Power of Persistent Prayer
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Children’s Time: M&M’s Jesus Loves the Little Children (Red, brown, yellow, black, and white)
ILLUSTRATION
There is a story of a Welsh woman who lived in a remote valley in Wales. She went to a great deal of trouble and expense to have electrical power installed in her home. However, after a couple of months, the electric company noticed she didn’t seem to use very much electricity at all. Thinking there might be a problem with the hookup, they sent a meter reader out to check on the matter. The man came to the door and said, "We’ve just checked your meter and it doesn’t seem that you’re using much electricity. Is there a problem?"
"Oh no" she said. "We’re quite satisfied. We turn on the electric lights every night to see how to light our lamps and then we switch them off again."
Why didn’t this woman make more use of her electricity?
She believed in electricity. She believed the promises of the electric company when they told her about it. She went to a great deal of trouble and expense to have her house wired for it; but she didn’t understand the potential of electricity in her home.
I suspect there are people who use prayer very much the same way.
They believe in prayer. They know of the promises God has made. They’ve even read and heard stories about answered prayers; but they do not understand the potential of prayer!
I BELIEVE PRAYER IS OFTEN THE LAST RESOURCE TAPPED! But Daniel didn’t pray that way…
But Daniel didn’t pray that way…
Many Christians either believe:
God’s gonna do, what God’s gonna do anyway! So why pray?Others see prayer as the last resort after all other efforts fail!
Prayer is like a “Hail Mary” pass in football. We throw it up in the air and hope it reaches the desired destination.
But Daniel didn’t pray that way…
DANIEL UNDERSTOOD the power of prayer and the importance of spending time with God!
Remember last week, we saw prayer is a two-way dialogue with God! It is a conversation with our Father in heaven initiated by either us or Him.
When we read the Book of Daniel, we discover prayer/conversation with God had a priority in his life. Each day he set aside time to approach God with his concerns and to wait on God’s reply.
— We find him in conversation with God in the privacy of his room seeking wisdom and guidance;
— and again in the stressful moment of being surround by lions Daniel asking for peace and protection.
— He talked to God about forgiving the sins of His people Israel, and returning them to their home.
— And we find Daniel struggling in prayer because he’s troubled by a dream. Longing for an understanding of the dream, Daniel continually calls out to God for 21 days—and even when he gets no reply, he continues to cry out to God!
21 days days he prayed! And sometimes we give up if we don’t get an answer in 21 minutes!
I believe Daniel was relentless in his prayer because he was experiencing something unusual. Daniel was praying but rather than God answering him quickly, he was hearing nothing—yet he persisted.
In we are told:
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
Jesus taught us we should always pray and not give up!
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”
ILLUSTRATION: Let’s find out how old everyone is! How many of you remember the commentator Paul Harvey?
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
He told this story: “A three-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, ‘Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don’t even ask!’She put him up in the cart & he sat in the little child’s seat while she wheeled down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. He saw the chocolate chip cookies and he stood up in the seat and said, ‘Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, ‘I told you not even to ask. You’re not going to get any at all.’ So he sat back down.They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended up back in the cookie aisle again. ‘Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?’She said, ‘I told you that you can’t have any. Now sit down and be quiet.’Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane. The little boy sensed that this may be his last chance. So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart and shouted in his loudest voice, ‘In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?’And everyone around them began to laugh. Some even applauded! Then the crowd got generous and bought the little boy 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies!’”
Jesus taught us we should always pray and not give up!ILLUSTRATION: Let’s find out how old everyone is! How many of you remember the commentator Paul Harvey? He told this story: “A three-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, ‘Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don’t even ask!’She put him up in the cart & he sat in the little child’s seat while she wheeled down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. He saw the chocolate chip cookies and he stood up in the seat and said, ‘Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, ‘I told you not even to ask. You’re not going to get any at all.’ So he sat back down.They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended up back in the cookie aisle again. ‘Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?’She said, ‘I told you that you can’t have any. Now sit down and be quiet.’Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane. The little boy sensed that this may be his last chance. So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart and shouted in his loudest voice, ‘In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?’And everyone around them began to laugh. Some even applauded! Then the crowd got generous and bought the little boy 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies!’”
