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Daniel 9 Messianic Prophecy: https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/issues-v05-n01/the-messianic-time-table-according-to-daniel-the-prophet
Perspectives on Prayer from Daniel 9-10 (Randy Alcorn (www.epm.org)
- Position yourself for prayer by reading Scripture first
Daniel 9:1-2 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes[a] (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[b] kingdom-- 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. - Follow Scripture's lead toward what you should pray for (if prayer's the train, make Scripture the rails)
3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition.... - Pray humbly, recognizing your utter unworthiness before an all-holy God.
.....in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. - Begin by praising God for His attributes, His greatness and faithfulness. Let God's character provide the context for prayer, so He's the center of gravity, not you.
4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,... - Confess your sins, taking full responsibility, without rationalization, spin or self-exemption
5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. - Permeate prayer with affirmations of God's amazing grace and your profound gratitude - never asking for what you deserve, but thanking Him that He's given you infinitely better than you deserve.
7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. - Before bringing your requests, repeatedly affirm God's worthiness and your unworthiness - never forget who you are, and Who you're talking to.
“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. - Never blame God for sin, its consequences or for life's hardships.
Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. - Make requests in light of God's past acts of faithfulness. Rehearse those acts to God, as demonstrated in Scripture, history, and your own personal and family life.
15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. - Pray for God's sake, His glory, and His reputation, reminding yourself it's all about Him, not you.
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” - Pray with heartfelt recognition of God's undeserved grace on behalf of you and others.
18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. - God hears our prayers and starts responding to them (when we pray with Daniels's attitude and perspective) before we can see results, and even when we can't see results at all.
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill-- 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision: - God deploys angels on missions in response to humble, biblically-based, God-centered prayers.
10:2 - 12
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks...... 5 I looked up and there before me was a man...12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. - Prayer mobilizes righteous angels, who engage in intense turf warfare against fallen angels, with kingdom claims at stake. Answers to prayer may be hastened or delayed as a result of this warfare.
13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
- Prayer isn't passive, It's active. It's really doing something. Prayer isn't the least we can do, it's the most.
- Prayer is supernatural. it's reaching out of the visible world into the unseen world, and tapping into powers beyond this dimension. (Prayer picks fights with demons - and empowers righteous angels to win those fights.) "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph 6:12).
- Prayer is never secondary, it's always primary. It's not the last recourse, when options run out, it's the first and best recourse. Prayer is the central work which causes all other work to bear fruit. (No prayer, no power) "Therefore put on the whole armor of God...take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the gospel...Pray that I may declare it fearlessly" (Eph 6:13, 17, 18-20).
- God's greatest works, accomplished through prayer, are often invisible to us for now. (What's visible to us, except in rare moments of clarity, are not God's greatest works.)
- We pray now in faith, believing our prayers are making an eternal difference; we anticipate heaven, where we'll learn God's breath-taking answers to our prayers, including many that seemed unheard and ignored.
- There is no greater ministry, no higher calling, no better investment than prayer. (It's not just right, it's smart)
- Prayer is trusting God that He can accomplish more when I'm on my knees than I can accomplish on my feet.