Great Weakness, Great Strength

Daniel 10:1-11:13 Daniel came to God in great weakness- ‘I am helpless... My strength is gone...’(16-17). From the Lord, Daniel received great strength - ‘The One who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength... When He spoke to me, I was strengthened...’. Daniel’s strength came from the love of God and the …

God’s Word for Nebuchadnezzar – and for us

“Stop sinning and do what is right” (Daniel 4:27). This was the Word that God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar. This is the Word that God speaks to us. “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar will praise, honour, and give glory to the King of heaven. Everything He does is true, His ways are right and He can humiliate those …

Jesus loves us much more than we love Him.

Jesus loves us so much more than we love Him. In love, He comes to us to draw out from us a greater love for Him. I find great encouragement in the story of the restoration of Peter in John 21. Peter had denied the Lord three times. For each denial, Jesus came to Peter …

Like A Roaring Lion!

Daniel 6:1-28 The deliverance of Daniel from the mouths of the lions - What a great miracle this is! It points forward to an even greater miracle - the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why is the resurrection a greater miracle? - It seemed almost inevitable that Daniel would be killed, but he didn’t …

Your Name, O Lord, endures for ever.

Daniel 4:19-5:16; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 135:13-21 Worldly men “praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone” (Daniel 5:4). They worship things – material possessions. The Lord calls His people to higher things. He tells us that “the idols of the nations are silver and gold” (Psalm 135:15). They are …

The everlasting God and His everlasting Kingdom

DANIEL 4:1-37  -  ‘His Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation’ (3). The generations rise and fall - ‘You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning... by evening it is dry and withered’; ‘As for man, his days are like …

Why does God allow our faith to be tested?

DANIEL 1:1-2:16  -  ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself’ (1:8). Daniel was devoted to the Lord. It was not easy to live as the Lord’s faithful servant. His dedication to the Lord was put to the test - ‘Test your servants’ (1:12). Our faith is put to the test. We ‘suffer many trials’. Why does …

Daniel came to God in great weakness. From the Lord, Daniel received great strength.

DANIEL 10:1-11:13  -  Daniel came to God in great weakness - ‘I am helpless... My strength is gone...’ (16-17). From the Lord, Daniel received great strength - ‘The One who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength... When He spoke to me, I was strengthened...’. Daniel’s strength came from the love of …

The years come, and the years go.

The years come - and the years go. We leave a very difficult year behind us. We move forward into the New Year with many fears. Are things going to get worse? We hope not - but we don't know. When we're tempted to forget you - help us - Lord - to remember that …

More questions than answers

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will …

When the going gets tough, may God help us to keep on praying.

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3). Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his …

Hearing The Word of God And Doing The Will Of God

"The Lord also called to the man of God. He said, “This is what the Lord says: You rebelled against the words from the Lord’s mouth and didn’t obey the command that the Lord your God gave you ... A lion found him as he traveled on the road and killed him" (1 Kings 13:21, …

Never to be forgotten

In 1996, Willie McDonald died at the age of ninety. I had only known him for a short time. I will always remember him as a man who loved the Lord deeply. He was small of stature, but he was a man of “strength”: real, spiritual strength (Psalm 90:10). He was “strong in the Lord”, …

Greatly beloved

"O Daniel, man greatly beloved" (Daniel 10:11) Greatly beloved - this is what God said to Daniel. Greatly beloved - this is what God says to us. -- Greatly beloved - how does God say this to us? He looks at us. He sees Jesus - his greatly beloved Son; Jesus - suffering for us; In …

Daniel’s Deliverance And Christ’s Resurrection

Daniel 6:1-28 The deliverance of Daniel from the mouths of the lions - What a great miracle this is! It points forward to an even greater miracle - the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why is the resurrection a greater miracle? - It seemed almost inevitable that Daniel would be killed, but he didn’t …

The writing’s on the wall

The handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5) is a word of judgment. Numbered, Numbered, Weighed and Divided - This is the message that came to Nebuchadnezzar from God. God has numbered the days of your kingdom. He will bring it to an end. You have been weighed on a scale. You have been found to …

Take your problem to the Lord.

