Ries and fall

Work of the ministry here at first baptist church a portion of this goes to support things like orphanages halfway houses for women that are rescued out of trafficking and things like that and so I got this morning it says the staff at missouri baptist children's home especially those who directly work with our children are missionaries in the truest sense of the word missouri baptist children's home is an entity of the missouri baptist convention and is a partner with our churches in ministering to children youth and families we are in a critical situation at missouri baptist children's home because of lack of staff we've had to close some of our houses on our campuses it breaks my heart to know that we have outstanding programs we have empty beds and there are children referred to us who need our services but we don't have the caring Christian people to care for them these are children who need to hear the Gospel and we don't have the opportunity to share it with them so the missouri baptist children's home is seeking to fill live-in shifts positions on campuses live-in staff works for one full week then the whole week next is off the staff filling those positions can live almost anywhere and can and can commute also there's hourly shifts that are available working ten or eight hours per shift and so if you are interested in being a part of that kind of a ministry which is a tangible way to get your to get involved in making an impact in the lives of children and families for the Gospel come talk to me we have a position for you okay now there's all sorts of different things that are coming up we've got national night out that is happening that's going to be on august 2nd that's

A tuesday night we're going to be set up right out here on the north parking lot we're also going to have mclerg and illinois avenue blocked off we got all the first responders the camden county sheriff's office the camden police department the ambulance the firefighters we're all going to be outside with live music from the potter's wheel we're going to have a be giving away school supplies all these different things that are happening and we are looking for business sponsors so if you own a small business you can give a tax deductible donation to make that a reality also if you want to volunteer and make it happen this is a great way for us as first baptist church of camdenton to love our community in a tangible way especially as we're giving away school supplies we've got 264 backpacks that we're going to be giving away we got 800 hot dogs that cma is going to be grilling up it's going to be a fantastic time and so I hope that you'll be there salt and light sunday is coming up that's going to be on august 14th and some people have said what is salt and light sunday okay how many of y'all have heard me talk about salt and light sunday okay how many of y'all know what it is okay so listen close salt and light sunday that sunday we are going to meet at 8 a.m right here for worship we're also going to have some breakfast items out here in the fellowship hall area at 8 a.m we're going to have a high energy fun service a shorter sermon and all God's people said amen and then and then we are going to go and we are going to do service projects throughout the city of camdenton and here on campus by doing things like writing prayer support letters writing our namm church planners or

International missionaries we're going to be writing legislators about upcoming legislation we're going to be doing yard work and cutting hair for children we're going to be visiting shut-ins and homes and the reason and the purpose behind this is because I want our church to rediscover the joy and the privilege of ministry I think that's so important don't you for us to find joy in serving our Lord Jesus and so we're going to be doing that and so I hope that you will be a part of that making that a reality august 14th also be sure to stop by this booth out here these are our we care shoes I got mine I hope that you'll grab yours we've got a whole bunch of them to give away where's miss megan megan how many more do we have out there 11. We got 11 more shoes so if you're here and you're like I can take a shoe by all means go and get them they go to our we care children down here has their whether or not it's for a boy or a girl also their size and then you please return it in two weeks now the security team they are going to I want to remind you that we do allow casille carry on our campus however in order to conceal carry we have to know that's part of missouri's laws when it comes to concealed carry you have to have our permission to do that in order to have our permission to do that you need to be a part of our security team and so if you want to carry on our campus please see joyce or John we'd love to have you on the rotation now this thursday july 21st jeremy spring is going to be moderating a political debate and so jeremy he's one of our church members and is very active and I asked him if it would be okay because that's such a volatile thing to

