The LORD Protects You in the Lions’ Den

First Sunday of End Time- Reformation Sunday

Do Not Fear any Created Being
Be Bold!
Trust in His Deliverance

SERMON TEXT: Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23

Now, when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house. It had windows on its upper story that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times each day he would get on his knees and pray and offer praise before his God. He continued to do that just as he had been doing before this. Then these men came as a group and found Daniel praying and seeking favor from his God. Then they went and said to the king concerning the decree, “Your Majesty, did you not sign a decree that anyone who prays to any god or person for thirty days except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “Indeed I did. The command is like the law of the Medes and the Persians that cannot be revoked.” Then the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the pit and the king sealed it with his signet ring and the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel’s situation. Then the king went to his palace. He spent the night without food, and no entertainment was brought before him, and he could not sleep. Then at dawn the king arose as soon as it was light and hurried to the lions’ den. As he came near the pit, he cried out in a fearful voice. The king said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, your God whom you serve continually: Was he able to rescue you from the lions’ den?” Then Daniel spoke with the king, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me because he found me innocent before him. Also before you, Your Majesty, I have committed no crime.” Then the king was very glad, and said that Daniel should be brought up from the pit. So Daniel was brought up from the pit, and he was unharmed because he trusted in his God.

Bible Readings

FIRST LESSON: See Sermon Text

SECOND LESSON: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Make every effort to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this present world, has forsaken me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did. You be on your guard against him also, because he vehemently opposed our message. At my first hearing, no one came to my defense, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles would hear it, and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY: John 8:31,32

If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

GOSPEL: Matthew 10:16-23

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on guard against people. They will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought into the presence of governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Whenever they hand you over, do not be worried about how you will respond or what you will say, because what you say will be given to you in that hour. In fact you will not be the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you. “Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father will do the same with his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all people because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. And when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Amen I tell you: You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”