Prayer In the Depths Of the Den by Brother Curtis Hansen

         Good morning. Chapter 6 of the book of Daniel is known by both believers and non believers alike. This chapter is Daniel in the lions den. We will be diving into those scriptures this morning. 

        God created the five fold ministry to not only instruct but also aid in your walk. If you are panicked regarding the times you are currently living in, consuming the gloom of the present, who are you going to turn to? Do you seek experts in the world? Do you ignore the five fold ministry? It's important to keep this in mind as we go through these days. Do not shun the 5 fold ministry and rather seek someone or something that appeases your flesh.

        Now, Daniel was estimated to be around 83 years old at the time of chapter 6. Daniel was made captive along with other Israelites decades before by Babylon. Daniel served as an advisor to the kings of Babylon and later Darius of Persia. The wrong takeaway from this story is our tendency to have main character syndrome. Where you and I are Daniel, the lions in the den represent the trials in our life, and God closes the mouths of those trials if we pray enough. A fascinating fact of Daniel's time in captivity was that the ungodly kings he served under all liked Daniel. We are going to read chapter 6 and start at verse 1.

        It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom.

        2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the kinf should have no damage.

        3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

        Darius ruled differently than the previous kingdoms. He established a hierarchy of princes and presidents. Daniel was so well liked and respected, Darius contemplated to set Daniel over the whole realm. Daniel didn't represent anything perceived as a threat to Darius. Daniel was cheerful, pleasant, and a problem solver.

        Daniel prayed without ceasing while captive in Babylon. He fasted to draw closer to God. Prayer and fasting were a means for Daniel and he used them consistently.

        The principle in this chapter is God is with us in our trials. The execution is different due to the individual. What works for one person, may not work for someone else.

        4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

        This verse doesn't declare Daniel was perfect in all his ways, but that the presidents and princes could not find fault with Daniel. Daniel's protection came from his prayer life.

        5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except that we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

        There's a concerted effort by these men to find something, anything against Daniel. There are times where you may have hard days which. may be from other incidents or moments you had that were sinful and not repented.

        6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

        7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

        God has a problem when a sin is passed into law. If anything takes a person's attention away from God and towards the world, it is a sin.

        8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

        9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

        Those that assembled to consulted together about this decree were envious and jealous of Daniel in verses 6-9. These men were jealous and resentful of Daniel's position with king Darius, Life then is presented with short cuts and compromises to test one's faith.

        10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day. and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

        Is this rebellion or a habit? Are you kicking against the pricks because you are upset or have a habit for prayer? New laws same habits. Holy habits are prayer as well as fasting. You are called to be a steward and a disciple.

        11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

        The sinner prays different than the righteous. The sinner petitions while the righteous carries on an ongoing conversation.

        12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

        13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

        14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

        Habits of prayer. There was probably an easier way out for Daniel, but he kept on unchanged. Scripture advocates kneeling before God in prayer. In 1 Kings chapter 8, Solomon is making a supplication to God, advocating for jews in foreign nations. Daniel prayed and gave thanks. Daniel's perceived excellent spirit was present in his prayer life. Characteristics and behaviors. Do the characteristics model and mirror with the fruits of the spirit?

        Sour spirits don't pray well. Everything is terrible. Unhappy people stay unhappy. Things will never be good enough. 

        Darius labored to find a loophole or a way out in his decree there in verse 14.

        15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king established may be changed.

        16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him unto the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

        Darius was loyal to Daniel. We often try to play lawyer with the established commands in scripture. Darius was angry with himself over the decree signed. Darius was a man of his word in verse 16.

        17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

        18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting, neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

        19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

        20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel; and the king spake and said of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

        21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

        22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O King, have I done no hurt.

        23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

        Fasting is you denying your flesh pleasure. It is not limited to just food. Anything your flesh derives  pleasure from you can limit. Darius believed in both God and Daniel. The summary of this story is faith in action.

        You can't always predict outcomes but you know God will always be present. He was there in the mistake and in the prayer.