"O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake ... " (Daniel 9:19). "O Lord" - This is prayer. We do not take our problem to everyone else but the Lord. We take our problem to the Lord. "Hear" and "listen" - There can be a …

Responding to God’s Word (24): Change, my heart, O God / Come, let us join our cheerful songs…

The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... it will endure forever (Daniel 2:44). As I read this verse about the kingdom of God, I found myself asking the question, "What will it be like in the kingdom of God?" As I was thinking about this question, I found …

Gold!

Exodus 37:1-29 Many times over, we read the word, “gold.” We look beyond the furnishings of the place of worship to the God whom we worship. In our hearts, we say, “My God, how wonderful You are.” All that we read of here is pointing us to the great God, the God of glory, the …

O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act!

Daniel 8:15-9:19; 1 John 2:28-3:10; Proverbs 29:10-18 There is real urgency about Daniel’s prayer: “O Lord, look with favour on Your desolate sanctuary … O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act!” (Daniel 9:17,19). We do need to pray with urgency. There are many who seek to lead us astray (1 John …

There is a Kingdom that will endure forever.

"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure for ever" (Daniel 2:44).  We read about the events of …

Link to Rev James Philip’s notes on Daniel

Daniel

Triumphant hope, glorious hope, eternal hope

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). In these words of Jesus, there's a great message of hope - triumphant hope, glorious hope, eternal hope. Triumphant hope Jesus speaks to us about "tribulation" …

‘The People Who Know Their God Shall Be Strong And Do Great Things.’

Daniel 11:14-45 We are to live for God - ‘The people who know their God shall be strong and do great things’. We are to stand against Satan- ‘The people who know their God will firmly resist him’(32). Living for God and standing against Satan, we must ‘put on the whole armour of God’. ‘Strong …

Some Meditations on God’s Word

Receiving Strength from the Lord (Daniel 10:1-11:13) Daniel came to God in great weakness- ‘I am helpless… My strength is gone…’(16-17). From the Lord, Daniel received great strength- ‘The One who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength… When He spoke to me, I was strengthened…’. Daniel’s strength came from the love of …

“Then he touched me and made my hands and knees shake” (Daniel 10:10).

“Then he touched me and made my hands and knees shake” (Daniel 10:10). It is an awesome thing to be in the presence of the living God. What a reassuring thing it was, for Daniel, when he heard this gracious word: “Daniel, you are highly respected ... Don’t be afraid” (Daniel 10:11-12). When we are …

‘The God of heaven will set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed’(Daniel 2:44).

There is only one Kingdom which stands forever - the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom is eternal. Through Christ, ‘the Kingdom of God has come near to us’(Luke 10:9). Christ is the ‘King of kings’(Revelation 17:14;19:16). ‘His throne will last for ever and ever’. ‘His Kingdom will never end’. ‘He will reign for ever and …

Fire!

Daniel 3:1-30 Fire - danger, heat There is, in God’s Word, a word of warning and a word of promise. This is the way we are not to go. This is the way we are to go. * “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). * “The bush was not consumed” (Exodus 3:2). * …

Jesus Asks Us, ‘Do You Love Me?’ He Waits For Our Reply: ‘I Love You.’

Daniel 3:1-30 ‘We want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up’(18). We have no other king but the Lord. He alone is King. He alone is to be worshipped. We are to ‘have no other gods before Him’. We are …

Beyond our sufferings

"Throw them into the burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:20). Life can be like a "burning fiery furnace." We are not alone in this "burning fiery furnace." Jesus is with us. He has suffered death for us - and,now, he suffers with us. Through faith in him, we look beyond our suffering to his triumph. Whatever …

He is Coming With The Clouds.