Moderate a debate that's tough it's a tough place to be I said would you be okay if we maybe took some time and prayed for wisdom and guidance for you in our service he said yeah absolutely that would be great and so what I'm going to ask jeremy to do is just stand up with your wife over there and anyone that's around you would you guys just kind of make your way over there and just lay hands on jeremy and pray for him and pray specifically for wisdom for jeremy and as they have these political debates what an honor that is for someone to serve as a moderator where both candidates are like yes he's fair that's a good testimony for first baptist church amen all right and where you're at what I would invite you to do is bow your heads and close your eyes and I would ask you to maybe take a moment and prepare your heart for worship perhaps there's something that's going on in your heart maybe you're dissatisfied with something maybe your heart is given to anger about something just take a moment right now and take that before the throne of grace because God cares for you perhaps you're here and you need to hear from the Lord this morning it's been a while since you've had him speak to your heart would you confess that and ask the Lord say God I'm ready to hear from you today right where you're at also if you could just lift up our brother jeremy and ask for him ask for the Lord to give him uncommon wisdom and knowledge that he might have the right questions

To ask with the right heart and attitude and that the Lord would help him to be as unbiased as possible for the glory of God and Lord we do come before you this morning as the body of Christ asking that you will help us to worship God we know that we only love you because you first loved we know that we can only worship you in spirit and in truth because you have brought us before your throne and saved our very souls God we ask that you would help us to engage in worship to throw off those things that would distract us and hinder us from worshiping you God we pray that he will remind us who you are and what you've done for us and let your praise fall from our lips in adoration of your very nature it's in Jesus name we pray amen I invite you to please stand with me as we sing this morning magnificent marvelous matchless love [Music] forever existing in [Music] [Applause] sufficient and endlessly generous magnificent marvelous [Music] creation is bringing with thankfulness the mountains exhausted they stand the seasons rejoice in your faithfulness all I feel sustained by your hand you crown every medal with color you paint every shade in the sky [Music] how great [Music] how great [Music] magnificent marvelous [Music] you came in the fullness of time how far we have fallen from

Righteousness but not from the mercies of Christ your crush is outdoor to redemption [Music] magnificent marvelous [Applause] [Music] forever [Music] [Applause] is [Music] [Applause] forever [Applause] [Music] amen his love is magnificent and marvelous and matchless above all things and I'm excited to continue singing about it this morning as we continue to worship this morning it doesn't bother me whether you stand or you sit or you kneel in prayer I just ask that you be engaged in worshiping God because he's worthy he is so worthy [Music] alone in my sorrow and dead in my sins lost without hope with no place to begin your love made a way to let mercy come in when death was arrested and my life began [Music] [Applause] [Music] my [Music] when death was arrested and my life began all your grace over me you have made me new now life begins with you it's your hand [Music] begins with you [Music] when death was arrested and my life began

[Music] all your grace you have made me new now life begins with you it's [Music] [Applause] [Music] begins with you [Music] darkness rejoices [Music] that's when death was arrested and my life began oh your grace all your grace [Music] pouring down on us you have made us new now life begins with you oh we're free all we're free forever [Music] [Applause] [Music] was arrested and my life began when death was arrested and my life began when there was arrested and my life began [Applause] [Music] amen [Music] this one may still be a little bit new for us it's yet not I but through Christ and me the Lord has promised so many good things to those who are in him but it's not by our power it's through the power of Christ and his blood that we're offered forgiveness from sins and a life of peace in God that starts now and lasts into eternity [Music] what gift of grace Jesus my Redeemer there is no more for heaven out again

He is my joy righteousness and freedom my steadfast love my deep and boundless this deeds hall my hope is only Jesus for my life his holy bound to his oh how strange and divine I can sing one is mine yet not lie but through Christ in me [Music] the night is dark but I am not forsaken for by my side the Savior he will stay I labor on in weakness and rejoicing for in my deed his power is displayed to this high hold my shepherd will defend me through the deepest valley he will lead I shall overcome yet not by but through Christ with me [Music] no fate I dread I know I am forgiven the future sure the price it has been paid for Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon and he was raised [Applause] to this high hall my sin has been believed Jesus now and ever is my bleed oh the chains are released I can sing I am [Music] in [Music] with every breath I long to follow Jesus for he has said that he will bring me home and day by day

