Daniel 10:18-19

Divine encouragement.

I. THE NEED OF ENCOURAGEMENT .

1 . In trouble. It is difficult to work bravely and earnestly in the midst of calamity. The calamities of Israel were discouragements in the way of the service of God.

2 . In guilt. Daniel had been confessing the sins of himself and his nation ( Daniel 9:5 ). Nothing is so depressing as the feeling of failure and the knowledge that it has come by our own fault.

3 . In weakness. The burden of the mystery of life oppresses all who feel it, as it oppressed Daniel. Before the needs of the world and the tasks of life the strongest man may well feel weak in his own resources, and then his weakness may damp his zeal for service.

4 . In fear. When the mystery of the future begins to unveil itself and future troubles appear to be drawing near, the vagueness with which they are seen magnifies the terror of them. The fear which is then roused paralyzes our energies.

II. THE SOURCES OF ENCOURAGEMENT .

1 . They are found in God. God sends the angel to strengthen Daniel Until we know God, we dread his presence; but when we know him, the more we enter into his presence, the more peace and confidence shall we receive.

2 . They spring from the love of God. Daniel is " greatly beloved. " The assurance of God's love is his greatest encouragement. If we know God loves us, we may be assured that he will ward off all real harm, and thus we may lose our fear in his love ( 1 John 4:18 ).

3 . They flow to us through channels of brotherly sympathy. "One like the appearance of a man" touched Daniel. God comes to us in "the Son of man," and through the brotherly sympathy of Christ communicates his Divine encouragement.

4 . They manifest themselves by practical results in communicating real strength. Daniel was strengthened. There is a real supply of spiritual strength which is bestowed by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The encouragement this gives is not only in idea, it is in fact. The weak man is encouraged by finding himself becoming strong in the strength of God ( Isaiah 40:29 ; 2 Corinthians 12:10 ).

III. THE WAY TO OBTAIN DIVINE ENCOURAGEMENT .

1 . By humility and contritions. Daniel had humbled himself and confessed sin, and thus was prepared for God's help. We can only be filled with God's strength when we are emptied of our own self-confidence.

2 . By prayer. Daniel was a man of prayer (verse 12). God encourages us in proportion as we seek his help.

3 . By faith As we trust God, he strengthens us, because his strength is spiritual and can only enter us as we voluntarily submit to his influence ( Hebrews 11:33 , Hebrews 11:34 ).

HOMILIES BY H.T. ROBJOHNS