James O. Davis is the founder and president of Second Billion (TM). You are invited to learn more about Second Billion by visiting www.billion.tv.
TEXT: Daniel 10:1-21
TOPIC: A FRESH TOUCH
THEME: How to receive a fresh touch from God
A FRESH TOUCH
INTRODUCTION:
1. There is nothing written negative about Daniel, the great prophet. This can be said of only few of the Bible characters.
2. Daniel lived in a hostile environment all of his life. He lived in adverse conditions and still determined that he was going to have a constant touch of God upon his life. Daniel was taken as a youth from his homeland, Israel, a 1,000 miles away to Babylon. The king of Babylon took the brightest and best of Israel’s youth. The king determined to raise these youth in the ways of the Babylonians.
3. Yet, Daniel and his three friends refused to eat the king’s meat and wine and ended up stronger and better than all of the other youth of Babylon.
4. Then, later in Daniel 5 when Belshazzar was king of Babylon and God wrote on the wall of the banquet, only Daniel could interpret writing of God. Daniel had the touch of God upon his life.
5. In Daniel 6, a decree went out that it was illegal to pray to God, Daniel threw open the windows of prayer and prayed toward to Jerusalem three times per day. He refused to obey the law of the king and stood courageously. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. However, Daniel had the touch of God upon his life and God delivered him out of the lion’s den.
6. In the Daniel 10, the great prophet is probably 95 years old. He was a man who had experience miracle after miracle and revelation after revelation. Yet, he was needing another fresh touch from God.
7. Do you need another fresh touch from God today? Have you been sitting by the river of doubt and depression and need the touch of spiritual revival in your life? Do you know how to receive a fresh touch of God?
T.S.: Daniel provides for us the spiritual prescription to receiving a fresh touch of God. There are several ingredients in this prescription in order to receiving a fresh touch from God.
I. OUR VALUE OF SPIRITUAL POWERS PREPARES US FOR A FRESH TOUCH OF GOD (vv.2-3)
In this chapter we have an extraordinary glimpse into the mechanics of prayer and a look at the spiritual forces that take sides for and against God’s people in the unseen world.
A. We Must Pray With A Determined Resolution (vv.2-3)
Fasting is never a prescribed ritual. Nor is it some kind of spiritual lever designed to force God’s hand. Fasting can be just as much an activity of the flesh as feasting. True fasting is brought on by a spiritual burden, by brokenness of heart before God. The desire for food is decreased because of the spiritual demands in one’s life.
Daniel prayed and fasted for three weeks. He has seen God move in the past, but now the heavens are quiet. However, his power with God in the past was not enough. So, he mourns, prays, and fasts, calling on the name of the Lord for a fresh touch.
Daniel fasted and prayed through the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread. These were two feasts designed to remind Israel of their bondage in Egypt and their marvelous emancipation. This was a time of rejoicing for the Jews. Yet, for Daniel, he was mourning before God.
Many of us have seen revival in the past. In the past, many of us have walked with God in great power. Now, you need and want a fresh touch of God upon your life.
B. We Must Pray With Divine Revelation (vv. 12-13,20-22)
1. Delay does not mean Denial (vv.12-13)
We must learn to wait on God until the answer comes to us. Sometimes, the answer to our prayer takes time. As soon as Daniel began to pray, God began to answer him. The answer was on its way. There was no tardiness in heaven.
When we enter into fasting and prayer, we enter into a different level of the spiritual world. There is a battle raging in the unseen world.
2. Delay does not mean Defeat (vv.20-21;12:1-4, etc)
a. We will win personally (vv.20-21)
b. We will win prophetically (Dan. 12:1-4)
c. We will win powerfully (Jude 8, I Thess:416; Rev. 12)
We learn from Rev 12 that Michael is the marital angel who commands the armies of heaven. His arrival to Daniel swung the balance of the conflict. He had superiority over the Prince of Persia.
ILLUSTRATION: Different Examples of Prayer Partners
C. H. Spurgeon said, "Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray." The year was 30 A.D. The city was Jerusalem. The evangelist was an untutored fisherman named Peter. He preached a short message and 3,000 souls were saved. The secret was the prayers of God’s people waiting in an upper room to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
The year was the late 1700’s. The place was India. The missionary was William Carey. He was a shoe repairman. He had a world map on his wall. India became a burden to him. He left for India and spent 42 years there and translated the Bible into 25 different languages. He became the Father of Missions. What was the secret of William Carey’s life? He had a bed ridden cripple sister in England. Everyday, William wrote his sister and share the missionary burdens with her. She would take these burdens to the Lord in prayer everyday.
