WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.620 Good morning everyone. That was a great verse that Banda read to us a minute ago. 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:13.439 Not to us, not to us, but to your name be the glory. Let's bow our heads and pray. 00:00:15.259 --> 00:00:21.600 We do pray Lord Jesus in everything we do and even right now as we read your word and listen to it preached as I speak it, 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:25.920 that you would speak to us by your spirit and that you would glorify your name. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:28.879 And we pray this in Jesus' precious name. Amen. 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:39.460 Great Britain's wartime Prime Minister was Winston Churchill, probably Prime Minister at the time of the story that Banda told to us this morning. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:48.900 And sometime after the war a newspaper editor wrote to him to approve a list of those who had been his teachers. 00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:53.120 And he sent the list back with this written across the top of it, 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:57.400 you've omitted to name my greatest teacher my mother. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:02.399 And that's not normally how a teenager sees their mum, is it? 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:04.579 Not quite there yet. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:09.379 And maybe when we all get to 60 and we've been a world leader, 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:14.400 maybe we'll talk about our mums in different terms from where we did when we were back there a bit. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:19.480 But it's a great comment and it's a wonderful expression of a mother's significance. 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:23.579 I think we all care about significance. 00:01:24.980 --> 00:01:27.620 We like to think that we make a difference in the world. 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:34.820 Maybe as a mum providing a safe and nurturing environment for her kids. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:40.979 Or a dad providing and caring for his family and leading them in Christ. 00:01:43.039 --> 00:01:45.799 Our significance is a really important concept. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:50.679 How we see ourselves matters to life. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:54.539 None of us wants to see our children anorexic or bulimic. 00:01:54.859 --> 00:02:00.819 None of us wants to go into a marriage or see our child go into a marriage where they are oppressed and abused. 00:02:02.299 --> 00:02:04.840 The world certainly cares about significance. 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:11.539 You get measured and maybe you measure yourself at the end of high school with a UAI or an ATAR ranking. 00:02:11.539 --> 00:02:14.799 We care about things like our job title. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:15.979 We care about our pay. 00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:17.699 We care about the house we live in. 00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:19.519 The possessions we stuff it with. 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:21.139 The overseas trips we take. 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:24.560 We adopt a view of ourselves against other people. 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:30.459 If we know that we are paid more than them or if we've got more gifts and abilities than them. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.299 Or we can do more than them. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:37.519 We see ourselves in the light of the comparisons we make with other people. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:41.659 And so the need for significance is something which can cross a line. 00:02:41.760 --> 00:02:45.700 It can easily cross a line and become pride. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.700 And in the recesses of our heart, me measures me. 00:02:53.700 --> 00:02:59.560 And me quickly gives myself the heart tick of greater significance when I measure myself against others. 00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:03.620 And we have a very optimistic view of ourselves. 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:08.560 Now last week we began a new sermon series in Daniel. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:11.259 Sam Lowe took us through Daniel chapter 1. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:14.379 He set the scene in a horrific scenario. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:16.640 God's people fall under God's judgment. 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.120 They're conquered by the greatest superpower in the world at the time, Babylon. 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:23.599 Nebuchadnezzar is the emperor. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:26.360 He takes the nation's wealth and treasures. 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:28.099 He abolishes the way they worship. 00:03:28.540 --> 00:03:30.939 Ultimately, eventually, he destroys the temple. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:35.740 He takes the articles from the temple and puts them in the treasure house of his God. 00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:38.740 And in doing so, he effectively declares, 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:40.680 My God's better than your God. 00:03:42.359 --> 00:03:48.560 And so anybody in Judah who wasn't reading their Bible or listening to what God said through his prophets 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:50.719 may well have thought, well, that's true. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:59.479 But those who knew and paid attention and listened to the word of God would have known what was happening. 00:04:00.659 --> 00:04:03.539 God was punishing his people for unfaithfulness. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.819 Nebuchadnezzar was in God's hands. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.900 God was using him as an instrument of judgment. 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:18.420 Sam told us about the process of assimilation that Nebuchadnezzar put some of the people through. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:22.740 He took the best and the brightest from the nations that he conquered. 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:25.319 He gave them a great education. 00:04:25.540 --> 00:04:31.000 He trained them in Babylonian culture, arts, literature, religion, politics. 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:36.900 And four young men from Judah are named in chapter 1 in verses 6 and 7. 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:37.700 It says, 00:04:37.699 --> 00:05:00.060 And what you see is these men actually are given wonderful opportunities in this new land. 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:02.360 They're given position. 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:04.800 They're given prestige. 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:07.480 They're given opportunity for wealth. 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:12.180 They were connected to the elite of Babylonian society. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:16.860 And they were given a wonderful education to match. 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:21.860 And I was thinking about that. 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:32.080 Because in Aussie terms it's like being sent to Sydney Grammar or one of our other leading public schools, private schools. 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:36.920 Having all your fees and expenses paid for. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:44.759 And not being taught a scrap of any significance about Christ. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:50.480 And that made me wonder a little bit more because I thought, 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:56.500 Can a Christian person call a Christless education a good education? 