Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.12           Will WE Pray???

 

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man;

but ever follow that which is good,

both among yourselves,

and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things;

hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”     1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

We talked last week about the prayers of Daniel—a man of God, a man taken captive in his youth, a man who lived a life of devotion and prayer to God for over 70 years; a man who had a testimony of faithfulness to His God, even among his enemies, they didn’t like it but they recognized his total devotion to excellence and prayer. I’d like us to examine what God calls us, as believers, to do in regard to the kind of prayer life that we ought to pursue.

As we examine Paul’s exhortations above, written to the church at Thessalonica, we see a call to a life of separation and devoted, faithful service to the God that we claim to serve. The first thing that we see in this list is a call to honorable and righteous living. The Word calls us to live above ‘retribution’. We are not to “render evil for evil unto any man”. Our lives are to be lived in trust to the sovereign God of all! Daniel lived a life focused on God’s total control and not avenging himself.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19

“To me belongeth vengeance and recompence….” Deuteronomy 32:35

We are called to live in acknowledgment of God’s sovereign control, trusting that God has all our circumstances in His hand. We can pray with confident assurance that “Our God Reigns”!

Then we are called to live in contrast to vengeance and “ever follow that which is good”! Not seeking our own welfare, but the goodness and righteousness of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit; extending the goodness and righteousness of God to those within the family of God and toward those outside of the family of faith. When we behave in this way, we are a reflection of the glory of God and the character of our Lord Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Then our prayers won’t be hindered by our own sin—and yes sin can hinder our relationship with God and our prayers!

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” Isaiah 59:1-3

Our sin:

“your hands are defiled with blood—

your fingers with iniquity—

your lips have spoken lies—

your tongue hath muttered perverseness—“

And sometimes our sin is simply in our heart attitude. And a good attitude starts at home. We are to guard our personal relationships and our relationship with God—and it starts at home!!!

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

Our lives aren’t to be filled with the flesh or focused on self. We aren’t to have lives that are corrupted with lust, greed, lies and an obstinate heart toward God; but rather we are to reflect the glory of God in the expression of the fruit of the Spirit?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

“For ye were sometimes darkness,

but now are ye light in the Lord:

walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit

is in all goodness

and righteousness

and truth😉

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”    Ephesians 5:8-10

We are called to walk in the Spirit of God not in our flesh. (See Galatians 5:16 & 25) When we walk in the Spirit, we will experience a fruitful life filled with the presence of God—and that will make a difference in our prayer life! A prayer life that is imperative to the welfare of our own spirit, our families, and our nation. And that requires the diligence that we saw in Daniel. As an old children’s song says, “Dare to Be A Daniel”! Oh how we need more “Daniels” today!

The next imperative on our list is a call to “Rejoice evermore”! But how can we truly “Rejoice evermore”? Life is hard. Well, we can’t rejoice apart from true confidence in our God, and a heart and life that will rest in and rely upon His Sovereign Rule! If we walk in the power of HIS Spirit, who HE has placed within the hearts of the redeemed, those who are born again by that very Spirit! (See John 1:12-14) We have the power to rejoice in all our circumstances, when we have come to know that God has it all in HIS control; and by experience have come to know, and rest assured, that God IS working for our good and His glory and purposes at every turn.

Thirdly in our list, we get to our focus for today, “Pray without ceasing”! We can rejoice, and walk in the Spirit because we have a full-time intercessor–Jesus our Lord and King, and His Holy Spirit.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

How glorious that we aren’t left on our own—even in regard to our prayers! God’s Holy Spirit is ever-present with us, and when we can’t pray on our own, He will intercede for us. Oh what a comfort that we are never alone in anything—God is always there. But what does it mean to “Pray without ceasing”? Well, it doesn’t mean that we go around with our heads bowed, or our eyes closed, that would create some real problems with our mobility, and it certainly would create some real ‘distracted’ driving. We don’t have to do these things to be praying ‘ceaselessly’, but we do have to keep our hearts and minds tuned in to God. It does mean that as I pursue God, His Word and His will for me day by day, and moment by moment, I am both listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as well as sending up those “bullet” prayers as things come to our heart and mind. It means that those times when someone is heavy on our mind, it is NOT a coincidence but rather a “God-incidence”! We are continually open to the voice of our Lord, either for our own direction or to lift up those whom HE brings to our mind. It means we can always be open to making a difference for the kingdom of God.

