WEBVTT 00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:02.319 Well, good evening, everyone. 00:00:02.819 --> 00:00:05.919 A special welcome to those of you who are here for the first time. 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:08.120 My name's Tommy, one of the pastors here. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:13.099 If we haven't met already, hopefully we might get a chance to do so after the service. 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:17.000 Also, to the women, we had a women's retreat this weekend. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:21.140 So to the women who did that retreat, drove three hours back from Rehoboth, 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:23.559 and are here, a very special welcome to you. 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:24.820 That's very impressive. 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:30.179 And you can almost tell by the kind of bleary eyes who falls into that category. 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:31.539 But glad that you're all here. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.840 We are in our second week looking at a fascinating book in the Bible. 00:00:37.340 --> 00:00:39.859 It's in the Old Testament, which is the first half of the Bible. 00:00:40.420 --> 00:00:42.320 And it's a book called the Book of Daniel. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:44.920 And it's a fascinating book. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:47.120 There's a lot that has been made out of this book. 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:52.859 Some people have turned parts of this book into a diet and weight loss plan. 00:00:52.859 --> 00:00:58.479 Some have taken this book and they have tried to use it to calculate the end of the world. 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:00.519 So a lot of directions that we could go. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:07.000 One of the things that we've been doing, though, is trying to figure out what is the central question of this book. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.120 What's the central question that's being asked? 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:14.560 And if you look at the book, what it's really about is it's about a group of friends. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:23.740 A group of young professionals who are living together in what is at this time the biggest city in history. 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:26.060 The biggest city on earth. 00:01:27.320 --> 00:01:27.760 Babylon. 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:32.859 And these are young professionals who are asking through the book the same question. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:34.200 And the question is this. 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:39.040 Is it possible to live faithfully? 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:41.340 To faithfully follow God? 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:47.579 And to thrive in a culture that is largely hostile to your beliefs? 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:56.280 Is it possible to follow God faithfully and to thrive in a culture that is largely hostile to your beliefs? 00:01:56.280 --> 00:02:03.719 And I think that for those of us here who are Christians, this is a question if you live in Washington, D.C. 00:02:04.820 --> 00:02:06.340 We ask this every day of our lives. 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:16.139 Those of you who are here who are not Christians, as you think about the claims of Christianity, that may seem to be an impossibility. 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:19.280 It seems irreconcilable with our current culture. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:21.360 And so that's what we've been looking at. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:23.280 And chapter 2 is utterly fascinating. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:23.840 Fascinating. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:31.939 And if you try to distill it down, there's dreams going on, there's big statues, there's interpretations happening, there's threats of death. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:33.659 What's going on? 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.759 I think the general sense of what's happening in chapter 2 is this. 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:39.039 It's all about perspective. 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:52.159 It's all about the kind of perspective that we need if we're to live in the kind of culture that is largely hostile or opposed to the beliefs at the core of the Christian faith. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:57.680 And more specifically, I think this chapter shows us something about the nature of kingdoms. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:01.699 And there's a contrast here that we're going to draw out. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:06.819 On the one hand, you have the kingdom that human beings build. 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:08.060 Human kingdoms. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:11.319 And then on the other hand, you have the kingdom of God. 00:03:11.419 --> 00:03:16.039 And so we're going to look at the contrast between these two kinds of kingdom. 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:20.079 And Evan read most of the chapter, but we cut out some of it. 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:21.259 It's a really long chapter. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.459 So what I'm going to do is I'm going to give a little background. 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:27.719 I'm going to bring you up to speed with what happens in chapter 2, tell you the story. 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.439 And then at that point, we're going to draw out these two ideas. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:32.419 What does this tell us about human kingdoms? 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:34.919 And then what does it tell us about God's kingdom? 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:36.419 And what does that mean for us? 00:03:36.899 --> 00:03:37.500 So let's pray. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:47.639 Our Heavenly Father, we are here not because we need to hear human wisdom or rhetoric. 00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:51.860 Not because we're here to get principles to live by. 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:59.699 Not because we're here to get some tips on how to be more successful or happier or more fulfilled in life. 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.680 That, Lord, we're here to meet you face to face. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:12.060 Lord, I pray that by your grace we would, as Isaiah did, see you face to face. 00:04:12.200 --> 00:04:13.659 And that it would drive us to our knees. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:17.439 That we would be in awe of who you are and what you're doing in the world. 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:20.220 We pray that this would happen through your word, Lord. 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:22.240 For our good and for your glory. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:23.199 In your son's name. 00:04:23.460 --> 00:04:23.740 Amen. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:27.980 So as I said, I want to give you a little background on what's going on. 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:29.780 Especially if you weren't here last week. 00:04:29.779 --> 00:04:36.599 Nebuchadnezzar is, at this time in history, the greatest king there ever was. 00:04:37.679 --> 00:04:45.439 His kingdom, his city of Babylon, is universally agreed by scholars to be, at this point in history, around the 6th century BC, 00:04:46.119 --> 00:04:48.879 to be by far the biggest city in existence. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:53.500 So at this point in the story, he's conquered Judah. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:55.159 And that's God's people. 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:59.840 That's kind of the last holdout of God's people, their kingdom, Judah. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.620 He's conquered them, but he doesn't want to kill them. 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:05.800 Because that's a lot of bloodshed and wasted lives and wasted money. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:08.640 He wants to assimilate them. 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:14.640 So it's not a military conquest that he's after, but an ideological conquest. 00:05:14.940 --> 00:05:18.300 And we'll come back in a little while to what that actually means. 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:24.000 But this is Nebuchadnezzar's plan, and so he's taken all of the best and the brightest of Israel. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:26.740 And he's taken them into Babylon. 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:31.660 People like Daniel, the nobility, the highly educated, the cultural movers and shakers. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:38.300 And he's acculturating them with a belief that if he can get the elites to become more and more Babylonians, 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:40.360 so the rest of the culture will follow. 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:41.400 It's a brilliant plan. 00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:46.100 And so Daniel is here, and Daniel recognizes this tension. 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:52.580 But as we saw last week, Daniel is committed to God's purposes for the city of Babylon. 00:05:52.820 --> 00:05:57.660 He's read the scriptures, in particular the words of the prophet Jeremiah. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:06.560 And he's read Jeremiah, where Jeremiah says that God neither calls us to be assimilated into this culture of Babylon, 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:11.580 nor does God call us to separate ourselves entirely out of the city of Babylon, 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:13.260 as many of Daniel's friends had done. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:15.140 They were encamped outside the city. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:16.019 Don't go in there. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:17.459 That's a den of iniquity. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.539 Secular, the font of everything that's wrong with the world. 00:06:20.740 --> 00:06:21.759 It's a cesspool. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:22.639 Don't go into Babylon. 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:27.180 But God didn't call them to separate or to assimilate. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:34.919 He called them to love the city, to pray for the city, to intercede for the city, to seek the welfare of the city. 00:06:35.599 --> 00:06:36.879 And so that's what Daniel is doing. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.659 So he went to Babylon University. 