Amen. You can be seated.
Hopefully, you have your Bibles open by now to the book of Daniel.
And our passage this morning will be Daniel chapter 2.
I want to say thank you to our three readers this morning.
They did a great job reading what partially was a difficult text
with some difficult names and difficult words.
Y'all did excellent, so thank you for doing that.
And now, we ask for the Lord's help to understand what we've read.
So, if you would, bow with me once more in prayer.
Lord, apart from your grace, apart from your help,
we cannot understand what we've read.
And so, we pray now that by the power of your Spirit,
would you give us eyes to see and ears to hear
and hearts to joyfully receive what we've read,
that we might rejoice in the truth of your sovereign reign over all the earth.
We love you, Lord.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
I hope you noticed a theme in the songs that we sang this morning of the Lord's kingship.
You know, the songs we sing, they aren't random or accidental.
We choose the songs that we sing intentionally
to preach the message in a different way
through singing what we're going to preach through preaching the Word of God.
As I read through Daniel chapter 2 and studied through it this week,
I was reflecting on some of the richest works of theological depth and truth
that the church has sung throughout the ages.
And two songs in particular came to mind.
And the first is like this.
I won't sing it.
And my God is so big, so strong, and so mighty.
You can go along if you know it.
There's nothing my God cannot do.
The mountains are His.
The rivers are His.
The skies are His handiwork too.
My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty.
Y'all know it.
Come on.
There's nothing my God cannot do.
The second one is like it.
He's got the whole world in His hands.
There's nothing wrong with a little repetition, is there?
Now, we learn these truths as children through singing.
But the fact of the matter is, as we age, as we grow older,
the more time we spend in Babylon,
we can begin to wonder whether or not these truths are actually true.
Does God have the whole world in His hands?
Is God so big and so mighty that there's nothing my God cannot do?
Well, here as we come to Daniel chapter 2,
I want us to remember the context here that Daniel is riding to exiles.
He's riding to God's people here who are placed in Babylon,
here in enemy territory.
And he's reminding them and us this morning of these very simple,
very basic truths.
The truths for us as we live in exile,
here in enemy territory,
that God is still in control.
Amen?
The Lord is God of gods and King of kings.
That's what we've titled the sermon this morning.
God of gods, King of kings.
That's a truth that we have to remember in our days here in exile.
And two implications of that simple truth
that we'll see here in Daniel chapter 2 this morning.
Two implications of God's reign over all things.
That first, all wisdom belongs to Him.
And second, we'll see all history belongs to Him.
The first implication here of God's reign
is that all wisdom belongs to Him.
Look there to verse 1 of chapter 2 with me.
Daniel tells us that Nebuchadnezzar,
in his second year of his reign,
he had some bad dreams.
A dream so bad that they kept him up.
He couldn't sleep.
I don't know if you've ever been woken up by a dream.
I have.
Sometimes dreams can be unsettling.
And sometimes they can seem real.
Sometimes they can disturb us.
Well, in this instance, this was very real.
And in God's providence, this was meant to be unsettling.
And unlike most of our dreams,
God was genuinely communicating a truth,
something very real for Nebuchadnezzar here in his dreams.
And Daniel tells us that he's so bothered by the dreams
that he commands that the magicians and the enchanters
and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans,
basically all of his wisest informants,
to come in and tell him his dreams.
And so they all come together,
and they stand before the king,
and Nebuchadnezzar says to them,
I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
And so Daniel tells us the Chaldeans spoke up and said reasonably so.
Tell your servants the dream,
and we will tell you the interpretation.
Give us something to work with here.
You can see their predicament.
Nebuchadnezzar, he's put these wise men of Babylon
in an impossible situation.
He wants them to tell him not only the meaning of the dream,
he wants them to tell him what he dreamed there alone in his own mind,
in his own bed at night as he dreamed these dreams.
It's an impossible situation.
And not only this, but he's so serious about this command
that he says,
if you can tell me both the dream and the interpretation,
you will be rewarded and showered with gifts and honors and rewards.
But if you cannot tell me the dream and its interpretation,
look there to verse 5.
It says,
You shall be torn limb from limb,
and your houses shall be laid in ruins.
Nebuchadnezzar's not messing around, is he?
This is a serious dilemma.
How in the world can they possibly begin to know the king's dreams?
They can't.
In fact, they know they can't.
And so they tried again and said,
You tell us the dream,
and we'll tell you the interpretation.
But the king's word was firm.
You tell me both the dream and the interpretation.
If you can tell me the dream,
then I know that you can tell me the interpretation.