I know he will renew me until I stand with joy before [Music] my hope is only [Music] to Jesus [Music] when the race is [Music] my hope is only Jesus [Music] when the race is complete still my lips shall repeat yet not eyes to me when the race is complete still my lips shall repeat yet not I but through Christ in me yet not I but through Christ in me [Music] in Christ alone my hope is found [Music] he is my life my strength my song this cornerstone this solid ground firm through the and fiercest what height of love what depths of peace when things are still when striving sees my comforter my all in all here in the love of Christ I stand [Music] in Christ alone who took on flesh fullness of God in hell this gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones he came to save till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God [Music] was laid here in the death of Christ I lived [Music] his body lay

Light of the world by darkness then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave he rose again and as he stands in victory since curse has lost its grip on me for I am [Music] Jesus commands my destiny no power of hell no dream of man can ever pluck me from his hand [Music] home no power of hell no scheme a man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns or calls me home here in the power of Christ I'll stand amen and so Lord it is here in the power of Christ that we stand together as the body of Christ God help us to submit to the headship of Christ help every moment that we live every breath that we breathe bring glory to you Lord help us to do the work that you have prepared for us it's in Jesus name amen well if you have your Bible and I hope that you do please turn with me to the book of Daniel Daniel chapter 4 we've been in here since easter going methodically through God's word I'm always amazed at how timely God's word is when you go through it in a in a timely fashion it's always a word that's relevant because God's word is living it's it's active if you wrestle with God's word it wrestles right back with you and it's a wonderful wonderful thing we are starting a little mini series called rise and fall because

The history of mankind if we look for literally millennia we've had leaders and nations come and go countless empires and kingdoms have risen and have fallen even empires that you know the sun would never set on that spanned countries continents languages cultural barriers they are in the dust benef of history as Christians we believe what psalm 24 verse 1 says which is that the earth is the Lord's in the fullness thereof the world and those who dwell therein so everything is the Lord's that goes for you that goes for this building this that goes for this city God has laid claim to all of it and he has said mine because he's God and he made it Daniel he stated in his prayer of thanks in chapter 2 verse 21 that God he changes times in seasons he removes kings and sets up kings God he has been in this business since the outset of creation but God he does not raise up rulers and throw them throw them down without a divine purpose even the promised land the promised land was led by nations and kings well before the Hebrews took it by right and it was also lost to the Hebrews who constantly broke the covenant that's why they're in the situation that they don't have a king there right now not a not a true king when they broke the covenant that God made with them on sinai God he does not create a nation and he does not cause its destruction arbitrarily we don't believe in chance we don't believe in fate we believe in the sovereign will and

Decree of the Lord that God has a plan and he has a plan in your life he has a plan in my life and ultimately these plans conflict with our own don't they like our hopes our dreams our desires and nebuchadnezzar is in it right now you see nebuchadnezzar he's got his own dreams his own plans his own empire that he's been building too and he has missed God in the like for decades yeah he's had counter an encounter after an encounter with God time and time again it's like God's been trying to get his attention for some purpose and what we learn is that God's plans are rarely our own but his plans are always better than our own so today we're going to be looking at chapter four we're going to be looking at verses 1 through 14 as we stand together in honor of God's word as we read this passage excuse me God's word says this king nebuchadnezzar to all peoples nations and languages that dwell in all the earth peace be multiplied to you it has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me how great are his signs how mighty his wonders his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion endures from generation to generation I nebuchadnezzar was at peace in my house and prospering in my palace I saw a dream that made me afraid as I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me so I may decree that the wise men of babylon should be brought before me

