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Sunday 15 September 2002 - "Those that know their God"

(Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen)

Before the service, Rev Stegen shared of God's working in the Mpumalanga area. There was one person in particular that turned toGod, called many people to make restitution and apologies, and then passed away. The Kwasizabantu team had found the man in his last days of life and he was a miracle of grace in his conversion.

Dan 11:31 - 35

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

32 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.

33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

Historians say that this prophecy of Daniel went into fulfillment 168 - 167 BC. It was the time of the Maccabees. One can read their story in the Apocrypha book named Maccabees.

At that time in Israel there was a godly man named Mattathias, and one of his sons was Maccabees. Antiochus Epiphanes was the leader of the Greeks that ruled over Israel. He was a wicked despot and fiercely resisted the people of God. Even many of the Israelites deserted God, defected to the Gentiles and served their idols, but those of understanding stood firm against evil. It was a time of great trouble and betrayal in Israel. Antiochus even entered the temple of the Jews, erected his own altar, and sacrificed swine there. He desecrated Israel's sanctuary.

Yet, while all these disgraceful things took place and many were falling away, those that knew their God stood firm, and did "great exploits". They were persecuted, murdered, tortured, sawn in two, and many other indescribable sufferings, but yet they resisted evil to the very end. The enemy tried in all ways to destroy them, yet failed, for they remained faithful.

A certain Jewess had seven sons. They wanted her to blaspheme, but she refused. Eventually they tortured her seven sons to death in front of her, and killed her too. Yet she remained faithful until death.

Even in Daniel's day we find that he and his three friends would not defile themselves with the king's food. Moses too chose rather to suffer affliction with the children of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. These were "men of understanding". They knew how a Christian should walk, dress, and behave. There was no confusion in their minds. These were people that "withstood sin to the shedding of blood" (Hebr 12:4).

If you know your God and His greatness, how is it that you cannot even trust Him to deliver you from sin? He came to deliver you from sin, and if you do not trust Him for that, you do not know Him.

Remember therefore to

• Resist evil to the end
• Know God
• Do great exploits through Him