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” James 5:15-17

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” 1 John 5:14

We can have confidence in the power of our God to hear and answer prayer. But we are never to presume on God’s love and grace, nor are we to ‘dictate’ to God what “we” want. We are to pray as Jesus taught us to in the ‘Model Prayer’: “Thy kingdom come……..Thy will be done…….” It is to be God’s will, and God’s purposes that we are to pursue—“without ceasing”! We must maintain the line of communication with our God—it’s the least that we can do—while being the greatest that we can do!

The next five things that Paul lists in these exhortations, all deal with our mindset toward spiritual things:

“In every thing give thanks

Quench not the Spirit

Despise not prophesyings

Prove all things

hold fast that which is good”

We must diligently guard our hearts, by having a grateful heart, by NOT quenching the Spirit’s voice to our heart, mind, and lives; by not rejecting the proclamation of The Word (especially when it is convicting to our heart—that is God’s voice to correct and lead us); by testing the things that we hear and see to be sure that they line up with the Word of God; and by holding tightly to that which is good, not the imitation that the world offers. Pursuing these will help us maintain a clear line of communication with our God, and when we keep the lines open, God will direct our steps—steps that will never contradict HIS Word!

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

As the old adage says, “The Word of God will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Word of God!” The choice is yours and mine—will we immerse our souls in The Word of God, or the ‘world’? There will be a consequence to either. And I think that’s why Paul calls us, as he did those in the church at Thessalonica, to:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil”!

We must realize that we are to walk close to our God rather than as close to the edge as we think we can ‘get by with’! We must maintain a pure and holy life, an open and intimate line of communication with our God, seeking His face diligently through prayer and Bible study! So the question is, ‘Will we pray’? Will we recognize the dangers around us, and pursue the face of God to “deliver us from evil”? We are living in perilous times and we are to be the witnesses of God’s truth, especially in these ‘last days’ when the world hates our message. God never called us to fame, fortune and popularity—but He does call us to faithfully proclaim His truth, by sharing The Word of God with living that aligns with His Word as much as our ‘words’! Our lives are to be a reflection of the truth and love of God in all we do, knowing that proclaiming God’s truth will not always be applauded. In fact it may result in not only rejection, but also persecution for that truth. They plotted against Daniel to get rid of him, and we are not above it. Our Lord was rejected by the leaders of His time, and He told us that we could expect no less when we followed Him. Are we willing to ‘pay’ the price? Are we willing to “Pray” the price? May we be found faithful before our King!

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.” John 15:17-21

Will we stand faithful with our Lord? Will we cave under the pressure? Will we pray? Will we pursue the heart of our God? Will we seek to pray “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man” that truly “availeth much”? We must! Our lives and futures depend upon it! God expects it!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #343  This IS The Day–Today???

 

“I will praise thee:

for thou hast heard me,

and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused

is become the head stone

of the corner.

23 This is the Lord’s doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.”    Psalm 118:21-24

This is the day—today! Today is what we have to live. Tomorrow belongs to God alone, to reveal. Yesterday has passed, and belongs to me/you and God: mine to release to God in confidence, and God’s to use as He sees fit to conform me into the “image of His Son”!

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession

for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”     Romans 8:26-29

God is at work on your behalf today!!! He is working “all” things for our good, to conform His own into the image of The Son, Jesus, for His glory. God wants to work in and be seen in and through our lives by a world in need of HIM.

But first of all, we must know Jesus; we must be “born again”—and only Jesus can grant the new birth; and He is ready, willing and able to save today. When we come to Him He doesn’t save us and leave us; but He saves us and continues to work in and through our lives that we may grow in grace, truth and wisdom, to be a reflection of His glory to the world. So as you go through your day today, be sure to be watching out for what God is doing around you and join HIM in His work. (See John 4:34) And if you don’t know HIM yet, call on Him today, for today is all we really have.

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin………15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:13 & 15

And remember today is all we have. What will you do with YOUR ‘today’? Trust Him with your day—Today!!!

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2

Bible Ballistics: BBs #342  Are You Feeding The Monster???

 

There’s an old adage about dealing with stray animals that says, “If you ever feed them, they’ll stay and never leave!” This thought came to me this morning as I was praying, we often spend our time and resources “feeding the stray”—“feeding the monster”, if you would—the monster of compromise. What am I talking about? Well, I’m talking about tolerating things that should be intolerable.

