I Mean It! Series

I MEAN IT!

Daniel 9:1-3

S: A Passion for Prayer

Th: Live a Prayer Life (Prayer: A Passion for His Presence)

Pr: THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAY WITH PASSION.

?: Inductive

KW: Phases

TS: We will find in our study of Daniel 9:1-3 three phases that demonstrate what happens when we are in communion with God.

The ____ phase is we…

I. READ

II. RESPOND

III. REPENT

Version: ESV

RMBC 22 Sep 02 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Notebook: Repentance (Repaint)

There was a Scottish tradesman, a painter called Jack, who was very interested in making a pound where he could. So he often would thin down his paint to make it go a wee bit further. As it happened, he got away with this for some time.

Eventually the Presbyterian Church decided to do a big restoration job on one of their biggest churches. Jack put in a painting bid and because his price was so competitive, he got the job. And so he set to, with a right good will, erecting the trestles and putting up the planks, and buying the paint and...yes, I am sorry to say, thinning it down with the turpentine.

Well, Jack was up on the scaffolding, painting away, the job nearly done, when suddenly there was a horrendous clap of thunder. The sky opened and the rain poured down, washing the thin paint from all over the church, knocking Jack right off the scaffold, causing him to land on the lawn.

Now, Jack was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he fell on his knees and cried, "Oh, God! Forgive me! What should I do?"

And from the thunder, a mighty Voice spoke, "Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!"

Have you ever needed to get back on the right track?

Although, we might not like to admit it, from time to time, we all need to get back on the right track.

But we are not alone in this.

The Bible is full of stories of those that needed to get back on the right track.

For example…

Abraham feared for his life because Sarah was so beautiful, so he called her his sister instead of his wife.

Samson, though he possessed supernatural strength, he kept finding his sexual passions getting in the way from doing the Lord’s work.

David, though he was known for having a heart for God, found his heart wandering so badly that he committed adultery, attempted a cover-up, then a murder and tried to pretend that none of it happened.

Demas, who had accompanied Paul on his journeys, witnessing the power of the Holy Spirit, one day turned his back on Paul and betrayed the work of Christ.

Even the church of Ephesus, who had counted among its pastors Paul, Timothy and John, was charged by Jesus of leaving its first love.

TRANSITION:

As you can see, if you have not noted it yet…

Our theme for discipleship month is…

1. “Live a Prayer Life.”

Does prayer characterize your life?

If it doesn’t, I want to encourage you today to get back on the right track!

Praying without ceasing and giving thanks in every circumstance are exhortations that are to characterize our lives as Christians.

2. We often define prayer as communicating with God.

The idea of talking to God is a definition that I have often used.

It is perhaps the simplest way to define it.

But there is something more to prayer that is absolutely essential.

We must not miss it.

It is this…

3. Prayer is communion with God.

Prayer is more than talking.

Prayer is relationship.

Jesus expressed this well when he said (John 15:7):

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Prayer is remaining in relationship with the Lord.

Prayer is letting His words rest in us.

Prayer is communion with God.

So…

4. We will find in our study of Daniel 9:1-3 three phases that demonstrate what happens when we are in communion with God.

Let’s consider the text…

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Before we cover these three phases, let’s consider the historical background of this passage.

In 605 B. C., Nebuchadnezzar, who would soon become the Babylonian king, led a great army against the Egyptians in a crisis battle of history, the Battle of Carchemish, fought along the Euphrates River.