Daniel #6
C. Paul Willis
The Statue of Gold
Daniel 3:1 - 30 (NKJV) 1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” 7So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 26Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Time Line: Revolt of 596BC – 20 years after Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
I. The Image
A. If Nebuchadnezzar was the “head of gold” why not be the entire image? (Probably gold over wood)
B. The Jews could not obey
Exodus 20:4 - 6 (NKJV) 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
C. Christians should expect persecution
1 Peter 4:12 - 16 (NKJV) 12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
II. The Prophetic Message
1. Where was Daniel?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 18 (NKJV) 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
2. The Image
Revelation 13: 11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14And he deceives £those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17and that no one may buy or sell except one who has £the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Daniel 3:1 (NKJV) 1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Matthew 24:15 - 31 (NKJV) 15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
3. The Jews will not bow down
Rev 14: 1 Then I looked, and behold, £a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, £having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were £redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no £deceit, for they are without fault £before the throne of God.
4. There will be another like Nebuchadnezzar
Rev 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every £tribe, tongue, and nation. 8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
III. The Fiery Furnace
Rev: 20:11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before £God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second £death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Conclusion: Who saves us from the “fiery furnace”
Daniel 3:24 - 25 (NKJV) 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like The Son of God.”
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Finding God’s Will for your life
February 18, 2007
Sermon #665
Finding God’s Will for your life
Introduction: I am continuing teaching on requests made from the congregation. Although this subject was not in the top two (marriage and finances) requested, it is probably the greatest need in the life of a Christian.
I. You were created for a purpose
Jeremiah 29:11 - 13 (NKJV) 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
ILL: This was God’s word for His people Israel but it applies to the lives of individuals
A. Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5 - 10 (NKJV) 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 7But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”
B. Isaiah
Isaiah 49:1 (NKJV) 1 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
C. The Apostle Paul
Galatians 1:15 - 17 (NKJV) 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
D. God’s will for you is good
Romans 12:1 - 2 (NKJV) 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
II. God’s will is first and foremost that you have a relationship through Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 2:2 - 7 (NKJV) 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth £in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
ILL The first steep in finding God’s Will for your life is asking Jesus into it!
III. The next steep is becoming a disciple of Jesus
Luke 9:23 - 25 (NKJV) 23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross £daily, and follow Me. 24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
IV. God’s Will has to agree with His Word
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
V. Ask God for wisdom
James 1:5 - 8 (KJV) 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
VI. Trust the Holy Spirit
John 16:13 - 15 (KJV) 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
VII. Seek the advice of godly men and women who God has placed in your life.
Proverbs 12:5 (KJV) 5The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
ILL: Watch who you are getting advice from! I do not want advice about my marriage from someone who has been divorced two or three times. I do not want advice about money from a person who has none! I do not want advice about ministry except from someone who has a long a lasting ministry.
Proverbs 15:22 (KJV) 22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
ILL: When I received my call to ministry I wanted to take a short cut and not go to college but my pastor, Corbin Cooper, said “no!” He explained that I would be limiting God’s call on my life. “When I wanted to accept a church while in college, Dr. Norfleet Gardner, said “no!” The man who took that church was out of the ministry within a year. When I wanted to accept a call to Fayetteville NC Dr. Millard Brown said “no!” I came to Greensboro instead and God moved me to start Ministries of His Glory through which the Gospel is carried to the world. When I wanted to resign and retire, Dr. Charles Snow said “No!” and I went on to experience the greatest revival in my life.
VIII. When two ways come - which gives “peace?”
Isaiah 32:17 - 19 (KJV) 17And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
Ill: Peace is God’ traffic officer.
IX. Trust that God will accomplish His will in your life
Proverbs 3:5 - 6 (KJV) 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV) 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
ILL: The apostle Paul
Acts 1:7 - 8 (NKJV) 7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 16:6 - 15 (NKJV) 6Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the £Spirit did not permit them. 8So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
ILL(con) Paul was obeying Christ but the Holy Spirit would not let him preach the Gospel in Asia? Paul goes from one town to another until he is just across from Macedonia and then he receives the word to go. If Paul had been successful in Asia he would never have come to Rome, and Europe from which the Gospel has gone to the world.
Just because the circumstances are right does not mean it’s the right thing to do!
X. God has given us certain gifts and abilities to use in His service – do not attempt to go beyond His gifting and calling.
ILL: Have you seen the TV Show “American Idol” and laughed at those who have no talent to sing who are trying to win? If you have no talent for it – God is probably not calling you to minister in that area!