How often do we put up with things just to get along—you know that other old adage, ‘You have to go along, to get along!’ Well, my friends God never calls us to just ‘go along’, but He calls us to live holy lives, and part of holy living is not condoning the bad behavior when we have the option, to the degree that is in our control. In other words, you aren’t going to come into my house and do things that I believe to be unfit and inappropriate, like cursing, being abusive in speech or action, being mean or unkind to one another, the list could go on, but you get the idea. I want us to think today, at the mid-point of our week, about our choices, about what we allow others to bring into our space, our homes and our lives. Are we “feeding the monster” and encouraging him to remain in our midst? Who is bringing chaos into your life or your home? Have you let down the boundaries of Biblical decency to ‘get along’ or to keep the peace? Does peace really come when we refuse to stand for God’s truth?

I just like to share some food for thought today without much commentary, just The Word. I pray that God will speak to your heart and help you see what HE desires for and from you. While I am not responsible for the actions of others, I am responsible for my responses/my reactions”!

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1       (It would be worth your time to read all of Romans 8)

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:4-5

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26

I hope that God will help you recognize any “monster” you might be feeding. And just a reminder, when we read the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus, He never apologized for speaking truth, he never explained Himself (except to those who sincerely came asking to understand), and He never ran after those who walked away. Even in Jesus’ story of the ‘Prodigal Son’, the father didn’t stop the son, or run after the son, but he did receive the “repentant” son! (See Luke 15)

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.11 And Daniel Prayed!!!

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30

Prayer is our privilege of communication with God, and we often forget that prayer is “commun-ication” not a one-way “demand” central, where we put in our quarter, pull the handle, and expect the “jackpot” to come at our demand. Jesus taught us that we are to pray seeking the will of God—not our own way (“a way that seemeth right unto a man” …Prov. 16:25) Many today are using prayer as a pry-bar on God, to coerce Him into doing our will, yet Jesus reminds us of the nature of real prayer in the model prayer:

“…Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9b-10

Our praying is to be done in allegiance to our God, and in pursuit of “Thy kingdom” and “Thy will”, not “my” will and “my” kingdom to increase! We have become a culture of “me”, and it has crept ever so subtly into the church but we must return to a biblical perspective on prayer. Prayer isn’t our exercise in pulling the “fire” alarm for God to respond, but it should be our pursuit of God in all things. He has given us such a mighty privilege and we ought to utilize it in faith, submission and the power and purposes of God, unto HIS glory, and the increase of HIS kingdom—not our own!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

We can “come boldly” before God’s throne, because Jesus is our advocate. And boldness isn’t ‘arrogance’, but rather a bold confidence in the sovereign, perfect provision of our God, and the understanding heart of our Lord Jesus who knows how we feel because He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. Jesus knows where we are and what we need before we ask, but He says we are to come to Him confidently knowing that He has the answers to our needs. He will supply the grace, mercy and help for our need! And if you are like me that is an every day situation—in fact, on some days it’s a moment-by-moment exercise. But that is what prayer is—our everyday communion with our Father, and His Son Jesus, through the Holy Spirit!

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:25-27

Even the Holy Spirit of God seeks the Father’s will as He takes our prayers before the throne. Even when we can’t speak for ourselves, “he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God”!!! Praise God, we have a faithful intercessor; in fact we have two intercessors!

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25

“This man”, Jesus is also interceding for us. Oh how blessed we are. Why would we neglect to seek HIS face and to know what HE has for us? When will we stop being willful children demanding our own way, and seek the will of the One who loves us and knows what lies before us—always? When we tune into God and His will we will hear and see His answers to our prayers.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

and that ye may believe

on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him,

that, if we ask any thing

according to his will,

he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us,

whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions

that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:13-15

So it should ever be our heart’s desire to know and tune into the will of God. We are to stand in the gap for those around us, for a nation that needs our salt and light to hold back the darkness and corruption—and only God can do that!!! If we don’t pray and ‘stand in the gap’, who will?

“The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery,

and have vexed the poor and needy:

yea, they have oppressed the stranger

wrongfully.

30 And I sought for a man among them,

that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap

before me

for the land,

that I should not destroy it:

but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation

upon them;

I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath:

their own way have I recompensed

upon their heads,

saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 22:29-31

Will we “stand in the gap”, or watch our land fall prey to the sin, darkness and corruption that is rampant in our midst? Will we pray diligently before our God or see our nation reap the consequences of it’s own choices?

