The scripture reading comes from Daniel chapter 2.
Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or on your Bible.
Starting in verse 1, we read,
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams.
His spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams.
So they came in and stood before the king, and the king said to them,
I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
Then the Chaldeans said to the king, and Aramaic,
O king, live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans,
The word from me is firm.
If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation,
you shall be torn limb from limb,
and your houses shall be laid in ruin.
But if you show me the dream and its interpretation,
you shall receive gifts and rewards and great honor.
Therefore, show me the dream and its interpretations.
They answered a second time and said,
Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.
The king answered and said,
I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time,
because you see that the word from me is firm.
If you do not make the dream known to me,
there is but one sentence for you.
You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till this time.
The king changes.
Therefore, tell me the dream,
and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
The Chaldeans answered the king and said,
There is no man on earth who can meet the king's demand,
for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing
of any magicians or enchanter or Chaldeans.
The thing that the king asked is difficult,
and no one can show it to the king
except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.
Because of this, the king was angry and very furious
and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
So the decree went out,
and the wise men were about to be killed.
And they sought Daniel and his companions to kill them.
Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Ariok,
the captain of the king's guard,
who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
He declared to Ariok, the king's captain,
Why is the decree of the king so urgent?
Then Ariok made the matter known to Daniel.
And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time,
that he might show the interpretation to the king.
Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known
to Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, his companions,
and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven
concerning this mystery,
so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed
with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in the vision of the night.
Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said,
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes time and seasons.
He removes kings and sets up kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and hidden things.
He knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.
Therefore Daniel went in to Ariok,
whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon.
He went and said thus to him,
Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon.
Bring me in before the king,
and I will show the king the interpretation.
Then Ariok brought in Daniel,
before the king in haste,
and said thus to him,
I have found among the exiles from Judah
a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.
The king declared to Daniel,
whose name was Belteshazzar,
Are you able to make known to me the dream
that I have seen and its interpretation?
Daniel answered the king and said,
No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers
can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked.
But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,
and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar
what will be in the latter days.
Your dream and the visions of your head
as you lay in bed are these.
To you, O king, as you lay in bed,
came thoughts of what would be after this,
and he who reveals mysteries made known to you
what is to be.
But as for me,
this mystery has been revealed to me
not because of any wisdom that I have
more than all the living,
but in order that the interpretation
may be made known to the king
and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
You saw, O king, and behold a great image.
This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness,
stood before you,
and its appearance was frightening.
The head of this image was of fine gold,
its chest and arms of silver,
its middle and thighs of bronze,
its legs of iron,
its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
As you looked,
a stone was cut out by no human hand,
and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay
and broke them in pieces.
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze,
the silver, and the gold
all together were broken in pieces
and became like the shuff of the summer threshing floors,
and the wind carried them away
so that not a trace of them could be found.
But the stone that struck the image
became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth.
This was the dream.
Now we will tell the king its interpretation.
You, O king,
the king of kings,
to whom the God of heaven
has given the kingdom,
the power and the might and the glory,
and into whose hand
he has given,
wherever they dwell,
the children of man,
the beasts of the fields,
and the birds of the heavens,
making you rule over them all,
you are the head of gold.
Another kingdom inferior to you
shall rise after you,
and yet a third kingdom of bronze
which shall rule over all the earth.
And there shall be a fourth kingdom
strong as iron
because iron breaks to pieces
and shatters all things.
And like iron that crushes,
it shall break and crush all these.
And as you saw the feet and toes
partly of potter's clay
and partly of iron,
it shall be a divided kingdom,
but some of the firmness of iron
shall be in it,
just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay,
of the firmness of iron shall be in it,
sorry,
and just as you saw iron mixed with soft clay.
And as the toes of the feet
were partly iron and partly clay,
so the kingdom shall be partly strong
and partly brittle.
As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay,
so they will mix with one another in marriage,
but they will not hold together,
just as iron does not mix with clay.
And in the days of those kings,
the God of heaven
will set up a kingdom
that shall never be destroyed,
nor shall the kingdom be left to another people.
It shall break in pieces
all these kingdoms
and bring them to an end,
and it shall stand forever,
just as you saw
that a stone was cut
from a mountain by no human hand,
and that it broke in pieces
the iron,
the bronze,
the clay,
the silver,
and the gold.
A great God
has made known to the king
what shall be after this.
