God, In A World Of Hurt
Daniel 10-12
- Jesus tells us we will have trials/suffering…but is that his final word? NO!
- In the face of the follies of a fallen world, God’s people are not to be afraid — we are to find peace and strength
- we must recognize that the finals words spoken to us by Jesus is not that we are stuck to war, pain, grief…
- There must be a word from God
- “a revelation was given…”
- Daniel 10:1; “message”
- Daniel 11:2; “truth”
- both passages show that words means something and are precise…
- There must be confidence in God’s control
- AND the kind of control He operates
- Daniel 10:21; we are not merely passive pawns in His plan due to His sovereignty.
- how did Joseph prevent himself from being bitter toward God and his brothers regarding being sold into slavery?
- Genesis 50:19-20
- This is the great mystery of the universe: God can <SLIDE SWITCHED; WHAT!!!!!>
- man is accountable for what he intends and at same time subject to what God purposes; how God dominates intentions of evil
- There must be prayer
- Daniel 10:12; God has connected prayer to the action of divine response because prayer… <SLIDE SWITCHED; WHAT!!!!!!! COME ON!>
- There must be hope
- Daniel 12:1; what really matters becomes more focused in pain
- hope and joy are only possible because God purposes the final script…
- There must be justice
- Daniel 12:2
- while suffering is often “undeserved”, it is never unnoticed nor fails to draw a final response
- all of Hell can never separate you from God’s love
- all of Hell can never prevent your transformation
- all of Hell can never prevent your acquittal
- all of Hell can never bring you to the courts in shame
- There must be a God who loves and understands
- Daniel 9:26
- old Jewish saying: “where the Messiah is, is no suffering…”
- BUT Phillip Yancey responds with “where misery is, the Messiah is…”
- Rom 8:32
- “Where is God when it hurts? Where God’s people are.” Yancey
- cultivate strong attachment to God’s community in the good times so it will sustain you when everything is coming apart