No Matter What Series

NO MATTER WHAT

Daniel 6:10

S: Prayer—Persistence

Th: Live a Prayer Life (Prayer: A Passion for His Presence)

Pr: GOD’S PEOPLE KEEP PRAYING (NO MATTER WHAT).

?: Why?

KW: Reasons

TS: Since the example of Daniel demonstrates a determination to pray no matter what the circumstances, we will find three reasons why God’s people are to keep praying.

The ____ reason is to keep praying is…

I. COMPLIANCE

II. CAMARADERIE

III. CARE

Version: ESV

RMBC 08 September 02 AM

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if God were like an answering machine?

It might sound like this…

ILL Notebook: Answer (God’s answering machine)

If you would like to speak with Gabriel, press 1.

For Michael, press 2.

For any other angel, press 3.

If you want King David to sing you a psalm, press 4.

To find out if a relative or friend is here, enter his or her date of death and listen for the list that follows.

For reservations at the Father’s House, simply press the letters J-O-H-N on the key pad, followed by the numbers 3-1-6.

For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth and where Noah’s ark is… you have to wait until you get here.

The truth is, is that God is always available.

We never get a busy signal.

We can always come to Him freely.

TRANSITION:

This month is discipleship month, and it is during this time we give special attention to our theme for the year and how it relates to growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

Our theme this month is “Live a Prayer Life.”

You can’t miss it—the signs are all about the church.

Throughout this month, we are studying the prophet Daniel.

We are doing this because…

1. Daniel is our example of a “man of prayer.”

Last week, when we considered the story in Daniel 2, we saw that when Nebuchadnezzar was having trouble with understanding his dreams and decided to kill all the wise men for not knowing the dream or its meaning (which ended up including Daniel), Daniel called for a prayer meeting.

He knew there was strength in numbers when it came to prayer.

He knew it was time to get together.

And God answered them.

God gave Daniel knowledge of the dream and its meaning.

Today, we come to the 6th chapter:

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the presidents 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. 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.” Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents 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. 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.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. 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.

When we come to chapter 6, Daniel is an old man.

He has managed to make a positive impression on succeeding empires in Babylon, which included the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus and Darius.

Obviously…

2. He was a man of influence.

Under Darius, he has been a top official that has grown in his influence.

Now, even in his old age, he is up for a promotion, for the king has in mind to make him number two in the kingdom.

He was an influential man because he was an honest man…

ILL Notebook: Integrity (letter to IRS)