The Old Man:
The weak, flickering light of a host of candles disturbs the darkness that usually dominates the stone-walled room high atop the royal tower of the old man from the east. On a table near the only window which looks out towards Jerusalem, the wrinkled old man pours over his scrolls and parchments. His status in this kingdom is like those many candles; he is a tremendous source of illumination. He has great wealth and power, but as a candle gently sheds it's light upon even great darkness, so the old man also gently exercises the power his God has graced him with. He has authority, but dispenses it with quiet strength and reverence.Most importantly, and most tellingly, he is a man who prays. He prays because he hungers for his God. He is also a man of careful study, hence the midnight candle burning marathon amid piles of scrolls of the prophets.Daniel In Captivity:
The old man is the prophet Daniel. Years earlier, while serving the Median King Darius, Daniel learned from studying the writings of his contemporary Jeremiah that his people's captivity was to last 70 years (Daniel 9:1-2, Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10). Upon learning this Daniel "turned to the Lord and pleaded with him in prayer and petition" (Daniel 9:3). What follows in verses 4 through 19 is a most remarkable intercessory prayer.Most of us reading prophecy today feel that if it is written, it will be done, or 'His Will be done'. It has been committed to the sacred writings; it is in the Bible; all we have to do now is sit back and wait for it to happen. But that is NOT what Daniel did! When we read of things in the Bible that happened and they don't make sense to us, and when the unexpected occurs, an alarm should ring clearly in our heads. TAKE NOTE. LEARN FROM THIS. Daniel was a man who was highly esteemed by God (Daniel 10:11), therefore his ways and life should be studied carefully, especially his prayer life.What Daniel did was to set about to fast and pray for his people's restoration (Daniel 9:3). Why? Wasn't it already 'prophesied'? We need to examine this closely.Prayer Follows Prophesy:
In the book "Rees Howells - Intercessor", Norman Grubb learns from Mr. Howell's life that "no great event in history, even though prophesied beforehand in the scriptures, comes to pass unless God finds His human channels of faith and obedience. Prophesies must be believed into manifestation, as well as foretold."Daniel knew this, because he was a lover of Jehovah. When you love someone as much as Daniel loved his God, you desire to know how they think and operate; you desire to understand their desires and wishes; you seek to do that which makes them happy and pleased. Daniel knew that Jeremiah's prophecy required prayer to birth it into reality. Prophecy will be fulfilled IF people will pray. We, today, have no greater right to 'receive' prophecy unless we will travail in prayer for it's fulfillment as Daniel did.In Daniel chapter 9, we see the "effective fervent prayer" (James 5:16) of one of the worlds most revered men in scripture. We see a man fasting and praying in sackcloth and ashes to bring to fulfillment a prophecy of God! How remarkable! Will we, as 20th century Christians, do the same today?Isaiah and Cyrus:
Nearly 200 years before his birth, Isaiah prophesied of Cyrus, a man destined to be king of the Persian empire which followed Babylon and the Medes. Isaiah's prophecy called him by name as the one who would authorize the return from captivity of the Jews and the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:28, 45:13). The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that Cyrus was informed of this prophecy by none other that Daniel, near the end of Daniel's life. This historical event was played out in reality as recorded in the first chapter of Ezra. The Bible does not specifically tell us, but past practice can lead us with assurance that both Daniel and Ezra prayed Isaiah's prophecy into reality. Remember, we have absolutely no right to claim prophecy unless we pray for it to be fulfilled.Joel and Pentecost:
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit moved and worked in the lives of people much differently than He does today. In general, the Spirit's anointing in those days was a 'putting on' of the Spirit, as one would don an overcoat. He 'came upon' men and women for a specific purpose and set time and then His influence was 'removed' or 'taken off'. In addition, few individuals received the blessing of this anointing, it was very limited.Then the prophet Joel came along to speak a word from the Lord of a new and different day in which the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon many; great and small, young and old, rich and poor. "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:28-29). This is a prophecy to believers of being permanently filled and indwelt by God's Holy Spirit! How do we know that? God's Bible gives us the explanation.In the beginning of the book of Acts, we see Jesus' disciples and others obediently following His orders to "wait for the gift of My Father." In Acts 1:14 we read of the 120 in the upper room being "all joined together constantly in prayer." Again in Acts 2:1, "When the day of Pentecost came, they (the 120) were all together in one place (still praying!)