Still Faithful After All These Years

Well, the title of our sermon study today, Still Faithful After All These Years. Still Faithful After All These Years. And I invite you to open your Bibles, and let's open them together to the 10th chapter of Daniel, if you will. Daniel chapter 10. We're going to begin in verse 1. Now, some of you may remember, we did start a series in Daniel, and we took a break from it as we went into the Holy Days to switch our focus onto that.

So today, we're going to turn our focus back on to the book of Daniel. And here in chapter 10, we find Daniel some 70 years after the time that we were introduced to him in chapter 1. And here he stands, still faithful after all these years.

Not to be confused with the 1970s hit Simon and Garfunkel, you know, still crazy after all these years. But that may certainly describe some of us here today. But here, Daniel is still faithful. So many years have passed. So let's establish our foundation.

This is a wonderful chapter by reading these 21 verses. And we're going to see that Daniel once again is recipient of a vision. Daniel 10, beginning in verse 1. In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, 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 he had understanding of the vision.

In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. So after he receives this vision, he goes into mourning. 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. Now, on the 24th day of the first month, as I was by the side of a great river, that is the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man was clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of uphaws.

His body was like a burial, his face was like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet were burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words were like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, stood alone, and alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision. But a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore, I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me.

For my vigor was turned to frailty, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of the words, and while I heard the sound of the words, I was in a deep sleep on my face, and my face was to the ground. Verse 10, Suddenly a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palm of my hands.

So just pause for a moment. This is now an angelic figure comes into the picture here. He's not named, but this could be the archangel Gabriel. You know, Gabriel was dispatched to Daniel throughout all the previous chapters. Verse 11, And he said to me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have been sent to you.

While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words. Verse 13, But the prince of the kingdom of Persia, let's stop there for a moment. Now we're being introduced here to a satanic agent here. Maybe one who was assigned to a particular area, a particular territory, the Persia realm here. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me.

He withstood God's angel. 21 days. And behold, Michael, one of the chief priests, you know, Michael is one of the most powerful angels of God. Michael came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.

And when he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. Only one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, My Lord, because of the vision, my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength.

For how can this servant of my Lord talk with you, my Lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor any breath left in me. Then again, one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said to me, O man, greatly beloved, fear not, peace be with you, be strong, yes, be strong. And when he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my Lord speak, for you have strengthened me. Verse 20, then he said, Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return and fight with the Prince of Persia.

And when I have gone forth, indeed the Prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. No one upholds me against these, except Michael, your Prince. Let's stop there. Quite a passage. Let's start off by asking a question. The question is this. What is actually wrong with our world today? What is wrong with our world? Why is it so unbelievably broken? Have you thought about that?

Why is that? This is a question that many have been putting forth, especially in the environment in which we live today, especially with the chaotic events happening in society, chaotic events even in the church, chaotic events that have seeped into our homes. You may be asking yourself, you may be coming this afternoon, and you're hoping that somewhere along the way you might find an answer. You're deeply concerned. What is wrong with the world? How do we account for all these atrocities that we see in the world? What is wrong with the world? Why are all of our attempts at unity? Unity in the nations, unity in our churches, unity in God's church, unity in the homes.

What accounts for so much conflict? Why have all these attempts at unity have failed? Perhaps more importantly in all to ask, when will it ever end? Well, these questions do abound more than ever today. As we get back to our studies here in Daniel, what we quickly realize is that the 10th chapter of Daniel actually helps answer these questions. Reading Daniel chapter 10, we soon realize that this chapter gives us the answers.

Daniel was given a vision. He's given the ability to understand the message. It's caused him great concern, we see here. We see that end of verse 1, he understood the message. He had understanding of the vision. Verse 2, it moved him to mourning three full weeks. So what this chapter has made clear is, and this vision made clear to Daniel, makes clear to us today, is the truth, one truth, and it's this. It is that the conflict that is happening here on earth, the conflict that was happening in Jerusalem at the time that Daniel was recording this, the earthly conflict is directly tied to the conflict that is happening in the heavenly realms.

