DANIEL PRAYS FOR HIS COUNTRY

While he and his fellow countrymen were in captivity in Babylon, Daniel prayed to God to forgive their sin, iniquity, wickedness and rebellion towards the Lord. It would be fitting for all who claim Christ as their Lord to adapt the following prayer to the situation we face in our country today. A country which began with noble Biblical intentions. And now Christianity seems to be a distant memory, not simply because of those who reject Christ, but because we Christians have turned away from the authority of Scripture and have failed to speak Christianity back into our culture. We have sought to amalgamate a belief system that conforms to public approval, based on social justice and political correctness.

I encourage you to read Daniel’s prayer and in your own words, substitute his locale – Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem – with our country; his leaders – kings – with our president, congress men and women; his spiritual leaders – the prophets – with the apostles and pastor/teachers. By doing so, I believe you will realize the relevance of praying for the spiritual recovery of our nation and that it will take all who claim Christ as their savior to adhere to “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”[i]

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said,

“Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.

“Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.

“Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You.

“Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

“To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

“Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him.

“Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem.

“As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth.

“Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

“And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked.

“O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us.

“So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.

“O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion.

“O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” - Daniel 9:4-19 (NASB)

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[i] Matthew 4:4 NASB

GRACE AND THE CHRISTIAN *

The Christian is not to:

1.     Receive the grace of God in vain:

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain - 2 Corinthians 6:1

2.     Fall away from grace:

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. - Galatians 5:4

3.     Insult the Spirit of grace:

How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? - Hebrews 10:29

4.     Fall short of the grace of God:

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled - Hebrews 12:15

5.     Turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness:

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ - Jude 4

On the contrary he is to:

1.     Continue in the grace of God:

Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God. - Acts 13:43

2.     Stand in grace:

Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. - Romans 5:2

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! - 1 Peter 5:12

3.     Be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus:

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1

4.     Draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace:

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

5.     Be established in heart by grace:

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. - Hebrews 13:9

6.     Grow in the grace of Christ:

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - 2 Peter 3:18a

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* Adapted from: The Collected Writings of W.E. Vine, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2.230-231

The Will of God for the Believer

1. Definitions

“God’s will is the standard with which to measure all that is esteemed right in motive, design, and execution. Man’s highest end is realized when he conforms to God’s will. Even Christ came not to do His own will, but only the will of the Father. There is nothing higher for man than to find and do the will of God. Heaven always has a specific purpose for the bringing of each person into the world, and that purpose comprehends every moment of life.”[1]

¹Will [θέλημα] = what one wishes to happen. What one wishes to bring about by the activity of others. ^[2]

²Will [βούλομαι] = a decision of the will after previous deliberation.[3] A deliberate exercise of volition more strongly than θέλω.^[4]

 

2. God’s Will for Mankind

a.      To restore all men to Himself.

•  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing [βούλομαι] for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

b.     For all men to glorify Him.

•  “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
• “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
• “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
• “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• ‘Let self be forgotten. Let your eye be fixed on God. Let the promotion of his glory be your object in all you do. Strive in every thing to act in such a way that men may praise that God whom you profess to serve.’ It is by thus having the desire to promote the glory of God as the governing motive of our lives, that order and harmony are introduced into all our actions. [Unknown]

c.      For believers to share in His love and joy.

• “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:9-11

• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” Galatians 5:22

• “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” John 16:2

 

3. The Believer’s Responsibility

a.      To know His will.

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not     ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (of concepts & seeing relationships between them).” Colossians 1:9

b.     To understand His will.

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understanding (putting the puzzle pieces together) what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17

c.      To prove His will.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove (to discern a thing worthy or not) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

d.     To live His will.

“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”        

1 Peter 4:1&2

e.      To do His will.

“Not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing (producing) the will of God from the heart.” Ephesians 6:6

“Doing the will of God expresses the normal conditions and activity of the believer.”^[5]

 

4. The Believer’s Disposition

a.      Positive volition.

“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.” John 7:17

“It is neither mechanical nor compulsory, but intelligent and voluntary.” [Vine]

b.      Enjoyment

“I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is written in my heart.” Psalm 40:8

c.      Patience

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

 

5. The Believer’s Victory

• “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course (God’s will), I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8

• “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27        

 

6. Summary

1) In eternity past there was only one will in the universe – God’s. Since the fall of Lucifer, there are now two wills. God’s is characterized by righteousness and goodness; Satan’s is characterized by wickedness and evil.

2) After a person accepts the free gift of eternal life from God, he is given the opportunity to live the life that God’s originally intended for man.

3) However, in order for the believer to receive this life of blessing, he must become occupied with Christ. He must devote his life to a study of the Word, which is the only means of communication from God in this age. Only in this manner can the believer know God’s will for his life.

4) Once the believer understands Doctrine, then he will be able to produce the will of God in his life, namely, to reflect the glory of God in this world.

5) With an understanding of Doctrine, the believer is now able to discern the course of life that God has provided for him. This includes every phase of his life: happiness, career, spouse, money, house, car, etc. Since God desires that all believers be happy in this present life, His plan provides for us in every aspect.

6) The believer will know what career path to chose or who to marry because he now thinks with Divine viewpoint, instead of human viewpoint or living purely on emotions.

7) The believer who continues to follow God’s will reaps rewards in this life as well as eternal rewards. He lives his life moment-by-moment, making decisions based on the Doctrine that he has learned. His decisions lead him step-by-step into the direction of life that God would have him to go.

8) As long as the believer stays the course of Doctrine, he will experience God’s love in many ways. If he strays from this course and decides to go the way of sin, then God still demonstrates love towards him, but this time in discipline. In this position he leaves himself open to influence from Satan’s cosmic system of evil. The more he allows himself to be influenced the greater his discipline becomes, including the sin unto death.

 

7. Additional and Applicable Verses

Mark 3:35 - For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.

John 7:17 – If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 6:6 – not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 – For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrew 10:36 – for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.

1 Peter 2:15 – For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 3:17 – For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

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[1] Chafer, L.S., Systematic Theology, 7.309

[2] Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, p. 354

[3] Ibid, p. 146

[4] Vine, W. E., Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 2:162

[5] Vine, W.E., Collected Writings of W.E. Vine, 3.354