." Finally their prayers were answered, as in verse 4 we see that "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them."Joel said "afterward" God would pour out His Spirit. After what? Certainly it is after accepting Jesus as Savior, but I believe it is also after praying for it to manifest! That was and is a requirement if we wish to appropriate prophecy.Look closely at what Jesus Himself told them to do. He said, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift (the Holy Spirit) My Father promised." Did they sit back and wait? NO! They prayed fervently! Jesus said "wait", and they "prayed". Waiting on the Lord means just that - praying! Do we today receive the Spirit's infilling with the accompanying evidential speaking in tongues without asking for it in prayer? No we do not. The prophecy of Joel requires an ignition of prayer for it to be activated in each and every believer.If you are waiting for something, it indicates that whatever you are waiting for is worth waiting for. If it wasn't, you wouldn't wait. If you go to a nice restaurant and find there is a long wait to be seated, you may choose to wait it out because you know the food is good and worth the wait. If not, you will probably leave and find a more convenient place to eat. So when we are waiting for God to do something in our lives, and if you feel what He will do is worthy of the wait, then you should "wait", or "pray". A decision to forgo prayer is an indication that we do not feel God can provide us with something of value. In other words, He is not worth the wait. Ooops! Could we have made a mistake in our 20th century walk with Jesus?Simeon, Anna and Jesus:
In Luke 2:21-38 the baby Jesus is brought to the temple for circumcision as Jewish law required. It is on that day that we see two of His precious saints finally glimpse the prophecy they had prayed years to take hold of. This passage of scripture first introduces us to Simeon who was "righteous and devout." He had been waiting (praying) for a prophecy given to him by the Holy Spirit; he was told he would see the Christ, the Messiah, before he died. Simeon, righteous and devout, was a praying man who lovingly sought the Lord to fulfill that which he was promised.Also on the scene that day to see baby Jesus was Anna, an aged prophetess. We read that she "never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying". Both she and Simeon reaped the fruit of the prayers they had so diligently sown, prayers offered to see the prophecy that was foretold. They truly did glimpse the "consolation" and "redemption" of Israel that day.Revival?:
Lately, there have been numerous prophecies that America will experience one last end-times harvest. Many today feel that a wave of revival has begun sweeping across our land. Certainly, pockets of revival and awakenings are occurring in many locales. If you read reports of the individual churches and communities that are being set ablaze by the Holy Spirit, you will see one single common thread. They all have devoted at least one entire service per week completely to prayer. For the most part they did not add an additional prayer meeting date, rather, they gave over to the Lord an existing time slot (predominantly Sunday evenings) entirely to corporate prayer. This 'giving over' to the Lord seems to be an 'offering' from each individual church to the Lord. A faith belief that He will bring the revival they so desperately desire.We, as a nation, will not be swept away by a wave of revival merely by positioning ourselves in it's path. Indeed, the path of revival is in the position of prayer! Prophesies of revival and awakening in America will never come to pass unless those who desperately desire their fulfillment will pray them into existence. Daniel did not sit idly by after reading the prophesies of Jeremiah and Isaiah. He fasted and prayed. The 120 disciples did not cower in the upper room fretting, worrying and hoping beyond hope; they fervently prayed. Anna the prophetess never left the temple, the Bible tells us, but she worshipped night and day!You can not thumb a ride on prophecy, you must strive for it actively and desperately, as if your life were at stake, because it may be! Prophecy without prayer is truly powerless. Are you a true believer? Do you desire revival? If so, then the fulfillment is up to you!
The Powerlessness Of Prayerless Prophecy
The Goodsoil Discipleship Ministry
By Bro. Andy Madonio
July 16, 1997
Introduction:
(Note: Read this story first, then read this "epilogue". It seems to work better that way.)
Did God actually use the prophet Jeremiah to speak forth a prophetic statement regarding Israel's length of captivity? Obviously, the answer is 'yes'. Was God's prophetic plan unchangeable? Did it really depend on the human intervention of Daniel in fervent prayer? I believe the answer is 'yes' . . . and 'no'; and God's sovereignty is upheld and maintained either way. If I don't say "Let me explain" about now, I'd be a fool.Answer = 'yes': God tells us of the life-giving and sustaining necessity of prayer throughout scripture. Many of these discipletters are anchored upon that foundation. It is the first and most important duty we believers have (Matthew 6:33). So, does God implore us to pray as mere busy work, or does His righteousness require it as the spiritual energy to "make things happen?" My contention is that without prayer, nothing but death happens. God tells us to do it because we need it and He wants it.Answer = 'no': Since God sees "the end from the beginning," I believe He saw Daniel, His "highly esteemed one," on his knees energizing the prophecy uttered by his prophet-brother Jeremiah. I believe further, that God can see both of them at the same time, even though they are separated by a gulf of time. And beyond that, I believe God can watch all of His Creation simultaneously -- cool huh?! Well anyway, back to Daniel. Why would Jeremiah's prophecy not depend upon Daniel's intercession? I believe that if it were not Daniel, the Bible would have a book titled "Ralph", of "Joe", or whomever would have filled the void that God required for the fulfillment of all things.Does that make any sense? If it does, it may be quite profound, but if not . . . I've been labeled weird before. I'm a big boy. I can take it. It might help to read this epilogue-introduction once more after you finish with the discipletter 'Prophecy'. The bottom line, once again, is that we simply must pray. God has called us to do it, for all sorts of reasons, and as disciples, we should desire to obey out of love (2 John 6).