1. Study of the Book of Daniel What is the Message?
You meet a man, he is reading in the Book of Daniel, but he has little time.
How can you tell him in one sentence what is the Message of this book?
Question: What words would you give him
to think about on his way?

2. Some spontaneous ideas...
the struggle between light and darkness
emergence of the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God
The saints will receive the kingdom
The victory of the kingdom of God
Christ is coming again
the ability to stand firm, keep the commandments
Prophecy from the beginning to the end of the ages
Infidel rule over God's people
or...

3. Seek first the kingdom of God
Jeremiah 29
12 Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, says the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

4. What Daniel repeatedly saw
Their Current
Condition
The Promised
Ideal
Kingdoms of the World
God's People
reigning
over
Giving
blessings to
the
God's People
Kingdoms of the World

5. Daniel's Question He saw the continual oppression of God's people
Why is that?
How can it be prevented?
How long will it take?

6. Cause and Effect God may be found The captivity is turned
Seek for God with the whole heart
God cannot work
The captivity remains
Be indifferent towards God

7. Seeking with the whole heart...?
My life is in his hand and he can do whatever he wants.
Self no longer plays a role, it is hid in Christ, and not given any place
Examining my life: the things I am content with may be obstacles between me and God (example: Laodicea)
God can reveal my mistakes through others

8. Where is my heart?...the Answer!
... seek God with
my whole heart
recognize
the treasure
in the vessel
Treasure
Vessel
show me
a fault Me
the
other
... ME and nothing
but ME...
blaming
the vessel!
defending the fault

9. When selfishness reigns...
Treasure despising
the help ME
Line of sight
Vessel attacking
the helper
When the vessel is attacked and the treasure despised,
God is not sought with the whole heart, but rather ME.

10. Concentrating on the Treasure it is respected
When self is forgotten...
... seeking God with
the whole heart ...
Concentrating on the Treasure it is respected
Line of sight
Vessel is gratefully
received
... and pray that God shows me my mistakes,
And seek to please HIM.

11. Seeking with the whole heart what is it practically?
Accepting correction of mistakes with thanks
Ask the other person to show me my mistakes
Keep God's commandments
Follow Christ wherever He goes

12. Follow wherever He goes!
John 10
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Following after MYSELF!
what appears
important
Example: the wedding guests
- visit friends
- buy a cow
- marry
- funeral
Set priorities -
aiming for a goal!
Following after
CHRIST!
Examples:
The Canaanite Woman
The paralytic
The disciples of Jesus
Psalm 23 – He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
what really is
important

13. The Advantage of the Jews?
Exodus 13
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Exodus 14
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

14. Criticism – Good or Bad? “When someone shows me my faults” taken as
darkness and
discouragement
taken as a
bright, shining
light
Criticism brings trouble - no change is
accomplished in me
Criticism is valuable -
I can be changed

15. My attitude is crucial! Faults are revealed Listening to God's voice
Protecting
myself
Light
Darkness

16. If my people... 2 Chronicles 7
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Humbly bow before God
Pray
Seek God's face
Turn from wicked ways
God hears from Heaven
God forgives our sin
God heals our land