SERMON NOTES

Subject:          Neb’s Nightmare

Speaker:         Dr. A. Burge Troxel

Date:               October 29, 2006

Scripture:       Daniel 2:1-49

Introduction:

God is in Control!

I.    Daniel’s Predicament - Dan. 2:1-12

Daniel 2:1

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

Daniel 2:4

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Daniel 2:5

The 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.

Daniel 2:10

The 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.”

Daniel 2:11

“What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”

Daniel 2:12

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

II.  Daniel’s Prayer & Praise – Dan. 2:17-28

Daniel 1:17

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.”

Daniel 2:16

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

Daniel 2:18

“He 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.”

Daniel 2:19

“During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven:”

Daniel 2:20

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

Daniel 2:21

“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

Daniel 2:22

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

Daniel 2:23

“I 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.”

III. Daniel’s Prophetic Interpretation – Dan. 2:29-49

Daniel 2:24

Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

Daniel 2:27

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,”

Daniel 2:28

“but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:”

Daniel 2:31

“You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue —an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.”

Daniel 2:38b

 “. . . he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.”

Daniel 2:44

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

Daniel 2:45

This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands — a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.”

Revelation 19:11-13

11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

Revelation 19:14-16

14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 11:15

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Conclusion:

Daniel 2:47

The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Appealing to God for mercy is always better than justice!

Praising God for answered prayer is pure worship.

The culmination of human history has been pre-determined by the sovereign God of the Universe.

There is only one true God and one way of salvation.