"There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven… His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed’ (Daniel 7:13-14). These words point us to Christ’s description of His Second Coming, the Coming of His Kingdom: ‘They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of …

The kingdom which rises, and does not fall.

"He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end" (Daniel 6:26). The rise and fall of... : In the history of the world, there have been many kingdoms, which have risen - and fallen. We wonder, "Is there a kingdom that rises - and …

I’d Rather Have Jesus Than Silver Or Gold.

Daniel 5:1-31 We are not to ‘praise the gods of gold and silver...’(4). Material possessions must never take the place of God. Seeking material prosperity is not to be the most important thing in our lives. We are to ‘seek first His Kingdom...’. We are to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord …

Daniel in the lion’s den

Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6) - What a remarkable miracle we have here. When we read about it, our thoughts move on to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is a far greater miracle than the deliverance of Daniel. Daniel was delivered from the threat of death. Jesus …

Prayers based on Daniel 7-12

Daniel 7:1-28 ‘There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven... His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed’ (Daniel 7:13-14). We thank You, Lord, for these great words. They point us to Christ’s description of His Second Coming, the Coming of His Kingdom: ‘They will see …

God’s Kingdom

Daniel 2:44-47 God’s Kingdom “will never be destroyed.” It “endures forever.” “The dream is true, and the interpretation is certain.” Through the resurrection of Jesus, this is more than a dream. He has triumphed over death. How are we to respond to Jesus? - “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28); “King of kings and …

Visions Of God’s Eternal Kingdom

The visions, given to Daniel, concerned God’s eternal Kingdom (Daniel 7:27). This eternal dimension must never be lost. If we have nothing to which we can look forward, with confidence in the eternal God, we are, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “of all men most miserable.” When we look, through faith in Jesus …

What a future God has planned for His people.

Daniel 7:13-14 What a future God has planned for His people. What a great future He is planning for His people. Coronation - What a day of celebration.This is better than any human coronation. It’s better than any human celebration. When Christ comes, this will go beyond our ability to describe or even imagine: the …

A Vision – For Daniel

"I, Daniel, alone saw the vision ... the men who were with me did not see the vision" (Daniel 10:7). Here, we have a vision that was intended for Daniel. The vision was not given to the men who were with him. While this was, for Daniel, a unique experience of divine revelation, it raises …

Salvation Always Begins With God’s Great Love For Us.

Daniel 9:1-27 'O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act!’(19). How do we know God will hear and answer our prayer as we look to Him for salvation? - ‘The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him’(9). We come to God with our sin - …

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s interpretation

In Daniel 2, we read about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s interpretation. God is speaking to Nebuchadnezzar. God is speaking through Daniel. The heart of the message, given in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s interpretation, is summed up in Daniel 2:44 - “At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a Kingdom that …

Faith in the Lord is very different from faith in ourselves.

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29). “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me …

Be Wise. Win Souls.

“He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Be wise. Win souls. “Those are the best educated ministers, who win the most souls” (Charles Finney) – It is estimated that over 250,000 souls were converted as the result of Finney’s preaching! “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those …

The servants of God and the Son of God

“Look, I see four men ... The fourth one looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25). These words of Nebuchadnezzar point beyond the servants of God - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They point to the Son of God - our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Son of God saved His faithful servants. …

Devoted to the Lord (Travelling Through God’s Word: Daniel)

DANIEL 1:1-2:16  -  ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself’ (1:8). Daniel was devoted to the Lord. It was not easy to live as the Lord’s faithful servant. His dedication to the Lord was put to the test - ‘Test your servants’ (1:12). Our faith is put to the test. We ‘suffer many trials’. Why does …

Devoted To The Lord

Daniel 1:1-2:16 ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself’(8). Daniel was devoted to the Lord. It was not easy to live as the Lord’s faithful servant. His dedication to the Lord was put to the test - ‘Test your servants’(12). Our faith is put to the test. We ‘suffer many trials’. Why does God allow our …

God’s Kingdom will prevail over the kingdom of Satan.