Romans 12:6 - 8 (NKJV) 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ephesians 4:11 - 13 (NKJV) 11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
ILL: When I tried to be an evangelist – well I was like my friend Richard Moore, Richard said he advertised a “Miracle Service” the only problem was – there were no miracles! I can guarantee that God will never call me to be a praise leader!
God has already given you abilities and gifts to make you able to fulfill His Will!
Conclusion: What I have been giving you are like buoys leading to a harbor.
ILL: Once I was navigating a boat in the Chesapeake and got into trouble. I had bypassed a buoy and was out of the shipping channel. Get these buoys lined up and you will not miss God’s purpose for your life!
1. Relationship
2. Discipleship
3. God’s Word
4. God’s Wisdom
5. The Holy Spirit’s inner witness
6. Advice of Godly men and women
7. Peace
8. Trust
9. A gift or ability
Sermon #665
Finding God’s Will for your life
Introduction: I am continuing teaching on requests made from the congregation. Although this subject was not in the top two (marriage and finances) requested, it is probably the greatest need in the life of a Christian.
I. You were created for a purpose
Jeremiah 29:11 - 13 (NKJV) 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
ILL: This was God’s word for His people Israel but it applies to the lives of individuals
A. Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5 - 10 (NKJV) 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 7But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”
B. Isaiah
Isaiah 49:1 (NKJV) 1 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
C. The Apostle Paul
Galatians 1:15 - 17 (NKJV) 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
D. God’s will for you is good
Romans 12:1 - 2 (NKJV) 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
II. God’s will is first and foremost that you have a relationship through Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 2:2 - 7 (NKJV) 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth £in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
ILL The first steep in finding God’s Will for your life is asking Jesus into it!
III. The next steep is becoming a disciple of Jesus
Luke 9:23 - 25 (NKJV) 23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross £daily, and follow Me. 24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
IV. God’s Will has to agree with His Word
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
V. Ask God for wisdom
James 1:5 - 8 (KJV) 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
VI. Trust the Holy Spirit
John 16:13 - 15 (KJV) 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
VII. Seek the advice of godly men and women who God has placed in your life.
Proverbs 12:5 (KJV) 5The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
ILL: Watch who you are getting advice from! I do not want advice about my marriage from someone who has been divorced two or three times. I do not want advice about money from a person who has none! I do not want advice about ministry except from someone who has a long a lasting ministry.
Proverbs 15:22 (KJV) 22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
ILL: When I received my call to ministry I wanted to take a short cut and not go to college but my pastor, Corbin Cooper, said “no!” He explained that I would be limiting God’s call on my life. “When I wanted to accept a church while in college, Dr. Norfleet Gardner, said “no!” The man who took that church was out of the ministry within a year. When I wanted to accept a call to Fayetteville NC Dr. Millard Brown said “no!” I came to Greensboro instead and God moved me to start Ministries of His Glory through which the Gospel is carried to the world. When I wanted to resign and retire, Dr. Charles Snow said “No!” and I went on to experience the greatest revival in my life.
VIII. When two ways come - which gives “peace?”
Isaiah 32:17 - 19 (KJV) 17And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
Ill: Peace is God’ traffic officer.
IX. Trust that God will accomplish His will in your life
Proverbs 3:5 - 6 (KJV) 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV) 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
ILL: The apostle Paul
Acts 1:7 - 8 (NKJV) 7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 16:6 - 15 (NKJV) 6Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the £Spirit did not permit them. 8So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
ILL(con) Paul was obeying Christ but the Holy Spirit would not let him preach the Gospel in Asia? Paul goes from one town to another until he is just across from Macedonia and then he receives the word to go. If Paul had been successful in Asia he would never have come to Rome, and Europe from which the Gospel has gone to the world.
Just because the circumstances are right does not mean it’s the right thing to do!
X. God has given us certain gifts and abilities to use in His service – do not attempt to go beyond His gifting and calling.
ILL: Have you seen the TV Show “American Idol” and laughed at those who have no talent to sing who are trying to win? If you have no talent for it – God is probably not calling you to minister in that area!
Romans 12:6 - 8 (NKJV) 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ephesians 4:11 - 13 (NKJV) 11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
ILL: When I tried to be an evangelist – well I was like my friend Richard Moore, Richard said he advertised a “Miracle Service” the only problem was – there were no miracles! I can guarantee that God will never call me to be a praise leader!
God has already given you abilities and gifts to make you able to fulfill His Will!
Conclusion: What I have been giving you are like buoys leading to a harbor.
ILL: Once I was navigating a boat in the Chesapeake and got into trouble. I had bypassed a buoy and was out of the shipping channel. Get these buoys lined up and you will not miss God’s purpose for your life!