The dream is certain,
and its interpretation sure.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar
fell upon his face
and paid homage to Daniel,
and commanded that an offering,
an incense,
be offered up to him.
The king answered
and said to Daniel,
Truly,
your God
is
God of gods
and Lord
of kings
and revealers
of mysteries,
for you have been able
to reveal
this mystery.
Then the king
gave Daniel
high honors
and many great gifts
and made him ruler
over the whole province
of Babylon
and chief prefect
over all the wise men
of Babylon.
Daniel made a request
of the king,
and he appointed
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego
over the affairs
of the province
of Babylon.
But Daniel remained
at the king's court.
This is the word of God.
Wow.
Well done, guys.
That was a long reading.
Let me put this up here.
Great.
I think Bernard,
you make a good Nebuchadnezzar.
Don't take that wrongly.
Great.
Good morning, everyone.
Great to see you
this morning.
Let me pray for us
as we come to
getting God's word.
It's actually really exciting
to be back here.
I've been at the community center
for a few weeks now.
And for everyone
who's at the community center,
just really pray
that God would just
be ministering to you
as well.
I know it's just been
a great time
at the community center.
A little smaller venue,
but actually intimate
and close.
But let me pray for us
as we come
and get into God's word
together.
Father,
you are sovereign.
You're the one
who has power
and authority
and might
and wisdom
in your hands.
And we don't.
And Lord,
we pray that
even today
as we get in your word,
we pray that you'd
speak to us.
We pray for
each one of us
wherever we are.
Lord,
we know that
COVID has taken
its effect
on many of us.
We know that
there is many
health issues
even in our church
at this time.
We know that people
are struggling with work.
We know that
there are hopes
and there are dreams
and there are expectations
for what this next year
is going to
hold for us.
But Lord,
we want to say
before everything else,
Lord,
we want you
to be at the center
and we want you
to touch us
and we want you
to speak to us
and we need you.
And so Lord,
we don't just want to
go through
some nice
religious ritual
this morning.
We want to experience
and encounter you
and we want to be
changed by you.
So I pray just as
Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar
encountered you,
I pray that we would
encounter you
this morning
in a really powerful way.
In Jesus' mighty name.
Amen.
Great.
I was just looking
on my phone actually.
My phone brought up
some memories
and actually two years ago
on this day
about 12 of us
from Watermark
were in Turkey
and we were,
some of us
remember that.
And we were having
a conversation
at one point
with some Turkish believers
and I don't know
if you know
but in Turkey
there's 80 million people.
It's a very Islamic culture
but there is only
5,000 Christians,
Turkish Christians
in the country
and we met some of them
and as we were talking
to a couple of people there
one of them told us
this story about
someone in their church
of about 20 people or so
who had just recently
become a Christian
and she said to us,
she said,
this person was
a really devout Muslim
but then one day
she started having dreams
and for three weeks
every single night
she dreamed of this chateau,
this grand house
and in this house
she saw this man
and this woman
and she didn't understand
what this dream meant
and she went and asked
a whole lot of people,
no one could tell us
what this dream meant
and then one day
she was,
I think it was for work
or something,
she was in a part of town
she had never been to
in her life.
It was a big city
and as she's walking along
she turns around
and looks at a building
next to her
and she goes,
my goodness,
that's the building
in my dream
and just totally
kind of freaked out
but curious
at the same time
she decides to go up
and walk into the building
so she goes in
and it's a Sunday morning
and she doesn't realize
but it's actually
a church building
and as she walks in
she looks forward
to the front
and there's a group
of 20 people or so there
and the pastor
is preaching at the front
and she looks at the pastor
and it's the very man
that she had seen
in her dream
and then she looks
around the congregation
and she sees
one of the women
who that she had seen
in the dream
just sitting there
and she is so freaked
out by this
she, at the end
of the service
she goes and says
tell me everything
about your faith
and that day
she became a Christian
because her world
had just been
broken through
in a culture
which was very strong
in many ways
but actually
the sovereign God
can break through
into people's lives
even today
as in the days
of Daniel
and sometimes
he can do it
through dreams
and so we're
going to be looking
in the second time
as we started
last week
looking in this
book of Daniel
which I think
is an amazing book
when you get into it
it's a crazy
strange book
but it's a book
which is set
in exile
with the Jewish
some thousands
of Jewish believers
have been removed
from their hometown
in Jerusalem
which has been
smashed by the Babylonians
they've been trafficked
to Babylon
and they are there
in exile
in the wealthiest
most successful
most powerful
city in the world
it's an incredible place
I mean it's
it's kind of like
Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenzhen
every major city
in China
all in one
I mean they were
brilliant
the Babylonians
I don't know if you know
but our system
of time
you know 60 seconds
in a minute
60 minutes
in an hour
24 hours
in a day
and 365 days
in a year
do you know
where that came from?
