A Specific Place and Time to Pray
Daniel Speaks to Us Today Series
By Greg Johnson
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Daniel 6
Have you ever been placed in a situation where you knew that your obedience to God would bring you trouble? Daniel chapter 6 describes to us a situation that Daniel was in that did not sway his devotion, obedience and service to God. God did not save Daniel from the lions; God saved Daniel out of the lions. Rest assured beloved, that as you serve God in total obedience, God will save you out of your trouble and vindicate you before those that meant to cause you harm.
A TRAP SET
God’s Word says (Daniel 6:1-9 NIV) "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 the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O 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 man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. {8} Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." {9} So King Darius put the decree in writing."
Notice first of all that Daniel was “trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4). This is the testimony of an individual that is serving God in total obedience. His enemies could find no corruption whatsoever in him. Perhaps it was the direct result of Daniel’s prayer life. Daniel had a solid prayer life. As we read Daniel 6, we find out that Daniel had a specific place and time where he prayed. He allowed nothing, absolutely nothing to interfere with his prayer time. No wonder they could find no corruption in him. He was very close to God and the fruit of his life spoke of his relationship with God.
Secondly, notice that the Godly fruit that was produce in Daniel through prayer gave him favor in the workplace. He was just about to be promoted by the king over the whole kingdom. This proves that it is possible to live for God in the workplace and still advance for the Bible teaches us that promotion comes from the Lord and not from man. What would happen in society if people would bloom where they are planted and produce Godly fruit instead of laboring for promotion at any cost? Just a thought…..
Thirdly, notice that not everyone in the workplace was happy with Daniel’s success. Some were jealous. They could not find any fault with Daniel, so they set a trap for him.
Daniel here typifies and points to Jesus Christ. Jesus was a person of prayer. Jesus was faultless and that made the religionist of his day nervous and jealous. They falsely accused Him and set a trap for Him in order to have Him arrested.
PROPER REACTION RESULTING FROM LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER
Now notice with me Daniel’s reaction. (Daniel 6:10 NIV) "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 continued to faithfully serve God and others. He did not defend himself. He did not retaliate. He stayed humble and kept a sweet spirit. Just like Jesus did when he was arrested and taken before the ones in authority. He opened not His mouth.
This type of reaction can only be matured and developed in the prayer closet. Daniel was a person of prayer. Jesus was a person of prayer. Beloved, prayer will give us a humble and sweet spirit in the midst of tribulation and persecution.
GOD VINDICATED DANIEL
The rest of Daniel chapter 6 speaks of God’s vindication of Daniel. Daniel was placed in a lions den to be devoured. A stone was placed over the mouth of the den so that neither Daniel nor the lions could get out. The next morning the stone was removed and Daniel was alive and well. God did not save Daniel from the lions den; He saved him out of the lions den.
Jesus died on an old rugged cross for our sins. He was placed in a tomb and a stone was rolled over the entrance. Three days later, Jesus came out of the tomb alive and well. God did not save Jesus from death; He saved Jesus out of death!
Beloved, God may not save you from trials and tribulation, but as you serve Him in total obedience, He will save you out of trials and tribulation. That’s the God that we serve. He supernaturally shuts the mouths of lions and He saves us out of death and into abundant life! Serve Him in total obedience. Be a person of prayer that has a specific place and time to meet God on a daily basis. God will produce fruit in you. God will fight your battles and will vindicate you. You will be blessed!