I wonder if you've thought about that. And that the unfolding drama of our history needs to be understood in light of all that the Bible says about our history. We've said it on several occasions that the only way that someone can understand this world in world history is by our Bibles, by looking at it from the perspective of the Bible. And even though we don't find all the events of history recorded in the Bible, even though we don't find all the conflicts on the earth recorded in the Bible, it's quite clear.

It's quite clear to us that there's something occurring here in these events and in these conflicts, and there's something far deeper that's here before us. Something far more sinister is behind these horrific events of our world, and particularly the events that are in fierce opposition to Jesus Christ and those who will put forth his message. And so our attempt to answer the question, why is the world in such chaos? Why is the message of Jesus Christ so manifestly opposed? It is Daniel chapter 10 that brings out clearly that there is an evil one and his demons that are actually behind the chaos. And it is they who are behind the opposition to anyone who would put forth the message of God.

So in answering these questions, what is wrong with the world, we come to Daniel chapter 10 and it gives us some understanding of it. Because we read of these, here in Daniel chapter 10, we read of these heavenly conflicts, these conflicts, these battles that are happening in the spiritual realm. That's what we're reading here. Look at this again, verse 13.

This angelic figure, perhaps Gabriel, explains. Verse 13, the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me, he says. 21 days, and behold, Michael, another powerful angel of God, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone with the kings of Persia. Go down to the second half of verse 20. We have this angelic figure concluding. And now I must return, verse 20, to fight with the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

Incredible. So we have all these battles that are occurring here around Daniel in the heavenly realms, isn't it? And know that they're occurring today. And this understanding and this fact is not something that just springs upon us in chapter 10. This spiritual conflict was announced from the very beginning of Scripture. We won't turn there, but we know Genesis chapter 3, of course. God is speaking to the serpent, and he says, the serpent, which is Satan, he says, the Lord will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed, your offspring, and her offspring.

And then speaking of Christ, he shall bruise your head, serpent, and you shall bruise his heel. So from the very beginning, we have prophecy pointing to and pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who would come, and Satan the devil would be in complete opposition to him.

And so, as a result of all the conflict in the world, all the conflict in the world can ultimately be traced to that one root. One root. Now, you're not going to get that in the evening news, I will tell you. You're not going to get an article or a newscaster that says, well, you know, this conflict over in this region, it's really no surprise, because after all, we exist with conflict in the heavenly realms.

You're not going to get that in the evening news, or the commentary that explains a particular earthly conflict is a result of the great cosmic battle which ensues in the realm that we cannot see. You know, more news at five. You're not going to hear that. Why won't you hear that? Well, it's because society doesn't look at this unfolding of history from the perspective of the Bible. We know that. But if they did, they would be able to read Paul's words. We won't turn there. But in Ephesians 6, what did Paul say?

We know what Paul said. Who were you actually battling against? Is it earthly conflicts, ultimately? No. Paul says, a real fight is not against a physical enemy. Our real fight is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. And he says, quote, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness in this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. So our battle is not physical. This is the real battle. This is where it comes from. We're up against unseen powers that control this dark world, spiritual agents from the headquarters of an evil realm.

So we're going to have to decide whether we believe that or not. If you do, once you do accept this, once you begin to look at history, in the unfolding of history, in the realm of the Bible, you realize that all that you see, the conflicts, the chaos, it's not simply a result of political missteps or bad actors, bad actions. Rather, we see that all of it can be traced back to dark, sinister, unseen forces that are at work. In the opposition to God and His purposes, individuals are used knowingly and unwittingly as agents for that purpose.

It sounds bizarre, doesn't it? It really does. But I found one quote. This is a one quote from a theologian from the 1800s. His name is Abraham Kuyper. I think he put it pretty well. Listen to what he said. Abraham Kuyper from the 1800s, a theologian, he said, sweeping everything within its range, that the fierce battle ever fought on earth would seem by comparison a mere game.

