Moving mountains for God.

Daniel 2:1-11

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Pray:

Let me sum up what is going on here. King Nebuchadnezzar here is asking his wise men to interpret his dreams. And then he says if you were really fortune tellers. And that is what we would call them today. Then you would know the meaning of my dreams.

So, the king says if you can’t tell me my dreams and predict my future then I’m just going to kill you all. Fun King huh?

Insecure Kings tend to be control freaks. Just as insecure people like to control people. When you are secure in yourself and in who you are then you don’t need to control people. It’s easy to accept and love others when you are secure. Not so when you are insecure.

An insecure pastor wants to control everything that goes on in the church. And the result is that everyone is just as miserable as he is. But a secure pastor allows people to grow and isn’t threatened by their growth. And a secure pastor is fine with you being friends with former pastors. In fact, it should be encouraged.

But back to predicting the future for the King.

Ecclesiastes 8:7

7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

What this is saying to us is simple. Nobody knows the future. NOBODY. If you go to one of those places that claim to be psychic and can read your palm or whatever. Understand this. You are welcoming demons into your life for no reason. Those people are demon possessed and cannot tell you anything about your future. Stay away from them.

I once knew a lady. Whose name I will not mention. Wasn’t sure whether she wanted to divorce her husband. She was having an affair with a co-worker. A man who happened to be her boss. But as she said she was committed to her marriage. Or so she thought. This woman told me that she went to a palm reader. One of those places on the side of the road where they claim to be able to predict the future. And the demon that works there told her to leave her husband. Folks, a demon will always tell you what you want to hear. At that point there was nothing I could tell her. She wasn’t listening. Like most people she was looking for someone to tell her what she wanted to hear, rather than what she needed to hear.

Ecclesiastes 10:14

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

Deuteronomy 18:20

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Anyone who claims to be a man of God and tries to tell you they know the future will be accurate with the word of God. And will be 100 right when they tell you what is coming. Otherwise, they are a false prophet. Some of you may remember the book. 84 reasons why Jesus will come in 1984. False prophet making money off your faith. Nothing more. If I had to guess and that is all I can do is guess. The second coming could be anywhere from now to the next 100 years. I base this off my understanding of the flood. But even then, there isn’t any way to know a time for sure.

Now back to our lesson. The King is scared from all the nightmares he is having. And he is desperate to understand his dreams. To the point that he is killing people who cannot tell him his dreams.

Then Daniel shows up. A true prophet. And tells the King what his dream his dreams mean.

Can you imagine having so much faith in what God is telling you that you are willing to risk your life? Folks that’s faith.

Daniel though had no fear of the King because he was walking with God.

Daniel had a faith that could not be shaken. Folks it would be easy to look around at everything that needs to be done at Westside and throw our hands up and walk away. It would be so easy to give up.

But a true Christian has no fear of a challenge. A true Christian knows that with God all things are possible.

Listen to the words of Christ:

Matthew 21:21

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Daniel had an unshakeable faith in God. We know that he purposed in his heart to serve God. So that no obstacle was too great for him to overcome.

I can almost hear Daniel singing:

I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day; Still praying as I onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand By faith on Canaan’s tableland; A higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

Folks we are called to serve God regardless of our circumstances. Too many of us fail the Lords tests. And yes, we are often tested. And the very second that serving God is going to cost us something we walk away.

Daniel put his money where his mouth is. But first he asked the King for more time. Look at verse 16. We are still in Daniel 2.

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

We might need more time to do everything God wants us to do.

Romans 8:25-26

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Pastor when will we get everything done that needs to be done around here. Be patient.

Pastor when will this church be full of people? Be patient.

We need to allow God to do a work on HIS time and not ours. It might take time to move that mountain. But trust in God, He will move it.

That doesn’t mean we should procrastinate. When it comes to serving God, we should do what we can when we can. See Daniel asked the King for time. But he did NOT wait to start working on the problem.

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

How about this. Daniel not only started working on the problem right away. But he went straight to his friends to pray about it.

We have a lot of things to do at Westside. But so far what have we learned we can do to move that mountain? Participate, patience, don’t procrastinate and prayer. Right?

We need to all pray for God to bless our church. And we need to all participate in making what needs to be done happen. And we need patience for God to do the harder things that need to be done. But what we can do we SHOULD do immediately. How can we expect God to help us with what we need help with when we aren’t even doing the things that we don’t need help with. Think about it. God helps those who help themselves, right. Ask yourself. What can we do around here on our own? What we should be doing is what we can do while asking God to help us do what we can’t.

It's ridiculous to sit around asking God to do the impossible for your church. When we aren’t even willing to do the possible.

By that same token. It is ridiculous to sit around asking God to do the impossible in your life. When you aren’t even willing to do what you can do.

Last Sunday we talked about the supernatural. When we did a study of Genesis 1. I told you that some people just cannot accept that the supernatural is real. Life itself is supernatural.

God knows that there are things that we need to do that we cannot do. We may not have the money to do what needs to be done. So, should we just give up?

No. Understand that God wants to use our situation to demonstrate his goodness and love.

Jeremiah 33:3 sing it.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

God can figure it out for us. Just as He did for Daniel.

James 4:2-3

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Never forget this one truth though. God expects us to be a part of His work. God didn’t call you to salvation to make you spectators. Christianity isn’t a spectator sport. We are supposed to actively be a part of doing things for our local church.

That doesn’t mean to sit back and watch one or two people do everything. It means to get up and do what you can do.

In the books of Acts it says that they were all together and in one accord.

