Dangerously Praying

Introduction

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the many types of Biblical prayer. Prayer is simply defined as communication with God. It is the foundation of the Christian life to pray and use prayer to grow in one’s walk with God. Prayer takes many forms and there are many descriptions of prayer throughout God’s Word. So far we have talked about directionally praying and determinedly praying. Both of these examples can be found in the Old Testament Book of Daniel. Daniel was a man of God that shows to follow His Lord despite the pressure and demands of Kings and government officials not to do so. The Book of Daniel offers much about the nature of God and makes strong theological statements about how we should live as Christians. We see the example of Daniel being a directional pray-er in Daniel 2:18.

Daniel 2:18 NIV84

He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel turned to the God of heaven. He was not shy in doing so. His consistency as a role model of faith shows us today that in a time when we are pressured to turn elsewhere, we only need to turn to God.

Daniel was also a determined pray-er.

Daniel 2:20–23 NIV84

and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

This incredible prayer shows Daniel being very determined in his approach to prayer by praising and acknowledging the strength of God. The Bible shows us that Daniel is a distinguishing pray-er. While this is not necessarily one of our topics in this series, it is worth noting that because Daniel prayed, he distinguished himself and set himself apart from many others.

Daniel 6:3 NIV84

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.

Daniel prayed when it was not cool to do so. He prayed when it was a against the law. However, not only do we see Daniel as one that distinguished himself by his exceptional qualities, we see that Daniel prayed prayers that were not easy. In fact, they were quite dangerous. Today, we are going to look at Daniel 6 and a very familiar story that perhaps you have known or heard all of your days in church. As we do, I want to invite you to look at the dangerous prayers of Daniel and the characteristics of those dangerous prayers. It is a lengthy passage, but I feel it must be read to gain insight in the danger of the prayers Daniel prayed. Listen to these words from Daniel 6.

Daniel 6:1–28 NIV84

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 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. 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. 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. 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.” So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! 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. 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.” So King Darius put the decree in writing. 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. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 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 man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 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!” 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. 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. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 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?” Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 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, O king.” 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. 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. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly! “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. 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.” So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Dangerous Prayers are Bold (vs. 10)

The first characteristic that stands out about Daniel’s dangerous prayer is that dangerous prayers are bold. Daniel was aware of the decree that is presented. Yet, he was determined to honor His God. So, what did he do in spite of this government decree?

Daniel 6:10 NIV84

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.

This is a definition of boldness! Daniel went to his home and was persistent in continuing his prayers. Despite the decrees, despite the threat of death, Daniel persistently prayed. How persistent are you in your prayers? Do you give in to the threat of being ridiculed or even persecuted because of prayer?

We also see that Daniel was profound in his prayer. We can say this about Daniel because he had great insight into who God was and this was evidenced in Daniel’s faith practice. We should be dangerous pray-ers simply because we know that we know that God is true to His word and He is faithful to His promises.

Daniel was bold in his prayer because of the fact that he immediately went to his house and prayed with opened windows. Any time a window is open, one can easily hear what is going on in that room. Daniel had to have to known this because of the evidence of his intelligence. This was not an oversight by any means. He stood on the promises that God would deliver.

Is this contrary to what Jesus taught about going into your room and praying in private? I am convinced it is not. There are times when we have to come out of our private prayer to act in a public way. I am certain that Daniel, in his three times a day and more prayer life, prayed most intimately in private. I am also convinced that there are times when we must pray dangerously and bold to exemplify our faith and assurance that God is bigger than that which we face! Dangerous prayers are persistent, profound and sometimes public.

Dangerous Prayers are Big (vs. 16)

Dangerous prayers are also big.

Daniel 6:16 NIV84

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!”

