Participants:
Series Code: SISS
Program Code: SISS000087S
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00:01 Music...
00:30 James: Okay, we are moving on but not really 00:34 because Daniel chapter 4 is connected to Daniel chapter 3 00:38 which is connected to Daniel chapter 2 00:40 which is connected to Daniel chapter 1, 00:41 not just in the sense that they are the same book 00:45 but in the sense of the experience of Nebuchadnezzar. 00:47 Yvonne: Hmmm... 00:48 James: Chapter 4 is the summary 00:50 of Nebuchadnezzar's conversion experience 00:53 and chapter 4 is actually his testimony... 00:56 his testimony... 00:58 "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, 01:00 and by the word of their testimony... " Revelation 12 01:02 we're already connected to Revelation, you see that? 01:04 Yvonne: Yeah. 01:05 James: And it's really cool because 01:08 Nebuchadnezzar is the guy that goes in 01:10 and basically takes out God's people 01:13 and he's the heathen king that's ruling the world... 01:16 he's the guy that's forcing people to worship an image 01:19 and giving the interpretation... "I'm going to kill you... " 01:23 and now Nebuchadnezzar is writing a chapter of the Bible, 01:27 a chapter, see... Daniel doesn't write this... 01:29 Daniel doesn't write this about Nebuchadnezzar... 01:32 Nebuchadnezzar writes this. 01:33 This is his personal testimony that he's writing out. 01:35 Daniel is like, "You should write that out 01:38 because I'd love to have... I... you should write that. " 01:41 Yvonne: Yeah. 01:43 James: Everyone has a testimony, doesn't matter who you are 01:44 everyone has a testimony 01:45 and Nebuchadnezzar has this powerful testimony 01:49 not because of all the things he's been through necessarily 01:52 but because it's a testimony of how God has worked in his life 01:55 and that's the testimony that we bear... 01:57 how God has worked in our lives 01:59 so, let's have a word of prayer 02:00 and then we'll jump right in to Daniel chapter 4. 02:02 Yvonne, would you like to pray for us? 02:04 Yvonne: Sure. "Father, thank You so very much 02:06 for bringing us together once again 02:07 to study Your Word 02:09 and to get these truths that You have for us, Lord, 02:13 these relevant practical applications of Your Word, 02:16 we thank You so much for them. 02:18 We ask for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit 02:21 and we ask You Lord to accept our offering to You this day, 02:25 in Jesus' name, amen. " 02:27 All: Amen. 02:28 James: All right, Daniel chapter 4... 02:30 let's just read... Jason, can we read the first four verses? 02:34 Jason: Sure... "Nebuchadnezzar the king, 02:37 to all peoples, nations, and languages 02:39 that dwell in all the earth: 02:41 peace be multiplied to you. 02:42 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders 02:46 that the Most High God has worked for me. 02:48 How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! 02:51 His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 02:54 and His dominion is from generation to generation. 02:57 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, 03:00 and flourishing in my palace. " 03:01 James: One more... sorry. 03:03 Jason: "I saw a dream which made me afraid, 03:05 and the thoughts on my bed 03:07 and the visions of my head troubled me. " 03:09 James: Hmmm... hmmm... 03:10 you know, it's when we're being troubled, 03:12 it's when we're at peace... 03:13 it's when we're prospering and when we're in peace and safety 03:16 that sometimes God stirs up the waters a little bit. 03:19 Yvonne: Yeah, yeah. 03:20 James: Because when we get all relaxed and lackadaisy 03:23 that's the time when we're susceptible to going astray... 03:27 to going in the wrong direction... 03:28 and so, he's again working... 03:32 God is again working with Nebuchadnezzar 03:33 and he's working through a dream. 03:35 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 03:36 James: "I had a dream... I had a vision that troubled me" 03:38 and when I think about this, he's in a false security... 03:42 he's in this world but not in the eternal world... 