1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,740 We are coming to God's Word this morning 2 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:12,560 again, continuing our series of messages on end 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:13,320 -time events. 4 00:00:14,420 --> 00:00:17,760 There can be no question about the fact 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,360 that the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 6 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,900 is very, very near. 7 00:00:23,820 --> 00:00:25,840 And in our last message we do attention 8 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,860 to the tribulation of the Day of the 9 00:00:28,860 --> 00:00:33,220 Lord, a fearful time, a very distressing time, 10 00:00:33,220 --> 00:00:37,800 when a wrathful God is seen doing two 11 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:38,400 things. 12 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,600 One, he is chastening Israel because of her 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:47,300 sins, which gives understanding why Jeremiah 13 verse 14 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:50,120 7 speaks of it being as the time 15 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:51,580 of Jacob's trouble. 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:58,400 And then secondly, judging the Gentile nations, and 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,940 that is because of their evil treatment of 18 00:01:01,940 --> 00:01:02,640 his people. 19 00:01:03,620 --> 00:01:07,120 And so God says through Jeremiah, chapter 25 20 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,820 and verse 29, I will call for a 21 00:01:09,820 --> 00:01:12,240 sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 22 00:01:13,220 --> 00:01:15,120 And so it's going to be a fearfully 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:16,100 distressing time. 24 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,860 It appears certain that the church cannot be 25 00:01:19,860 --> 00:01:22,640 on the earth when God is going to 26 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,140 judge all the inhabitants. 27 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,420 We've been saved from wrath. 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:31,140 Thank God for that. 29 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,720 And so with the blinding glory of his 30 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,980 advent, Christ will blast his enemies. 31 00:01:40,860 --> 00:01:45,080 He will scatter fire with his eyes, and 32 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,840 he will consume the man of sin, the 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,720 Antichrist, with the breath of his mouth. 34 00:01:50,330 --> 00:01:52,600 That is in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 35 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:52,860 8. 36 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:55,220 I want to say this morning, friends, that 37 00:01:55,220 --> 00:01:58,660 the most momentous days for this old world 38 00:01:58,660 --> 00:02:00,600 are just ahead of us. 39 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,960 And Jesus Christ is going to again enter 40 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,620 human history and bring it to its conclusion 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,800 as his story. 42 00:02:13,780 --> 00:02:16,200 For Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, 28, 43 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,820 he must reign until he has put all 44 00:02:19,820 --> 00:02:22,740 his enemies under his feet. 45 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,520 If we are reading the signs of the 46 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,540 time right, and in Matthew 24, Jesus spells 47 00:02:31,540 --> 00:02:33,660 them out so clearly that we can hardly 48 00:02:33,660 --> 00:02:34,480 mistake them. 49 00:02:35,140 --> 00:02:36,960 So if we are reading the signs of 50 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,940 the times right, then that terrible day of 51 00:02:39,940 --> 00:02:43,300 the Lord, which incorporates the time of Jacob's 52 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:45,160 trouble, it must be imminent. 53 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:47,940 It's not very far away. 54 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,300 In turn, it means that the rapture of 55 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:52,980 the church can be at any moment. 56 00:02:54,220 --> 00:02:56,500 It behoves us as God's people to be 57 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:56,860 ready. 58 00:02:58,620 --> 00:03:03,540 And I trust that, as Peter says, that 59 00:03:03,540 --> 00:03:06,720 we shall take stock of our lives and 60 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,280 see that our manner of living is as 61 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,840 brings honor and glory to God. 62 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,980 What manner of persons ought ye to be, 63 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:22,320 says Peter, in all godliness, in all holiness 64 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:23,200 of living. 65 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:30,020 Now, in Daniel chapter 9, please, I want 66 00:03:30,020 --> 00:03:32,080 to read just a few verses from verse 67 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,360 17. 68 00:03:35,780 --> 00:03:37,040 From verse 17. 69 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,580 Now therefore, O our God, praise Daniel, hear 70 00:03:47,580 --> 00:03:50,620 the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, 71 00:03:50,740 --> 00:03:52,720 and cause thy face to shine upon thy 72 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,080 sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 73 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,420 O my God, incline thine ear and bear, 74 00:04:01,060 --> 00:04:05,940 and hear, upon thine, open thine eyes, and 75 00:04:05,940 --> 00:04:09,560 behold our desolations, and the city which is 76 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:10,680 called by thy name. 77 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,480 For we do not present our supplications before 78 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,240 thee for our righteousness, but for thy great 79 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:17,920 mercies. 80 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:19,420 O Lord, hear. 81 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:21,280 O Lord, forgive. 82 00:04:21,620 --> 00:04:23,060 O Lord, hearken and do. 83 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,720 Defer not, for thine own sake. 84 00:04:26,060 --> 00:04:28,180 O my God, for thy city and thy 85 00:04:28,180 --> 00:04:30,460 people are called by thy name. 86 00:04:31,420 --> 00:04:33,580 Whilst I was speaking and praying and confessing 87 00:04:33,580 --> 00:04:34,980 my sin, and the sin of my people 88 00:04:34,980 --> 00:04:38,360 Israel, presenting my supplication before the Lord my 89 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,240 God, for the holy mountain of my God, 90 00:04:40,740 --> 00:04:43,040 it was I was speaking in prayer, even 91 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,800 the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in 92 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,800 the vision of the beginning, being caused to 93 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,880 fly swiftly, touched me about the time of 94 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,760 the evening oblation. 95 00:04:55,380 --> 00:04:56,380 I'll just pause there. 96 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,620 I recognized as I was waiting upon God 97 00:05:00,620 --> 00:05:02,780 for this morning's message that God was communicating 98 00:05:02,780 --> 00:05:05,840 things into my heart, which became a great 99 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:08,720 burden, and it's not easy for me to 100 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:09,360 proclaim it. 101 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,880 So that I'm not able to to complete 102 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,960 what I had originally thought of in terms 103 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,860 of what God was going to do in 104 00:05:22,860 --> 00:05:25,040 the end times, and what man was going 105 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:25,560 to do. 106 00:05:26,180 --> 00:05:28,140 There's something that God has placed upon my 107 00:05:28,140 --> 00:05:29,660 heart, and that will be unfolded as we 108 00:05:29,660 --> 00:05:30,120 proceed. 