It's not here, but it's up there, is where the real conflict is waged, and our earthly struggle drones in its backlash. In other words, the most powerful forces in what we're actually dealing with are these unseen forces here. I think it's good to be reminded of this because we may live largely, and in some cases, completely unaware of the spiritual battles that are ensuing in these spiritual realms. But if we ever doubted that occurs, you come to Daniel chapter 10, and you see it. It's here. It's all here. God is revealing to and through his servant Daniel, 6 centuries BC, and what he's putting forth to Daniel is the fact of the immediacy of the conflict that Daniel was seeing in Jerusalem at that time.

Daniel is seeing the immediacy of this conflict that's happening in Jerusalem, and all that God's people are facing down here, it's emblematic of that which is continuing up there in the spiritual realms. So, long introduction, but I think it's purposeful because we want to set this foundation here properly as we move into these final chapters of Daniel.

It's really important to get our perspective straight and know actually what we're dealing with in these final, climatic chapters. So, we want to set the stage today, and with this study, we don't so much want to get into the specifics of this vision. We will get that God willing for our next time, but I think what might be important as we move into these final, climatic visions and messages in the end of the last few chapters of Daniel, I think it's important for us to set a foundation.

And one way we can do that is actually to take a look at Daniel at this point in his life. Where is Daniel here? Where is he? Where is he physically? Where is he spiritually? Here in Daniel 10. By doing so, it will help us set a foundation so we'll have a perspective as he moves through these next visions that he's receiving. It'll help us move through as well. And what we find here is in Daniel 10, Daniel is still here. He's still here. He's still working for God. He's still faithful to God.

He's still withstanding all of Satan's attacks. He's still here. It's really quite amazing. We find him here and knowing all that he's been through in the first nine chapters and he's just withstanding all these fiery darts that Satan is sending to him and sending at him. And here he still stands. Still receiving visions and messages. It's really quite amazing. Let's reflect on Daniel for a moment today and here in chapter 10. We are going to reflect back on Daniel. I think it's actually appropriate because we see here that verse 1 of chapter 10 actually seems to be doing the same thing.

It seems to be taking us back to the beginning of where this book started. You'll see in verse 1 there, Daniel chapter 10 verse 1, it identifies the timeframe. You'll notice it says, The third year of Cyrus, the king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel who was named Belteshazzar. It's interesting. Everything in Scripture is given on purpose, even the little details.

So we know his name was Belteshazzar, don't we? So why mention it here? I think, presumably, it is reminding us of all that has proceeded forward at this point. So in this reflection, let's look back a little bit. I want you to keep your marker here in Daniel 10. But let's look back to Daniel chapter 1 for just a moment. In verse 7, it is kind of a reflection there, there in verse 1 of chapter 10.

It's a reflection back to the very beginning. Let's look at Daniel chapter 1 and verse 7. We see how he got that name. Daniel 1 verse 7, the chief of the eunuchs gave them their names. It says, verse 7, Daniel was called Belteshazzar. And then, so we see that reflection back. And then, allow your eyes to go down to verse 21 of chapter 1. Daniel 1 verse 21, it says, And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus. Until the first year of King Cyrus. So Nebuchadnezzar besieges the city. Daniel and his friends, of course, are held captive in God's people. Until, it says, the first year of the King of Cyrus.

So, going back to chapter 10 and verse 1, again, chapter 10 and verse 1, it opens in that way where it says, again, chapter 10 verse 1, in the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia.