03:44 that's where he's at 03:46 and so, God wants to stir us up 03:48 and I think about how Nebuchadnezzar opens this up 03:52 and it's so powerful because basically he says, 03:55 "Peace be multiplied unto you. " 03:58 Yvonne: Hmmm... Jason: Hmmm... 03:59 James: What? Who is that? 04:02 That sounds like Paul doesn't it? 04:03 You know what's really interesting about Paul 04:05 and Nebuchadnezzar? 04:07 Nebuchadnezzar persecuted God's people... 04:09 Paul persecuted God's people. Yvonne: Hmmm... 04:12 James: Both of them went through this incredible experience 04:14 where they saw Jesus the Son of God 04:17 and through that whole experience, 04:19 they started preaching the gospel... 04:21 "Peace be multiplied unto you... 04:23 grace from our Lord Jesus Christ... " 04:25 this is what Nebuchadnezzar... this is him converted right here 04:28 he's just going back and he's telling his experience. 04:29 Yvonne: Yeah... 04:31 James: It's powerful isn't it? Yvonne: Yes indeed... 04:33 and he's proclaiming that God is the most high God. 04:36 James: "How great are His signs! 04:38 and how mighty are his wonders!" 04:39 Yvonne: Yes, he is... he is praising God. 04:42 James: He's a 100% converted right here 04:44 and we're going to see that more and more 04:46 when we get into the rest of the story... it's a powerful story, 04:48 any more thoughts to that before we move on? 04:49 Jason: As I was reading it... and I was just like, 04:53 "Who is this guy now? after reading about him before, 04:57 yeah... what took place?" 04:59 James: You know what Jason, that's a really good point... 05:02 that's a really good point isn't it? 05:04 Because I remember, when I first became a Christian, 05:06 I was a party guy 05:07 and I didn't think I was a bad guy, 05:10 I thought I was better than a lot of people 05:13 but I was... I was a bad guy... 05:15 and... and when I gave my heart to Jesus, 05:20 a lot of my friends were like, "Wow, you've changed... 05:24 you have changed... we are interested... " 05:28 I remember one... one... one time I went to church, 05:31 there were six of my friends there 05:32 and they were just there because they'd seen a change... 05:34 I hadn't told them much... they were just there 05:35 because they'd seen the change in me 05:37 and they just all wanted to come to this church. 05:38 So, Nebuchadnezzar to change... like, what happened to him? 05:42 That's a really good point. 05:43 Jason: That's almost like when we were talking before 05:47 in a previous program 05:48 about how Nebuchadnezzar wanted what the three Hebrews had. 05:54 James: He saw they had no fear, 05:57 they saw they were sold out for God... 05:59 and he was mad at himself, remember, we've thought that, 06:02 he was mad at himself. 06:03 All: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... 06:04 James: Now he's got it... 06:06 he's not far from every one of us, 06:07 we can have that... it's just... 06:09 we don't have to be thinking, "Oh, that's for somebody else" 06:12 and this is what I like about Nebuchadnezzar and Paul. 06:15 These guys were bad guys... 06:16 like, Nebuchadnezzar was a bad guy... 06:18 he had... he was a K I L L A... right? 06:22 "You look at me wrong... you're done... " 06:26 dunghill house... and... and now he's transformed. 06:30 Jason: Hmmm... hmmm... 06:32 James: If God can transform Nebuchadnezzar... 06:33 God can transform anybody. 06:35 I think that's the message here 06:36 that God is trying to communicate. 06:38 "You're not too far gone... you haven't done too much... 06:40 you're not too bad... you're not too terrible... 06:43 you're not... you're not as bad as you think you are 06:45 I can save you. " 06:46 There is mercy... there is forgiveness... 06:50 there is transformation that can take place in your life. 06:51 Every single person on Planet Earth needs to know that, yeah. 06:54 Yvonne: And look how much more powerful it is 06:56 to have this in Nebuchadnezzar's words... 06:59 instead of Daniel talking about Nebuchadnezzar's transformation, 07:04 Nebuchadnezzar is saying to himself... 