109 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:37,180 But this chapter, Daniel chapter 9, has been 110 00:05:37,180 --> 00:05:40,780 described as the greatest chapter in the book, 111 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:45,300 and one of the greatest in the Bible. 112 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,300 It draws in from the broader spectrum of 113 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:54,860 prophecy relating to world powers, and how accurately 114 00:05:54,860 --> 00:06:00,100 outlined that is, so that the focus is 115 00:06:00,100 --> 00:06:03,980 now upon the Jews and Jerusalem. 116 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:11,260 The prior predictions had spanned many centuries, but 117 00:06:11,260 --> 00:06:14,860 now there are specific periods and purposes of 118 00:06:14,860 --> 00:06:15,940 God being revealed. 119 00:06:17,060 --> 00:06:19,440 This chapter can be seen to have two 120 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,520 very distinctive parts. 121 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,000 From verse 3 to verse 19, we are 122 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,800 given there what Israel had done to God. 123 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:34,800 What Israel had done to God. 124 00:06:35,740 --> 00:06:40,340 For this is the substance of Daniel's intercessions. 125 00:06:41,340 --> 00:06:46,040 The sins of the nation that had occasioned 126 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,100 the captivity in Babylon. 127 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,860 Sadly, God's people had had failed to acknowledge 128 00:06:52,860 --> 00:06:57,000 or confess such sin, and so a burdened 129 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,760 prophet gives himself to intercede before God on 130 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:01,480 their behalf. 131 00:07:02,780 --> 00:07:07,560 It's an incredible prayer, as he associates himself 132 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,120 as a sinner with his people. 133 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:15,320 But then from verse 20 to the end 134 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,200 of the chapter, what I would have hoped 135 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,340 to have opened up on this morning, but 136 00:07:20,340 --> 00:07:22,160 we'll be doing that next Sunday. 137 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:26,920 We have in this section what God would 138 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:27,840 do for them. 139 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:30,140 See, in the first part it's what Israel 140 00:07:30,140 --> 00:07:32,780 had done to God, but here it is 141 00:07:32,780 --> 00:07:36,260 what God would do for Israel, and obviously 142 00:07:36,260 --> 00:07:40,880 in grace, because they had no claim to 143 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:41,700 any favor. 144 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:45,720 Here is the people who had transgressed enough 145 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,760 to incur God's complete displeasure. 146 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,220 However, there are tremendous things that are outlined 147 00:07:54,220 --> 00:07:56,920 here, and I trust that God will help 148 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,080 us to come to an understanding of what 149 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:01,780 he is saying. 150 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,220 But I feel I have to obey the 151 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:07,080 Lord this morning and take a little time 152 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,360 on this first part rather than the second 153 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:11,200 part of the chapter. 154 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,720 The first thing I draw your attention to 155 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,200 is in the first two verses there is 156 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,940 Daniel's consideration of prophecy. 157 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,820 It says, in the first year of Darius, 158 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,060 the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of 159 00:08:27,060 --> 00:08:29,760 the Medes, which was made king over the 160 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,440 realm of the Chaldeans, in the first year 161 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,500 of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books 162 00:08:34,500 --> 00:08:37,860 the number of the years whereof the word 163 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:40,360 of the Lord came to Jeremiah, the prophet, 164 00:08:40,799 --> 00:08:43,900 that he would accomplish seventy years in the 165 00:08:43,900 --> 00:08:45,400 desolations of Jerusalem. 166 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:51,740 The captivity in Babylon was a dark period 167 00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:53,780 in Israel's history. 168 00:08:54,680 --> 00:08:57,960 However, thank God, as always, there's a remnant. 169 00:08:58,500 --> 00:09:01,320 God had a few faithful men, among whom 170 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,920 was this man Daniel, a man of the 171 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,640 scriptures, a man who possessed the inspired prophecies 172 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,840 of Jeremiah, and obviously others too. 173 00:09:13,780 --> 00:09:16,880 And he is reading the prophecy of Jeremiah, 174 00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:20,100 where Jeremiah predicts the captivity. 175 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,800 This means of God to chastise a people 176 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,960 who had grievously sinned against him by their 177 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,700 idolatries, and a people who had refused to 178 00:09:32,700 --> 00:09:36,400 heed his pleas that they would turn away 179 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:37,580 from their sins. 180 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,600 You can read of that in Jeremiah 25, 181 00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:42,560 and the first seven verses. 182 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:46,540 And so this leaves God with no alternative. 183 00:09:47,660 --> 00:09:50,140 In verse 8, he says of Jeremiah 25, 184 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,940 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, because 185 00:09:53,940 --> 00:09:59,880 you have not heard and obeyed my words, 186 00:10:00,140 --> 00:10:02,840 I will send and take all the families 187 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:03,640 of the north. 188 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,680 And he goes on, and Nebuchadnezzar, that's Nebuchadnezzar, 189 00:10:07,940 --> 00:10:11,340 the king of Babylon, my servant. 190 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,660 That is, God would use him as an 191 00:10:14,660 --> 00:10:17,800 agent for his own purpose. 192 00:10:19,620 --> 00:10:23,800 Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and 193 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,000 will bring them against this land. 194 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:32,240 And Jeremiah is given by God the detail 195 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,720 of how God would achieve this. 196 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:41,200 Joys would cease, mirth would end, as the 197 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,080 land would be laid waste, and darkness and 198 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,420 desolation would ensue. 199 00:10:48,620 --> 00:10:51,880 It's described in verse 11 there of Jeremiah 200 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,360 25, as an astonishment. 201 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,700 And friends, it all came to pass precisely 202 00:11:00,180 --> 00:11:02,920 as God said it would come to pass. 203 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:06,560 Don't think, my friend, this morning, and I 204 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:09,020 speak to my own heart, don't think you 205 00:11:09,020 --> 00:11:11,020 can treat God's word with impunity. 