That they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream and the magicians the enchanters the child deans and the astrologers came in and I told them the dream but they could not make known to me its interpretation at last Daniel came in before me he who was named beltashazar after the name of my God and in whom the spirit of the holy God and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods excuse me and I told him the dream saying obele to shazar chief of the magicians because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation the visions of my head as I lay in bed were these I saw and behold a tree in the midst of the earth and its height was great the tree grew and became strong and its top reached to heaven and it was visible to the end of the whole earth its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant and in it was food for all the beasts of the field found shade under it and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches and all flesh was fed from it I saw on the visions of my head as I lay in bed and behold a watcher a holy one came down from heaven he proclaimed a loud and said thus chop down the tree and lop off its branches strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches but leave the stump of its roots in the earth bound with a band of iron and bronze amid the tender grass of the field let him be wet with the dew of heaven let his portion be with the beasts of the grass of the earth

Let his mind be changed from a man's let a beast mind be given to him and let seven periods of time pass over him the sentence is by the decree of the watchers the decision by the word of the holy ones to the end that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets it over the lowliest of men this dream I king nebuchadnezzar Saul and jew o belta shazar tell me the interpretation because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation but you are able for the spirit of the holy gods is in you so God we do thank you for your word Lord as we said about this difficult passage give us teachable hearts and minds help us to look at this and to rightly apply it to our lives right where we're at we pray for your peace on us we ask that the name of Christ would be lifted high we love you in Jesus name amen well this passage that we've read is really divided up into two key sections most of your Bibles have it divided up this way the first one is about the personal testimony of nebuchadnezzar if you have your notes and you're taking these notes down write down the personal testimony of nebuchadnezzar because the whole tone changes from chapter three to chapter four it goes from a third person historical narrative to a first person testimony this is an eyewitness event this is nebuchadnezzar's own words and this passage it's actually caused disbelieving historians to cringe because they don't believe that this

Ever happened they don't see how nebuchadnezzar was a particularly arrogant king although literally every piece of architecture every brick in babylon bears nebuchadnezzar's name he did not want to get lost to history so he set about every single brick putting his stamp and his insignia on it no other empire in all history has done that but yet you know we look at his life and many historians point out that they don't really see a conversion experience in his life there's a very little archaeological evidence aside from the book of Daniel that you know testifies to this the truth is that this testimony was not written in real time meaning that it's not like he has his testimony has this experience and you know then the conversion and stuff all of this happens right after his event right after his conversion which is much later in his life nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony is found here but we're going to see his encounter with the Lord in what's called nebuchadnezzar's humiliation when the Lord gets a hold of his heart but some things about his testimony that we need to write down and understand is firstly conqueror he was conquered nebuchadnezzar himself was conquered by the Lord there is no one here who can say that they are a Christian unless they've been conquered by Christ you must surrender if you're not surrendered to the Lord you're in rebellion and either you're a Christian walking in rebellion which means that you need to repent and steve did a fantastic job last week preaching the word didn't he guys thank you so much there you are you're

Typically over there so thank you so much for stepping in I called him on saturday and he did a fantastic job in which case either we repent and come back to the Lord or you need to repent and place your faith and trust in Christ that's what the Christian lifestyle is it's repentance it's it's constantly doing it and so we got this he is he is the supreme ruler in the supreme law of the land when people would talk about babylon even in modern times it's almost like with this mythical sense of awe how completely nebuchadnezzar ruled his kingdom remember that nebuchadnezzar that's what he wanted he wanted to be the king he wanted to be the emperor he wanted to rule he wanted to have all the glory all the prestige all the power he wanted it all everything that the world had to offer that was his plan and listen to me you might get exactly what you think that you want or need out of this life you might want power you might want prestige you might want an empire I don't know for some of you it might be that you feel like you need that love from a man or a woman it might be acceptance and have tons and tons of friends and being well liked for you your whole desire might be hey if I just had money if I just had money then I wouldn't have those problems then I wouldn't have the that crushing weight on my back then I'd be happy none of those things are going to make you content in this life not one of them you can conquer life you can win it all you can have the most friends you can get the most love you can have the most

