Pray with Passion
THE POINT
Our prayers really do make a difference.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Perhaps you know the uncomfortable feeling of being outmatched by a task in front of you. Maybe you have a shower that has just sprung a leak. Or perhaps you have a vehicle that has started to make a sound it shouldn’t. Or maybe you’re reading a recipe filled with all kinds of spices and techniques you know nothing about. Unless you’re proficient in plumbing, car repair, or the culinary arts, you probably have a feeling of powerlessness. So what do you do?
Question 1:
When have you felt clueless about how to fix something?
Most of us know the solution — the internet! Find the expert who has already put out the necessary resources online to help you. With a few quick keystrokes, we can find the resources we need to move forward. But imagine having that access yet never using it. Imagine being paralyzed by the issue before you and simply wishing it would go away. In truth, it’s not that difficult to picture because we often do that very thing with issues far more serious than plumbing or cooking; we do it in the real-life struggles and hardships of the everyday world.
We have access to resources far more powerful than the internet through prayer, yet many times we don’t pray with passion when confronted with these problems. We instead choose to trust in our own wisdom and ability to reason or maneuver our way through whatever faces us. But as we will see from the example of Daniel, prayer is the only avenue by which we can access divine resources — prayer actually does make a difference.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Daniel 2:13-16
13 The decree was issued that the wise men were to be executed, and they searched for Daniel and his friends, to execute them. 14 Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 15 He asked Arioch, the king’s officer, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation.
In the previous session, we read a summary of what happened to Daniel and his three friends during their three years of training: “God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom” (Dan. 1:17). Although they received an education from some of the finest instructors of the day, God was at work, giving them understanding and knowledge far beyond what one would normally expect. For Daniel, though, there was something more; God gave him the ability to understand “visions and dreams of every kind” (v. 17). This was a supernatural skill that could not be taught. Only God could be responsible for this ability.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that greatly disturbed him, so much so that he summoned members of his court to give him the meaning of the dream. No one served as a full-time dream interpreter, but Nebuchadnezzar summoned “the magicians, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans” — a term for Babylonian wise men (2:2, emphasis added). The Babylonians believed the gods communicated their messages through dreams.
If the dream’s meaning was not evident to the interpreter, he or she might consult dream manuals, which cataloged past dreams and the events that came immediately afterwards. Persons who were involved in such divinations and interpretive arts had received extensive training in understanding the meaning of signs in the skies and on earth. They looked for messages in stars and meteors, unusual or defective births, and the intestinal patterns in sacrificed animals. People believed sages and interpreters could cast spells that might lead to healing, could deliver a person from demonic influence, and predict and understand the future. These interpreters served as personal and political consultants, commonly offering the king advice. People saw them as being the scientific, medical, and spiritual experts of the day.
God had prohibited His people from consulting persons in such professions (Deut. 18:14). The Babylonians, though, had no such restriction. Nebuchadnezzar thus wanted these select members of his court to tell him the meaning of his upsetting dream; he refused, however, to convey the dream’s content. His unreasonable demand was likely his way of authenticating the legitimacy of the dream and its interpretation.
Hearing the king’s virtually impossible request, the wise men spoke up and said, “No one on earth can make known what the king requests” (Dan. 2:10). These wise men never spoke a truer statement than this one. Overcome with frustration, the king ordered his wise men to be put to death. This order included Daniel.
Daniel displayed tact, poise, wisdom, and restraint when the captain of the king’s guard approached and explained the royal decree and stated punishment. Daniel acknowledged that the punishment was harsh, but he didn’t panic, argue, threaten the guard, or get defensive. He did, though, take his concern to the greatest authority in the land; Daniel appeared before Nebuchadnezzar. Showing deference and portraying wisdom beyond his years, Daniel simply asked for more time. He knew that God was the only One who could provide the content and interpretation of the king’s dream. Daniel wanted time to seek the face of God.
Daniel didn’t ask for this situation. He didn’t seek it out. He hadn’t been hoping for some challenge to come his way that would potentially catapult him to national and historical acclaim. Yet, here it was.
Often, circumstances bombard us with challenging, stress-filled, and scary life-altering situations we didn’t seek out or desire. We can find ourselves in a seemingly impossible situation. Daniel’s actions can serve as a pattern for us. He demonstrated wisdom in waiting; he showed poise rather than panic. He displayed patience, knowing he would need time to pray.
