Stranded: When You Pray

Stranded

Welcome

PM preached last week on titheing from Matt 6

First fruits, Is it just money?

We will continue to Walk through Matt 6

Matt 6 5-8

Matthew 6:5–8 CSB

“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

If you were on a deserted island you would not be able to put on a show for anyone like the hypocrites.

they were performing people not praying to God.

To be able to handle being stranded spiritually you need to be prepared

The hypocrites were poorly prepared in life because they were in need of people’s approval

they were performing it was all a show. they may have been very eloquent in their prepared prayers. But it did not prepare them for a real time of trial. 1st. question

Have you been a time where you have not been prepared for the situation you were in?

I am sure everyone has been in this place.

usually it requires more work than being fluent with words on the spot

You need depth of knowledge, work, study and surround yourself with the right people to be able to be prepared

Let’s look at some one who knew how to be prepared in a spiritual wasteland. Daniel

In the book of Daniel, Isreal has been conquered by king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. Isreal has been defeated and its people have been sent out to foreign land. These were a people that were stranded.

Daniel was already pretty renowned in Babylon as he was grouped with the Wisemen of Babylon

Nebuchanezzar had a dream and called for the wisemen of Babylon to interpret the dream. But was angered when they could not.

This included Daniel. I think that this would count as a point of stranded.

But Daniel did not panick he turned to his friends

Daniel 2 17-18

Daniel 2:17–18 CSB

Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter, urging them to ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.

Do you try to handle your strandedness on your own?

Daniel with the prayerful help of his friends was given the interpretation of the King’s dreams.

Daniel did not go it alone and he made sure that he was surrounded with Godly friends.

Then when he was given what he requested he praised God in thanks

He found himself fighting for his life and he went to God in prayer with others along side him.

He still had to give the King the interpretation which he did not know how it would be received

But the King was presented and recognized the power of the one true God

Daniel was the Kings go to guy and God had shown his power to Nebuchnezzer

The Furnace with Shadrach, Meshack and Abendnego

12 months living like an animal after the king angered God( he was warned by Daniel)

Daniel was on a roll but he was faithful to God.

He worked on his relationship with God and was praying to him three times a day.

Daniel 6 10-12

Daniel 6:10–12 CSB

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.”

He was faithful to God and his relationship he fell to his knees three times a day to be in that relationship

He didn’t go to a place of worship and put on a show. He did it in private.

He also knew the cost and was will to pay it

This ended him up with another spiritual crisis. He could have not done that for thirty days and been fine.

He walked into the Lions Den and was fine with what ever outcome

He was prepared and the outcome was praised

Daniel 6 20-22

Daniel 6:20–22 CSB

When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said, “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”

Daniel had 70 years of exile

He confessed everything for him and his people in prayer Daniel 9

He served many Kings as a prophet but also served his God

He sought God’s favor in prayers in which involded Prayer, Fasting, Sackcloth and ashes.

Are you a person who likes to be prepared or one who just wings it?

Daniel spent his whole life some could argue in stranded life.

But becasue he was prepared daily he was never alone.

Matthew 6 warns about prayer like the pharisees were doing but it is so much more.

Daniel warns us that we are not just in the moment but we are preparing for this life and its hard times

but he also is the example of how we are preparing not for this time but for eternity