WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 Wonderful, wonderful song.

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 Man, you get a song like that, new members joining the church and being baptized, just

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 makes you want to skip the sermon and go home, doesn't it?

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 It does make you want to do that, doesn't it?

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 Yeah, me too.

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 Turn with me though to Daniel chapter 2.

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 It is needful for us to hear from God's Word.

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 Last week we began to look at what it's like for God's people to live in Babylon, to be

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 engaged in a pluralistic culture in such a way that we maintain a singular devotion to

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 God as His distinctive people.

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 Last week we saw that it was absolutely essential to have a proper perspective on what's valuable,

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 to know that God is supremely and eternally valuable above all the treasures of the world.

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 Today in this next scene we'll see how important it is to have a proper perspective also on strength,

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 on strength and where it really comes from.

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 What happens here in chapter 2 is Daniel finds himself in another tense situation in relationship

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 to a powerful and ungodly king.

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 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that troubles him.

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 He's bothered by it and he demands that the magicians and sorcerers of Babylon tell him not only what it means,

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 but tell him what the dream actually was.

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 And his wise men and magicians, some of them come to him and say,

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 King, we can't do that.

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 That's not how this works.

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 You tell us the dream and then we tell you what it means.

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 And Nebuchadnezzar says, if that's the way it is, all of you will be killed.

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 He commands the execution of all the wise men in Babylon,

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 which includes by this point Daniel and his friends.

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 So the captain of the king's guard comes to Daniel and he comes to execute him with his sword.

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 Daniel slows him down, calls a prayer meeting,

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 receives the dream and the interpretation from God,

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 praises God for that,

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 and then heads to tell the king what he has learned.

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 We will come back to look more closely at the parts of the story I just ran through really quickly there.

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 But all of that happens before we learn the dream and its meaning.

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 I'll read that part to you from God's word in Daniel 2, beginning in verse 31.

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 This is Daniel speaking to Nebuchadnezzar.

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 You saw, O king, and behold, a great image.

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 This image mighty and of exceeding brightness stood before you and its appearance was frightening.

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 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver,

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 its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.

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 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand,

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 and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces.

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 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold all together were broken in pieces

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 and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors.

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 And the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them could be found.

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 But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

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 This was the dream.

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 Now we will tell the king its interpretation.

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 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom,

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 the power, and the might, and the glory,

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 and into whose hand he has given wherever they dwell the children of man,

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 the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens,

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 making you rule over them all, you are the head of gold.

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 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you,

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 and yet a third kingdom of bronze which shall rule over all the earth.

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 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron,

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 because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things.

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 And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.

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 And as you saw the feet and toes partly of potter's clay and partly of iron,

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 it shall be a divided kingdom.

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 But some of the firmness of iron shall be in it,

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 just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.

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 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay,

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 so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.

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 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay,

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 so they will mix with one another in marriage,

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 but they will not hold together just as iron does not mix with clay.

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 And in the days of those kings,

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 the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed,

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 nor shall the kingdom be left to another people.

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 It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end,

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 and it shall stand forever.

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 Just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand,

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 and that it broke in pieces the iron,

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 the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.

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 A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this.

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 The dream is certain,

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 and its interpretation sure.

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 Thus far God's holy word,

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 let's pray and ask for his help in understanding it.

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 Father, it is your word,

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 and we come as those unfamiliar with dreams and interpretations and prophecies,

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 but also as those very familiar with the challenges of living in a world

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 that doesn't share our beliefs,

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 and sometimes is hostile to our values,

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 and approaches things different from how you have directed us.

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 And so we ask for your help that you would teach us

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 what we need to know in order to live and to love and to serve

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 where you have placed us.

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 We believe you have placed us here and called us here.

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 We believe by your spirit you will give us what we need for that,

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 and so God, would you do that as we look to you.

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 It is your word we would wish to hear this morning.

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 Speak to us by your spirit.

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 We ask in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 When I was growing up,

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 I would occasionally catch part of an episode

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 of the World's Strongest Man competition on ESPN.

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 It was one of those things that I sometimes slowed down on,

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 and one of the names I remember hearing and seeing

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 was the name Magnus Samuelson.

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 Magnus Samuelson is pictured here.

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 Quite a guy, isn't he?

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 I mean, he actually holds the record

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 for the most times participating

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 in the World's Strongest Man finals of this competition.

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 And of course, his name is Magnus, right?

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 Great, mighty, and he looks the part.

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 Magnus won the World's Strongest Man competition

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 one of those years in 1998.

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 Pretty impressive guy, don't you think?

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 Looks pretty strong, especially behind me.

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 He looks pretty sharp.

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 But even the year he won,

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 his strength had limits.

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 He didn't pull that truck forever.

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 He didn't hold that log up above his head forever.

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 However, his strength eventually gave out.

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 He faced his limits.

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 He ran out of strength.

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 In many ways, Nebuchadnezzar was the Magnus Samuelson

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 of his day, the world's strongest man.

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 He was the ruler over the glorious kingdom of Babylon,

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 an ever-expanding kingdom at the time,

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 full of human learning and accomplishment,

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 featuring the hanging gardens of Babylon,

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 one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, right?