We are told to always to pray and not give up! But why? WHY should we always pray and not give up?
We are told to always to pray and not give up! But why?
WHY should we always pray and not give up?
Is God deaf? Is it hard to get His attention?
Does God expect us to keep bothering Him until He throws up His hands and says, “If I don’t grant their request I’ll never get any rest?"
I don’t think so! IN FACT when Daniel gets an answer 21 days later, he discovers something else was happening!
Look at
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 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.
Verse 12 “...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.”
Dan 10:
A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
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. ()
This isn’t the 1st time an angel has told Daniel this!
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:
Dan 9
Verse 23 “As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed...”
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE TEXT?
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE TEXT?
1. When Daniel prayed—God heard him!
2. When Daniel prayed—an Angel was dispatched with an answer!
But that still doesn’t answer the question: Why should we always pray & not give up? HOWEVER...
The story of Daniel’s prayer in chapter 10 provides insight into the communication system God set up to respond to us. God gives us a look behind the scenes…
The story of Daniel’s prayer in chapter 10 provides insight into the question! Through Daniel, God gives us a look behind the scenes…
The story of Daniel’s prayer in chapter 10 provides insight into the question! Through Daniel, God gives us a look behind the scenes…
ILLUSTRATION
It’s kind of like when you’re at a theatrical play and the curtain is closed. You don’t usually see what takes place behind the curtain.
If you didn’t know better, you might not realize, while the curtain is closed the props are brought out, the scenery is changed and the actors take their positions. But every once in a while somebody slips up and the curtain is accidentally drawn back and you see what is taking place behind the scenes.
gives us a look behind the heavenly curtain!
Let’s read verse 12 again, and take a look at 13 as well...
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. 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.
NOTICE: vs12 “SINCE THE FIRST DAY that you set your mind to gain understanding...” And vs13, "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.
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. 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. ()
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. 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. ()
When Daniel prayed, demonic forces rose up (the prince of Persia) and angelic warfare broke out!
What does that mean?
When Daniel prayed, demonic forces rose up (the prince of Persia) and angelic warfare broke out!
Prayer turns loose the power of the heavenly realm!
Prayer is a battle against the evil in the spiritual world!
YOU are a warrior God sets loose on evil, and you are assisted by the Angels of God!
Angels fight to answer your prayers!
LISTEN TO THE NT EVIDENCE...
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For 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.
14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Eph 6:10
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ()
WHEN WE PRAY we are in warfare AND angels fight to bring you answers!
Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. ( NLT)
WHEN YOU PRAY angels fight to bring you answers!
So I wonder, Daniel prayed 21 days, and the angel was sent the 1st day he prayed... but didn’t arrive until the 21st day. What might have happened had Daniel GIVEN UP in his prayers?
What if he had quit on the 14th day, or the 15th, or the 16th? Would the angel have arrived with his answer?
The text doesn’t say, but there is the implication that Daniel’s persistence empowered the Angels to fight!
The Bible doesn’t say, but there is an implication! Jesus taught that we should “always pray and not give up”
The Bible doesn’t say, but there is an implication! Jesus taught that we should “always pray and not give up”
Jesus taught that we should “ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT GIVE UP!”
NOT because God is hard of hearing!
NOT because God needs to be nagged into answering our requests!
NOT because God doesn’t want to answer us!
Jesus taught us always pray and to not give up; because, WHEN WE PRAY, our prayers carry weight!
EVERY TIME you and I pray, God unleashes power from His throne!
For some reason, God has chosen to allow OUR REQUESTS to impact His kingdom! It’s as if PRAYER is part of our training, to prepare us to trust Him with every facet of our lives!
ILLUSTRATON
I hear a lot of complaints! And sometimes, I complain!
However, I have discovered it DOES NO GOOD to complain to people! In fact, when I complain, I just add fuel to the fire!
The truth is, we complain because we’re disturbed or worried about a problem that we see that IS NOT being addressed!
So what do we do when we see a problem? We complain!
What if I wen to God with my complaint? Can I do that? Will God hear me? Will He listen to my gripes?