00:05:56.500 --> 00:06:08.699 And the state and so many of our so-called top private schools have very little interest in educating children in the things of God. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.199 And nor do our universities. 00:06:14.579 --> 00:06:17.019 And we are a Christless society. 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:25.300 And so what we model and what we teach about Christ in our families and at our church is crucial. 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:29.860 We must not outsource the teaching of the faith to others. 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:38.840 It's a good place to honour mum because there are some mums in our church family who really get this and dads. 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:47.019 And see the absolute crucial importance of what we nurture in our families and our children about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:50.480 And you do a magnificent thing when you grasp hold of that. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:59.819 But in worldly terms, there's no doubt about it, these young men from Judah were in a place of great significance in Babylon. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:03.000 In human terms, you could say they fell on their feet. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:09.819 But significance in a Christless culture brought weighty challenges. 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:16.420 Sam brought out last week how they were easily able to say yes to some things in the culture, but no was necessary as well. 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:22.339 And so Daniel very respectfully said no to food from the king's table, for meat from the king's table. 00:07:22.339 --> 00:07:24.179 It was a moment of crisis. 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:29.259 There was a real possibility of him losing his life, his supervisor losing his life. 00:07:29.619 --> 00:07:37.579 The crisis passed because God caused Daniel and his compatriots to be able to survive, to be able to live on a vegan diet. 00:07:37.699 --> 00:07:38.839 And that's a miracle, isn't it? 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:43.679 And then chapter 1 finishes with them entering the king's service. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.479 They've served their traineeship and they're now full time. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:51.140 If we looked at chapter 2, you would see crisis again. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:55.520 Nebuchadnezzar, his advisors cannot interpret the dream. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.319 He has this dream, the advisors can't interpret it. 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:05.640 The despot is fed up with the lot of them and so he orders the execution of every wise one in the kingdom. 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:12.700 And I was thinking about that, that's like lining up the entire New South Wales public service and shooting the lot of them. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:14.400 Terrible. 00:08:14.400 --> 00:08:14.460 Terrible. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:16.960 Terrible. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:18.560 Does anybody work? 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:21.680 One or two of you. 00:08:21.780 --> 00:08:25.259 I said this morning, I think we'll spare the nurses and we'll spare the teachers. 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:29.560 And I'll apologise to anybody else later. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.899 But the executioner turns up at Daniel's place to do the deed. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:42.560 The short story is that God allows him to interpret the dream. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:50.699 Daniel brings a very severe word from God to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:55.399 And then the chapter finishes, verse 47, the king said to Daniel, 00:08:55.399 --> 00:09:02.639 Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords and a revealer of mysteries. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.419 For you were able to reveal this mystery. 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:20.279 And then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him and he made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:36.100 And moreover, at Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court. 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:42.840 The king is actually a Hindu at this point. 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:50.019 He's still got a cupboard full of gods that he worships. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:58.220 But what he's done is he's bowed and called Daniel's God, God of gods and Lord of kings. 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:03.279 And so he's taking him as well and adding him to the cupboard. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.259 Sometimes you've got to be careful when you talk to Hindu people because they do that. 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:14.160 They'll accept the name of Christ but haven't necessarily cast the others out of the cupboard. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:23.220 And chapter 1 ended with Daniel and his mates in the king's service. 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:31.460 Chapter 2 ends with Daniel elevated to ruler in Babylon and all his mates from Judah are administrators under him. 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:35.240 And you get this picture of their moving up in the world. 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:44.060 In worldly terms, they've risen like stars in their professions and they have been placed in positions of huge and increasing significance. 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:48.960 Chapter 3 introduces a new crisis. 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:51.940 I'm reading from the beginning. 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:59.380 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold 90 feet high, 9 feet wide and set it up on the plain of Jura in the province of Babylon. 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:06.980 And then he summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:09.880 to come to the dedication of the image that he'd set up. 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:16.420 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:21.400 assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up and they stood before it. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:23.600 Now, this is written afterwards, okay? 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:25.620 And they're celebrating the moment. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:30.519 And whoever's writing this, Daniel's writing this, he's drawing out the detail and telling the story. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:33.840 And all these people are assembled and all this great stuff's going on. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.340 And the herald loudly proclaimed, 00:11:36.340 --> 00:12:02.540 From a secular point of view, it is probably really clever politics. 00:12:02.539 --> 00:12:06.240 Babylon is a multicultural society. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:13.439 People from all sorts of nations have been conquered and brought there as Nebuchadnezzar has taken them over. 00:12:14.219 --> 00:12:20.500 And it might be that maybe in the city of Babylon they can continue their religious practices and traditions 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:25.879 as long as everyone in the nation prostrates themselves to the image in the centre of the city. 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.779 It's a way of unifying the nation. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:32.200 It's also a way of emasculating religious belief. 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:34.860 It's sort of like what we do in Australia. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:42.000 You know, the prevailing view out there, everybody's allowed to believe whatever they like to believe, that's okay. 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:46.340 Just make sure you don't elevate what you believe above what anybody else believes. 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:56.440 And that sort of thinking and that sort of philosophy of its own very nature is a backhand way of saying that religious belief doesn't really matter. 00:12:57.580 --> 00:13:04.500 We can put up with a few quaint people believing funny things gathering in a strange building in Chatswood on a Sunday morning 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:07.720 just as long as they don't disturb the rest of society. 00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:12.920 And so this is a crisis for the people of God. 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:16.559 Our problem is we believe in the idea of truth. 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:19.639 We want to live our lives on the basis of what is real. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.099 We fix our eyes higher. 00:13:22.199 --> 00:13:24.199 We want to know the creator God of the universe. 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:28.759 We want to know the one who has revealed himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:36.379 And our God is intolerant of people worshipping anything other than himself. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:46.059 So to worship anything other than the truth is to worship something less. 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:50.700 And you put yourself in God's shoes. 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:56.560 If you had created the universe in all its intricate detail and beauty, 00:13:56.840 --> 00:14:01.560 would you put up with people designing their own religion and leaving you out? 00:14:03.140 --> 00:14:08.379 Would you put up with people glorying in what you made but ignoring you? 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:16.220 And God tells his people very clearly what his attitude is. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:21.080 Exodus chapter 20 verse 1, God spoke all these words. 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:26.900 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:30.300 You shall have no other gods before me. 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:35.759 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.480 or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.680 You shall not bow down to them or worship them 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:45.540 because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. 00:14:45.539 --> 00:15:04.299 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:09.059 for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.299 You see what happens here? 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:20.199 Nebuchadnezzar's command forces the young men from Judah to make a choice. 00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:23.779 They know what God requires. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.339 They don't bow. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:31.579 And it doesn't matter how many times this fancy orchestra strikes up, 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.559 they don't bow. 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:38.439 And you presume that they're going about their jobs in the king's service in a faithful way, 00:15:38.439 --> 00:15:41.339 but on this issue, they do not bow. 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.779 And guess what? 00:15:44.979 --> 00:15:46.219 The king doesn't even notice. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.599 That's cool. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.759 But other people do. 00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:55.179 And they go to the king and they dob. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.199 Verse 12. 00:15:57.699 --> 00:16:01.059 There are some Jews that you've set up over the affairs of the province of Babylon, 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.659 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. 00:16:03.479 --> 00:16:05.740 And they pay no attention to you, O king. 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:11.600 They neither serve your gods or worship the image of God that you have set up. 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:14.779 They've been noticed. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:22.039 They've been dogged in by people who may have been jealous at their rapid rise in the public service. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:29.199 They've stood out because they've continued to be faithful to the created God of the universe. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:39.279 They haven't compromised their faith in their God and they now appear to be in really deep trouble. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:50.319 Twice this week, I have known Christian people who have ended up in quite a dilemma at work. 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:54.759 They weren't trying to stand out. 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.240 They just ended up in the middle of it. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:07.880 And in one situation, someone was asked by a superior to write a report about an incident in a particular way. 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:13.400 And they wouldn't because it wasn't what they saw. 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:25.460 And in the other, a person witnessed a terrible injustice to a powerless person and they reported it. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:33.380 They were both forced out of their comfort zone because of their relationship with God. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.759 In this case, he protected them. 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:38.299 Both cases, he protected them. 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:43.400 They weren't just trying to be goody two-shoes. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:47.799 They were trying to honour the Lord Jesus Christ in how they went about their life and their work. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:54.079 And in both cases, they're okay, but it's not always like that. 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:58.419 In Daniel 3, the king's furious. 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:02.279 Gives an opportunity to repent and then an ultimatum. 00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:03.079 Turn or burn? 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.460 And then verse 15. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:09.439 What God will be able to rescue you from my hand? 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.539 See, he's got this clear view of his own significance. 00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:14.839 He throws down the gauntlet. 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:18.980 He confidently and arrogantly asserts his power over any God. 00:18:19.939 --> 00:18:21.279 Nothing stands over him. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.039 He's powerful. 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.139 He's intimidating. 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:29.859 And the young men reply, verse 16, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:35.920 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it. 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:39.519 And he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:48.639 But even if he doesn't, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:51.579 They'll work for him, but they won't serve his gods. 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:56.480 And it's a clear and it's a wonderful expression of faith. 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.920 They will cling to God even to death. 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:03.440 We don't have to defend ourselves. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:07.700 The implication is that God can look after himself and his people. 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:13.860 Their reply is defiant of Nebuchadnezzar. 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:18.479 The God we believe in is able to save us from your furnace. 00:19:18.479 --> 00:19:24.139 And if he doesn't, we want you to know that we won't serve your gods or your image. 00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:25.599 The line is drawn. 00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:30.959 The potential consequences are fearsome. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:38.440 I think their faith is an echo of the same faith that Jesus showed in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:43.140 Father, all things are possible for you. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:48.320 If possible, take this cup from me. 00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:51.520 But not my will, but yours be done. 00:19:55.580 --> 00:20:01.259 Like Jesus, they put themselves in the safest place in all the world. 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:04.300 They don't demand from God. 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.940 They don't tell him what to do. 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:09.380 They submit themselves to the purposes of God. 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:11.680 They put themselves in God's hands. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:15.420 They put God's significance ahead of their own. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.120 They trust him. 00:20:19.780 --> 00:20:26.060 And in Jesus' case, his life is lost, although vindicated at resurrection. 00:20:27.780 --> 00:20:31.940 And here in Daniel, God works the most extraordinary deliverance. 00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:36.560 Nebuchadnezzar goes into a furious rage. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:39.899 Turn the thermostat up to the max. 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:44.019 The Bible actually talks about his face contorting. 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.779 He's so angry with what's gone. 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:52.359 He loses some of his strongest soldiers who are incinerated just as they throw the young men into the fire. 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.159 It's hot. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:58.539 Nebuchadnezzar looks into the furnace and he leaps to his feet in amazement. 00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:02.279 Look, I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound, unharmed. 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:04.059 The fourth looks like a son of the gods. 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:08.720 There's a lot of ink which has been spilled about who that fourth man was. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:12.659 Some people have speculated it's an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:17.700 But rather than deciding what we probably can't decide, 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:23.539 it's better to say God didn't leave them alone in this moment of trial. 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.779 He was with them. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:29.639 And he or one of his messengers was keeping them safe. 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:35.119 And so they were never abandoned even in the midst of the furnace. 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.899 Nebuchadnezzar calls them out of the fire. 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:43.119 Everyone sees not a hair of their head singed. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:45.479 You know, I cook Mother's Day. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.799 I'm a great guy. 00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:48.939 I cooked Mother's Day dinner last night on the barbie. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:53.039 I singe every hair off the back of my hand every time I light the barbecue. 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:56.339 These guys came out without a smell on them. 00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:03.719 And it's really, really interesting because Nebuchadnezzar doesn't say, 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:05.460 Oh, wow, Pharaoh, how did you do that? 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:07.779 Where did you get the invisible asbestos suits from? 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:11.339 He just praises God. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:14.220 And he addresses God. 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.400 And in verse 28 he says, 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:19.319 Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:22.460 who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:26.140 who trusted in him and set aside the king's command 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:30.640 and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own. 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.360 And therefore I make a decree. 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:38.940 Any people, nation or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, 00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:44.039 Meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses laid in ruin, 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:48.380 for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way. 00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:54.740 One of the things that you can see in these chapters, 00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:56.880 as you go across a few chapters in Daniel, 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:04.420 is the impact of authentic faith on those outside of Christ's kingdom. 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:06.520 It's one of our value statements, 00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:08.520 that we be authentic Christians, 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.600 not people of hypocrisy and pretense, 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.740 but just authentic. 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:16.339 And Nebuchadnezzar had boasted, 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.420 verse 15, 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.660 What god will be able to rescue you from my hand? 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.700 Who's got the power? 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:27.940 And now at the end of this chapter he yields to the majesty and power of God 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.400 and he says, 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:31.880 There is no other god who is able to rescue in this way. 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:35.960 And it's interesting, 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.820 I don't think he's of the faith yet. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:43.020 See, he recognises that the young men trusted, 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.920 he's looking on, 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.920 he's seeing those people at the back of church, 00:23:46.020 --> 00:23:47.560 they really did trust God 00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:50.500 and they trusted him with their lives. 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:55.680 He knows God saved them from something which was unsavable 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.160 in terms of circumstance. 00:23:57.160 --> 00:24:02.380 He acknowledges God's power but he hasn't yet changed sides. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:07.360 He doesn't actually call God or speak to him personally 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:09.340 or speak about him being his God. 00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:15.400 Worth thinking about, isn't it? 