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…

1. 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…
2. 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
3. There must be prayer
•  Daniel 10:12; God has connected prayer to the action of divine response because prayer… <SLIDE SWITCHED; WHAT!!!!!!! COME ON!>

4. 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…
5. 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
6. 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