Participants:
Series Code: SISS
Program Code: SISS000104S
|
00:01 Music...
00:32 James: Okay, so we are still in Daniel chapter 10, Part 2. 00:35 We left off with verse 12... 00:38 we talked a little bit about the difference between 00:41 Daniel 10 and 9 in relationship to... 00:44 to the prayer time 00:45 and how quickly Daniel's prayer was answered 00:47 and right now, we're going to find an answer to that, 00:51 we're going to see why it is that in Daniel 10, 00:54 it took three weeks for Daniel to get an answer 00:57 whereas in Daniel 9, 00:58 Daniel got an answer before he even said, "Amen. " 01:00 Yvonne: Hmmm... Jason: Hmmm... 01:02 James: And what we're going to see here... 01:03 what we're going to unpack here in the latter part of Daniel 01:05 chapter 10, I think, is going to be phenomenal for us 01:10 as Christians in our Christian walk... 01:12 in our experience with the Lord, 01:13 so, we should start with a word of prayer, 01:15 Ivor, would you like to pray for us? 01:16 Ivor: Yeah, let's do that, "Heavenly Father, 01:20 we just want to ask Your presence to be with us 01:23 as we continue to study Your Word. 01:25 We pray that You would guide our understanding 01:28 and... that You would fill us Lord 01:32 as we... as we partake of this Word, 01:35 we pray it in Jesus' name, amen. " 01:37 All: Amen. 01:39 James: All right, Jason, let's start here 01:41 in Daniel chapter 10 01:42 and would you read for us verses 12 and 13? 01:47 Jason: Sure... 01:48 Jason: "Then he said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, 01:51 for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, 01:55 and to humble yourself before your God, 01:57 your words were heard; 01:59 and I have come because of your words. 02:01 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia 02:03 withstood me twenty-one days; 02:06 and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, 02:09 came to help me, 02:10 for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. " 02:14 James: All right this is amazing... 02:17 these two verses just unpack for us a spiritual battle 02:21 that's taking place all around us... 02:23 good angels and evil angels 02:26 pressing in to influence human beings to make decisions 02:31 for or against God. 02:32 Yvonne: That's what's taking place right here. 02:34 When you... when you unpack this, 02:36 what you're finding is... is that 02:38 as soon as Daniel began to pray, 02:40 just like in Daniel 9, God was sending the answer. 02:43 As soon as he started praying, God was sending an answer 02:46 but Daniel is praying for something specific right now. 02:49 He's praying to understand the latter end of this vision... 02:52 the 2300 days, if you will, 02:53 and the cleansing of the sanctuary 02:55 and one of the reasons why he doesn't understand that 02:58 is because it doesn't make sense 03:00 in relationship to the literal sanctuary 03:01 and, of course, it doesn't 03:03 because if the 2300-Day prophecy is day for a year... 03:06 that prophecy is going to end in the 19th century... 03:09 it's going to end in... in the 1800s 03:11 which we're really going to unpack 03:13 as we get into Daniel chapter 12. 03:15 So, Daniel is seeking to understand this... 03:19 he can't fully understand it 03:21 and in the context of that, he prays. 03:23 Now, the reason why his prayer is delayed... 03:26 the answer to it is delayed is because 03:29 there are evil angels that are trying to influence 03:33 the kings of Persia. 03:35 The prince of this world and we know... 03:38 Jesus tells us... the prince of this word is Satan. 03:40 Satan and his evil angels 03:42 are trying to influence human beings 03:44 against God's plan... so, God has a plan 03:46 and the plan starts, as we noted, 03:48 with the going forth of the commandment 03:50 to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. 