Prayer is Conversational

“Conversing With God”

Dan. 9:1-23

THEME: Regularly Engage in Two-Way Communication With the Lord in order to Build an Ever Deepening Fellowship With Him.

RELEVANCE:

The Scriptures are the supreme source of insight on prayer and talking with God. It is the source from which we receive new insights and eternal wisdom regarding our prayer ministry. God is a Divine Person and we must never forget he offers us a personal relationship to enjoy and maintain.  Intimate associations grow, prosper, and are strengthened through wholesome self-disclosing communication—prayer.  Victory or defeat is decided in your Christian life on the battleground of your daily walk with the Lord.

INTRODUCTION:

Communication is a two-way process. Simply sending a message is not communication. Communication requires that two parties respond to each other. Each party gives and receives messages and, in turn, provides feedback. In other words:

            *A statement is made, and a specific response is provided.

            *A question is asked, and an answer is given.

            *Feelings are expressed, and feelings are perceived in return.

 True Communication with God Is Not Talking to God, but Talking with God. We do not communicate if we voice a petition to God, but do not wait for His answer. We do not communicate if we express our desires to God, but do not hear what His desires are for us. We do not communicate if we vent our anger, frustration, doubts, fears, or joys to God, but do not listen intently for His response.  Prayer is speaking to and listening to God. It is an active process involving two communicators: God and you. 

Daniel’s prayers illustrate and model two-way communication with God.   

 MESSAGE:  

I.               PRAYER IS TO BE CONVERSATIONAL (Dialogue) (Dan. 9:2-4, 17-23)

From time to time, God may give us a directive or speak a command to us from His Word. Indeed, God speaks when He wills to speak, and it is our responsibility to listen and obey. We can also voice to God our heartfelt cries of anguish, sorrow, pain, or give vent to our ecstatic joy. At these times we are talking to God or He is talking to us. This is expression, which is valuable, but it is not the most beneficial form of communication in a relationship.

Daniel’s experience is illustrative of wholesome dialogue between God and himself.   First the Bible reading and meditation and then Daniel’s prayer over what he learned from the Scriptures as he appeals to God for additional insight (9:2-4).  God spoke through the Word and Daniel spoke through prayer.  Then after a period of intense prayer, Daniel receives a response from God via angelic emissary—Gabriel.  Daniel is literally conversing—verbally exchanging—with God and God with him.  This is a conversation!

1. COMMUNICATION THAT BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS IS DIALOGUE. (TWO-WAY)

Daniel was offering himself and his prayers at the time of the evening offering (see Ps. 141:1–2), and the Angel Gabriel came to give him his answer (Dan. 9:19-21).

1.     Daniel’s Prayer Involved Answers from God.   

a.      Questions. Daniel was concerned about Jerusalem, the holy mountain (v. 20).

                                                              i.     Would the city be restored? Would the temple be rebuilt?

                                                            ii.     Would the nation ever be redeemed from sin and would righteousness ever dwell on the earth?—Wiersbe, Warren W.

                                                          iii.     It is good to bring our questions to God and to seek His answers.

b.     Answers. God’s answer for Daniel was prompt. Gabriel had all the answers for Daniel, and we know them as the famous prophecy of the “seventy weeks” (9:24-27).

                                                              i.     Is there more to prayer then the good feeling we get inside after we have prayed? Should we really expect answers from God? Can we count on God to come through when we are in a time crunch?

1.     God hears prayer. Prayer is not merely pouring out our souls to God. It is talking with a great God who hears, is attentive, and sympathizes with our challenges. “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valley” (Isa 41:17-18a).

2.     God acts in response to prayer. Gabriel is sent by God, and Daniel receives new insight.  In spiritual matters, there is a real exertion of energy on God’s part in response to prayer. He is not a passive hearer of prayer. His answers are not mere echoes of sympathy. You know like, “There, there, I know how you feel.” No, God’s answers bring active and real assistance. “I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliever him, and honour him” (Ps 91:15).

3.     God answers prayer promptly. Daniel prays, “Defer not.” God does not carelessly delay. God’s answer is sent at the very “beginning” of the “supplication,” and Gabriel is “caused to fly swiftly” (9:21). God is too powerful to need to delay, and too merciful to be willing to delay.

