“A Mature Prayer” (MP3 AUDIO)

“A Mature Prayer” (Daniel 3:16-18)

The trio known as the three Hebrew boys were expatriated Jews who lived in Babylon. They were only three among a group of young men from Judah, who were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Daniel 1:3-6 indicates that these young men, perhaps in their late teens or early twenties, were to be trained for service in the king’s palace.

While there is a myriad and a multitude of spiritual lessons that we may learn from what we know of them, what is being brought to the Church this morning concerns their spiritual maturity. I submit to you, that there were more spiritually mature believers concentrated in exile in Babylon, than there are in today’s churches.

Each successive generation of what is labeled as “Christian” in our communities, let alone “mature” Christians, pales in comparison to what the Bible teaches about maturity and trusting God. Consider the following three points.

1. Christian maturity is not a function of age. a. The Jews of the Old Testament maintained their distinctiveness as the people of God (Exodus 20:8-11 - Sabbath observance; Leviticus 23 - Feasts of the Lord; Exodus 20:1-17 - The Ten Commandments; Exodus 21-23 - Civil and Legal Matters). b. Spiritual maturity should be evident in leaders (1st Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9; 1st Peter 5:1-4). c. Paul told Timothy to not let anyone in the congregation despise his youth, rather show them he was mature because of his young age (1st Timothy 4:12).
2. Adversity produces maturity. a. Prior to Daniel chapter 3, the three Hebrew boys had already lived through much spiritual adversity. i. Forcibly removed from their homes and repatriated to Babylon (Daniel 1:3-6). ii. Refusal to eat the King’s meat (Daniel 1:8-12). b. God blessed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 1:17-20) amid their adversity, just as He blessed the fruitfulness of the Jewish Nation under Egyptian bondage (Exodus 1:12). c. Maturity is measured by the conflict (with the prevailing culture) brought into our lives because of our obedience to God (Matthew 5:10-12; Romans 5:3-5; 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10).

Some hide their shortcomings under the cloak of prayer. a. The mature pray-er prays according to the will of God; just as a servant is always seeking to do his master’s will (Psalm 40:8; Matthew 6:10; James 4:3). b. Mature Christians know God’s will, so they do it – no prayer required. Note how Jehovah asked Moses “Why are you crying out to me? Move the people ahead.” (Exodus 14:15-16). c. The three Hebrew boys answered Nebuchadnezzar with a confidence borne of experience with God – no prayer necessary (Daniel 3:16-18).

“Christ First, Christ Only, Christ Always”