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:41.199 He got a three-year degree, graduated top of his class. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:46.540 And now he's got a very high-level job as an appointee in Nebuchadnezzar's administration. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.740 So that's where we find him in the beginning of chapter 2. 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:52.060 And the fact that he has this position. 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:54.420 Some of you have similar kinds of positions. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:07:03.379 The fact that God has put him here means that he is perfectly positioned at a defining moment in Nebuchadnezzar's life. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:07.259 Because Nebuchadnezzar has a dream. 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:09.199 He has a dream. 00:07:09.340 --> 00:07:11.180 But it's not like Martin Luther King's dream. 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:13.180 It's a very different kind of dream. 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:15.959 It's a terrifying dream. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:19.660 He doesn't know exactly what it means, but he knows it means something important. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:26.079 And so he puts the word out to his council of wise men and advisors. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:27.980 And he says, all of you, I've had this dream. 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:29.300 I need somebody to interpret it. 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:34.720 But in order to prove that they're not just pulling his leg and making something up, he says this. 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:37.079 I want you to come and I want you to tell me my dream. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:39.139 I'm not going to tell you. 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:40.540 You have to tell me my dream. 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:42.740 And then I want you to give me the interpretation. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:44.900 And then I'll know that it's the correct interpretation. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:54.860 And he says, if nobody can do it, I'm executing all of you. 00:07:57.180 --> 00:07:58.400 You think your boss is bad. 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:02.100 Everybody's going to get wiped out. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:03.420 And not just you, but your homes. 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:04.780 There'll be no memory of you left. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.819 And so the wise men are understandably terrified. 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:11.040 Verse 10, they say, there's not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:12.000 What do we do? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.319 So the king then orders. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:14.879 He says, okay, have it your way. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.720 And he orders the mass annihilation of everybody, all the wise men. 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:23.120 Well, Daniel and his friends are wise men. 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:27.040 So the guards come to Daniel's door. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:27.980 They knock on the door. 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:29.839 They open and they say, Daniel, we're here. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:30.459 We've got orders. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:32.059 We've got to kill you now. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:33.539 And Daniel says, wait a second. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:34.940 Why the urgency? 00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:38.240 Get me an appointment with the king. 00:08:39.160 --> 00:08:40.380 Get me some time with him. 00:08:40.660 --> 00:08:42.780 And I will tell him his dream and the interpretation. 00:08:43.920 --> 00:08:45.660 The guard says, okay, shuts the door. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:48.560 And you can imagine Daniel turning around and his friends say, what are you doing? 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.520 How are you going to pull that one off? 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:51.440 Daniel says, I don't know. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.300 So what do they do? 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:53.000 They pray. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.600 They go to their knees and they pray. 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:58.080 And God answers their prayer. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:03.159 And he tells Daniel over the course of the night the dream and its interpretation. 00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:07.920 So Daniel goes the next day, meets with Nebuchadnezzar and says, oh, king, I can tell you your dream 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.100 and I can interpret it for you. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:14.639 So Daniel intervenes not only for his sake but for the sake of all of the advisors. 00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:18.480 And he says, here's your dream, oh, king of kings. 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:20.360 He says, here's the dream. 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:22.300 You dreamed of a gigantic statue. 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:28.319 So imagine just a massive sort of monolithic structure going up as far as you can see. 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:30.179 Just a giant structure. 00:09:30.599 --> 00:09:33.199 And it's a vaguely humanoid in form. 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:35.419 It's got a head and shoulders and legs and feet. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:38.559 And he says, you dreamed of this massive statue. 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:43.559 And there was something odd about the statue because the head of the statue was made of pure gold. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.159 It was beautiful. 00:09:44.959 --> 00:09:48.179 And as you go down the statue, the gold gave way to silver. 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:51.740 And then there were silver shoulders and torso, chest. 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:56.859 But then as you went down further, the silver went away and you saw bronze. 00:09:56.979 --> 00:09:59.159 Bronze for the sort of trunk and thighs. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:02.359 And then as you went down further below the knees, it became iron. 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:04.039 And then the feet were curious. 00:10:04.199 --> 00:10:06.299 The feet were a mixture of iron and clay. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:10.339 I don't think many of us are master metallurgists or anything. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.339 But iron and clay don't mix very well. 00:10:12.439 --> 00:10:13.519 It's kind of an odd thing to say. 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.319 We'll come back to that. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:21.860 And he says, and you saw the statue and then behold, a rock not made by human hands comes and the rock strikes the feet of the statue. 00:10:22.180 --> 00:10:27.820 And the feet shatter and the whole statue becomes like dust, like chaff that is then blown away by the wind. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:32.300 Nebuchadnezzar's blown away by this. 00:10:32.420 --> 00:10:35.280 And then he goes on to say, and here's what the dream means. 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:39.140 And you can imagine Daniel kind of playing, you know, there's good news and there's bad news. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:40.960 You know, here's the good news. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:43.100 You know the golden, the beautiful golden head? 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.080 That's you. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.179 Nebuchadnezzar, oh great. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:48.360 Then he goes on, bad news. 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:51.519 The gold will give way at some point to silver. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:53.919 That's another kingdom that's going to replace your kingdom. 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:57.159 But then that kingdom is going to give way and there's going to be another kingdom. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:11:00.179 And then that kingdom is going to give away and there's going to be another kingdom. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:06.700 And then all of these kingdoms are going to be obliterated because this little rock is going to come and it's going to strike those clay feet. 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:12.300 So Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar the dream, the interpretation. 00:11:13.640 --> 00:11:14.720 Tells him about the rock. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:20.580 Tells him that the rock is then going to grow and it's going to become like a great mountain and the rock represents the kingdom of God. 00:11:21.540 --> 00:11:24.160 And then Nebuchadnezzar very obviously misses the point. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:29.140 Because he then is mystified and he falls down at his feet and he actually worships Daniel. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:31.460 And then he promotes him. 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:36.000 And then Daniel says, well if you're going to promote me, can you promote my friends? 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.759 And he says, yeah sure. 00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:37.860 So they all get promotions. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.080 It's amazing. 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:41.679 So Nebuchadnezzar totally misses the point. 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.559 My hope is that we'll get the point. 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:47.320 And so that's where we want to turn our attention. 00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:53.620 Because what this is really doing is telling us something very important about the nature of kingdoms. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:55.879 And first the nature of human kingdoms. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:12:04.360 Now a lot of Christians get carried away with this passage trying to figure it out. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:07.460 What do the metals represent and what are the kingdoms? 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:10.240 And a lot of Christians look at this and they kind of look into the future. 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:14.279 And how are we going to know when that last kingdom and when the end of the world is coming and all that? 