Question 2:
How does our culture influence us to fix problems on our own?
Daniel 2:17-19
17 Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter, 18 urging them to ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men. 19 The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel praised the God of the heavens
Daniel wasn’t a magician, medium, sorcerer, or one of the wise men of Babylon. The thought of consulting a dream book would have never entered his mind. He was however a man of God. So, he knew where to go for help. What did Daniel do?
1. Daniel asked his three friends to pray with him and ask God to show mercy and reveal the mystery of the king’s dream. The word translated “mystery” refers simply to something that’s unknown; it can also refer to something beyond mortal comprehension. Daniel wasn’t seeking anything beyond human ability to understand; he simply wanted to know the content and meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
When speaking to his Hebrew friends, Daniel referred to the Lord as “the God of the heavens.” This title for God occurs primarily in biblical books written after the Babylonian exile. The relocated Hebrews had lived among peoples who worshiped gods that honored the sun, moon, and stars. So, this title stood in contrast to those erroneous beliefs and highlighted that Yahweh alone is the God of heaven and earth.
Scripture does not say how Daniel’s three friends responded when they heard about the king’s unreasonable request and his subsequent threat. No doubt, though, Daniel’s instructions conveyed the seriousness of the situation. He urged his friends to “ask” God—a Hebrew verb that carries the idea of pleading. So the four pleaded with God.
Question 3:
What’s are the benefits of praying with others?
2. Daniel himself prayed (Dan. 2:23). Having others pray for us is helpful; praying for ourselves is essential. The New Testament teaches that the fervent prayer of a righteous believer accomplishes much (Jas. 5:16). Certainly, if anyone ever prayed fervently, it was Daniel — as did his three friends. Their very lives were at stake.
Although we aren’t told the content of the four Hebrews’ prayers, we can be confident they prayed for one another and themselves. Doing both is important. We shouldn’t feel selfish when praying for our own concerns. The writer of the book of Hebrews stated, “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Each of the four captives wanted to receive mercy and find grace in this moment of crisis.
3. Daniel expected God to answer. Daniel had full confidence God could reveal mysteries, extend mercy, and protect the lives of Daniel, his Hebrew friends, and the rest of Babylon’s wise men. That is exactly what God did.
The text doesn’t say the revelation came while Daniel was asleep. Fear may have kept the four awake. They probably prayed continuously until the revelation came.
4. Daniel praised God for answered prayer. Having received the revelation about the king’s dream, Daniel could have rushed back to the royal residence, excited to share the content and meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Instead, he paused and worshiped God for answering his prayer.
Too often we can treat God like a vending machine. We can put in our request and once it’s fulfilled, we scurry off, satisfied because we’ve gotten what we wanted. Recall the response Jesus gave to the one leper, a Samaritan, who returned to thank Him for his healing: “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17). Let’s remember to thank God for answered prayer.
Engage
When in Doubt — Pray
Some people pray only as a last resort. Others pray early about everything. List five areas about which you regularly pray. Then answer the question.
1. ______________________________
2. ______________________________
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
How has answered prayers been a blessing in your life?
Daniel 2:20-23,27-28a
20 and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. 21 He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I offer thanks and praise to you, God of my ancestors, because you have given me wisdom and power. And now you have let me know what we asked of you, for you have let us know the king’s mystery. … 27 Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. 28a But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days.
Question 4:
What do you appreciate about Daniel’s prayer of praise?
Having experienced God’s divine intervention, Daniel glorified God. The Lord had done what the so-called gods of Babylon were powerless to do—He revealed the mystery to Daniel. Daniel’s words of praise (Dan. 2:20-23) spotlighted God’s omni-attributes:
- God’s omnipresence. Scripture begins by proclaiming God is Creator of the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). No place is beyond His reach. This would have been a foreign concept in the ancient Near East. People believed their gods inhabited a certain object, shrine, temple, or city.
- God’s omnipotence. Daniel declared that God changes the times and seasons, and He removes and establishes kings. The first of these statements emphasizes God’s universal power. Only He has the power to change times and seasons.