03:52 We looked at that in Daniel chapter 9 03:54 and let's just go back there to Daniel chapter 9 03:56 and notice something really significant here 03:59 that we needed just to highlight a little bit 04:02 in verse 25. 04:03 It says, "Know therefore and understand, 04:06 that from the going forth of the commandment 04:09 to restore and build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince 04:12 shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: 04:16 the street shall be built again, 04:18 and the wall, even in troublous times. " 04:21 Why seven weeks and threescore and two weeks? 04:24 that's a total of 69... 04:25 because seven weeks is allotted for the rebuilding of the city 04:29 and the temple 04:31 and it says here... it's going to be rebuilt 04:33 even in troublous times. 04:35 What this is saying to us is 04:37 that there is going to be trouble 04:39 surrounding the rebuilding of the city 04:41 and it's going to take seven weeks... seven prophetic weeks 04:43 which is 49 years 04:45 for them to accomplish this task. 04:47 Where is the trouble coming from? 04:49 When we read Ezra... when we read Nehemiah... 04:52 we know the trouble came partly from 04:53 the people that were left there in Palestine 04:57 Sanballat and some of the Samaritans 04:59 who were opposing the work of rebuilding 05:02 but they were inspired by... guess who? 05:04 Yvonne: Satan. 05:06 James: Satan, the prince of the power of this world 05:07 and his angels... and that's why as Ivor mentioned 05:09 in an earlier Session, there were four decrees... 05:12 four decrees were needed because what you have here 05:15 is, you have the angels in Daniel chapter 10 05:19 trying to influence the kings of Medo-Persia 05:22 against God's people 05:24 and that's why the decrees came forth 05:27 and then they backed down 05:28 and then they were reinstated and then they backed out again 05:31 and then they were... they were enlarged... 05:33 they went back and forth... back and forth... 05:34 what we see in Daniel chapter 10 05:37 is a picture of the conflict 05:39 that is taking place between spiritual forces... 05:41 good and bad... 05:42 in the relationship to carrying out God's prophetic will. 05:45 Is that... is that seen here? 05:47 Yvonne: This is like great controversy. 05:49 James: This is the great controversy 05:50 opened up for us in Daniel chapter 10. 05:52 Yvonne: Yeah... 05:53 James: And it gives us this "Ah ha moment" 05:54 of "Wow! that's why my prayers aren't answered 05:57 necessarily right away. " Yvonne: Hmmm. 05:59 James: Because there's no way that Daniel 06:01 can really understand the end of this vision 06:03 if the vision hasn't even been started yet. 06:06 Yvonne: Hmmm... 06:07 James: How can God give him an understanding of the end 06:09 if he can't get a start date? 06:10 Yvonne: Right. 06:11 James: So... so God is influencing 06:13 and you know the intensity is so great that Gabriel says, 06:17 "I wasn't prevailing until Michael came... 06:20 and when Michael showed up, game over. " 06:22 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 06:24 James: When Michael showed up, then we got the victory. 06:27 Yvonne: Can we talk about Michael for a moment because... 06:30 because I have trouble with the idea that 06:36 Michael and Jesus are the same 06:38 because Michael is projected as an angel... 06:42 I mean, to me, and so... and so... 06:45 and an angel is a created being 06:47 but... but an angel is also a messenger 06:50 but... and so, it's kind of... I don't know... 06:53 I just need an explanation on... 06:55 Jason: How is Jesus... Michael? 06:56 James: Yeah, and that's... that's a really good question. 06:58 There are a couple of places 07:00 where Michael's name is mentioned in the New Testament, 07:02 I think the first one we might want to look at 07:04 is in Revelation because it connects with Daniel. 07:06 Revelation chapter 12... 07:08 Ivor, do you want to read that for us? 07:09 Revelation chapter 12 talks about Michael the Archangel 07:17 or Michael and His angels, I should say... 07:19 Jason: Verse 7? 