Daniel 9 - The God Who Restores

Reflection/Discussion Questions

Gods word points us to God Himself

in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according tothe word of theLordto Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him byprayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. -Daniel 9:2-3

1. How might we read the Bible but miss the point of connecting to God in a living way?

2. What do you notice about Daniels response as he reads the scriptures?

3. How can we cultivate an active and growing relationship with God through consistent engagement with the scriptures?

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. -John 5:39-40

Gods discipline has a purpose

As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favour of theLordour God,turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.Therefore theLordhas kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us,for theLordour God is righteous in all the works that he has done, andwe have not obeyed his voice. -Daniel 9:13-14

1. In what way(s) does sin effect our relationship or at least our experiential closeness with God?

2. How is the loving, Fatherly heart of God shown in His discipline toward His people? Do you ever struggle to see it that way?

3. How can we persevere and refrain from losing heart when we experience such discipline?

4. How can discipline produce a harvest of righteousness and peace?

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, My son, do not make light of the Lords discipline, and do not lose heartwhen he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.For what children are not disciplined by their father?If you are not disciplinedand everyone undergoes disciplinethen you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spiritsand live!They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peacefor those who have been trained by it. -Hebrews 12:5-11

The path to restoration is confession and repentance

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him byprayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.I prayed to theLordmy God andmade confession, saying,O Lord, thegreat and awesome God, whokeeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedlyand rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. -Daniel 9:3-5

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and seeour desolations, andthe city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act.Delay not,for your own sake, O my God, becauseyour city andyour people are called by your name. -Daniel 9:18-19

True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace - in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ. (J.C. Ryle)

1. Is it possible to have faith in Jesus without repentance or vice-versa?

2. What is the evidence of true repentance in our lives?

3. Why is it important to confess our sin to God if He already knows everything anyway?

4. Why is it important to continually confess our sins and repent of them if in Jesus we are already justified and forgiven of all sin for all time?

5. What keeps you from identifying, acknowledging, or taking responsibility for your sin?

6. What causes you to keep sin inside rather than bringing it to God in confession and repentance?

7. Why must our repentance ultimately depend on who God is and His righteousness, rather than on our own effort, commitment, or determination to do better? (vv.18)

8. How do Gods character and promises encourage you to run to God rather than run away from Him?

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through mygroaning all day long.For day and night yourhand was heavy upon me;my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.Selah

Iacknowledged my sin to you,and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, Iwill confess my transgressions to theLord,and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.Selah

Therefore let everyone who isgodlyoffer prayer to you at a time when youmay be found;surely in the rush ofgreat waters,they shall not reach him.

You are ahiding place for me;you preserve me fromtrouble;you surround me withshouts of deliverance. -Psalm 32:3-7

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. -Romans 8:1

And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Bring quicklythe best robe, and put it on him, and puta ring on his hand, andshoes on his feet.And bringthe fattened calf and kill it, andlet us eat and celebrate.For this my sonwas dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate. -Luke 15:21-24

God forgives and restores

At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out,and I have come to tell it to you, foryou are greatly loved. Therefore consider the wordand understand the vision. Seventy weeks are decreed about your people andyour holy city, to finishthe transgression, to put an end to sin,and to atone for iniquity,to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, andto anoint a most holy place. -Daniel 9:23-24

1. Why is it significant that we see Gods plan of redemption worked out in documented historical events?

2. How did God accomplish atonement for sin, put an end to sin, and bring in everlasting righteousness now in His new covenant, and in fullness at the last day for those who trust Him?

3. How are we who follow Jesus called to participate with God in His work of restoration and redemption in the world?

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. -Acts 3:19-21

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. -Matthew 6:10

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. -James 1:22

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Part nine of our series, "Kingdoms In Conflict," a Study on the Book of Daniel.

Discussion/Reflection Questions

Daniel 8 The God of Troubled Times

In the third year of the reign ofKing Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel,after that which appeared to meat the first.-Daniel 8:1

1. Why do you think God decides to speak to us in these chapters through vivid visions and apocalyptic pictures rather than straightforward information?

God holds the reins of history

Then I hearda holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke,For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering,the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?And he said to me, For 2,300evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state. -Daniel 8:13-14

1. What does it mean to say that God is in control?

2. How would you explain to someone the practical implications of God being in complete control of the world and history? How would you explain the times that God appears to be out of control, neglectful, or indifferent?

Dont trust appearances

And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.His power shall be greatbut not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destructionand shall succeed in what he does,and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mindhe shall become great.Without warning he shall destroy many. And heshall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be brokenbutby no human hand. -Daniel 8:23-25

1. What is God teaching us about trust through these visions?

2. Where in your life is it easy to get caught up in discouragement, doubt, and despair about what you can see in front of you?

