Trusting God in the Impossible

Introduction

Have you ever pondered the impossible task that God has given us to do? Go into the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples of all people. If God has asked us to simply preach the gospel, that would be one thing, but to actually make disciples is another.

So we are asking people to believe the historical facts that a man named Jesus, who claimed to be God in the flesh, lived a sinless life for 33 years, was crucified as the atonement for all sin, lay dead in a grave for three days, rose from the dead, then walked on the Earth for another forty days. Jesus then ascended into the clouds, where He now sits at the right hand of God, waiting for the Father to command him to return and gather all those who have placed their faith and trust in Him.

If I were presented this story for the first time today, I would think it was pretty far-fetched. What makes this story any more real than the mythical characters and comic books we read as a kid (or for the nerds who are still reading them today.)

The difference is that God is not absent from the story. I believe not only from the historical fact but the interaction I have with God today. God takes this impossible story and makes it personally plausible.

Matthew 19:26 ESV

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I don’t believe the gospel because of the story but the personal interaction I have with the God of the story.

Last week we started this series called “Unshakable” through the book of Daniel.

We saw the resolute heart of the Daniel and his friends.

But we also noticed that God is now moving through these young men to reveal himself to king Nebuchadnezzar that doesn’t know God.

All throughout history God has been revealing himself to men through creation, personal visits, dreams and visions, and his written Word.

Daniel 2:1–5 ESV

1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.

The Impossible Situation

Daniel 2:10–11 ESV

10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

If God doesn’t intervene people will die.

Nothing short of a miracle will do.

We face an impossible situation today with the gospel.

If God doesn’t draw people, no one would believe.

When God draws people through the Spirit, the Word, and Creation they must interpret what they are feeling.

We come along side to confirm the Spirit in the flesh.

How to handle Impossible Situations

Daniel was a man of faith. He trusted in the God of heaven.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Reliant Core Value: God Pleasers

We put our faith and trust in God and know that he is working all things out for our good.

Prayer

Daniel 2:17–18 ESV

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Humble yourself before God

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Pray in Expectation that God is going to move.

James 1:5–7 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

God knew that Daniel would pray for the interpretation.

God was expecting Daniel to pray.

Daniel was expecting God to answer. (This all comes back to the resolute heart that Daniel had toward God.)

Praise

Daniel 2:19 ESV

19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Praise is an essential part of any loving relationship.

Praise is the acknowledgement of the good in others.

Daniel 2:20–23 ESV

20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Provision

Daniel 2:26–30 (ESV)

26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

God provides for His purpose and plan

God gave the dream to Nebuchadnezzar.

God wanted to reveal the mystery to the king.

God wanted to use his people to bring the message of Salvation to the world.

God gave the interpretation.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue

Daniel 2:32–34 ESV

32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

The historical accuracy of both Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 have caused people to questions if the book of Daniel was written before or after the events took place.

Head of God: Babylonian Empire (605 - 539 B.C.)

Chest of Silver: Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 B.C.)

Torso of Brass: Macedonian Empire (331-168 B.C.)

Legs of Iron: Roman Empire (168 B.C. - 476 A.D.)

Feet of Iron mixed with Clay: Ottoman Empire (476 A.D. - Present)

The Stone Cut without hands: The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Future)

Jesus is the Stone made without hands.

Daniel 2:44–45 ESV

44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

The kingdom established with David.

The Kingdom offered by Christ.

1 Peter 2:4–8 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Power

Daniel 2:46–49 ESV

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

Power is influence

Influence is Leadership

Closing Thoughts

How do you handle your impossible situations? Follow the pattern of Daniel as you draw close to the God of miracles.

Pray

Praise

Provision

Power

The prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar is still as sure today as it was in the book of Daniel.

Have you recieved or rejected the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Small Group Questions

What is an impossible situation is your life right now in which you need God to intervene?

When God comes through how will your influence for the gospel be increased? If the answer is none, then it might be a selfish request.

Has there ever been a time that you needed God to come through in a big way and He did?