07:21 James: Yeah, Revelation 12 verse 7. 07:23 Ivor: All right, Revelation 12 verse 7, 07:26 "And there was war in heaven: 07:27 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; 07:29 and the dragon fought and prevailed not... " 07:32 James: So, explain this to us, "Michael and his angels... " 07:37 does that make Michael an angel? 07:39 Pause... 07:42 Yvonne: That's what it sounds like. 07:45 Jason: Michael and His angels... hmmm... 07:48 Ivor: Yeah, one thing that you will see when you're looking at 07:51 Michael in the Scriptures is that most of the times 07:55 with two exceptions in Daniel chapter 10... 07:58 every time Michael's name is mentioned, 08:01 it's in connection with warfare with Satan. 08:04 James: Hmmm... Yvonne: Hmmm... 08:06 James: Wow! that's a good point. 08:07 Ivor: So, this is significant because 08:11 pause... 08:14 if... if Satan is the angel 08:19 that God created... 08:20 that is, you know, the most powerful angel... 08:24 the first of all the angels... 08:27 pause... 08:29 then Michael would be that individual 08:31 that is more powerful than Satan. 08:34 James: Hmmm... Yvonne: Hmmm... 08:37 Ivor: The name Michael means the one who is as God. 08:42 The word "Angel" it simply means: Messenger 08:47 so, I'll give an example, Yvonne, 08:50 in the book of Malachi, I believe it's chapter... 08:53 is it chapter 3 or 4, James? 08:55 "Behold, I send my messenger... " 08:57 James: 4... or 3... 08:59 3 talks about that too 09:01 so, it depends on what the rest of it is that you're saying. 09:05 Ivor: So, the text is actually speaking about John the Baptist. 09:08 James: 4... 09:09 Ivor: By preparing the way for the Messiah. 09:13 James: Right. 09:15 Ivor: But... but it... it actually the... 09:17 the word for Messenger is: angel. 09:21 Yvonne: Hmmm... 09:22 Ivor: Now, we know that John the Baptist is not an angel. 09:26 Yvonne: Right. 09:28 Ivor: Right, the word "Angel" simply means "Messenger... " 09:32 "Messenger... " 09:34 so, when we talk about Michael being the highest Messenger 09:40 or the most important Messenger from heaven, 09:43 this is... what chapter was it? 09:46 James: Three verse one, Malachi 3 verse 1. 09:49 Ivor: Yeah... do you want to read that? 09:51 "Behold, I will send my messenger, 09:54 and he shall prepare the way before me: 09:57 and the Lord, whom ye seek, 09:58 shall suddenly come to his temple, 10:00 even the messenger of the covenant, 10:02 whom ye delight in: 10:03 behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. " 10:06 But I think that is talking about Christ. 10:09 Ivor: Okay, that's not the... 10:11 James: The one that you're thinking about is Malachi 4 10:14 where it says, "Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet... " 10:17 Ivor: Yes. 10:19 James: Who in the New Testament is God's messenger. 10:21 Ivor: Yeah, exactly... in Malachi 3... 10:25 that "Messenger" is clearly Jesus 10:28 and the word used is "Angel. " 10:31 James: Yeah, it is, you're right the word used is angel, yeah. 10:33 Ivor: See what I'm saying? James: Yeah. 10:35 Ivor: So, even the Bible is calling Jesus... 10:39 yeah, even the Bible is calling Jesus an angel, right. 10:44 James: Yeah. 10:45 Ivor: Meaning a created being 10:46 or the word "angel" is to be understood 10:50 not just solely as a created being like Gabriel 10:54 but a messenger. 10:57 James: Hmmm... hmmm... 10:58 Ivor: And I would think, you know, 11:00 we understand Jesus is not a "created being" 11:02 an angel in that sense... 11:04 He is an angel in the sense of the highest messenger 11:08 to come from heaven. 11:10 James: Gotcha... Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 11:12 James: But Jesus became a man 11:13 but that doesn't mean He's not God. 11:15 Just because He became a man 11:17 doesn't make Him a created being. 11:19 Yvonne: So, He takes on the form of an angel... is that... 11:22 James: Well, the Holy Spirit took on the form of a dove 11:24 and God took on the form of a burning bush 11:27 so, God can do anything He wants to... and still be God. 11:30 Yvonne: Right. 