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:19.699 Frankly in all the study I've done of this I actually don't think that that's what's going on here. 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:21.019 I really don't think that's the point. 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:30.679 In a certain sense actually if you look at history there are in fact four kingdoms that occur between this time in the 6th century BC. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.139 And the coming of Jesus. 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:33.379 The coming of the kingdom of God. 00:12:34.599 --> 00:12:37.019 So you have the Babylonian empire. 00:12:37.239 --> 00:12:38.059 The Babylonian kingdom. 00:12:38.239 --> 00:12:39.919 And then that's replaced by the Medo-Persians. 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:42.019 And then that's replaced by the Greeks. 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:43.679 And then that's replaced by the Romans. 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.199 And then that's the point at which Jesus enters history. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.179 So in a sense that is true. 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:48.719 That's right. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.620 That's what's happening here. 00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:51.219 I think that's what this is pointing to. 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:53.339 But I actually don't think this is the point. 00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:58.639 So we're not going to spend a whole lot of time on kind of which kingdoms and who are the kings and all that. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.519 I think this is the point. 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:06.740 All human kingdoms have clay feet. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:11.259 All human kingdoms have clay feet. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:13.399 And other birds they don't last. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:19.720 So the statue in the dream as opulent and magnificent as it is up top. 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:25.220 It has these brittle and it actually makes a point of telling us that they're brittle. 00:13:25.319 --> 00:13:26.500 It has these brittle feet. 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.740 And they're so delicate. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:31.100 These weird brittle iron clay mixed feet. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:34.179 That all it takes is a tiny little rock to just kind of tap it. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.000 And you can imagine the whole thing just cracking apart. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:39.200 And the whole structure comes crashing down. 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:42.440 That's the focus of this dream. 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:49.639 And I think that we can apply this idea of clay footed kingdoms in a number of different ways. 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:55.659 First I think the most obvious is to think about the political implications of this truth. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:00.580 You know I have this great as we think about kind of political kingdoms across history. 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:02.220 I have this great chart in my office. 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:04.000 Somebody in our church gave it to me years back. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.439 And it's this chart. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.720 It's kind of a timeline chart. 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.819 And it has all these kind of blobs of color. 00:14:09.059 --> 00:14:14.159 And all the blobs of color represent all the empires that have ever existed since recorded history. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:20.159 And so you can look at the timeline and the width kind of shows you how long the empire was around. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.360 Or the length does. 00:14:22.459 --> 00:14:29.019 And then the width shows you kind of how much territory that empire covered when it existed. 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.719 And it's really cool. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.799 It gives you a lot of perspective. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.559 And so you look and it tells you some really cool things. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:36.379 Like for instance the Persian Empire. 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:39.459 At one point half the world's population was Persian. 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:42.100 Can you imagine that today? 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:45.840 Half the world's population was part of the Persian Empire. 00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:49.560 And now though if you look at it. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.780 It's just a blob of color on a chart. 00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:53.580 Right. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.340 So the Romans. 00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:55.920 The Mongols. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.800 The Arab Caliphate. 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:59.200 The Arab Empire at its height. 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:00.139 Right. 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:03.460 The British Empire at its zenith. 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.220 All of these empires. 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:08.220 You know we feel I think a lot of anxiety. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.560 I've talked to a lot of you about this. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.540 Laura and I talk about it a lot. 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.940 A tremendous amount of anxiety with the coming election. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.740 We don't know what's going to happen. 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.940 We don't know what sense to make of it. 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:21.220 You know that day is coming very soon. 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.540 Right. 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:23.620 A lot of anxiety about that. 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:26.100 On the one hand it does matter. 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.000 It matters a whole lot. 00:15:27.180 --> 00:15:27.379 Right. 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:29.240 Here and now it matters a great deal. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.920 On the other hand. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:35.220 Regardless of who gets elected. 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:39.040 Regardless if we could get the absolute best most ideal candidate possible. 00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:42.060 And there would probably be a lot of disagreement in this room over who that candidate would be. 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.779 But say you could get the best candidate. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.580 The best party. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:46.740 The best platform into office. 00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:50.220 And get both sides of you know the senate and the house. 00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:51.340 And get everybody on board. 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:52.740 Even if we could do that. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:55.440 Even if we could do everything exactly like we want. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:02.180 One day the United States is simply going to be a blob of color on a chart in somebody's office. 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:06.720 Because kingdoms have clay feet. 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.980 They give way to other kingdoms. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.720 They tend to fall down. 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:16.480 You can also apply this to the concept of ideological kingdoms. 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:18.600 That may sound like a weird kind of concept. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.680 An ideological kingdom. 00:16:20.140 --> 00:16:22.000 But Nietzsche talked a lot about this. 00:16:22.280 --> 00:16:24.800 He talked about the concept of a regime of truth. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.719 And he was very fascinated with the relationship between political power. 00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:35.120 And those who got to determine the prevailing world views and understandings of truth. 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.219 In a given society. 00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:37.000 Said they were linked. 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:38.459 Right. 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:43.879 So in many ways the more modern experience of kingdom that we have. 00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:46.279 Is not so much kind of a monarch on a throne. 00:16:46.339 --> 00:16:50.579 As it is a certain world view or ideology that holds sway in the culture. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:57.920 And it's entirely possible to bring about ideological shifts in culture with the right combination of factors. 00:16:58.040 --> 00:17:01.660 This is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar is hoping to do with the Israelites. 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:04.480 He's hoping to bring about a shift in their ideology. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.579 From monotheism to secular pluralism. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:08.720 Right? 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:13.799 From a whole concept of the world based in their understanding of God. 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:16.460 To a Babylonian concept of the world. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.799 By the way. 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.200 Just as an aside. 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.660 Pro tip. 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:24.380 If you want to bring about an ideological shift. 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.539 If you want to change culture. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:27.579 Many people have done it before you. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:29.759 And we have a pretty good idea of how that happens. 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:30.440 Okay? 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.900 So Nebuchadnezzar is on to something. 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.600 Step one. 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:36.000 You have to get the elites on board. 