THE INTERCESSORY COMPANIONS
Read: Daniel 2:14-19
[14]Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
[15]he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
[16]So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
[17]Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
[18]that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
[19]Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
MEMORISE: He who walks with the wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).
EXPOSITION
Daniel had friends who were ever ready to tackle everything with prayer. These Hebrew friends deeply knew YAHWEH, and understood His ways. Who are your own friends? The kind of friends you keep shows who you are (cf. Prov. 27:17).
When the king wanted to destroy his astrologers, magicians and sorcerers for their inability to tell him the dream and the interpretation, Daniel and his friends came to the rescue because they knew their God, and so, did great exploit (Dan. 11:32b). Miraculously,... the mystery was revealed (2:19 GNB). Why? Some friends unanimously agreed in prayer of righteousness, which avails much (Jas. 5:16; cf. Matt. 18:18-20)
It is as if the Church has lost this power. If not, why will the enemy be terrorising her when she has at her disposal, God's unstoppable power? In the beginning, when any member of the Church had any issue, the intercessory team or their prayer partners stood in the gap for them. Where has that practice vanished to (cf. Dan. 2:17-19; Jas. 5:16)? Daniel's friends were ever readily available in prayer. They were his friends and prayer partners. When in problem, do you have friends who can pray for/with, or counsel you? If not, you don't have friends.
Know that, "A friend in need is a friend indeed," as today commemorates International Day of Friendship. Two (good) heads are better than one" (Eccl. 4:9-12). Who is your prayer partner? Is he your friend or foe? It is disastrous to have your enemy as your prayer partner, because you only agree in words when you are physically together, but not in spirit. Above all, make Jesus your number one friend, the true and faithful One. What a friend we have in Jesus!
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB 890
1. There is no friend like Jesus in this world
Jesus is the only sincere Friend
The Friend of this world will oneday leave us
But the Lord will never forget us
Chorus:
Oh: He'll never forget us
Oh: He'll never forget us
But the Lord will never forget us
2. Not caring for foes, the time is passing
Drawing near to our home day by day
The great judge will come
The world will tremble
There will be no excuse on that day.
3. Now, wait on the Lord never doubt again
What ever now may betideth thee
When there's no more hope then
His help will come
Our Lord Jesus is wonderful King.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Thank God for loving and making you His friend.
2. Father Lord, help me to destroy every ungodly passion for evil communication that corrupts good manners.
3. Lord, restore to Your Church, the Spirit of intercession, togetherness and brotherly love.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Proverbs 14-16