Daniel 3:13-4:18; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Proverbs 29:1-9 “The Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). It is a great comfort to know that God is sovereign. It gives strength in the midst of the conflict. It’s an unequal conflict – God’s Kingdom will prevail over the kingdom of Satan. We must …

There Is Only One Power Able To Destroy The Power Of Satan: ‘He Shall Be Broken By The Hand Of God.’

Daniel 7:1-28 There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven... His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed’(13-14). These words point us to Christ’s description of His Second Coming, the Coming of His Kingdom: ‘They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of …

There Is Only One Kingdom Which Stands Forever – The Kingdom Of God.

Daniel 1:1-2:16 ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself’(8). Daniel was devoted to the Lord. It was not easy to live as the Lord’s faithful servant. His dedication to the Lord was put to the test - ‘Test your servants’(12). Our faith is put to the test. We ‘suffer many trials’. Why does God allow our …

Revealed to us – by the Lord

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his" (Daniel 2:20). "As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive" (Daniel 2:30). What a contrast there is between the Lord and his servants! Revelation does not come from ourselves. …

God is building His eternal Kingdom.

When, in Daniel 11, we read of the rise and fall of human kingdoms, we must remember this - God is building His eternal Kingdom. This Kingdom - God’s Kingdom - is the only Kingdom which will never come to an end. We put our trust in the Lord. Our trust in the Lord is …

A Faithful Follower Of The Lord

Daniel was a faithful follower of the Lord. He refused to follow a worldly way of living (Daniel 1:8). He loved the Lord. He refused to follow a way of life which would harm his walk with God. He is a great example for those who take seriously the call to live in obedience to …

Prayers based on Daniel 1-6

Daniel 1:1-2:16 ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself’ (Daniel 1:8). We thank You, Lord, that Daniel was devoted to You. It was not easy to live as Your faithful servant. His dedication to You was put to the test - ‘Test your servants’ (Daniel 1:12). Our faith is put to the test. We ‘suffer many …

A time of salvation and a time of judgment

The Word of God points us forward to “the end times” (Daniel 12:4,7-9,13). There will be a time of salvation. There will be a time of judgment. Those who have believed in our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, are called to win others for Him. Along with the call to be faithful and fruitful servants …

“Daniel saw a vision” (Daniel 8:1).

With this vision, there was the explanation. Daniel falls down. He hears these words, “Son of man, understand that the vision is about the end times” (Daniel 8:17). Daniel does not remain facedown. He is lifted up: “Then he touched me and raised me to my feet” (Daniel 8:18). Daniel 8 ends with these words …

Everlasting God, Everlasting Love, Everlasting Kingdom

Daniel 4:1-37 ‘His Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation’(3). The generations rise and fall - ‘You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning... by evening it is dry and withered’; ‘As for man, his days are like grass... the …

One Year Bible: Days 334-361

Day 334 Daniel 7:1-8:14; 1 John 2:12-27; Psalm 136:13-26 Daniel 7:13-14 looks forward, prophetically, to the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the future towards which history is moving, the future towards which God is working, the future of the Kingdom of God. This world is passing away, "but the man who …

God’s eternal Kingdom

Daniel 2:24-3:12; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 135:1-12 God is sovereign. He is establishing His Kingdom which is heavenly, eternal and glorious - “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed ... it will itself endure for ever” (Daniel 2:44). Alongside the sovereignty of …

God’s Kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end.

Daniel 5:17-6:28; 1 John 1:1-2:11; Psalm 136:1-12 “For He is the living God and He endures for ever; His Kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end” (Daniel 6:26). “His love endures for ever” (Psalm 136). God is the God of love. His Kingdom is the Kingdom of love. God is eternal. His …

When the Lord spoke to me, I was strengthened.

Daniel 9:20-11:1; 1 John 3:11-4:6; Psalm 137:1-9 “When He spoke to me, I was strengthened” (Daniel 10:19). The strength we receive from the Lord is a greater strength than the temptations we face – “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). To know …