The answer is clearly, YES! And I DON”T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING MISUNDERSTOOD!
IN FACT, every conversation with God provides WISDOM to resolve THE PROBLEM or it puts PRESSURE on person to listen to God!
While every conversation with God provides WISDOM to resolve THE PROBLEM or it puts PRESSURE on person to listen to God!
While most conversations with people provides NO WISDOM to resolve THE PROBLEM or it puts PRESSURE on person to listen to God!
Do you pray for your friends in their daily struggles? Every conversation you have with God, imparts His power and wisdom to them!
Do you have difficulties with someone at work? Every prayer you lift up to God’s throne puts pressure on difficult people to listen to God.
Prayer IS NOT a passive act! It is AGGRESSIVE, ACTIVE, POWERFUL, PERSONAL! It is warfare “...against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
ILLUS: One man describing his prayers said “When I pray – I PUSH! When everything seems to go wrong, I just Push! When the job gets me down, I just Push! When people don’t react the way I think they should, I just Push! When my money looks funny and the bills are due, I just Push! When I want to curse people out for whatever the reason, I just Push! When people just don’t understand me, I just Push!
He said, “PUSH” stands for ... Pray Until Something Happens!
George Mueller was known for his powerful prayer. In the course of his ministry to the orphans of England, he never asked for financial assistance from men, only God... and he constantly received what was needed to the penny.
Once, on his way to speak in Quebec for an engagement, on the deck of the ship that was to carry him to his destination, he informed the captain that he needed to be in Quebec by Saturday afternoon. As the captain related the story, he said "’It is impossible,’ he said. ’Do you know how dense this fog is?’"
"’No,’ George replied, ’my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of life. I have never broken an engagement in 57 years; let us go down into the chart room and pray.’ He knelt down and he prayed one of the simplest prayers. “Lord, please lift the fog.”
When he finished the Captain was going to pray, but he put his hand on the Captain’s shoulder and told him not to pray. ’As you do not believe He will answer, and as I believe He has, there is no need for you whatever for you to pray about it.’
"The Captain looked at him and George Mueller said, ’Captain, I have known my Lord for 57 yrs. and there has never been a single day when I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, Captain, and open the door and you will find that the fog has gone.’
CLOSING
CLOSING
"The Captain got up and the fog indeed was gone, and on that Saturday afternoon George Mueller kept his promised engagement."
PERSONAL ILLUSTRATION
In 1975, our family sat at our kitchen table on Kaneohe Marine crops Air Station waiting for the dish Billie carefully prepared. It was three days before payday and we had been challenged to practice our faith, when God clearly gave us direction to give the last of our money to another family, so they could buy milk for their infant child.
That week we were challenged to practice our faith, when God clearly gave us direction to give the last of our money to another family so they could buy milk for an infant child.
The only food we had, was one can of tuna and a box of Tuna Helper. As the 9x9-inch pan was lifted from the oven to the table, Billie and I worried whether there would not be enough for our children. We were prepared not to eat that night.
As the 9x9-inch pan was lifted from the oven to the table, Billie and I worried there would not be enough for our children.
We prayed, asking the Lord to multiply the food.
I recall reading a Proverb that was part of our devotional time that morning:
25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.
We asked God to multiply the dish and we began to serve it to our children.
The dish did not empty! We serve our children, then ourselves. Our boys had seconds—ALL OF US ate our fill that night, the next night, and the next!
All of us ate our fill that night, the next night, and the next! When the dish emptied on the third night, we knew beyond any doubt the truth that God answers prayer!
The dish did not empty! We served our children, then ourselves. The dish still didn’t empty!
The ALL OF US ate our fill that night, the next night, and the next!
Our boys had seconds—ALL OF US ate our fill that night! Not even a third was gone!
We ate our fill again the next night, and the next!
As the dish emptied on the third night, we knew God went far beyond what we asked to answer our prayer!
Prayer IS NOT a passive act! It is AGGRESSIVE, ACTIVE, POWERFUL, PERSONAL! ALWAYS PRAY! NEVER GIVE UP!