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.799 What does that mean? 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:40.759 Well, you have to get top thinkers. 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:45.019 Top thinkers to validate and verify your ideas. 00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:52.659 Then you need to get academics and scholars to publish peer-reviewed papers that expound upon and develop your ideas. 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:58.139 Then you need to get popular level writers to write popular level books to disseminate your ideas. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.460 And then you need to get major news media outlets. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.700 You need to get pundits. 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.259 You need to get, of course, celebrities. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:09.420 You need to get all of them on board sort of supporting and parroting your ideas. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:12.539 And once you've done that, once you have the elites, that's step one. 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:16.079 See, the elites by themselves are not going to do it for you. 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:20.599 What that does is it establishes a kind of background of intellectual plausibility. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:23.779 There are other people out there who think this way. 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:26.759 Then you go in for the kill. 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:35.519 You take your ideas and you inject them into all of the stories that are being told in the culture. 00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:38.519 So all of the artistic outlets. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:46.000 So you go to the TV shows and movies and books and video games and advertising. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:51.920 And everywhere that we're telling stories, you infuse your ideas into those outlets. 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:57.920 And the time will come, eventually, if everything plays out as it should, 00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:03.759 the moment will come when people collectively stop thinking of your ideology as an ideology. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:10.079 And they begin to think of it as simply the way all reasonable people think. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:16.099 And they'll begin to be embarrassed that their parents ever thought anything different. 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:19.599 And when they meet people who don't think that way, 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:21.759 they'll think they must either be ignorant or close-minded. 00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:25.819 And eventually that time will come 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:34.039 when you realize that your ideology has simply become what most people consider to be common sense. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.500 And that's when you know that you've arrived. 00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:39.799 But if we look at Nebuchadnezzar's dream, 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:41.899 here's the reality behind that. 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.919 If history tells us anything, 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:46.039 it's this, that one day, 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:50.099 one day those ideas will give way to other ideas. 00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:54.059 One day that worldview will give way to another worldview. 00:19:54.419 --> 00:19:56.039 And here's the thing that's hard for us to hear. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:01.139 Is that one day your most radical progressive ideas, 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:07.839 one day your most radically progressive concepts that you love and fight for, 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.599 those are going to make some teenagers' eyes roll. 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:14.259 That what is progressive today, 00:20:14.679 --> 00:20:16.619 tomorrow becomes passé. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.859 I didn't mean for that to rhyme. 00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:21.159 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.659 Because ideological kingdoms, 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.579 regimes of truth, 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:28.240 will always give way to other regimes 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.480 and other ideologies. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:34.360 And then the last way I want to apply this concept of clay-footed kingdoms 00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:36.180 is personally. 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:39.059 I think this dream can also be applied to us personally. 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:41.120 Because I think whether we admit it or not, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.559 every one of us, 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:44.000 every one of us in our hearts, 00:20:45.360 --> 00:20:47.720 every one of us on some level 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:49.640 is hoping to build our own kingdom. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.180 I mean, 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.480 why did you come to D.C.? 00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.120 Why did you, 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.839 people, 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.860 if you didn't grow up here and you moved here, 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.000 what brought you here, 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.240 right? 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.740 Why do people come to a place like D.C.? 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:03.199 You come because you want to make a difference. 00:21:03.479 --> 00:21:04.979 You want to be in a place 00:21:04.979 --> 00:21:07.339 where it feels like culture is happening 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.939 and important things are happening. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.399 And you want to be a part of that. 00:21:10.479 --> 00:21:12.219 You come because you want to know people 00:21:12.219 --> 00:21:13.419 who are kind of in the know. 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:15.740 You come because you want to get a first-rate education 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.839 or a top-notch internship 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.899 and you're hoping that that's going to launch your career. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.399 You're hoping to have an impact and leave a mark. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.439 That's why people come to D.C. 00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:29.019 And some of that is good, 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:30.279 but if we're totally honest, 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:32.119 and I'm being the guy standing up front, 00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:34.799 I can freely admit that there's a part of us all 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.899 that is wanting to build a personal kingdom, 00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:41.439 wanting to build a monolith to our own greatness. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:47.939 Many Christians do that in the name of God. 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:51.559 And this is what this dream is telling us, 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.920 that on some level, 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.820 we're all doing that, 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:56.360 and yet, be warned, 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:58.980 human kingdoms have clay feet. 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.400 What does that mean? 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.860 It means that as we build our personal kingdoms, 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:06.779 we know deep down that there is a fragility down here. 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:10.500 We know deep down that there is no foundation, 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.220 that it's weak, 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:14.160 and that all it takes is a tap, 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.740 and the whole thing is going to come trashing down. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.960 And we know that on some level, 00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:19.960 and we're terrified that other people are going to find that out. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.160 Right? 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:24.140 So David Foster Wallace writes and speaks very well about this, 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:25.500 so I'm going to kind of paraphrase him. 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:30.180 But if you build your personal kingdom on power, 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:34.160 if you build your personal kingdom on power, 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.799 then what's going to happen? 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.620 You're always going to feel weak and threatened. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.480 Clay feet. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.880 You're always going to feel threatened. 00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.620 It's never going to be enough. 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:44.879 Like Nebuchadnezzar, 00:22:44.959 --> 00:22:46.779 you're going to have nightmares and toss and turn, 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.379 wondering when your kingdom is going to come trashing down. 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:50.679 Right? 00:22:50.739 --> 00:22:52.439 If you build your kingdom on your beauty, 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:54.819 and if you build your kingdom on your sex appeal, 00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:57.819 and if you build your kingdom and your sense of worth, 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:02.199 and your sense of identity on other people's desire for you, 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.819 then you're always going to feel ugly. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.039 Right? 