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 An amazing kingdom.

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 And who's at the top?

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 Nebuchadnezzar.

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 He holds the lives of thousands and thousands of people

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 in his not-so-safe hands.

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 A very strong, very impressive guy.

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 But what God is telling Nebuchadnezzar in this dream

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 is that as impressive as his strength

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 and the strength of his kingdom is,

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 it is ultimately very limited.

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 Like all other human sources of strength,

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 his kingdom is a false source of strength

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 and that it won't last.

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 Daniel is clear in explaining the dream to the king

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 how outwardly impressive the kingdom of Babylon is.

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 He makes it very clear.

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 Look at verse 31 that we read earlier.

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 It says,

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 You saw, O king, a great image.

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 It's a mighty one with exceeding brightness.

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 It's frightening when you look at,

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 and the head is of fine gold.

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 And as you keep reading down to the interpretation,

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 which, by the way,

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 how nice is it to have the dream interpreted for you?

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 I mean, that saves us a lot of trouble

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 and a lot of speculation.

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 It's especially nice if you're the preacher.

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 So the dream comes,

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 and Nebuchadnezzar is told,

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 You are the head of gold.

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 The one that's described as great and mighty

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 and exceedingly bright.

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 It's sparkling.

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 It's dazzling, isn't it?

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 This statue.

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 And Nebuchadnezzar, you're the head.

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 Strong and impressive.

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 The gold on the statue is the strongest material,

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 the most glorious, dazzling part of the statue.

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 Nonetheless, despite these wonderful outward appearances,

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 it will be destroyed, right?

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 Isn't that what we read?

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 Not only will there be other kingdoms that take its place,

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 but do you remember verse 35, what happens to them?

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 All of those kingdoms,

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 the wind carries them away

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 so that not a trace of them could be found.

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 When the statue is shattered,

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 it doesn't just break up.

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 It disappears.

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 It's blown away.

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 There's no trace.

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 It comes to nothing.

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 Nebuchadnezzar, you and your kingdom are being put on notice

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 along with all the other man-made kingdoms of the world.

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 Your strength might look good,

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 but it won't last.

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 This story teaches the same reality in another way.

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 It's not only human kingdoms that are limited in their strength,

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 but also human strengths.

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 This chapter is not only about the meaning of the dream itself,

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 but we also have this life and death situation

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 before Daniel even gets to the interpretation of the dream, right?

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 The king wants to know his dream and what it means.

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 All the wise men in the nation are failing to be wise enough to do it.

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 Daniel, though, if you recall from last week,

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 is just finishing up as valedictorian of Babylon Prep.

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 He's the guy, right?

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 Dreams are his thing.

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 Dreams and visions, we've been told,

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 that's Daniel's strength, his expertise.

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 He graduated at the top of his class in those fields.

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 Certainly, he will know what to do

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 with Nebuchadnezzar's question, right?

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 Certainly, this impressive guy, valedictorian Daniel,

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 will craft a way out of this mess.

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 Listen to how Daniel responds when it comes to him.

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 Verse 17.

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 Daniel went to his house

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 and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

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 his companions,

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 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven

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 concerning this mystery.

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 And then Daniel comes to Nebuchadnezzar later.

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 Verse 27.

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 Daniel answered the king and said,

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 no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers

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 can show to the king the mystery.

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 The king has asked,

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 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,

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 and he's made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be.

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 But as for me, the wisest guy you've got,

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 this mystery's revealed to me,

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 not because of any wisdom I have

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 more than anyone else alive,

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 but in order that the interpretation may be made known

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 to the king.

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 Here was one of Daniel's strengths,

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 but he knew he wasn't strong enough or wise enough

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 to handle it on his own.

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 We have such a warped sense of strength, don't we?

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 We are such capable people here in general at Southwood.

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 Very strong.

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 Most of the people in the world would look and say,

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 y'all are successful, capable, strong,

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 self-made men and women,

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 able to handle life and lots of things

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 that would come at you.

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 And here's the problem.

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 Every one of us has the natural tendency

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 to live in our own strength for our own kingdom.

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 We do.

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 Every one of us,

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 especially those of us who are capable and successful.

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 You want to tell me my strength is limited?

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 I'll train longer.

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 I'll work harder.

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 I'll plan better.

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 And I'll jump over the next hurdle.

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 Just wait and see.

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 Listen, Babylon is child's play.

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 Around here,

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 we're working on ruling solar systems, right?

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 We can handle it.

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 And in that strength,

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 we live for our own kingdoms.

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 It can be an actual nation focused on man's strength.

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 Or it can be a self-made family or company

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 or whatever else you think your strength can control.

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 The kingdom of will, for example,

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 to tell you what it looks like in my life,

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 that I'm often seeking to build in my strength,

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 consists of an always pleasant wife

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 with three always obedient kids

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 in an always moral country,

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 leading an always growing church

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 that is always delighted when sermons run over 40 minutes.

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 It's a fictional kingdom,

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 but it's nice to dream.

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 These are things I think I can control, right?