We have a reflection back, don't we? We have a reflection back on his name. It was changed. We have a reflection back that all this was to be. Daniel was to remain there until the King of Persia, Cyrus, the first year. And you notice it said, the first year in chapter 1, here in chapter 10, it says, now we're in the third year. So we are two years after the first year, of course. And it's not a conflict. Chapter 1 didn't say he would be there until the first year and then he'd be gone. It just says he'd be there until the first year. And maybe the first year of King Cyrus's reign, maybe it kind of rounded out the formal service of Daniel. You know, he was kind of in retirement mode now, now that we're in the third year. I don't know. Perhaps that's the case. But by the time we get to the third year of the reign of Cyrus, Daniel was confronted by this vision. So we see kind of a reflection here, back to the very beginning, in the way that chapter 10 opens. And I think a reflection, therefore, is good for us to take a look at Daniel again and pause a moment to see where Daniel is and certain aspects of Daniel that will help us before we move into the final phase of these visions. So I want to reflect on three aspects of Daniel's life up to this point. See where he is physically, spiritually. Let's see where he is here in three aspects of Daniel's life that we're going to look at, and it will certainly help us. Number one aspect to notice of Daniel at this point in his life, as noted in chapter 10, is to notice his number one enduring faithfulness. I want to notice first his enduring faithfulness. Because by the time you get to chapter 10, Daniel's an old man. He's an old man, if you will. If he was taken away at age 18 in chapter 1, which we can kind of guesstimate. He was in his teens. Chapter 10, we know, comes some 70 years after that point. Some 70 years have lapsed. So he's in his 80s. He might perhaps be 88 years old. His eighth decade.

We certainly would hope that we can make it to that eighth decade, but this is where Daniel is physically. In this time stamp of the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia, it's a good marker for us here. We do know that 70 years have passed. After 70 years from the besieging in chapter 1, we're given the prophecy we're going to look at that they would be in exile for 70 years. But now, in Daniel chapter 10, that exile has ended. Let's see this. I just want to show you very briefly, so we know where we are in Daniel's life here as we think about his faithfulness. Go with me. Keep your marker here. Go with me to Jeremiah 25, if you will. I want you to see this. This is pretty amazing. This prophecy of Jeremiah gives it all here, tells us what is going to happen in the future. It's proof of who God is.

Jeremiah 25, we're going to begin in verse 8. Let's turn to this prophecy for just a moment because we see in Daniel 10, this prophecy is being fulfilled. Jeremiah 25, we're going to begin in verse 8. Jeremiah is going to tell us they would be in captivity with Nebuchadnezzar for 70 years. That's going to take us right up to our study in Daniel chapter 10. Jeremiah 25, beginning in verse 8 through 11.

This is Jeremiah prophesying.

He says, We know this occurred in Daniel chapter 1. Moreover, verse 10, I will take from them the voice of mirth, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom. I'm going to take the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. Verse 11, Daniel 10, chapter 10, is now after the 70 years are completed. Turn with me just one more spot to really nail this down. It's Ezra chapter 1. Turn with me to Ezra chapter 1, if you will. We're going to read verses 1 through 4. Just to really nail down where we are at this moment in Daniel's life. Ezra chapter 1, and we're going to read verses 1 through 4, where we see the 70 years completed, and we see now Jerusalem and Judah are released to go back to their homeland. The prophecy is now completed. Ezra chapter 1, let's read verses 1 through 4, and we're going to see Cyrus mentioned here, the king of Persia. Ezra 1, verse 1, Now, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, we just read that, might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout the kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, all the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me, and he has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is among you of all his people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord of Israel. He is God, which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold and goods and livestock, besides all the free will offerings for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem. So let's stop there. So here we see the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia. God stirred his heart to make a proclamation, put it in writing, to allow God's people to return. And so this prophecy is being fulfilled in the first year of Cyrus. And again, we know in Daniel 1, we saw that this matches up, so God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to overtake God's people. And it says that Daniel would be there to the first year of Cyrus, Persia, the king.

And God inspired Jeremiah, we just read, to prophesy that the time is coming, 70 years. When the people of God would be able to return back to Jerusalem to build the house of the Lord there.

So that's where we are. That's where we are in Daniel chapter 10. Daniel reflects back, Daniel is now in the third year of King Cyrus. So this is two years after the decree. He's there. Two years after the people of God were able to return. And we could say, how is it possible that the people of God were able to return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile? How is that possible? God declared it. He proclaimed it. Sent the prophecy through Jeremiah. Ezra. They all proclaim it. God says it's done. Very important to understand. Cyrus would make this public decree. He would even help them get back there with silver gold things to help them in their return. A number of them leave and go back to Jerusalem. But you'll notice Daniel does not go back, does he?

