"Daniel Prayed"
Daniel 6:10
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Introduction: To set the stage for the message today let me say that it is more difficult today to live a Christian life that it ever has been as far as I'm concerned. We are living in a cultural atmosphere that is increasing toxic and intolerant of the Christian faith. Make no mistake our culture doesn't a mind a weak, watered down, worthless religion but it does mind a strong, vibrant, active faith that expresses itself in strong convictions and straight conduct. Daniel had lived in a foreign culture for many years...65 as prime minister under several different kings...that was not friendly to people of faith. We can learn much from the way he handled himself that we can use today. Most of us are familiar with the narrative of Daniel in the lion's den. Today I want to share some thoughts about his life and experience. First:
I. The Character of a Man of Prayer
a. Daniel's enemies recognized the excellence of his character v. 3
Before you and I can talk about someone's conduct we need to examine their character. Daniel was a man of character and believe me that was just as difficult in his day as it is in ours. "Someone has said that reputation is what men say about you and character is what you are when you are alone." Even these pagans recognized the excellence of Daniel's character. Even they could see that there was something different about him. They didn't like it but they could see the difference! I hope that is true of you and I. Folks may not like what they see that makes us different but at least they can see that we are different!
b. Daniel's enemies could not find fault with his conduct v. 4
There is a word in the Bible that is used to describe the kind of conduct we should have. It is the word "blameless," which means to be free from censure or simply put, not chargeable by anyone.
Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
The believer is called to live in such a way as to attain the quality of blamelessness. In these cases, it is evident that blamelessness refers to public respectability as an outgrowth of private moral character. Christians must "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him" (2 Peter 3:14). By growing in discernment and avoiding a critical spirit, believers can become "pure and blameless" in an age marked by wickedness (Php 1:10 ; 2:14-15 ).
c. Daniel's enemies saw his faith as his weakness v. 5
What we would see as a strength Daniel's enemies saw as his only area of weakness! Amazing isn't it that the world has this opinion.
II. The Challenges for a Man of Prayer
a. Daniel faced pressure from the culture
Like ours, Daniel's culture was not neutral or tolerant but openly antagonistic towards people of faith. Daniel's enemies were using the legal system to attack him personally through his faith. Notice what we read in verses 6-9:
Daniel 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
They weren't out to just hurt him or harm him, they were out to destroy him!
b. Daniel faced the pressure to compromise
Daniel practiced his faith openly without apology. Notice in verse 10 it says "...his windows being open..." Today our culture wants the Christian to keep his faith within the "four walls of the church," but by the very nature of our calling we cannot do this. To compromise is to deny our Lord. Remember that He said that if we deny Him he will deny us and that if we are ashamed of Him he will be ashamed of us?
c. Daniel faced the pressure of false claims
Daniel's enemies were guilty of spreading misinformation and outright falsehoods about him. In verse 13 they accuse Daniel of not "...regarding King Darius or his decrees..." Nothing could have been further from the truth. Being a Christian means being a good citizen!
III. The Consequences for a Man of Prayer
a. Daniel received a great deliverance
In verses 16-28 we have the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say. This senior saint was placed in the lion's den and spent the night "sleeping like a baby!" I believe Daniel used one of those big ole lions for a pillow! (My words not the Scripture.) The next morning not a hair on his head was disturbed. Verse 23b says, "So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
b. Daniel makes a great declaration
Daniel is able to give a witness to the faithfulness of God, the providence of God and the power of God! He is able to contrast the difference between Jehovah and the gods of the Medians and the Persians. We have that same opportunity today. We can herald the truth that our God is different from the Gods of this world.
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me...
c. Daniel provides the inspiration for a great decree
In verses 25-28 we the record of the decree of King Darius. Listen to the words of this pagan king:
Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Conclusion: The day is coming when there will not be any room for compromise. Christian convictions are being challenged on every hand. Daniel changed the culture he lived in for God and for good because he was willing to take a stand. We need men who will do the same. Will you be one of those men?
PRAYER WORKS
George Muller was born in Prussia on September 27, 1805. His father was a collector of taxes and George seemed to inherit his father's ability with figures.
When Muller was converted to Christ he was impressed by the many recurring statements of Jesus for us "to ask." At this point in Muller's life he and his wife launched into a daring experiment. First, they gave away all of their household goods. The next step was even more daring, he refused all regular salary from the small mission he had been serving. He then set out to establish an orphan home to care for the homeless children of England.
The first home was dedicated in a rented building on April 21, 1836. Within a matter of days, 43 orphans were being cared for. Muller and his co-workers decided their experiment would be set up with the following guidelines:
1- No funds would ever be solicited.
2- No debts were ever to be incurred.
3- No money contributed for a specific purpose would ever be used for any other purpose.
4- All accounts would be audited annually.
5- No ego-pandering by the publication of donor's names.
6- No "names" of prominent people would be sought for the board or to advertise the institution.
7- The success of the orphanage would be measured not by the numbers served or by the amount of money taken in, but by God's blessing on the work, which Muller expected to be in direct proportion to the time spent in prayer.
When the first building was constructed, Muller and his friends remained true to their convictions. The public was amazed when a second building was opened six months after the first. They kept concentrating on prayer and eventually there were five new buildings, 110 workers, and 2,050 orphans being cared for.
George Muller not only counted on God to provide, but he believed that God would provide abundantly. For over 60 years Muller recorded every specific prayer request and the results. Muller was responsible for the care of 9,500 orphans during his life. These children never went without a meal. Muller never asked for help from anyone but God. $7,500,000 came to him over the course of his life and he vows it was all in answer to believing prayer.
SOURCE: Steve Shepherd. Citation: Boyce Mouton, Carl Junction Christian Church Newsletter, January 30, 1980.