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 Things that I know I so naturally and consistently live for.

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 How do I know that?

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 It's because I see how I respond

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 when I don't get those things.

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 When those things don't go the way I desire.

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 The emotions of anger

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 or anxiety

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 or fear.

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 The responses of ratcheting down,

00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:18.800
 working harder,

00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.900
 this will happen,

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:21.179
 or just yelling louder,

00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:22.840
 you will be that way.

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.159
 Maybe that's happened in your kingdom before.

00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:29.340
 But sometimes we look around

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:31.220
 and we think we've done a pretty decent job

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.639
 building our kingdoms.

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.980
 I'm just like Nebuchadnezzar

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.559
 in this passage,

00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:40.360
 thinking I can build a strong and glorious kingdom

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:42.639
 where I'll be safe and secure,

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:45.539
 supported by my own remarkable strengths,

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.220
 gifts, abilities, wisdom.

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:52.879
 And God's putting me on notice this morning

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.700
 as He does Nebuchadnezzar

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:57.019
 that all the kingdoms of man

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.440
 will be wiped away,

00:15:58.540 --> 00:15:59.720
 will come to nothing.

00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:04.279
 There may be days that I'm impressive to myself

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:06.879
 how well I've built my little kingdom,

00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:09.460
 how in control of it I am,

00:16:09.540 --> 00:16:11.440
 how things seem to go my way.

00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.480
 And God says,

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.139
 it's false.

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.399
 You've been tricked.

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:17.100
 It'll be gone in an instant.

00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.139
 It'll disappear.

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:23.820
 You know, there's another tendency I have

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:25.860
 besides living in my own strength

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.860
 for my own kingdom.

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.080
 And that's a tendency to despair

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.639
 at the end of my own strength.

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:37.920
 When my strength runs out to give up entirely,

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:41.399
 it would seem reasonable for God's people

00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:43.440
 at this point in exile, wouldn't it?

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:46.540
 They're far away from the promised land,

00:16:46.640 --> 00:16:47.360
 looking around,

00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.940
 and from all appearances,

00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:50.000
 God is absent.

00:16:51.380 --> 00:16:52.680
 Babylon is strong.

00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.540
 There's really no hope.

00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:56.760
 Put yourself in Daniel's shoes.

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:58.640
 He made it through training, right?

00:16:58.660 --> 00:16:59.600
 I mean, that was nice.

00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.720
 He might not have been expected

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.780
 to survive that long,

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:04.180
 but now the captain of the king's guard

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:06.380
 is at his door with a sword

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:10.120
 and orders to execute him and his friends.

00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:15.399
 Certainly, it would be right to give up at this point.

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.479
 Hope is lost.

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.719
 At the very least, Daniel, give up on God.

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:22.439
 He's obviously not coming through for you.

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:25.599
 Following him is not paying off.

00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:26.959
 Go to your strengths.

00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:28.119
 You know this stuff.

00:17:28.239 --> 00:17:29.679
 Come up with a new plan.

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.740
 Then, right?

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.580
 At least try to figure your own way

00:17:33.580 --> 00:17:34.480
 out of this mess.

00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:38.900
 Where have you said to yourself

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:40.560
 or to a friend,

00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.160
 I just can't do it anymore?

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.039
 Maybe it's a piece of that kingdom

00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.720
 you've been seeking to build

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.680
 that seems to have no hope.

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.660
 I've tried everything I know to do

00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:56.779
 and this marriage is hopeless.

00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:59.140
 I'm done with it.

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.700
 Or perhaps because that marriage

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.840
 did fall apart,

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.820
 that this family

00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:08.259
 or this life I have with God is over.

00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:09.620
 He's never come through

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:11.779
 and I just can't wait for him anymore.

00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:16.519
 Maybe it's a crisis with a child.

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.519
 I was such a godly parent

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:21.680
 and I did everything I was supposed to do

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.900
 and God never showed up

00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:25.600
 and did his part.

00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.640
 I give up.

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:31.580
 Perhaps it's a professional crisis.

00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:33.100
 I tried to live for God

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.780
 in the workplace

00:18:33.780 --> 00:18:35.440
 and now I'm fired

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.460
 and I got a bad review.

00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.940
 There's nowhere for me to go.

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.600
 If this is how God treats

00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:41.640
 his children who seek to honor him,

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.940
 then I'm done.

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.120
 Get me out.

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.020
 Have you been in one of those low places

00:18:49.020 --> 00:18:51.660
 where the strength you've been living on

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.960
 is just gone?

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:55.120
 There's nothing left.

00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:57.640
 You don't even have the heart

00:18:57.640 --> 00:19:00.220
 to hope God could come through anymore.

00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.039
 That's how it feels sometimes, isn't it?

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:05.120
 There doesn't seem to be any evidence

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.840
 that he's there

00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:08.740
 and I'm tired of hoping he'll show up.

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:12.660
 Here's where God wants to surprise

00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.960
 our very capable,

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:16.120
 self-reliant hearts

00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:19.279
 with the true source of strength.

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:21.759
 And I know that part of your being

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.220
 very capable people

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.940
 is that you already know

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:26.480
 the true source of strength,

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:26.920
 don't you?

