HOPE IN BABYLON

Main Scripture: Daniel 10:1-21 NLT (chapters 11-12)

Additional Scriptures: Ps. 147:10-11, Pr. 9:10, Ezra 4:4-5, Rom. 12:15, 1 Jn. 4:18, 2 Cor. 10:4-5, Dan. 12:1-2, Is. 6:1, Jer. 29:11, Ph. 1:6, Jn 3:16

POINTS:

• Apocalyptic writing means to reveal or unveil reality from God’s perspective.

• Apocalyptic writing is the Bible’s response to our anxiety

• Apocalyptic writing redirects our fear to Someone even more terrifying and trustworthy.

• Apocalyptic writing reminds us not to fear our future but to fear the Lord

• Fearing the Lord means having deep respect, reverence, and awe for God's power and authority

• When we pull back and enter into the suffering of others through heartfelt prayer, we engage in a deeper and truer reality.

• Our own fears burden us and keep us from entering into the suffering of others.

• Flipping our lid: When something triggers a traumatic memory, we go into survival mode. We “flip our lid” and the downstairs brain takes over. The connection between our upstairs and downstairs brain is lost. Therefore, we can no longer effectively communicate with others, control our emotions, or respond to reasoning.

• We put our lid back on through prayer and fasting.

• We take the fear captive by asking questions of our thoughts until we get to the root fear.

• We make the thought come into obedience with Christ by meditating on who God is…for us.