                                                            ii.     If we do not receive the answers to our prayers quickly, it is not because God is slow, but because the timing of the blessing is one of the conditions for its usage. Still, the answer is dispatched immediately, and begins to unfold in God’s perfect timing. “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come” (Hab. 2:3).

c.      Conversation.  This is ‘prayer dialogue’—a two way conversation with God. 

                                                              i.     We can enjoy the equivalent of this when God speaks to us in prayer by reminding us of Scripture commands, encouragements, admonitions, and promises. 

                                                            ii.     Then there are those times when we wait before the Lord in a spirit of prayer and He speaks clear directives to our heart so that we know how to proceed and where to concentrate our energies and efforts.

d.     Influence.

                                                              i.     Such interaction with God is sure to influence our faith, fervor, commitment, loyalty, and usefulness to God.  It builds a more intimate fellowship with Jehovah!

                                                            ii.     Such interaction with God will certainly influence the world in which we live.

                                                          iii.     The man of prayer exerts a greater influence over national affairs than even crowned heads. “Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.” Daniel on his knees was a mightier man than Darius on his throne. Daniel was in the service of the King of kings; was admitted to the audience-chamber of the Most High; and received the announcements of the Divine will. Darius now mainly serves as a landmark on the course of time to indicate a date; Daniel is still the teacher and moulder of men.—The Pulpit Commentary; The Omnipotence Of Prayer

2.     Daniel’s Prayer Involved Meaningful Conversation.

Not merely talking at each other, but with each other! But, what makes prayer meaningful? How can we have a meaningful conversation with God?

a.      Sit Down for a Good Talk.  Isaiah 1:18, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  Genuine prayer has all of the qualities and characteristics of a deeply meaningful conversation between two people. God said to the prophet Isaiah, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isa. 1:18). This image of God and man sitting down together for a good talk is one of the best images of prayer.

b.     Allow God’s Words to Encourage You. Dan. 9:2, 11-13

1.     The Word of God and Prayer Go Together.  Acts 6:4, But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

2.     The Word Should Direct the Prayer Life.

a.      The Comprehension of the Word (Dan. 9:2).  Daniel, a student of the OT prophecies (Jer. 25:1–14), was now nearly ninety years old. He knew his people would be in Babylon for seventy years.

                                                                                            i.     Note that God does not give his people “visions and dreams” when He can teach us through His Word. Today His Spirit teaches us through the Word. Beware of “new revelations” that are supposed to come from dreams and visions. The Word gave direction to his prayers.

                                                                                          ii.     Daniel realized that the seventy years of captivity were about to close. Babylon invaded and siege Palestine in 606 B.C., and Daniel understood the prophecies in the year 539–38 B.C.  There were but two years left in the seventy years! What an exciting time Daniel had in his Bible study that day!

b.     The Communication of His Prayer (Dan. 9:3).

                                                                                            i.     Daniel did not go out and boast about his insight into the Word; in fact, he did not even preach a sermon.

                                                                                          ii.     He went to his knees in prayer. This is the true attitude of the humble Bible student. It is sad to see “prophetic truth” making boasters instead of prayer warriors out of people.

                                                                                        iii.     Daniel’s prayer is one of the greatest examples of intercession in the Bible.

 

c.      Use God’s Promises When You Pray. 

1.     God is pleased to do His wise and wonderful will and we can participate in this as we pray His will and claim His promises (Matt 6:10).

a.      Why did Daniel pray for the prosperity of the desolate city of Jerusalem? Because God had promised not only to end the captivity, but also to take the Jews back to their land that they might rebuild their temple. See Jer. 29:10–14 and 30:10–24. In Isa. 44:28, God promised that Cyrus would permit the Jews to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.

b.     So, Daniel was laying hold of these great promises and turning them into believing prayers.  God answered his prayers!  He will answer ours when the Word directs our prayers and we claim the promises of God.