07:08 he's saying... giving praise to the Most High God 07:12 so, you see the guy in the last chapter 07:16 was ready to burn up everybody and kill everybody 07:18 and this guy is praising the Most High God... 07:22 he's saying, "There's something bigger than me... 07:24 bigger than I am... " 07:26 so, that to me... I mean... our testimony... 07:29 our own personal testimony is so powerful... 07:32 so much better than me telling about your journey, Jason... 07:37 that's okay... but you telling about your journey, 07:40 it makes all the difference you know, 07:43 because people see the difference in you. 07:45 Jason: Yeah. 07:46 Yvonne: So, that's what Nebuchadnezzar did. 07:48 James: And there's a place... 07:50 there's a place for everyone of us... 07:51 Yvonne: Yes. 07:53 James: Sometimes we think "Oh, the preacher... 07:54 that's his place... he needs to preach and share. " 07:57 No, we all have a testimony 07:58 so, God made a place for Nebuchadnezzar 08:00 in this inspired book of Daniel... 08:02 this prophetic book of Daniel... 08:03 and Daniel, you know, the humility there, 08:06 "Yeah, you write that, 08:07 we'll put it in but you write that... this is your story... 08:09 there's a place for you in this story... 08:11 there's a place for you in the Bible... 08:12 there's a place for you in God's history book... 08:14 there's a place for you... 08:16 there's a place for every single person... 08:17 even the worst... there's a place for you. " 08:19 Yvonne: Yeah. 08:20 James: So, all of that is coming together here 08:22 in these first few verses, it's really powerful. 08:23 Yvonne: At the beginning of his testimony, 08:25 he says he was lying in his bed 08:27 and he had a vision that troubled him... 08:30 again, anxiety... "This is who I was... " 08:33 so, he's talking about his journey 08:36 and he's talking about who he was. 08:38 This is the guy we used to see... 08:40 "I was lying in my bed and I was really troubled... " 08:43 but then, he goes on... and then we see what happens. 08:48 Ivor: I think you can... even verse 7 and 8 08:52 which we haven't read yet is really very interesting to me. 08:54 Yvonne: Hmmm... 08:55 Ivor: Because it says, "Then came in the magicians, 08:57 the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: 08:59 and I told the dream before them. " 09:02 "Wait a minute... didn't we do this before?" 09:05 Yvonne: Yeah, right, haven't been here before... 09:07 Ivor: "Haven't we been here before? are you... are you... 09:09 are you going back and forth? 09:11 Are you being double minded? 09:13 Are you swayed? 09:14 I mean, you know who to go to first... 09:16 why are you going back to your gods... " 09:19 Yvonne: "Why are you wasting time?" 09:21 Ivor: "And so, I told them the dream... 09:22 I told the dream before them; 09:24 but they did not make known unto me 09:26 the interpretation thereof. " 09:27 The next verse doesn't say, 09:28 "I commanded them all to be killed... " 09:30 you know, it's like, again he is like... 09:32 he's mellowed... he's a different person 09:35 but there is that swaying back and forth 09:37 "But at the last Daniel came in before me, 09:41 whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God" 09:43 you know, 09:44 "and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: 09:47 and before him I told the dream, saying... " 09:49 then he goes into the dream but you just see this anxiety 09:54 same thing happens... "I'm going to call on my gods" 09:56 but at the same time he doesn't command that they all be killed 10:00 he goes to Daniel... Daniel tells him the dream 10:03 so, you see this struggle... you know, 10:06 the good that I would... I do not... 10:08 Yvonne: Yes. 10:09 Ivor: Same struggle as Paul, right? and it's just... 10:12 it's very interesting to see that confidence... 10:16 to actually see him growing... see his battle between... 10:19 "Do I follow the Lord or do I go back to my old ways?" 10:23 Yvonne: Yeah, yeah. 10:25 James: "I'll try one more time... 10:26 I'm going to try the world one more time... " 10:28 Yvonne: Yeah. Jason: Yeah. 10:29 James: "My expectations are lower this time 10:30 so, if they don't meet my expectations, 10:32 I'm not going to kill them but I'm going to try 10:34 and give them one more chance... 