I remember when I was in high school,
I went to the movies with some friends,
and I came out after the movie was over to my car,
and on my car there was a flyer.
Don't you love getting those on your car, right?
And typically I would not respond or call the person that put a flyer on my car,
but this time I took them up on the offer because, to my surprise,
this was a flyer, an advertisement for one free dream interpretation.
And I couldn't wait.
And so we got in the car, and we sped back to my house.
We got in the house, and we ran up to my room, and we called the number,
and the person picked up on the other end,
and they began to ask for some personal information.
What's your name?
Where do you live?
And it's time to mess with them.
And so we said,
Wait a minute.
Shouldn't you know my name?
He said,
No, no, no, no.
You have to tell me your name.
I said,
Okay.
Well, where do you live?
Wait a minute.
Shouldn't you know where I live?
If you're supernaturally in tune like this,
and you're prophetic,
and you can know these things,
I said,
No, no, no.
You have to tell us where you live.
And so we did the same exchange a few different times
as they asked more and more questions,
and finally it came to the point where they were ready to hear the dream
and said,
What did you dream?
I said,
Wait a minute.
Shouldn't you know what I dreamed?
And she said,
Don't call this number again.
I don't got the phone.
And it was done.
Right?
We were messing with her,
but really what we were doing,
right,
is we were testing her.
We were putting her claims to wisdom and knowledge and ability to the test.
And nobody can tell you the dream and the interpretation.
Anybody can make up an interpretation to a dream.
But who can tell you exactly what you dream?
Nobody can do that.
And that's,
in fact,
what the Chaldeans say in response.
Look there to verse 10.
They said,
There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand.
No one has ever asked us to do anything like this.
The thing that the king asks is difficult,
and no one can show it to the king,
except the gods,
whose dwelling is not with flesh.
And what I want us to see here is that this is a test of Babylon's wisdom.
The king has been given a supernatural revelation.
He's been given a spiritual dream.
This is a vision from God.
And in his moment of desperation,
he turns to the wisdom of Babylon.
And despite all of their education,
despite all of their training,
despite all of their knowledge,
they simply could not do what needed to be done.
This is a failure of Babylonian wisdom.
The Nebuchadnezzar had asked the impossible.
On one hand,
the impossible request was,
Tell me what I dreamed.
No man can do that, right?
That's an impossible request.
But we also need to understand,
there's another layer of impossibility here,
that sometimes at first glance we tend to skip over.
It is impossible for people who are of the flesh,
to discern and interpret and understand spiritual things.
And Nebuchadnezzar's mistake,
is that he turns to the wisdom of Babylon,
in order to understand the truth of God.
That's impossible.
What we need to understand is that unbelievers,
people who are of the flesh,
simply cannot understand spiritual truth.
Even if they could somehow guess the dream,
which they couldn't,
they wouldn't have a shot at understanding the truth of the vision.
Why?
Well, for the same reason that Nebuchadnezzar
couldn't understand the truth of his dream.
They are people of the flesh,
and people of the flesh cannot understand spiritual truth.
It doesn't matter.
This is a lesson for us, church.
It doesn't matter how educated you are,
how influential you are,
how high up in the ranks of society and culture you have climbed,
how many degrees are hanging in your office.
It doesn't matter.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2, verse 14,
he says,
the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are folly to him,
and he is not able to understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
And Nebuchadnezzar's mistake here is that he turned to natural people,
seeking spiritual wisdom,
and predictably they failed.
So verse 12, it says,
because of this, the king was very angry and very furious,
and he 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.
But verse 14 says that Daniel replies with prudence and discretion to Ariok,
the captain of the king's guard.
And he says,
why is the decree of the king so urgent?
And 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.
Now what's so special about Daniel?
This Judean teenager who thinks that he can do better than all the wise men of Babylon.
At first glance, this seems like a bold move, doesn't it?
None of them can do it,
but it requests a time for me that I can show the king the interpretation.
It looks like a bold move,
but actually as we see how he approaches this,
it's actually profoundly humble,
because unlike the Chaldeans,
he doesn't rely on his own flesh to do it, does he?
And look at what he does.
Daniel, you remember, he's been trained in Babylon's wisdom.
He spent three years soaking in the Babylonian ways,
learning their wisdom, learning their way,
but he doesn't rely on Babylon's wisdom, does he?
Verse 17 says,
Instead, Daniel and his friends sought the mercy of God in prayer.
Verse 19 says,
The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night.
You know, there's a saying that's often attributed to the Navy SEALs.
Speaking of times of desperation and crisis and a moment of need,
they say,
You don't rise to the level of the occasion,
you fall to the level of your training.
