Sermon Archives (June 17, 2001):

The Long War

Good afternoon Church.   How do you handle conflict, turmoil?   Where do you go when the when you are going through A Long War?   Today, I want to give you an example from from the life of Daniel the Prophet.  Daniel writes (Chapter 10:1)  “A message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.”  

Daniel tells us,  “The message was true, but the appointed time was long“.   Isn’t this a lot like conflicts you and I find ourselves in today.   We know God’s word is true.   We want to relie upon God.   And yet we also know realisticly, that this trial, this conflict or turmoil isn’t going to go away.  What do you do when the war goes longer than hoped or expected?   From Daniel’s writing we are going to learn three things about how to face an extended conflict. 

The first point, humbles yourselves, turn to God, and seek Him continually in prayer.   Repeat this point after me, “Humble yourselves”   “Turn to God”   “Seek Him continually in prayer.”

Daniel’s record shows just that.  (Daniel 10:2-3)  “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”   So when Daniel found himself in conflict, he went on a 3 week fast, and “mourned.”   It is a time of humble soul searching.  The “mourning” was not a lamentation, a time of self-pity:  “Oh, God why have you done this?”  No, but in fasting, afflicting his own soul for a season, Daniel was bringing his face before the Lord.  He was humbling his own soul by turning to God in prayer.

The conflict did not go away, but to the contrary God tells Daniel that it will continue for an extended season.  When the conflict continues despite prayer, we have a tendency to blame ourselves.  “Nothing has happened because of what I did.  God will not hear me.”   That’s wrong.  This time of heart searching is not intended to reinforce our own sense of inadequacy.  All of us have sinned sufficiently to disallow God showing any kindness to us whatsoever.  Self-persecution is not justified.  Our God doesn’t work that way.  Our God is a God of second chances.

We should come to God in the name and through the blood of Jesus Christ, confessing our sins, to then receive once and for all forgiveness from sin.  God’s forgiveness cannot be contested, but rather is guaranteed by Christ’s perfect sacrifice.  We are to leave our sins with Jesus, our advocate, and realize that we are forgiven.  Praise the Lord!   Leave it with Him!  Leave it under the blood of Calvary; that which was shed to take away sin. 

As you turn to God, stop demanding things to happen, and instead start waiting on the Lord.   In turning to God a peace will come upon your heart.   If you want to survive a war, then fix your eyes upon the Lord.  

The second point, when you turn to God, He will comfort you.   Repeat this after me,  “When you turn to God”  “He will comfort you.”   Why?  Because when you turn to God, you are building a relationship with God.  Daniel’s experienced this and he wrote it down for us to see.  Now listen to this, (Daniel 10:4-7) “Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.  And I, (now these are important words) Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision;”

Daniel’s war did not end when he turned to the Lord.  Instead God gave Daniel a vision of a heavenly being.   Now if one goes to the book of Revelation, we find that this same description is one that describes Jesus Christ in his Glory.   Daniel “alone saw the vision”; a vision of the hope; of his salvation and redemption.  Why?  Because he humbled his soul before God.  Those with Daniel who did not turn to God were not comforted.  Those of us here today then who look to the Lord, know that our salvation, our redemption is sure in Christ Jesus.   That peace is there for all of us now.   It may not be the end of the struggle, but it is God’s peace and assurance that your redemption is certain.

Now this insight, even a vision from God, is not limited to Daniel or prophets, but God’s word promises are for us today.   The Apostle Peter quoting from Joel said (in Acts 2:17) these words of God, “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; (that includes you) Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.”  So having received God’s Holy Spirit, having turned to Him, God tells us that you will have visions and dreams, and these alone come to those who are His children.   Let God show you things, and then let them become treasured in your heart, as they become fortifications of your awareness of His presence and purpose in you.

(3) The last point: Even in this struggle, realize that God loves you; He hears your prayer, and though that struggle may continue, God begins working on your behalf the moment you turn to him.

Daniels experiences this: (verses 10-11) “Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.  And (the Angel) said to me, "O Daniel, (now listen this applies to you) man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.”   In the very next verse, the Angel states, “For from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”   In the midst of this extension of this warfare, God gives you then three promises.  The first,  “O … man greatly beloved”.   Realize then that God loves you.  The second from God’s word, “your prayers were heard”.   The third thing, God is with you because you prayed.  These things are a certainty.   Even in your struggle today, these three things are true for you today.  You are “greatly beloved”,  your prayer has been heard, and God is doing something for you right now.

Repeat this with me.  Let’s put it in the first person.  “I am greatly loved.”  “My prayer has been heard.”  “God is doing something for me right now.”