Introduction: In his time of prayer and reading the Scripture, Daniel discovered that Jeremiah the prophet had predicted that the people of God would be taken captive for 70 years (Jer. 25:1-11). Daniel was now in old age and had been in exile for nearly 50 years. He knew it was time for God to bring his people back to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Daniel prayed a prayer of confession on behalf of the exiles and asked God for forgiveness (9:1-3). Whenever we fall into sin or rebel against the Lord, we can always return. We must confess our sins and ask for God to restore us to his mission and purpose. Daniel models this for us in Daniel 9:1-19.
 
BEGIN YOUR PRAYER WITH THE ADORATION OF GOD.
 
*Praise God and remind him of his covenant relationship with those who love him. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong” (9:4-5).
 
BE TRANSPARENT IN YOUR ADMISSION OF SIN.
 
*Confession of sin means you agree with God that you have done wrong. “We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame...The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you” (9:5-11).
 
APPEAL TO GOD FOR FORGIVENESS AND RESTORATION.
 
*Petition God to forgive and restore you and others on the basis of his goodness, his mercy and his name.  “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
 
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name” (9:15-19).
 
We are called by God to pray for others and for our nation.
 
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
                                                                           (1 Timothy 2:1-40)

   
Introduction: Dan Brown released a novel entitled Angels and Demons in 2000. The book has more to do with the Pope, the Vatican and the Illuminati than it does with demons and angels. Yet the idea of a spiritual realm inhabited by spiritual forces of good and evil still resonates with people in our secular age. Daniel discovered that his visions had to be interpreted and explained to him by angels. He found that evil forces do exist and try to disrupt God’s plans. Historical events play out in the context of spiritual battles. God weaves history to his own ends and for his own purposes. Let’s see how Daniel saw history unfold in the presence of supernatural conflict.
 
HISTORY PROGRESSES ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLANS.
 
*Daniel’s second vision predicts the victory of Greece over Persia (8:1-27 and 11:2-45). 

• The vision (8:1-12)
• The interpretation (8:17-22)
• The persecution (8:23-26 )

 
*Israel will experience severe persecution by a future evil ruler (8:23-27 and 11:21-45).

• Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B. C.) (8:23-26 and 11:21-35)
• A future wicked king (8:25 and 11:36-45)

 
HISTORY OPERATES WITHIN A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION.
 
*Angels play a unique role in interpreting Daniel’s visions. Angels are sent to help Daniel and all of God’s people (8:15-27; 9:20-27; 10:1-17).

• Angels are messengers from God. Here an angel is named for the first time in Scripture: Gabriel (see Luke 1:8-20, 26-38).  While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision”(8:15-16).
• Angels take God’s answers to those who pray. While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed (9:21-23).
• Angels fight demonic powers to protect God’s people. “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (10:12-14).
• Angels serve God’s people and minister to their needs. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

 
*Evil spirits or demons try to hinder God’s work in the world (10:8-21).

• Demonic forces influence earthly powers. So he (the angel) said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come” (10:20-21).
• Demonic forces disrupt answers to prayer. The angel said, “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days” (10:13).
• Demonic forces battle against all that is of God and good.
•  

 
*God’s people are assured of victory in the end. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39). 

 Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 6/02/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Dreams and Visions

Daniel 7

 

Introduction: Eric Metaxas, Yale graduate and author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, had a dream that led to his conversion. God still speaks to people in dreams and visions. This is not God’s primary way of speaking but it is not uncommon in our world. A friend of mine who has a ministry with international students told me this week that many of the students tell her of dreams that led them to seek Christ. Daniel had dreams and visions that still speak to us today. Daniel’s visions have become a key to interpreting later passages in the Bible and to relate to us events in the future. How do we interpret these visions? What is the nature of prophecy in the Bible? How can Daniel’s dreams relate to our daily lives? Let’s look at what biblical prophecy is and use Daniel 7 as our guide.

 

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY?

 

*Prophets speak a message inspired from God. “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”(2 Peter 1:20-21).

 

*The prophet primarily speaks a message from God to his time – forthtelling. “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream” (Daniel 7:1).

 

*The prophet sometimes speaks a message of God’s plans for the future – foretelling. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

 

*Ultimately, prophecy points to Jesus as Messiah. “For the testimony

 of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). See also 1Peter 1:10.

 

DANIEL CONTAINS UNIQUE APOCALYPTIC PROPHECY.

 

*Traits of apocalyptic literature (from apokalyptein, “to uncover, reveal”):

 

·        It focuses on end-time events and the coming Kingdom of God.

·        It is marked by strange visions, bizarre beasts and symbols, and supernatural events.

·        It is given in forms that are timeless.

·        It gives a clear message of hope for God’s people undergoing persecution (Daniel and Revelation are examples).

