You Are Greatly Loved
Daniel 9
October 11, 1998

Introduction:

A. Do you remember the first time you really felt love?

1. Dad picking me up after work; Mom taking care of me when I was sick
2. Contrasted a friend’s unloving home with my own parents: I came home and thanked my parents for loving me

B. Most of us want to be loved and in one way or another advertise for people to please care about us.

1. Some do it by their sad stories
2. Other do it by abilities
3. Still others do by mental telepathy: "If they really love me they will..."

C. That God loves us is a fact that many of us gradually absorb
D. That God would greatly love someone is notable

1. Daniel is one of two people in the Bible that this special notation is made about their lives.
2. I would like that to be said about me at the end of my life

I. What Did the Love of God Do for Daniel?

A. What it didn’t do: keep him from tough times

1. Abuse of war and captivity being taken away in chains
2. The loss of all things
3. Constant threat of death (chapter 2, 3 and 6)
4. Persecution of jealous peers

B. What the love of God did do for Daniel

1. He determined not to defile himself
2. Made him a student of the Word (vrs. 2)
3. Man of prayer (6:10b)
4. Immediate response to his prayer (vrs. 23a)

a. but note in Chapter 10: 2 & 12 the prayer takes time...
b. real spiritual warfare delayed the answer to his prayer

5. Special insight into God’s plan

Ps. 25: 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

II. What are the Conditions for Being Greatly Loved?

A. It is not based on past performance:

1. Abraham: liar and partially obedient
2. Jacob: Rom. 9:13 "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
3. David: adulterer, murderer, poor father
4. Solomon: (2 Sam. 12:24)

B. It is based on God’s choice

1. How do I know God has loved me?

Jer. 31:3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

2. How much has God loved me?

a. It began before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4)
b. It was proven at the cross of Christ (Is. 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands")
c. He made sure you heard about His love
d. He stands in your place before the Father right now
e. He is coming again for you

3. What kind of love is it?

a. First it is choice
b. Second it is family love
c. Third it is emotional love

John 16: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. (phileo)
Zeph. 17: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

C. How many were chosen to be loved?

John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1. God’s love isn’t enough...
2. God’s Son’s death isn’t enough...
3. God’s patience isn’t enough...
4. Gods’ direct interventions aren’t enough to bring some people to repentance from their sin

D. Your choice...

1. God’s love for you doesn’t activate His forgiveness of you

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
|Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Ephesians 2: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--