Notice this is not a prayer of Daniel, but that of King Darius. The King liked Daniel and he did not see him harmed, but the King was placed between a rock and a hard place. He had issued a decree that I am sure at this time he regretted. Have you ever done anything in the past that you have regretted? King Darius had to follow through with the action he had decreed, yet he prayed, “May your God, whom your serve continually, rescue you!” That is a dangerous prayer! It shows that Daniel obviously had been an example of incredible faith. King Darius knew his concoctions of the past were problems, yet he prayed this prayer. Such a dangerous prayer is bigger than the concoctions of one’s past! There is nothing too big that our God can not overcome. There is nothing to hienuous that our God cannot forgive and be triumphant over. Even when King Darius had proclaimed a decree that had to be followed through, he knew in his heart that Daniel could be saved. That is a big prayer!

This big, dangerous prayer was bigger than the conspiracies of the day. What a word for us this moment! In a day when there are conspiracy theories abounding across the land, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” The administrators and satraps of the day conspired in a big way to be rid of Daniel. Even the king knew such was happening! This big, dangerous prayer was bigger!

This big, dangerous prayer was bigger than the commands of a king! King Darius prayed such a prayer when his command threw Daniel into the lion’s den. Do you think he believed it? The Bible tells us that king spent the night without eating, having any entertainment or even sleeping. He was concerned that he had commanded Daniel’s death. But, his prayer was bigger than his own command. The Bible tells us that the first light of dawn, King Darius got up and hurried to the lions’ den. He calls out 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?” Are you kidding me? Did he just ask if God had been able? Let me ask you right now, is your God able? Has He been able to deliver you from a certain death? King Darius learned quickly that not only had God been able, but that his prayer had been bigger than the concepts of nature. You see, the concepts of nature tell us that a well, fit specimen of a man like Daniel would have been a phenomenal meal for a bunch of hungry lions. But no....dangerous prayers are bold and dangerous prayers are big. However, one more thing we see in this beautiful chapter, dangerous prayers are breathtakingly beautiful.

Dangerous Prayers are Breathtakingly Beautiful (vs. 21-26)

Daniel 6:21–26 NIV84

Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 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, O king.” 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. 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. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly! “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.

Dangerous prayers are breathtakingly beautiful because we can have the assurance of an answer. Do you think King Darius had a slight bit of hope that caused him to run to the lion’s den at dawn? Do you think that King Darius had seen so often the miracles of Daniel’s God that he felt in his somewhat hardened heart that he would have the assurance of an answer? It sure seems like it!

Daniel 6:23 NIV84

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.

Then we see that from Daniel’s perspective, the dangerous prayer came with an acclamation of accomplishment. Daniel testified a little here. His first words were, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel!” God provided protection and action, He shut the mouths of the lions. They did not hurt him because he was found innocent. When a dangerous prayer is prayed, it becomes breathtakingly beautiful because of the assurance of an answer, the acclamation of an accomplishment which leads to the awe of the Almighty! I do not know about you, but if my name was Daniel, I would been a little pentecostal right here! I might have even sang a song about the lion sleeping tonight!

The awe of the Almighty was just what King Darius experienced.

Daniel 6:25–27 NIV84

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly! “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. 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.”

I do not know what lions you are facing. I do not know what dangerous prayers you need to pray. But for me, I have faced things that did not think I was going to get through. I have faced sickness of loved ones and deaths from friends and family members I still have not gotten over. I have learned that some how, I have had to pray dangerous prayers. There have been times in my life that I had to trust God because there was absolutely nothing else I could do. Every time, God has been faithful

Maybe you need to pray a dangerous prayer.

Maybe you need to be the one right now that prays a dangerous prayer of crossing a racial line.

Maybe you need to be the one right now that prays a dangerous prayer of crossing a political line.

Maybe you need to be the one right now that prays a dangerous prayer that says I am ready to be used by You, O Lord.

May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!

Application

I want to invite you to use the outline of this study and reread this passage very carefully. I want to then invite you to pray a dangerous prayer, particularly one found in Psalm 139:23-24.

Psalm 139:23–24 NIV84

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Simplified it is a prayer that says search my heart, reveal my fear, show me my sin, and lead me in the way You want.

Can you do that?