The Babylonians
discovered that
they could even track
there were such
great mathematicians
and astronomers
and astrologers
that they could
actually track
they tracked
the planet Jupiter
and astronomers
even today
use some of their
calculations
that they used
back then
this is back
two and a half
thousand years ago
these were brilliant
people
they led the world
and Babylon
wanted to entice
this Jewish
people
into Babylonian
culture
so that Babylon
could extend
its influence
further
into the world
and so Daniel
and his friends
have got immersed
into Babylonian culture
they've been learning
the language
they've been learning
the education system
they've even taken on
pagan names
for themselves
but they have not
let their hearts
be captured by Babylon
this is what we learned
last week
you see Daniel
right at the beginning
he claims
that even though
they're in exile
this tiny minority
that it is
their God
himself
who has led
them into exile
who has allowed
Nebuchadnezzar
and the Babylonians
to have their power
and it is their God
who is going to lead
them out of exile
and that's what we
looked at last week
because their God
is sovereignly
in control
and they needed
to be patient
and to faithfully
trust
that the God
of heaven
was the one
who was going to
lead them
through this
he had a plan
but I don't know
about you
if you've ever
tried to swim
against the current
in the sea
it's hard
right
if you've ever
tried to swim
upstream
that's what it's like
being in Babylon
because the culture
has a tide
but actually
as you look
through scripture
Babylon
does not just
occur in Daniel
in fact
just like the new
Star Wars movies
pick up some of the
themes from the
original movies
so actually
Babylon is found
all the way back
in Genesis chapter 11
at the Tower of Babel
it's actually in Hebrew
the Tower of Babylon
because what
characterizes
Babylon
all the way
through scripture
is self-reliance
self-promotion
and self-security
do you remember
in the Tower of Babel
what the people did
they built this
tower
and a city
to make a name
for themselves
the tower that could
reach to the heavens
and
to make themselves
secure
so they wouldn't
be scattered
that's what Babylon
always does
you know
here's what
and Nebuchadnezzar
who's the guy
we're hearing about
is
is absolute
epitome of this
here's actually
what Isaiah
47
says about
the Babylonians
you felt
secure
in your wickedness
you said
no one
sees me
your wisdom
and your knowledge
led you astray
and you said
in your heart
I am
and there is
no one
beside me
that's scripture
let me tell you
what Nebuchadnezzar
himself said
from an inscription
we have found
from Nebuchadnezzar
here's what he says
I am Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon
the exalted prince
the favorite
of the god
Marduk
the beloved
of the god
Nabu
the judge
the possessor
of wisdom
do you see
how scripture
is just telling you
exactly how
Nebuchadnezzar
thought
you see
the heart
of Babylon
is relying
on yourself
elevating
yourself
making yourself
feel secure
and in Hong Kong
like in Babylon
there are a lot
of very talented
very successful
people
right
even here
in Watermark
you guys
are a talented
bunch
and many of us
have ambitions
to be successful
in all kinds of ways
we have ambitions
for our kids
to be successful
but one of the lessons
of Babylon
is this
success is dangerous
because success
can blind you
to your own fragility
you see
it can paper
over the fatal
flaws
in your own
lives
and this is what
Daniel 2
is all about
first of all
I'm going to look at
the fragility
of Babylon
okay
so if you've got
your passage
with you
I'm going to
kind of
go through
some of the story
with us
it's a long passage
so I'm just going to
pick out
some key themes
but it starts off
that Nebuchadnezzar
this great king
has a dream
and it's a message
from God
and in Babylonian
culture
just like in
Islamic culture
dreams
were omens
dreams
were signs
of the gods
revealing the future
to you
and so
King
Nebuchadnezzar
I'll call him
King Neb
he is
the exalted one
but his spirit
is troubled
he's shaken
by this message
it's a message
he doesn't understand
but he knows
that this isn't
good news
for him
and so he's got
this dilemma
because Neb
reigned
on the wisdom
of all his
astrologers
and fortune tellers
and the Chaldeans
these are guys
who looked at the stars
and they made all kinds
of predictions
on that
to ensure
that they had success
with their gods
so his future
future of Babylon
depends on
divine favor
and these are the guys
who are going to help him
make sure he's on the right side
but Neb
like all dictators
is a control freak
and by the way
domineering bosses
can be like that as well
and they're always
dictators
are always insecure
did you know that
anyone who tries
to be the strong man
is always cripplingly
insecure inside
and because
all of his payroll
simply tell him
what he wants
to hear all the time
he doesn't know
who he can really trust
and so
if he shares
this dream with them
and they interpret it
that actually
this is bad news
for him
it could be
his downfall
they might support
a rival
so instead
what does he do?
