Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Daniel 9:3
The year was 539 B.C. when Darius was the governor under King Cyrus, the new Medo-Persian emperor. Daniel was already 82 years old but he was still spiritually sharp and prophetically accurate. Daniel was searching the scriptures and studying the words of the prophet Jeremiah and realized that the 70-year captivity was coming to an end. By now, it was already the 67th year, with just three more years to go. So Daniel started fasting and making supplications to God that He would fulfill His promise to take the Jews back to Jerusalem.
Though Daniel was a great prophet and one who was well acquainted with the visions of God, he was also a diligent student of the Scriptures. Not only did he study, he also believed the prophecies of Jeremiah. At that time, Daniel was also a powerful man; he was the prime minister to one of the greatest monarchs in history. Yet he could find both heart and time to study the Word of God. We must never despise the Bible. Every verse that was written was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Every detail in each prophecy is significant and worthy to be believed upon. Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As such, we must give priority to the Word of God in our lives.
Like Daniel, there is a need for believers to study and understand Bible prophecies, so that we can know how to pray and live intelligently in the will and the purpose of God. God is a God of purpose and design. He has a divine plan and a divine timetable. Jesus Christ did not come into this earth to be born in Bethlehem, grow up in Nazareth and eventually die on the cross all by chance. They were all written in the Scriptures. “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4). He always reveals His will to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).
God wants to reveal His secrets to us. We can know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But we must be available to receive it from Him. Therefore we need to study the Bible and understand what it says so that we can be wise and understand what the will of the Lord is for our lives (Eph. 5:15-17).
The year was 539 B.C. when Darius was the governor under King Cyrus, the new Medo-Persian emperor. Daniel was already 82 years old but he was still spiritually sharp and prophetically accurate. Daniel was searching the scriptures and studying the words of the prophet Jeremiah and realized that the 70-year captivity was coming to an end. By now, it was already the 67th year, with just three more years to go. So Daniel started fasting and making supplications to God that He would fulfill His promise to take the Jews back to Jerusalem.
Though Daniel was a great prophet and one who was well acquainted with the visions of God, he was also a diligent student of the Scriptures. Not only did he study, he also believed the prophecies of Jeremiah. At that time, Daniel was also a powerful man; he was the prime minister to one of the greatest monarchs in history. Yet he could find both heart and time to study the Word of God. We must never despise the Bible. Every verse that was written was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Every detail in each prophecy is significant and worthy to be believed upon. Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As such, we must give priority to the Word of God in our lives.
Like Daniel, there is a need for believers to study and understand Bible prophecies, so that we can know how to pray and live intelligently in the will and the purpose of God. God is a God of purpose and design. He has a divine plan and a divine timetable. Jesus Christ did not come into this earth to be born in Bethlehem, grow up in Nazareth and eventually die on the cross all by chance. They were all written in the Scriptures. “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4). He always reveals His will to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).
God wants to reveal His secrets to us. We can know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But we must be available to receive it from Him. Therefore we need to study the Bible and understand what it says so that we can be wise and understand what the will of the Lord is for our lives (Eph. 5:15-17).
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