Lesson 11: Prayer Under Pressure

Daniel 6:1-13

In this lesson we get a glimpse of what made Daniel great.

It has been said that those who seek greatness rarely find it, but those who seek character and integrity and faithfulness somehow find greatness as well. Such was the case with Daniel. He sought only to be faithful to God and was lifted up by God as a result.

THE ADVANCEMENT OF DANIEL (1-4)

Daniel is a man without fault who has an excellent spirit, and he reminds us that in God's world it is not who you know, but what you are, that causes you to be promoted.

THE ADVERSARIES OF DANIEL (5-12)

1. They used falsehood They lie to the king and say that all the rulers of the kingdom have decided upon a certain course of action. That was certainly false; Daniel was the first among them, and of course they never consulted him.
   

2. They used flattery They flatter the king to get him to accede to their plan. Since they knew they would never find a means to accuse Daniel except in connection to his devotion to God, they get the king to sign an irrevocable decree to the effect that, for a period of one month, no one in the kingdom should pray to any god or person except him.

Why would any culture have such a law? Because the Medo-Persian culture believed that their monarchs were infallible.

THE BASIS OF DANIEL'S GREATNESS

1. A Consistent Attitude

2. A Consistent Performance

3. A Consistent Purity

4. A Consistent Prayer Life

CHARACTERISTICS OF DANIEL'S PRAYER LIFE

1. Personal Faith

2. Piety

3. Petition

4. Praise