1. Relationship
2. Discipleship
3. God’s Word
4. God’s Wisdom
5. The Holy Spirit’s inner witness
6. Advice of Godly men and women
7. Peace
8. Trust
9. A gift or ability
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
PM Study of Daniel #5
Daniel #5
C. Paul Willis
The Stone not made with hands
Daniel 2:45 - 49 (NKJV) 45Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
I. The Stone was not the Church
A. Pentecost (the birth of the Church) came before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD while the Roman Empire was still in existence.
B. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come” so the Kingdom of God has not yet been fully realized.
C. The Empire (Kingdom System) represented by the colossus did not crumble with the formation of the Church
D. The Church was a “mystery” not seen by Daniel and the Prophets
Romans 11:25 (NKJV) 25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Ephesians 1:7 - 12 (NKJV) 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, £both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 5:32 (NKJV) 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Colossians 1:24 - 28 (NKJV) 24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: £which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
E. The Rapture of the Church was a “mystery” not seen by Daniel and the Prophets
1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 18 (NKJV) 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
II. The Stone cannot fall until the 10 Nation Gentile confederation is formed
A. Since the mixtue of iron and clay is an unnatural one it would seem to suggest that the federation is not brought about by force – this is in harmony with Rev 17:13
13These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
B. Since the stone did not fall with the birth, life, death, or resurrection – nor did it fall at Pentecost – it must relate to the second coming of Christ!
1. The Spiritualized view
The second coming is that “His second coming is fulfilled by His spiritual presence with His people”
This view denies the literal, bodily, personal, return of Christ to earth
2. The Postmillennial view
Through the preaching of the gospel the whole world will be Christianized and brought into submission to the gospel before the return of Christ.
3. The Premillennial view
Christ will return to earth, literally and bodily, before the millennial age begins and that, by His presence a kingdom will be instituted over which He will reign. This Kingdom is the “STONE” of Daniel at it will destroy all of the Gentile kingdoms
(Doctrines as to when the rapture, tribulation, battle of Armageddon, and the order of these events are beyond this dream – so we will leave them for other studies and other prophecies in the book of Daniel!)
II. Daniels promotion
A. Daniel wanted God to receive the glory
B. Daniel is placed in the “gate” – Authority
C. Daniel asked that his three friends share in his promotion
Conclusion: We will meet the same kingdoms in chapter 7- God sees them as wild beasts – He is not impressed with Gold, Silver or Brass – He sees the human heart!
C. Paul Willis
The Stone not made with hands
Daniel 2:45 - 49 (NKJV) 45Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
I. The Stone was not the Church
A. Pentecost (the birth of the Church) came before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD while the Roman Empire was still in existence.
B. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come” so the Kingdom of God has not yet been fully realized.
C. The Empire (Kingdom System) represented by the colossus did not crumble with the formation of the Church
D. The Church was a “mystery” not seen by Daniel and the Prophets
Romans 11:25 (NKJV) 25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Ephesians 1:7 - 12 (NKJV) 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, £both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 5:32 (NKJV) 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Colossians 1:24 - 28 (NKJV) 24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: £which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
E. The Rapture of the Church was a “mystery” not seen by Daniel and the Prophets
1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 18 (NKJV) 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
II. The Stone cannot fall until the 10 Nation Gentile confederation is formed
A. Since the mixtue of iron and clay is an unnatural one it would seem to suggest that the federation is not brought about by force – this is in harmony with Rev 17:13
13These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
B. Since the stone did not fall with the birth, life, death, or resurrection – nor did it fall at Pentecost – it must relate to the second coming of Christ!
1. The Spiritualized view
The second coming is that “His second coming is fulfilled by His spiritual presence with His people”
This view denies the literal, bodily, personal, return of Christ to earth
2. The Postmillennial view
Through the preaching of the gospel the whole world will be Christianized and brought into submission to the gospel before the return of Christ.
3. The Premillennial view
Christ will return to earth, literally and bodily, before the millennial age begins and that, by His presence a kingdom will be instituted over which He will reign. This Kingdom is the “STONE” of Daniel at it will destroy all of the Gentile kingdoms
(Doctrines as to when the rapture, tribulation, battle of Armageddon, and the order of these events are beyond this dream – so we will leave them for other studies and other prophecies in the book of Daniel!)
II. Daniels promotion
A. Daniel wanted God to receive the glory
B. Daniel is placed in the “gate” – Authority
C. Daniel asked that his three friends share in his promotion
Conclusion: We will meet the same kingdoms in chapter 7- God sees them as wild beasts – He is not impressed with Gold, Silver or Brass – He sees the human heart!
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