This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. We are learning from Daniel. In yesterday’s message Daniel found out king Nebuchadnezzar ordered to have him and his friends killed, along with the wise men of Babylon, all because the wise men failed to discern and interpret the king’s dream. Daniel did not take the king’s decision lying down. He went to see the king, he asked for time to seek his God concerning the dream, and the king granted his request.
This is where we pick up the story. The Bible says, “So Daniel went to his house. He explained the whole story to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel asked his friends to pray to the God of heaven that God would be kind to them and help them understand this secret. Then Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men of Babylon. During the night, God explained the secret to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The grace of God will give you boldness.
a) As a believer, empowered by God’s grace, you can developing a “fighting spirit”.
b) Daniel did not just accept king Nebuchadnezzar’s decision to have him killed. No, Daniel fought back. He went to the king and he asked for an opportunity to seek his God concerning the issue. Daniel was confident, but his confidence was not in his ability or strength. Daniel’s confidence was in God and His grace.
c) Being a Christian does not mean you have to be a pushover.
2. You are never without hope.
a) What king Nebuchadnezzar was asking for was humanly impossible. If you only looked at human strength you would say the situation was hopeless. But our God is not limited to human ability.
b) Daniel had hope because his hope was in God.
c) When the doctors say they have done all they can do, or the lawyers throws their hands up in frustration and defeat, God can still intervene and do what man cannot do!
d) Medical professionals can fail you, legal professionals can blunder your case, but God is always there and He will never fail!
e) As a believer you are never hopeless because you are never helpless! As long as there is a God in heaven, there is hope on earth!
3. When you have a situation that exceeds human ability – PRAY!
a) Daniel and his friends prayed to the God of heaven and they asked for the impossible to become possible for them.
b) Through prayer God can do what you can’t do. Through prayer God can go where you can’t go.
c) We have a God who wants to bless you, but in many cases He is looking for your agreement through prayer.
4. When you pray, pray from a position of grace.
a) Daniel and his friends asked the God of heaven to be kind to them and to help them understand the king’s secret.
b) The Hebrew boys were not commanding God to do anything. They simply asked God for grace and mercy.
c) While it is true that you are required to pray in faith, remember that praying in faith does not mean you are commanding or bossing God around. Who are you to tell God what to do? No, you come to God in faith, from a position grace, and you seek to come in alignment with heaven, from the earth, so God’s will could be done on earth as it is in heaven.
5. Believe God for the supernatural.
a) When you ask God to do something that is humanly impossible, EXPECT Him to do it!
b) I am amazed by Christians who pray for something supernatural and then get amazed when it happens.
c) Thank God for answering your prayers — like Daniel did — but don’t be surprised. If you are praying in faith, from a position of God’s grace, then you should expect it to happen in the earth, because you believe it’s already done in heaven.
6. Don’t forget to say, “Thank you!”
a) The Bible says, “During the night, God explained the secret to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.”
b) God wants you to ask, but God also wants you to thank Him for it.
c) Thanking God after the fact is good. But thanking God in advance, giving Him what I call a “pre-performance praise”, that’s even better!
d) When you thank God in advance you are showing Him you truly believe it’s already done!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. I look at what You did through Daniel and it gives me hope. Daniel had a humanly impossible request. No human could do what king Nebuchadnezzar was asking for with their own ability. But Daniel and his friends knew they were not limited to human strength. They came to You because You have no limitless. What is impossible for us, is ‘light work’ for You. They prayed in faith, from a position of grace, and You answered their prayers. You gave Daniel a vision and he was able to see king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the interpretation of it. This was completely supernatural and what You did for Daniel adds fuel to my fire, and hope to my heart. When the world says they can’t help me, when doctors say they have done all they can do, when lawyers have tried all their tactics, when the world fails, YOU ARE STILL THERE and YOU NEVER FAIL! You did the impossible in Daniel’s life and I believe the impossible is possible for me. I pray in faith, from a position of grace, and I believe I receive when I pray. I thank You in advance, even before it’s done on earth, because I believe it’s already done in heaven. I am never hopeless, because I am never helpless! I have a God and He is always with me! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
