The Bible teaches that the Christian life means living “in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:4). But what does this mean? To some people, it means that we no longer need rules to guide our behavior. To others, it means that we live by inner impressions and strong emotions. This passage presents a richer and deeper meaning. Life in the Spirit is neither lawlessness nor emotionalism. Rather, it means freedom from selfish choices, the power to love and serve others, and a harvest of Jesus-like attitudes and actions.

In recent days, we’ve seen encouraging progress in the growth and revitalization of churches in our region and beyond. At such a time, it’s good to reflect on what is happening—not only to rejoice in his blessings, but also to renew our commitment to the mission Christ has entrusted to us. When we look at this through his eyes, we see that his assessment of his region is true for ours as well. In both Jesus’ day and ours, we see:I. A Dire Situation - “They were harassed and helpless.” - 9:36II. A Great Opportunity - “The harvest is plentiful.” - 9:37aIII. A Serious Shortage - “The laborers are few.” - 9:37bIV. An Urgent Duty - “Pray earnestly.” - 9:38aV. A Mighty Encouragement - He is “the Lord of the harvest.” - 9:38b

We are constantly making choices based on what we think the future holds. We choose a checkout lane because it appears to be moving the fastest. We choose an investment because we believe it will yield the greatest return. But how do we make decisions when the stakes extend beyond this life? Can we risk such a monumental outcome on little more than our best guesses? What if, in the end, we find ourselves on the “wrong side” of history?The book of Daniel is designed to take the guesswork out of such choices. One of its central messages is that God rules over history, so we should stay faithful to him. This final chapter is a closing appeal to get on the right side of history and stay there. It shows us that . . .I. The End Is DeterminedII. A Choice RemainsIII. A Reward Is Promised

As modern Americans who enjoy prosperity and freedom of religion, we know very little of the pressure that God’s people have faced in ages past. To these persecuted people, God gives instruction and assurance so that their faith will not fail. Do we have anything to learn from this? Certainly, since we face our own times of darkness, even if on a smaller scale. Daniel 10 teaches us that even in the darkest times, God sheds light on what is happening: (1) around us, (2) to us, and (3) beyond us, so that we will know and trust him.

Daniel 9 is like a puzzle piece: on its own, it’s hard to understand, but when you see the bigger picture, its meaning becomes clearer. At its heart is a question familiar to us all: how will God deal with our deepest problem—sin? For Daniel and his people, sin had led to exile far from home. When Daniel prayed for the exile to end, God’s answer was bigger and more complex than he expected: God would not only end their exile, but ultimately put an end to sin itself.

A Vision of the Future | Daniel 8

Overseers of the Flock | Acts 20:17-35

The Son of Man | Daniel 7:1-28

The Lion's Den | Daniel 6:1-28

The Living One | Revelation 1:17-18