Money but unless God is at the center of everything that you do you're going to miss it all think about it nebuchadnezzar he has seen God working in his life in numerous ways for decades at this point God he revealed what he had dreamed about to a teenage boy from judah years and years and years and years and years ago and he gave him the interpretation and he saw that and he experienced it he saw three young men delivered from the fiery furnace he saw all these different things God has done those things and listen God he still tries to get our attention doesn't he you might not see someone delivered from a fiery furnace you might not have someone interpret a dream but I guarantee you that God he tries to get your attention and God he does these things and he continues to do that because he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance he wants you because he loves you my wife she shared a little facebook thing that you know it's not turn or burn okay it's that you were destined to burn turn to Christ it's not worship God and escape hell it's that you're on your way to hell therefore escape the coming wrath because God loves you the second point from this section is being confounded look at nebuchadnezzar's own words there he says it has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me and this is a total difference than the nebuchadnezzar that we had seen in the previous three chapters nebuchadnezzar's attitude was all about himself and you know he referenced God as the most high God and things like that but now it's just that

He's God totally completely there's one God and how did this happen why the why the change it's because of the signs and wonders that were done in his life now there's two end results to signs and wonders a reminder here that eternity as that is at stake for nebuchadnezzar and for you and me what we believe about Christ and how we live in light of that belief changes everything so what happens if you know there are signs and wonders you see God do a wonderful work firstly the first end result could be to salvation we can respond to God by repentance and faith we see this in acts chapter 9 verses 32-35 it says that now Peter he went here and there among them all and he came down to the saints who lived at lyda and there he found a man named aeneas bedridden for eight years who was paralyzed and Peter said to him aeneas Jesus Christ heals you rise and make your bed and immediately he rose and all the residents of lida and sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord this sign and wonder led people to turn to God but that's not the only result the other result is to condemnation see there are some people that they are safe because of the signs and wonders and their faith and trust is in the signs and wonders therefore when they see the signs and wonders they need more we see this in the pharisees who they saw the miracles of Christ they heard the testimonies of grown adults that were verified by other people and we look in Matthew chapter 13 verses 38 through 39 it says then some of the scribes and pharisees answered him saying teacher we wish to see a sign from you

This is after the feeding of the five thousand this is after healing numerous people of leprosy and diseases this is after all of that and they're saying we want another sign but Jesus answered them an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah because signs and wonders they're not bad none of themselves however the responses that they bring to the Lord are what is key and thirdly what we see is that the captor in chapter one has been captivated by the Lord and he gives this wonderful testimony and actually what nebuchadnezzar does here if you'll notice in your word in your copy of God's word it probably has it like in a column that means they sing in a song and he's actually directly quoting psalm 145 13 which proves to us that Daniel had a hand in discipling him at this point and what does it say your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures throughout all generations so in chapter 2 we see the king he is panicked at the prospect of losing his kingdom in chapter 3 we see him protective of his kingdom even willing to kill innocents and here we see him proclaiming the eternal kingdom of God so what caused that change well that's what the second section of this testimony is all about in verses 4 through 18 and it's during the golden years of nebuchadnezzar's reign now nebuchadnezzar his reign was from 605 bc to 562 bc the numbers go down because we're getting closer and closer to the time of Christ which causes the numbers to go up it's a 43-year reign and it was a massive amount of time for an emperor to rule an empire 43 years

That's a lot of stability and this is towards the end of that reign and I want you to remember the timeline that nebuchadnezzar he was 37 when he ascended the throne that's his year of ascension we talked about that he's 38 when he conquered jerusalem and he took Daniel hananiah and michiel and azariah into captivity and when they were in their early teens that's where they were and his first dream occurs when he's about 41 years old the fiery furnace takes place when he's about 45 years old but now a few decades have passed and he's at ease in his house he is prospering in his palace this is probably some time after the ishtar target had been built which is sometime around 570 bc here's a picture of the ishtar gate you should have one yeah there you go you guys remember seeing the actual reproduction of that it's on the display at the british museum of natural history and also it was only one part it was actually the smallest part that you see there that was on display they can't even fit the biggest part in their building and it has all that symbology and things like that's on there the various bulls and dragons this is a picture of his palace go ahead and there we go it was actually renovated by saddam hussein he kind of characterized himself as the third nebuchadnezzar which he was actually the fourth but anyways yeah go to another picture there that's this is actually a reproduction of what the building looked like this is by national geographic they said this is probably pretty close to what it looked like at the at the very height of his reign an absolutely gorgeous place filled with palm trees date trees