10:35 see if this is real... 10:36 whoa... yeah, it doesn't work... 10:38 because the first time I tried this with them, 10:41 I didn't really know the dream... 10:42 so, maybe I was... maybe that was unfair... 10:44 that was unfair... let me try it again... 10:46 this time, I'll give them the dream... and then... 10:48 yeah, they'll probably give me the interpretation... " 10:50 "Whoa... man... they can't even deliver the interpretation, 10:54 they can't really fulfill my... satisfy my needs... 10:56 so, they really can't at all... the world really can't do that, 10:58 you know, you go back to the world 11:00 but really... it's... it's even more empty now. " 11:02 You're giving it a second chance... a third chance... 11:05 but it really doesn't do it. 11:06 I would love that... that's powerful. 11:08 All right, so let's pick up with dream then in verse 9, 11:11 Jason, do you want to read for us? 11:13 Let's read from verse 9 all the way down to verse, I think, 18 11:19 yeah verse 18... 9 to 18. 11:21 Jason: Okay, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, 11:24 because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, 11:28 and no secret troubles you, 11:29 explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, 11:32 and its interpretation. 11:34 These were the visions of my head while on my bed: 11:37 I was looking, and behold, 11:39 a tree in the midst of the earth, 11:41 and its height was great. 11:43 The tree grew and became strong; 11:46 its height reached to the heavens, 11:48 and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 11:50 Its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant, 11:53 and in it was food for all. 11:56 The beasts of the field found shade under it, 11:58 the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, 12:01 and all flesh was fed from it. 12:03 I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, 12:07 and there was a watcher, a holy one, 12:11 coming down from heaven. 12:12 He cried aloud and said thus: 12:14 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, 12:17 strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. 12:20 Let the beasts get out from under it, 12:22 and the birds from its branches. 12:24 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, 12:28 bound with a band of iron and bronze, 12:31 in the tender grass of the field. 12:33 Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 12:36 and let him graze with the beasts 12:39 on the grass of the earth. 12:40 Let his heart be changed from that of a man, 12:43 let him be given the heart of a beast, 12:46 and let seven times pass over him. 12:49 This decision is by the decree of the watchers, 12:52 and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, 12:55 in order that the living may know 12:57 that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, 13:00 gives it to whomever He will, 13:03 and sets over it the lowest of men. ' 13:05 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. 13:09 Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, 13:14 since all the wise men of my kingdom 13:16 are not able to make known to me the interpretation; 13:19 but you are able, 13:20 for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you. " 13:22 James: Wow! I love that last sentence, 13:26 he starts out and you can see him wrestling 13:28 he says, "I asked Daniel to come in... 13:30 Daniel to come in 13:32 who is Belteshazzar according to my gods... " 13:34 so, he's... he's... he's going back and forth... 13:36 Daniel... Belteshazzar... Daniel... Belteshazzar, 13:38 "Now, Daniel, give me the interpretation, 13:40 because all our magicians... 13:42 they haven't been able to give me this interpretation. " 13:43 Yvonne: Yeah. 13:45 James: And, you know, it's amazing... 13:46 some of the stuff that he's bringing out here 13:48 where he talks about... 13:49 that God is setting up over the world... the basest of men. 13:55 James: And again, that's our same theme right here 13:58 that God is interested in the basest of men. 14:01 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... 14:02 James: But one of the thoughts that I really love here 14:04 in verse 15... 