Exiles Make Prayer a Mission

Warren Brosi

10-15-23

Dominant Thought: Christian prayer declares our allegiance to the kingdom mission of the Living God.

Objectives:

I want my listeners to realize prayer is a primary way to advance God’s mission.

I want my listeners to be inspired to pray for the communities they call home.

I want my listeners to choose a tangible way to pray for their community.

Exiles make prayer a mission. I think of the shows and movies that stated in an ominous voice, “Your mission should you choose to accept it.”

Jeremiah 29.7, "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Based on this verse, I started asking community leaders and what do our communities need. Where should we focus our prayer attention. The first person I asked at the village hall in New Berlin answered, Peace. People everywhere need peace. God knew what He was talking about when He instructed Jeremiah to seek peace and prosperity of the city and to pray for the city where you live as an exile.

Another request we received from Pleasant Plains was: Grayson Robinson. Grayson Robinson is just two years old and was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.

As we look at this passage from Daniel 6, we’ll look at three benefits for prayer.

First, prayer centers our character.

Daniel distinguished himself as a lead administrator with exceptional qualities and was on track to be leader over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6.1-2). The other leaders were jealous and envious of Daniel’s skills and promotion. They tried to find ground to bring charges against him, but were unable to do so. “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6.4).

One of the practices of resilient disciples that David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock identify in Faith for Exiles is “to ground and motivate and ambitious generation, train for vocational discipleship.” In their research, the identified the following convictions:

Resilient disciples are God-centered in their thinking about work and calling (94%). 87% believe God designs each person with a unique calling for their life.

Resilient disciples believe integrity in the workplace matters, no matter the type of work (89%).

Colossians 3:22–24 ESV

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Second, prayer aligns our allegiance.

Daniel’s prayer life appears simple and consistent. Listen to how it is described in Daniel 6.10-11.

He prayed three times a day.

He got down on his knees. (Daniel is an older man in his 80’s at this time).

He gave thanks to God.

He asked God for help.

Daniel prayed “toward Jerusalem” (Daniel 6.10). While living in one of the most luxuriant cities of the ancient world, Babylon, Daniel remembered where his true allegiance to His God. Jerusalem was slowly coming back after Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed it a couple generations earlier. Jerusalem was the center for the throne of God. His daily prayers toward Jerusalem reminded him of his allegiance to the the God of David, Abraham, and Isaac.

“Daniel’s prayer life kept him in touch with a higher authority than Darius, and no edict would change that, not even “the laws of the Medes and Persians” (Christopher Wright, Hearing the Message of Daniel, p. 141).

Third, prayer empowers our mission.

Daniel did not back down from the king’s edict. What did Daniel pray about? He thanked God and asked God for help.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 NIV

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

“The prayer of God’s people is for the good of the world, not just the church” (Christopher Wright, Hearing the Message of Daniel, p. 142).

What are some ways you want to pray differently and better? Maybe you want to try kneeling prayer like Daniel. Maybe you want to record more thanks in your prayers before you ask God for help. Maybe you want to pray with people in person and ask God’s guidance and blessing. You can advance God mission to bless people with the love of Jesus through your prayers.

As we look at Darius, we see glimpses of Pontius Pilate in the story of Jesus. Both were governing rulers. Both encounter righteous men. Darius “was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him” (Daniel 6.14). Pilate “took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood’” (Matthew 27.24). Darius sent Daniel to the lion’s den. Pilate had Jesus flogged and sent to the cross. God saved Daniel from the lions, but Jesus endured the cross before His divine rescue.

On the cross Jesus quotes Psalm 22.1, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me” (Matthew 27.46). If continue reading Psalm 22 which Jesus would have intended, we hear more words from David.

Psalm 22:13 NIV

Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.

Psalm 22:21 NIV

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

Interesting that Psalm 22 which was fulfilled on the cross mentions lions.

Jesus endured the cross and was buried in a tomb. Then, in Matthew 27.66, at the orders of Pilate the tomb of Jesus was made secure by putting a seal on the stone. Similar to the stone that was placed over the cave/den of the lions in Daniel 6. In Daniel 6.19, we read, “At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den…Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?” God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel is alive and well.

In Matthew 28, we read echoes from Daniel 6, “at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There’s an earthquake and an angel. Both Darius and the women go to a place expecting death and in both places they find life.

Christian prayer declares our allegiance to the kingdom mission of the Living God.

Daniel 6 closes with an affirmation similar to Nebuchadnezzar where Darius issues a “decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. ‘For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His kingdom will never end’” (Daniel 6.26).