He tests them
with an impossible demand
he says
okay
if you're really
in touch
with the gods
don't just interpret
the dream
tell me
what the dream was
you just love that
if your boss
kind of calls you in
and just says
hey
I've got a strategy
for this
just tell me
what it is
that's frightening
because power hungry
people
in their insecurity
always make
impossible demands
not just demands
but then threats
as well
I don't know
if you've had
a boss like that
who's never satisfied
and there's always more
and so he threatens them
and he says
if you do not make
the dream known to me
there's but one sentence
for you
death
you have agreed
to speak lying
and corrupt words
before me
till the times change
that means until
regime changes
therefore tell me
the dream
and I shall know
that you show me
its interpretation
now just imagine
you're just one
of the astrologers
who have just been
doing your job
you've got a nice
cushy kind of
civil servant job
can you imagine
how freaked out
they are by this
they aren't mind readers
that's not how
astrology works
this isn't in their
JD at all
and so
they are panicking
at this moment
and you know
when we're filled
with stress
filled panic
it's always a sign
that we're relying
on something
that can't take
the weight of our lives
we're made something
into a God
which is a no God
and they say this
they say
there's not a man
it's verse 10
there's not a man
on earth
who can meet
the king's demand
for no great
and powerful king
has asked such a thing
of any magician
or enchanter
or Chaldean
the thing the king
asks is difficult
I think that's an
understatement
and no one
can show it to the king
except the gods
listen to this
whose dwelling
is not with flesh
do you see what he's saying
he's saying
Babylon
this great city
the foundations
of it
they thought
they were favored
by the gods
but it's all sand
because their gods
are distant
their gods
are not interested
their gods
don't even care
they have no access
to them
they don't dwell
with them
you see
the whole wisdom
of Babylon
is just a human
enterprise
and if the whole
thing is human
then it's temporary
and it's limited
and Nebuchadnezzar
knows
that means
his power
is temporary
and limited
and if you
have ever experienced
that
with a boss
or somebody else
who doesn't get
what they want
when they're a control freak
how do they respond?
they respond
with anger
and fury
and he orders
the destruction
of all the wise men
now I'm not a dictator
generally
but I am a parent
and when my son
is rebellious
and just refuses
to eat
what I'm asking him
to eat
and no matter
what I try
no matter
what I google
it just doesn't work
my rule
feels threatened
and I feel
my control
slipping
and do you know
what happens
inside me
my frustration
levels rise
and suddenly
my son
experiences my rule
not as blessing
but as harsh
and anger
and unkind
anyone ever been
like that?
maybe none of you
are like me
you see why?
