a lion’s den and then saved from being eaten by lions. What does it look like in our world to be rescued by God from danger? 
9.	 10. Daniel continued to do what he always done, praying 3 times a day. In these days of uncertainty, and challenges, how can we follow his example when we encounter rules that make it challenging to be faithful to how God has called us to live?

Apply God’s Word to your Life 
As Christians we must seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. We may often find ourselves in tension with the fact that we are called to love this world and those who live in it. Total disconnection is not the answer, we must find a way to be in the world, not of the world. 

What Inspires you these days? 
It may seem like there is little today to inspire us. Hold on to inspiration in the midst of troubling times. Where do you find inspiration and hope these days? A song, hymn, scripture or special reading? How has it inspired and encourages you? If you feel led, share with the group.

Faith in Action:. The physical church doors are closed but we are the distance church wherever we are. Give, share, pray, reach out.  Mission – Third Street Church is giving to the denominational offerings. This month , please give to mission offering of your choice, Crisis Assistance Ministries, Homeless Shelters, Red Cross,local schools,etc.  
We are the Church:  Reach out , text, call, email, US mail or virtual,  that is our mission as the Body of Christ. Our One Great Hour of Sharing Offering 

Evening Prayer-  Lift up people and  are in crisis , those that are under stress, lost love ones, those that are isolated, suffering. Share praise reports and joys, we give thanks for victories in Jesus Name…

Closing Song:   Encourage Yourself - Sherri Jones Moffett (YouTube)
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.  Sometimes you have to claim victory during the test. Sometimes you have to speak a work over yourself. ..No matter how you feel speak the words and you will be healed… I’m encouraged, I believe everything the Lord told me…

Closing Words and Blessing ……Pastor Reid

Thank you for joining our Mid-Week Bible Study and Prayer this week! Bible studies this month  August 12 and 19 at 6pm

With the Love of Christ,
Pastor Reid