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.540 How do you speak about God? 00:24:17.840 --> 00:24:19.019 My Lord and my God. 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:23.420 It's a fantastic movement, 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:26.060 it's a great thing that's going on for Nebuchadnezzar 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.759 but he's not all the way yet. 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.759 It's not saving faith. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:35.980 Coming to Christ means dying to self, 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.539 yielding our significance, 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:42.000 no longer finding consequence in who we are, 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.339 finding it in Christ. 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:47.539 God has increasingly raised the significance 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.639 of the young men from Judah. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.679 You know, I've been down here 00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:52.359 and he has been lifting them up 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.220 and lifting them up 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.380 and lifting them up 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:57.740 and he is glorifying himself through them. 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:04.660 I think they could only risk their life 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:08.319 because they find their worth in Christ. 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:14.440 Who they were is rooted in who God is. 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:17.660 The Lord Jesus said, 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:19.740 if any person would come after me, 00:25:19.820 --> 00:25:21.400 they must deny themselves 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:24.360 and take up their cross and follow me. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:28.640 I think we can only really do that 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:31.059 if you are far more confident in Christ 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:34.180 and who he is than in who you are. 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:38.740 True significance is to be found in Christ alone. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:44.500 I think one of the lovely things in Daniel 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.980 is that Nebuchadnezzar 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:49.019 is brought to a real faith in the living God 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:52.599 and in chapter 3 he's not there yet. 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.359 But in chapter 4, 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.220 and I can say this 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:58.839 because we're preaching chapter 6 or 7 next week 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.539 so we're jumping. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.200 But in chapter 4, 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:04.480 God sends him mad for a period of time 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:09.319 and he eats grass like a beast of the field. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.519 He's humbled. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:17.940 God brings this great despot king down low. 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.700 And Daniel's advice to him, 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.220 this is chapter 4 verse 27, 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.740 renounce your sins by doing what is right 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:31.680 and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:37.660 It may be then that your prosperity may continue. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:41.320 And the chapter finishes, 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.820 Kings brought low 00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:44.840 and in his own words, 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.400 chapter 4 verse 34, 00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:48.560 this is now Nebuchadnezzar speaking. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.799 At the end of that time, 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.480 I, Nebuchadnezzar, 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:56.460 raised my eyes towards heaven 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.980 and my sanity was restored. 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:02.539 And then I praised the Most High. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:06.000 I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:09.519 His dominion is an eternal dominion. 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:13.500 His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:17.360 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:20.279 He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.539 and the peoples of the earth. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:24.660 No one can hold back his hand or say to him, 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.980 what have you done? 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:29.339 And now I, Nebuchadnezzar, 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:34.099 praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:37.519 because everything he does is right 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:39.400 and all his ways are just 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:42.120 and those who walk in pride, 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.559 he is able to humble. 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:49.140 He no longer says, 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:54.000 what God will be able to rescue you from my hand. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:57.559 He's been humbled. 00:27:58.619 --> 00:28:01.220 He finds his significance in Christ. 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:07.859 I don't know where you are at in your attitude to God. 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:12.039 I'm far off and glad to be so. 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.420 Come near, 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:18.480 but not all the way yet. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:21.819 I know in this church family 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.539 that there are many who have 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:26.039 already yielded their lives 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.660 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.460 But for all of us, 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.920 wherever we stand, 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:36.980 the safest place in all the world 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:39.640 is to be brought low 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:43.140 and humbled into the safe hands 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:45.500 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:48.980 and in the end, 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.920 he is the one who rescues us 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.680 from his own hands 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.279 and his own judgment. 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:55.880 Amen. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:55.960 Amen. 00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.019 Amen. 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.059 Amen. 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.079 Amen. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:56.119 Amen. 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:56.160 Amen.