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.639 You're going to go on Facebook, 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.819 and you're going to look at your friends, 00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.779 and that they were at the beach, 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:10.799 and you're going to zone in, 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.319 and you're going to be like, 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.039 how does that, 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.359 they have a flat stomach, 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.659 and then you're going to look at your stomach, 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.099 and then you're going to look at their stomach, 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:16.439 and you're like, 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:18.639 no human being has a stomach like that. 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:20.179 How is that even physically possible? 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.240 Where do the organs go? 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.539 And it's going to drive you crazy. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:25.480 And all you're going to do is walk around for the next week 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.740 thinking about your stomach. 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:29.519 And you know exactly where all of that goes, right? 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.799 You're going to feel ugly. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.159 Clay feet. 00:23:33.159 --> 00:23:33.599 Right? 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:37.079 If you build your kingdom on your intellect and being smart, 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.879 then you're always going to feel stupid. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:41.300 And you're always going to worry that somebody will, 00:23:41.560 --> 00:23:42.260 at some point, 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.220 find you out, 00:23:43.260 --> 00:23:45.240 that you'll say something stupid in a conversation. 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.980 Or you'll ask a stupid question, 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.560 and that somebody's going to be like, 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:51.040 that person isn't smart. 00:23:51.260 --> 00:23:52.000 They're a fraud. 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.820 And I see through them. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.420 Right? 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:58.800 If you build your life kingdom on success and accomplishments, 00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:01.520 then you're always going to feel like you're falling short. 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:02.080 And guess what? 00:24:02.260 --> 00:24:04.900 You're going to be deeply threatened by other people's success. 00:24:05.760 --> 00:24:06.020 Right? 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:09.599 There was a really great interview in NPR sometime back 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.279 with Paul McCartney, 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:13.200 who, regardless of whether you like his music, 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:15.799 he's, I mean, one of the great musicians of our era. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.500 And he admits in the interview 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:22.500 to feeling threatened when other musicians come out with great albums. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.960 And the interviewer's kind of fascinated. 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.839 And the interviewer says, 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.759 but Sir Paul McCartney, 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:31.279 you've had success in so many dimensions of music. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:35.279 You really feel a competitive insecurity with somebody else 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.899 that's coming out with a record? 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.599 And there's a kind of a pause. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.740 And then McCartney says, 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.500 unfortunately, yeah. 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:45.480 He says, I should be able to look at my accolades and go, 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.759 come on, Paul, that's enough. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:50.899 But there's still this little voice in the back of my brain that goes, 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.879 no, no, no. 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:54.160 You could do better. 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:57.279 This person over here, they're excelling. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.859 Try harder. 00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:01.359 Clay feet. 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:05.359 That's what it is to build your kingdom on clay feet. 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:08.939 A constant, nagging insecurity. 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.719 Human kingdoms have clay feet. 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:14.219 Political, ideological, personal. 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.000 It doesn't matter. 00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:19.099 So all that is built with human hands will one day fade. 00:25:19.199 --> 00:25:20.740 And that's where the contrast lies 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.699 because there's a contrast between that 00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:25.419 and the rock in the dream that is utterly different. 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:25.740 How? 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:29.339 Because it is specifically not made with human hands. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:32.200 In other words, it's supernatural in origin. 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:36.700 And Daniel says that this rock is actually the kingdom of God. 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:38.920 So what does this tell us about God's kingdom 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:41.400 in contrast with human kingdoms? 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:44.880 Two things it tells us. 00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:47.420 The first thing it tells us is this, 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.240 that unlike human kingdoms, 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:52.100 God's kingdom has a very humble beginning 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:55.920 and looks very, very, very humble. 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:56.980 Right? 00:25:57.040 --> 00:25:58.560 It's not the big golden statue. 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:01.300 It's not the opulent, amazing, mind-boggling, 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:03.440 you know, eighth wonder of the world. 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.000 Right? 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.960 It's down here. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.039 It's just a little pebble. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:11.759 It's something that you would just overlook 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.619 and walk right by. 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.660 You wouldn't even see it there. 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.079 And you know what? 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:17.180 Kingdom work is often like that. 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:17.539 Right? 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.160 Kingdom work. 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.559 It's the small work. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.299 It's the often thankless work. 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:23.240 It's the work that nobody knows 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.940 is even happening most of the time. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.460 It's happening in the background, 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.880 in the shadows 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.519 and in the darker, 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:32.559 kind of less traveled corners of the world. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:35.640 Oftentimes, kingdom work is not up front 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.340 in the spotlight, 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.680 making a huge difference, 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.460 you know, selling billions of copies. 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:41.180 Often, most of the time, 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.480 it happens there, 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.519 but most of the time it doesn't. 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:46.579 It's the small acts of faithfulness 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.460 that nobody sees. 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.000 Right? 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:51.259 The king of the kingdom of God 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.980 is utterly different. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.220 He's not an opulent, 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:54.579 kind of Nebuchadnezzar, 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.180 king of kings, 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.960 sitting on the throne, 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.940 and greatest king in the world. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.579 He's a peasant. 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:01.120 Jesus comes as a servant. 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.559 He doesn't even have a place to live. 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:04.279 He has to rely on the kindness of his friends. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.019 Utterly different. 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.299 And yet, it says, 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.840 one day that humble rock 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:11.299 will grow into a mountain. 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:13.079 That this humble rock 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.039 will one day become 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.600 the defining reality 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.720 for all of creation. 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:20.240 So the first thing it tells us 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.539 is that God's kingdom 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:23.039 has very humble beginnings 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.980 and a humble nature, 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.460 unlike the opulence 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.740 of human kingdoms. 