OVERCOMING THE DELAYS TO PRAYERS
OVERCOMING DELAY TO PRAYERS
Dan 10:12-14 KJV 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
God delights in answering prayers in a hurry:
Eze 12:22 KJV Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
Eze 12:25 KJV For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 12:28 KJV Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.
How does the devil delay answers?
1. By blocking the person bringing the answer like in the text
2. By mounting the edge around us so that no help or answer will come.
1Ki 15:17 KJV And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2Ch 16:1 KJV In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
3. By digging trenches or cutting off the road
Luk 16:26 KJV And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
4. By resisting the word.
2Ti 4:15 KJV Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
2Ti 3:8 KJV Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith.
The answer to prayer is often delayed, not by any indisposition on the part of God to answer it, and not by any purpose not to answer it, and not by the mere intention of trying our faith, but “by the necessary arrangements to bring it about.”
It is of such a nature that it cannot be answered at once. It requires time to make important changes;
- to influence the minds of men;
- to remove obstacles;
- to raise up friends;
- to put in operation agencies that shall secure the thing desired.
- There is some obstacle to be overcome.
- There is some plan of evil to be checked and stayed.
- There is some agency to be used which is not now in existence, and which is to be created.
The opposition of the “prince of Persia” could not be overcome at once, and it was necessary to bring in the agency of a higher power – that of Michael – to effect the change.
This could not be done in a moment, a day, or a week, and hence, the long delay of three “full weeks” before Daniel had an assurance that his prayers would be answered.
Exo 23:30 KJV By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
Deu 7:22 KJV And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
So it often happens now. We pray for the conversion of a child; yet there may be obstacles to his conversion, unseen by us, which are to be patiently removed, and perhaps by a foreign influence, before it can be done. Satan may have already secured a control over his heart, which is to be broken gradually, before the prayer shall be answered.
We pray for the removal of the evils of intemperance, of slavery, of superstition, of idolatry; yet these may be so interlocked with the customs of a country, with the interests of men, and with the laws, that they cannot be at once eradicated except by miracle, and the answer to the prayer seems to be long delayed.
We pray for the universal spread of the gospel of Christ; yet how many obstacles are to be overcome, and how many arrangements made, before this prayer can be fully answered; and how many tears are to be shed, and perils encountered, and lives sacrificed, before the prayer of the church shall be fully answered, and the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
The duty, then, which is taught, is that of patience, of perseverance, of faith in God, of a firm belief that he is true to all his promises, and that he is a hearer of prayer – though the blessing seems long delayed.
It is in this waiting period that we fast tracked and hastened the release of our answers by confronting the obstacles, releasing the agencies needed.
It was the continual, consistent and persevered prayers of Daniel that made Heaven deploy Michael.
If we want quick response, rapid, un-delayed answers, then we have to actively pray for and against some of the things mentioned above.
The zeal of the Lord is engaged in answering prayers:
2Ki 19:31 KJV For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.
Isa 9:7 KJV Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isa 37:32 KJV For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.
2. Let the Lord direct them to us.
1Th 3:11 KJV Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
The word “direct” is”kateuthuno”̄
Phonetic: kat-yoo-thoo’-no
to make straight, guide, direct, of the removal of the hindrances to coming to one.
The idea is that or conducting one straight to a place, and not by a round-about course. Here the petition is, that God would remove all obstacles so that he could come directly to them.
3. Every Ramah built around me collapses and is destroyed in Jesus’ name.
4. Every supernatural agency and human agency withholding my answer receive fire. Release the answer in Jesus name.
5. Every answer, miracle, solution and blessing concerning marriages, finances, joy, etc being withheld in higher places be released in Jesus name.
6. Maybe someone has promised you a thing, work, or the boss has intimated you of a promotion but up till now it has not materialized. Powers resisting the words, prophecy, proclamation and good pronouncement over my life and destiny be destroyed in Jesus name.
7. The angel said I am now coming for thy word. Let my word manifest, let the answer and the agent show up in Jesus name.