because we're more
fragile than we realize
we're more insecure
than we realize
even the most
successful of us
because if we try
and stay on the throne
though
like Nebuchadnezzar
we'll end up
causing more harm
and not blessing
as God designed us
that's the fragility
of Babylon
but secondly
the confidence
of Daniel
I love this part
because
Daniel's in the same
situation
as all the other
astrologers
okay
he's going to die
he doesn't have a clue
what's going on
he's got this
impossible demand
on him as well
but do you notice
in this passage
in verse 14
he doesn't reply
with panic
he replies
with prudence
and discernment
like it says
you see
he's got this
kind of calm wisdom
and
he's got this
security
right in the midst
of the pressure
being on him
and what he does
he looks danger
right in the eye
and he
confidently says
hey
mate
or whatever he said
to Ariok
the guy who's
going to kill him
he says
listen
just set a date
in the king's calendar
let's have a dream
interpretation meeting
now that's courage
right
because he doesn't
have a clue
but his confidence
isn't in himself
you see what he does
he goes away
to his friends
and then suddenly
I think he realizes
what he's actually
just kind of said
and he goes
my goodness me
okay
guys
we've got to pray
he says to his friends
his companions
he says
we've got to seek
the mercy
of the God of heaven
you see
the gods
of the
Babylonians
the self-reliant
Babylonians
were distant
in their time of need
but Daniel knows
that his God
is not distant
he has access
to him
as do each one
of us
in our time
of need
but man
can you imagine
him going to bed
at night
that night
with your whole life
on the line
totally
reliant
on God
to solve the issue
totally reliant
if God doesn't
come through
he's going to die
that does wonders
for your prayer life
but you see
when we're self-reliant
and we feel secure
in ourselves
we don't pray
kind of
desperate prayers
like Daniel's praying
but do you know
what
I think
this is one of the things
that God wants to work
in my life
this is one of my prayers
and it's my prayer
for myself
and for Watermark
is I don't want to live
self-reliant
and safe
I want to live
with stories
of a sovereign
gracious God
who provides
in extraordinary ways
I want that security
that Daniel has
but to be in that place
you know
we've got to be put
in positions
where unless God
truly comes through
we've got nothing else
to hold on to
I wonder how many of us
live like that
you know
I had a pastor friend of mine
he said
I used to live
I didn't have a regular
salary
I used to live
month by month
never knowing
where the next paycheck
was coming
and God always
came through
and then he said
but now actually
I've got a
regular salary
coming in
and he said
and this really
impressed me
he said
I feel the danger
of the security
I now have
so that I don't have
to trust God
quite as much
I thought
wow
I've never even
thought of it
like that
you see
being in a place
of total
reliance on God
doesn't feel great
I much prefer
to feel secure
I don't know about you
but actually
in this wrestling
place
God comes through
just look at
it's one line
then the mystery
verse 19
was revealed
to Daniel
in a vision
of the night
now just think
about that
can you imagine
Daniel
that morning
he danced
out of bed
that morning
the joy of God
just exploded
out of him
that morning
his vision
of God
just grew
humongous
at that point
because he knew
that his God
was the one
who was truly
on the throne
look how he responds
he says
blessed be the name
of God
forever and ever
to whom belong
wisdom and might
he's not saying
this in theory
he knows this
he says
he changes times
and seasons
he removes kings
and sets up kings
he gives wisdom
to the wise
and knowledge
to those who have
understanding
he reveals
deep and hidden things
he knows
what is in the darkness
and the light
dwells with him
who is the center
of all of this
God is
his sovereign
awesome God
you see
he sees
God
for who he truly is
his success
doesn't blind him
and Daniel's
a smart guy
he sees
that God
is truly sovereign
God is truly
true to his promises
God is truly
the one who can
come through for us
God is truly
who he says he is
and that's
the true security
for our lives
every other foundation
is sinking sand
do you know
financial security
is a myth
it doesn't exist
because you never
have enough
job security
is a myth
because you can be
fired at any moment
but God's security
is rock solid
because there's not
one single situation
that a sovereign
wise God
is not capable
of handling
and not capable
of providing
