#73 “Great Intercessor of the Bible”

(Daniel - God is my Judge)

 

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request

by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said,

“O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and

mercy with those who love Him."

(Daniel 9:3-4a)

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Here we have Daniel the prophet who prayed and set his face towards God for 21-days, seeking an answer for God regarding the state of the vision which he had seen by the Ulai River.  Daniel had seen the coming of great tribulation and turmoil for the children of Israel and inquired of the Lord if He would have mercy upon him and his people. I like Daniel because like Joseph he was a dreamer and many things came to him in the night while he slept. There are many kinds of visions that one can have some are during the day some are during the night. Some are some are open visions and some are vision within a dream, but that is another lesson for another time. 

Daniel had been brought to Babylon along with three many other young men after the capture of Jerusalem by King Belshazzar and the hand of the Lord was upon him and three other Hebrew boys named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. However Daniel was the one, which God would speak to regarding the state of Israel. 

 

Daniel was very devoted to God and despite his present condition would not allow it hinder his devotion to the Lord God of Israel.  Even when he and his counterparts were brought to the king’s palace along with many others; Daniel along with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego purpose to keep their lives and bodies pure before the Lord, by not defiling it eating from the kings table.  However this was nothing new for Daniel, for even from his youth he had devoted his life and body to serving the Lord. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Dan. 1:8).  In fact Daniel spent much time in prayer three times daily before the Lord, “he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.” (Dan 6:10); often times he fasted along with his prayer. “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Dan 9:3; 10:3).   

 

As intercessors we must live a life which exemplifies devotion and commitment to God and others as we stand in the gap for them this means we must be willing to sacrifice our own will at  times in order to meet the needs of others. As we look at Daniel’s prayer of intercession we can identify some very key points regarding intercession for him. 

©       It is important for an intercessor to live a life committed to prayer and seeking the face of God. Often times we think that this means being able to spend hours in prayer, but this could not be further from the truth.  Jesus did not stay in prayer twenty-four seven, but He did set aside time morning and whenever He found time throughout the day to still away for prayer. Once you have developed a regular regimen of prayer you need not stay for hours on end to accomplish what needs to be done in prayer.

©       As intercessor’s we must identify ourselves with those we are interceding for just as we’ve seen with Abraham, Moses, Ezra and Elijah, here Daniel is praying not for these retched Israelites but for he and his people. Why is this important? Because when we identify with those we pray for we can see ourselves in their place thus bringing about a deeper sense of compassion. When we exclude ourselves then we are setting ourselves us as being superior to those we are praying for, but the word of God says, “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”(Romans 3:21-24)  Therefore as we allow ourselves to be touched with the feelings of their infirmities we become much better intercessors; as well as following Jesus` example, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

©       Our view of God must be one of reverence before Him, giving Him the honor He deserves. It is only by the blood of Jesus who sanctifies us, who make: 

©       (v. 4) – “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy…”

©       (v. 7) – “O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face…”

©       (v. 9)– “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness…”

©        (v. 14) – “The Lord our God is righteous in all the works which he does…”

©       As intercessors we don’t approach God based on how good we are, because we pray more than others or think we are more righteous than others. “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12) We are made righteous by his blood, “He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) We must not come before God acting as if we ourselves have never committed sin, yet come confident knowing that Christ has given us free access before God by his sacrifice.

©       All ways remember that whatever we do as intercessors we do it all in the name of Jesus, for the Glory of our God, we set ourselves in agreement with heaven and the will of the Father so that needs will be met here on earth.  We must be confident that what we are asking for is according to the will of the Father, then we know that He will answer or prayers. Just as Abraham knew that it was not God’s will that any should parish but that all would come to repentance and be saved. Just as Moses knew that God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19) When we know our God we will do exploits in His name, for His kingdom sake.  

Because Daniel set his will to inquire of the Lord regard the vision he had seen, God sent the man (Angel Gabriel) to him with the answer he was seeking. We too can expect God to send the answer we seek when we turn our faces towards him in prayer and fasting, whether it is for ourselves or for someone else. “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.”(Job 5:8-9) 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask You to consecrate our lives as we present them to You a living sacrifice to Your Glory.  Ever keep us mindful of who we are in Christ so that we do not think ourselves high than we should. Let us not look upon our brothers and sisters with eyes of contempt but with eyes of compassion as though we ourselves were looking into a mirror at our own reflections. As we stand the gap for others give hearts of compassion, hearts of love and grace just as You have for us, Thank You Gracious Father we pray in Jesus’ name Amen!!! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

Follow this link to "Morning by Morning" http://prayin4you.blogspot.com

Sign up to receive the daily post Via Email

I hope you will Join to become a member of

Morning by Morning