Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20020317.htm

DANIEL: HOPE FOR TODAY'S DISILLUSIONED YOUTH
Part X: God's Rewards For Wholeheartedly Applying His Word
(Daniel 9:1-23)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

There are times of "spiritual drought" when even Christians who have seen a degree of prolonged or intense stress sense a need for God's direct instruction and significant personal encouragement:

(1) The Foothills Visiting Nurse and Home Care group on March 6 mailed out a flyer promoting its Hospice Bereavement Program. The cover letter told how "People who have experienced the loss of someone close may be having an exceptionally difficult time with grief at this time of national loss and upheaval."

I knew they were speaking of the September 11 strike on America, and of the ensuing war on terrorism and its effects on those who have lost beloved associates in addition to these national events.

Well, what do BELIEVERS who have lost an associate or faced a difficult loss in some other area since our national crisis DO to find the guidance and ENCOURAGMENT from God they sense they need?

(2) I know several Christians who are either college students or parents or spouses who have real questions about problems they face, and are wondering what direction to go in their schooling or parenting or marriage, and need a heap of encouragement from GOD on the issues involved. Yet, they don't have a CLUE as to HOW to see the connection with God come to pass!

What does a Christian COLLEGE STUDENT or PARENT or SPOUSE do when he or she longs to see GOD get involved in supplying GUIDANCE and ENCOURAGEMENT as to handling a troubled concern they have about their education, home life or marital concerns?



When there seems to be NO CONNECTION with GOD on His direction and encouragement, WHAT is a believer to DO about it, and WHY?



(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )



Need: "I am confused and worried about where my life is headed, but I lack God's insight and encouragement! How may I gain it?!"
  1. When Daniel penned Daniel 9, he had a GREAT NEED for God's ADDITIONAL personal INSIGHT and ENCOURAGEMENT:
    1. The events of Daniel 9 came just after Daniel had experienced the second traumatic fall of a nation under which he had lived:
      1. He had been captured by Babylon upon its invading his homeland in 605 B. C. when he was about age 17, Daniel 1:1-7 with Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1323. As we previously learned, this resulted in Daniel's being surgically altered, keeping him from marriage, being forced to learn Aramaic and serve his captors.
      2. Then, after living under Babylon's rule for 66 years, Daniel saw the Medes defeat Babylon, 5:30-31; Ryr. St. Bib., KJV, ftn. to 5:30
    2. Also, Daniel had been repeatedly upset during the reign of Babylon's last king from visions God had supplied of blasphemy and horrible persecution Antiochus Epiphanes and the antichrist would do against God and Israel respectively, Dan. 7-8 (our last 2 sermons).
    3. Besides all this, Daniel had just learned from reading Jeremiah's prophecy that Israel's 70-year captivity was about to end, an event based upon Israel's wholeheartedly confessing her sins unto God, cf. Dan. 9:1-2 with Jer. 25:11-12 and Ryr. St. Bib., KJV, ftn. to Dan. 9:2!
    4. Summary: Daniel's knowing the trauma he had seen in life was caused by Israel's sin, and learning Israel's imminent deliverance was conditioned upon her confessing her sin with all her heart, and that Israel's future involved life under horridly evil Gentile rulers all led Daniel to be concerned about seeking God's favor, insight and help concerning his and his people's respective immediate futures!
  2. In this time of NEED for God's insight and encouragement, Daniel SET his HEART to APPLY FULLY what SCRIPTURE he KNEW:
    1. Daniel read Jeremiah 25:1-11 which revealed Israel's sin against God and her refusal to repent under the repeated calls of God's prophets to that end had led to Israel's captivity and the trauma Daniel had seen.
    2. Daniel also knew Scripture taught captive Israel was to confess her sin in truth to be restored, Deut. 30:1-3; 2 Chr. 6:36-39; Jer. 29:10-14.
    3. Thus, Daniel busied himself FULLY APPLYING this Scripture he knew he had to obey to gain God's insight and blessing, Dan. 9:3-4a:
      1. In his heart, Daniel chose to "seek" the Lord, Daniel 9:3a.
      2. In his actions, Daniel FULLY LIVED OUT the actions Scripture required of captive Israel as God's condition for restoration:
        1. Daniel obeyed Jeremiah 29:10-14 and sought God through prayer with his petitions and confessions, Daniel 9:3b, 4a.
        2. Daniel also donned sackcloth and ashes to show contrition in confessing his and Israel's sins in accord with Jer. 25:1-11 with Deut. 30:1-3 and 2 Chr. 6:36-39, cf. Daniel 9:3c.
        3. Daniel also fasted, signaling remorse in confessing his sin, Dan. 9:3b in light of Jer. 25:1-11; Deut. 30:1-3 and 2 Chr. 6:36-39.
      3. In praying, Daniel strove to show God as much respect as he could, and appealed solely on God's UNMERITED favor, 9:3-19:
        1. Daniel's prayer began with confession of sin, Daniel 9:3-14.
        2. Then, he petitioned for Israel's restoration to the land, 9:15-17.
        3. He made this petition not based on Israel's merit, but upon God's own reputation in His identity as Israel's God, 9:18-19!
  3. Hence, God gave Daniel what INSIGHT and ENCOURAGEMENT he NEEDED to KEEP FUNCTIONING in his life, Daniel 9:20-23.
    1. The moment Daniel began his prayer, God sent the angel, Gabriel to him to give INSIGHT into the details of Israel's FUTURE, Dan. 9:20-23a. This meant God viewed Daniel's confession as VALID!
    2. Gabriel also ENCOURAGED Daniel, telling him God highly esteemed him as a "precious treasure," Dan. 9:23; B.D.B., Heb.-Engl. Lex., p. 326! This would have allowed Daniel to relax in his rapport with God, knowing God would personally bless his future under the Law's dictates of blessing for personal obedience, Deut. 30:1-3, 5b!
Application: If confused and distressed about where our life is headed, we can GAIN God's desired insight and encouragement by heeding what SCRIPTURE we KNOW: namely, (1) we must BELIEVE in His Son, Jesus Christ for salvation from sin, John 3:16 with Acts 17:30. (2) Then, we must CONFESS any sin we have done since salvation, 1 John 1:9. (3) God then expects us to BUSY ourselves doing what we KNOW He WANTS us to do via what we ALREADY KNOW of His WORD (1 John 2:3-6); HE then supplies what added insight and encouragement we need beyond this by way of answered prayer (1 John 3:22), material provisions (Phil. 4:19) and encouragements [via the rewards He provides that are built into our efforts in His will], cf. 2 Tim. 2:6.

