69 Weeks: Countdown to Redemption

Daniel 9:20-27

• prayer is essential; if Satan can discourage ou from prayer, he will successfully disengage you from God
• 3 joys Daniel experienced through prayer:
1. Through prayer we have real connection to God and through that connection real perspective and understanding
• Daniel 9:20-23
• “I have come to give you insight (wisdom) and understanding” v22
• “As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given…” v23
• Jn 15:7
• scripture is an indivisible partner
• “Consider the message of 70 years…”; goes way beyond localized prayer concerns
• we must resist the urge to be impatient with God when He doesn’t act as a personal assistant cranking out administrative  errands according to our fast-paced expectations
• we forget we are in the playing field of the eternal when we enter prayer
• worship is spectacular opportunity for us to make connection with God; lift us up from where we are to a higher level in order to worship and connect
2. Evil is to be eradicated; eternal righteousness is to be established
• Daniel 9:24
• 6 goals God intends to accomplish (you might think it’s just for for the Jews and Jerusalem, BUT SURPRISE, YOU’RE ACTUALLY INCLUDED!):
1. Finish transgression; finish/end the hold sin has over people’s eternal destiny (Isa 44:22; 1 Cor 15:56)
• He enables us to change
2. To put a lockdown on sin (Mic 7:19; Jn 1:29; Col 2:13-15)
• He has nailed our sins to the cross
3. To legitimately and legally take care of the very big problem of very bad stuff (Isa 53:10; Rom 3:25-26)
• He will atone for you; Daniel immediately thought of “blood sacrifice” when “atonement” was mentioned
4. Cause God’s right ways to be the only way for all of eternity (Jer 23:6; Dan 9:18; Zech 3:4)
• Zech 3:4 demonstrates justification through faith
• Rom 3:22
5. Put a stamp of approval on the fulfilment activity of all that was promised

6. Put the full force of God’s spirit upon the person or place of His choosing
• The 1st 3 goals focus on the answer to sin; grounds on which God forgives
• The last 3 goals show God’s intention to fulfill His promises
3. The coming of Messiah and the end is not only promised but outlined in a detailed calendar of times and events
• Daniel 9:25-26
• baptism 483 years from issuing of decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (go to evening service for proof of exact number)
• sometime after, he will be “cut off” (ie. crucifixion)
• city and temple will again be destroyed (Herod’s temple was destroyed by some badass army as expected)