11:32 James: He can be a man... He can be an angel... 11:33 a messenger... 11:35 He can come as a form of a dove... 11:36 He can come in the form of a burning bush... 11:37 but He's still God... 11:39 Yvonne: Right... 11:40 James: And a lot of times, Christians, we're afraid... 11:42 what's that? 11:43 Ivor: Uncreated. James: An uncreated... 11:44 we're afraid to let God appear in whatever form He wants 11:48 because then we turn Him into some kind of created being 11:51 but that's not what we see throughout the Bible. 11:53 God's steward means... 11:54 God, no matter what form He comes in... 11:56 we just need to identify Him 11:58 and Michael identifies Himself... 12:00 in fact, Michael's called the Archangel 12:02 and some people say, "Oh, see, He's an angel... " 12:04 no... "Arch" means chief... 12:06 He's the chief of the angels, 12:07 that's why it says in... in... in Revelation 12, 12:09 "Michael and His angels... " they're His angels. 12:11 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 12:13 James: He is the Creator... 12:14 He's in charge of the angels 12:15 but He's not Himself a created being. 12:18 Yvonne: Right. 12:19 James: He is God... Christ is God. 12:21 Yvonne: Right... 12:22 Ivor: So, when the Bible talks about 12:24 in Thessalonians 12:26 that the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, 12:27 with the voice of the Archangel... 12:30 Yvonne: It is not saying that when Jesus descends, you know, 12:35 He... He needs the voice of the Archangel... 12:39 you know, to help Him like some other angel... 12:42 that's His voice. 12:44 James: Yeah, John 5 tells us that... 12:45 John 5:28 and 29. Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 12:49 "They'll hear My voice" Jesus says 12:51 "and they'll rise up... " so... 1st... 12:53 1st Thessalonians 4:16 is talking about 12:55 the Archangel is the voice of Christ. 12:57 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... Ivor: Yes. 12:59 James: So, Michael is Christ 13:01 but He's not a created being. 13:03 Yvonne: Right. Ivor: Right. 13:05 James: And when it says, "He's one of the chief Princes" 13:07 there's two others... the Holy Spirit and the Father. 13:08 They together make up the Godhead. 13:11 They are the Trinity... 13:12 They are God 13:14 and Jesus Christ the Son of God comes in the form of a man 13:17 but He still maintains His divinity. 13:19 So, we still believe that Christ is Divine 13:21 even though He came in the form of a man. 13:23 Yvonne: Oh yeah. James: We hold to that 13:25 because that is Biblical truth. 13:26 "The Word became flesh... the Word was with God... 13:28 the Word was God... 13:29 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us 13:31 and we beheld His glory. " 13:32 James: So, I hope that helps is that... yeah. 13:35 Yvonne: Yes, that does help, thank you. 13:37 James: There's harmony in all of the Scriptures here 13:39 but what I love about this is... 13:41 it clearly shows how Michael... 13:44 how Christ is interacting with Planet Earth... 13:47 how He's engaging with Gabriel... 13:50 engaging with the angels in our behalf... 13:52 even before His death... 13:54 even before His crucifixion 13:56 and what's really powerful about this is, 13:58 "Okay, we're talking about the fact 14:00 that there's a struggle going forth 14:02 even for God to carry out His plans, okay. 14:06 He wants a decree to go forth... 14:08 in... in Daniel we've been told in chapter 9 and verse 24... 25, 14:13 as soon as that decree goes forth 14:15 from that time until Messiah is 69 weeks. 14:18 Messiah is going to come and when He's anointed, 14:21 He's going to preach the gospel for 3 and 1/2 years... 14:23 then in the middle of the week, He's going to die... 14:25 in the midst of the week He's going to be cut off 14:26 but not for Himself. 14:27 So, Satan is coming... 