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.680
 You're so well educated.

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:30.899
 You've been to church before.

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:33.539
 You know the true source of strength.

00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:35.180
 I'm not confused about that.

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:38.579
 I do know that we all like to live

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.819
 in our own strength,

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.579
 that I'm not the only one

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:44.160
 who struggles in my own strength

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.259
 to build my own kingdom.

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:47.740
 So maybe we're missing something.

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:50.259
 Perhaps one reason we're missing it

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.680
 is that the true source of strength

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:56.259
 appears at first unimpressive.

00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:00.980
 This right here is 91-year-old

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.799
 Svend Steensgaard.

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.539
 That's Svend.

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:07.000
 Svend, just before this picture was taken,

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:09.819
 walked about 10 steps across the room.

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:12.759
 Not only does Svend Steensgaard

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.420
 not sound quite like Magnus Samuelsson,

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:18.940
 if you had seen Svend walking across the room

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.340
 twice in 10 steps,

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.400
 you would have leaned forward

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.700
 to catch him from falling down.

00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:26.920
 It appeared he could hardly keep himself up.

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:30.660
 Not particularly impressive at first.

00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:34.860
 But 91-year-old Svend Steensgaard,

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:37.320
 while outwardly unimpressive,

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:39.460
 is actually quite strong.

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:42.960
 Svend, at 91 years old,

00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:45.480
 deadlifts about 300 pounds.

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:49.500
 That's way beyond my limits.

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.779
 Okay, just to clarify,

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.819
 that's a lot.

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:54.100
 Svend is a strong guy.

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.579
 Outwardly unimpressive, perhaps,

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.840
 but amazing strength

00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:02.299
 in a place you didn't expect to find it.

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:06.619
 God shows us the source of true strength

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:08.019
 again in this passage,

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:10.279
 both in the events taking place

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.480
 and in the dream itself.

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:15.460
 First, notice the divine strength

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:18.519
 that Daniel appeals to in his crisis.

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.980
 Even the pagan magicians know

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:23.339
 this situation is beyond human strength.

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:25.759
 And in verse 11, they say,

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.960
 King, the thing you're asking is difficult.

00:21:28.399 --> 00:21:29.779
 No one can show it to the king

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:32.359
 except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:35.899
 Daniel's not pretending to be wiser than they are.

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.420
 He agrees.

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:39.299
 Daniel goes, they come to him for an answer,

00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:40.839
 and he gets his friends and says,

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:43.180
 Seek mercy from the God of heaven.

00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:47.200
 That's the only place that an answer could come from.

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.740
 Here's what I mean by being unimpressive.

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:55.000
 The armies of the nation of Babylon

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:58.359
 are coming to kill you.

00:21:58.359 --> 00:22:02.139
 And Daniel's response is,

00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:05.819
 Hey, could we hold on a sec?

00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:08.559
 I need to have a prayer meeting.

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:11.819
 There will be four of us in attendance

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.019
 at the prayer meeting

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:15.399
 before you decide to kill us.

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:19.659
 That doesn't make a lot of sense, right?

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:21.079
 Not real impressive.

00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.259
 Seriously, Daniel,

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.639
 you're the valedictorian of the wise men.

00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:26.459
 Come up with a real plan, right?

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:26.539
 What?

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.620
 And Daniel says,

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.620
 Oh, yes, that's right.

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.240
 A real plan.

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:30.759
 Huddle up.

00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:31.460
 Here's the plan.

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:35.299
 Seek mercy from the God of heaven.

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:36.880
 Hmm.

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:41.140
 To our warped sense of strength,

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.920
 this makes no sense.

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.660
 We chuckle.

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:46.759
 And we're people who've sat in church,

00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:47.960
 and we know that praying

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.380
 is supposed to be a good thing,

00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.880
 but seriously,

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.340
 the captain of the king's guard

00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:54.720
 is at the door with a sword.

00:22:57.800 --> 00:22:59.040
 Well, after God comes through

00:22:59.040 --> 00:23:00.180
 and reveals the dream

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:01.460
 and its meaning to Daniel,

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:03.020
 Daniel prays again,

00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:04.820
 and here we get in his prayer

00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.640
 the heart of what this passage

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.080
 teaches us about God.

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:10.060
 This is a beautiful prayer.

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.240
 Daniel says,

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:13.019
 Blessed be the name of God

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.319
 forever and ever,

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:17.220
 to whom belong wisdom and might.

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.500
 He changes times and seasons.

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.640
 He removes kings and sets up kings.

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:23.579
 He gives wisdom to the wise

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.579
 and knowledge to those

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.500
 who have understanding.

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.819
 He reveals deep and hidden things.

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.299
 He knows what is in the darkness

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.920
 and the light dwells with him.

00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:33.160
 To you, O God of my fathers,

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:35.000
 I give thanks and praise,

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:37.819
 for you have given me wisdom and might

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:40.439
 and have now made known to me

00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:41.539
 what we asked of you,

00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:43.059
 for you've made known to us

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.619
 the king's matter.