It's the third year. He's still there. Interesting. I wonder if that strikes you. Wouldn't you think that Daniel, after the decree was made in the first year of Cyrus, wouldn't you think he would be the first one to go back? He's been so instrumental and so involved in all that God has done in these 70 years for him to be on the forefront to say, I'm going back. But he doesn't. Two years after the proclamation, he's still there.

Why? We don't know.

Perhaps if you're in your 80s, you presumably don't want to do things that you maybe would have done in your younger years. Perhaps if he was younger, he would have returned. But, of course, he wasn't as physically commanding as he once was in his youth. There were others that were taking the forefront. Ezra, his helpers, people put in place to do some of the heavy lifting. But Daniel stays. But even in his 80s, he still does heavy lifting of his own. He turns himself to God. He turns himself over to God completely. And there's a reason that Daniel's still here. There's a reason that Daniel's still being used by God with these visions and these messages. After so long, there's a reason of his enduring faithfulness.

Let's see a little bit of reason why. Turn back with me to Daniel 10, if you will. It's here we see why he was able to endure. We see the actions that he would take and how he responded to these things. We see his faithfulness on full display. Daniel 10, if you'll turn back with me, if you kept your mark, you'll be helped.

But notice right after the vision, this message is given to him in verse 2. Let's read the latter part of verse 1 and verse 2 again. The latter part of verse 1 of chapter 10 of Daniel. The message was true, but the appointed time was long. He understood the message and he had an understanding of the vision. Verse 2, in those days, he says again, I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. This is his response to the vision. 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. We'll stop there. So having understood the vision of this great conflict and revealed to him, what does he do? He turns himself fully to God, doesn't he?

afflicts himself to the Lord, dedicates himself three weeks to reach out to God for help, for his people.

This is his response. And this vision, what it did, really, it gave him full awareness of the incredible conflict that was ensuing in Jerusalem at that time. He's now fully aware that the people, when they returned back to the land, after Cyrus made the proclamation, they faced incredible opposition in returning, incredible conflict. And so he's able to see, and this vision gives him, this incredible conflict that's happening in the heavenly realms, all at the same time, this incredible conflict that's happening there in Jerusalem. God's agents, God's angels fighting the good fight, God's people on earth fighting the good fight. All this is happening at the same time. It's all coming to his awareness. So you see why it affects him this way.

It affected him drastically.

You see these battles, spiritual realms, earthly realms.

He's turning himself to God, turns his face to God, turns his devotion to God. By the way, when we talk about enduring faithfulness, I want you to note something here in this stage of where Daniel is in his life. All that's occurring at this moment in his life, these visions, the message of the visions, he's not going to have any immediate part of anymore. All of this is the conclusion he would not see, just because of the stage in life that he is. So he absolutely needed enduring faith. This is one of the great tests. Especially those who are later in their life. Maybe some of you here, the later chapters of your life. This is the great test. As God is fulfilling these prophecies then, there was a key, the key to allowing God to fulfill his prophecies today, is to have leaders prepared to lead, even though they're not going to see the fulfillment of the vision. Very important. The key is that they remain faithful, fully engaged, fully committed, even though they might not live long enough to see the final fulfillment of it. It's very crucial.

Because if we want to operate only in that of which is immediately gratifying to us, we won't make a dent in God's purposes.

The real test, especially if you're in the later years of life, is to be prepared to see beyond the parameters, to see beyond the horizon of your lifespan, and to give yourself to enduring faithfulness to that which you may never enjoy in this lifetime. It's exactly what Daniel is doing here. He's engaged in this, even though he won't see the end of it, the conclusion of it. So that which we labor long for, pray long for, we may never see the end of it, it won't be ours to enjoy in this life.

Maybe it's only to enjoy in the next life to come.

So we add enduring faith. That's the number one reflection. Number one reflection there, enduring faith.