206 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:15,620 As though God doesn't mean what he says, 207 00:11:16,860 --> 00:11:19,280 that he would never carry out such a 208 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:19,640 threat. 209 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,440 What we need to recognize this morning is 210 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,880 that we are serving a holy and just 211 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,720 God, one with whom we cannot trifle in 212 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,240 respect of his word. 213 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:36,280 That's why there ever needs to be an 214 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,300 ear to hear what God is saying to 215 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:43,200 us, and a heart that responds with love 216 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,860 for God, and say, God, if that's what 217 00:11:45,860 --> 00:11:47,020 you want me to do, I'm going to 218 00:11:47,020 --> 00:11:47,400 do it. 219 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,840 We need to know what God says about 220 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,400 sin, and the outcome of it is exact. 221 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,200 We need to know what God says about 222 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,600 coming wrath, and that is exact. 223 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,120 God does not speak idly, nor waste his 224 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:07,640 words. 225 00:12:08,540 --> 00:12:10,740 When I read this prophecy, friends, it has 226 00:12:10,740 --> 00:12:12,180 really cut me to heart. 227 00:12:12,460 --> 00:12:16,180 God alone knows the tears I've wept, because 228 00:12:16,180 --> 00:12:18,020 God is for real. 229 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,820 God is for real, and he keeps his 230 00:12:22,820 --> 00:12:23,100 word. 231 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:25,080 Now, I'm glad about that. 232 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,740 When we are doing the will of God, 233 00:12:27,820 --> 00:12:30,620 friends, that is a very comforting word. 234 00:12:33,020 --> 00:12:34,360 If you are doing the will of God 235 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,000 this morning, if you know you are pleasing 236 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,660 God in all your ways, you have no 237 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:44,100 need of fear, because God will fulfill his 238 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:46,940 wonderful words of promise to those who obey 239 00:12:46,940 --> 00:12:47,360 him. 240 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,780 But we read on in Jeremiah 25 verse 241 00:12:52,780 --> 00:12:54,440 12, it says, it shall come to pass 242 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,700 when 70 years are accomplished, I will punish 243 00:12:57,700 --> 00:12:58,640 the king of Babylon. 244 00:13:00,260 --> 00:13:02,220 So we have the word of Jeremiah, not 245 00:13:02,220 --> 00:13:05,200 only that they would go into captivity, but 246 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,040 that God would bring it to an end 247 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,940 after 70 years, and God is true. 248 00:13:10,900 --> 00:13:13,820 And I'm sure Daniel would be reading on, 249 00:13:15,060 --> 00:13:18,640 reading on to chapter 29 and verse 10 250 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:19,400 to 14. 251 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,000 For thus saith the Lord, that after 70 252 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,260 years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit 253 00:13:27,260 --> 00:13:31,800 you, and perform my good word toward you, 254 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,160 in causing you to return to this place. 255 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,120 For I know the thought that I think 256 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,660 toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace 257 00:13:38,660 --> 00:13:40,540 and not of evil, to give you an 258 00:13:40,540 --> 00:13:41,800 expected end. 259 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:47,540 Then, then you shall call upon me, and 260 00:13:47,540 --> 00:13:49,180 you shall go and pray unto me, and 261 00:13:49,180 --> 00:13:51,660 I will hearken unto you, and you shall 262 00:13:51,660 --> 00:13:54,340 seek me and find me, when you shall 263 00:13:54,340 --> 00:13:56,400 search for me with all of your heart, 264 00:13:56,680 --> 00:14:01,100 and I will be found of you, saith 265 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:01,340 the Lord. 266 00:14:01,380 --> 00:14:03,100 I will turn away your captivity. 267 00:14:03,780 --> 00:14:05,640 I'll gather you from the nations and from 268 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,140 all the places where I have driven you, 269 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:08,620 saith the Lord. 270 00:14:08,620 --> 00:14:11,180 I'll bring you again into the place where 271 00:14:11,180 --> 00:14:14,160 I caused you to be carried away captive. 272 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:19,740 What mercy and what faithfulness. 273 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,120 And of course, Isaiah had spelled this out 274 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:23,440 too. 275 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,420 In fact, Isaiah is given by God the 276 00:14:26,420 --> 00:14:29,560 very name of the ruler who would be 277 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,740 in Babylon at the time, the man by 278 00:14:33,740 --> 00:14:34,940 the name of Cyrus. 279 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,980 If you turn to Isaiah chapter 44, you'll 280 00:14:38,980 --> 00:14:43,320 see there God affirming that he is Israel's 281 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:44,340 king and redeemer. 282 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,800 God is Israel's king and redeemer. 283 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,120 And he says to his people, I will 284 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,020 pour my spirit upon thy seed and my 285 00:14:56,020 --> 00:14:57,520 blessing upon their offspring. 286 00:14:58,740 --> 00:15:02,040 And who as I shall call and shall 287 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,280 declare and set it in order for me. 288 00:15:05,860 --> 00:15:08,080 God is saying, listen, there are many who 289 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:09,940 may make their professions of what they will 290 00:15:09,940 --> 00:15:12,160 do but never be able to fulfill it. 291 00:15:12,180 --> 00:15:14,100 But when I speak, I will do it. 292 00:15:14,620 --> 00:15:15,860 I will perform it. 293 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,120 None can stay me. 294 00:15:19,820 --> 00:15:23,060 And then in chapter 45 verses 1 to 295 00:15:23,060 --> 00:15:26,740 6, a remarkable prophecy of how Cyrus, he 296 00:15:26,740 --> 00:15:28,260 would overtake Babylon. 297 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:33,340 And at this time, now coming to Daniel, 298 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,320 at this time, when Daniel is pondering these 299 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,400 scriptures, Cyrus is in power. 300 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:45,880 What a thrilling discovery out from the book 301 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:46,580 of God. 302 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:49,700 I don't know why people read novels and 303 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:53,620 watch sobies that only corrupt your heart and 304 00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:54,680 confuse the mind. 305 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:59,160 The word of God, friends, is thrilling. 306 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,600 And here is Daniel reading in Jeremiah. 307 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,760 And there's this thrilling discovery for a quick 308 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:08,620 calculation. 309 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:14,660 Shows him that approximately 68 years had he 310 00:16:14,660 --> 00:16:15,080 loused. 