We had our first study on June 18th but don't worry, we didn't get very far.
We started with an introduction and an overview of the Book. We talked about some of the expectations and also about the general life of Daniel and how we can and should relate his discipline to our own life.
Our next meeting will be on July 2nd, which is July 4th weekend and since I've heard of several guys say they would be traveling, I think we're going to hand out in Chapter 1 for a couple of meetings.
Daniel is such a rich book of prophecy. It is the most quoted books in the New Testament. I love the fact that Jesus even attributed the office of a Prophet to Daniel, so there is no having to guess about whether he was or was not. In fact, the fact that Jesus attributed Daniel's writings to be inspired prophecy from God, we can trust that they were just that - marvelous and amazing and 100% accurate "future history" as told by God Almighty, through the hand of Daniel, but the direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost! And all this, so that the Son of God could stand and proclaim and confirm what God had said.
And then there's the specific prophecies themselves! Jesus Christ's own entering into Jerusalem on a foal of an ass, at a specific time that that can be calculated to the very day!
We talked about why the Jewish people still don't understand and acknowledge the Book of Daniel, and the reason being (for most Jewish people) because "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11;25). Paul was clear though, that we who understand and know the Lord personally ought not to be "wise in our own conceits" because one day, that will all change. And what a glorious day that will be. Because one, day God's chosen people will turn back to Him and cry out for Jesus, and other prophecies, such as in Revelation explain how that will signify the time when Jesus' return will be very very close!
We also talked a bit about some of the correlations between the Book of Daniel and Revelation, both differences and similarities. For instance, I shared what Ray Stedman wrote about the two books:
The book of Daniel, together with the book of Revelation, marvelously unfolds future events as God has ordained them in the program of history. By no means has this book yet been fulfilled, neither has the book of Revelation. These two books, one from the Old and one from the New Testament, remarkably complement each other in their symmetry and harmony. The book of Revelation explains the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel lays the basis for the book of Revelation. If you would like to know God's program for the future, it is essential that you understand this book of Daniel.
Daniel is said to be a closed book, while Revelation proclaims a blessing on anyone who reads the book and "hears the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3). The idea is that the hearer is more than just cursory reading it - he's mulling it over and reasoning with God, and of course, he's accepting and believing it! And for us men, I take that to mean that we are doing more than just sitting in a Bible study - we are to be active in this life that Christ has salvaged! We are to be men like Paul, like Daniel, and most like Jesus!!
On the other hand, Daniel was told by the angel that visited him that "the words [of his book] are closed up and sealed til the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9).
Here's the thing. I am not wise in my own conceits, but I can see clearly the things happening in the world around me, and looking at those things through the lens of the Word of God, and especially through Daniel and Revelation, I know that the "time of the end" is directly before us. We are walking through it. And the very fact that we can understand this Book of Daniel is one indicator that we are there.
So what do we do about it? Do we run? Do we hide? Do we buy guns and beans? Do we try to get our man into the office of president? This is where the rubber hits the road guys. We're to be disciplined men of God, and to be totally dependent upon Jesus Christ for all that we need to be just that.
And that is precisely why we meet together as men - to be encouraged and build up in the Truth of the Word of our God.
And that is also why I am a perpetually broken record with respect to our individual fellowship with Jesus Christ, daily, even hourly!
We talked about how Daniel, even at a young age, was so disciplined to pray three times per day! WOW! And how often and how quick I am to dismiss such a thing with rationalizations about not needed to do such things, or how it would be too legalistic to do such a thing. Please allow me to be very crude to anyone who makes such excuses (including myself at times) - RUBBISH!
Let's be clear guys. I believe that one can NEVER spend too much time bowing before Jesus Christ. I know our whole life should be spent bowing in our hearts and that can be true, but there is no substitute for stopping everything around us and being on our knees or even on our face before our Holy God!
We don't want to try to make this something we're forced to do. We don't want to set ourselves up for failure, right? Well that's why we ought to study Daniel - I don't think He bowed in prayer to God three times per day because he had to, but it came out of a deep and desperate love for the God he knew!
So let me close with a couple of final question to you and to me:
1. Do you love God more than these?
2. Do you know God enough to make you long for nothing more than the times (short or long times) when you can be with him in quietness of heart, to allow Him to speak into you and shape your thoughts and change your ways to His perfect ways?
I have a long way to go, yes, but I am going to continue running in the power of my God!
