The Power Of Persistent Prayer

They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended up back in the cookie aisle. “Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you that you can’t have any. Now sit down & be quiet.”

Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane. The little boy sensed that this may be his last chance. So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart & shouted in his loudest voice, “In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?”

And everybody round about just laughed. Some even applauded. And, due to the generosity of the other shoppers, the little boy & his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies.

We ought always to pray and not give up…

I. But why? WHY should we always pray and not give up?

I mean is God deaf?

Is it hard to get His attention?

Do we have to keep bothering Him until He throws up His hands in disgust and says "If I don’t grant their request I’ll never get any rest?"

No, I don’t think that’s the issue at all. In fact, our text this morning seems to be saying something else entirely.

Look at Daniel 10:10-12. NOTICE it says “SINCE THE FIRST DAY that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, YOUR WORDS WERE HEARD, and I have come in response to them.” (vs. 12)

This isn’t the 1st time an angel has told Daniel this: AS SOON AS YOU BEGAN TO PRAY, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision (Daniel 9:23)

In other words, every time you and I pray not only does God gladly hear our prayers… an angel is immediately sent from the throne of God to answer our prayers.

(pause…)

II. But that still doesn’t answer question: why should we always pray & not give up?

The story of Daniel’s prayer (here in chap. 10) gives us at least one reason why that should be true.

REREAD Daniel 10:12-13. Now consider what this says:

From the very 1st day Daniel prayed his prayers were heard and an angel was sent. BUT this is one of those rare times God pulls back the curtain and lets us see what’s happening behind the scenes.

ILLUS: It’s kind of like when you’re at a theatrical play and the curtain is closed. You don’t usually see what takes place behind the curtain. If you didn’t know better, you might never realize that while the curtain is closed the props are brought out, the scenery is changed and the actors take their positions. But every once in a while somebody slips up and the curtain is accidentally drawn back and you see what is taking place behind the scenes. That’s (in essence) what God is doing here - He’s drawing back the curtain so you see what ordinarily would be hidden from your eyes.

When Daniel prayed demonic forces rose up (the prince of Persia) and angelic warfare was broke out. You know what that means?