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.579 The second thing it tells us is this, 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.720 that God's kingdom 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.960 cannot coexist 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.960 with human kingdoms. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.559 It cannot coexist 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.400 with human kingdoms. 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.840 In the dream, 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.559 the deciding, 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.740 the kind of climax of the dream 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.980 is the fact that the rock comes 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.539 and smashes the foundation 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.180 of the statue, 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.700 smashes it to bits. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:48.500 And there's a warning here. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.799 But it's not really a warning. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.779 It's a merciful promise, 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.580 but it feels a lot like a warning. 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.799 And that is that 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:59.380 if we build our human kingdoms, 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:01.460 if our lives become about 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.600 building kingdoms 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:05.200 that testify to our greatness, 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.960 at some point, 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:08.319 God, in his great mercy, 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:11.319 is going to smash that thing to bits. 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.980 It's not something 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.679 that might happen. 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.839 It's something that will happen. 00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:16.639 One day, 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.879 it'll all come down. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.879 I've sat with many, 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.519 many people, 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:24.240 many people, 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.599 in the moments 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:27.659 where their life, 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.319 the foundation, 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.200 has been utterly destroyed, 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.099 where the bottom 00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:32.819 has dropped out. 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:35.099 Those moments 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:36.259 where you're too shocked 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.439 even to cry. 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:40.379 I've been that person 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:42.500 a time or two in my life. 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.460 And it's so easy 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.119 in those moments 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:45.779 to say, 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.659 where was God? 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.200 Why doesn't he answer prayer? 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.259 What is he doing? 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:50.299 Is there even a God 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.319 that he dropped the ball? 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.399 What this is telling us 00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:52.720 is something 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.079 that is totally counterintuitive, 00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:54.759 and that is this. 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.899 It could be, 00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.579 it could be, 00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:57.460 would you consider 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.179 or be open 00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:59.159 to the fact 00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.159 that those are the moments 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:01.759 where God is most clearly saying, 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.799 I love you. 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:06.419 I'm destroying 00:29:06.419 --> 00:29:07.519 this weak foundation. 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.079 Why? 00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.079 Why would God 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:11.059 do something like that? 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:13.500 In Matthew 21, 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.539 people are demanding 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:16.019 that Jesus explain himself. 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.099 Do you know what Jesus says 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.819 in Matthew 21? 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.679 He says, 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.379 have you not read 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:21.859 the scriptures? 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.159 The stone 00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.240 that the builders rejected 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:25.899 has become 00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:26.639 the cornerstone. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.519 Why would God 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:28.879 in his, 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.119 in an act of mercy 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.519 and love, 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.779 shatter your foundation? 00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:32.559 It's because he wants 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.679 to become the foundation. 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.460 And the only way 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.000 he could do that 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.039 is to shatter the one 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.799 that you put there. 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.299 So Daniel 2 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.000 leaves us 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.960 with this question 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.519 that we need 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.379 to ponder together. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.720 And it's a simple question. 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.539 Whose kingdom 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.599 are we building? 00:29:49.659 --> 00:29:50.419 Whose kingdom 00:29:50.419 --> 00:29:51.139 are we building? 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.799 Are we building 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.000 human kingdoms 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.579 or are we 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.659 spending our lives 00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:56.480 building 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.859 and being a part 00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:59.240 of God's kingdom, 00:29:59.419 --> 00:30:00.559 standing on God's foundation? 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.000 foundation? 00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:01.960 Are we building 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.179 clay-footed kingdoms 00:30:03.179 --> 00:30:03.740 or something 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.659 that will last? 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.579 Now, 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:06.940 I don't think 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.919 that by asking that 00:30:07.919 --> 00:30:08.859 I'm saying, 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.000 well, 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.779 you need to leave 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:11.000 the secular world 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.899 and go work 00:30:11.899 --> 00:30:12.279 in a church 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.000 or something like that. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.440 That's actually 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.440 the opposite of the point. 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.359 The point is the opposite. 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.919 The point is, 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:17.159 how do we build 00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.579 God's kingdom 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:20.619 in the midst of 00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.679 working and living 00:30:21.679 --> 00:30:22.259 and eating 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.720 and sleeping 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.220 and breathing 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.419 human kingdoms? 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.859 How do we do that? 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.679 And there are two litmus tests 00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:28.940 here in Daniel chapter 2 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.059 that kind of help us know 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:31.519 which kingdom we're building. 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.460 And so I'll give them 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.039 to you real quick. 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.940 The first litmus test 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.460 is this. 00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:35.940 Do you want to know 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.140 which kingdom you're building? 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.559 How do you treat people 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.980 who oppose or criticize you? 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.720 It's amazing 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.279 in the beginning 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.940 of this chapter 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.500 that Daniel 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.500 is put in a position 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.820 where he could very easily 00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:48.680 save his own life 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:50.039 and have all of the other 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.820 advisors killed 00:30:50.820 --> 00:30:51.420 and wiped out. 