People could come there and just enjoy that it looks like a tropical paradise and in a lot of ways it's exactly what it was and it was built to his glory now the next point that I want to point out is disturbing dreams anybody ever seen that movie signs by m night shyamalan I love that movie it's a great movie and I love the opening scene because it's so picturesque and so calm on that beautiful farm with the cornfields and everything it's just very beautiful all of a sudden the little girls are screaming you know and it's such a stark contrast that kind of jolts you what's going on and that's exactly what happens here in nebuchadnezzar's life you see he's enjoying his life he is at peace there's no more wars he is prospering in his palace and all of a sudden he is filled with terror at this dream that word fancies it's aramaic and it's the word har horror which is where we get our word horror from very different than when we think of fancies right and that alarm it's actually a stronger word in the in the aramaic it literally means to terrify and I want to point something out for us because we can miss it nebuchadnezzar he is totally unconcerned about God his presence his word until trouble enters his life he was content and he was prosperous and those were obstacles of God working in his life sometimes God he removes things like contentment he removes things like our health he removes things like prosperity and he sends us terrifying and horrible

Times to cause us to seek him and to reveal himself to us second point here is divergent sources see when those terrifying and horrifying times come you and I we are going to be tempted to seek out two sources of input firstly from the secular world when I say secular I don't just mean worldly I mean anti-Biblical advice because nebuchadnezzar he brings in all of the wise men right he is out there he is trying to get the magicians the enchanters the chaldeans the astronomers or the astrologers he is trying to get them to come in and interpret this dream why did nebuchadnezzar go to those guys rather than going to Daniel first maybe a habit that's a good thought why didn't he call Daniel why didn't he shadrach meshach and abednego I think that maybe there was a sense of guilt on nebuchadnezzar's part what I mean by that is when you and I when we feel guilt when we have when we struggle with disbelief when we struggle with sin or addiction or whatever you know what we naturally try to do we naturally try to separate ourselves from those who bear the light of Christ we don't want to be around Christians because there's something that we're trying to hide and we're afraid that we're going to be exposed it's part of the reason why many people avoid being in community groups part of the reason why folks are far more comfortable going to mega churches it's easy to hide among the crowds and still have a semblance of godliness isn't this what Adam and Eve did in the garden Genesis chapter 3 verses 7 through 8 what does it say that the eyes of both of them were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made for themselves loincloths and they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the man and woman hid themselves

From the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden you know they didn't hide from each other they knew that they were naked they knew what their forms were they didn't hide from their fellow sinners but they did hide from holiness and this is the state of all natural men this is why our morning services are not the primary means of evangelism this is if people that are lost come in praise the Lord we want them to hear the Gospel and be changed but this is not the primary means of evangelism never was not even in acts the book of that you know the very last sunday that pastor kirk baker here was here you remember that poem that he recited in 2018 the work is out in the fields that's where the work is that's where evangelism takes place when we read the book of acts and we see church growth do you know what we see we don't see people just simply that the church grew the actual words that are used is that the word of the Lord spread that's what happens that's what happens when we share the Gospel and we share about what God is doing in our lives if churches to grow then people have to be excited about what God is doing in your life they need to see what God is doing in your life how you're growing and conforming into the image of Christ in your life in my life the converse is also true that when we hide that light that when we grumble and we complain pursue sin in our own kingdoms that also leads to the spirit of God being grieved in his presence not being found among the churches