14:29 He's trying to hinder that decree from going forth 14:31 and so, you have four decrees 14:32 and we have Sanballat and others in Samaria 14:35 trying to hinder the work of the building 14:37 and there's troublous times 14:39 and Nehemiah goes there and Ezra goes there 14:41 and there's all this conflict taking place... 14:42 there's great controversy... you're following me? 14:44 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 14:45 James: And then Michael comes in and He says, 14:47 "We've got to get this decree going forth 14:48 because I need to come and die. " 14:50 Jason: Hmmm... 14:51 Yvonne: Hmmm... wow... Jason: Yeah... 14:55 James: When I think about that... Michael is... 14:58 is helping Gabriel to start a decree 15:00 that's going to lead Him to Calvary. 15:03 Jason: Wow! Yvonne: Hmmm... 15:04 James: And that just breaks my heart right there... 15:06 I'm just like, "Whoa... " 15:07 Yvonne: Amen, that is so deep. James: Praise the Lord. 15:09 So, we don't want to be arguing about Michael... is He Christ 15:11 or isn't He Christ... 15:12 is He Creator or isn't He created? 15:14 We want to focus on this picture of love 15:17 that's revealed right here 15:19 because when God says to Daniel... 15:20 when Christ says to Daniel... 15:22 when Gabriel says to Daniel, "You are greatly beloved... " 15:24 He proves it. 15:25 The very picture that we're seeing right here 15:28 in Daniel chapter 10 proves that. 15:30 Yvonne: Hmmm... Jason: Hmmm... 15:31 James: Because He's coming to make sure 15:33 we're going to be taken care of 15:34 even at the sacrifice of His own life. 15:35 Yvonne: Wow! Jason: Man! 15:37 James: Isn't that a beautiful picture? 15:39 Jason: Yes. Yvonne: Beautiful. 15:40 Ivor: Just another thought on that is 15:45 the idea that... God doesn't say, "Look, 15:50 this is My will... this is what I want 15:53 and I'm going to force you to do it. " 15:56 James: Hmmm... Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 15:58 Ivor: You know, 16:00 how are the angels wrestling with human beings 16:04 for three weeks? 16:06 James: Hmmm... 16:08 Ivor: That to me is just... 16:09 you know, 16:13 love cannot be forced, right? 16:14 James: Right. Yvonne: Yes. 16:16 James: It's... it's... yeah. 16:17 Ivor: Here God is respecting human... 16:22 the free will... that's just powerful. 16:25 James: Hmmm... hmmm... Yvonne: Hmmm... 16:28 Ivor: You know, so, whatever happened when Michael came, 16:31 was not by force 16:34 but somebody's heart was wanting to do something. 16:38 James: Hmmm... hmmm... Yvonne: Hmmm... 16:40 Ivor: You know, so, again I think it's just an amazing 16:42 thought how God... 16:43 how heaven does not override and demand 16:50 but works with us, you know, in our frailty... 16:56 influencing us, 16:58 you know, trying to woo us to do what is right. 17:02 James: Hmmm... hmmm... Yvonne: Yes... yes. 17:04 James: That's powerful, you know, 17:06 just... just another example of that... 17:08 so, Daniel chapter 10 begins 17:11 with the third year of Cyrus, the King of Persia. 17:15 You know, the Medo-Persians were a united power 17:19 and the Persians came up last... that's what it says in... 17:23 in Daniel chapter 8... you know, 17:25 the "higher" came up last. 17:27 So, it starts with the Medes... 17:28 Darius and I think he reigned as... 17:31 as Babylon fell for maybe a year or two 17:34 and then Cyrus comes in 17:36 and Cyrus was the one that was really behind the whole 17:39 adventure to take down Babylon. 17:42 He was the King of the Persians 17:43 but the Persians were really the stronger of the two Powers, 17:46 so, we're not sure... 17:48 you know, there's not really a record about Darius... 17:50 we're not sure if he was just, you know, 17:52 graciously allowed to reign for a year or two 17:55 before he died... he was 62 when he started 17:57 but we know that Cyrus was the key guy. 18:00 Now, there's a prophecy that we looked at 18:02 and I just wanted to touch on it again in Isaiah 45 18:05 and this prophecy is a prophecy about Cyrus 18:08 and it's one that I believe was probably shown him 18:11 by some Hebrew Scholars back in his day. 18:17 Isaiah was a pre-prophet to the Exile... 