You've ever heard that?
You don't rise to the occasion,
you fall to the level of your training.
Well, here's Daniel facing execution.
I mean, this is the moment, right?
This is a high stakes, high pressure moment.
He doesn't rise to the occasion,
He falls to the level of his training.
But not the three years of training in Babylon's wisdom.
He falls to the level of his training in a lifetime of training himself
in dependence upon the Lord in prayer.
Do you see the difference here between Daniel's approach and the Chaldean's approach?
I hope you see this.
I think that this is what Daniel is showing us here in this first half of the second chapter.
It's two polar opposite approaches to wisdom.
On the one end is the wisdom of man.
With all of this is education and accolades and success and self-dependence.
That's on one end.
On the other end is the wisdom of God.
These are two polar opposite approaches to wisdom.
They do not mesh well with one another.
And we see the end of each one as well, don't we?
Dependence on the wisdom of man.
What's the end of dependence on the wisdom of man?
It's destruction.
It's death.
It's violence.
It ends in death.
But dependence upon the wisdom of the Lord is the path of life.
And as I read this and think about this,
I'm reminded of Psalm chapter 1.
Psalm chapter 1 which says,
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers,
but his delight is in the law of the Lord.
And on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does he prospers.
But the wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Church,
our call during our time of exile
is to cling to the wisdom of God.
And we need to understand that the essence of sin
is rejecting God's wisdom
and instead pursuing a wisdom of our own making.
Whatever that might look like,
whatever shape that might take,
sin is rejecting the Lord's wisdom
and pursuing our own.
Well we've seen all the way back
even in the first pages of scripture,
all the way in Genesis chapter 3,
that the path of man's wisdom
ends in destruction.
Genesis 3 verse 6,
it tells us,
when the woman saw that the tree was good for food
and that it was a delight to the eyes
and that the tree was desired to make one wise,
she took of its fruit and ate.
She also gave some to her husband
who was with her and he ate.
And we know that as a result of rejecting God's wisdom
and instead pursuing a wisdom of their own device,
they were exiled from the garden.
The wages of sin was death.
That's the path and the end of man's wisdom.
But we're told again that there is another path.
The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom.
That doesn't come from us.
It doesn't come from our own flesh.
It doesn't come ultimately from our own study,
from our own capabilities,
although the Lord uses these things for our good.
This comes from the Lord.
Church, if we want to grow in wisdom,
here's a simple path for you.
According to James,
Treg quoted this verse earlier.
He says,
If any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach,
and it will be given to him.
If anyone lacks wisdom,
let him pray.
Ask God for wisdom.
Seek his wisdom in prayer.
It's amazing, isn't it?
Daniel accomplished more in one night of prayer
than he was able to accomplish in three years of study
in Babylonian wisdom.
Christian,
when's the last time
that you got down on your knees,
went into your closet,
and prayed,
and asked the Lord for wisdom
to guide your steps,
to open up his word?
The Lord has written a book for us
full of his wisdom,
full of his direction.
When's the last time
you opened up his word
and said,
Lord,
let your word be a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
for my path.
Church,
the Lord wants us
to grow in wisdom.
He's given us
these very simple means
of pursuing wisdom
through prayer
and through his word.
How often are we
coming to his word?
And most clearly,
church,
he's given us
his own son
who is the very wisdom
of God.
See,
the glorious truth
of the gospel
that the Chaldeans
completely got wrong.
Remember what they said?
They said,
no one can know
these spiritual things,
only the gods,
and they would never
come down to dwell among us.
We know better,
don't we?
God has come down to us
in the person of Christ,
the son of God,
made flesh
so that we might
know the person
and the glory
and the wisdom
of God.
Paul tells us
in Colossians,
we've been studying this
in our men's Bible study
on Thursdays,
that all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge
are hidden in Christ.
Outside of Christ,
there is no wisdom.
But inside of Christ,
church,
Christian,
you can have all
the wisdom you want
if you would seek it
in Jesus Christ.
So Daniel prays
and the Lord reveals,
but Daniel didn't stop praying
once he got what he wanted,
did he?
Now he responds to the Lord
with this beautiful prayer
of worship
in verses 20-23.
Look there with me.
He says,
Blessed be the name of God
forever and ever
to whom belong wisdom
and might.
He changes times
and seasons.
He removes kings
and sets up kings.
He gives wisdom
to the wise
and knowledge
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.
Do you hear that?
All wisdom belongs
to you
and you have given
wisdom
to me.
You've made known
the matter to me
what we asked of you
for you've made known
to us
the king's matter.