311 00:16:17,220 --> 00:16:18,680 Can you imagine him? 312 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,900 That God has said in 70 years, I 313 00:16:22,900 --> 00:16:24,880 will bring you out of captivity. 314 00:16:26,540 --> 00:16:29,240 I don't know, but I imagine that Daniel 315 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,440 must have had a little dance and a 316 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,220 shout because he knew that God would honor 317 00:16:36,220 --> 00:16:39,720 his word and their day of deliverance as 318 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,380 a nation was about to dawn. 319 00:16:43,420 --> 00:16:46,600 Dear friend, this morning you can trust God. 320 00:16:48,020 --> 00:16:49,780 You can trust God. 321 00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:51,760 God is a reliable God. 322 00:16:52,980 --> 00:16:54,540 When I come to the word of God 323 00:16:54,540 --> 00:16:57,240 time and time and time again, I find 324 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,740 his word just leaping off the page into 325 00:16:59,740 --> 00:17:00,380 my heart. 326 00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:02,680 And I say, thank you, Lord, you will 327 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:03,240 do it. 328 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:04,640 Hallelujah. 329 00:17:07,630 --> 00:17:10,190 When he gives us his word, he abides 330 00:17:10,190 --> 00:17:11,770 faithful to bring it to pass. 331 00:17:13,150 --> 00:17:14,589 So what did Daniel do? 332 00:17:16,250 --> 00:17:20,250 And this is where we have Daniel's confession 333 00:17:20,250 --> 00:17:20,829 of sin. 334 00:17:21,550 --> 00:17:23,410 Verse 3 to verse 19. 335 00:17:24,690 --> 00:17:27,569 You see, Daniel does what God commanded him 336 00:17:27,569 --> 00:17:28,270 through Jeremiah. 337 00:17:29,590 --> 00:17:30,830 I don't know, maybe what we would have 338 00:17:30,830 --> 00:17:32,830 done is called a big celebration. 339 00:17:33,730 --> 00:17:35,210 We were taking the city hall in Brisbane. 340 00:17:35,350 --> 00:17:36,550 We had a dancing time. 341 00:17:37,750 --> 00:17:39,170 We had a call for a party. 342 00:17:40,210 --> 00:17:41,770 We might have had a big barbecue. 343 00:17:43,370 --> 00:17:44,570 So this is what we ought to do. 344 00:17:45,310 --> 00:17:46,030 Amen. 345 00:17:46,490 --> 00:17:46,850 Praise God. 346 00:17:46,890 --> 00:17:47,710 What a wonderful prophecy. 347 00:17:48,350 --> 00:17:49,230 We are coming out. 348 00:17:49,470 --> 00:17:50,450 We are coming out. 349 00:17:53,010 --> 00:17:53,870 But not Daniel. 350 00:17:55,450 --> 00:17:58,310 Because he saw what God commanded. 351 00:18:00,090 --> 00:18:02,770 After the 70 years I will visit you. 352 00:18:04,370 --> 00:18:08,790 Then shall you call upon me. 353 00:18:10,430 --> 00:18:14,590 Then you are to pray, not play. 354 00:18:16,570 --> 00:18:19,210 Then you are to seek me. 355 00:18:20,350 --> 00:18:23,590 Then you are to search for me with 356 00:18:23,590 --> 00:18:24,990 all of your heart. 357 00:18:27,130 --> 00:18:29,850 And if you will do that, I will 358 00:18:29,850 --> 00:18:31,250 be found of you. 359 00:18:33,050 --> 00:18:35,290 And friends, this is always the answer when 360 00:18:35,290 --> 00:18:36,270 we're in trouble. 361 00:18:37,410 --> 00:18:39,730 It's getting back to the Word of God 362 00:18:39,730 --> 00:18:42,290 and doing what God tells us to do. 363 00:18:43,090 --> 00:18:45,410 Praying and seeking his face, not only in 364 00:18:45,410 --> 00:18:47,470 our own personal life, but in our church. 365 00:18:49,170 --> 00:18:51,630 And the need we have for revival, so 366 00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:54,830 desperately, is getting back to the Word of 367 00:18:54,830 --> 00:18:55,310 God. 368 00:18:56,470 --> 00:18:58,630 And getting back to the place of prayer. 369 00:19:00,410 --> 00:19:05,070 As the apostles themselves said, when they saw 370 00:19:05,070 --> 00:19:07,510 the many things to be attended to in 371 00:19:07,510 --> 00:19:10,870 the church, Acts 6 and verse 4, they 372 00:19:10,870 --> 00:19:13,390 said, listen, you must find those who will 373 00:19:13,390 --> 00:19:15,950 attend to the many important matters. 374 00:19:17,190 --> 00:19:20,690 But we, we will give ourselves to prayer 375 00:19:20,690 --> 00:19:23,230 and to the ministry of the Word. 376 00:19:24,610 --> 00:19:29,450 Intercession and exposition are indispensable if we are 377 00:19:29,450 --> 00:19:30,830 going to achieve the will of God. 378 00:19:32,590 --> 00:19:35,130 It's this alone, friends, it's prayer and the 379 00:19:35,130 --> 00:19:38,230 Word of God that is going to accomplish 380 00:19:38,230 --> 00:19:39,870 the work and the will of God. 381 00:19:40,410 --> 00:19:42,810 Try anything else, and I suggest to you 382 00:19:42,810 --> 00:19:46,770 this morning, my friend, try anything else, we'll 383 00:19:46,770 --> 00:19:50,630 find ourselves on a mere carousel of calamity, 384 00:19:51,350 --> 00:19:54,870 on a treadmill of tragedy, going round and 385 00:19:54,870 --> 00:19:57,770 round and round and round in religious duty, 386 00:19:58,030 --> 00:19:59,830 but achieving nothing for the kingdom of God 387 00:19:59,830 --> 00:20:00,330 and the ultimate. 388 00:20:01,210 --> 00:20:04,750 What is the word that comes hurtling at 389 00:20:04,750 --> 00:20:08,390 us from 2 Chronicles 7, verse 14? 390 00:20:09,070 --> 00:20:11,910 If my people who are called by my 391 00:20:11,910 --> 00:20:16,450 name will humble themselves and pray and seek 392 00:20:16,450 --> 00:20:19,970 my face and turn from their wicked ways, 393 00:20:21,110 --> 00:20:25,510 then, says God, I will hear from heaven, 394 00:20:26,310 --> 00:20:31,330 I will heal their land. 395 00:20:32,610 --> 00:20:35,570 Do you want God Almighty to intervene in 396 00:20:35,570 --> 00:20:36,330 our lives? 397 00:20:37,150 --> 00:20:39,310 Do we want Him to intervene in our 398 00:20:39,310 --> 00:20:39,830 church? 399 00:20:40,950 --> 00:20:42,970 Do we want to see God doing something 400 00:20:42,970 --> 00:20:43,870 in our nation? 401 00:20:44,610 --> 00:20:47,070 Then I want to say this morning, friends, 402 00:20:47,130 --> 00:20:49,450 there is no other way. 403 00:20:50,830 --> 00:20:54,490 It's the Word of God and it is 404 00:20:54,490 --> 00:20:55,150 prayer. 405 00:20:56,950 --> 00:20:59,790 The kingdom of God, that is God's reign, 406 00:21:00,010 --> 00:21:04,550 is not established through parties and pageants and 407 00:21:04,550 --> 00:21:05,470 pantomimes. 408 00:21:07,390 --> 00:21:09,130 Leave that for the world. 409 00:21:10,690 --> 00:21:12,590 Leave it for the theatres of darkness. 410 00:21:13,690 --> 00:21:16,650 But on the theatre of the church, on 411 00:21:16,650 --> 00:21:20,690 the stage of this place that God has 412 00:21:20,690 --> 00:21:24,010 erected for His glory, then let it be 413 00:21:24,010 --> 00:21:27,910 that which will honour Him and Him alone. 414 00:21:29,450 --> 00:21:32,970 Romans 14, 17, the kingdom of God is 415 00:21:32,970 --> 00:21:34,870 not meat and drink. 416 00:21:35,850 --> 00:21:40,590 That means that Christianity is not external and 417 00:21:40,590 --> 00:21:41,170 social. 418 00:21:44,310 --> 00:21:46,430 The kingdom of God is not meat and 419 00:21:46,430 --> 00:21:46,810 drink. 420 00:21:47,030 --> 00:21:47,450 What is it? 421 00:21:50,930 --> 00:21:56,530 Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy 422 00:21:56,530 --> 00:21:56,870 Ghost. 423 00:21:56,950 --> 00:21:59,930 And listen, friends, that's God's unalterable order. 424 00:22:03,510 --> 00:22:07,770 Righteousness first, because if there's no righteousness, there 425 00:22:07,770 --> 00:22:09,310 is no peace with God. 426 00:22:10,230 --> 00:22:12,290 If there's no peace with God, there is 427 00:22:12,290 --> 00:22:14,010 no joy in the Holy Ghost. 428 00:22:15,870 --> 00:22:18,770 Why is it this morning we wonder that 429 00:22:18,770 --> 00:22:21,610 there is little joy in the Holy Ghost? 430 00:22:22,650 --> 00:22:24,290 Why is it in so many of our 431 00:22:24,290 --> 00:22:26,970 churches we've got to hype the people into 432 00:22:26,970 --> 00:22:27,790 praise? 433 00:22:28,490 --> 00:22:30,830 Hype the people into some activity. 434 00:22:31,210 --> 00:22:32,050 Hype them up. 435 00:22:33,370 --> 00:22:35,710 If we have the joy of the Holy 436 00:22:35,710 --> 00:22:38,190 Ghost, friends, I tell you, you won't be 437 00:22:38,190 --> 00:22:40,750 able to keep the people from praising God 438 00:22:40,750 --> 00:22:41,210 Almighty. 439 00:22:44,580 --> 00:22:46,360 Why is it we have little joy in 440 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:47,100 the Holy Ghost? 441 00:22:48,460 --> 00:22:50,380 Is it because, friends, we lack on the 442 00:22:50,380 --> 00:22:53,240 deep levels of true Christian character? 