RespondingCorrectly toAuthority

We Should Recognize Authority As a general rule, God calls believers to submit themselves to

human authority in:the home,the church,their workplace,and civic life (1st Peter 1:13-14)

But what should our response be when those in leadership make ungodly decisions—or worse, command us to disobey ?

To answer that question, let’s look at how Daniel interacted with the pagan kings he served

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

Let’s Read Daniel Chapter 1

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

1. Request Permission to Do Something ElseHow are Daniel and his friends described (Daniel 1:3-4)?○ The king’s food was spiritually unclean for Daniel because it was not

prepared according to Jewish dietary laws

What can you learn from this passage about how to operate under authority (Daniel 1:9-13)?

What is the outcome of Daniel’s request (Daniel 1:15-16)?

“It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” Do you agree with this statement? Do you feel it is a biblical one?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

Let’s Read Daniel Chapter 3

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

2. Obey God Regardless of the Possible Consequences In Daniel 3:1-5, Nebuchadnezzar required everyone to worship an idol,

something God had expressly forbidden (Exodus 20:2)

What was the punishment for disobedience (vv. 6)?

What’s impressive about the Hebrew men’s response to the king’s demand (vv. 17-18)?

What can you learn from their approach about how to react when commanded to do something unethical, immoral, or blasphemous?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

2. Obey God Regardless of the Possible ConsequencesThe fourth man in the fire, whose appearance is “…like the Son of God”

(v. 25), was most likely the pre-incarnate Messiah—that is, the Son of God before He took on human flesh and the name

What is Nebuchadnezzar’s response when Daniel and his friends emerge from the fire unharmed (vv. 28-30)?

Have you ever been asked by an authority figure to do something you knew was wrong?○ Describe what happened

How is God honored when believers refuse to participate in wrongdoing (1st Peter 2:12)?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

3. Serve in a Godly and Quiet MannerDuring the majority of Daniel’s lifetime, he did not directly

address the ungodly practices of the culture around him. Instead, he lived a godly life in submission to the existing authority structure

Why did Nebuchadnezzar initially promote Daniel to leadership (Dan 1:17-21)?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

Let’s Read Daniel Chapters 2 and 6

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

3. Serve in a Godly and Quiet MannerDaniel’s career advanced again after he interpreted one of the king’s

dreams (Dan 2:48-49)

Why did the king appoint three commissioners/presidents over the satraps (Dan 6:1-2)?

Why was Daniel able to distinguish himself (Dan 6:3)?

What did King Darius plan to do (Dan 6:3)?

How did Daniel’s enemies plot to discredit him (Dan 6:4-5)?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

3. Serve in a Godly and Quiet Manner Though Daniel knew about the edict against prayer, he knelt before

anyway (Dan 6:10)

How is Daniel’s life described during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus (Dan 6:28)?

Do you live or work under authority figures who act contrary to scriptural principles?

What can you learn from Daniel’s example?

Note: In general, believers should practice their faith openly. But in countries that persecute Christians, most believers wisely gather in secret

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

Let’s Read Daniel Chapter 5

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

4. Speak Out Against Moral and Spiritual WrongsSometimes we are called to speak the truth, even when it’s unpopular.

called Daniel to rebuke King Belshazzar for blasphemy

What had Belshazzar done (Dan 5: 1-4)?

Belshazzar didn’t recognize Daniel’s interpretive gifts until he was told about them (vv. 11-12). What does this reveal about the king?

Describe why Belshazzar should have known better than to exalt himself (vv. 18-23)

What was the meaning of the writing on the wall (vv. 25-28)?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

4. Speak Out Against Moral and Spiritual WrongsDaniel’s prophesy came true immediately (Dan 5:30-31). While the

Babylonians feasted, their enemies diverted the Euphrates and entered the city through the dry river bed

Notice that Daniel, as a young captive, didn’t rebuke Nebuchadnezzar for removing the sacred items from the temple (Dan 1:2). Later, called him to rebuke and correct kings

What specific circumstances prompted Daniel to correct Belshazzar?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

4. Speak Out Against Moral and Spiritual WrongsDaniel waited on God’s method and timing to rebuke

Belshazzar. Be sensitive to the Spirit when you feel the need to right a wrong, and ask the Father to guide you in how to proceed effectively

What can you do to speak out for justice and righteousness in your family, neighborhood, city, or nation?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

Let’s Read Daniel Chapter 9

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

5. Pray for God’s Will to be Done!This is probably the single most important action you can

take. Let’s analyze Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9, which concerns the Jewish people and their exile in a foreign land

What prompts his prayer (v. 2)?

How does he begin his prayer (v. 4)?

What is surprising about his confession (vv. 5-16)?

Godly Responses to Unrighteous Commands

5. Pray for God’s Will to be Done!To what does he attribute the calamity that has fallen on his

people (vv. 11-14)?

Why does he ask to deliver them (vv. 18-19)?

What could you apply from Daniel 9 about how to intercede for your family, church, or nation?

Bonus 1(or, “Things that I Think Of”)

Are you familiar with John 3:16?Let’s take a look at Malachi 3:16

Then they that feared spake often one to another: and hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared , and that thought upon his name.

Malachi 3:16

Bonus 2(or, “Other Things that I Think Of”)

A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus. "I got fired," said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation. Baity's troubles began during the week of May 31. He said a House clerk asked to see his prayer. The invocation including prayers for our military, state lawmakers and a petition to God asking him to bless North Carolina. "When I handed it to the lady, I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word Jesus," he told FOX News Radio. "She said 'We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.'"

The problem with all of this? Just Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24; and Luke 4:34

Demons don’t like to hear the name of !!

Bonus 2(or, “Other Things that I Think Of”)

Maybe he should have ended his prayer like this:

“…in the name of the Savior Whose Enemies Prefer He Not Be Named”