Second aspect to consider as we reflect at this moment in the life of Daniel, is to reflect and to note that he was number two, fearful.

He had enduring faith, true, but he also had fear. He was fearful. I'm not going to go through all the chapter, but you see how many times this notion comes forward here in this chapter 10. The message is given to him. He's given understanding. We see how he responds again, mourning for three weeks, devastated by this vision, perhaps devastated by the difficult reports that were coming back from Jerusalem at that time, of his loved ones, his people.

For your homework, we won't turn there, but Ezra chapter 4 details the building, the attempt to build the temple back, and how it came to a crashing halt. Once those individuals realized that those returning were still serving and dedicated to their God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our God, once they realized that they were still faithful, they pushed back. They faced incredible opposition. Eventually, the rebuilding would be stopped. It was opposed. Daniel is fearful. He's fearful for his people. Again, he's seen what's happening in the heavenly realms. He's seen what's happening in the earthly realms of Jerusalem. And he's fearful. And I find this greatly helpful because these two things can go together. Some people think, you know, if you're faithful, you won't be fearful. Some people think that. It's not true. Or if you're fearful, you won't be faithful. Now, I think it's a beautiful combination, actually. Certainly throughout all the Bible.

Gideon, you mighty man of valor, his response? I think you got the wrong person. I'm the least. I'm the least of my clans the least, and I'm the least of the clan, you know. But fear rises to the occasion in faith. Jeremiah, we read of his prophecy. He responded by saying, I can hardly speak. I'm only a youth. What can I do? Fear rises to the occasion in faith. Moses, you're the man to go to Pharaoh, say, let my people go.

I'm not a good public speaker, you know, he said. I think you need my brother, you know.

Fear, but faith would come. He who was faithful unto death, who received all glory from God, the Father, in the garden of Gethsemane, if it's all possible, Father, let this cup pass from me.

Ah, but he steps up, has fear, steps up in faith. Faithfulness, fearful. And Daniel was fearful.

You see, that's the word given to him from the angelic visitor. Let's read verses 10 through 12 again. Here in Daniel chapter 10, verses 10 through 12, Suddenly a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak. Stand upright, for I have been sent to you. For while he was still speaking the word to me, I stood trembling. And he said to me, here it is, do not fear. Do not fear.

So number one, enduring faith. Number two, fearful. It's fear that steps up to faith. Number three, to reflect on Daniel. Number three, to note at this time in his life, is that he was frail. Frale. Pretty straightforward. Faithful, fearful, and frail. After receiving this vision, a great burden was placed upon him. So severe, we see Daniel's frailty comes to the forefront. He's a man in his eighties. Verse 8, No strength remained in me, for my vigor was turned to frailty in me. He struck speechless. Look at verse 15 through 17. Verse 15 through 17. When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. Suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him, Who stood before me, my Lord, because of the vision, my sorrows have overwhelmed me. I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my Lord talk with you, my Lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.

Look at the response here in verse 18. Then again, verse 18, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, O man, greatly beloved, fear not, peace be to you. Here we go. Be strong. Yes, be strong.

That's the message throughout all the Bible to God's servants. And if you think along the lines, we are frail, we're but a breath here today, gone tomorrow. And I think Daniel chapter 10 has a particular word to speak to those who are in the second and maybe in the later chapters of their life. A certain demographic who were born a little bit earlier than others. I think it is a specific word. And the word is this, and I want to give you this word. I want you to recognize that you're not here by chance. And you haven't lived this long on this earth by coincidence. And don't believe the culture. The culture will say, your best days are past.

You've got nothing to say, nothing to do. And I want to let you know that chapter 10 of Daniel confronts that notion. And if you're tempted to think in this way, I want to suggest to you that you take a leaf out of the book of Daniel and out of his life.

You know, I don't think Daniel spent his time at this moment in his life solely reflecting back on the good day, the good old days, you know. Boy, if you had seen us in our teenage years and my buddies, we did quite a work. Why wouldn't you find him necessarily doing that?