The year was 1830. The city was Rochester, New York. The evangelist was Charles Finney. More than 10% of the city was converted. The secret to Finney’s ministry was that he had a prayer partner who name was Able Clarey.
The year was 1872. The place was London, England. The evangelist was an obscure YMCA leader named D. L. Moody. People were being converted. The secret was another bed ridden lady named Mary Ann Adler. She had read a newspaper clipping about D. L. Moody in Chicago. She had prayed that he would come to her country and to her city and that revival would come because of him.
The year was 1934. The place was Charlotte, NC. The evangelist was Mordecai Ham. The city was deeply moved by God and farmer’s son named Billy Graham was saved in that revival. The secret was that a group of business men gathered at Billy Graham’s father’s farm and prayed for revival for entire day.
The year was 1949. The place was Los Angles. The speaker was a young evangelist from North Carolina, whose name was Billy Graham. The campaign was extended because of prayer and launched the ministry of Billy Graham.
II. OUR VISION OF JESUS PRECEDES OUR FRESH TOUCH OF GOD (vv. 4-9)
A. The Purity Of Jesus (v.5; Rev. 1:12-15)
Jesus was wearing fine linen. This was symbolic of the purity of Jesus. What we weave in time, we will wear in eternity.
B. The Preciousness of Jesus (v.5)
Jesus was wearing a belt of God. This was symbolic of value.
C. The Perfection of Jesus (v. 6)
Jesus’ body was like crystallite. It was perfect.
D. The Preeminence of Jesus (v. 6)
Jesus face had the appearance of lightning. Jesus wants us to see him as He is today. He is the Lord of Glory. Jesus will come back like lightning.
E. The Perception of Jesus (v. 6)
Jesus eyes were like flaming torches. Jesus looked into the deepest well of Daniel’s soul. Jesus knows the deepest needs of our heart.
F. The Purpose of Jesus (v. 6)
The feet and arms of Jesus were like the "gleam of polished bronze. This is symbolic of judgment. He comes now as savior, but one day will come as sentencer.
G. The Power of Jesus (v.6)
When it not be wonderful to hear the voice of Jesus? The voice of Jesus were like "sound of a tumult."
This revelation of Jesus radically changed Daniel’s life. Daniel was overcome. Isaiah saw the Lord and said, "Woe is me! For I am a man who is unclean. When Ezekiel saw the Lord, he fell on his face (Ezk. 1:26-28). When Saul of Tarsus, saw the Lord, he fell on the earth as a blind man (Acts 9:3-4,9). When John saw on the Lord, he fell at his feet as dead (Rev. 1:13-17).
III. OUR VICTORY FROM JESUS PRODUCES A FRESH TOUCH OF GOD (vv.10-21)
A. A Fresh Touch Will Put Us On Knees (vv. 10-11)
This is picture of us seeking God. If we desire a fresh touch was must determine to seek the Lord. It is on our knees where the victory comes in our spiritual, physical, and emotional lives. We move from fear to faith while on our knees.
When the Church experiences a fresh touch of God, prayer will become our first defense against the demonic forces that try to stop the move of God.
B. A Fresh Touch Will Put Us On Our Face (vv. 9, 15)
This is picture of us surrendering to God. When Daniel heard and saw the Lord he was moved to his face. We must become totally dependent upon God. While he was on His face, both times the Lord then touched him and revived his strength.
Why was Daniel so overwhelmed when Jesus touch him? Why did Jesus touch him anyway? Why did not Jesus speak to him? Jesus touched him to identify with Daniel. Daniel fell to his face with the revelation that Jesus loved him so much that He was willing to touch him.
When Jesus was on the earth. He touch the unlovables.
C. A Fresh Touch Will Put Us On Our Feet (vv. 18-19)
God brings us down to lift us up. The devil brings us down to keep us down. A fresh touch of God will move us from our knees, face, to our feet. This is a picture of us standing for God.