 

Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea” (Dan. 7:2-3).

 

I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever’” (Dan. 7:16-18).

 

PROPHETS SEE A FUTURE IN PROPHETICPERSPECTIVE.

 

*Theevents of the prophecy often blend the present with the future.

 

“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth…The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones...He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him’” (Dan. 7:23-27).

 

Does this refer to Antiochus (168 BC), Titus (70 AD) or Anti-Christ?

 Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 5/26/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Facing the Lions

Daniel 6:1-28

 

Introduction: We have all grieved and mourned over the loss of life and homes after viewing the aftermath of the tornadoes in Oklahoma. Our prayers automatically ascend to the Father to be with those who have lost loved ones, property and family mementoes. We are grateful for the children who survived and the brave teachers who protected them. We thank God for first responders and the outpouring of gifts to help those in need. Tragedy, trouble and trials will affect us all. They are the lions of life that roar. How will we face them? Daniel 6 gives us guidance. Prayer prepares us and sustains us to face the lions.

 

THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER…

 

IS CARVED OUT OF THE DAY.

 

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help (Daniel 6:10-11).

 

CONTINUES THROUGH CRITICISM AND CONFLICT.

 

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:3-5).

 

CONQUERS CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you”… At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 

 

When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:15-22).

 

CREATES SPIRITUAL CONVERTS.

 

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God…Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

 

“May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

 

“For he is the living God

    and he endures forever;

his kingdom will not be destroyed,

    his dominion will never end.

He rescues and he saves;

    he performs signs and wonders

    in the heavens and on the earth.

He has rescued Daniel

    from the power of the lions.”

 

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:25-28).

 

Do you practice the discipline of prayer?Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1). Paul wrote: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

 Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 5/19/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Speaking Truth to Power

Daniel 5:1-31

 

Introduction: I chose this sermon title several months ago not knowing then that the week before I would preach this sermon that the Obama administration would be involved in three major investigations or scandals. We are all aware of the increasing questions about the IRS abuses, the Benghazi memos, and the Justice Department’s snooping into the Associated Press emails and phone calls. The current Obama administration would not be the first to be involved in questionable practices. Power corrupts. Power controls. Someone needs to point out the abuses and faults of power. God’s people need to speak truth to abusive power and hold leaders accountable to God. Daniel was a prophet who spoke truth to power. Let’s see how he did it in Daniel 5.

 

WE ALL EAT THE FEAST OF RECKLESS DEFIANCE.

 

*Powercorrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them…So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone (5:1-4).

 

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL APPEARS TO US ALL.

 

*Pride goes before a fall. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking (5:5-6).

 

SPEAK THE PROPHETIC WORD OF TRUTH TO POWER.

 

“But you, Belshazzar, his son…have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven…You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.  Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

 This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin. Here is what these words mean:

 

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians” (5:22-28).

 

Truths to live by:

 

·        Our days are numbered.

·        God judges our lives and choices.

·        We reap what we sow.

 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Cf2jvJayhnw 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 5/12/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: the Tree and the Stump

Daniel 4

 

Introduction: God always confronts human pride to humble us.

 

THE PROCLAMATION & THE DREAM (4:1-18).

 

THE INTERPRETATION & THE CONFRONTATION (4:19-27)

 

THE COLLAPSE & THE RESTORATION (4:28-37).

 

THE PRINCIPLES FROM THE PASSAGE:

 

God Rules -

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation (4:1-3).

 

Pride Falls –

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you” (4:28-31).

 

Grace Restores -

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever… At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble (4:34-37).

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pr2g9xnMUE&feature=em-share_video_user

 

 

           

 

 Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 5/05/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Facing Opposition While Trusting God

Daniel 3

 

Introduction: We will all face times of testing for our faith. It may not be life or death threats but the test will call for us to compromise our faith or stand true to our God. We will choose the easy path of comfort or the fiery path of obedience. We will trust God or depend on ourselves in the challenging circumstances. Daniel’s three friends had to face opposition while trusting God. Daniel 3 shows us their faith.

 

COMMITMENT

 

*Dedication to God must be made before the difficulties come. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

 

CONFLICT

 

*Trials and suffering will afflict all of God’s people. Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace (Daniel 3:19-20).

 

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

(1 Peter 4:12-13)

 

CONFESSION

*Goddelivers his faithful people from the fiery furnaces of life and receives the glory and honor for it. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (Daniel 3:28).

 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

 

 

A Morning Prayer

 

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray and gather my thoughts to you, I cannot do it alone.

In me it is dark, but with you there is light;

I am lonely, but you do not desert me;

My courage fails me, but with you there is help;

I am restless, but with you there is peace;

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.

Father in Heaven praise and thanks be to you for the night’s rest,

Praise and thanks be to you for the new day.

Praise and thanks be to you for all your loving-kindness and faithfulness in my past life.