How about you?
We started with an introduction and an overview of the Book. We talked about some of the expectations and also about the general life of Daniel and how we can and should relate his discipline to our own life.
Our next meeting will be on July 2nd, which is July 4th weekend and since I've heard of several guys say they would be traveling, I think we're going to hand out in Chapter 1 for a couple of meetings.
Daniel is such a rich book of prophecy. It is the most quoted books in the New Testament. I love the fact that Jesus even attributed the office of a Prophet to Daniel, so there is no having to guess about whether he was or was not. In fact, the fact that Jesus attributed Daniel's writings to be inspired prophecy from God, we can trust that they were just that - marvelous and amazing and 100% accurate "future history" as told by God Almighty, through the hand of Daniel, but the direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost! And all this, so that the Son of God could stand and proclaim and confirm what God had said.
And then there's the specific prophecies themselves! Jesus Christ's own entering into Jerusalem on a foal of an ass, at a specific time that that can be calculated to the very day!
We talked about why the Jewish people still don't understand and acknowledge the Book of Daniel, and the reason being (for most Jewish people) because "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11;25). Paul was clear though, that we who understand and know the Lord personally ought not to be "wise in our own conceits" because one day, that will all change. And what a glorious day that will be. Because one, day God's chosen people will turn back to Him and cry out for Jesus, and other prophecies, such as in Revelation explain how that will signify the time when Jesus' return will be very very close!
We also talked a bit about some of the correlations between the Book of Daniel and Revelation, both differences and similarities. For instance, I shared what Ray Stedman wrote about the two books:
The book of Daniel, together with the book of Revelation, marvelously unfolds future events as God has ordained them in the program of history. By no means has this book yet been fulfilled, neither has the book of Revelation. These two books, one from the Old and one from the New Testament, remarkably complement each other in their symmetry and harmony. The book of Revelation explains the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel lays the basis for the book of Revelation. If you would like to know God's program for the future, it is essential that you understand this book of Daniel.
Daniel is said to be a closed book, while Revelation proclaims a blessing on anyone who reads the book and "hears the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3). The idea is that the hearer is more than just cursory reading it - he's mulling it over and reasoning with God, and of course, he's accepting and believing it! And for us men, I take that to mean that we are doing more than just sitting in a Bible study - we are to be active in this life that Christ has salvaged! We are to be men like Paul, like Daniel, and most like Jesus!!
On the other hand, Daniel was told by the angel that visited him that "the words [of his book] are closed up and sealed til the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9).
Here's the thing. I am not wise in my own conceits, but I can see clearly the things happening in the world around me, and looking at those things through the lens of the Word of God, and especially through Daniel and Revelation, I know that the "time of the end" is directly before us. We are walking through it. And the very fact that we can understand this Book of Daniel is one indicator that we are there.
So what do we do about it? Do we run? Do we hide? Do we buy guns and beans? Do we try to get our man into the office of president? This is where the rubber hits the road guys. We're to be disciplined men of God, and to be totally dependent upon Jesus Christ for all that we need to be just that.
And that is precisely why we meet together as men - to be encouraged and build up in the Truth of the Word of our God.
And that is also why I am a perpetually broken record with respect to our individual fellowship with Jesus Christ, daily, even hourly!
We talked about how Daniel, even at a young age, was so disciplined to pray three times per day! WOW! And how often and how quick I am to dismiss such a thing with rationalizations about not needed to do such things, or how it would be too legalistic to do such a thing. Please allow me to be very crude to anyone who makes such excuses (including myself at times) - RUBBISH!
Let's be clear guys. I believe that one can NEVER spend too much time bowing before Jesus Christ. I know our whole life should be spent bowing in our hearts and that can be true, but there is no substitute for stopping everything around us and being on our knees or even on our face before our Holy God!
We don't want to try to make this something we're forced to do. We don't want to set ourselves up for failure, right? Well that's why we ought to study Daniel - I don't think He bowed in prayer to God three times per day because he had to, but it came out of a deep and desperate love for the God he knew!
So let me close with a couple of final question to you and to me:
1. Do you love God more than these?
2. Do you know God enough to make you long for nothing more than the times (short or long times) when you can be with him in quietness of heart, to allow Him to speak into you and shape your thoughts and change your ways to His perfect ways?
I have a long way to go, yes, but I am going to continue running in the power of my God!
How about you?