All wisdom
belongs
to him.
But there's a second
point of emphasis
here in this prayer,
isn't there?
All wisdom
belongs to him
and
it says he changes
times and seasons.
He removes kings
and he sets up
kings.
The second truth
of God's
sovereign reign
that Daniel wants us
to see here
in the second half
of this chapter.
All wisdom
belongs to him
first.
And second,
all history
belongs
to him.
All history
belongs
to him.
We see this
in this
interpretation
of Nebuchadnezzar's
dream here
in verses 24
through 45.
Look there with me.
After praising
the Lord,
Daniel goes to
Ariok and says,
Don't destroy
the wise men
of Babylon.
Bring me in
before the king
and I will show
the king
the interpretation.
And so,
Ariok brings
Daniel in
to the king
quickly.
He says,
In haste.
And he says,
I found among
the exiles
of Judah
a man who
will make
known to the
king the
interpretation.
And so,
the king declares
to Daniel,
whose name
was Belteshazzar,
Are you able,
you hear that?
Are you able
to make known
to me the king,
excuse me,
are you able
to make known
to me the dream
that I have seen
and its interpretation?
And here's what
Daniel says.
No.
No wise men.
No enchanters.
No astrologers.
No magicians.
Nobody can show
the king
the mystery.
So far,
he sounds just
like the Chaldeans,
doesn't he?
No one can do this.
But look there
to verse 28.
But there is
a God in heaven
who reveals
mysteries.
And he
has made known
to the king
what will be
in the latter days.
I can't do it.
You ask me
if I'm able,
I'm not able.
No man is able
to do this.
But there is
a God
who is able,
a God
to whom belongs
all wisdom,
and a God
who reveals
wisdom to
his people.
More than that,
verse 30,
he says,
this mystery
hasn't been revealed
to me
because of any
wisdom that I have
more than all the living.
It's not about me.
Don't give me
any credit.
This wisdom
didn't come from me.
It was revealed
to me by God.
No one is able
to do this,
but God
has revealed
the truth.
And then
he begins to unfold
Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
Now,
here's my disclaimer.
Okay,
because the book of Daniel,
as I mentioned last week,
is filled
with mystery.
And I told you
last week,
if you're not used
to having a pastor,
say things like,
I'm not quite sure
what this means,
as we walk through
Daniel together,
you're going to get
used to that.
Okay,
because there's mystery
here.
Christians have
discussed and debated
some of the meanings
of these verses
for years and years
and years,
for centuries.
And I want you
to be okay
with us saying
we may not have
a 100% firm grasp
on everything
that we read
here in this book.
and that's okay.
Part of the purpose
of apocalyptic
prophetic literature
is to encourage
Christians
that there is
a God
who knows
all the details
of human history
even if we don't.
That there is
a God
to whom belongs
all wisdom.
That there is
a God
who sovereignly reigns
over all of human history
even if we
struggle to put
all the pieces together.
Okay?
That disclaimer
out of the way.
Here we go.
Alright,
here's the dream.
Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar
starting in verse 31
that he saw
in his dream
a great image.
It was strong
and bright
and frightening
and the head
of the image
was of fine gold
and his chest
and arms of silver
and his middle
and thighs of bronze
and his legs
were of iron
with his feet
partly of iron
and partly of clay.
This is an image
of one giant
terrifying statue
is made up
of these
different composite
parts
but these four parts
they come together
to form one
strong, bright,
terrifying image.
Everybody with me?
Okay?
No.
Everybody with me?
Are y'all with me?
Alright.
But then we see
verse 34
something surprising
happens.
A stone
that was cut out
by no human hand
and this stone
comes and it strikes
the image
on the feet
and in this stone
it breaks them
into pieces
and then from the feet
upwards
this whole image
comes crumbling
to the ground.
The legs of iron
and the clay
the bronze thighs
the silver chest
and arms
all the way up
to the head of gold.
It was broken
into pieces
and it says
the strong
terrifying image
becomes like
the chaff
of the summer
threshing floors.
You remember Psalm 1?
What happens to the wicked?
They're like chaff
that the wind blows away
and they're no more.
Not a trace of them
could be found
but it says
the stone
that struck the image
listen to this
the stone
that strikes the image
it becomes a great
mountain
and it fills
the whole earth.
Now at this point
I just imagine
Nebuchadnezzar's jaw
dropping
and hitting the floor.
Daniel's done it.
He has told him
his dream.
How did he do this?
That's only part 1.
Verse 36 says
this was the dream
now we will tell
the king
its interpretation.
Daniel goes on
to tell Nebuchadnezzar
that this dream
was a vision
of five kingdoms.