18:22 he was a pre-Exile prophet 18:26 so, before the Exile, 18:28 Isaiah gave these prophecies... these predictions 18:31 and the one in Isaiah 45 is specific. 18:35 Let's just read here, if you would, Yvonne, 18:37 would you read Isaiah 45 verse 1? 18:40 Yvonne: Yes... 18:41 "Thus says the Lord to His anointed, 18:43 to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held... 18:46 to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, 18:49 to open before him the double doors, 18:52 so that the gates will not be shut... " 18:54 James: This is an incredible prophecy fulfilled in Daniel... 18:59 can you read Daniel chapter 5 verse 6 for us, Jason? 19:00 Jason: Sure. 19:02 James: This was fulfilled in Daniel chapter 5 and verse 6, 19:05 I want you to notice here some of the specifics. 19:08 Jason: "Then the king's countenance changed, 19:11 and his thoughts troubled him, 19:13 so that the joints of his hips were loosed 19:15 and his knees knocked against each other. " 19:17 James: Okay, "I will loose the loins of kings... " 19:20 is what the King James says... 19:21 there's the fulfillment in Daniel 5:6 19:24 and we know also that the Persians diverted... 19:27 the Medo-Persians diverted the waters of the Euphrates 19:30 and they went in through that riverbed 19:34 and the gates were unlocked and they were able to get in 19:37 to take Babylon down in one night. 19:40 So, just think about this... 19:42 Isaiah writes this prophecy before Cyrus is born. 19:45 Yvonne: Hmmm... wow! 19:48 James: Now God is going to do what 19:51 to get Cyrus' parents to name him Cyrus? 19:54 You know, when Jesus was born, 19:58 his parents were told what to name Him. 19:59 Yvonne: Right. 20:01 James: When John the Baptist was born, 20:02 his parents were told what to name him. 20:04 Yvonne: Right. 20:05 James: There was no "John" in the line of Zechariah 20:08 and so, it's interesting because 20:10 God influenced and talked directly to Mary 20:14 and directly to Elizabeth 20:15 and God also spoke directly to Cyrus' parents. 20:18 Yvonne: Hmmm... Jason: Hmmm... 20:20 James: It would have been strongly impressed 20:22 to do something or say something 20:24 or... this is what God does all the time 20:26 and Satan also does this 20:28 and this is what we're seeing in Daniel chapter 10. 20:31 We're seeing evil angels trying to influence 20:34 and so you see the decree not get... going out 20:37 or you see it being diminished 20:38 or you see it begin retracted 20:39 and then you see God coming in with Michael 20:42 and you see the decree going forth 20:43 and you see it being enlarged 20:45 and you see it being forced... do you see what I'm saying? 20:46 Yvonne: Yes... yes. 20:48 James: But like Ivor said... God is a Gentleman... 20:50 God is seeking to influence 20:52 but He's not going to override our decisions. 20:54 Yvonne: Right. Jason: Hmmm... 20:55 James: He will overrule some of the bad decisions we make 20:57 but He's going to let us make choices 20:59 and He's going to let us reap the consequences 21:01 of those choices 21:02 unless, of course, we reach out to Him 21:04 or sometimes, God's people reach out to Him 21:07 and say, "Could you thwart 21:08 the decisions they've made against us?" 21:10 You know, we see that with Mordecai... 21:12 and what happened there? 21:13 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 21:15 James: And so, it's vital for us to recognize 21:17 that Daniel chapter 10 is calling us to earnest prayer. 21:21 Not the kind of prayer that gives up on God after a week... 21:25 after a couple of times... 21:27 but the prayer that just continues 21:29 to supplicate the throne of God. 21:30 Yvonne: That's so important, I think, 21:32 perseverance in prayer 21:33 because sometimes you can just pray and... and you can't... 21:36 there have been times when I've prayed 21:38 and I just can't feel anything... 