443 00:22:55,860 --> 00:22:59,880 Only when we have God's righteousness that we 444 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,080 have got God's peace. 445 00:23:02,540 --> 00:23:04,460 And it's only then that we will know 446 00:23:04,460 --> 00:23:10,000 the unspeakably joyous presence and mighty power of 447 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,400 the Holy Ghost in our lives and in 448 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:12,940 our midst. 449 00:23:13,980 --> 00:23:16,540 When are we going to see these things 450 00:23:16,540 --> 00:23:18,660 changing in the church? 451 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:24,400 When will we experience that liberating visitation of 452 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:25,320 God among us? 453 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,400 When will we see sinners being converted and 454 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,120 times of refreshing coming upon us from above? 455 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,480 I'll tell you when, dear friend, when once 456 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:43,640 again we have seriously concerned ourselves like Daniel 457 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:50,440 for an indolent, bankrupt and backslidden church. 458 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,380 When we have become earnest in our quest 459 00:23:55,380 --> 00:23:57,820 for God to turn our captivity. 460 00:23:59,740 --> 00:24:01,640 That's why we have the Old Testament. 461 00:24:03,540 --> 00:24:05,700 It's not just interesting history. 462 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,660 The Old Testament is the solemn record of 463 00:24:10,660 --> 00:24:13,480 God's dealings with a nation that provoked Him. 464 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,640 Because this message is recorded, let me give 465 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,860 scriptures, I haven't the time to read them. 466 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,540 Deuteronomy 9 verses 7 and 8, Isaiah 65 467 00:24:23,540 --> 00:24:26,900 verse 3, Jeremiah 32 and verse 30, Zechariah 468 00:24:26,900 --> 00:24:28,020 8 and verse 14. 469 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,640 A nation that provoked God to anger. 470 00:24:32,620 --> 00:24:37,140 But more friends, it's also a record of 471 00:24:37,140 --> 00:24:39,360 how His people proved Him. 472 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:45,240 Proved Him to be patient and just and 473 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,800 true and faithful as God was to them. 474 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:51,500 Psalm 95 and verse 9. 475 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,660 That's why Paul takes up his pen right 476 00:24:54,660 --> 00:24:55,440 into the Corinthians. 477 00:24:55,580 --> 00:24:57,820 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 11 says, Now 478 00:24:57,820 --> 00:24:59,820 all these things happen unto them for in 479 00:24:59,820 --> 00:25:02,460 samples, and they were written for our admonition, 480 00:25:02,580 --> 00:25:04,960 upon whom the ends of the world are 481 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:05,460 come. 482 00:25:08,710 --> 00:25:10,750 Going back to the Old Testament, going back 483 00:25:10,750 --> 00:25:12,030 to the people in their captivity. 484 00:25:12,690 --> 00:25:15,130 When do the waste place of Jerusalem break 485 00:25:15,130 --> 00:25:16,450 forth and sing for joy? 486 00:25:18,410 --> 00:25:21,210 When is Jehovah appeased so that He can 487 00:25:21,210 --> 00:25:23,530 draw near in comfort to them? 488 00:25:24,910 --> 00:25:28,930 When does He bear His holy arm in 489 00:25:28,930 --> 00:25:30,190 the eyes of all nations? 490 00:25:31,130 --> 00:25:32,850 And all the ends of the earth see 491 00:25:32,850 --> 00:25:36,150 the salvation of our God Elohim, the covenant 492 00:25:36,150 --> 00:25:36,970 -keeping God. 493 00:25:38,330 --> 00:25:41,290 When is it that they see God arising 494 00:25:41,290 --> 00:25:43,830 to vindicate for them and to redeem them? 495 00:25:45,010 --> 00:25:47,930 It's Isaiah who spells it out, Isaiah 52 496 00:25:47,930 --> 00:25:49,030 in the first three verses. 497 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,530 It's when they wake up to their captivity 498 00:25:52,530 --> 00:25:54,650 and why it is so. 499 00:25:56,330 --> 00:25:59,510 It's when they adorn the holiness that God 500 00:25:59,510 --> 00:26:00,770 demands. 501 00:26:01,770 --> 00:26:06,350 When they are rid of the uncircumcised and 502 00:26:06,350 --> 00:26:08,210 the unclean from their midst. 503 00:26:09,750 --> 00:26:12,710 And when they've brought themselves in willing, conscious 504 00:26:12,710 --> 00:26:14,510 submission to His rulership. 505 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,710 God says, then I'll come, then I'll come. 506 00:26:19,630 --> 00:26:21,150 And Daniel knows this. 507 00:26:22,630 --> 00:26:23,970 Daniel knows this. 508 00:26:24,390 --> 00:26:27,190 God's word through Jeremiah are told him. 509 00:26:28,670 --> 00:26:31,210 And that is why we see him here 510 00:26:31,210 --> 00:26:32,870 in earnest supplication. 511 00:26:33,290 --> 00:26:36,530 He pleads with fasting and deep humility. 512 00:26:36,890 --> 00:26:38,030 And friends, it cannot be other. 513 00:26:38,790 --> 00:26:40,530 We have got to seek the Lord. 514 00:26:41,550 --> 00:26:42,630 We've got to seek the Lord. 515 00:26:42,630 --> 00:26:44,550 We've got to seek the Lord earnestly with 516 00:26:44,550 --> 00:26:45,810 prayer and fasting. 517 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,100 Just observe with me here with Daniel in 518 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:55,100 this time of intercession. 519 00:26:55,260 --> 00:26:59,040 There's deep insight here that is into the 520 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,300 very nature and character of God. 521 00:27:02,580 --> 00:27:05,380 In verses 4, 7 and 9, see how 522 00:27:05,380 --> 00:27:09,580 he has an evident knowledge of God. 523 00:27:10,420 --> 00:27:13,200 A great God, an awesome God, a dreadful 524 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:14,440 God, a holy God. 525 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:19,300 A righteous God, a faithful and forgiving God. 526 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:20,120 It's all here. 527 00:27:20,340 --> 00:27:23,280 Here's Daniel addressing God, the God he knows. 528 00:27:24,340 --> 00:27:26,260 I wonder this morning, friends, what is our 529 00:27:26,260 --> 00:27:27,060 view of God? 530 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,900 Or perhaps have we created a God of 531 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:33,640 our own imagining to suit our tastes so 532 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,240 we feel we can please ourselves as to 533 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:35,920 how we live. 534 00:27:37,020 --> 00:27:37,860 God help us. 535 00:27:39,740 --> 00:27:42,460 Daniel knows we are all accountable to him. 536 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,780 The second thing here is there's such humble 537 00:27:47,780 --> 00:27:48,380 identity. 538 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,220 He shares the awful shame and guilt of 539 00:27:54,220 --> 00:27:55,500 his sinful people. 540 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,120 And notice that as he prays, there's no 541 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:05,230 protest of innocence on Daniel's part, nor is 542 00:28:05,230 --> 00:28:07,650 there any claim to leniency. 543 00:28:08,610 --> 00:28:13,030 He acknowledges there is an unworthiness, that he 544 00:28:13,030 --> 00:28:16,330 and his people, they deserve their lot, their 545 00:28:16,330 --> 00:28:16,790 trouble. 546 00:28:18,830 --> 00:28:20,750 Notice what it says in verse 14. 547 00:28:22,470 --> 00:28:25,530 Therefore, have the Lord watched upon the evil 548 00:28:25,530 --> 00:28:27,470 and brought it upon us. 549 00:28:27,570 --> 00:28:29,290 For the Lord our God is righteous in 550 00:28:29,290 --> 00:28:31,190 all his works, which he doeth. 551 00:28:32,090 --> 00:28:34,790 For we obeyed not his voice. 552 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,840 What I'm saying, friends, is simply here, Daniel 553 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,080 is just honest with God. 554 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,680 And let me say this, friends, that God 555 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,040 accepts nothing but honesty. 