| This work was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Eastview Baptist Church, Kentucky. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
(This Sermon was preached at Eastview Baptist Church during the
Evening Service on October 5, 2003.
All Scripture references used in this sermon are based upon
the NKJV®, unless otherwise stated)
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Introduction: I once heard of a woman who woke her husband in the middle of the night, and said, "Henry, wake up. I just had this terrible nightmare. I dreamed I was at an auction for husbands. One husband brought $10,000 and others sold for sums in the millions." That's all it took to get him awake. He asked, "Well, Honey, what were husbands like me bringing?" She said, "That's what was so disgusting. They were taking ones like you, tying them in a bundle, and selling them for a dollar a bunch." (R. Larry Moyer, "Right Smack in the Middle of Sin," Preaching Today, Tape No. 148.) The Babylonians placed a great amount of significance on dreams. They studied them and had books on how to interpret them and even how to induce them (DBG). We do the same thing today. You can go on the Internet or go to a book store and find the volumes of information from interpreting dreams to inducing dreams. Most of the time, our dreams are really based on nothing else other than events or situations that we face in day-to-day life. It is a way in which our minds deal with frustrations, worries, fears, or even joy. Sometimes dreams are sort of like a safety valve that allows us to release excess pressures in our lives without us blowing up. When I was in the Air Force, I had commander who was very frustrating to work with, so when my supervisor was gone I would have to interact with the commander directly and by the end of the week I would be having very frustrating dreams about him. I knew exactly what my dreams meant. We know from the Bible that sometimes God chose to communicate His will to people through their dreams, as is the case with Nebuchadnezzar. Who knows why God chose this method to deal with Nebuchadnezzar, maybe this was the only time when the king would let his pride and ego down long enough to even listen to God - after all most world conquerors tend not to be to very humble. There are a couple of things that we do know from our passage, and that God used this dream to reveal Himself to Nebuchadnezzar. And God used this dream to help build up His faithful, in their putting their faith to work. When God puts us in impossible situations, God doesn't want us to quit or give up on Him, but rather He wants to expand our faith by putting it into action. Transition: Let's begin by looking at. . . I. The Impossible Situation (vv.1-13).
- 1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.Application: Sometimes, God has to shake people at their very foundation to get their attention. One of the best times to share Christ with someone is when their lives have be shaken, because God has their attention if they will listen. Most people who would never admit to God's existence, will seek Him in prayer when trouble comes their way. Transition: Not only did God get Nebuchadnezzar's attention, He was about to reveal Himself to him by means of. . . 2. The King's troubling demands (vv.2-13). A. The King's demand (vv.2-3).Application: Did you notice in whom Nebuchadnezzar put his trust in? Did you see who he turned to first for his answers? We have many "experts" today who are willing to interpret your dreams; we have many fortune tellers ready to tell you what lays ahead in your future; we have those who claim to reveal all of life's secrets by talking with the dead; and lets not forget the "PhD's" of this world that we often turn to for the answers of life. The world is anxious for a "truth" that exists apart from revealing the true and living God. The wisdom they seek is a worldly wisdom that falls short of God's wisdom. 1 Corinthians 3:19-21, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness'; and again, 'The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.' Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:"- 2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream." B. The Worldly Experts Dilemma (vv.4-13). - 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation." 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 "However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation." 7 They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation." 8 The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 "if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation." 10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 "It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." 12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.Application: While man has made great strides in science, medicine, and technology, they still cannot do the impossible. They can't read the minds of people, let alone know what someone has dreamed. It was a desperate and impossible situation that had no earthly answer. The good news is when the world is without hope or answer, God is willing to step in. This is the same thing that God did when He sent Jesus Christ to save us. Man was in a desperate situation, he could not earn his salvation; Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Man is incapable of even giving up an sacrifice that will please a holy and just God; Hebrews 10:4, 6, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. . . In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure." This means mankind is also in an impossible situation, but Jesus tells us in Mark 10:27b, ". . .for with God all things are possible." God took an impossible situation with the fall of man because of sin, and made forgiveness possible; Romans 5:8-10, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Don't put your faith in the wisdom of the world, it cannot do the impossible. When the world finds itself in an impossible situation, then look for the One who can do the impossible. Transition: Not lets look at how God can use us in. . . II. Overcoming Impossible Situations
(vv.14-23). - 14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.Application: When you find yourself in an impossible situation, put your truth in the God who does the impossible, because He does great things which we cannot comprehend! Job 37:5, "God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend." We need to also remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 17:20, ". . For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Transition: Not only should we put our faith and trust in God during those impossible situations, but we need to also. . . 2. Take the situation to God in prayer (vv.17-18). - 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.Application: When we are faced with the impossible situation, lets not forget that we have a God who is rich in mercy because of His love for us (Ephesians 2:4). And because He is rich in His love and mercy we can go to Him in confident prayer; Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." And more importantly, lets not forget what happens when we lift up our prayers with others to God; Matthew 18:19-20, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Transition: Once we have taken the situation to the Lord in prayer, then we need to. . . 3. Look and listen for God to answer (v.19). - 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.Application: If we take the time to pray, then take the time to listen and expect God to answer. We often lift our prayers up to God, but forget to wait for an answer. Worst of all, we often pray as if we don't expect God to answer at all. It's like the story about the church who had a prayer meeting to pray for rain. Only one little girl came expecting God to answer, she came to the prayer meeting with an umbrella, but the rest of the people didn't. When you take something to the Lord in prayer, then do so with the expectation that He will answer. Transition: When God answers our prayers, lets not forget to. . . 4. Give praise where praise is due (vv.20-23). - 20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. 23 "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand."Application: Daniel's prayer of praise closed with thanks that God had revealed the king's dream to the four who had trusted Him. Daniel recognized that Nebuchadnezzar was on the throne because God determined to use him there to fulfill His will. We need to remember that it was God's, not Daniel's insight, gave Daniel the dream and its interpretation (BKC). The reason why God doesn't use us to accomplish His will, is we fail to give Him the credit that He deserves. Instead we try to steal His glory for ourselves; James 4:3, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." If you want God to use you to accomplish the impossible, then you need to be like Daniel and seek the God who does the impossible and give Him all the credit and praise. Invitation: A. Simply make yourself available for Him to use, and then put your trust in Him regardless of the outcome.2. The same God in heaven who answered the prayers of Daniel and his friends, is still in heaven waiting for us to pray and bring burdens to Him so He can answer our prayers to. 3. Remember, Daniel and his friends were all teenagers! A. Let's not underestimate our youths, and their ability to make an impact upon our world.
BKC - John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, The Bible
Knowledge Commentary. |