21:40 hear anything... it's just... 21:41 and then there are other times where you just feel like 21:44 God is so near, you know, and so, yeah 21:48 but I wanted to bring out Isaiah 45:1, Pastor James, 21:52 because this is really... it's interesting... 21:54 He called Cyrus His anointed... 21:57 James: Hmmm... hmmm... Jason: Hmmm... hmmm... 21:59 Yvonne: That's really deep, isn't it? 22:00 James: Yeah. 22:02 Yvonne: Because he's not of the tribe of Israel, 22:05 he is a Persian King 22:08 and he's called: His anointed... 22:11 whose right hand I have held... 22:13 that means, I have helped him through all these different 22:16 situations... that is so... 22:18 God is so... I just... I get so excited... 22:20 because God is so awesome. 22:22 James: And Cyrus got excited too. 22:23 Yvonne: Yeah. 22:24 James: When he... when this prophecy was... 22:26 was pointed out to him, 22:27 he got excited 22:29 and that's, I think, part of what motivated him 22:30 to be so gracious to God's people 22:32 because he saw the hand of God... their God... 22:36 Hebrew God... upon him 22:38 and he responded to that. 22:39 Jason: That makes me think of many sheep of a different fold. 22:42 James: Many sheep that I've got which are not of this fold. 22:44 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... Jason: Yeah... yeah. 22:45 James: But what's really interesting about this is... 22:47 this is not unique to Cyrus. 22:49 Cyrus was anointed for a specific mission 22:51 and a specific time 22:53 but God has been gracious to all people at all times. 22:56 Yvonne: Yes. 22:58 James: In... in the New Testament we're told 22:59 in Matthew chapter 5 23:00 that God sends His rain on the just and on the unjust 23:02 and His sunshine on the good and on the evil. 23:05 Now, when I was living in Oregon, 23:06 I didn't take rain as a positive thing. 23:08 All: Laughter. 23:10 James: I lived there for 15 years 23:12 and I lived in Eugene which is "Duck Country" 23:15 the Oregon ducks, you know, 23:17 and I still have webbed feet to some degree... 23:20 but now I'm living in Fresno, California... 23:23 and in that location, I'm praying for rain... 23:26 no, literally, I'm praying for rain, really? yes 23:29 because there's not a lot of rain there 23:31 and it... it's a 100 degrees for months at a time... 23:34 June... July... August... even September 23:36 and when we moved there, it was really hot 23:39 and just last month I started praying for rain 23:41 and you know what happened? 23:43 six to ten feet of snow got dumped in the Sierras... 23:46 we're at the footholds of the Sierras 23:49 and six to ten inches of snow got dumped in a place called 23:52 Northfork. So, I was just saying, "Praise the Lord. 23:55 Praise the Lord... " 23:57 You know, I... I think in the Old Testament 23:59 they were more inclined to pray for rain 24:01 and to pray for God to work with the elements 24:04 because they... they recognized... 24:06 today, we're like... 24:07 "Ah, we can put some water aside in a reservoir... 24:09 we can do this... we can do that... 24:11 and we don't... " 24:13 and we're not as dependent upon God. 24:14 Yvonne: Right. 24:15 James: But God is reminding us in Matthew... 24:17 He sends His rain... He sends His sunshine... 24:18 and on the good and on the evil... 24:19 on the just and on the unjust... 24:21 God is gracious to all men... to all people 24:23 and He is seeking by all means to reach some 24:27 whether some would respond to Him... 24:28 He's seeking by all means to reach all... 24:30 He's hoping that some will respond to Him... 24:31 that they would respond to Him. 24:33 James: So, this is a powerful picture, 24:36 let's just finish it out. 24:37 Daniel chapter 10 24:40 and we haven't finished verses 14 and onwards... 