Empowered To Do Exploits

EMPOWERED TO DO EXPLOITS

Dan. 11:32

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Sometimes husbands or wives find themselves in trouble. At a department store a clerk was helping a customer.

2. “Will that be cash, check, or charge?” the clerk asked the woman. As she fumbled for her wallet the clerk noticed a remote control for a television in her purse.

3. “So, do you always carry your TV remote with you?” the clerk asked.

4. “No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to come shopping with me and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally!”

5. How many of you know that husband is in trouble?

B. TROUBLE? RISE TO THE CHALLENGE!

1. In our text today we find that God’s people are living in times very unfavorable to them.

2. The Gov’t has not only told them they can’t practice their religion in public places, but now has invaded their church services and even private devotions to hinder their faith and promote abominations.

3. But God gives them a powerful and encouraging truth: if you draw near to God He will give us power to conquer/ overcome all the persecution of the devil can muster.

C. TEXT & TITLE

1. “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall

he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know

their God shall be strong, and do exploits”

Dan. 11:32 KJV.

2. The title of this message is , “Empowered to do Exploits.”

I. GOD WANTS HIMSELF KNOWN

A. A LOOK AT THE VERSE

1. “BUT…” This is an adversative, it states the opposite. Daniel has been describing the apostasy of the Jews, many turning away; disobeying. But some are not! Who is this group?

2. “THE PEOPLE” -- NOT ANGELS, NOT NATURE, or other creatures, but people.

3. “THAT DO KNOW.” The word “know” means “to perceive directly, to experience it yourself; to directly touch through one of your senses. First-hand knowledge!”

4. “THEIR GOD” – AMAZING!

a. It’s one thing to know about computers

“ “ “ construction, doing hair…

b. But to have knowledge of God – a firm grasp, experimental knowledge of the invisible, illimitable, all-powerful Creator. Wow!

c. Reminds me of the boy who was drawing a picture. The teacher asked, “What’s that?” “God.” “Nobody knows what God looks like.” Boy answered, “They will when I get finished!”

B. SCRIPTURE

1. “No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jer. 31:34.

2. “…but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” Jer. 9:24.

IT WAS SO FROM THE BEGINNING

1. Adam & Eve walked & talked with God.

2. Noah, Enoch, Abram & Sarah, & their descendants all knew God and walks with God.

3. The Bible is simply a record of people to whom God revealed Himself.

4. The question is, “Do WE really know God?” Not a point in time, but a walk.

II. TO NOT “KNOW” GOD IS PERILOUS

A. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS

1. They say “Ignorance is bliss.” Sometimes. I was crazy about hot dogs – until someone told me what were they were made of. (I still like them.)

2. A guy signed up for the military and thought it was going to be easy because he got assigned to Fort Bliss!

3. But to not know God is not bliss! It’s a grave danger.

4. In passage after passage, the Lord Jesus stresses the importance of intimate communion between us and God.

5. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matt. 7:21-23.

6. “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Luke 13:25.

B. LESSONS

1. Our relationship must be kept current. There can be no life without growth & progress.

2. Question: “Does a branch have roots?” No! Therefore it CAN’T draw water and nutrients from the ground. WE are the branches, Jesus is the trunk of the tree. Only He has Eternal life; we only have eternal life as we are connected with Christ. John said the same: 1 John 5:11-12.