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.919
 Be so encouraged by this,

00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.500
 by who God is.

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.700
 The point of the prayer

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.700
 is that God has true strength

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:54.099
 and wisdom.

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.859
 Notice all the particular ways

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.659
 this can comfort us

00:23:58.659 --> 00:24:01.079
 as Daniel gets specific.

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.579
 It is God who removes

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.939
 and sets up kings.

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:07.039
 He's in charge of the nations, right?

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.399
 Including ours.

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:12.879
 He makes those who trust him wise.

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.460
 He will direct you

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.839
 in difficult situations

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:17.420
 when you look to him.

00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:19.519
 He even knows

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:21.279
 what is in the darkness.

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:23.539
 The things you can't understand

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:25.519
 and don't know

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.740
 that are going on.

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:28.980
 When life makes no sense to you,

00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:32.379
 he gets that too.

00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.599
 He's in control of it.

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:37.419
 But it's not just that God's strength

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.919
 is the one we should trust

00:24:38.919 --> 00:24:40.939
 instead of human strengths.

00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:44.359
 It's also true that only a divine kingdom

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:46.579
 will stand forever.

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.759
 Back to the king's dream.

00:24:48.959 --> 00:24:51.439
 In the midst of these impressive metals

00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:54.059
 that are making up this statue,

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.899
 enter a rock.

00:24:55.900 --> 00:25:00.240
 A stone cut out by no human hand

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.820
 that strikes the statue

00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:05.160
 and breaks the whole thing into pieces.

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.920
 End of verse 35.

00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:08.980
 But the stone that struck the image

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.660
 became a great mountain

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:13.320
 and filled the whole earth.

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:16.420
 And in the days of those kings,

00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:19.300
 the ones who've built their human kingdoms,

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.600
 the God of heaven will set up a kingdom

00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:24.319
 that shall never be destroyed.

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.859
 Nor shall the kingdom be left

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.639
 to another people.

00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.939
 It'll break into pieces

00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:28.799
 all these kingdoms

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.019
 and it will stand forever

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:33.139
 just like that stone cut

00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:34.059
 from the mountain

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.959
 by no human hand

00:25:35.959 --> 00:25:39.480
 grew and stood forever.

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.699
 A small piece of rock

00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:45.459
 whose origin is what really mattered.

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:48.059
 That it was not man-made,

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.699
 but divine.

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:52.420
 Not from a human hand.

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:54.640
 The kingdom that destroys the others

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.740
 will not be passed

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:57.000
 to another group of people.

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.740
 It will be divine

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.700
 and will last.

00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:01.039
 And the little stone

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:02.559
 will become a great mountain

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.480
 and the mountain will expand

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.420
 to fill the entire earth.

00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:08.519
 Of the increase of His government

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.259
 and of peace,

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:10.440
 there will be no end.

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.640
 Unlimited strength.

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.220
 Incredible might.

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.620
 An unending kingdom.

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:20.879
 The stone, of course,

00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:21.539
 is Jesus

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:24.419
 who after the Babylonian Empire,

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.559
 the head of gold,

00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:28.259
 the Medo-Persian Empire

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.799
 that comes next,

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:31.519
 the Greek Empire

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:33.419
 under Alexander the Great,

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.039
 and then in the midst

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.639
 of the Roman Empire

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:38.379
 where the iron and clay

00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:40.279
 down at the legs and feet,

00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:42.539
 in the midst of that Roman Empire,

00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:43.619
 Jesus shows up

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:45.619
 in an unimpressive manner,

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.119
 doesn't He?

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.559
 Outwardly,

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.979
 very unimpressive,

00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:51.639
 little beauty or majesty

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:53.799
 that would attract us to Him,

00:26:54.699 --> 00:26:55.719
 Isaiah tells us.

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.979
 With a ragtag group of fishermen

00:26:57.979 --> 00:26:58.899
 and other Jews

00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:01.959
 in the midst of the mighty Roman Empire

00:27:01.959 --> 00:27:04.399
 and in the midst of apparent weakness,

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:07.259
 He displays immeasurable strength

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:09.299
 that changed the world forever.

00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:12.460
 In Luke 20,

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.839
 Jesus refers to Himself

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.899
 as that stone

00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:16.099
 that crushes those

00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:17.319
 on whom it falls.

00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:19.879
 The unimpressive stone

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:22.019
 that hits the clay feet

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.399
 of the impressive statue

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:25.240
 and causes human kingdoms

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.539
 to crumble.

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.659
 In a passage discussing

00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:31.500
 the cross of Jesus,

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.599
 Paul explains,

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.839
 1 Corinthians 1,

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:35.619
 the surprising strength

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.899
 of God.

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.700
 That Jesus,

00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:39.360
 the one seemingly weak

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.780
 and hung on a cross,

00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:42.860
 is actually the power of God

00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:45.240
 and the wisdom of God.

00:27:45.320 --> 00:27:46.660
 1 Corinthians 1,

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.560
 25,

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.480
 the foolishness of God

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:51.840
 is wiser than human wisdom

00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:53.820
 and the weakness of God

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:57.300
 is stronger than human strength.