556 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:50,680 We can make all the excuses in the 557 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:54,800 world that we can think of to justify 558 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,700 what we are doing, where we are, all 559 00:28:57,700 --> 00:28:58,400 the rest of it. 560 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,420 But God sees and knows everything. 561 00:29:05,020 --> 00:29:07,160 And the sooner we are totally honest with 562 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:07,820 God, the better. 563 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,580 But there's not only insight and identity here, 564 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:14,800 there's such intensity. 565 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,280 Because here's the cry of a burdened prophet. 566 00:29:21,620 --> 00:29:26,060 He's longing for God to mercifully intervene in 567 00:29:26,060 --> 00:29:27,280 the affairs of his people. 568 00:29:28,540 --> 00:29:32,280 When you read this prayer, you somehow feel 569 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:36,480 the pang and pathos, as repeatedly we read 570 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:37,660 his groaning. 571 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,100 You can, I've underlined it, I've top marked 572 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:45,140 it in my Bible, every verse. 573 00:29:45,260 --> 00:29:51,240 In verse 4, O Lord, verse 7, O 574 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:52,040 Lord. 575 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,260 Verse 8, O Lord. 576 00:29:54,620 --> 00:29:56,980 Verse 15, O Lord our God. 577 00:29:57,300 --> 00:29:59,600 Verse 16, O Lord. 578 00:29:59,960 --> 00:30:01,920 Verse 17, O our God. 579 00:30:02,300 --> 00:30:04,320 Verse 18, O my God. 580 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,380 And in verse 19, time and again, he's 581 00:30:07,380 --> 00:30:08,620 just groaning. 582 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:13,180 Oh, oh, oh, oh God, oh God. 583 00:30:15,170 --> 00:30:16,850 It's an agonizing prayer. 584 00:30:18,870 --> 00:30:22,030 It's the prayer of a burdened man until 585 00:30:22,030 --> 00:30:23,490 he comes to the conclusion. 586 00:30:23,830 --> 00:30:25,250 And what a word this is in verse 587 00:30:25,250 --> 00:30:25,750 19. 588 00:30:26,150 --> 00:30:27,070 O Lord, hear. 589 00:30:27,510 --> 00:30:28,370 O Lord, forgive. 590 00:30:28,890 --> 00:30:30,410 O Lord, hearken and do it. 591 00:30:30,490 --> 00:30:33,650 Defer not for thine own sake, O my 592 00:30:33,650 --> 00:30:33,930 God. 593 00:30:33,930 --> 00:30:36,510 For thy city and thy people are called 594 00:30:36,510 --> 00:30:37,550 by thy name. 595 00:30:38,850 --> 00:30:42,910 Daniel recognizes that God's honor is at stake. 596 00:30:44,590 --> 00:30:46,930 And friends, if only we can just get 597 00:30:46,930 --> 00:30:47,610 hold of that. 598 00:30:48,470 --> 00:30:50,650 Because it's no less among us in the 599 00:30:50,650 --> 00:30:51,050 church. 600 00:30:52,390 --> 00:30:54,990 God's honor is at stake. 601 00:30:56,910 --> 00:30:59,050 See, the church is not a social club. 602 00:31:00,950 --> 00:31:02,710 This is not a business enterprise. 603 00:31:04,310 --> 00:31:06,730 Jesus in John 17 and verse 14 says, 604 00:31:07,110 --> 00:31:10,750 this church, these whom I've called, he said, 605 00:31:11,610 --> 00:31:13,770 they are not of this world. 606 00:31:15,310 --> 00:31:17,230 Now, friends, we are the church of the 607 00:31:17,230 --> 00:31:17,910 living God. 608 00:31:18,470 --> 00:31:20,130 We are the body of Christ. 609 00:31:20,250 --> 00:31:21,530 We are the bride of Christ. 610 00:31:21,830 --> 00:31:23,650 We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. 611 00:31:24,190 --> 00:31:26,490 We are the habitation of God through his 612 00:31:26,490 --> 00:31:26,690 spirit. 613 00:31:26,990 --> 00:31:28,910 We are the pillar and ground of the 614 00:31:28,910 --> 00:31:29,190 truth. 615 00:31:29,530 --> 00:31:31,550 We are the general assembly and church of 616 00:31:31,550 --> 00:31:32,350 the firstborn. 617 00:31:33,630 --> 00:31:34,190 Hallelujah. 618 00:31:34,490 --> 00:31:34,910 That's right. 619 00:31:35,030 --> 00:31:36,170 Shout it out again, Bernie. 620 00:31:36,770 --> 00:31:37,330 Hallelujah. 621 00:31:38,410 --> 00:31:41,230 We belong to a company that God has 622 00:31:41,230 --> 00:31:43,470 marvelously redeemed by his blood. 623 00:31:44,350 --> 00:31:46,510 The church is the elect of God. 624 00:31:47,050 --> 00:31:48,670 It's a people of destiny. 625 00:31:49,290 --> 00:31:51,350 We are heirs of God and joint heirs 626 00:31:51,350 --> 00:31:52,050 with Christ. 627 00:31:52,490 --> 00:31:55,170 We are holy members of a royal family. 628 00:31:55,650 --> 00:31:58,590 We are the church, the church, the church. 629 00:31:58,590 --> 00:32:00,590 Praise the Lord. 630 00:32:00,610 --> 00:32:02,950 I can't understand why there are places calling 631 00:32:02,950 --> 00:32:04,030 themselves centers. 632 00:32:06,270 --> 00:32:08,410 What's wrong with the word church? 633 00:32:09,690 --> 00:32:12,390 The ecclesia, the called out. 634 00:32:14,190 --> 00:32:15,950 We're not just a center, friends. 635 00:32:17,190 --> 00:32:19,090 We are the people of God. 636 00:32:19,710 --> 00:32:22,670 We are a living organism inhabited by the 637 00:32:22,670 --> 00:32:25,890 Holy Ghost in whom he wants to demonstrate 638 00:32:25,890 --> 00:32:27,550 his life and his power. 639 00:32:27,550 --> 00:32:28,850 Praise the Lord. 640 00:32:30,270 --> 00:32:35,470 Nothing on earth compares with the blood-bought 641 00:32:35,470 --> 00:32:37,010 church of Jesus Christ. 642 00:32:38,350 --> 00:32:41,410 His glorious and holy name is stamped upon 643 00:32:41,410 --> 00:32:41,650 her. 644 00:32:42,510 --> 00:32:45,170 His glory is revealed in her. 645 00:32:45,970 --> 00:32:48,530 His own life and power, it throbs in 646 00:32:48,530 --> 00:32:48,750 her. 647 00:32:49,550 --> 00:32:53,190 His pure and sullied divine nature has been 648 00:32:53,190 --> 00:32:54,330 imparted to her. 649 00:32:55,610 --> 00:32:57,610 I'm glad I belong to that church this 650 00:32:57,610 --> 00:32:57,970 morning. 651 00:32:58,650 --> 00:33:00,450 I'm glad I belong to this church. 652 00:33:01,270 --> 00:33:01,790 Hallelujah. 653 00:33:02,730 --> 00:33:04,730 God has bonded together a people. 654 00:33:05,690 --> 00:33:07,450 And I believe that God's purposes are going 655 00:33:07,450 --> 00:33:09,150 to be known and fulfilled. 656 00:33:10,390 --> 00:33:12,650 This is the ultimate goal now. 657 00:33:13,130 --> 00:33:15,010 Here's the highest of all motives in our 658 00:33:15,010 --> 00:33:15,690 work for God. 659 00:33:15,930 --> 00:33:18,970 It's the honor of his name. 660 00:33:19,690 --> 00:33:21,450 That's what Daniel is concerned about. 661 00:33:21,690 --> 00:33:23,310 That's what we must be concerned about. 662 00:33:24,210 --> 00:33:27,510 Said that great missionary, Henry Martin. 663 00:33:27,810 --> 00:33:32,170 He said, I could not endure existence if 664 00:33:32,170 --> 00:33:33,690 Jesus were not glorified. 665 00:33:35,810 --> 00:33:38,850 It would be hell to me if he 666 00:33:38,850 --> 00:33:41,010 were to be thus always dishonored. 667 00:33:43,770 --> 00:33:46,470 Friends, when we see his name dishonored by 668 00:33:46,470 --> 00:33:48,690 professing Christians, that should hurt us. 669 00:33:49,490 --> 00:33:51,950 When his name is blasphemed in our community, 670 00:33:52,030 --> 00:33:52,910 that should hurt us. 671 00:33:53,710 --> 00:33:56,350 We should be concerned for the honor of 672 00:33:56,350 --> 00:33:59,990 his name inside the church and out there 673 00:33:59,990 --> 00:34:03,330 where we are to witness faithfully for him. 674 00:34:05,250 --> 00:34:08,790 And this is what I gather from Daniel's 675 00:34:08,790 --> 00:34:09,270 confession. 676 00:34:10,870 --> 00:34:12,690 But the sad thing, friends, is this. 677 00:34:14,429 --> 00:34:16,989 And this is that which made Daniel's experience 678 00:34:16,989 --> 00:34:17,949 all the more bitter. 679 00:34:18,949 --> 00:34:21,489 It was that with this people who were 680 00:34:21,489 --> 00:34:24,530 in captivity, there was not a thought for 681 00:34:24,530 --> 00:34:25,650 their transgressions. 682 00:34:27,230 --> 00:34:29,330 There was not a thought for that which 683 00:34:29,330 --> 00:34:31,010 had caused their captivity. 684 00:34:32,389 --> 00:34:36,130 So that the 70 years in Babylon had 685 00:34:36,130 --> 00:34:39,429 not produced any grief for sin. 686 00:34:41,170 --> 00:34:43,750 Oh, wretched state of soul. 687 00:34:44,260 --> 00:34:49,510 There has no sense of gravity and gore 688 00:34:49,510 --> 00:34:51,909 in respect of sin. 689 00:34:53,409 --> 00:34:55,730 A wretched state of soul where there is 690 00:34:55,730 --> 00:35:01,210 no sensitivity as to how sin affects God's 691 00:35:01,210 --> 00:35:02,910 holy and yearning heart. 