The Power of a life in Prayer

Prayer, Father we know you desire each of us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. And we know that your Word brings that transformation because it is able to pierce our hearts, it is able to discern our thoughts and the attitudes that we have within, and then call us to a new life. We know that the Word of God is what challenges us, transforms us, encourages us and builds us in the faith because faith comes from hearing, and hearing the Word of God. So help me Lord to speak your word with faithfulness, clarity, authority, passion, wisdom, humility and liberty. And would we all be faithful to respond how you would call us to.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This is the 3rd time this service we have referred to these words from the Apostle Paul to the Churches in Rome, and by extension, all followers of Christ for the age we find ourselves in. And today, I think this verse is an excellent outline for the sermon.

That by offering yourself to God you are worshiping Him.

Yesterday was moved deeply by the funeral we attended. Denny offered his life up to His God on a daily basis and his act of worship and his life of service to His God was an acceptable offering that pleased His God. His hospitality, faith and prayer life was testified to over and over again my many in attendance. It was beautiful to hear of a man who had lived it out to the point that Pastor Sue could use his life’s story as the sermon itself. May we all be able to have such words spoken about us after we leave this side of heaven. It really was a reflective moment for me as a follower of Christ. It was so beautiful to see the hope in the middle of heartache and grief.

And that is why we come together each and every Sunday and Wednesday… so that we can be encouraged in our faith journey. So that we can renew our minds so that we do not conform to the pattern of this world.

And today’s story in Daniel is another testimony of a man who’s life was dedicated to His God in worship. And specifically a testimony to the power of prayer as an act of our worship…

Turn with me to Daniel 6 this morning.

Recap where we are in the story…

Babylonian Captivity. Israel and Jerusalem were captured by Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azeriah were taken captive and put into the Kings service. Welcome to Babylon, Once in Babylon the enemy of our souls will try to conform us to this world…that the world is set up to assimilate us, isolate us, indoctrinate us, and confuse us so we don’t take a stand for God. But we are called to live counter culturally and take a stand for our God. But then, because Daniel and the boys did just that…trials came their way. They stood upon the word of God and they lived lives that honored God so God honored them. And he delivered them over and over again even from the fire. In God’s providence Babylon flourished, but then Nebuchadnezzar let it go to his head and the Lord humbled him for a season. After Nebuchadnezzar passed, the kingdom went through some transitions until his Grandson Belshazzar finally took over the throne and last week we looked at how the great babylon was captured and had fallen into the hands of the Medopersian Empire, led by Cyrus/Darius. The writing was on the wall…and Daniel was there through it all.

And that leads us to today…where in Daniel Chapter 6 we find a Daniel who is well into his 80’s at this point, but God wasn’t done with him yet. He still has more in store for this giant in the faith.

Daniel 6:1–10 NIV

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 was Disciplined in Prayer

Daniel 6:10 NIV

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.

I’ll be the first to admit, prayer is hard… but why is it so hard?

#1) It’s counter cultural. Our theme verse today is Romans 12:1-2…do not conform to the patterns of this world…but be transformed through the renewing of your mind.

Everything in our culture bucks against prayer. Don’t believe me, just sit down to a meal in a restaurant and begin praying before you eat…either out loud or quietly take a minute and bow before the meal. Do this over the course of a year and see how many times your interrupted by your waiter/waitress, OR look around at other tables and see how many others are not praying over their meals.

It’s not normal in our world anymore. Especially to pray in public. Now, we need to follow the advise of Jesus here and not make our public prayers a spectacle of how holy we are. And these shouldn’t be the only prayers we have…in public for our food…no we should have a private prayer life too, and that’s what was so powerful about Daniels prayer life. He was disciplined in prayer at home. He had regular times throughout his day where he would purposefully position himself in prayer so he could be with His God. And that leads us to the second point of why prayer is so hard…

#2) It’s Discipline. Discipline is something we do that helps us on our walk with Christ. It’s a process we undergo in order to grow, or to rid our lives of idolatry and selfs sufficientcy.

Knowledge comes from discipline. Physical fitness comes from discipline. Skill in art or music comes from discipline. Prayer first will be a discipline.

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

And so just as we should be disciplined in other areas of our life, we need to develop times and places to excersize our spiritual life through prayer.

Daniel did this with purpose. How are you doing? Are you setting aside regular time to pray…to seek God?

Daniel had 3 times a day he placed himself, he positioned himself to reconnect with God.

Tips:

-KISS

Pray Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13)

Pause App

Use the same time each Day (Daniel 3x/day, just as he had done before)

Have a place you go to…

knees, bedside, car/truck,

#3) It requires you to press in… Prayer is hard because it fights against the status quo…it requires you to stop what you are doing, fight against the distractions and attention deficit we all suffer from and draw near to God.

#4) It’s Spiritual Warfare…

James 4:7–10 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

We will talk more about this in a few minutes but This is why prayer is so hard…but so important. If your life is a life marked by prayer, your relationship with God will be one of if not the most defining characteristics of your life…

Daniel was Distinguished through Prayer

To be distinguished means to be set apart… in high school you had honor roll and distinguished honor roll…

It was Daniels prayer life and his relationship with his God in Heaven that allowed him the privilege to serve in Government for roughly 75 years.

Daniel was honored over and over again and known as a man who had not let the positions of power get to his head. And in our world this is something that is rarely seen.

Lord Acton back in 1887 wrote..

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.”

Think about most career politicians in our nation. People who have served 40 or 50 years.

But not Daniel…I believe Daniel was Distinguished and Honored only because of his prayer life...

Daniel 6:3–5 NIV

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.”

Daniel was Defiant in Prayer

Daniel 6:10–16 NIV

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. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

Prayer is an act of defiance against this world. That’s why I believe the enemy will do everything in his power to distract you and discourage you from praying, especially corporately.

It’s no wonder to me that prayer meetings are the least attended service of each week…But I have to say, there is no better way for the people of God to gather and spend their time.

The enemy

James 4:7–10 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Daniel didn’t care that there was a new law in the land…he knew the power of prayer. His life was dedicated to prayer and seeking his father because he knew where his help comes from.

Daniel 9:3–6 NIV

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

Daniels prayers were powerful and personal.

A couple years ago Amy and I were involved in an interfaith group up in Erie to try and bring hope and healing to Mental Health in faith communities…

The Rabbi’s answer to prayer was eye opening and I didn’t understand it…

Especially in light of the prayer lives of all those in the Old Testament…prayer is literrally a defiant act against this world and its systems…

Daniel was Delivered through Prayer

Daniel 6:17–23 NIV

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Darius’ Decree: A Testimony to the Power of Prayer

Daniel 6:24–28 NIV

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! 26 “I issue 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 dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Ezra 1:1–4 NIV

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ ”

Prayer

We are called to offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice. You can have it all Lord. God you can have all of me. You can have my mind, my thoughts, my intellect, my reason. I give my mind to you so that you can do with it what you will. You can have my heart, my desires, my wants, my family, my friends, my deepest desires. Lord I give you my heart to you, my heart wants you Jesus. You can have my strength, my energy, my physical body. Where you Go, I will Go, What you say I will say God. God I give you my body as a temple for your Holy Spirit. Indwell in me and reveal to me anything that I need to submit to you, anything that I need to turn from so that you can fill my temple with more of your Spirit. Lord I am yours and You are Mine. This is my offer of worship back to you God because of all that you have done for me. I give it back to you because you first loved me and gave all of yourself for me. I am nothing without you Jesus. I love you God. May I be faithful in the days ahead by the strength you have given me in the Holy Spirit.