2.     Consider some wonderful promises afforded us for Christian living that should be used in our prayer ministry.

a.      Christ promised forgiveness to the sinful, rest to the weary (Matt. 11:28-29), security to the believer, “… him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37), comfort to the sad, hope to the dying, and life to the dead (Jn. 11:25-26).

b.     Another wonderful promise is that of eternal life: “He that hath the Son hath life …” (1 John 5:12).

c.      We are also promised (1) Freedom from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:14). (2) Grace that is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). (3) Power to obey His commands (Phil. 4:13). (4) Victory over the devil (Jas. 4:7). (5) Escape when tempted (1 Cor. 10:13). (6) Forgiveness when we confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:9)—and forgetfulness too (Jer. 31:34). (7) Response when we call—“I will deliver thee” (Ps. 50:15).

d.     Then we have the promises of inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5) and the return of Christ (1 Peter 1:9, 13).

3.     Daniel’s Prayer Did Not Involve Sharing a Shopping List.

a.      Can you imagine living in a relationship with a person who made demands or requests, or stated opinion or facts, but never waited to hear what you had to say?

b.     Such a relationship would be very unfulfilling. You might establish a degree of protocol, courtesy and function with very little efficiency with that person, but the relationship would probably be very cold and unsatisfying to you.

c.      That is precisely the nature of many people’s prayer life. There is no heart to their communication with God, no real intimacy, and no deep fulfillment. There is little or no sense of connection with the divine Person!  For communication to be satisfying, it must involve a genuine dialogue, not a series of short monologues.

d.     What does God get out of spending time with you?  Your list of wants or your heart?

B.  COMMUNICATION THAT BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS IS DEEP. (Heartfelt)

Daniel 9:22-23, And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. [23] At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

1. Daniel’s Prayer Involved Heartfelt Concerns.
1. God’s Answers in Response to Our Concerns (9:22-23). Daniel was evidently concerned about God’s program and Israel’s future (Dan.9:2). Remember Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer. 25:11-12) had revealed God’s plan for Israel.

                                                    i.     Daniel wanted to know what would transpire after Captivity. Daniel’s previous two visions (Dan. 7-8) dealt primarily with Gentile nations.

                                                  ii.     So Gabriel was dispatched by God to settle Daniel’s concerns and to reveal God’s program for His people in the covenant kingdom under Israel’s Messiah.

2. God Answers Prayer by Revealing His Plans.  He had already settled his purpose of Israel’s restoration. God often answers prayer in a different way from our expectation.

                                                    i.     Sometimes he opens our eyes to blessings already given, but not recognized. This is how God answered Hagar’s and young Ishmael’s need for water (Gen 21:19).

                                                  ii.     Sometimes he changes our desires, and inclines our hearts to rest in his will by showing us that it is better than our will (Ps. 37:4-5).

                                                iii.     The best prayer is that in which we seek to be in harmony with the will of God (Matt 26:39). “Not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

3. God Answers Out of Love for Us. Gabriel would give Daniel insight into God’s purposes for His people because the prophet was highly esteemed and “greatly beloved” (Dan. 10:11, 19) by God. 
4. God Answers Because We Have Learned to Pray Intimately.  That is we invite God into anything and everything as our Councilor for consideration and conversation.  We should be able to talk with Him about everything.

                                                    i.     Not just the major decisions, but we freely and frequently welcome God into small decision regarding our daily activities, schedule, trips, hobbies, pursuits, and interests. 

                                                  ii.     If it causes us concern we can talk to this trusted Friend about it. We are assured of His interest, the reliability of His counsel, his availability to us, and His meaningful help. 

 

2. Prayer is Meant to Be Deep Communication from the Heart.
1. Consider the Results. The end results of intentional dialogue can be wonderful. We know this to be true in our relationships with other people. When we have a deep and heartfelt conversation with another person, we very often come away from that experience saying, “I have a much better understanding of him and his problems, needs, and concerns,” “I have deeper feelings toward that person,” “I have a greater appreciation for who she is,” or “We have a stronger friendship.”
2. Cultivate the Relationship. The same is true when we communicate intentionally and conversationally with God. We know Him more intimately, understand Him better, feel more at home in His presence, find reasons to praise Him, have a deeper relationship with Him, we feel free to trust Him more implicitly, and our love for Him grows.

CONCLUSION:

The specifics of your prayer relationship with God are as distinctive as any other aspect of your life and your ability to communicate. God is eager to spend time with you and to develop a deep, intimate relationship with you that is marked by great joy and well-being. It is an experience to be pursued and a relationship to be valued beyond all others.