- God’s omniscience. Daniel stated that wisdom belonged to God; He had given that wisdom to Daniel by revealing to him the king’s dream. God had shone His light into the deep, dark, and hidden things that were in Nebuchadnezzar’s mind and memory. God revealed that He could do what no wise man, medium, magician, or diviner could do — or even the Babylonians’ gods.
Daniel’s words underscore the unique and divine nature of the God of the heavens. No wonder His name is to be praised forever and ever!
Question 5:
What are some things our group can
acknowledge and praise God for today?
LIVE IT OUT
Our prayers really do make a difference. Choose one of the following applications:
- Start a prayer journal. Begin a personal prayer journal in which you record your prayer concerns. Include information about the concern, the date you added each entry, and space for how God answers your prayers.
- Enlist a prayer partner. Invite someone to be your prayer partner for a specific concern in your life. Explain your concern and how you are praying for this issue. Make sure to give updates about how God is working in the situation, even if you are still waiting for Him to act.
- Write a response of praise. Think back to a time when God has answered a prayer for you. Write out your response of praise for how He worked in this situation. Say your words out loud to Him, as an offering of worship. Then share that praise with others as the Lord gives you opportunity.
When have you felt
clueless about how to fix something?
Click Play to Watch
We have access to
resources far more powerful than the internet through prayer, yet many times we
don’t pray with passion when confronted with these problems. We instead choose
to trust in our own wisdom and ability to reason or maneuver our way through whatever
faces us. But in our lesson today, we will see from Daniel, that prayer is the
only avenue by which we can access divine resources — and it’s there that we
see that prayer really does make a difference.
Pray with
Passion
Chapter 2:13-23,27-28a
Read
SETTING: In the
ancient world, dreams were considered supernatural. They were not taken
lightly. Dreams often were the basis for making major decisions. Thus, not
being able to understand a dream creates a critical situation for the dreamer.
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he did not understand. He was greatly troubled by
it. When his advisors could not provide the help he sought, in rage he issued
an order that all the wise men of the realm be executed. Daniel was caught up
in that decision, but he did not despair. He knew the God who was able to
reveal the deep mysteries of life and who could help in threatening times.
Daniel
2:13-16
The decree was
issued that the wise men were to be executed, and they searched for Daniel and
his friends, to execute them. Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to
Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise
men of Babylon. He asked Arioch, the king’s officer, “Why is the decree from
the king so harsh?” Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. So Daniel
went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king
the interpretation.
What stands out to
you about Daniel’s response to this impossible task?
Why do we seem to
wait until matters become urgent before seeking God?
Often,
circumstances bombard us with challenging, stress-filled, and scary
life-altering situations we didn’t seek out or desire. We can find ourselves in
a seemingly impossible situation. Daniel’s actions can serve as a pattern for
us. He demonstrated wisdom in waiting; he showed poise rather than panic. He
displayed patience, knowing he would need time to pray.
When problems
arise, we must choose to Seek God.
In our next verse,
we are told to pray and expectantly seek God’s wisdom and guidance.
Daniel
2:17-19
Then Daniel went to
his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter,
urging them to ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery, so
Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon’s wise
men. The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel
praised the God of the heavens…
Pray
expectantly.
What are the
benefits of praying with others?
We find strength
when we invite others to join us in praying to God about our concerns. In a way
we may not be able to explain, God honors the prayers of His people who gather
to express their desires to Him.
Divine wisdom or
truth is under the purview of the Lord; it is not something we acquire on our own.
God hears our prayers and provides what we need to serve Him, bring Him glory,
and accomplish the purpose He has for us.
In the last verses,
we see that we must acknowledge God as the source of the answer.
Daniel
2:20-23,27-28a
and declared: May
the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to
him. He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He
reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light
dwells with him. I offer thanks and praise to you, God of my ancestors, because
you have given me wisdom and power. And now you have let me know what we asked
of you, for you have let us know the king’s mystery. …
27 Daniel answered
the king, “No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to
the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals
mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last
days.
What do you
appreciate about Daniel’s prayer of praise?
Too often we can
treat God like a vending machine. We can put in our request and once it’s
fulfilled, we scurry off, satisfied because we’ve gotten what we wanted. Recall
the response Jesus gave to the one leper, a Samaritan, who returned to thank
Him for his healing: “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17).