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.100 That would be good 00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:52.720 for his career. 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:53.580 No competition. 00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:56.759 And it would be really good 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.880 as a sense of vindication 00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.760 because these are the people 00:30:58.760 --> 00:30:59.420 that are trying to 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.300 bring about the end 00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:02.240 of his nation. 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:04.740 And yet he has mercy on them 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.020 and he spares all of them. 00:31:07.280 --> 00:31:08.000 You've got to understand 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.500 in Babylon 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.480 the concept of love 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.000 for one's enemy 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.860 did not exist. 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.060 No such thing. 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:12.680 That was weakness. 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.880 But here we see 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:15.460 that Daniel 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.780 is embodying 00:31:16.780 --> 00:31:19.020 a kind of otherworldly love 00:31:19.020 --> 00:31:20.040 for people 00:31:20.040 --> 00:31:21.100 who should be his enemies. 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.680 John Calvin 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.560 if you read his commentaries 00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:24.120 really struggles with this. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.040 How could Daniel 00:31:25.040 --> 00:31:25.680 spare them? 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.100 Right? 00:31:27.060 --> 00:31:28.560 It's because Daniel's life 00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:29.340 is built on an 00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.620 otherworldly foundation. 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.720 And by doing this 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.720 Daniel is actually 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.960 prefiguring 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.180 embodying 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.539 what we'll ultimately 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.660 see in Jesus Christ 00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:39.980 several hundred years later. 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.320 Someone who intervenes 00:31:41.320 --> 00:31:42.160 not just to save 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:43.340 wise men 00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:44.640 but who intervenes 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.840 to save the whole world 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:46.860 by giving his life 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:49.120 to save enemies of God. 00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:49.600 Right? 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.900 So that's the first 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:52.440 litmus test. 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:54.279 How do you treat people 00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.400 who oppose you? 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.060 If you're building 00:31:56.060 --> 00:31:56.900 your own kingdom 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:58.519 then you'll stop 00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.000 at nothing 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:01.220 and whatever it takes. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.120 Right? 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:03.180 Survival of the fittest. 00:32:03.880 --> 00:32:04.660 But if you're building 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.380 God's kingdom 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:07.620 you show mercy 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.220 because you know 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.300 that you've received mercy 00:32:09.300 --> 00:32:10.980 as you look at 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.600 your foundation 00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.880 which is Jesus Christ. 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.180 Right? 00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:14.160 So that's the first thing. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.420 The second litmus test 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.960 is this. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.960 Who do our successes 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.640 glorify? 00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:21.960 We're incredibly 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.920 successful room here. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:25.120 Who does that success 00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:25.740 glorify? 00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:26.700 Right? 00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.880 Daniel makes it clear 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.700 to Nebuchadnezzar 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.380 that his ability 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.259 to know and interpret 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.640 the dream 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.539 is not from him 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.460 but from God. 00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.460 Verse 28 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.800 he says 00:32:33.800 --> 00:32:34.480 but there's a God 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:34.860 in heaven 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.800 who reveals mysteries 00:32:35.800 --> 00:32:37.480 and he has made it known. 00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:38.560 And then verse 30 00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:39.279 but as for me 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.680 the mystery 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.320 has been revealed 00:32:40.320 --> 00:32:40.600 to me 00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.420 not because of 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:41.860 any wisdom 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.580 that I have 00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:44.820 but because of God. 00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:46.720 You've got to understand 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.440 revealing mysteries 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.300 was a big deal 00:32:48.300 --> 00:32:48.680 in Babylon. 00:32:48.820 --> 00:32:49.340 If you could reveal 00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:49.720 mysteries 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.340 that meant you were 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:50.699 somebody 00:32:50.699 --> 00:32:51.839 very important. 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.240 But Daniel says 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.720 it's not me 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.939 it's God. 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.819 And this is a truly 00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:59.359 miraculous revelation 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:00.419 that God gives Daniel 00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:01.199 and maybe you're thinking 00:33:01.199 --> 00:33:01.799 well I mean 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.599 if something like that 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.019 happened to me 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.480 then of course 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.339 I would glorify God. 00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:05.039 You know 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.539 if God like 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.559 sort of spoke to me 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.059 audibly 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:08.439 and told me 00:33:08.439 --> 00:33:09.759 this amazing mystery 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.279 then yeah. 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.480 It is miraculous 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.899 that God does this 00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:16.839 but let me ask you 00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.139 a question 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:18.019 is it any more 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.480 miraculous 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.079 than the fact 00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.639 that you were born 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.140 into the family 00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:20.840 you were born into 00:33:20.840 --> 00:33:22.500 as opposed 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.180 to another family? 00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:24.100 Is it any more 00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:24.560 miraculous 00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:25.100 than the fact 00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:25.680 that you had 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.220 the education 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.000 that you got? 00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:28.900 Is it any more 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:29.320 miraculous 00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:30.080 that you had 00:33:30.080 --> 00:33:31.400 the privilege 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:32.140 that you inherited 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:33.180 without even asking for 00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.820 without even really 00:33:33.820 --> 00:33:35.100 probably deserving it? 00:33:35.820 --> 00:33:36.380 Is it any more 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:36.759 miraculous 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.600 that you were positioned 00:33:37.600 --> 00:33:38.160 with the kinds of 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.900 friends and network 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.460 and connections 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.259 that enabled you 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.120 to get where you are? 00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.180 Is it any more 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.540 miraculous 00:33:44.540 --> 00:33:45.140 that you have 00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:45.680 the genetics 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.340 that you have 00:33:46.340 --> 00:33:46.900 the intelligence 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.620 that you have 00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:48.300 the capabilities 00:33:48.300 --> 00:33:48.860 and capacity 00:33:48.860 --> 00:33:49.440 that you have 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.259 is any of that 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.059 any less 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.539 miraculous? 