SECRET POWER 0F PRAYER
Dan. 6:1-10
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: During a recent ecumenical gathering (meeting of many different denominations), a secretary rushed into the meeting shouting, “The building is on fire!"
1. The Methodists discussed sprinkling it out.
2. The Baptists said a river was necessary.
3. The Quakers quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.
4. The Jews posted symbols on the doors, hoping the fire would pass.
5. The Congregationalists shouted, "Every man for himself!"
6. The Calvinists said it was the will of God.
7. The Christian Scientists concluded there was no fire.
8. The Presbyterians appointed a committee to study the matter.
9. And the secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher & put the fire out.
B. WANTED: MEN/ WOMEN OF GOD (COURAGE)
God needs men/women of courage and guts in this hour, who will stand up against ungodliness in all its forms and declare the truth fearlessly, whatever the outcome might be. God needs men like Daniel who are fearless. Notice:
1. Daniel 2 -- The Chaldeans, magicians and the astrologers could not tell King Nebuchadnezzar his dream or the interpretation. They were all troubled. But Daniel touched heaven and brought back the answer and stood before the king.
2. Daniel 4 -- Later, with dauntless courage, Daniel interprets a dream of rebuke (Tree cut down) to the King, who might have killed him; "You, O King, shall be driven from among men, and eat grass like an ox and your body shall be wet with the dew of heaven, until your hair has grown... etc.
3. Daniel 5 -- Later, in terrible grandeur, Daniel came forth again on the last night of Belshazzar's reign (Hand writing on the wall), proclaiming the message of doom to the drunken King; "You are weighed in the balances and found lacking. Your reign is coming to an end; Your kingdom will be divided between the Medes and the Persians." Belshazzer died that night.
4. Daniel 6 -- Daniel's courage and consecration to God were tested. His character was tested. Would he obey & honor God or become "lion-chow?"
C. TEXT & TITLE
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:1-10.
TITLE: THE SECRET POWER OF PRAYER
I. PRAYER: THE SECRET OF DANIEL’S POWER
What made him so great before people? It's because he was great before his God – in prayer! Daniel was a “man of prayer.”
A. HE WENT TO HIS HOUSE TO PRAY
1. Though he was virtually Prime Minister, and extremely busy in the affairs of state, he still kept the habit of going to his house to pray 3x a day.
2. This showed a). How important prayer was to him, b). That his best praying was done in secret (prayer closet), and c). That Daniel considered prayer more important than all other business, since he interrupted his business, but not his prayers.
B. HABIT – PRAY 3X A DAY
1. Many believers pray morning and evening, but he prayed afternoons too.
2. We think we're too busy to pray three times or three hours a day, but he was set over an entire empire and must have felt he could not do his job without three hours of prayer!
C. HIS ACTIONS DEMONSTRATED:
1. Daniel knew that certain situations could only be resolved by prayer. Events did not revolve around Daniel, but God.
2. HUMOR
a. An adolescent boy was observed by a Pastor during Wednesday night church praying very fervently; but much to the preacher’s surprise, he was also heard to say from time to time: "Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo."
b. So preacher approached the boy after he had apparently finished his prayer and said, "Son, I was very pleased to see you praying so devoutly, but tell me, why did you keep saying ’Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo?"
c. The boy replied, "Well, you see sir, I took my geography test today in school, and I’m praying for the Lord to make Tokyo the Capital of France."
d. We DO have to pray in accordance with God’s will!
3. God was Daniel's lifeline. If Daniel pleased the King of Kings, he needn’t worry about the King of the Medes. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added to you as well" Matthew 6:33.
II. THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER
A. PRAYER: A CAPITAL CRIME
Suppose a law was passed -- "No praying during the month of June or you will face capital punishment!"
1. How many of you would pray publicly? Most would pray secretly!
2. Do you think the Prayer-meeting attendance would go down?
3. And Private Prayer -- What if there were a lot of informers and the great reward to turn people in? How many would still pray?
4. Some might say, "I wouldn't quit praying!" In Queen Mary of England's day, she burned Protestants. Many Protestants thought they were brave enough to face the fire, but when confronted, weren't as brave as they thought.
5. But should it ever come, I encourage you to go forward! Don't look back, as Lot's wife!
B. PRECIOUSNESS OF PRAYER
1. Imagine there was only one place we could pray! Only one place where our prayers would be heard by God. Mecca, Jeru…
a. All people would long to go there.
b. All people would hope to get there once in a lifetime; to make a pilgrimage there.
c. Once there, people would push, shove, and squeeze to get into that one place. But since we can pray anywhere, we take it for granted and neglect the privilege.
2. Suppose only one man could be heard by God. Billy G., etc.
a. All of us would try to get to that one man and ask him to pray for us.
b. He would have no rest, for millions would besiege him with requests. But now that we can all pray to God, prayer is little regarded!
3. Suppose no one could pray unless he paid for the privilege.
a. The poor would grumble.
b. How the middle class would meet to protest the discrimination!
c. And what huge amounts of money would be laid out! But now that prayer is free, it is lightly regarded.