Let’s remember to
thank God for answering prayer.
Acknowledge
God’s Work.
It’s common for all
of us — even non-Christians — to pray and ask God for help when a problem
arises. That’s OK, because God invites us to pray and talk with Him. But we
should ask ourselves: Am I seeking God or am I only seeking an answer to my
problem or concern?
Daniel and his
friends needed God’s help. They prayed, God answered, but Daniel kept the focus
on God; not just on the answer He gave them.
After Daniel asked
God to reveal Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him, he saw a vision of the dream.
Daniel’s prayer was answered. Before rushing to Arioch with the news, Daniel
took time to give God credit for all the wisdom and power, thanking God for
answering his request. How do you feel when your prayers are answered? Excited,
surprised, relieved? There are times when we seek God in prayer and, after
having been answered, dash off in our excitement, forgetting to give God credit
for the answer. Match your persistence in prayer with gratitude when your
request are answered.
Conclusion:
THE POINT
Our prayers really
do make a difference.
Read
People respond to
problems, trying times, difficulties, and so forth in different ways. Some try
to work it out themselves, relying on their own ability and resources. While
passivity is not the way, neither is self-reliance always sufficient. Others
ignore the problem in the hope that it will go away on its own. It rarely does.
And at other times, troubled individuals may resort to “passing the buck,”
claiming that the difficulty ought to be handled by someone else. Generally,
someone else cannot solve your problem. There is another way, a more dependable
way. That is to “take it to the Lord in prayer,” passionately seeking Him,
expecting Him to respond with wisdom and power beyond what anyone one else or
anything else can provide.
“Here is a
comforting message for believers today. There is a God in heaven and this God
may be called upon to supply sustenance and wisdom beyond what is available
from human resources. Although circumstances sometimes may look impossible from
an earthly standpoint, there is a God in heaven who can do all things. He can
solve seemingly insolvable problems, supply needs, and provide strength for
impossible tasks. He is God who is there and who is able.”
Ever Feel
Like You’re Bothering God?
The police do
answer 911 calls — even if it does embarrass the pastor.
Our church
celebrated my first anniversary as pastor by taking over a local park for a
Sunday afternoon picnic. The afternoon included a lot of food, and after a
couple of hours, it included the police.
The squad car
pulled up and the officer sought out whoever was in charge. Apparently, that
was me. He informed me that the 911 operator had received multiple calls from
the park pavilion pay phone.
It didn’t take long
to find the culprit. He was standing right next to me.
My six-year-old son
and friends were playing near the pay phone and play eventually included the
phone. They dialed the one number they knew — the number they were taught to
use — never realizing the pay phone would connect to the 911 dispatcher even
without coins.
They didn’t think
they had a connection — but they did.
I’m convinced a lot
of people pray the same way they approach 911.
When we call 911, we want help, but we’re not looking for a relationship
with the 911 dispatcher. Too many of us look to God for help without really
wanting God Himself. “God, fix this for me, and I won’t bother You again.”
God wants us to
bother Him. God does not shut us out for non-emergencies nor does a police
officer show up telling us we’re making too many requests. God invites us to
talk to Him.
“Call to me and I
will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know”
(Jer. 33:3).
“The Lord is near
all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity” (Ps. 145:18).
Talk to
God when life is in
crisis. The prophet Daniel’s life was in mortal danger, but he didn’t panic. He
asked for time, and he used that time to pray (Dan. 2). We don’t need to wring
our hands in a crisis, we need to bother God—and pray.
Talk to
God when life is calm
and serene. Thankfully, not every day is a crisis. But it’s still OK to bother
God. Talk to Him on the good days.
Talk to
God when
_____________________________. You don’t have to have a reason! In fact, you
don’t even have to have a request in mind. Just talk to Him. Build a
relationship with Him—an ongoing relationship of talking and communing with
Him. Experience has taught me that a daily walk with God, an ongoing
conversation of prayer, keeps me from worry, sweating, and wringing my hands
when the crisis comes.
So go ahead. Bother
God. Just talk to Him. He’s fine with that.
I am so thankful
that our class knows the power of PRAYER!!
Our prayers really
do make a difference.
