A PRAYING LEADER (pt. 5)
We can not be wise and not be promoted. What is in demand more than ever is wise leaders. Wisdom gives us influence. When we manage well the areas and people that God has given us, it will always lead to personal growth, organizational growth and promotion.
Daniel 6:3 (NLT) Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. More capable: excelling above others,
Great ability: (“Spirit of exellence” ruah/yatir) an excellent mind, extraordinary mind, preeminent mind, skillful mind, quality of thought, beyond what is usual or ordinary, exceptional in character, outstanding, rare.
Insight: Promote the proven not the potential of the unproven.
LESSON #2- PRAYER BUILDS A GODLY CHARACTER.
When we are faithful in prayer, we become faithful, trustworthy, responsible, Holy, blameless, honest, strong, loving, kind, patient, joyful, peaceful, etc.. We can not spend time with God and not be empowered, influenced and transformed to be more and more like Him.
Daniel 6:4-5 (NLT) 4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
LESSON #3 - PRAYER MAKES US BOLD IN OUR FAITH ESPECIALLY UNDER
PRESSURE OR PERSECUTION.
When our prayer life is strong, our faith and confidence to be a bold witness for Christ follows
Daniel 6:7-10 (NLT)7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law. 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem He prayed three times a day,
just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
A. THE APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE EARLY CHURCH WALKED IN GREAT BOLDNESS BECAUSE THEY PRAYED FOR IT.
Acts 4:29-30 (NLT) 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant
Boldness: freedom in speaking, without ambiguity, free, fearless cheerful and
confident, openly and plainly, unreserved in speech,
LESSON #4- PRAYER MUST BECOME A DISCIPLINE.
It is not something we do when it is convenient , or when we get around to it. Daniel prayed 3 times a day as He always did.
Daniel 6:10 (NLT) 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
Discipline: choosing actions that help you reach a long term goal, even when it’s hard, boring and inconvenient.
A. A DISCIPLINED PRAYER LIFE HAS A MEETING PLACE.
Daniel had a room upstairs that he prayed in. Do you a prayer room, place, time dedicated to the Lord for prayer?
Matthew 6:6 (NLT) But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Note: A big part of Daniels prayer life was thanksgiving. What we thank God for multiplies and builds our faith to receive more and greater. Thanksgiving is the first step of getting into God’s presence.
B. A DISCIPLINED PRAYER LIFE IS SCHEDULED.
"Same time same place." Daniel prayed three times a day. He didn’t let his busy schedule stop Him from praying. He didn’t let the distractions of live interrupt His prayer time. He interrupted whatever he was doing to pray.
Acts 3:1 (NLT) Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.
Question: If they passed a law that for the next 30 days, you couldn’t pray- would they catch you breaking the law?
C. A DISCIPLINED PRAYER LIFE BECOMES A HABIT THROUGH PRACTICE.
Before our Prayer life becomes a habit it must first become a practiced discipline.
Luke 5:16 (CJB) However, He (Jesus) made a practice of withdrawing to remote places in order to pray.
As usual: habitual (having developed a specified character through a regularly followed pattern until it almost becomes involuntary, something that is usual, constant, everyday, as expected, regular routine,
Had always done: (qadma) as in time past, previous up to now.