Virtual Service November 13, 2022
Living For God In A Pagan World Part 6
Daniel 4:3 …His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.
The Praise Of A Pagan King
Daniel 4:1-3 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: 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.
Life Is Full Of Difficult Challenges
Daniel 4:4-7 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, flourishing in my palace: Then I saw a dream which made me afraid and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon come before me, so that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers: I told them the dream, but they could not make known unto me the interpretation.
Why Call On A True Prophet As The Last Choice?
Daniel 4:8-9 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me…
Dreams Can Be Pleasant
Daniel 4:10-12 These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land, its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
Dreams Can Be Nightmares
Daniel 4:13-16 In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked and there before me was a messenger, a Holy One, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit, let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
Know That God Is In Total Control! (It Will Give You Peace!)
Daniel 4:17 The decision is announced by messengers, the Holy Ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is Sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.
The Truth Is Not Always Encouraging
Daniel 4:18-19 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Then Daniel was greatly perplexed for a time, his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!
Give People The Good News First!
Daniel 4:20-22 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air– you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth…
Life Here Can Never Be Without Complications
Daniel 4:23-24 You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’