This Week’s Experience – 4/5/2020

Belshazzar gave a command for Daniel to be made the third most powerful man in his kingdom and to be given a purple robe and a gold chain. That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed. And Darius the Mede was given reign over Babylon at the age of sixty-two.
-Daniel 5:29-31

Darius thought it would be a good idea to choose one hundred twenty governors who would rule his kingdom. He chose three men as supervisors over those governors, and Daniel was one of the supervisors. The supervisors were to ensure that the governors did not try to cheat the king.
-Daniel 6:1-2

Daniel showed that he could do the work better than the other supervisors and governors, so the king planned to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom. Because of this, the other supervisors and governors tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel about his work in the government. But they could not find anything wrong with him or any reason to accuse him, because he was trustworthy and not lazy or dishonest. Finally these men said, “We will never find any reason to accuse Daniel unless it is about the law of his God.”
-Daniel 6:3-5

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
-Daniel 6:10

Darius ordered Daniel to be brought out and thrown into a pit of lions. But he said to Daniel, “You have been faithful to your God, and I pray that he will rescue you.”… All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him. At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever!  My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me. He did this because I did not wrong you, I am innocent in his sight as I should be in yours, O king.
-Daniel 6:16, 18-22

I command everyone in my kingdom to worship and honor the God of Daniel. He is the living God, the one who lives forever. His power and his kingdom will never end.
-Daniel 6:26

As I continued to watch the vision that night, I saw what looked like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, and he was presented to the Eternal God.  He was crowned king and was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
-Daniel 7:13-14

LIFE APPLICATION
To discuss during the week with your family or Life Group

1.     How do you respond under pressure?

2.     Of the 4 ways Gilbert shared that you can become anti-fragile, which one do you struggle with the most? What can you do about that?

3.     What amazes you most about Daniel, either from this message or in the series? Why? Is that something you can emulate?  How?

4.     What is your next step as a result of this message?