Five kingdoms.
Four of these kingdoms
here on one side
they make up
this great
and terrifying
image.
The first
of these kingdoms
is easy to identify.
Daniel says
you oh king
the king of kings
to whom
the God of heaven
has given the kingdom
and the power
and the might
and the glory
and to whose hand
he has given
wherever they dwell
the children of man
the beasts
of the fields
the birds
of the heavens
making you rule
over them all
you are the head
of gold.
Clearly
kingdom number one
is Babylon
and if he were
to stop right there
Nebuchadnezzar's got
to be feeling
pretty good
right?
I'm the head
of gold.
God's given me
dominion.
God's given me
reign and rule.
I'm at the top
of this tower.
I'm above the world.
I'm the king
of the world.
But he doesn't
stop there
does he?
Verse 39
He says
another kingdom
inferior to you
shall arise
after you.
Those are two
words a king
never wants to hear.
After
you.
In other words
as great
and as mighty
and as strong
and as powerful
as you are right now
Nebuchadnezzar
your kingdom
will not last forever.
There's another
kingdom coming.
There will be
an after you.
There's an expiration
date on your rule
and you have
nothing to do with it.
You can't change it.
You can't control it.
It's in the hands
of a sovereign God
who raises up kings
and puts them
down.
The second
kingdom
we see in the vision
it has
a silver chest
and arms
and the traditional
understanding
is that this is
the Medo-Persian
empire
under Cyrus.
They came in
and they
conquered Babylon
but that kingdom
also
will come and go
and after this
a third
kingdom
will come
a third
kingdom of bronze
that it says
will rule over
all the earth
and again
as we
follow the course
of history
most understand
this third
kingdom
to be
the Greek
empire
who came in
and conquered
Medo-Persia
under Alexander
the Great.
They rose to power
quickly
and tremendous
power
they were
strong
they were
agile
they were
fast
Daniel chapter
7
we'll get
there
Lord willing
it's sort
of a parallel
vision
and Daniel
chapter 7
this third
empire
is pictured
as a leopard
with wings
it's fast
and it's
powerful
there's stories
of a 20
something year old
Alexander the Great
weeping
because he said
there's no more
kingdoms for me
to conquer
he'd taken
over them
all
and so he
ruled
so to speak
over all
the earth
but even still
another fourth
kingdom
will come
after him
this fourth
kingdom
he mentions
he says
is strong
as iron
because the iron
breaks everything
and this
kingdom
will crush
and break
into pieces
and crush
all the others
and again
as we
follow the
course
of history
as we
read through
the pages
of the
church
fathers
commenting
on these
passages
the traditional
understanding
is that
this is
the Roman
empire
the Roman
empire
just like
those before
it
the Roman
empire
rose
to enormous
power
but this
kingdom
would be
a divided
kingdom
you see
the clay
mixing
with the
iron
partly
strong
partly
brittle
there was
internal
corruption
and division
in the
Roman
kingdom
moral
insanity
was the
norm
and it
too
would
eventually
fall
now
again
as I
said
we're
going to
see more
of these
kingdoms
as we
get to
the second
half
of the
book
of Daniel
but I
want to
encourage us
here in
chapter 2
don't
don't lose
the forest
for the
trees
here
okay
if your
eyes are
starting to
glaze over
I want you
to come
back with
me
alright
because
Daniel
and his
friends
I want you
to place
yourself
in their
shoes
for a
moment
here
as
exiles
as Daniel
interpreting
this dream
and this
vision
they
wouldn't
have been
arguing
over charts
and dates
and timelines
and trying to
argue over
these details
they would be
rejoicing in the
big picture truths
of this vision
they would be
rejoicing that
God is
reigning over
all of human
history
that God
is the one
who removes
kings
and sets up
kings
and we
have the
advantage of
being able to
look backwards
and see how
history has
played out
they were
looking
forwards
and they
knew with
confidence
it was a
comfort to
them that
God is
reigning over
Nebuchadnezzar
God is
reigning over
whoever it may
be who will
come after
Nebuchadnezzar
God is
reigning over
whoever it may
be that's
coming after
that and
whoever is
coming after