14:05 and this could be a sermon title... 14:07 All: Laughter. 14:08 James: "Nevertheless... " 14:09 just "Nevertheless... " I just love that. 14:12 Nevertheless... this is going to happen... 14:14 this is happen... all this is going to be... 14:16 these calamities are going to take place... nevertheless... 14:18 no matter what happens in our lives, 14:20 no matter how much is taken from us... 14:22 no matter how much we lose, 14:24 no matter how low we come... nevertheless... 14:26 there's... there's a band... there's a hope... 14:29 there's... there's a prodigal father... 14:31 there's... there's... there's someone who is with us 14:35 all the way to the end... 14:37 He will never leave us nor forsake us... nevertheless... 14:39 and to me, that's the hope that Nebuchadnezzar has... 14:41 that's the hope that Daniel is going to bring to him 14:44 through this whole calamity. 14:45 Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... 14:47 James: What are your thoughts guys? 14:48 Yvonne: I love the fact that... okay, so this tree 14:53 it... it was strong and powerful and all that 14:57 but then, chop down the tree, cut off its branches... 15:02 strip off its leaves... scatter its fruit... 15:04 the beasts get out from under it... 15:07 the tree is now just desolate... 15:10 except... that bond with iron... a band of iron and bronze... 15:17 iron... which is so strong 15:19 that that root is not going to be destroyed. 15:23 That is the covering that God has over our lives, I love it. 15:29 Jason: I like the fact that they had to... 15:32 well, King Nebuchadnezzar had to resort back 15:35 to God's servant Daniel... 15:38 he tried, like you said, Pastor Myers, 15:41 he tried the world... he tried these other guys 15:45 but he had to go back to God 15:48 and... and he... I mean... 15:50 he should have gone there in the first place, 15:52 but it was... it was what he had to resort back to. 15:57 James: Yeah, the world disappointed him again 15:59 and he... and he... but it's really cool, I think, 16:03 it's a powerful message that when the world disappoints us, 16:06 we can still go back to God. 16:08 We could say, "Whoa, no way... 16:09 you should have come to me first... " 16:11 Like, hey, Daniel could have said, 16:12 "Well, wait a minute, you just told me 16:14 that you went to the wise men that couldn't figure it... 16:16 why didn't you come to me first?" 16:17 We can cop an attitude, you know what I'm saying? 16:19 But no... God says, "I'm here... 16:20 when everyone else disappoints you, I'll still be here. 16:22 Even though you went to them first... 16:24 I'm glad you came to Me. " 16:26 Yvonne: Yes... yes... Jason: Yeah, that's beautiful. 16:29 Yvonne: That is beautiful. 16:30 Ivor: God saves the best for last. 16:31 All: Hmmm... 16:33 Ivor: As you have the story of Jesus at the wedding feast... 16:39 Yvonne: Changing the water into wine. 16:42 Ivor: He says, "Right now, let me give you the real thing" 16:44 and they say, "You saved the best for last" 16:47 so... yeah... 16:49 Yvonne: Yes... it's good. 16:51 James: All right, any other thoughts 16:53 before we get into... into the... to the next verse? 16:55 I say "the next verse" 16:57 because I want us to spend a little bit of time on this verse 17:00 Jason, can you read for us verse 19? 17:03 Jason: Sure, "Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, 17:06 was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. 17:09 So the king spoke, and said, 17:11 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream 17:13 or its interpretation trouble you. ' 17:15 Belteshazzar answered and said, 17:18 'My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, 17:21 and its interpretation concern your enemies!'" 17:24 James: Whooo... this is an amazing verse right here, 17:28 this is an amazing revelation of the heart and spirit of Daniel 17:32 okay, he knows what the dream is... 17:34 he knows what the dream is but he is astonished... 17:38 he is waiting... he's like, 17:40 "How do I tell Nebuchadnezzar this? 17:42 How do I... how do I tell him the truth 17:45 but do it in a way that will win his heart. " 17:47 He... he's reluctant... 