A Vessel for God's Glory
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Body
Body
(1) The Useless Court
a. The Dream Issue
i. A Troubling Dream (v. 1-2)
ii. Forgotten or Not understood? (v.3)
b. The Time Issue (v.4-10)
i. A Skeptic King
ii. An Instant Demand
iii. A Phony Council
- The mystical scholars perfected scamming people with their “interpretations” of dreams. Anytime their was a dream that was brought to them, they would record the dream, and they would say “this is what is going to happen”. They would watch, and if it turned out to be true, they would write down that symbol and what happened, so if someone came back later with another dream, they would go find that symbol in their manuals and base all of their interpretations off of that.
- Thousands of manuals
- Would take days or even weeks at a time
Present Connection: Mystical scholarship still exists today, but the means look a little different. Whether it come through crystal balls, tarot cards, horoscopes, etc. people today still practice this idea that they can interpret people’s lives based on sign and symbols. Hear me, it is an algorithm based practice that seeks to find a 1 to 1 connection with everything even when it is evident that life is not always “do this and this will happen”. It is the manifestation a broken clock is right twice a day.
c. The Idol Issue (v. 11)
- It is considered bad omens if gods gave you a dream, but then did not allow you to remember the dream
- They could not ask their gods
- They could not meet with their gods
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Application: When you place your faith in idols, you are really just placing your faith in man.
d. The Anger Issue (v.12-16)
- The decree to kill all the wise men.
(2) The Useful Vessel
a. An Urgent Prayer (v.17-18)
i. Notice the contrast: Nebuchadnezzar went to his mystical scholars for answers, but Daniel went to his companions to seek God. He does not go for the “manuals” on dreams, but instead goes to God.
ii. A Few Insights on Prayer:
- Usefulness to God begins with Prayer
- Prayer brings us into participation with God’s will
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Prayer seeks wisdom from heaven not man
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
- Prayer anticipates God answering what man cannot.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
- Prayer anticipates God achieving what man cannot.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
b. A Glorifying Response (v.19-23)
i. Wisdom and Might
ii. Times and season
iii. Sets up and removes kings and kingdoms
iv. Give wisdom and knowledge
v. Reveals the deep and hidden things
c. A Humble Declaration (v. 24-30)
i. Recognizes Man’s Limitation
- Nebuchadnezzar’s mistake (went to man)
- Daniel’s humble understanding
- It is not wise men, nor my wisdom.
ii. Recognizes God’s Revelation
Conclusion
Conclusion