What about Daniel? Well, Daniel was a young man who had been taken captive from Jerusalem by the conquering Babylonians, taken to be trained (brain-washed so to speak) for service in the government of Nebuchadnezzar. He was a captive, He was far from home, he was young and yet, this young man chose to stand for His God in faithfulness and orderly submission to those over him. He knew the favor of God, but also the challenges of living in a sinful culture, yet he responded with faith and integrity in every situation that is recorded of him. In fact even his enemies in one of his encounters said this of him:

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Daniel 6:3-5

Here we have 123 men who have been set over the kingdom of the conquering Medo-Persians. And 122 of these men are jealous of Daniel, whom the king has perceived to be an outstanding official, one whom he intended to set over the 122 other ‘princes’! Here we find them plotting to have Daniel removed and of their own testimony, they “could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful”. They finally concluded that they could only trap him in regard to his faithful obedience to his God! What a testimony! But our focus today is on Daniel’s prayer life, the prayer life that he had faithfully cultivated for some 70 years—yes Daniel is pushing 80 or 90 by the time of the events in chapter six and his deliverance from the lions. But lions are for another day, today we delve into some of the prayers that this man prayed and see what we can learn and apply to our own prayer life. The key to the whole book is found in the mindset of this young teenager who found himself in difficult straights.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”    Daniel 1:8

This young man had made us his mind to be faithful before his God, that he would in no way defile ‘himself’ regardless of the defilement all around him (And consider that he had already been ceremonially defiled by the Babylonians anyway!)! And we find in this entire book an integrity and respect that reflected Daniel’s submission to God’s will for him personally. He never behaved with disrespect or arrogance, but boldly pursued holiness in his personal life, and because of this pursuit of personal holiness before God, God was faithful to work on his behalf, and was seen in all that Daniel accomplished. Let’s dive in.

“Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision.” Daniel 2:17-19

Here Daniel is in peril of his life due to the erratic temper of the king, yet he went to his three friends and they sought the face of God for wisdom to answer the king, and to spare not only their own lives, but the lives of the ‘pagans’ they worked with! Ever been there? Well, God heard and answered this prayer and revealed to Daniel one of the great prophecies of all scripture to a pagan king, and HE spared HIS children while HE was at it! But then we see a key to Daniel’s prayer life—not only his faith in his God, but his attitude of gratitude to the God who heard and answered his prayers. What about you and I? Do we remember as quickly to praise and thank Him, as we remember to “ask”? Oh dear Father, create in me a heart of gratitude and a life that acknowledges you in all things!

“Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God

for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times

and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge to them

that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep

and secret things:

he knoweth what is in the darkness,

and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me

now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:20-23

What a mighty God we serve! And He hasn’t changed one bit. The same God hears and answers our prayers as heard and answered Daniel. Remember, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) We just need to keep our hearts as pure and focused on God as Daniel did. And remember he was a man in great authority in the government and couldn’t spend all of his time in singular prayer, but I am convinced by all that I read in the book of Daniel, that his whole life was devoted to living faithfully before God, and he was in tune with God throughout his daily work routine! How about you and me? Are we living a life focused on God, or is He simply the “fire extinguisher” that we pull out when those “big” fires flare up? I believe Daniel’s life displays for us what Paul was talking about to the Thessalonians (and if you check it out, what he practiced himself, see Ro. 1:9 & 2 Tim. 1:3, also check out Acts 12:5 for that same phrase!).

 “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Now Paul wasn’t calling us to spend our days on our knees, or to work with our eyes closed, and surely not to drive with them closed; but he was calling us to be focused, open and sensitive to the things that God speaks to our hearts throughout our day. When God brings someone or some need to your heart and mind, that’s not a ‘co-incidence’—it’s a ‘God-incidence’!!! Pray for that person, no matter where you are—you don’t have to fall to your knees to be fervent in prayer—but God hears and knows the pleadings of our heart when we are in the midst of a crowd of unbelievers, or driving down the interstate, or cooking dinner, or changing a diaper! God wants our hearts to be in tune with Him and what HE is prompting us to ‘stand in the gap’ for.

Another aspect of Daniel’s prayer life is that he identified with those around him. While Daniel lived a holy life in an unholy place, he identified with and humbled himself to share the burden of the sin of his people. Folks, we must live holy lives before the lost and dying world around us, but we must not loose sight of the fact that we are a part of the corporate problems that plague our nation—regardless of where we live.