Acts 2:1

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

As a church we need to be together. We should ALL be working together as one. Notice it doesn’t say in Acts that some of them were of on accord.

Every single person there was doing his part for the startup of the local church. Nobody was saying. Well listen Peter. I’d really like to be there to hear this sermon of yours. But ya know. I didn’t really sleep well last night. So, I’ll just catch it on Facebook.

And nobody was saying Well listen here Peter. I know that someone has to put some chairs out for this event. But I just don’t have time. Get one of your disciples to do it for you.

No one was saying wow Peter this place is a mess. You clean it up. I’m busy.

NO. They were all working together to get things done because they believed in what they were doing. More than 500 people had just witnessed the resurrected Christ. They were not waiting around for someone else to do what needed to be done.

They were NOT waiting around for someone else to bring a revival. They were not hoping that someone else would do what needed to be done. Listen to me they were NOT praying for revival. They were showing the entire world what it meant to be revived.

Stop looking for someone to do what you could be doing. Stop looking around for someone to stir you up and motivate you. YOU be the revival. YOU be the one who says what can I do Lord? How can I serve YOU Lord.

Colossians 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Too many of us sit around crying about why won’t God bless our lives. Why won’t God do this or that.

What are you doing for God? And are you doing it with ALL your heart?

Oh, we want to move this mountain for Christ. We want to make Westside Baptist Church the place for revival. We want to make Westside Baptist Church the place for young people to come.

I agree. Now what are you doing to make it happen?

We talked last week about having a friendship with Christ.

Is there anything you won’t do for your friend?

Is there anything you won’t do for Christ?

God gave Daniel the answer to King Nebuchednezers dream.

Look at verse 19.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

How many times has God done for us. Think about how many times you have asked God for help and God has blessed you.

How did Daniel respond to Gods’ blessing? With Praise.

I want you all to understand something. True Praise and true worship are a work of action. Listen to the words Jesus in Matthew 15:8

Matthew 15:8

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

When we are thankful to the Lord for salvation. We honor Him with more than just words. When we are thankful to God for the blessings in our life. We honor Him with more than just words.

We honor Him with SERVICE. I need every single one of us to get this. If you don’t get anything that I have ever said to you. Please get this.

God wants each one of us in this church all on the same page. All giving from our hearts everything we must give to serving HIM.

There is a world around us going to hell. There is a world around us suffering. Our neighbors who we are supposed to love are dying and going to hell. And we can’t even serve God through the local church.

ALL to JESUS I surrender.

But preacher. I just don’t have time to serve God. Then don’t expect God to bless you or your church.

Worship is not just coming to church and singing a song. True worship is service to the King of Kings.

Otherwise, He isn’t your King. You are your own King. If God doesn’t have all of you this morning, then you are missing out.

And you are missing out on more than you will ever know. But the way this thing is supposed to work. Is we are all supposed to be doing what God called us to do. And working towards the same goal.

What is that goal you ask?

Lifting up Jesus.

John 12:32

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Too many Christians complain about the state of the world. Hey, Stop complaining about the mountain in front of you and start picking up rocks one at a time until that mountain is gone.

People go around saying: Man I sure do love Jesus.

Really?

John 14:15-31

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Is this a commandment?

Matthew 28:19

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

The Church is the vehicle God uses for our service. What part is our part in the house of God? And are we giving our all for Him?

Folks God could bless a church with the best preacher you have ever had. He could be the most eloquent speaker. He could know the word backwards and forwards. But if we are not ALL in for Jesus and doing EVERYTHING we can for His service. Then don’t expect to see that mountain moved.

Focus on God. Put God first. Put God’s house first. Put the work of God first.

When God gets us through something. We should praise him with service.

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Isn’t that what Daniel did? He blessed God for his help. But not just with his lips. But with his service.

It is easy to say thank you. But true character means showing thanks. It means honoring God with service.

Now I am going to say some things that are going to make me very unpopular. But I’m going to say them anyway. Because I don’t serve man I serve God.

We have become a nation of spectators. Everyone one of us expects someone else to do what needs to be done.

And most people expect some slime ball politician to be our hero and fix everything for us. We are brainwashed to believe that someone will save us.

Form the time we are children we watch these movies where the super hero saves the day. While we sit back and watch.

Folks there isn’t a single politician who will save or fix America. Too many people think Trump is their super-hero. But let me tell you something you don’t want to hear. Trump and all the drama surrounding him is nothing more than a movie. Politics is nothing but a Hollywood production. Thats all it is.

The people who make movies in Hollywood are the same people who produce all the drama you see on the news every week.

And it is all designed to get you to wait for someone to fix America instead of actually getting off you backside and doing something about it.

And that mentality has crept into our churches. There are tons of small churches all across this nation. Who believe that they can call a pastor who will fix everything for them. But that isn’t how God works.

If you want your church to grow you have to get up and grow it. If you want your country to improve then you have to be part of making it better.

When it comes to America there are only two ways to fix it. Either every single Christian in America becomes one to work for making it better. OR we come together and have a Civil war and get rid of the people running it. Thats it. I know you believe you can vote your way out of it.

But they nominate the candidates. They count the votes and they get on their networks and tell you who won the election. And I’ll tell you something else you don’t want to hear. They insist that every single person running for office signs a contract to support a foreign country. But you probably didn’t know this. But I won’t be getting into that today. But its 100% truth.

I’m not as concerned for America now though as I am for the church. We can deal with what is right in front of us. We can do everything we can to make our church better. Or we can sit around waiting for someone else to do it.