Highly Esteemed: Embracing God's Redemptive Character in Prayer
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into Daniel chapter 9, focusing on the profound message of being "highly esteemed" by God. This chapter reveals Daniel's deep prayer life and his understanding of God's unchanging character. Daniel's prayer is rooted in the acknowledgment of God's redemptive nature, goodness, justice, and mercy. Despite the Israelites' disobedience and the resulting exile, Daniel recognizes that God had a redemptive plan from the beginning. This plan was not just about punishment but about eventual restoration and reconciliation.
Daniel's prayer is a model for us, showing how to approach God with humility and honesty. He confesses the sins of his people and himself, acknowledging that they have fallen short of God's commands. Yet, he also leans into God's character, knowing that God is merciful and just. Daniel's prayer is not just about seeking forgiveness but also about understanding and aligning with God's will.
The message emphasizes that our prayers should be saturated with the recognition of God's faithful character. When we pray, we should start with gratitude, acknowledging God's goodness and faithfulness. This approach transforms our prayer life, making it more about communion with God rather than just presenting a list of requests.
In Christ, we are already highly esteemed. This means that God sees us with the same love and righteousness that He sees in His Son. This understanding should fill us with confidence and gratitude, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by God. As we go about our daily lives, let us remember to root our prayers and actions in the character of God, continually seeking to reflect His love and grace.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Redemptive Plan: Before the exile even began, God had a plan for Israel's restoration. This shows that God's judgment is always coupled with His redemptive purpose. He disciplines out of love and always provides a way back to Him. This understanding should give us hope, knowing that no matter how far we stray, God has a plan to bring us back. [41:48]
2. Confession and Humility in Prayer: Daniel's prayer begins with a confession of sins, both personal and communal. He acknowledges that the people have fallen short of God's commands. This humility is crucial in our prayer life. We must come before God with an honest heart, recognizing our shortcomings and seeking His forgiveness. [46:31]
3. God's Unchanging Character: Daniel's prayer is rooted in the character of God. He knows that God is good, just, and merciful. This understanding shapes his approach to God, making his prayer more about aligning with God's will than just seeking personal gain. Our prayers should similarly reflect our trust in God's unchanging nature. [37:33]
4. Highly Esteemed in Christ: In Christ, we are already highly esteemed. This means that God sees us with the same love and righteousness that He sees in His Son. This understanding should fill us with confidence and gratitude, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by God. It should also inspire us to live in a way that reflects this esteemed status. [01:01:19]
5. Praying God's Character: Our prayers should be saturated with the recognition of God's faithful character. Starting our prayers with gratitude and acknowledgment of God's goodness transforms our prayer life. It shifts the focus from our needs to a deeper communion with God, fostering a more intimate and meaningful relationship with Him. [59:29]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[24:20] - Announcements
[25:36] - Introduction to Daniel 9
[26:33] - Highly Esteemed: The Song
[32:20] - Sermon Introduction
[33:07] - Rooted in Faithfulness Series
[34:24] - Reading Daniel 9:20-23
[35:13] - God's Character Revealed
[37:33] - Rooted in God's Character
[41:48] - God's Redemptive Plan
[46:31] - Confession and Humility
[48:09] - God is Just
[51:17] - God is Merciful
[57:19] - The Lord's Prayer
[59:29] - Praying God's Character
[01:01:19] - Highly Esteemed in Christ
[01:06:05] - Communion
[01:18:28] - Closing and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Daniel 9:20-23 (NIV)
> "While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill—while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.'"
2. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
> "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
3. Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
> "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Daniel doing when Gabriel appeared to him in Daniel 9:20-23?