that there
is a God
who is
orchestrating
and who
owns every
single bit
of human
history
God is in
control
what a
comfort
I know
church that
we are
in an
election year
right
as a year
of panic
and uncertainty
and fear
for a lot
of people
I want us
to take
this comfort
with us
whoever
sits upon
the throne
of America
come November
is placed
there by
God
himself
we cast
our vote
but the
deciding vote
is in the
hands of a
sovereign God
who raises
kings and
puts them
down in
this nation
and in
every nation
on all
the face
of the
earth
amen
and not only
this
Daniel and his
friends
they would be
reminded that
ultimately
for all
the kingdoms
of the
world
in every
time
and in
every
age
there are
only
two
kingdoms
two kingdoms
did you
notice that
these four
kingdoms
in Nebuchadnezzar's
dream
they're all
different
they're all
made of
different stuff
in the
course of
time
they war
after one
another
they conquer
each other
but in the
vision
they're all
part of
one
big
terrifying
image
here's the
point
all the
kingdoms
of this
world
in the
kingdom
of man
they stand
united
against the
kingdom
of God
there are
ultimately
only
two
kingdoms
there is
the
kingdom
of this
world
and there
is the
kingdom
of God
I'm reminded
again of
the second
song
it just
asks
why do
the nations
rage
and the
peoples
plot
in vain
the kings
of the
earth
set
themselves
against
and the
rulers
take
counsel
together
against
the
Lord
and his
anointed
saying
let us
burst
their
bonds
apart
and cast
away
their
cords
from us
that's
the
pledge
of the
kingdom
of man
says
we
will
rule
and not
God
for all
the
diversity
that we
have
on the
earth
for all
the
diversity
over
human
history
for all
the
diversity
between
here
and
in the
next
nation
and the
next
nation
and the
next
ruler
the
next
ruler
the
next
we
have
this
in
common
we
will not
have God
rule over
us
psalm 2
says
he who
sits in
the heavens
laughs
the
Lord will
break them
with a
rod of
iron
and dash
them in
pieces
like a
potter's
vessel
which is the
third truth
here that
Daniel and his
friends would
take comfort
in and that
we church
should rejoice
in that
at the
end
of
history
the
kingdom
of
God
prevails
over
the
kingdom
of
man
the
end
of
history
is
written
and
this
is the
focus
of
this
vision
and
church
this
ought
to
be
where
our
focus
is
as
well
Daniel
says
in
the
days
of
these
kingdoms
verse 44
in
the
days
of
these
four
kingdoms
God
will
set
up
another
kingdom
listen
to
this
church
as
history
goes
about
its
course
as
these
worldly
kingdoms
come
and
go
rise
and
fall
as
leaders
come
to
power
and
they
fall
down
another
kingdom
is
rising
almost
unnoticed
by the
kingdoms
of this
world
but
this
kingdom
is
worthy
of their
attention
is
worthy
of
our
attention
Daniel
says
this
coming
fifth
kingdom
is
not
like
the
other
kingdoms
it
is
not
the
work
of
human
hands
unlike
these
kingdoms
which
rise
and
fall
this
fifth
kingdom
will
rise
and
verse
44
says
this
kingdom
shall
never
be
destroyed
unlike
these
kingdoms
which
rise
temporarily
but
then
eventually
are
overtaken
and
handed
over
to
another
people
this
kingdom
will
never
be
left
to
another
people
and
unlike
these
kingdoms
which
lean
on
their
own
wisdom
to
their
own
downfall
and
eventually
crumble
to
the
dust
this
coming
kingdom
will
triumph
over
all
the
kingdoms
of
the
world
says
this
kingdom
will
break
into
pieces
all
these
kingdoms
and
bring
them
to
an
end
and
this
kingdom
shall
stand
forever
what
kingdom
is
this
is
the
kingdom
of
god
this
is
the
kingdom
of
the
god
of
gods
and
the
king
of
kings
now
this
topic
the
kingdom
of
god
which
really
it
ought
to
be
one
of
the
most
encouraging
truths
in
all
of
scripture
sadly
is
one
that
Christians
like
to
fight
about
and
to
disagree
on
and
so
I
just
want
to
ask
two
questions
here
of
the
kingdom
when
is
it
getting
here
and
how
do
I
get
in
two
basic
questions
when
is
it
coming
how
do
I
get
in
question
number
one
when
is
the
kingdom
of
god
getting
here
well
if
you
listen
according
to
daniel
it's
here
it's
clearly
different
from
these
other
four
kingdoms
right
it's
different
from
these
other
earthly
kingdoms
don't
think
of
this
kingdom
in
earthly
physical
terms
but
he
says
in
the
days
of
these