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.280
 Jesus,

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.200
 in many ways,

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:02.940
 the weakness of God,

00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:04.720
 the cross is foolishness.

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.200
 Jesus,

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:07.200
 Jesus first is stronger

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.380
 than man's strength

00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:10.259
 in crushing human kingdoms

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:12.640
 and then becomes a mountain

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.519
 that in its magnificence

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.120
 and might

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:17.100
 fills the entire earth

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.559
 with His kingdom

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:20.319
 that never ends.

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.039
 So what?

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:26.000
 So what for us?

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:27.799
 Listen,

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.799
 so we too find

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:31.380
 our true strength

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:33.440
 in our own weakness.

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.259
 as Paul says

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.740
 in 2 Corinthians 12,

00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:38.100
 admitting our own weakness

00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:40.539
 turns us to Christ's strength.

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.220
 The power of God

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.200
 rests on me

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.740
 so that when I am weak,

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:47.320
 then I am strong.

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.019
 That's just the way

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.279
 our Heavenly Father is.

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:52.240
 He loves to be strong

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.420
 for His people.

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.519
 So not only is He

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.880
 immeasurably strong,

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.279
 which is nice to know

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:59.200
 theoretically,

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.960
 but God's unlimited strength

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.980
 is especially

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:05.480
 for weak people like me.

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.400
 Kids,

00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.500
 you can write that down

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.240
 in your bulletin.

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.860
 It's not just kids

00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:12.720
 that Jesus loves me

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.600
 is for,

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.480
 that we are weak

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:17.480
 but He is strong.

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.819
 That's for all of us

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.940
 who know ourselves

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.680
 as little,

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:25.700
 who are weak

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.740
 so that He

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:28.480
 is strong.

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.240
 That's the point

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.920
 of the gospel,

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.380
 isn't it?

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.200
 None of us

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.660
 very capable adults

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.920
 is any more capable

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.140
 of working our way

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.860
 to God,

00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:37.900
 of standing for God

00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:39.200
 before pagan rulers,

00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.720
 of having faith

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.440
 when faced

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.480
 with persecution.

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.440
 See,

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:44.980
 it's vital

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.660
 that we admit

00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.279
 our weakness

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:48.079
 in the hardest times.

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.000
 At the times

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.380
 it seems most dangerous

00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:51.980
 to acknowledge weakness.

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.880
 When we're tempted

00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.500
 as Daniel

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.480
 must have been

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.000
 to think

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.180
 the solution here

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.860
 is to assert

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.779
 our strength,

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:59.359
 then especially

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.599
 we must cry

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.399
 to God

00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:02.599
 for mercy.

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.119
 When Daniel

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.839
 opts to admit

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.399
 his need

00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.599
 and cry for mercy,

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:09.399
 God answers

00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:11.480
 and it gives Daniel

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.180
 the opportunity

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.220
 to point others

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:15.420
 to God's strength

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.960
 as he does

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.619
 in verse 30

00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.720
 with Nebuchadnezzar.

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.899
 Because he's willing

00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.460
 to admit

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.779
 that he's not stronger

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.559
 or wiser

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.799
 than any other man,

00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.259
 he's able to say

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.859
 there's a God

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.339
 in heaven

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.140
 who is

00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:27.799
 and he gets

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.500
 to testify

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.460
 to the world's

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.359
 strongest man

00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.099
 that there's

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.079
 someone stronger

00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.640
 than he is.

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.599
 Y'all,

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.379
 when we pretend

00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.039
 that we are

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.000
 the strong ones,

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.640
 our friends

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.259
 and neighbors

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.859
 are offered

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.500
 the hope

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.400
 merely of being

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.420
 more like us.

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.220
 When we admit

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.160
 we are weak,

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.579
 our friends

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.180
 and neighbors

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.859
 are offered

00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.700
 the comfort

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.839
 of us being

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.859
 like them

00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:54.219
 and the hope

00:30:54.219 --> 00:30:55.319
 of one strong

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.740
 enough

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:57.379
 for all of us.

00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:59.019
 Isn't that so much better?

00:30:59.459 --> 00:31:00.039
 Isn't that

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.259
 what we've been called

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.659
 to point people

00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:03.679
 to one strong enough

00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.740
 for all of us

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.199
 to depend on?

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.500
 Here's the rub for us.

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.759
 Do we actually

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:13.279
 practically

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.779
 believe this?

00:31:15.959 --> 00:31:16.500
 Really,

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.500
 ask yourself.

00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.699
 I've told you

00:31:19.699 --> 00:31:20.419
 very little new

00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:21.019
 this morning

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.859
 and you may

00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:23.680
 nod your head

00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.180
 today

00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:25.359
 but honestly

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:25.940
 will you

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:27.059
 bow your head

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.779
 and cry out

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.480
 to God

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.420
 tomorrow

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:31.220
 the next time

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.079
 you're in a tight

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.579
 spot?

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.500
 We really struggle

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:34.859
 here,

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.319
 don't we?

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:38.039
 I know I do.