for you
and Daniel
would not have
had that revelation
of God
would not have had
that depth
of understanding
unless he'd run
to God
and been placing
his weight on him
for his trust
you know
I've seen
quite a number
of people
in Watermark
just recently
have a whole lot
of issues
with
not just recently
in the last year
or two
issues with
just work
situations
financial situations
family situations
where
they felt
God was calling
them in a certain
direction
but then
the wisdom
of everyone else
around them
told them
like just
take the easy
way out
just stay secure
stay with
whatever's going
to be
kind of help
you to just
further your own
progression in life
and all those
kind of things
but I've seen
those people
many of you
who've actually
said no I'm
going to make
God my security
and I'm going
to trust him
and you stepped
out in all kinds
of different ways
to actually trust
him with situations
you didn't know
what the future
was going to hold
and what I've seen
in your lives
is I've seen
that you have seen
God coming through
for you
that you have
seen
that God
is truly
a rock
that you can
trust in
and I've seen
that there's
this been joy
that God
has placed
in your heart
in God
and I've also
seen at times
that there are
some of us
who
we've had
situations
where we know
God has been
calling us
but actually
we've tried
to take
security first
my own
security first
and you've
kind of wrestled
but you've
stayed safe
in what you
think you can
just rely on
for yourself
and I've seen
those of you
in that situation
and some of my
other friends
outside of
Watermark
in that situation
and the stress
levels have been
high
and the joy
levels of Jesus
have been low
and you've felt
weighed down
and burdened
and this passage
is calling us
it's saying
that actually
you may have
Jesus in your
mind
but don't have
Babylon in your
soul
don't rely
on Jesus
on a Sunday
but then
everything else
in your life
you're just
relying whether
it's on your
NPF
on your education
on your job
on your intellect
on all the things
which you're
actually very
talented in
because God
is saying
that those
who bank
their lives
on the
sovereign
gracious
confidence
we have
in God
even though
it's tough
because swimming
upstream is hard
sometimes
it's not all
better roses
it can feel
uncomfortable
but when we
do that
and I've seen
this
people who
trust in him
they're the
most secure
people you'll
ever meet
they're people
who know
that their God
is their rock
because they
don't just
sing that
wisdom and
power belong
to God
they live it
and they know
it
and they live
it like Daniel
and there is a
joy that is there
do you want that
I do
but for some
of us where
you know
God has provided
us with
whether it's
relatively stable
jobs
we have food
on the table
we have
relatively
comfortable
lives
in different
ways
we have
our issues
but we
feel secure
how do we
live with
that kind
of God
security
even in
those
situations
well I
think Daniel
is going
to show
you
because you
see Daniel
appears
before
Nebuchadnezzar
and he
doesn't go
after he's
got the
dream
he doesn't
go hey
Neb
I cracked
it
I got
it
do you
want to
hear it
he doesn't
say that
he doesn't
say look
at me
that's how
the
Babylonians
worked
instead he
goes in
verse 30
he goes
but as
for me
this mystery
has been
revealed to
me
not because
of any
wisdom
that I
have more
than all
the living
and then he
goes this
he says
none of
your wise
men
they're not
really that
wise
but he
says but
there is
a God
in heaven
who reveals
mysteries
just think
about that
Daniel
in front
of the
man who
could cut
his head
off at
any moment
is evangelizing
Nebuchadnezzar
isn't that
amazing
you see
he tells
Nebuchadnezzar
about the
God he
trusts
and the
God that
he knows
is the
one who's
truly
sovereign
and for
those of
us who
feel the
more secure
right now
and that's
a blessing
from God
let's not
downplay that
mission and
evangelism
are the
place where
God wants
to push
us out
of feeling
safe
because if
you know
sharing the
gospel with
people who
intimidate
you
with people
who you
feel like
my reputation
might be on
the line
here
that feels
sometimes like
an impossible
task
doesn't it
it feels
like I
cannot change
anybody's
heart
sometimes it
feels like
life and
death are on
the line
but actually
if we want
that God
sized vision
that Daniel
has
God is going
to call us
light with
loving the
city
he's called
us in
little ways
he's going
to call you
into your
workplace
this week
he's going
to call you
into your
families
this week
and he's
going to
call you
with complete
inadequacy
because he
wants us