692 00:35:05,260 --> 00:35:07,760 In fact, and please don't misunderstand me what 693 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:08,920 I have to say now, friends. 694 00:35:10,260 --> 00:35:17,240 In fact, so many, speaking first here of 695 00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:22,620 Babylon, so many, particularly of the younger generation, 696 00:35:23,220 --> 00:35:27,600 listen to me, so many had been so 697 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:32,460 conditioned to life in Babylon that when the 698 00:35:32,460 --> 00:35:37,580 opportunity of freedom came, they preferred to remain 699 00:35:37,580 --> 00:35:38,420 in Babylon. 700 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:44,620 It's just another case of Lot's wife, who 701 00:35:44,620 --> 00:35:47,300 even when she was being rescued from the 702 00:35:47,300 --> 00:35:52,320 judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, she was coming 703 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:54,720 out physically, but her heart was still back 704 00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:55,120 there. 705 00:35:56,140 --> 00:35:58,620 God says, don't you dare look behind. 706 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:01,780 But she couldn't resist. 707 00:36:02,780 --> 00:36:06,920 She had been conditioned to life in Sodom. 708 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:09,680 And the judgment of God came upon her. 709 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:14,260 And here it is, those who refused or 710 00:36:14,260 --> 00:36:16,240 preferred to remain in Babylon. 711 00:36:17,460 --> 00:36:20,860 And that was in spite of the prophetic 712 00:36:20,860 --> 00:36:27,240 watchman, whose urgent caution for their countrymen was 713 00:36:27,240 --> 00:36:31,360 that they must leave Babylon completely behind. 714 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:35,500 And mark this, friends, they were to take 715 00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:38,020 none of it with them. 716 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:41,760 Leave everything that has to do with Babylon 717 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:42,860 in Babylon. 718 00:36:46,350 --> 00:36:52,010 They were to utterly abandon the unholy flesh 719 00:36:52,010 --> 00:36:54,330 -worshipping culture of Babylon. 720 00:36:55,450 --> 00:36:59,170 Physically and mentally, they were to return to 721 00:36:59,170 --> 00:37:03,230 their land of promise in godly sincerity. 722 00:37:03,250 --> 00:37:04,030 And simplicity. 723 00:37:04,910 --> 00:37:09,810 They may build again their new commonwealth upon 724 00:37:09,810 --> 00:37:13,710 no other basis than the holy scriptures and 725 00:37:13,710 --> 00:37:15,550 its perfect rule for their lives. 726 00:37:16,670 --> 00:37:19,350 Read of that in Isaiah 52. 727 00:37:20,610 --> 00:37:23,010 However, they failed to heed God. 728 00:37:24,390 --> 00:37:28,670 And how sad the result was so many, 729 00:37:28,890 --> 00:37:32,010 particularly, I say again, of the younger generation, 730 00:37:32,340 --> 00:37:33,830 make a point in a moment. 731 00:37:35,570 --> 00:37:40,150 No appetite for divine things, preferring the worldly. 732 00:37:41,490 --> 00:37:45,710 No desire for the holy, choosing rather the 733 00:37:45,710 --> 00:37:46,190 profane. 734 00:37:47,290 --> 00:37:51,570 No ambition for God's purpose, but a contentment 735 00:37:51,570 --> 00:37:55,290 with the temporary pleasures of mundane earthly living. 736 00:37:56,770 --> 00:38:01,330 No quest for a living God, sufficed with 737 00:38:01,330 --> 00:38:02,330 dead idols. 738 00:38:03,470 --> 00:38:06,410 That's what it was, friends, for these whom 739 00:38:06,410 --> 00:38:12,710 Daniel was now bleeding for in his intercession. 740 00:38:14,030 --> 00:38:17,590 He is mindful of the sad spiritual state. 741 00:38:18,350 --> 00:38:21,130 He knows that with his people, and you 742 00:38:21,130 --> 00:38:23,050 just look at this prayer and it comes 743 00:38:23,050 --> 00:38:24,910 out here, with his people, there should have 744 00:38:24,910 --> 00:38:27,110 been, in verse 4, a love for God. 745 00:38:27,270 --> 00:38:28,970 Verse 6, a love for the truth. 746 00:38:29,250 --> 00:38:30,930 In verse 7, a love for righteousness. 747 00:38:31,470 --> 00:38:33,270 In verse 10, a love for God's word. 748 00:38:33,590 --> 00:38:35,190 In verse 13, a love for holiness. 749 00:38:35,610 --> 00:38:37,430 In verse 17, a love for the sanctuary. 750 00:38:37,990 --> 00:38:40,030 In verse 19, a love for God's honor. 751 00:38:40,370 --> 00:38:42,470 That's what the people should have been characterized 752 00:38:42,470 --> 00:38:43,010 by. 753 00:38:43,190 --> 00:38:46,170 A love for God, the truth, righteousness, God's 754 00:38:46,170 --> 00:38:49,090 word, holiness, the sanctuary, God's honor. 755 00:38:51,980 --> 00:38:55,460 And I identify myself this morning with those 756 00:38:55,460 --> 00:38:59,040 who have failed, whom God is going to 757 00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:02,640 hold responsible because we have failed to impart 758 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:07,120 and encourage a soul thirst for God in 759 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:08,500 our rising generation. 760 00:39:09,940 --> 00:39:14,240 Sons and daughters with no aspiration to see 761 00:39:14,240 --> 00:39:16,700 the glory of God in their lives and 762 00:39:16,700 --> 00:39:17,400 in the church. 763 00:39:18,540 --> 00:39:21,940 Young people with no perspective on things of 764 00:39:21,940 --> 00:39:23,400 eternity, only time. 765 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:28,080 That is why, friends, we don't blame them 766 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:28,720 this morning. 767 00:39:29,260 --> 00:39:32,420 We blame ourselves because we have never given 768 00:39:32,420 --> 00:39:35,920 them something higher to live for, to aspire 769 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:36,300 to. 770 00:39:38,780 --> 00:39:41,820 In the race, the baton has to be 771 00:39:41,820 --> 00:39:42,540 handed on. 772 00:39:43,740 --> 00:39:47,140 Here we are, well into the third generation 773 00:39:47,140 --> 00:39:48,360 of Pentecostals. 774 00:39:49,660 --> 00:39:51,760 I wonder if perhaps this morning, friends, we 775 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:53,940 confess we have not handed the baton on. 776 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:57,580 It is we who have to turn our 777 00:39:57,580 --> 00:40:01,360 hearts to God in confession. 778 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:05,040 We have to be praying like the psalmist. 779 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,760 Turn your attention to Psalm 85, and I'll 780 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:10,300 read just a few verses from there. 781 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:14,720 Psalm 85, Turn us, O God, of our 782 00:40:14,720 --> 00:40:16,900 salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to 783 00:40:16,900 --> 00:40:17,200 cease. 784 00:40:18,380 --> 00:40:19,980 Wilt thou be angry with us forever? 785 00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:21,900 Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all 786 00:40:21,900 --> 00:40:22,460 generations? 787 00:40:24,140 --> 00:40:27,960 Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy 788 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:29,720 people may rejoice in thee? 789 00:40:29,820 --> 00:40:32,060 You notice the rejoicing comes after the reviving. 790 00:40:32,940 --> 00:40:34,760 It doesn't cause it, it's the fruit of 791 00:40:34,760 --> 00:40:34,940 it. 792 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:39,120 Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant 793 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:40,120 us thy salvation. 794 00:40:40,940 --> 00:40:43,440 I will hear what God the Lord will 795 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:45,980 speak, for he will speak peace unto his 796 00:40:45,980 --> 00:40:47,120 people and to his saints. 797 00:40:47,540 --> 00:40:49,820 But let them not turn again to folly. 798 00:40:51,020 --> 00:40:53,720 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear 799 00:40:53,720 --> 00:40:57,940 him, that glory may dwell in our land. 800 00:40:58,980 --> 00:41:00,780 Do you want glory to dwell in your 801 00:41:00,780 --> 00:41:01,240 heart? 