But going back to the temptation to get input from secular sources how many times have you and I turn to unbelieving friends for advice it happens more than we care to admit could it be that we know what the right thing is for us to do and we just want to quote unquote be happy we want to seek the approval of the world and violate our own consciences and if we're not careful we could sear our conscience and depart from the faith as his warning in first Timothy 4. You know we can also get answers from sanctified sources we can get answers from sanctified sources what is what does nebuchadnezzar say when Daniel walks in at last Daniel's older now he's wiser he's a man full of faith full of faith in the God of israel anointed with gifts and blessings from God when people are faced with challenges whether they're saved or they're lost they can all benefit greatly from godly wise counsel many times my wife is such a wonderful sounding board to me say honey read this text what do you think about the tone of this text I'm taking it completely wrong she's like oh I think they mean it this way oh okay all right it's good because because you know why she's she is full of the spiritual her spiritual gift is mercy she's such a merciful wonderful woman that's why Lord put us together but that's why we that's why you and I we are called to seek out sanctified sources to seek out input from godly people that's why we do community groups so that way we can get input in people's lives from people into our lives and young men you need to find a young lady that her heart is so hidden in Christ that you

Got to go through him to find her young men you need to be the kind of man that is leading yourself in your walk with Christ so that way when the right woman comes along you are able and willing to lead her into a deeper and more mature relationship with Jesus Christ remember that nebuchadnezzar he's terrified and disturbed by the dream and he is not getting any answers from his wise men and I can imagine the frustration and yet nebuchadnezzar remember he could have summoned Daniel at any point in time let's let's go down to these three elements of this stream the stream dream first element of this stream is the tree it has three characteristics it's a prominent tree you look at Daniel 4 10 what does it say the visions of my head as I lay in bed were these I saw and behold a tree in the midst of the earth and its height was great the trees they were symbols of royalty when it came to dream interpretation I showed you guys how they had these cuneiform tablets which helped people interpret dreams way back in the day and these were signs that people would have especially in the ancient middle east but a tree that was towering and it could be seen from a far distance spoiler alert the tree is nebuchadnezzar it's also a powerful tree you look at what the Scriptures say it says that the tree grew it became strong and its top reached to heaven and it was visible to the end of the whole earth now this is a hyperbolic statement which means that it's an exaggeration it's not like kingdoms in the americas knew about the kingdom of babylon at this point in time we in the west we would say it as that it dominates the landscape you can see it from afar absolutely huge the third tree or the tree was

Thirdly pro productive there was no third tree that was misspoke but the tree was thirdly productive its leaves were beautiful and its fruit was abundant it was had food for all and provided shade and all these different things but the next element of the dream which a lot of people have gotten really caught up on is the mystery of these watcher characters you know it was funny because as I read that watcher a lot of people are like what's a watcher and to be honest with you it's just a direct translation when we see the word watcher here it's an aramaic word which would be difficult for us to interpret unless we had other things to interpret from and so this word actually appears in babylonian holy writings in the bunda hessen which is in reference to angelic beings that's what a watcher is and so you have a babylonian king in a babylonian culture using a babylonian word because he didn't know what it was he just used because that's the best word that he had available to him and so what we can understand from this message because that's what's the most important part of this passage not the watcher but the message the message is firstly it is from heaven when we say that it's from heaven we mean that it is from God this is God's judgment on nebuchadnezzar secondly it's a message of destruction if you look at verse 14 it says he proclaimed aloud and said chop down the tree and lop off its branches and strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit that's a bad sign for whoever the tree is and it's also a message of loss look at the things that are lost his portion which means like his

Authority and his rule and even it says his mind is going to be lost that's a terrifying prospect to maybe lose your mind and we're going to delve into that a bit more next week but the third element of this dream is the humility it says to the end that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over at the lowliest of men God he does not execute judgment arbitrarily there is a purpose in what God is doing what is the end it is ultimately for God to be most glorified in the life of nebuchadnezzar that's the end goal nebuchadnezzar he knew whatever the interpretation was or who it was for it was doom and destruction but the point is this is that God is king God is intimately involved in every detail of our lives he isn't some mystical force or distant pining being just waiting hoping he's not some old man that's a cosmic kill joy telling people keep it down there I'm trying to sleep that is not our God is good and he is sovereign and he is loving and merciful and he is one and he is simple and totally complex and he loves you Mary when she sang her song the magnificat in Luke chapter 1 verse 51 and 52 she's saying this he has shown strength with his arm he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate the judgment is this that God

Opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble and for years nebuchadnezzar he's been resisting submitting to the Lord but not anymore he is about to have a life-changing encounter with God that he will never forget have you have you had a life changing encounter with God have you been saved have you been brought low because of your sin repented and turned to him by faith the Bible says in romans chapter five verses 1 through 2 therefore since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God do you have that rejoicing do you have that hope do you have that peace with God in order to have those things then you must come to God through Jesus Christ you must turn away from sin and trust in the Lord and devote yourself to him the last point we're going to wrap up the demand of Daniel you can hear the despair in nebuchadnezzar's voice there's a little bit of fear and trepidation and jew o beltachazar tell me the interpretation because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation but you are able for the spirit of the holy gods is in you ever go to talk with someone and you're nervous because you knew exactly what they were going to say just me I know I've been there that's where nebuchadnezzar was he knows God is trying to get his attention and he's just been ignoring it for years and that might be you know that God has been trying to get your attention whether it's about some sort of unconfessed sin or some family relationship or maybe you just simply need to come to him God won't let you go he won't I hope that he bothers you and me about those things that we like to cling not for the sake of our misery but for the sake of our salvation that we might be known as followers of Christ that we might grow to know him more that we would be salt and light to a world that desperately needs to know Jesus and we're going to look a little bit more into how guy got nebuchadnezzar's attention next week head hand heart head I want you to know that God raises up nations and brings them down for his glory remember that history is really his as believers we don't have to fear for our home or our kingdom or anything like that because our home is in heaven our kingdom is with Christ and the eternal kingdom of God and that's truly a blessed hope that we can go through this life without cares and weights and I want you to be a sanctified source for people that need the Gospel and need godly advice to be a sanctified source means to point people in love to God's truth to point them to the hope of Christ and to give them godly counsel and wise and heart I want you to believe that God he brings us to the end of ourselves that we might look to him are you there are you tired of looking everywhere for what God alone can give

Because he invites you today to trust in him to turn to him by faith to follow that you might have eternal life through Jesus Christ let's all stand let's bow our heads and let's pray and then we'll worship Lord we do thank you for your mercy for your love for calling us as your people to be sanctified sources that we might be able to tell people about the hope that's in you the hope that you provided by your son and his work on the cross thank you for calling us into that relationship with you and Lord we know based upon your word that you are calling people the way they hear is through the preaching of the Gospel God help us all to be preachers to spread your word to live with conviction that we might be able to make an impact in our community God we want to reach the lost we want to make disciples of all nations we want to fulfill that command and so God help us help us Lord to do so well we love you and as we worship together let this be our prayer in Jesus name amen in Christ alone my hope is he is my light my strength firm through the [Music] sees my comforter my all in all of Christ I stand in Christ alone who took on flesh fullness of God in heavenless babe this gift of love this righteousness

Scorned by the ones he came to save till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied for every sin on him was laid here in the death of Christ I live no guilt in life this is to final breath Jesus commands my destiny no power of hell no scheme of man [Music] or calls me home here [Music] can ever me from his hand till he returns or calls me home here in the power of Christ I'll stand amen I'm glad to have you all here today thank you for coming and as we move into this week let's just stop and pause and pray father in heaven thank you Lord for your word thank you for the book of Daniel thank you for pastor cody being well to be able to come in this week and be able to share and expound upon it and father as we move into this week we ask Lord that you'd help us to remember that you are the only true and living God in that your desire is for us to bring glory to you and that Lord you do bring things into our lives that we may bring glory to you test us you bring these things in and Lord help us to go into this week and understand our need for Christ in the Gospel and then be able to share that with others as we go forth where we work where we play in these different places father so we thank you for this we thank you Lord that you love us and you care for us

And all of this we