3. What does it mean to be sober and durable disciples of Jesus who are not enamoured with the way things appear?

4. How does it strengthen your faith to know that God is and always has been taking much action behind the scenes of history?

Feel the dark reality of the powers of evil

And when he had spoken to me,I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Buthe touched me and made me stand up. -Daniel 8:18

AndI, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the visionand did not understand it. -Daniel 8:27

1. Why is it tempting to disengage and check-out- mentally, spiritually, and emotionally- from what is happening in the world? What are the reasons and/or distractions that you turn to?

2. How does Daniel show a soft heart toward the suffering and brokenness of the world? Why do we need to care? What should it look like for us to enter in and feel the weight of the brokenness of the world around us?

Characteristics of the spirit of anti-Christ:

Self-exaltation

Destruction of others

Cunning and deceitfulness

Regards truth as secondary to success

Opposed to and seeks to destroy the ordinances of God

Seeks to put themselves in the place of God and regards others as those who should pay homage to them

-Sinclair Furguson

3. Where do you see the spirit of anti-Christ at work in the world around you?

4. How does an awareness of the suffering and evil to come prepare us to stand firm in the day of trouble?

I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed,the hour is coming whenwhoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.And they will do these thingsbecause they have not known the Father, nor me.ButI have said these things to you, that whentheir hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. -John 16:1-4

5. What troubles are discouraging your heart and threatening your faith right now? How does Gods word to you in this chapter encourage and strengthen you to persist in faith through these times?

Spend some time praying for these things together and thanking God that He holds the reins of history and never stops holding on to those who belong to Him.

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Part eight of our series, "Kingdoms in Conflict," a Study on the Book of Daniel

Reflection/Discussion Questions

The kingdoms of man are beastly...but still under the sovereignty of God

Then Satan answered theLordand said, Does Job fear God for no reason?Have you not puta hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You haveblessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.Butstretch out your hand andtouch all that he has, and he willcurse youto your face. And theLordsaid to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of theLord. -Job 1:9-12

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come,unless the rebellion comes first, andthe man of lawlessness is revealed,the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,proclaiming himself to be God.Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.Forthe mystery of lawlessnessis already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. -2 Thessalonians 2:3-7

1. Consider that the 20th century was the bloodiest in history. What does that say about humanity and the idea of moral progress?

2. Where do you see evil most prevalent in the kingdoms of man right now? Is there anything about the state of the world or the culture you are immersed in right now that causes you to forget or doubt that every kingdom of man is still under Gods restraint?

3. How does it strengthen you right now to know that God sets limits and boundaries around every evil- on a personal and wider level- that happens on earth?

4. Why is it so vital, especially in this cultural moment, to be a presence of hope and godly optimism? How can we lovingly, urgently share the hope of Jesus with the otherwise hopeless reality of the kingdoms of man in which we live?

The kingdom of God is superior to all other kingdoms

As I looked, thrones were placed, and theAncient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, andthe hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. -Daniel 7:9

Why dothe nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against theLordand against hisAnointed, saying, Let usburst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He whosits in the heavenslaughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in hiswrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, As for me, I haveset my King onZion, myholy hill. -Psalm 2:1-6

1. What does it mean that the wisdom and purity of Gods kingdom are superior to that of the kingdoms of man? How does that effect your confidence in God and his plans?

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that allpeoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. -Daniel 7:14

2. How does the superior universality of Gods kingdom stand in contrast with the divided kingdoms of man in the world right now? How is the church meant to reflect this reality?

The future is ultimately, but not immediately friendly for Gods people.

Thus he said: As forthe fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think tochange the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand fora time, times, and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, andhis dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyedto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people ofthe saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. -Daniel 7:23-27

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but becauseyou are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. -John 15:18-19

1. Have you experienced hate and backlash for the beliefs and convictions you hold? How does knowledge of a certain and friendly future strengthen us for these times?

2. In what ways do we cling too tightly to temporary comfort and ease as disciples of Jesus? What causes us to do this?

3. How does our future hope strengthen us to live boldly for the kingdom of God without fear here and now?

4. How do you need to grow in boldness and confidence in living out your faith in Jesus? How will this come about?

Spend some time in prayer together for the things going on around you that are troubling your hearts, shaking your confidence and discouraging your sense of hope for the future. Pray for the people you know who lack the hope of a relationship with the Ancient of Days, and for the evil you see happening around you. Pray for boldness in the power of God to stand up for your convictions and share His hope with those around you. Pray for wisdom to know how to live in these times in such a way that brings glory to God, and the courage to cling to Him in opposition and set-back.

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Easter Sunday, 2021

Easter Sunday, 2021Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfCn3IEvNXk&t=2221s

Good Friday, 2021

Good Friday, 2021Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2GJxvAiuXk&t=2134s

Part three of our series, "Prophet, Priest, and King"

Matthew 21:1-17