“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God,

to seek by prayer

and supplications,

with fasting,

and sackcloth,

and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God,

and made my confession,

and said,

O Lord,

the great and dreadful God,

keeping the covenant and mercy

to them

that love him,

and to them

that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned,

and have committed iniquity,

and have done wickedly,

and have rebelled,

even by departing from thy precepts

and from thy judgments:

6 Neither have we hearkened

unto thy servants the prophets,

which spake in thy name

to our kings,

our princes,

and our fathers,

and to all the people

of the land.” Daniel 9:2-6

Can you see the heart of this man? He wasn’t lifting himself above the sins of his people, he was identifying with them and their problems; he was owning the need of his people, even though he himself had remained faithful to God. What about you and me? Are we faithful to identify with the sin and failure of our people? Or are we among those who cast rocks and speak with animosity toward those who reject Jesus? (I’m not talking about approving of or condoning sin, I am talking about compassionate identification with the failure of people to hear, acknowledge and follow God faithfully and biblically!) Do we truly care about the lost souls of man, and the judgment that is coming? Or do we simply care about ‘Me and my four and no more’? Or, as my husband would put it, do we ‘Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can!”? Oh my friends, it’s time to get busy standing “in the gap” at our Lord’s beckoning for the salvation and deliverance of those around us.

There is so much more to plumb in the depths of this great book of scripture, but due to time and space limitations, I would like to share one other part of Daniel’s prayer life. The part where God said ‘enough’ for now, because so many of us don’t deal well with that part of our relationship with God. We love to praise Him when He answers according to what we desire, but when His answer comes in a different direction we often don’t respond well. But even Daniel, this great servant of God, this great man of power who received some of the greatest prophetic revelations in scripture, didn’t always understand or hear a yes from God.

“And I heard, but I understood not:

then said I,

O my Lord,

what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel:

for the words are closed up

and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified,

and made white,

and tried;

but the wicked shall do wickedly:

and none of the wicked

shall understand;

but the wise shall understand.

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

13 But go thou thy way till the end be:

for thou shalt rest,

and stand in thy lot

at the end of the days.”    Daniel 12:8-13

Here we find that Daniel asked one last bit of understanding about the vision that he received in chapters 10-12, but this time God said ‘no’. God told Daniel that he wouldn’t understand this and that it would be “sealed till the time of the end”! God also told Daniel that he was to continue until the time of his death, and that he would receive his reward at the end!

Jesus told us we are to ask, seek and knock but sometimes the answer will come in some way that we can’t see or understand, and that is when real faith steps up and just keeps on keeping on until God reveals something to us or redirects our steps. Daniel was near the end of his life and God used him mightily to reveal HIS plan to us, yet even Daniel had his times and seasons. Real prayer is seeking God’s face in all things, and resting in HIS answers!

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Jesus said that we are to ask, seek and knock, and we will have a response. What HE didn’t say is that we’ll always get the answer immediately when we ask, or find the object we are seeking when we expect to, or that the door will be opened when we desire—but He did say that God hears and answers in accordance with HIS will, in His way and in His time—after all we are truly to be asking, seeking, and knocking for “Thy will be done” on earth, as it is in heaven. Let’s be diligent as we ask for God’s direction, seek His face in all we do, and knock at the door until He opens it or redirects our pursuits. May it ever be said of us “He/She prayed”! “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

Bible Ballistics: BBs #341      Where Is The Blessing???

 

“Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness

of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.”     James 1:17-25

Here we find a simple but profound lesson from James. I’d like to encourage you to take some time today, this weekend to ponder on these things. Note the contrasts that James wants us to recognize and understand:

The good and perfect gifts—variance and shadow?

Swiftly listening to others—speaking rashly>>>anger?

The righteousness of God—the wrath of man?

What to lay aside—what to embrace?

DOERS——————HEARERS ONLY?????

(My paraphrase—Just Saying so doesn’t Make it so!)

Having true understanding—–a deceived mind?

Forgetful self-focus——diligent pursuit of God?

The natural man—–the transformed man!!!

And the conclusion of this exercise is found in verse 25:

“But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Notice the “blessed” person isn’t just blessed, but he/she is “blessed in his deed”! Why? Because they are not only “looking into” God’s Word (the perfect law of liberty) but they “continueth therein”! And the key to continuing, is seen in the next word—“being”—they “be” transformed by the blood of The Lamb! Their actions come out of a heart rebirthed by God, and God blesses “his deed”. Think on these things (See Philippians 4:8-9). Blessings on your day!