kingdoms
this
fifth
kingdom
is
going
to
rise
up
god's
kingdom
what we
need
to
understand
is
that
god's
kingdom
is
his
reign
rule
and
authority
over
his
people
I'll
say
that
again
god's
kingdom
is
god's
reign
rule
and
authority
over
his
people
greg
gilbert
pastor
in
kentucky
says
the
kingdom
of god
is god's
redemptive
rule
reign
and
authority
over
those
redeemed
by
jesus
the
kingdom
of god
is his
sovereign
rule
over
his
people
now
that
kingdom
it
develops
in the
course
of
history
it
takes
different
shape
it
grows
it
swells
it
looks
a
little
bit
different
now
than
it
did
then
but
daniel
tells
us
again
god
is
working
to
establish
this
kingdom
even
in
the
days
of
these
four
kings
and
he
tells
us
that
there
is
a
decisive
crucial
vital
time
in
history
when
the
stone
that
takes
over
the
whole
earth
when
this
stone
comes
and
does
its
damage
to
this
kingdom
of
man
do you
see
that
it
strikes
the
feet
doesn't
it
and
the
whole
thing
comes
crumbly
down
but
it
is
in
the
days
of
the
Roman
kingdom
that
the
stone
comes
and
crushes
the
kingdom
of
man
and
as
we
look
to
the
pages
of
the
New
Testament
as
we
jump
ahead
the
gospel
of
Mark
tells
us
that
during
the
days
of
the
Roman
empire
as
the
Romans
occupied
the
country
of
Palestine
a
small
unimpressive
teacher
named
Jesus
appeared
in
Galilee
proclaiming
the
time
is
fulfilled
and
the
kingdom
of
God
is
at
hand
repent
and
believe
the
gospel
something
decisive
happens
in the
first
coming
of
Jesus
the
gospel
of
Matthew
tells
us
that
Jesus
went
throughout
all
the
cities
and
villages
teaching
in
their
synagogues
and
proclaiming
the
gospel
of
the
kingdom
and
healing
every
disease
and
every
affliction
the
gospel
of
Luke
tells
us
when
Jesus
was
asked
by
the
Pharisees
they
asked
him
when
is
the
kingdom
of
God
coming
he
answered
them
the
kingdom
of
God
is
not
coming
in
ways
that
can
be
observed
nor
will
they
say
look
here
it
is
or
there
for
behold
the
kingdom
of
God
is
in
the
midst
of
you
didn't
Jesus
teach
us
that
unlike
these
earthly
kingdoms
which
start
big
and
strong
and
then
they
crumble
down
to
dust
the
kingdom
of
God
is
like
a
mustard
seed
small
barely
noticeable
but that
becomes a
great
tree
or
he
kingdom
of
God
is
like
a
little
bit
of
leaven
that
is
worked
in
and
then
it
leavens
the
whole
lump
it
transforms
the
whole
thing
or
as
Daniel
says
the
kingdom
of
God
is
like
a
stone
that
becomes
a
mountain
that
covers
the
whole
earth
when
Jesus
enters
into
Jerusalem
on
the
back
of
a
donkey
to
the
shouts
of
Hosanna
the
crowds
understood
that
he
had
come
to
bring
the
kingdom
but
they
misunderstood
exactly
how
this
kingdom
would
be
established
in
the
days
of
the
Roman
Empire
in
his
first
coming
here's
what
I
want
us
to
see
in
his
first
coming
Jesus
inaugurated
the
kingdom
of
God
but
it
wasn't
the
physical
victory
over
the
Romans
that
the
Jews
were
expected
instead
he
came
to
inaugurate
a
much
bigger
kingdom
to
win
a
much
bigger
battle
he
came
to
defeat
all
of
our
enemies
yes
Satan's
final
end
is
yet
to
come
but
he
was
dealt
a
decisive
blow
at
the
cross
of
Christ
yes
the
final
enemy
to
be
defeated
is
death
but
death
was
defeated
and
destroyed
in the
resurrection
of
King
Jesus
King
Jesus
came
the
first
time
to
create
a
new
people
for
himself
from
every
tribe
tongue
and
nation
believing
Jew
believing
Gentile
alike
and
when
he
comes
again
he
will
finish
what
he
started
and
death
will be
no more
sin
will be
no more
the
enemy
will be
no more
Babylon
will be
judged
the kingdom
of this
world
will crumble
to the
ground
all his
people
will be
gathered
and the
earth
will be
filled
with the
knowledge
of the
glory
of the
Lord
as the
waters
cover
the
sea
church
here's
how we
need to
think
about
it
the
kingdom
of
God
was
inaugurated
at his
first
coming
and it
will be
consummated
at his
second
coming
it was
inaugurated
at Jesus
first
coming
and it
will be
consummated
when he
comes
again
we
experience
the
blessings
of belonging
to the
kingdom
of God
right
now
we are
citizens
of his
kingdom
right
now
Jesus
reigns
from
heaven
over
all
the
earth
right
now
eternal
life
justification
adoption
sanctification
these are
all blessings
of the
kingdom
that we
experience
right
now
in part
but then