802 00:41:02,540 --> 00:41:04,360 Do you want to see glory dwelling in 803 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:05,140 your church? 804 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:08,800 Whether you are from this assembly this morning, 805 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:10,560 or as we've said, the visitors from other 806 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:10,940 churches. 807 00:41:11,260 --> 00:41:12,380 Do you want to see the glory of 808 00:41:12,380 --> 00:41:13,340 God in your church? 809 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:15,800 Do we want to see the glory of 810 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:16,600 God in our nation? 811 00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:21,760 And let's like Daniel, come before him with 812 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:22,320 confession. 813 00:41:25,420 --> 00:41:26,920 Let me conclude this morning. 814 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:30,180 I just want to touch upon the fact 815 00:41:30,180 --> 00:41:32,980 that there is not only Daniel's consideration of 816 00:41:32,980 --> 00:41:34,880 prophecy and Daniel's confession of sin. 817 00:41:35,820 --> 00:41:37,900 There is God's communication of purpose. 818 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:39,920 It's in these verses 20 to 27. 819 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:44,040 No time to deal with it. 820 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:46,680 But I'll just open it up, because I 821 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:48,440 want to leave you this morning with a 822 00:41:48,440 --> 00:41:51,140 very positive word as to what God will 823 00:41:51,140 --> 00:41:53,120 do for us when we humbly seek him. 824 00:41:54,540 --> 00:41:56,260 What a gracious God we have. 825 00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:03,140 Verses 20 and 21, whilst I was speaking 826 00:42:03,140 --> 00:42:04,160 and praying. 827 00:42:05,720 --> 00:42:07,340 Oh, I could spend a few minutes on 828 00:42:07,340 --> 00:42:08,260 that if I had the time. 829 00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:11,780 There are some folk only speak, they don't 830 00:42:11,780 --> 00:42:12,160 pray. 831 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:14,180 Hello. 832 00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:18,400 Make sure, friends, when you are in the 833 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:20,420 place of prayer, you are praying, not just 834 00:42:20,420 --> 00:42:20,740 speaking. 835 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:22,140 It's not just words. 836 00:42:24,900 --> 00:42:26,160 And all the more if we can find 837 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:28,060 ourselves praying in the Holy Ghost. 838 00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:31,040 Whilst I was speaking and praying. 839 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:34,220 Whilst I was speaking in prayer. 840 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:39,460 Right then, whilst he was praying, God answered. 841 00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:44,240 May I say this morning, if you and 842 00:42:44,240 --> 00:42:46,940 I will be as real with God as 843 00:42:46,940 --> 00:42:49,600 that, then he will meet with us. 844 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:52,860 He will meet with us in order to 845 00:42:52,860 --> 00:42:55,880 bring to pass his own will in our 846 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:56,340 lives. 847 00:42:56,660 --> 00:42:57,340 What happened? 848 00:42:57,340 --> 00:42:59,860 There it is, verse 21, the man Gabriel, 849 00:42:59,980 --> 00:43:01,420 whom I had seen in the vision at 850 00:43:01,420 --> 00:43:04,960 the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched 851 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:07,800 me about the time of the evening oblation. 852 00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:11,220 That is the evening gift offering, the evening 853 00:43:11,220 --> 00:43:11,960 sacrifice. 854 00:43:13,780 --> 00:43:15,460 And this morning I want to assure you, 855 00:43:15,700 --> 00:43:17,920 you respond to God in faith. 856 00:43:18,260 --> 00:43:20,080 You bring to him your gift offering. 857 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:20,640 What is that? 858 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:23,120 I think Romans 12, 1 sums it all 859 00:43:23,120 --> 00:43:23,880 up, doesn't it? 860 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:26,360 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies 861 00:43:26,360 --> 00:43:28,480 of God, you present your bodies a living 862 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:29,320 sacrifice. 863 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:32,540 Holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable 864 00:43:32,540 --> 00:43:33,160 service. 865 00:43:34,220 --> 00:43:36,640 When you just bring yourself as a gift 866 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:37,760 offering to him. 867 00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:42,460 I assure you that, not Gabriel, not Gabriel, 868 00:43:43,160 --> 00:43:47,280 because our ascended Lord prayed the Father to 869 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:48,380 send the Holy Spirit. 870 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:51,600 And I assure you this morning that the 871 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,680 blessed Holy Spirit will come and touch you. 872 00:43:55,540 --> 00:43:58,820 Just as Gabriel touched Daniel, the Holy Spirit 873 00:43:58,820 --> 00:43:59,800 will touch you. 874 00:44:00,560 --> 00:44:02,460 And that touch is a comforting touch. 875 00:44:02,820 --> 00:44:04,800 That touch is a restoring touch. 876 00:44:05,100 --> 00:44:07,300 That touch is a renewing touch. 877 00:44:07,460 --> 00:44:10,000 That touch is a rekindling touch. 878 00:44:10,220 --> 00:44:11,380 It's a healing touch. 879 00:44:11,540 --> 00:44:13,160 It's an anointing touch. 880 00:44:13,580 --> 00:44:14,020 Hallelujah. 881 00:44:14,780 --> 00:44:16,940 And when I was waiting upon God, and 882 00:44:16,940 --> 00:44:18,360 oh God, touch me again. 883 00:44:18,380 --> 00:44:19,860 Touch me again. 884 00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:22,620 I asked this morning, when do you last 885 00:44:22,620 --> 00:44:24,560 know the touch of the Lord? 886 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,200 When do you last feel those energies of 887 00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:31,300 God pulsating in you? 888 00:44:31,500 --> 00:44:34,240 If perhaps they are missing this morning. 889 00:44:35,480 --> 00:44:37,460 Maybe some of us, we don't stay long 890 00:44:37,460 --> 00:44:40,740 enough or earnestly enough in that place where 891 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:45,280 God can just touch us and minister to 892 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:45,640 us. 893 00:44:46,360 --> 00:44:48,180 Do you have a desire this morning for 894 00:44:48,180 --> 00:44:50,700 a fresh touch from God upon your life? 895 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:55,080 Maybe, like Daniel, we have some sin to 896 00:44:55,080 --> 00:44:55,560 confess. 897 00:44:56,320 --> 00:44:58,420 It may be there's some fractured relationship to 898 00:44:58,420 --> 00:44:59,040 be repaired. 899 00:44:59,580 --> 00:45:01,880 Perhaps there's some worldly tie or habit to 900 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:02,800 be severed from. 901 00:45:03,460 --> 00:45:07,900 So we are not encumbered in drawing near 902 00:45:07,900 --> 00:45:10,300 to serve the Lord with all of our 903 00:45:10,300 --> 00:45:10,440 heart. 904 00:45:10,620 --> 00:45:12,820 That was the word this morning that came 905 00:45:12,820 --> 00:45:13,280 to us. 906 00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:14,980 God says, listen, I want you to love 907 00:45:14,980 --> 00:45:18,740 me and have nothing that encumbers you. 908 00:45:20,060 --> 00:45:22,400 I felt that that, in all its simplicity, 909 00:45:22,580 --> 00:45:24,440 was a word from God this morning. 910 00:45:25,820 --> 00:45:30,380 He wants us to love Him, sorely love 911 00:45:30,380 --> 00:45:34,940 Him, totally love Him, and allow nothing to 912 00:45:34,940 --> 00:45:35,800 encumber us. 913 00:45:37,180 --> 00:45:39,180 God wants to do something for you in 914 00:45:39,180 --> 00:45:42,960 your life today or touch you this morning. 915 00:45:43,580 --> 00:45:45,720 Let's stand in the presence of God, friends, 916 00:45:46,760 --> 00:45:49,800 as, like Daniel, we ask Him to come 917 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:50,380 to us.