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.000
 This week

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.559
 I really wanted

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.139
 to preach

00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:41.799
 a good sermon

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:43.259
 and I had a little

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.879
 bit smaller

00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:45.180
 window of time

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.059
 than usual

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.819
 for a variety

00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.400
 of reasons

00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:49.440
 so I thought

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.059
 to myself,

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.339
 you know,

00:31:50.379 --> 00:31:50.740
 I kind of

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.379
 have a general

00:31:51.379 --> 00:31:51.940
 idea of what

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.859
 the sermon's about.

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.659
 It's about our

00:31:53.659 --> 00:31:54.059
 weakness

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.339
 and God's

00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:55.759
 strength

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.359
 and the value

00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.019
 of prayer

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.279
 so I know

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.940
 exactly

00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.740
 how to get

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.240
 this sermon

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.539
 ready.

00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.619
 This is one

00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:01.960
 of the things

00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.379
 I do.

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:04.000
 I do sermons.

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.679
 I did what?

00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.480
 Cracked the study

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:07.839
 Bible,

00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:09.079
 spread out the

00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.899
 commentaries,

00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:10.940
 dove in,

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.960
 got to work

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.579
 fast.

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.819
 Right there

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:14.259
 in the middle

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.940
 of it I get

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.500
 to Daniel

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.379
 turning to God

00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:16.819
 in prayer

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.220
 and I think

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.779
 that's important

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.339
 I should tell

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.859
 people to do

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.099
 that.

00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.639
 I'm going to

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.819
 prepare skillfully

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.599
 and efficiently

00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.899
 to tell everyone

00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:25.619
 to rely on God.

00:32:25.959 --> 00:32:26.699
 Stop depending

00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:27.279
 on their own

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.819
 strength and

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.439
 trust God.

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.099
 That's what I'm

00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:29.480
 going to do.

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.659
 That happened.

00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.819
 It's not just

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.179
 a sermon

00:32:33.179 --> 00:32:33.679
 illustration.

00:32:34.679 --> 00:32:35.759
 I was reading

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.579
 about Daniel

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.579
 turning immediately

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.319
 to prayer

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.359
 but I sure

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:39.939
 wasn't.

00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:41.919
 I more naturally

00:32:41.919 --> 00:32:42.919
 trust my own

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:44.259
 human strengths.

00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:46.019
 I give lip

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.720
 service to

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.420
 prayer but

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:49.660
 often my lips

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.619
 don't actually

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.099
 pray.

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.940
 I decided

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.460
 this week

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.299
 that probably

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.200
 if a pastor

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.680
 forgets that

00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.240
 when it's

00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.799
 staring him

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.400
 in the face

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:00.740
 and he's

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.640
 writing a sermon

00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.279
 about it

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:04.039
 I suspect

00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.819
 life gets

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.640
 going fast

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.359
 and engineers

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.019
 forget

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.200
 when they're

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.740
 hard pressed

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.279
 at work.

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.180
 I suspect

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.240
 moms forget

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.640
 when their

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.440
 family seems

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:14.839
 to be

00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.660
 falling apart.

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:18.079
 I suspect

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.079
 Christians forget

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.720
 when their

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.660
 friends are

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.460
 hurting and

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:23.000
 they're more

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.480
 comfortable

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.359
 offering human

00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:25.299
 solutions to

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:25.819
 them than a

00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:27.079
 divine savior.

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.220
 We're quicker

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.160
 to give advice

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.900
 than admit we

00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.500
 need to cry

00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.359
 out for help

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.880
 and we know

00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:32.579
 the one who's

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.920
 strong to save.

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.380
 Haven't you

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:35.839
 been there?

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.539
 Don't you feel

00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.099
 that in your

00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:37.880
 own heart?

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.660
 In a pluralistic

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.700
 culture that

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.279
 preaches

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.019
 independence

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.879
 you could

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.420
 easily be

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:43.960
 like every

00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.519
 other voice

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:44.940
 around.

00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.099
 That's the

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.720
 world we

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.160
 live in.

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:47.720
 You can do

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:47.859
 it.

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.019
 I'm going to

00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.619
 encourage you.

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.200
 You're strong

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.599
 enough.

00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.819
 God's people

00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.279
 should be

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.599
 marked

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.779
 distinctively

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:55.180
 by our

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.139
 dependence

00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:57.920
 and prayer.

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.680
 Here's the

00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:01.299
 reality we

00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:01.920
 have to face

00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.279
 today.

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.200
 We are

00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:03.579
 God's

00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:03.879
 children.

00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:05.039
 We have

00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:06.000
 a direct

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.799
 line to

00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.259
 the one

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.920
 who rules

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.380
 over the

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.739
 kingdoms

00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.239
 of the

00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:09.619
 world,

00:34:09.759 --> 00:34:10.599
 who removes

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.239
 and sets

00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:12.000
 up kings

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.900
 and we

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.519
 don't pray.

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.760
 We fret

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.340
 and read

00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:17.800
 political

00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.340
 analysis

00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:19.300
 instead.