Why not? It's because he still knows he has a work to do. There's still work to be done. There's no time for nostalgia. There's no time for resting in the past.

Now, his work's not the same, is it? He's not returning back to Jerusalem with the others. The others were returning and they were going to have to do a work. Maybe new generations were coming back to Jerusalem. They had their own work to do, their own challenges to face.

But Daniel still had a work to do. A work as God enabled him to do.

What was his work? At this point in his life, it was to listen to the voice of God. It was to seek his face. And it was to pray for the people.

An amazing privilege. You look at what Daniel did here and the response that he had. For three whole weeks, he just wants to turn himself fully over to God. This is what he could do at this time in his life. I don't know. There's certain indications that he did fast here. He afflicts his soul. But I like the aspect, and this made me think about that he also specifically mentions that he goes without desirable food.

Maybe, maybe, we don't know, Daniel was in a state of his physical ability that he couldn't fast. He couldn't physically fast. But what he could do? He could afflict his soul by not taking desirable food. He could do that. And he could pray. And he could turn himself to God. He could listen to God's Word. You know, these are things that he can do. So he didn't look at what he can't do anymore. Maybe he couldn't physically return to Jerusalem. He didn't focus on that. He thought, what can I do today? Where God has placed me and what he's enabled me to do at this time in my life? And he did it. What an amazing privilege God gave him. So if you find yourself discouraged, disheartened, thinking somehow or another your usefulness is gone, I have another thing to tell you. Pay attention to this. There's still work to be done. There's still a wholehearted devotion and a turning to God still left. No matter what stage in life you are, this still has to be done. Dependence on God, praying to him, afflicting yourself so you can be removed from any distractions, so you can focus fully on God. What can you do?

You know, we could describe Daniel at this point in his life as an old clay pot, for sure. You know, chipped, cracked, no doubt. Maybe there's a few old clay pots here today. I won't have you identify yourself or your wife can tell you on her way home that you're one.

Increasingly cracked, you know. Physically, as we get later in life, there's a degenerative aspect physically, isn't there? There's even something emotionally degenerative that happens. Even cognitive memory, you know, you name it. We have these certain aspects, we recognize that.

But God has purpose for you to be here today on this particular afternoon in God's fold, in the fold of his church today, and recognize it's not over till it's over. That would have been a better title, I think, for this message. It's not over till it's over. And if it's not over, recognize what you can do today.

You can be part of an incredible untold numbers of faithful, fearful, frail servants working. Those working today. Untold numbers, untold names of God's people working until the last day that God gives them here on this earth. And they're not going to stop a minute sooner.

I think we might be surprised to see at Christ's return who's at the forefront of God's saints at that time. I think we might be surprised. You know, I don't remember her ever heading up this or that. What do you and I know? The God who sees in secret will reward openly.

You know, perhaps you don't have a high profile. You know, He didn't have a high profile. What is He doing at the forefront here? Or She didn't have a high profile. Apparently, I didn't believe they did anything. You know, you don't realize. I don't realize. The faithful, fearful, frail ones might actually be first.

Okay, well, our time is up. Daniel in his 80s, still receiving these incredible visions, still working the work of God, not nostalgia, not a dim flickering light, an inner roaring flame well into his age, into old age. An ongoing commitment to God and what God has given him to do and what God has enabled him to do at this moment. I think that you see in the life of an individual, I think the life of this church and the success of this church will be these faithful, fearful, frail men and women. It'll be they who galvanize, sustain, develop, quicken the coming generations. I truly believe that. So as these new generations are going back and they're starting their chapter in Jerusalem and they're heading back, there's Daniel. There's Daniel after all these years. God's still giving Daniel these visions and it's an excitement and he's got this work that he's doing through Daniel.

That can be you. God's still doing a work through him, just in a different way. When our next study, I hope to get to the details of this vision in these final chapters. We know ultimately at the end will be the culmination of the one Jesus Christ who will return and reign forever and ever. But until that time, may God find us still faithful after all these years.