You have shown me so much goodness; let me also accept what is hard to bear from your hand.

You will not lay a heavier burden on me than I can carry.

You make all things serve for the best for your children.

Lord, whatever this day brings, your name be praised.

 

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer,

[A prayer written in Tegel prison, Berlin]

 Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 4/28/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Give God the Glory

Daniel 2:24-49

 

Introduction: “Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory…” The famous Westminster Shorter Cathechism says,“Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Daniel gave glory to God. Daniel’s position as the king’s advisor gave him the opportunity to speak truth to the king. The crisis of the unknown dream led to the knowledge and the power of Almighty God being made known to the king. Daniel had the choice of taking the praise and honor for himself or giving God the glory. Daniel gave God the credit instead of taking the credit for himself. Our entire lives are made up of moments where we choose to give God the glory or take the credit for ourselves. True joy comes when we give God the glory due to his name. Why?

 

GOD RULES AND GETS ALL THE GLORY.

 

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come … As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind” (Daniel 2:27-30).

 

THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD WILL PASS AWAY.

 

*Thedream: “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them…But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:31-35).

 

*Theinterpretation: “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. Your Majesty, you are the king of kings…You are that head of gold. “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay” (Daniel 2:38-41).

 

Twoviews:

 

Gold                            Chaldean Empire                    Chaldean Empire

 

Silver                          Media                                      Media-Persian

 

Brass                           Persia                                       Greece

 

Iron and Clay            Greece                                     Rome

 

GOD’S KINGDOM WILL LAST FOREVER.

 

*Thefuture kingdom: “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. 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 its interpretation is trustworthy” (2:44-45).

 

*God is in control and will always get the glory.

 

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 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” (Daniel 2:46-47).

 

 

Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 4/21/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Facing Impossible Challenges

and Unreasonable Demands

Daniel 2:1-23

 

Introduction: Daniel and his friends were taken captive and sent to Babylon along with other Jews. The people of God would remain in captivity for 70 years. They faced challenges to their faith and compromise of their values. Daniel chose to obey God. Daniel faced impossible challenges and some unreasonable demands. But Daniel was able to turn the situation into one of blessing rather than defeat. He saw an opportunity for God to work where all human efforts fell short. Our impossibilities become God’s opportunities. Let’s see how Daniel turned a tough situation into a godly witness.

 

AT TIMES WE FACE SOMETHING THAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.

 

*Impossiblechallenges (1-6). 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. But 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” (5-6).

 

*Unreasonable demands (7-11). The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one 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. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans” (10-11).

 

God does his best work when we face our worst possible circumstances.

 

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ---Matthew 19:26

 

WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

*Thethreat: This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So 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.(12-13).

 

*Theresponse of faith:

 

·        Askquestions with wisdom and tact.  When 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. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel (14-15).

 

·        Requesttime to resolve the issue.  At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him (16)

 

·        Seeksupport from friends and pray for wisdom and mercy.Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 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 (17-18)

 

·        Praise God for answered prayer During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said…I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: 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.” (19-23).

 

God’s work done in God’s way always gets God’s results.

 

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

--- Philippians 2:12-13

Gregory C. Magruder Parkview Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL 4/14/13

 

Daniel’s Dilemma: Facing Compromise of Your Values

Daniel 1:3-21

 

Introduction:Daniel and his friends were taken captive and sent to Babylon along with other Jews. The people of God would remain in captivity for 70 years. They faced challenges to their faith and compromise of their values. Daniel chose to obey God. He faced opposition but he looked for creative ways to overcome the obstacles. God favored Daniel and blessed his obedience. Daniel demonstrates a valuable truth:If you resolve to do right, God will bless your decision even if you hit obstacles on the way. We all face situations that demand that we compromise our values and convictions. We can choose to go the Way of the World or the Way of Wisdom.

 

THE WAY OF THE WORLD LEADS TO COMPROMISE.

 

*The world has its own value system.  It rewards beauty,intelligence, aptitude and skill. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians (1:3-4).

 

*The world demands that people conform to its values, beliefs and practices.

The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego (1:5-7).

 

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:15-16).

 

THE WAY OF WISDOM LEADS TO GOD’S FAVOR.

 

*You can overcomecompromise of your values if you are resolved to be:

 

·        Faithful to God - But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way (1:8).

·        Tactful in relationships. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king…”  Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed… “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”  So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead (1:9-16).

 

·        Resourceful in service. 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. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus (1:17-21).

 

*Principles learned from the Way of Wisdom:

 

·        Wisdom works through the challenging situation. If one approach does not work then try an alternative.

·        Use your God-given gifts in the service available.

·        Short-termfaithfulness leads to long-term service and God’s favor.

 

Jesus said:

 

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions (Matthew 24:44-47).

 

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21).