C. IF A LAW AGAINST PRAYER:
Maybe a law against prayer would be good! Then people would do it more often!
III. DANIEL’S DECISION
A. DID DANIEL THINK THINGS WERE “OUT OF CONTROL?”
1. No! Does your situation seem out of control? It’s not!
2. Quit fighting it physically. Pray harder. Beseech God to handle it.
3. There is Power in Intercession!
4. NOTICE HIS HABIT OF PRAYER:
a. AGE. In his 80s -- yet he didn't feel he’d already prayed long enough.
b. GREATNESS. He was not too great to bow!
c. YEARS OF PRAYER. He didn't feel, with the many hours of prayer, he’d prayed his share.
B. SEE DANIEL’S COURAGE – AFTER THE DECREE
1. Daniel didn't alter his routine at all.
a. The TIME was the same.
b. The ATTITUDE was the same.
c. He OPENED his WINDOW as always.
d. He took NO PRECAUTIONS.
2. Daniel knew that God was in charge/control.
a. He knew God could handle the scheme of his enemies.
b. He knew that other Jews and Gentiles were watching him; he dared not flinch or show fear.
C. A LITTLE COMPROMISE – SO WHAT?
1. Daniel would not compromise! He could've compromised:
a. Not prayed for one month;
b. Could have prayed secretly.
2. The reason we have our Bibles and faith today is because men, who went before us, wouldn't compromise.
3. John Bunyan was brought before the magistrates who told him he must not preach! "But I will preach," he said, "I will preach tomorrow by the help of God."
"But you will be put in prison again." "Never mind, I will preach as soon as I get out."
"But you will be hanged or else in prison all your life." "If I lie in prison," he said, "till the moss grows upon my eyelids, I can say nothing more than this, that with God's help, I will preach whenever I get a chance!"
4. Some may say, "Daniel is too strict; he could've compromised and still pleased God." I say, "No!"
a. No! God is looking for exemplary people. God is looking for people who’ll set the standard. We don't need low standards, but high ones! “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chr. 16:9.
b. God is sick of compromisers. Compromising with sin is the order of the day. Modern Christians are too tolerant of homosexuality, abortion on demand, R-rated movies, living together, social drinking, etc. Revelations 3:16 says that compromise makes God want to vomit.
c. God wanted Daniel in the Lion's den! God showed He approved of it by delivering him. It's about time -- instead of kissing the devil, we punch him! No! Stand for something! Arrest the enemy, bind him, cast him out!
5. Did not God approve of his conduct? God rewarded him for standing alone for what was true!
6. If I were in the military and given a uniform, I'd wear it, lest I be thought a deserter! Act like a Christian and not a wimp!
IV. DANIEL’S DELIVERANCE
A. OUTCOME
1. Daniel was threatened with the Lion's Den, and he had to go into it.
2. Young person, you say, "I won't do what others are doing; I’m going to take a stand." I applaud you, but know that adversity will probably go with that decision. Difficult circumstances may be ahead; Expect it!
3. Men on the job, if you won't participate with the others in their pornography and dirty jokes, great! But be ready and willing to suffer for your stand! Some will face the lion's den, but God will bring you out without a scratch.
4. It's better to suffer for God and lose your position, than to compromise in order to get a promotion. A Christian should never show cowardice.
5. One Protestant during Queen Mary's reign denied his beliefs in order to avoid burning. But one month later he burned to death in his bed at home! You never do yourself a favor by denying the Lord.
B. DANIEL & HIS GOD WERE PROMOTED
1. Daniel was cast into the lion's den, but God sent His Angel to shut the lion's mouth.
2. The King stayed up all night, but Daniel slept soundly, using the lion for a pillow!
3. Daniel was delivered from the Lions, but the wicked men who accused him were eaten by them.
4. King Darius made a Decree (vs. 26-27) that the God of Daniel -- Jehovah -- should be honored throughout the Persian empire.
5. God promoted Daniel over all the others and He will promote you if you will stand for Him. But if we are cowardly, we’ll lose even the position we had.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Are You Waiting to be Called?
1. Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed.
2. He entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter. A sign said for applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.
3. He filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.
4. The other applicants wondering what was going on. They hadn't heard any summons yet.
5. A few minute later, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled."
6. The other applicants began grumbling, saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"
7. The employer said, "I'm sorry, but the last several minutes while you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."
8. We are so busy living in a world that is full of noise and clatter, like that office. Could it be that the quiet voice of God is speaking and that we’re not hearing the message?
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Many of you have problems and God has the answers. What’s needed is for you and I to go to God in serious prayer, wait on Him, and listen to His voice.
2. Will you give God your burdens? Will you throw yourself on the Almighty?
3. Daniel changed the course of his nation through prayer. Do you care enough for our Nation to intercede for it?
4. How many have a desperate need of prayer? Come forward. How many need to get your relationship right with God? How many need to make a new start with God?
5. Prayer.