17:50 some of us don't have a reluctant bone in our body. 17:52 Yvonne: Hmmm... 17:54 James: Like, "This is the truth, you need to hear it... 17:55 yeah, I need to tell you that... now you just... " 17:59 you know what I'm saying? Yvonne: Yeah. 18:00 James: Daniel is like, "Man, I got to... this is... " 18:02 and so, this is how he does it, he says, 18:04 "This dream... " which God gave him... 18:06 is... "your enemies are going to love this dream... 18:08 this is for those who hate you... " 18:11 wow, Daniel... he's so reluctant... 18:14 but what I love about this even in his reluctance... 18:16 which Nebuchadnezzar sees 18:18 and therefore, I think it softens his heart, 18:20 even in his reluctance, he still tells him the dream. 18:22 Yvonne: Hmmm... 18:24 see some of us are... 18:25 we don't have a reluctant bone in our bodies 18:26 but others are so reluctant that we don't say anything. 18:29 Yvonne: Right... that's right. 18:31 James: You got the two extremes Yvonne: That's right. 18:32 James: No reluctance... and like, 18:33 so reluctant that we're not going to say a word. 18:35 Yvonne: That's right. 18:36 James: Daniel is just... for us he's portraying 18:38 his perfect balance. Yvonne: Yes. 18:40 James: The reluctance... but still being faithful to God, 18:43 the reluctance... but still being faithful to God. 18:45 James: "This is to your enemies... " 18:46 in the very next verse... then he says, 18:48 got to get my glasses on... 18:50 "The tree which thou sawest... " 18:51 I'm not going to read the whole verse... 18:52 "The tree which thou sawest... " so he goes right into... 18:54 "I'm going to tell you what it is. " 18:55 Yvonne: Right. 18:56 James: But Nebuchadnezzar knows at this point 18:58 that Daniel is reluctant... that he's wrestling with this. 19:01 James: Right? We need to ask God... 19:04 how can we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves 19:06 we don't... as Christians, 19:08 we don't have to be in people's faces, 19:10 you know, we don't have to be that upset, 19:12 angry... Yvonne: Confrontational... 19:14 James: Yeah, confrontational, "You're going to hell... " 19:16 yeah but... that... 19:17 Ivor: Shall we call fire down on them? 19:19 James: Yes, yeah... yeah. 19:23 we need to come... and... and again... 19:25 this is three angels' messages... 19:26 we need to come with the everlasting gospel first. 19:29 Before we get into... the Mark of the Beast... 19:32 the fire and brimstone... 19:33 we got to come with the everlasting gospel first, 19:35 the everlasting gospel prepares the way 19:37 for the rest of the message 19:39 and that's what we see Daniel doing here, 19:41 he's preparing the way for the rest of the message. 19:42 He's coming with the gospel, he's coming with this grace... 19:46 this heart of grace toward Nebuchadnezzar. 19:48 and I think that's what... 19:49 part of what wins Nebuchadnezzar's heart. 19:52 Yvonne: Yeah... because Nebuchadnezzar sees 19:54 that Daniel didn't really want to tell him, 19:57 because he... he said... let's see here... 20:00 James: "Don't let it trouble you... " he said. 20:02 Yvonne: Yeah, "Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, 20:05 was astonished for a time... 20:06 so the king spoke, and said, 20:08 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation 20:11 trouble you... '" 20:12 he saw in his face... he didn't want to... 20:14 he knew that it wasn't good news... 20:17 you know, just like Joseph telling 20:20 the baker and the other guy in prison 20:24 what their dreams were 20:26 the steward... the baker and the steward... 20:29 what their dreams were... one had a good dream 20:32 and the other didn't have a good dream... 20:34 in this case, Daniel didn't really want to say either 20:38 but he had to tell him... he had to be faithful to God 20:43 and he... he was what? 20:44 James: He was reluctant but he was not negligent. 20:46 Yvonne: Right. 20:48 James: He was reluctant but he wasn't negligent. 20:49 Yvonne: Right... James: That's a balance there. 20:51 Yvonne: That's important. 20:52 James: In Colossians 4 verse 6, it says, 20:53 "Let your speech or conversation or communication 20:57 be always with grace seasoned with salt. " 21:00 Yvonne: Hmmm... 21:01 James: Now, sometimes I think, we as Christians... 