Perfectly Displaced: God Sees Ahead

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.

Daniel and his 3 friends are standing before him prepared and ready to give the explanation and interpretation.

They gave all their credit to God.

READ (Daniel2:31-47)

Daniel was the man chosen by God to reveal this prophecy.

“Typically, the prophet of the Word of God is assigned by God to give a far-future prophecy gave also a near prophecy to establish his credentials. In other words, if he proves to be accurate in the historically verified prophecy, we can believe him for the one that’s so far in the future that we can’t see it.” - John MacArthur

Brothers and sisters, we are God’s church. Called and commissioned by scripture to shine light into dark places.

We are not alone. God producting results in history.

1. God Writes History Into Being.

Neb was shocked as the details of the dream recited.

World power in totality. A colossus of metal standing on weak feat, clay.

Statue as one image that represented wordly powers in different stages.

The metals lessen in gravity and value.

Top heavy kingdom.

Clay is hard but brittle. Stable until it hits something.

“Stone”

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Ps 118:22.

Rejected stone.

The world powers would not be able to handle the power they would gain when conquering a nation.

Celebrity pastors cannot bear the weight of influence.

God provides a glimpse into History through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar.

Christians believer that God determines every step of history.

This is God’s world and we are living in it.

2. One Kingdom Will Reign Forever

(Show image on screen)

Head of God — Babylon

Chest and arms of silver -- Medo-Persian Empire

Middle and thighs of bronze -- Greece

Legs of iron, feet of iron and clay — Rome

Rome fell because of moral decay

This prophecy is so accurate that critics claim that it was written after the fact.

Written in 6th century BC. Hundreds of years before the rise of Greece and Rome.

Followed by a 5th kingdom.

Stone - The eternal kingdom of god.

Will crush the statue, turn into a mountain, and grow forever.

Jerusalem and Judah inhabited by others. This kingdom would never be left for others to occupy.

The God of Heaven will work out his sure purpose to set up a lasting kingdom.

(1 Cor. 13:13) Faith, hope, and love will last forever.

Nations don’t last forever. Why?

Because people cannot handle the weight or responsibility of glory.

Just because you want glory doesn’t mean you can handle it.

This is why God made the church.

We come together to live under the influence of King Jesus and live for His kingdom.

“4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion,a chosen and honored cornerstone,and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.,7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,The stone that the builders rejected—this one has become the cornerstone,,8 and A stone to stumble over,and a rock to trip over., They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.” - (1 Peter 2:4-8)

Christi is the chief cornerstone. We are living stones built together to represent His kingdom of earth.

Neb got what he asked for.

He found out that he’s not God.

Daniel rose from the bottom to the top.

God knows how to grant authority to those who submit themselve to his authority.

Daniel chose to believe God even after his entire world changes.

And God blessed him for it.

Am i fully yielded to God? Do I trust his plan when it doesn’t make sense?