Friday Sermon2015.08.14

Daniel 9

Leviticus 26

Jeremiah 25, 29

How to pray?

HOW DO WE PRAY? INTRODUCTION

HOW DO WE PRAY? REVISION

Summary of Romans 1:18-31 (1)

In an environment of ‘godlessness & lawlessness’• Men suppress the truth of God,• Even though the creation displays the evidence of God and

His deity

As their mind & heart become dull & darkened• They cannot perceive the eternal power of God, which is

clearly evident in the creation. • So, they cease to glorify & give thanks to God

As they become dysfunctional & foolish• They claim it to be wise to live without God.• So, they begin to cloth themselves with the glory of

creation by revering them, instead of God.

Summary of Romans 1:18-31 (2)

1 So, God gives them up to immoral & evil desires…• They worship the creation (e.g. humanism, materialism)• They love sexual pleasures and worship ‘sexy’ bodies

(hedonism: see worldly entertainment, advertisement, etc.)

2 And then up to uncontrolled sexual passions…• They practise homosexual activities.• But, they also receive the retribution [judgment] of their

perversion (e.g. diseases, degradation of society & church)

3 And then up to corrupt mind to do evil deeds… • They think it not worthwhile to retain God in knowledge.• They commit evil deeds and also encourage others to

practise them (by government, in education, in church etc.)

HOW DO WE PRAY? LEVITICUS 26

HOW DO WE PRAY? JEREMIAH 25 & 29

HOW DO WE PRAY? DANIEL 9

HOW DO WE PRAY? DANIEL’S PRAYER

Summary of Daniel’s Prayer

1. The intercession of Daniel begins with understanding [revelation of] the Word of God (v.2).

2. Understanding the Word of God, he positions himself before the Lord [by turning his face towards God] and postures His heart [by fasting in sackcloth & ashes] (v.3).

3. The objective of His plea [supplication] is ultimately one thing: ‘God’s mercy!’ (v.3, 17-18)

4. Daniel begins with prayer of worship and confession of sins (v.4-5).

5. And then, he describes the present state of his people in exile, which he calls, ‘open shame’. Even so, he declares that what God is doing to his people is still ‘righteous’, and hence, he seeks God’s mercy and forgiveness.

6. He then confesses the sins that Israel committed according to the Word of God that was delivered by Moses in Leviticus 26 and he states that the curses have also come upon them according to the Word of God. He makes a big statement in verse 12b where Jerusalem (God’s holy city) becomes the centre of His prayer because that is what God promised to restore in Hs Word to Jeremiah. He ends this section with repentance (v.15).

7. In the last section of his prayer (v.16-19), he makes a plea to God for mercy to turn away His anger and wrath, to hear the prayers and supplication, and to forgive and restore. This is also according to the promise of God in Leviticus 26. As before, his focus of prayer is restoration of the holy city (Jerusalem) and holy sanctuary (Temple).

Points of Focus & Consideration

1. Daniel’s prayer began with the Word of God and the revelation from it. In contrast, the wrath of God begins with the neglect and ignorance of God’s Word.

2. Daniel’s positioning and posture before the Lord is one of deep reverence and repentance in the fear of God.

3. He opens his prayer with worship and adoration of God, declaring and agreeing with who He says He is.

4. The content of his prayer is repeating back to God what He has said in the Word of God by confessing (agreeing) that what He did is righteous but also confessing that they are in calamity because of their disobedience and unrighteousness.

5. His main plea is mercy, and he repents and asks for restoration, precisely according to God’s Word and promises. This is very much like ‘prophesying’ the Word.

6. The core centre of His prayer is God’s holy city (Jerusalem), God’s holy people (Israel) and God’s holy temple (worship). What Daniel considers most precious and what he beholds before the Lord is what belongs to Him and what are precious and central to Him.

“Knowing this, how should we pray for ‘gay marriage’ or ‘sexual immorality’ in general?”