21:04 our conversation or the way we communicate 21:07 is like an entree of salt seasoned with grace. 21:11 Yvonne: Hmmm... Jason: Hmmm... 21:13 James: I love potatoes and when I eat potatoes, 21:16 I like a little bit of salt on them 21:17 but the main entree is the potatoes. 21:19 So, the Bible is saying, 21:20 the main entree needs to be grace 21:22 but don't leave off the salt, 21:23 because the world is bland with iniquity, 21:25 I mean, we need some salt, you are the salt of the earth 21:27 so you got to put some salt on there 21:28 but have you ever eaten things that are just too salty? 21:30 Yvonne: Yes. Jason: Yes. 21:32 James: Or can you imagine a pile of salt 21:33 with some potatoes sprinkled on? 21:35 we just get people the truth and we say, 21:37 "and by the way, Jesus loves you... " 21:38 Yvonne: Right. 21:39 James: "I've got to let you know that... 21:41 so you know... " 21:42 it needs to be entree Jesus... entree grace... entree love... 21:46 but put the salt on... and that's what Daniel does. 21:49 He... he... he is reluctant... the grace is coming through... 21:53 and he makes sure to put the salt on it. 21:55 Yvonne: That's good. 21:57 James: Any other thoughts there before we move on? 21:58 Jason: No... 22:01 James: All right let's go... verses... 22:03 Yvonne, would you read verses 20... 22:05 how far should we go Ivor? 22:08 Ivor: Say, let's go down to 24... 23... 22:11 Yvonne: 23... "The tree that you saw, 22:14 which grew and became strong, 22:16 whose height reached to the heavens 22:18 and which could be seen by all the earth, 22:20 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, 22:23 in which was food for all, 22:25 under which the beasts of the field dwelt 22:27 and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home... 22:31 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; 22:35 for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, 22:38 and your dominion to the end of the earth. 22:41 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, 22:45 coming down from heaven and saying, 22:47 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, 22:49 but leave its stump and roots in the earth, 22:53 bound with a band of iron and bronze 22:55 in the tender grass of the field; 22:57 let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 23:00 and let him graze with the beasts of the field, 23:02 till seven times pass over him... " 23:05 Ivor: You can actually go ahead and keep reading till verse... 23:08 verse 29. 23:11 Yvonne: Okay, 23:14 "this is the interpretation, O king, 23:16 and this is the decree of the Most High, 23:19 which has come upon my lord the king: 23:21 they shall drive you from men, 23:23 your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, 23:26 and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. 23:29 They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, 23:31 and seven times shall pass over you, 23:34 till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, 23:38 and gives it to whomever He chooses. 23:40 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump 23:45 and roots of the tree, 23:46 your kingdom shall be assured to you, 23:49 after you come to know that Heaven rules. 23:52 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; 23:56 break off your sins by being righteous, 23:59 and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. 24:02 Perhaps there may be a lengthening 24:05 of your prosperity. " 24:06 James: I would stop right there, that's good. 24:08 Ivor: Hmmm... hmmm... 24:09 James: Whoooo... Yvonne: Wow! 24:11 James: So, Daniel comes right out and he says, 24:13 "It is thou O king... " 24:14 reminds me of Nathan with David.. 24:16 ."You... you are the man... it's thou O king... " 24:18 it's the straight testimony. 24:19 Jason: I think that, like, towards the beginning 24:22 the king might have been feeling this dream... 