God Rewards Faithfulness

Daniel 2:46–49 NKJV

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Prayer

Message

Tonight, we find ourselves back in our study of Daniel. In chapter 2, we see the fact that Gentile kingdoms would come and go, but the Kingdom of God prevail.

The statute we studied last week represents a world system at large. Powers come and go, God appoints, but ultimately He rules. You will remember that King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream and Daniel was called on to interpret the dream. Daniel partnered with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-neggo to pray along with him and we read the beautiful prayer affirming the Lord in His supplication of the dream.

These four little verses support the fact that God rewards our faithfulness. What a story that should inspire our young people. You are never too young to serve the Lord and especially we learn tonight that honoring the Lord in the small things will bring about big things in our lives.

Youth, here we have four young men around 17 years of age that God is using powerfully in the lives of the people of Israel. You are never too young to be found faithful. You are never so young that God can not begin a work in you and through you. Think for a moment how Daniel & his three friends honored the Lord in the small things in the story of Daniel?

Let’s use the Whiteboard tonight

-Diet- there are many decisions that Daniel could have made. Firstly, he could have been a conformist and ate the rich food and accepted the rich lifestyle and become a chameleon lizard and just blended into Babylonian lifestyle. But he didn’t. He took a stand.

-Interpreting the dream-Several things could have happened. He could have laid back and allowed the other wise men to be killed and jumped up quickly to come to the rescue (if God would have provided in that instance). He could have told the King what he wanted to hear and told him his kingdom would reign. But he chose to tell the truth and give all the glory to God.

Tonight’s lesson is a lesson in the fact that God honors faithfulness and He tends to do it as spelled out in the parables.

Matthew 25:14–28 NKJV

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

How we do in the little things that honor the Lord will have all to do with His trust in us on the big things.

Ill. As I was studying commentary, I came across this story embedded. This Seminarian professor gIves an open book Bible tests to his students. He shared this lesson that we study today. His thinking was that if you can not be trusted at home to cheat on the exam and you feel as if you are called to be trusted in ministering to people, ministering to the people of the church and exhorting God’s Word, how will you be intrusted with the bigger things with God?

Brainstorm with me personalities in the Bible that could be trusted with small acts that they were rewarded with bigger playing fields if you will in the Bible?

-David

-Joseph

-Ruth

-Esther

-Abraham

-The Apostles

-Paul

Personal Gratification

Daniel 2:46 “46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.”

What might have seemed as a small act for Daniel in seeking the answer, the decision to seek God and find the answer to the dream had large implications.

-Took Nebuchadnezzar out of his turmoil

-Saved the lives of all of the wise men

-Saved the lives of the four friends

-kept a leader in place that would look out for the interest of the deported fellow Jews

And so we see that Daniel was received some personal gratification for his efforts. Now do not look at this text in the wrong way. We know from our times studying the gospels that what one events entails, one gospel writer will choose to speak to one aspect where another gospel writer (all by the anointing of God) chose to emphasize a different aspect, all with a purpose in mind.

When Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, he showed honor to DaNoel. Verse 47 states that Nebuchadnezzar knew who the credit went to. The credit went to Yahweh and Nebuchadnezzar knew that. Daniel made him aware of that when he began to interpret the dream.

Look back at Daniel 2:28 “28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:”

Now, let me ask you a question. How should receive accolades, honors, recognition?

REvelation 19:10-11

Revelation 19:10–11 NKJV

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Acts 10:24–26 “24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.””

We are created in the image of God. Should we water down or suppress complements?

Ill. Myself-complements about the sermon “Thank you.” One better “Praise the Lord.”

Let’s put into practice the personal honor to someone who serves the Lord faithfully. Consider who serves here each week that might seem inconsequential but miss it being done and see how congregants react.

Place on whiteboard

-Johnny Butler-lawn care

-Mitzi-bulletins, prayer lists

-Jackie-flowers, Lord’s Supper, grocery & supplies, Love Loud Ministries

-Terry Brooks-maintenance, chairs every Sunday Morning,

-Ron-Facebook, SS Class, cooks on Business Meeting

-Amy-SS records

-Bill Suhr-signs, cutting grass for seniors

Praise of God

Daniel 2:47 “The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.””

Now do not confuse this. Nebuchadnezzar is not converted. He is a polytheist. He is one more god that fits in the crowd of gods the Babylonians served.

Notice something important. God makes progress with our consistent faithfulness.

-One chapter ahead. Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego not worshiping the statute.

Listen to their defense.

Daniel 3:16–18 “16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””

Nebuchadnezzar’s response:

Daniel 3:28–30 “28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”

Oh Daniel offered up adoration to the Lord.

Daniel 2:22 “22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.”

Psalm 136:2–3 “2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:”

Revelation 17:14 “14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.””

Personal Gain

Daniel 2:48 “48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.”

Story of Joseph

The little things, the big things, the reward

Partners Given Promotion

Daniel 2:49 “49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”

Ill. Nick Saban

Daniel 3:30 “30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”

Story of Esther

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.