in full
we live
here in
the in
between
Jesus
has
established
the
kingdom
and yet
it is
still
to come
the
kingdoms
of this
world
are
defeated
and God's
kingdom
is here
and one
day
soon
it will
cover
all
the
earth
see
Christ
Jesus
is the
stone
that the
builders
rejected
has become
the
cornerstone
upon which
the church
the people
of God
the people
of the
kingdom
is built
so question
number two
how do we
get in on
this
it's very
simple
don't
reject
the stone
don't
reject
the stone
or again
as pastor
Greg Gilbert
says
our
entrance
into the
kingdom
of God
is determined
by our
response
to the
king
the kingdom
of God
is at
hand
repent
and believe
the gospel
reject
the wisdom
of man
and pursue
the wisdom
of God
forsake
the wisdom
of man
and put
your faith
in the
foolishness
of the
cross
of Christ
Paul says
the word
of the cross
is foolishness
is folly
to those
who are
perishing
but to us
who are
being saved
it's the
power
of God
reject the
wisdom
of man
and receive
the power
of God
for salvation
in Jesus
Christ
and for those
who belong
to the
king
church
our call
is to
live
right now
as citizens
of his
kingdom
wherever we
may be
the Lord
has placed
us right
here in
Aundall
South Carolina
but church
we are
citizens
of another
kingdom
and where
do we see
the rain
and the
rule
and the
authority
of God
most
clearly
here
it's right
here in
the church
it's right
here in
the church
is an
embassy
of the
kingdom
of God
here on
earth
and we
are his
ambassadors
God
making his
appeal
through us
be reconciled
to God
where do we
see God's
reign and
rule and
authority
most clearly
is right
here in
the church
as we
submit to
the word
of God
together
as we
lock arms
together
to make
his name
known
here in
Aundall
and beyond
as we
gather
together
to sing
hymns
and let
the word
of Christ
dwell in
us
richly
God's
reign
rule
and
authority
over his
redeemed
people
his kingdom
is right
here
what's
the response
what ought
to be
the response
of our
heart
to a
God
like that
it's
honor
and praise
and glory
and thanksgiving
rejoice
the Lord
is king
this is
what
Nebuchadnezzar
does
here at
the close
of our
passage
look there
to verse
46
says then
king
Nebuchadnezzar
fell on
his face
and paid
homage
to Daniel
and commanded
that an
offering
an incense
be offered
up to him
and the
king answered
and said
to Daniel
truly
your God
is God
of gods
and Lord
of kings
and a
revealer
of mysteries
for you've
been able
to reveal
this mystery
and the
king honored
Daniel
and he
promoted
Shadrach
and Meshach
and Abednego
and he
appointed
them over
the affairs
of Babylon
and Daniel
remained at
the king's
court
church
all wisdom
belongs to
him
and all
history
belongs to
him
and because
of this
all honor
and glory
and worship
and praise
and thanksgiving
and power
and might
belongs to
him
are we
giving God
the honor
that he's
due
are we
trusting
him
with all
of our
days
are we
seeking
his
wisdom
while we
live here
as exiles
in a foreign
land
I'd like to
close
our time
this morning
with one
more song
and we'll
sing it in
response
together
father
this is my
father's
world
let me
ne'er
forget
that though
the wrong
seems oft
so strong
god is
the ruler
yet
this is
my father's
world
why should
my heart
be sad
the lord
is king
let heavens
ring
god reigns
let earth
be glad
let's pray
father we
pray together
this morning
as you've
taught us
to pray
thy kingdom
come
thy will
be done
on earth
as it is
in heaven
here in
all in
all as it
is in
heaven
here at
seaweed bay
as it
is in
heaven
in our
families
as it
is in
heaven
in our
own
hearts
as it
is in
heaven
lord
would you
help us
to live
our days
in exile
seeking
first
the kingdom
of god
we thank
you jesus
for your
victory
on the
cross
that the
kingdom
is here
that the
battle
is won
we thank
you for
your
resurrection
that you
live and
reign right
now
and as
your kingdom
grows here
on earth
lord we
pray that
we would
be a part
of the
expanse
of your
kingdom
we thank
you lord
that you
have promised
you will
come again
soon
would you
incline our
hearts
to that
day
help us
to live
today
in light
of that
day
when you'll
come again
and set
all things
right
we love
you lord
we pray
this in
jesus name
amen