24:25 like, he was probably like, "Yeah... what are you... 24:27 what are you going to tell me?" 24:28 Because when he was saying in verse 21, 24:31 "Whose leaves... " oh, no, no, no... 24:33 let's go to verse 20, 24:35 "The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, 24:37 whose height reached to the heavens 24:39 and which could be seen by all the earth, 24:41 whose leaves were lovely and it's fruit abundant, 24:43 in which was food for all, 24:44 under which the beasts of the field dwelt, 24:46 and in whose branches the birds of the heaven 24:49 had their home... it is you, O king... " 24:52 so, he was probably like... he was probably like, 24:56 "Oh well, you know... you know, Daniel... you know... 24:59 yeah, that's me... " 25:00 and then when he went on he was probably like, 25:04 "I'm not feeling this interpretation... " 25:06 Yvonne: Yeah... yeah. 25:07 James: And Daniel was faithful to share it. 25:10 Yvonne: Yes... yes. 25:11 James: There's going to be times 25:12 when we're going to have to say some difficult things... 25:14 some challenging things... 25:15 if we're going to be faithful to Christ, 25:17 but look where it led, 25:19 I mean, look what happened to Nebuchadnezzar 25:22 because Daniel was faithful. 25:24 Nebuchadnezzar not only heard some hard things 25:27 but he experienced some hard things. 25:29 What Daniel predicted 25:30 through the dream that was given to Nebuchadnezzar by God 25:33 came to pass. 25:35 It didn't actually have to come to pass... I don't think... 25:37 because Daniel gives him an option, he says, 25:40 "Hey, you know, you could actually... " 25:41 what does it say there? 25:43 "You could actually break away your sins... " verse 27... 25:47 "by righteousness... " by doing what's right 25:49 "and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor... " 25:51 which I think is... which I think is really cool... 25:53 because bottom line in Matthew 25... 25:57 when Jesus comes He says, 25:58 "Hey, what did you do for those that were in prison 26:02 and those who needed water and those who needed clothes 26:04 and those who needed food?" 26:05 That's the bottom line of Christianity... 26:07 "Religion pure and undefiled is this... to visit the widows 26:10 and the orphans in their affliction. " 26:11 That's the bottom line... it's not arguing... 26:13 it's not preaching... 26:14 it's... it's ministry... it's the bottom line... 26:16 so, I love the way Daniel puts that, it's so powerful. 26:20 Any other thoughts before we close? 26:22 because we're running out of time. 26:23 Yvonne: If he had some anxiety before... 26:27 if Nebuchadnezzar had anxiety before... 26:30 after hearing this... this dream... 26:32 but even... he still has an "out" 26:35 where Daniel says, "Break off your sins 26:38 by being righteous and merciful and perhaps... " 26:43 now, it didn't say that the dream wasn't going to happen, 26:46 "there would be a lengthening... " 26:49 so, it's still going to happen. 26:51 Ivor: It's... it's interesting to note that... 26:53 and we talked about this a little bit earlier 26:55 that that tree reaching into the heavens 26:58 kind of signified Nebuchadnezzar's sins 27:01 reaching to a very high place. 27:04 You know, pride goes before destruction, 27:07 and a haughty spirit before a fall... " 27:08 and he is exalting himself 27:10 and I think in the next Program that we do, 27:14 we're going to stay on Daniel 4... 27:16 I'm going to bring out some prophetic insights 27:19 that will really, like, help us again to see, 27:22 how this relates to us in our time. " 27:24 All: Hmmm... hmmm... 27:25 Ivor: So, yeah... keep that in mind. 27:27 Yvonne: Yeah, good... this is good... 27:30 James: It is... Yvonne: Meaty... 27:31 Ivor: It's meaty. Jason: Yeah, it is. 27:33 James: It's practical... it's dealing with pride. 27:36 Yvonne: It is, that's right. 27:37 James: We all have it. Yvonne: That's right. 27:38 James: It just comes out of us you know, and... 27:40 but God knows how to deal with that... 27:42 we can trust Him with that. Yvonne: Amen. 27:43 James: And we can trust other people too into God's hands, 27:45 that's what Daniel is doing, 27:46 he is trusting Nebuchadnezzar into God's hands... 27:48 which is sometimes important for us to do 27:50 so, praise God. 27:52 Jason: Amen. |
Revised 2020-06-08