Sermon Tone Analysis

Facing the Extra-Ordinary

 

Good change, bad change, good economy, bad economy, hope on the one hand, fear on the other.

As a church we are moving on through our lives and our life circumstances while we look forward to the future.

It’s a good hope, but it presents us with extraordinary circumstances.

Many of us face extra-ordinary circumstances related to work or family, extended family, relationships at church and with friends.

It even seems like for many, *life* has become extra-ordinary….just

finding creative ways to keep gas in the car or food on the table hasn’t become the exception, but the rule.

Extra-ordinary circumstances present people with opportunity to either succeed or fail.

When we find ourselves in extra-ordinary circumstances, there are no manuals, videos or seminars on what to do.

We are presented with decisions daily on how to act or respond in a given situation.

You may have come here this morning with a question in your mind related to your own situation, I just don’t know what to do?

What should we do?

In Daniel chapter 2 Daniel probably wondered something similar...After the Monarchy was divided, Israel was deported by Assyria, and later Judah was deported to Babylon,  Daniel and the three Hebrew friends were among the wise men imported from Judah to serve in Babylon.

Several good characteristics emerge from this story that illustrate what happens when God’s people get put in extraordinary circumstances, they become what the title of my message is today:  HOW TO FACE THE EXTRA-ORDINARY

 

PRAYER

1.                   *Extraordinary Survivors face surprising challenges*

*          Daniel 2: 1-13*

 

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.

2So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed.

When they came in and stood before the king, 3he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."

4Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic,"

O king, live forever!

Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

5The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it,/ I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble./

6But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.

*So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."*

7Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

8Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you.

You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change.

So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."

10The astrologers answered the king, "*There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks!

No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.

11What the king asks is too difficult.

No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."

*(You can be a complainer and say its impossible, or you can trust God and say why not) There will always be people in the world who know when something can’t be done.

*12This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon*.

13So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and* men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death*

* *

*It’s not my fault*....one of the most frustrating types of trial is group reprimands.

You know how it goes, one person does something and the whole group receives rebuke.

Policy manuals are full of legislation that resulted from one person’s irresponsibility and the subsequent tightening of restrictions placed on the group.

It’s normal fair for the Christian in school or at work to find himself in trouble he doesn’t cause.

*But God is above all the trouble*.

God understands all the pain and He is superintending your life and your soul no matter what you are facing.

THINGS WILL HAPPEN.

Jesus said: In this world you will have tribulation: but *be of good cheer, I have overcome the world*!”

When trouble comes its an opportunity to show Christian kindness and thanksgiving.

And.....SKILL

 

2.

*Extraordinary Survivors use Skill and Tact: Daniel 2:14-15*

 

14When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact..

 

 

 

God has provided the skill and tact we need through the Sprit!!!

USE SKILL and TACT....the Fruit of the Spirit....love joy peace longsuffering gentleness goodness, meekness, faith.....let’s keep in step with the Spirit......THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT CAN BE SUMMED UP IN TWO WORDS: BE NICE! 

 

Or you may be like Zephaniah when he prophesied how that Jerusalem would not fall.....

Not by Might, Nor By Power, but By My Spirit says the Lord!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

*Extraordinary Survivors Take Action: Daniel 2:15-16*

15He asked the king's officer, "*Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?"*

Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.

16At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him

!

It’s important to take action

 

 

4.

*Extraordinary Survivors Involve Others in Prayer: Daniel 2:17-20*

 

17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

18He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

At that time, Daniel did not know what the answer was, he was under a death sentence, but Daniel knew where to take the problem!!!!

 

A.

Daniel told his friends how to pray:  Plead for mercy

B.                 Daniel’s prayer had a purpose:  we don’t want to die!!!!!

 

We need to influence others toward God......

 

(A little over 17 years ago  A small group of teenagers in Burleson,  came to a weekend disciping retreat.

On Saturday night God penetrated their hearts like never before.

The students were broken before God and burdened for their friends.

*Compelled to pray, they drove to three different schools that night.

Not knowing exactly what to do, they went to the school flagpoles and prayed for their friends, schools, and leaders.*

Those students had no idea how God would use their obedience.

See You at The Pole was begun.

According to their website, Since 1991, See You at the Pole™ has grown to God-sized proportions.

Within only a couple of years, students were praying in several countries around the world.

Now, more than 3 million students EACH YEAR  from all 50 states participate in SYATP.

Students in more than 20 countries take part.

In places like Canada, Guam, Korea, Japan, Turkey, and the Ivory Coast, students are responding to God and taking seriously the challenge to pray.

)

 

Several years ago, Scott Wesley Brown sand the song: 

 

 When answer’s aren’t enough there is Jesus.

He is more than just an answer to your prayer.

In his heart you’ll find a safe and peaceful refuge, when answers aren’t enough He is there

 

5.

*Extraordinary Survivors Give Praise to God: Daniel 2:21-23*

 

19During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.

*Then Daniel praised the God of heaven* 20and said:

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.

21He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.

/He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning/.

/22He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him/.

23I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: *You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you,you have made known to us the dream of the king."

*

 

GOD WILL HELP YOU!  GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE WISDOM YOU NEED, GOD WILL HELP YOU move through this trial.

One of the great phrases in the Bible is it came to pass AND IT DID!!  IT CAME TO PASS, IT DIDN’T COME TO STAY.

...HIS HIGH PURPOSES FOR YOU ARE GREATER THAN YOUR PURPOSES....

 

Daniel knew that he was not responsible for the answer to the problem.

He knew that his answer was beyond and above time and human reason, wisdom and experience.

His answer was with the one who spoke the world into existence, who calls the stars by name.

And has the hair of our head all numbered!!!

 

 

We are not responsible for our success, God is.

I know I shall see in His beauty the king in whose law I delight.

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps and gives me a song in the NIGHT