to get on
our knees
in desperate
prayer saying
God
unless you
come through
I don't know
how to do
this
and then
sit and
watch
as we
pray that
again and
see how
God comes
through
because let
me tell
you he
will
are we
ready for
that
that's the
confidence of
Daniel
we've looked
at the
fragility of
Babylon
confidence of
Daniel
the final
thing
is the
stone
of power
and we
could go
on for
ages
about this
image
but I'm
going to
go fairly
briefly
through
because this
kind of
parallels as
well into
chapter 7
and we'll
spend a bit
more time
there
but in
chapter 2
Daniel
tells him
the dream
and the
dream is of
this great
image
and do you
remember in
the Bible
where image
comes
Genesis
1
man is
made in
the image
of God
this is a
deliberate
connection
and actually
a lot of
the language
of Genesis
is found
here
if you look
in verse
37
38
it's the
language
of Genesis
humans
ruling
over the
birds of
the air
the beasts
of the
field
humans
were made
to rule
were made
to rule
under God
but Babylon
has distorted
what we were
made to do
it's made
us the
rulers
and so
what do you
see about
this image
it says
this image
mighty
and of
exceeding
brightness
stood before
you
and its
appearance
was frightening
you see
this image
is now
actually
a lifeless
statue
it's an
idol
dehumanized
and it's
a depiction
of four
successive
world
empires
and there's
some debate
about
which ones
they are
but Christians
have from
very early
on interpreted
like this
the gold
head
we know
is
Nebuchadnezzar
in Babylon
the silver
is the empire
of Cyrus
the Great
and Medo
Persia
bronze
is Greece
the iron
and clay
is Rome
and the
point
is
is this
really
these empires
are glorious
that's why
they're
exceedingly
bright
they produce
incredible
culture
like even
today
right
just the
technology
that's
available
there's
just
incredible
things
that are
created
that's
amazing
we were
made to
create
culture
but you
notice
the other
thing
here
their rule
doesn't bring
blessing
but it
brings
fear
these
kingdoms
are
frightening
they're
fear
inducing
they're
powerful
we feel
threatened
by them
but then
what happens
just as
if you
remember
this
some of
you are
not even
old enough
to remember
this
but
when
Saddam Hussein
was toppled
from power
do you
remember
what happened
people came
and they
pushed
over his
statue
in the
same way
this
these
great
empires
topple
over
how
with
one
small
stone
that
hits
the
feet
just
like
David
with
one
slingshot
takes
out
Goliath
a stone
which
seems
underrated
a stone
which
everyone
goes
that's
ridiculous
how
can
that
do
anything
but
that
one
stone
is
a stone
of
power
it's
a stone
that
becomes
this
huge
mountain
that
fills
the
earth
and he
says
that
actually
these
kingdoms
are
broken
in
pieces
and
they
become
like
the
chaff
of
the
summer
threshing
floors
so
not a
trace
of them
could be
found
and the
stone
becomes
that
great
mountain
do you
know
chaff
is a
bit
like
have
you
ever
seen
this
dandelion
I think
there's
a picture
of
dandelion
there's
actually
a lot
of
this
cotton
tree
cotton
at the
moment
coming
out
but
you
ever
seen
I don't
know if
you've
ever seen
this with
a kid
and you
just go
like this
with them
and what
happens
it just
goes
Daniel
is saying
the
greatest
most
powerful
even
right
now
in
Hong
Kong
the
people
who
seem
to be
most
powerful
in our
lives
politically
in the
lobbies
that are
going on
for
different
agendas
trying to
reshape
sexuality
reshape
gender
and all
these
different
things
the
powerful
media
that
kind
of
comes
at us
all
the
time
all
these
things
which
we
feel
like
sometimes
we have
no
weight
and
power
to fight
against
they're
not on
the throne
because
there's
another
kingdom
that is
coming
there's
a stone
there's
a stone
which
looks so
small
but
actually
is
mighty
and
that
stone
is
the
kingdom
of
God
a
kingdom
that
will
not
fail
it
cannot
be
toppled
you
see
this
kingdom
has
a
different
kind
of
king
than
Nebuchadnezzar
you see
when
Jesus
he came
in
he started
talking about
the kingdom
of God
right
do you
realize
the back
story
of what
he was
talking
about
he was
saying
there's
a stone
that is
coming
and I
am
that
stone
he was
saying
that as
he came
before
the power
of Roman
rule
with
King
Herod
and
Pontius
Pilate
people
who
were
desperately
insecure
rulers
who
were
trying
to
manipulate
and
use
their
power
to
crush
people
do you
know
what
Jesus
did
he
didn't
play
their
game
he
looked
at
them
and he
said
my
kingdom
is
not
of
this
world
he
didn't
choose
to
grasp
and
hold
on
to
power
to
rely
on
he
said
he
said
I'm
only
going
to
do
the
will
of
my
father
he's
the
one
who
though