2. According to Jeremiah 29:11, what kind of plans does God have for His people?
3. In Matthew 6:9-13, what are the key elements of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:20-23 reflect his understanding of God's character? [34:24]
2. What does Jeremiah 29:11 reveal about God's intentions towards His people, even in times of hardship? [43:13]
3. How does the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 emphasize the importance of recognizing God's character in our prayers? [57:19]
#### Application Questions
1. Daniel's prayer was rooted in humility and confession. How can you incorporate more humility and confession into your own prayer life? [46:31]
2. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How does knowing that God has a redemptive plan (Jeremiah 29:11) give you hope in such situations? [41:48]
3. The sermon emphasized that we are "highly esteemed" in Christ. How does this understanding affect your self-worth and daily actions? [01:01:19]
4. In what ways can you start your prayers with gratitude, acknowledging God's goodness and faithfulness, as suggested in the sermon? [59:29]
5. Think of a specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's unchanging character. How can you actively lean into this trust this week? [37:33]
6. How can you model Daniel's example of praying for your community and nation, acknowledging collective shortcomings and seeking God's mercy? [47:10]
7. The Lord's Prayer includes a request for daily provision and forgiveness. What specific needs and areas of forgiveness do you need to bring before God this week? [57:19]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Redemptive Plan
God's judgment is always coupled with His redemptive purpose. He disciplines out of love and always provides a way back to Him. This understanding should give us hope, knowing that no matter how far we stray, God has a plan to bring us back. Daniel chapter 9 reveals that even before the exile began, God had a plan for Israel's restoration. This shows that God's judgment is not merely punitive but is designed to lead to repentance and restoration.
In our own lives, we can take comfort in knowing that God's discipline is not the end of the story. He always has a redemptive plan for us, no matter how far we have fallen. This should fill us with hope and encourage us to seek His face, knowing that He is always ready to restore us to Himself. [41:48]
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt far from God. How did you see His redemptive plan unfold in your life? How can you trust in His plan for your current situation?
Day 2: Confession and Humility in Prayer
Daniel's prayer begins with a confession of sins, both personal and communal. He acknowledges that the people have fallen short of God's commands. This humility is crucial in our prayer life. We must come before God with an honest heart, recognizing our shortcomings and seeking His forgiveness. Daniel's approach shows us that true prayer involves a deep sense of humility and an honest acknowledgment of our sins.
When we come before God in prayer, it is essential to start with confession. This not only cleanses our hearts but also aligns us with God's will. By acknowledging our sins, we open the door for God's grace and mercy to flow into our lives. [46:31]
1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: What sins do you need to confess to God today? How can you approach Him with a humble and honest heart in your prayers?
Day 3: God's Unchanging Character
Daniel's prayer is rooted in the character of God. He knows that God is good, just, and merciful. This understanding shapes his approach to God, making his prayer more about aligning with God's will than just seeking personal gain. Our prayers should similarly reflect our trust in God's unchanging nature.
Understanding God's character helps us to pray with confidence and trust. When we know that God is good, just, and merciful, we can approach Him with boldness, knowing that He hears us and will act according to His perfect will. This transforms our prayer life, making it more about communion with God than just presenting a list of requests. [37:33]
James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Reflection: How does understanding God's unchanging character affect the way you pray? What aspects of God's character do you need to focus on more in your prayer life?
Day 4: Highly Esteemed in Christ
In Christ, we are already highly esteemed. This means that God sees us with the same love and righteousness that He sees in His Son. This understanding should fill us with confidence and gratitude, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by God. It should also inspire us to live in a way that reflects this esteemed status.
Knowing that we are highly esteemed in Christ changes the way we see ourselves and others. It gives us a sense of worth and purpose, knowing that we are loved and valued by God. This should inspire us to live in a way that reflects our esteemed status, showing love and grace to others as God has shown to us. [01:01:19]
Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are highly esteemed in Christ change the way you see yourself? How can you live in a way that reflects this esteemed status?
Day 5: Praying God's Character
Our prayers should be saturated with the recognition of God's faithful character. Starting our prayers with gratitude and acknowledgment of God's goodness transforms our prayer life. It shifts the focus from our needs to a deeper communion with God, fostering a more intimate and meaningful relationship with Him.
When we begin our prayers by acknowledging God's character, it changes our perspective. Instead of focusing on our problems, we focus on God's greatness and faithfulness. This not only strengthens our faith but also deepens our relationship with Him. By recognizing His goodness and faithfulness, we are reminded of His constant presence and care in our lives. [59:29]
Psalm 100:4-5 (ESV): "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
Reflection: How can you start your prayers with gratitude and acknowledgment of God's character today? What difference do you think this will make in your prayer life?
