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All scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation.
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There was an old television commercial which for thes sake of hocking mouth wash asked the question – “How’s your love life?”
Good question. And I’m not going to put you on the spot and ask for hands from everyone who thinks they’ve got a good love life. But I want to twist the question a bit this morning and ask – “How’s your prayer life?”
On a scale of 1-10 – with 10 being EXCELLENT! and 1 being... well, the PITS!, how would you rate yourself? (Not that you’re necessarily the most objective observer -- but it’s a start.)
Take a second and rate your prayer life.
Now, tuck that figure in the back of your mind for a few minutes and turn with me to the 10th chapter of Daniel.
This is the beginning of the end – of the book – the last vision – except that it takes three chapters to record it and chapter 10 is the prologue – the introductory material.
Now, I need to point out that the message of the vision is ultimately the same as everything you’ve been hearing from Daniel to this point – IN SPITE OF PRESENT APPEARANCES, GOD IS IN CONTROL – EVEN OF THE FUTURE!
When we finish with this vision in a few weeks this is where we’ll end up. This is the overarching message of Daniel and the last vision. And we’ll return to the theme. But this morning I’d like us to go off on a little bunny trail and look at a related undercurrent in the text – the role of PRAYER.
So, just how is your prayer life?
Have you noticed, as we’ve worked our way through Daniel, how often prayer comes up?
In chapter 2 Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego hold a prayer meeting asking God to reveal the nature of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
In chapter 6 Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den because he was praying to the Lord instead of the king.
In chapter 9 Daniel enters into a time of prayer – confessing the sins of the people and asking for understanding about what to do next.
And it’s this prayer, that is being answered here in chapter 10.
Verse 2 – "When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils."
That is, he was fasting. And fasting is a state of protracted prayer.
Verse 4 – "On April 23, as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightning, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
"I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide."
This is an interesting line here in verse 7. Not everyone hears or sees the same thing. Daniel’s friends knew something was happening and they were spooked but they didn’t see the vision.
I think that this is a word of caution to everyone who thinks that everyone else can have and should have an identical experience with the Lord. He doesn’t speak to everyone in the same way.
Verse 8 – "So I was left there all alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees.
"And the man said to me, ’O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.’ When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear. Then he said, ’Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been
heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer."
Hear that -- “I have come in answer to your prayer...” This thing is about prayer and God’s response to Daniel’s prayers.
So I think it’s quite appropriate that we make a few observations about prayer from this passage. Actually there will be four.
And by the way, for the sake of definition I want to simply say that prayer is “communication between God and his people.”
This is probably a broader definition than what you’re used to. Some people see prayer as when you sit down – bow your head, close your eyes, and talk to God. And that is prayer!
But prayer is more than that.
When we sing praises to God – that is prayer.
When we read the Bible expecting to hear what God is saying – that is prayer.
When we walk through the day talking to God – that is prayer.
So when I ask, how’s your prayer life I’m not just asking whether you sit down for five, ten, or 60 minutes to quietly talk to God. And that is important.
But it’s not the only form that prayer takes.
Here in chapters 9 and 10 Daniel had been fasting, and lamenting for weeks – this was prayer. But it wasn’t what he was doing for 15 minutes a day. It was what he was doing all day and all night long.
So anyway, prayer takes many forms. And in a nutshell it is communication between God and his people.
Well, I would like to highlight four aspects of prayer that I think will help us -- you improve your prayer life.
First of all, PRAYER IS A DISTURBING ACTIVITY THAT TAKES PLACE ON A BATTLEFIELD.
This is the thing that jumps out at me in this passage. We tend to think that prayer should be conversational – the more casual the better – and comforting. "Sweet Hour of Prayer." A warm conversation between friends.
But really that isn’t the way that prayer is portrayed in scripture.
In prayer you’re talking to God not your best chum. And you’re dealing with important critical issues – weighty matters – and as such it can be very intense.
The old term “prayer warrior” is quite appropriate.
There is a battle going on.
When Jesus went off to pray he was sweating blood.
When he went out on retreat to the desert he was tempted by the devil.
Other times Jesus agonized all night in prayer.
Daniel has been praying for weeks about the transition in power and trying to understand what God was doing with his people.
His repentance was characterized not by a timid “I’m sorry for all the bad things I’ve done" – but by sack cloth and ashes to make his point.
And it didn’t make him feel better that he had been praying so intensely. Verse 2 says that he hadn’t been eating or bathing normally.
Then he has this bizarre encounter with a dazzling messenger. Everyone else runs away.
He says in verse 8 – "My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak."
Then the messenger starts talking about being waylaid by some spirit who was operating for the bad guys!
"But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia."
Don’t ask me to explain who this “spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia” is.
There is a movement afoot in some quarters to identify spirits associated with territories -- neighborhoods, cities, countries, and to pray against these beings.
But I think they’re reading too much into this passage to suggest that there are thousands of territorial spirits out there – and that we need to do prayer battle with them.
Indeed, Daniel himself isn’t at all involved in that kind of prayer.
And really, we’re not sure what is meant here by the "spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia" blocking the messenger’s way. I couldn’t give you some kind of definitive answer.
But apparently, there is more going on than meets the eye – a lot of disturbing activity that is generated when God is responding to our prayers.
The point I’m making is that prayer can be draining and it can be long and arduous – and not necessarily comforting.
I don’t know how many times people who’ve gone thru tough times have told me how confused they are because they’ve prayed about the issue that is bothering them. And not only has the problem not gone away but they haven’t received any peace about the situation.