24:43 so, let's just read through these verses 24:44 and there's a few more points here 24:46 that we can make as we read through these verses, 24:47 Jason, would you like to lead us out here 24:49 starting with verse 14? 24:50 Jason: "Now I have come to make you understand 24:53 what will happen to your people in the latter days, 24:56 for the vision refers to many days yet to come. " 25:00 James: All right, let's stop right there, 25:01 so, remember, Daniel is trying to understand 25:03 more fully the 2300-Day prophecy 25:05 and the cleansing of the sanctuary 25:07 and God is kind of slipping in... 25:09 you know, I haven't really mentioned the latter part 25:10 of the prophecy yet... 25:12 in Daniel 9, "I expounded the 70 weeks 25:14 but the latter part isn't clear in your mind yet 25:16 is it, Daniel?" "No" 25:18 "Well, I'm going to show you more about 25:19 what's going to happen to your people in the latter days... 25:21 in the end of time... " 25:23 and so, all of that is yet to be unfolded. 25:26 We're going to be looking at that in more detail 25:29 when we get further down in the book of Daniel. 25:31 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 25:33 James: And verse 15... 25:34 Jason: 15... "When he had spoken such words to me, 25:37 I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 25:41 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men 25:45 touched my lips; 25:46 then I opened my mouth and spoke, 25:48 saying to him who stood before me, 25:49 'My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, 25:54 and I have retained no strength. 25:56 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? 26:01 As for me, no strength remains in me now, 26:04 nor is any breath left in me. '" 26:07 James: All right, let's stop right there, 26:09 what we saw in the first part of this vision, 26:11 where Daniel says, "there was no comeliness in me, 26:13 and I retained no strength... " is now repeated two more times. 26:17 James: "I retained no strength, I retained no strength... 26:19 how can I talk... how can I talk?" 26:20 We need that attitude... Yvonne: Hmmm... 26:22 James: The Laodiceans don't have this attitude... 26:24 they've got lots to say, 26:26 they're rich... increased with goods 26:27 and have need of nothing... that's our natural inclination, 26:29 that's my natural inclination. 26:30 Daniel is continually reminding the Lord, 26:34 "I don't have any strength... I can't speak... 26:37 there's nothing I can do... I'm dumb... 26:39 I need you to touch me... " 26:40 and God touches him... notice this. 26:42 Jason: So... James: Verse 18. 26:45 Ivor: Verse 18... 26:46 "Then again, the one having the likeness of a man 26:48 touched me and strengthened me. 26:50 And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, 26:52 fear not! 26:54 Peace be to you; be strong yes, be strong!" 26:57 So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, 27:00 'Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me. ' 27:03 Then he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you? 27:06 And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; 27:10 and when I have gone forth, 27:12 indeed the prince of Greece will come. 27:14 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. 27:19 No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince. '" 27:23 Should I start until...? 27:25 James: No, we'll stop right there, 27:29 we're going to close with this thought... and it's so powerful. 27:30 We are greatly beloved even though we have no strength. 27:32 James: And the more we recognize that we have no strength, 27:34 the more God comes to strengthen us... 27:36 the more we acknowledge our weakness, 27:37 the more God comes to touch us and to give us strength 27:40 and to promise us that He is going to give us understanding 27:43 of these things... 27:45 of these truths that we need to know so desperately. 27:48 So, that's the promise we have as we move into chapter 11... 27:51 we're going to need it. |
Revised 2021-06-09