Hope In Difficult Days

ME

It’s hard to escape that we have another political season coming up. It dominates the social medias, the news, and its hard to escape sometimes. I don’t believe we should be ignorant, but its hard to stay on top of what’s being said and then not only what’s being said, what is true.

I’ve had folks share with me that they are concerned for the future… I share that sentiment and I understand where it comes from.

Recently our team was made aware of a church doing a sermon series on “Topics you don’t discuss at the dinner table.” They are taking 8-12wks and covering Sexuality, Politics, and Money. Does that sound fun? Would people be interested in that? I’d be interested in feedback… we would take a biblical exploration on those topics, but would you see that as a Sunday morning or a time outside of Sunday morning for something like that? FEEDBACK

This week I had a migraine. I know people who have migraines, when I see them in the midst of an episode, I’m like wow… that’s a migraine.

Mine are a little bit different… I’ve had two in the last year. This last one started out as I became fatigued. Then I felt some pressure come up over the sides of my head. Then my vision started getting wavy lines in it… and then I realize, “oh, I might be having a migraine”… and true to form I kept trying to work and do the things I needed to do. Eventually when I really couldn’t do anything that required seeing, I thought, maybe I need to take a moment and rest and pray.

What I surmised is that there is a lot going on in life and these are great indicators as to how I am processing all that is required of me… and how well I am not processing all that is going on around me.

It can be scary when the things that come our way, either by our own doing or even outside of our control, the necessity to see it through the love, goodness, and kindness of God.

**Let’s also be real, that sometimes when we go through these things, it’s difficult to see God’s goodness, his love for us, his kindness towards us. So if you’re not there, its ok… don’t give up… let your faith lead you, we do not walk by sight (where it all makes sense)… we walk by faith. Trusting in God’s past faithfulness to see us into His future good.**

One of the things that added to this is that a young man took his life this last week who was attending BHS. I am deeply saddened. Being involved in BHS as a mentor, building relationships, seeking to share and show hope in the lives of students I probably wouldn’t ordinarily otherwise come across… it’s heartbreaking that a young man was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, so much pain, so much despair that he felt the only way out was to take his own life. The wake is devastating.

My migraine disabled me.

In that involuntary forced rest where I couldn’t do anything, I was able to take all of my cares, concerns, responsibilities and bring them before the Lord.

With Excedrin, rest, and prayer I was able to finish the day, head home and get some much needed rest.

I say that, because I would guess on a spectrum that many of you can relate.

WE

There are times and seasons where life feels to overwhelming. There are things that are distressing.

I have various pastor friends that at one time or another, it becomes to overwhelming… leading the church as we walk through life, family issues, the community around them is difficult… and the way it manifests is different, but it takes a toll.

We can even think that there is something wrong with us

We can think that we are alone and that no one else is going through what we are going through

Big Idea: Envisioning the person and kingdom work of God through the Son of Man can bring comfort and assurance in a dark, unjust, and uncertain world.

GOD

God has something to say about this.

In our text, we will see that what Daniel encounters in chapter 7 will terrify him, that the blood will drain from his face, and were it not for God’s intervention, helping Daniel envision what he saw through God’s lens, there would be deep despair.

This morning we are in Daniel 7. In Daniel 7 we see a parallel with Daniel 2. These dreams that Nebuchadnezzer has and the dream that Daniel has years later under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar. So some of the imagery is going to be the same. But let’s read our text this morning.

If you are able and/or willing, would you stand with me as I read our text this morning.

Daniel 7 CSB

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account. Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. “The first was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind. “Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’ “After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads, and it was given dominion. “After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly. “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me, and the visions in my mind terrified me. I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him to clarify all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things: ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’ “Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that looked bigger than the others. As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom. “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever. The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’ “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

This is the word of the Lord… let us pray… you may be seated.

We’ve encountered the major shift in Daniel’s book. Leaving the narratives to the prophetic visions… even these visions are good news.

This type of text falls into the realm of Apocalyptic literature. Apocalypse (derived from Greek αποκαλυψσ) means to be revealed or revelation… in how we understand it, it communicates an impending sense of doom, a feeling that existence may come to an end at any moment. However, in the book of Daniel like Revelation, radiate a joy and sense of optimism. Why? Because the end is the end of human corruption and the oppression of God’s people and is brought about by the audience’s warring God. Apocalyptic celebrates God’s victory over the enemies of the godly.

Daniel has a vision and it lines up fairly well with Nebuchadnezzer’s vision in Daniel 2. (SLIDE)

Where NEB was afraid last time… Daniel is distraught… he sees the viciousness of war and all that the beasts are crushing. He was distressed and terrified.

Daniel turns to the heavenly messenger that is there and asks for an explanation.

We see kingdoms and kings warring against the Ancient of Days (that is God), we see him warring against those who are loyal to the Most High.