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:51.880 No 00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.360 I would say 00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:52.960 it's every bit 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.500 if not more 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:53.960 miraculous 00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:58.640 If you're building 00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.380 your own personal 00:33:59.380 --> 00:33:59.740 kingdom 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.440 then every 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.779 success you have 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.559 whether you earned 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.019 it or not 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.720 whether it was 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.059 the sweat 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.559 of your brow 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:05.000 or not 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.420 that becomes 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:06.900 a brick 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.640 in the statue 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.139 right? 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:09.440 A brick 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.320 one after another 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.380 building it 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.179 building it 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.940 building it 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.880 higher and higher 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.639 and higher 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.119 one day 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.139 one day 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:16.460 that's going 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.699 to come 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.000 down 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:18.579 building 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.199 God's kingdom 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:20.159 means recognizing 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:20.719 that those 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.440 are opportunities 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.039 to point 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.559 to God's 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:22.859 glory 00:34:22.859 --> 00:34:25.379 and here 00:34:25.379 --> 00:34:26.119 as we close 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:27.139 is the great 00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.859 invitation 00:34:27.859 --> 00:34:28.599 in here 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:30.319 the people 00:34:30.319 --> 00:34:30.759 who have 00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:31.359 had their 00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:32.000 foundation 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.679 replaced 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:34.239 with Jesus 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:34.719 Christ 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:37.940 it liberates 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.299 you from 00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:38.960 the rat race 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.519 you don't have 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.079 to continue 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:41.119 trying to build 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.940 your life 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:42.799 into something 00:34:42.799 --> 00:34:43.319 golden 00:34:43.319 --> 00:34:44.099 and impressive 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:45.039 and beautiful 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.900 for one simple 00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:46.219 reason 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:46.940 that once 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.599 Jesus Christ 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.199 becomes your 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:48.699 foundation 00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:50.400 when God 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.359 looks at you 00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:54.639 you are already 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.119 beautiful 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.880 you're already 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.440 radiant 00:34:58.440 --> 00:35:00.199 there's nothing 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:00.940 that you can add 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:04.420 let's pray 00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:07.159 heavenly father 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:07.980 we do recognize 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.460 that this is a 00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.099 reality that we 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:10.440 all 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:13.059 are aware 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.559 of on some 00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:13.860 level 00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:15.860 we pray that 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:16.220 even now 00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:16.500 as we're 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.099 gathered here 00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:17.700 immersed in 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.119 the story 00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:18.380 of your 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:18.720 son 00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:20.280 that you 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:20.780 would use 00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.760 our prayer 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.200 and our 00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:22.639 singing 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.700 you would 00:35:23.700 --> 00:35:24.119 use your 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.539 word 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:26.619 to show us 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.920 where we 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.360 have built 00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:28.840 on 00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:30.880 crumbling 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.559 foundations 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:32.440 we pray that 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:32.880 even now 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.440 as we're here 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:33.940 as we prepare 00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.280 to come to 00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:34.639 your table 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.000 together 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.599 that as we 00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:37.220 receive 00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:38.599 Christ 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.159 in that 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.519 meal 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:40.079 we would 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:40.699 have our 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.259 foundations 00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:41.780 replaced 00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:42.340 even more 00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:42.639 so 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.759 that when we 00:35:43.759 --> 00:35:44.360 look down 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:45.380 we would see 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.039 the solid 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.639 truth of the 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:46.980 gospel 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:48.079 holding us up 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:49.259 we pray this in 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.960 your son's holiness 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:52.860 ditch ep 00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:53.220 us 00:35:53.220 --> 00:35:56.840 digit 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.320 into 00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:57.699 christ 00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.599 get 00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.720 into 00:35:59.720 --> 00:35:59.980 the 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.340 ์ 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.699 sel 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.659 humanity 00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:03.340 read 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:04.079 are we 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.519 anna 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:06.380 outta 00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:06.639 kir 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.039 ordume 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:07.579 baking 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:08.579 divide 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.420 dictator 00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:10.579 whisper 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:10.940 taper 00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:13.019 hose