Sermon Tone Analysis

Unshakable: Facing the Impossible

May 12, 2019

Introduction

We are in the middle of a series entitled, “Unshakable.”

So, our current sermon series is “Unshakable.”

In this series, we are looking at the book of Daniel.

Daniel had an unshakable faith.

Daniel had an unshakable commitment to God.

Do we have an unshakable faith?

Do we have an unshakable commitment to God?

Today, we are going to look at chapter 2. Let’s set the stage for what’s happening in chapter 2. Lots of graduations going on right now.

Graduations last weeks.

Graduations this week.

Daniel is a recent graduate from a three year program in which he was indoctrinated in the culture, history, language, literature of the Chaldeans.

().

Upon graduation, Daniel serves as a wiseman in the king’s palace.

At the beginning of chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has dreams.

The king is deeply trouble about the dreams.

Have you been deeply troubled about something that you couldn’t sleep?

That was King Nebuchadnezzar.

He was so deeply troubled by the dreams that he could not sleep.

So he summoned for the wise men.

Let’s read our text for today to see what unfolds in .

Read

Illustratration: Gift of Interpreting Dreams book (iPad, weekend at the beach, Diamond Necklace)

Nebuchadnezzar can’t sleep.

He’s deeply troubled by the dream.

So he summons for the wise men to interpret the dream.

But the process of discussing things with the wise men.

Nebuchadnezzar demands that the wise men tell him the dream and interpret the dream.

Here is the wise men’s response to the king’s demand.

(MSG) What you’re asking is impossible unless some god or goddess should reveal it—and they don’t hang around with people like us.

King Nebuchadnezzar is asking the impossible.

King Nebuchadnezzar is angry.

He’s furious that his wise men aren’t able to do it.

So, King Nebuchadnezzar orders their execution.

Well, Daniel is a wise man.

(v.

13).

Daniel seems to be facing the impossible: tell and interpret the dream.

Daniel seems to be facing the impossible: he has been sentenced to death.

What are seemingly impossible situations that we face in life?

Sickness and disease, caring for a sick loved one, an addiction, trouble from our past that we can’t seem to escape, problems with a kid, a hard deadline at work.

We could even add our church facility needs to the list.

What can learn from Daniel’s life about facing impossible situations?

1. Calm under Pressure (v.

14-16)

Daniel was calm under pressure.

He kept his composure.

He kept his cool.

Daniel was calm under pressure.

In other words, Daniel didn’t panic.

Illustration: We have all heard of the reality television show survivor.

Next year’s addition is going to have a new twist.

Six men will be dropped on an island with 1 van and 4 kids, for six weeks.

Here are the challenges:Each kid plays two sports and either takes music or dance lessonsThere is no access to fast food.Each man must take care of his 4 kids, keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do all the laundry.There is only one television between them, and there is no remote.The men only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.The men must attend weekly PTA meetings, clean up after their sick child at 3:00 AM, make an Indian hut model with 6 toothpicks, a tortilla, and 1 magic marker, and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.

The other wise men panicked.

The other wise been were frazzled, flustered, frustrated.

We tend to be like the other wise men.

We tend to panic when faced with seemingly impossible situations.

We tend to get frazzled, flustered.

We tend to lose our cool, lose our composure.

We tend the think of the worse possible outcome.

How did Daniel do it?

How did Daniel keep from panicking.

Daniel’s confidence was in the Lord.

The wise men panicked because their limitations.

Daniel was confident because of God’s unlimited power.

(NKJV) For with God nothing will be impossible.

Daniel had an unshakable faith.

He was calm under pressure.

2. Enlist Prayer Support (v.

17-18)

Daniel wanted people praying with him.

Daniel needed people praying with him.

So, Daniel enlisted his three friends to pray with him.

We don’t have to face what seem like impossible situations alone.

We need a support system.

We need people praying with us.

Illustration: Gordon Thomas big things — asks three people to pray with him.

Who are the people you enlist for prayer support?

Maybe, it’s close Christians friends of yours.

Maybe, it’s your Sunday school class.

Maybe, you got to your pastor or church staff.

If you don’t have people in your life that you can enlist for prayer support, you need to get people.

We are not meant to face the impossible on our own.

We need a support system.

We need people praying with us.

3. Pray Earnestly (v .

19)

Daniel is praying through the night.

Daniel is fervently, earnestly praying for God to reveal this mystery or the secret of the king’s dream to him.

(AMP) …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Illustration: Earnestly (Figuring out how to get home)

That’s how we need to approach prayer.

When we face what seem like impossible situations, we need to pray earnestly.

We need to pray earnestly for guidance, wisdom, strength, guidance, grace, and His will to be accomplished.

4. Praise and Thank God

Daniel and his friends are praying.

God reveals the dream to Daniel in a vision.

Look at what Daniel does.

(v.

21-23)

Daniel praises God for who is.

Daniel praises God for what he has done.

Daniel thanks God.