We’ve some how gotten the idea that prayer is like a pain-reliever that you pop when you want to feel better -- theraputic or mdeicinal.
And sometimes prayer does function that way. But that is not at all the picture we have here in Daniel. Prayer is a disturbing activity that takes place on the battlefield.
Secondly, PRAYER PRESUPPOSES GOD’S LOVE.
Vs. 11 – “O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you...”
Some of your translations might render this as something like “Daniel, greatly esteemed...”
The messenger is emphasizing that he is there because of the high loving regard that God has for Daniel.
In lots of religions people pray to their gods not because there is some kind of loving relationship but because it is an obligation or they’re afraid that if
they don’t say the right magic prayer worlds and appease their deity that he will send down a mighty bolt of lighting and fry them out of your socks.
But there is a tenderness – a sweetness in this prayer relationship that is worth noting. And it is presupposed when we approach God with our concerns and our issues.
Jesus teaches his followers to address God as “Our Father...” We don’t come before God because we’re afraid of him but because we know that he has our best interests in mind -- in the same way a father does for his children. He’s on our side.
Now, you may not always like what he does! That’s because you may be thinking too short term or two exclusively in individualistic terms – but really, the bottom line is that God is on your side. Ultimately he wants to see you living and participating in his peace – the life he has for you.
And I find this tremendously freeing. I’m not afraid of making mistakes in my prayers and asking for the wrong things.
I mean, sometimes I do that – and God gives me the things I want. But I know that ultimately he works it all out for the best – even if I ask for things I shouldn’t want.
The point being that I’m not in the least bit worried that I’m going to offend God by not wording my prayer right or by asking for the wrong thing.
I may embarrass myself. And I may reveal my stupidity. But God is not going to love me any less because of it.
Thirdly, PRAYER WORKS BEST WHEN WE’RE SEEKING WISDOM RATHER THAN TRYING TO DICTATE THE OUTCOME.
Yes, we are to ask God for the small things. Yes, we’re to ask God about giving us what we need. But if you really want to touch God’s heart – ask for understanding.
Verse 12 – "Then he said, ’Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.’"
Remember the story of Solomon, King David’s son? When he was about to become King he prayed to God and asked for wisdom. And God was so pleased that he asked for
wisdom instead of power and wealth that God gave him power and wealth, too.
Or James 1:5 – "If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking."
In the Lord’s Prayer we’re taught that before we ask for our daily bread we’re to say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...”
That is, whatever I’m doing I want it to fit in with your eternal purpose, your kingdom, God.
It’s a matter of realignment of purposes. And that is a matter of understanding what God is up to.
So, yes, do pray asking God for a new bicycle or a new job or a new house – but only after asking God for an understanding of his will. Because then you will be asking for the kinds of things that he wants to give you.
By the way, there is an outstanding article in the October Covenant Companion written by Brent Laytham – and it’s called “Searching for God’s Will”. Actually, there are several good articles in there on hearing God’s voice but I’ll point you to Dr Laytham’s article and in particular great paragraph:
"The Christian life is an ongoing – a lifelong – transformation of desire. We are unschooled from certain pleasures and reschooled into God’s good pleasure. Coming to delight in that which delights God is not quick or easy. It takes time and work. Feelings of love for God aren’t enough... In discipleship, it’s reordering our affections by worship and devotion."
That is, by seeking to understand what God is up to.
Then fourth, and this is very closely related to the last observation, PRAYER WORKS BEST FROM A POSITION OF HUMILITY.
Verse 12 again – "Then he said, ’Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven."
Daniel had been praying and fasting -- confessing his sins and the sins of the sins of the people. His prayer wasn’t about himself and getting what he wanted – but it was about setting himself aside
so he could understand what God was doing. And that setting aside of self is humility.
I mean Daniel was into this big time. He dressed the part in 9:3 pleading with God for mercy -- (When was the last time you pleaded with God for mercy?).
With fasting... (When was the last time you gave up a meal or more or something else just to help you focus and concentrate more on your ongoing prayers?)
I’ll tell you, I’m not an expert in this area.
And then 9:3 adds, “With sackcloth and ashes”.
He dressed the humble part. He set aside his party clothes – his fancy dancy stuff – the dress for success wardrobe – so he could get out of the business as usual mentality and mourn his own sinfulness.
And that was the act of humility that the messenger took note of.
By the wya, it’s not that Daniel earned the right to an answer from God by humbling himself – but that he was in a better position to receive it by doing so.
So, how is your prayer life?
I look at all of this and think that mine is pretty poor -- not because I don’t spend time praying. But I know that I take it way too casually. And my focus tends to be task oriented.
I’m a task-oriented person.
I pray for people to be healed.
I pray for the sniper to be arrested.
I pray for the budget to be met.
I pray for the kids in my D/C group that they might actually learn something and grow in their walk with Christ because of what I do.
All good things, by the way, but my regular focus doesn’t tend to be on understanding what God is doing.
That would be way to humbling. After all, I’m the pastor. I’m suppose to understand all the God stuff.
Yeah right...
And that’s why I don’t give myself a very high number.
Perhaps you’re in the same boat as I am – in need of a little jolt and reawakening to the nature of effective prayer.
Let’s make it so.
Let’s commit or recommit ourselves to taking prayer seriously. For as we’ve seen in the book of Daniel –
God does.
And that’s good news.
Let’s spend a moment in silence listening – asking the Lord for wisdom and understanding – and whether he wants us – you to be making some midcourse adjustments in your walk with him.
Or maybe you need to start that walk. If so, in this moment of silence simply and quietly tell him about it.