he
was
sovereignly
on
the
throne
he
sustains
the
universe
with
one
word
he
was
crowned
king
at
Calvary
on
a
cross
no
one
would
do
things
like
that
in
Babylon
but
this
is
how
the
kingdom
of
God
works
the
one
who
had
no
beauty
to
attract
us
to
him
the
one
who
had
nothing
to
desire
with
him
is
the
one
that
God
has
placed
all
the
rule
and
authority
and
power
and
dominion
on
and
he
died
and
he
rose
again
and
is
exalted
to
the
right
hand
of
God
and
he's
reigning
right
now
and
he's
going
to
come
again
and
his
kingdom
will
know
no
end
do
you
know
where
Babylon
is
right
now
they
couldn't
find
it
until
the
middle
back
then
but
look
in
every
corner
of
every
continent
around
the
world
and
you'll
see
the
worship
of
Jesus
and
we're
an
example
of
that
and
that
should
give us
this
supreme
confidence
as we
go out
into
our
city
this
week
and
it's
going
to
feel
like
Babylon
at
times
you
may
feel
the
weight
if
you're
a
parent
if
you're
a
mother
and
you
feel
the
weight
of
just
how
do
my
kids
live
honoring
Christ
in the
midst
of
this
culture
you
can
feel
the
weight
in
the
workplace
well
know
this
I'm
going
to
end
with
this
we
are
those
like
Daniel
who
have
had
a
mystery
revealed
to
us
do
you
know
the
new
testament
picks
up
this
idea
of
mystery
all
the
time
and
it's
a
mystery
that
is
not
based
on
our
own
self
reliance
it's
not
based
on
how
clever
we
are
it's
not
based
on
how
smart
we
are
it's
actually
a
mystery
which
is
a
matter
of
life
and
death
and
it
only
comes
as
we
seek
the
mercy
of
the
God
of
heaven
it
only
comes
by
revelation
from
God
not
by
perspiration
from
man
Paul
puts
it
like
this
to
them
to
us
God
chose
to
make
known
how
great
among
the
Gentiles
we're
Gentiles
guys
are
the
riches
of
the
glory
of
this
mystery
it's
the same
word
in
Greek
which
is
Christ
in
you
the
hope
of
glory
we
once
lived
in
Babylon
with
access
to
the
gods
denied
left
to
manage
your
affairs
whatever
is
going
on
in
your
world
to
fix
it
by
your
own
self
but
Christ
has
come
and
has
brought
us
access
into
the
throne
room
of
the
one
who's
truly
on
the
throne
so
as
you
are
going
to
go
into
your
workplace
this
week
you're
going
into
your
family
or
wherever
you're
going
this
week
you're
going
with
the
one
who
has
come
to
dwell
with
us
you
go
with
him
going
with
you
therefore
we
can
go
with
a
confidence
that
we
can
place
our
security
in
him
let's
not
rely
on
ourselves
let's
trust
him
and
let's
be
on
our
knees
in
prayer
because
we
don't
have
all
the
wisdom
there's
going
to
be
stuff
that
happens
this
week
you
have
no
idea
how
to
handle
but
he
does
so
let's
run
to
him
because
he
is
the
one
whose
kingdom
will
know
no
end
let's
pray
we
need
just
to
stop
and
reflect
on
where
really
is
your
security
at
the
moment
what
is
it
that
just
makes
you
feel
safe
as
you
think
about
what's
going
on
in
your
lives
right
now
maybe
some
of
you
are
discouraged
some
of
you
feel
just
the
weight
on
your
shoulders
of
life
whether
it's
the
busyness
of
work
or
all
the
other
things
that
are
going
on
in
your
world
God's
wanting
to come
speak
to you
this
morning
he's
wanting
to lift
your
eyes
up
off
of
Babylon
onto a
greater
king
and
some
of
those
things
that
are
going
to
happen
this
week
just
as
you
seek
to
follow
him
it's
often
going
to
be
small
stuff
things
which
look
insignificant
things
you
wonder
whether
anything
is
really
happening
or
not
but
God
says
if
you
rely
on
me
and
trust
me
I
take
mustard
seeds
and
I
make
full
grown
trees
out
of
them
so
just
do
some
business
with
God
right
now
I'm
just
going
to
give
you
a
minute
for
you
to
respond
to
him
for
you
to
pray
to
him
for
you
to
repent
where
maybe
there
is
self
reliance
in
your
own
heart
maybe
there's
fear
maybe
you're
just
tired
just
come
and
pray
to
him
and
express
what's
on
your
heart
right
now
knowing
that
he
comes
to
dwell
with
us
if
you're
not
a
believer
God
wants
to
call
you
to
himself
that
you
would
seek
mercy
don't
rely
on
your
own
fragile
ways
come
to
him
and
you
will
find
mercy
and
grace
this
morning
s
remember
Father, we just pray that you would
forgive us where we have
allow the wisdom of Babylon to be what shapes our thinking.
We pray that you'd help us to live with your wisdom,
to rely on you.
Lord, we struggle with that.
It's so much easier to cling to the things that feel
so much more tangible at the time.
But Lord, I pray that you'd help us to see, Lord,
your goodness and your faithfulness,
and that we'd be a people of real faith, Lord, I pray.
Let us be a people who know the joy of Jesus,
just as Daniel knew that joy in you.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.