Quotes
1. "When I was praying I was confessing about all the stuff we've done wrong and I got this message from God that I was greatly loved and from the moment I prayed He sent this message and moved on my behalf. Even on your worst days God is listening. God is willing to move on your behalf. God is caring about you no matter what the situation and circumstance is around you that others have put you in, that just might have happened, or that you put yourself in. God is still good and still cares about you no matter what is happening." [35:27] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is a God of He puts the choice out there. He says this is what's going to happen if you disobey me and spit in my face because I'm a holy and just God. But this is all the blessing and stuff I have for you if you don't break these laws. If you just listen to what I've told you to do. Please, please don't do that. And if God was to force your choice to make you choose the right thing, that's not love and that's not justice that's genuine." [45:06] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is patiently sitting back taking it on the chin if you will when we don't even care about what we're doing. I think about the stuff that goes on internally with me. I think about where my thoughts go sometimes. I think about desires I have that aren't of God sometimes and how I gotta bring those to the foot of the cross as a discipline and say Lord this isn't you. I shouldn't feel this way about this person. I shouldn't be this angry about this thing. I shouldn't be this jealous about this. And I've gotta take myself and say God please I don't wanna just brush that off because I'm under grace and I can just ignore it because Jesus has to forgive me." [49:17] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is just and if at any moment He wanted to look into your thought life, your deeds, the stuff you haven't repented of yet, and just snap his fingers and that's it for you, and he wouldn't be wrong. Does that make sense? He's just but he's good and he's redemptive. All of these things are true at the same time. People hear stuff about just and they feel like God is sitting up there with you know waiting to throw lightning bolts on people like the all father or something. And God is sitting there waiting to say please come home. Come home. Come come home." [49:46] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God is merciful not only to you. He's merciful to your enemy. He's merciful to the people you like. He's merciful to the people you don't like. A lot of us don't like that part but he is. You know what I mean? He's merciful to all of us. So our prayers for ourselves and our loved ones and our enemies like Jesus commanded have to be saturated in the merciful heart of God. And let me let you in on a hint. You and I are nowhere near as merciful as God is. I know I am not as merciful as God. I know I'm not." [52:20] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God is redemptive. God is good. God is just. God is merciful. And you are highly esteemed. God is redemptive. God is good. God is just. He's merciful. And you are highly esteemed." [01:04:14] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "When you pray, our prayers should be saturated with God's faithful character. Start your prayers in beginning, middle, and end thinking about God let me thank you for some aspect of your character today that I haven't recognized in a while. I want to thank you that you're faithful. I want to thank you that you're benevolent. I thank you that you're everywhere. I thank you that you know everything about me and no aspect of you is cut off even with the things in me that aren't lining up with you right now. You still have the door wide open to me and just thank you for that." [01:00:28] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "All I want you to walk away with today here is that your prayer should be rooted in the character of God. But also here in the Bible in Christ you are highly esteemed. You are greatly loved. When I wrote that song I was like what does it mean? What does it look like to be highly esteemed? I want to be that type of person. I don't know what that means. I feel like I'm so far away from being the type of person whose life pleases God just didn't grasp the reality of the gospel at the time." [01:01:19] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I just encourage you guys to pray God's character in your prayer life. If you're already doing that please continue. Maybe incorporate it more. And I encourage you to pray. Pray God's character in your life. That just think about His goodness and His faithfulness and who He is. Think about the things when you read scripture they jump off the page about the beauty and the goodness of the person of God and think about you know what I want to sit more into this. I want to lean into this. Put that into your prayer time." [01:03:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "I think we need all types of stuff. But you can't get away from a good old hymn sometimes. That stuff's great. That stuff's great. So if we haven't met my name is Nigel. I have the privilege of being one of the preachers here at the church. And I'm also a Christian hip hop artist. I'm gonna perform a spoken word for you today because it ties right into our sermon and I hope you enjoy it." [24:20] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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