Lesson: When Daniel sought to APPLY FULLY what he KNEW he must APPLY of SCRIPTURE, God met his OTHER pressing NEEDS! >

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 The day of the funeral for Marthe Ereminas' mother, Mrs. Elsa Froeliger, my wife and I entered the Phalen Funeral Home to prepare for the service. Only Don, Marthe, their daughter, Kim and an elderly neighbor of Marthe's mother were there at the time.

I noticed how weak and pale Marthe looked as she had suffered the previous few days with a short-term illness, and I was impressed with the need for her to rest.

I was also getting ready for a vacation break scheduled to start the next Sunday, and was using my regular "day off" Monday to minister at Mrs. Froeliger's funeral. Again, the need for "rest" seemed to be the theme on my mind. We all needed "rest"!

Nevertheless, I knew SCRIPTURE dictated we meet the needs of fellow believers even in a self-sacrificing way according to 1 John 3:16-18, and that the OPPORTUNITY to present the Gospel at this funeral to UNSAVED people was to be USED according to Ephesians 5:16 with Colossians 4:3-4. Thus, even though needing "rest," we went ahead with the ministry of the Word at the funeral service.

Following the funeral, Don, Marthe, Kim, Nadine and I all traveled over to Simsbury to eat at the only nice restaurant Don found open that afternoon. We arrived at a quiet place by a waterfall near a former mill, and were seated in a large, unpopulated dining room!

There, we enjoyed a PRIVATE dining experience with quality entrees by a large window overlooking a picturesque waterfall! It was as though the LORD was saying, "You all did MY will of giving out the GOSPEL at the funeral service today, so NOW I will supply you a RESTFUL break, a PRIVATE dining experience in this peaceful setting! This one's on ME!"

That's how the Lord supplies guidance and encouragement: when we occupy ourselves doing His WILL, HE then "steps up to the plate and hits a home run" with material, mental, spiritual or emotional direction, provision and encouragement in our experiences of life.