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.920
 We talk

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.119
 about

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.960
 passionately

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.840
 wanting God's

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.360
 kingdom to

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.139
 advance in the

00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:25.500
 world and

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.400
 wanting to be a

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.139
 part of that

00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.820
 ourselves,

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.159
 but we're so

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.960
 self-reliant

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.440
 that we don't

00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:30.940
 pray.

00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:33.519
 We don't

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.239
 pray to the

00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:34.940
 one who has

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.760
 promised to

00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.659
 turn a small

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.920
 stone into a

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.980
 mountain that

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:40.099
 fills the whole

00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:40.539
 earth.

00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.920
 We must

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:44.119
 repent this

00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:44.839
 morning of our

00:34:44.839 --> 00:34:46.179
 warped sense

00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:46.980
 of strength,

00:34:47.339 --> 00:34:47.920
 that we would

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.319
 turn to

00:34:48.319 --> 00:34:49.440
 ourselves before

00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.940
 turning to

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.299
 God.

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.819
 Where are you

00:34:51.819 --> 00:34:52.519
 longing this

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:52.940
 morning to

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.519
 see God's

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.460
 kingdom come,

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:56.119
 but it feels

00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:57.819
 hopeless or

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.480
 unreasonable?

00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.599
 Get four

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.299
 weak,

00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.699
 desperate people

00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.799
 pleading to a

00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:06.819
 strong God.

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.619
 Cry out to

00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.539
 Him and watch

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.800
 what He does.

00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.659
 Do you believe

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:12.440
 that's who He is

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:12.800
 or does that

00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:13.340
 still sound

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:13.800
 silly?

00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:15.840
 Are you

00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.400
 willing this

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:16.880
 morning to

00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:17.960
 lay hold of

00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:18.400
 Him and say,

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.199
 I believe He's

00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.119
 like that,

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.440
 that He delights

00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.320
 to show Himself

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:23.440
 to be strong

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.739
 for you

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:26.679
 and to make

00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:27.279
 His kingdom

00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:27.860
 into that

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.279
 massive mountain

00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:30.099
 that you can

00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:31.460
 stand firm

00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:32.440
 on.

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.400
 May we hope

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.340
 in no other

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:36.239
 kingdom and no

00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.119
 other strength

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:38.639
 than the one

00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:39.199
 that will fill

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:39.759
 the earth

00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:40.859
 forever.

00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:42.239
 Let's pray.

00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:47.859
 Father, we

00:35:47.859 --> 00:35:48.900
 confess that

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:50.839
 we like the

00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:51.659
 feeling a lot

00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.279
 more of

00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:54.500
 thinking we

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.000
 can handle

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.259
 it.

00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.480
 For a while

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:57.920
 at least it

00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.480
 makes us feel

00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:58.759
 better.

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.380
 We confess

00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:02.199
 we're quick to

00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:02.920
 give up on

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:03.980
 You and to

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.940
 think there's a

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.720
 better shot

00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.659
 with our own

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:08.300
 methods than

00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:08.820
 with crying

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.519
 out to You.

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:10.900
 We think we

00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:11.480
 could fix

00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.240
 something and

00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:13.280
 You probably

00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:13.960
 wouldn't care

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.220
 to.

00:36:16.220 --> 00:36:17.280
 Father, give us

00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:18.619
 eyes to see

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.619
 how strong

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:20.220
 You are,

00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:22.059
 how magnificent

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.940
 Your kingdom

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.539
 is,

00:36:24.260 --> 00:36:25.220
 to know

00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:26.300
 the love

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:27.200
 of a Father

00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:28.880
 that is strong

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.800
 for us,

00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.519
 who delights

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.280
 to care for

00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:32.860
 His children.

00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:32.960
 children,

00:36:33.200 --> 00:36:34.260
 and as we

00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:34.900
 see You

00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:35.460
 like that,

00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.079
 might we

00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.820
 indeed cry

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.519
 out to You

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.099
 more often.

00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:38.680
 Might our

00:36:38.680 --> 00:36:39.440
 hearts become

00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.180
 increasingly

00:36:40.180 --> 00:36:42.480
 dependent on

00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:42.800
 You.

00:36:43.680 --> 00:36:44.480
 Do that work

00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.240
 in our hearts,

00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:46.640
 not just for

00:36:46.640 --> 00:36:47.160
 our sakes,

00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:47.660
 not just so

00:36:47.660 --> 00:36:48.220
 we'll be better

00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:48.660
 people,

00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:49.200
 but so that

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:49.740
 Your kingdom

00:36:49.740 --> 00:36:50.500
 will be made

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:51.460
 great,

00:36:51.700 --> 00:36:52.420
 and many will

00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:52.960
 know of the

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.519
 greatness of

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.039
 Your name.

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.900
 We ask it in

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:56.460
 Jesus' name.

00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:57.120
 Amen.

00:36:57.120 --> 00:36:57.240
 Amen.

00:36:57.239 --> 00:37:01.899
 For more

00:37:01.899 --> 00:37:02.419
 information,

00:37:02.799 --> 00:37:03.219
 visit us

00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:04.099
 online at

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.000
 southwood.org.

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:06.000
 For more

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.500
 information,

00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.000
 visit us

00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:08.099
 online at

00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:09.099
 southwood.org.