Passionate, Persistent Prayer - Daniel 9:1-19
Charles Spurgeon:
“I know of no better thermometer to your spiritual temperature than this, the measure of the intensity of your prayer.”
What biblical prayer looks like and how to better pray ourselves.
Here are the eight Prayer Principles in the sermon (watch it here).
A brief explanation of each is included below the list.
1. Prayer is Founded on God’s Word
2. Prayer is Grounded in God’s Will
3. Prayer Is Persistent & Passionate
4. Prayer Must Be Selfless
5. Prayer Is a Group Project
6. Prayer Prompts Repentance
7. Prayer Relies on Who God Is
8. Prayer’s Ultimate Goal: God’s Glory
Here’s a brief explanation of each point:
1. Prayer is Founded on God’s Word
Verses 2-3a
God’s Word must always guide our prayers
Prayer isn’t about getting God to do what I want Him to do. Prayer is about aligning myself with His desires
2. Prayer is Grounded in God’s Will
Verse 2b
Prayer is about me aligning my heart with God’s will, not guiding His will toward mine.
3. Prayer Is Persistent & Passionate
verse 3-4a
Don’t pray because you’re supposed to.
Pray with passion and persistence.
4. Prayer Must Be Selfless
verse 4a
Pride has no Place in Prayer. It will undo what prayer should be. God opposes the proud.
Prayer starts with this mindset:
I don’t even deserve to be here. TO be in your presence speaking to you….
5. Prayer Is a Group Project (5-16)
These verses have “we/us” language.
Daniel saw himself as part of God’s people.
1 Samuel 12:23 – far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you
6. Prayer Prompts Repentance
True prayer leads to confession of sin.
These principles are not only about prayer. They’re also about the pursuit of the Christian life: pursuing sanctification.
(If that’s not your goal - fix that NOW!)
When you’re pursuing God, repentance and confession are part of the rhythm and flow of your life.
7. Prayer Relies on Who God Is
God’s character woven into the whole passage.
Verse 4, 7a, 9a
God is
Great means He has Power
Awesome points to His Majesty
Keeps covenant is about Faithfulness
His mercy is seen in His Love
to you belongs righteousness that’s His Holiness
To the Lord our God belong Mercy and Forgiveness
Where else do we see these things?
The Gospel
Jesus is Powerful.
He conquered sin and death on the cross
Jesus is Majestic & Awesome
Matthew 27:54 – When [they] saw… what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Jesus is Faithful
The plan for Jesus to die for us was from eternity past. He never wavered.
Jesus is the Perfect Picture of Love
It should have been me that was punished.
John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus was Holy
Colossians 1:19 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
Jesus IS Forgiveness (mercy, grace)
He’s forgiveness incarnate.
Psalm 86:5 – you, O Lord, are good and forgiving
Hebrews 8:12 – For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more
Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8. Prayer’s Ultimate Goal: God’s Glory
Verse 17 and 18 wrap it all up
… for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary,
Do you pray for God to be glorified in all the details of your life?
All of life should be focused on and pointed toward a hard, full-on pursuit of God’s glory
Constantly ask:
Does THIS glorify GOD?
if the answer isn’t an immediate full-on YES
DON’T DO IT!
If you’re a Christian
You were saved to bring glory to God in every comment, conversation, interaction…
We forget daily how comprehensive this is
We get caught up in this or that and leave the pursuit of God’s glory in the dust behind us.
Passionate, persistent prayer will always lead to the pursuit of God’s glory
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way…
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob
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