Tim Mackie with the Bible Project puts it this way when looking at Daniel 2, 4, 5, 7, and what we’ll see from chapters 8 to 12… These kings try to elevate themselves to the place of God (it’s the Genesis 3 struggle), but the pattern is this, Human Beings Become Beasts When They Don’t Acknowledge God’s Kingdom… and the promise is this… God will one day confront the BEAST and Rescue His world

Some observations:

First, God is actively in control of human history, moving toward the establishment of his kingdom.

Therefore we should not be about building our kingdom, but His.

Second, in the end, the Ancient of Days will break forth into human history to judge his enemies and bless his people.

Third, God has chosen to bring his kingdom blessings on humanity in the person of the Son of Man, Jesus the Messiah

This title of “Son of Man” is what Jesus uses to bring the minds of his modern day listeners to understand who He is claiming to be and what His mission is.

Pierce, R. W. (2015). Daniel (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.; p. 125). Baker Books.Each of the beasts are kingdoms

Horns in the ancient near East symbolize power, kings, and kingdoms

Kingdoms will rise and fall…

He makes war with those that follow YHWH

Judgment and accountability are not the only aspects of God’s character, but these are often neglected in favor of love and grace. Imagine sitting in the courtroom of the eternal God on the day of reckoning… He is a loving and gracious God, but He is also Just and will bring account for our sin and rebellion. It’s no joke.

We as yielded and allegiant to Christ, He has taken the judgement of God for sin against us upon Himself. He’s invited as many as would believe to receive this free gift of forgiveness.

Pierce, R. W. (2015). Daniel (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.; p. 126). Baker Books.

It gets worse before it gets better… BUT God DOES remove his dominion and power and the king is destroyed forever.

Jesus is the greater and more faithful Daniel.

Jesus would enter into this battle. This language of distressed and terrified is what we understand to be Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane as he prepared for the crucifixion. You’ll remember Luke’s account, Luke 22:40-44 “When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

We take comfort because Jesus has overcome. We know the end of the story.

When we encounter these difficult moments or seasons we memorize, we remember Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

The Psalmist would say it this way in the later half of the 23rd Psalm.

English Standard Version Psalm 23

4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5  You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Jesus has gone before us. Conquering sin and death.

Romans 8:9-11 “You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”

YOU

What has you concerned today?

When you watch the news, read the paper, or look what’s going on outside… do you lose hope, are you in despair?

Daniel 7 was written for us. Written to a people in exile… but for a people who throughout time would be subject to so much evil.

The faithful witness of God’s people throughout history as they have faced suffering and oppression with certainty of, and faithfulness to, the truth brings comfort to Christians in the twenty-first century. For example, Christian oppression by the totalitarian state of North Korea—perhaps one of the most challenging places to live as a believer—requires churches to operate underground. Many believers are imprisoned in labor camps, and in the spring of 2014, thirty-three were sentenced to death for receiving financial support to develop house churches—an attempted overthrow of the regime, in the government’s eyes. Though this oppression is severe, the suffering inflicted upon Christians is part of the ultimate battle, which God has already won. No matter how great the sacrifice, suffering always has meaning, because God will vindicate us in the end.

Pierce, R. W. (2015). Daniel (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.; p. 133). Baker Books.

The underground church in Iran comprises a network of secret Christian believers who gather in homes, in small groups, and online. They do not have access to church buildings, and they often worship in secrecy to avoid persecution. Iranian authorities view Christianity as a threat to their Islamic regime, and Christians who openly express their faith face arrest, torture, and even death.

Despite the risks, the underground church in Iran is thriving. Estimates suggest that there are currently between 300,000 to one million Christians in Iran, most of whom are part of the underground church.

Big Idea: Envisioning the person and kingdom work of God through the Son of Man can bring comfort and assurance in a dark, unjust, and uncertain world.

US

If we know the end, how should affect what we do in the here and now?

What risks might you take if you knew in the end that everything was going to be as it should be?

Hudson Taylor, the great man of faith who founded the China Inland Mission, integrated faith and risk. He said, "Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith."

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt.

"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Paul to the saints in Philippi (Philippians 1:12-14, 21)

Church, we know the end. We know who wins. We know who will one day set things right, just, and whole. Would you believe on Him with me and put your entire trust and being into His care. Your loved ones, your passions, your most precious treasure is secure with Him.

As we are tempted to give into fear, self-preservation, and uncertainty, may we lean in and remember in whom we have believed.

Big Idea: Envisioning the person and kingdom work of God through the Son of Man can bring comfort and assurance in a dark, unjust, and uncertain world.

If you are here this morning and you do not have this hope, I invite you to receive the free gift of God in Christ Jesus, to receive forgiveness of sin and be brought into a new life that is filled with the Spirit of God and walking in a newness of life yielded to Jesus and his ways.