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Now, here's today's message from Pastor Skip. The king has believed in his pantheon of deities and his worldview of the Chaldeans and the magicians and the astrologers up to this point. I think that his faith in all of that is being rattled because They can't do anything for them. And it gets him thinking about the future because, as we'll see next time we're together, next week. The dream is about future world kingdoms, and Nebuchadnezzar now starts thinking about the future of his kingdom and the future of the world after his kingdom.
Which is a good thing. Because a lot of people don't think much about the future. They only think about the present. In fact, for most people, it's all about immediate gratification. What's in it for me right now?
Now there's an old scorn that Is often directed to Christians, saying, Oh, you're so heavenly-minded, you're no earthly good.
Well, it's also possible to be so. earthly minded, you're really not much good Either for heavenly or earthly purposes, you need to be thinking about what happens after you die. You need to be thinking about the future. Because the future comes whether you like it or not. or not.
Jesus in the New Testament told of a very wealthy man who had a lot of goods and he stored them up and He didn't know what to do with it all. And one night, He died. And the LORD said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you. Yeah, it's foolish. To only think about the now and not think about the future, Nebuchadnezzar is now.
His attention has been gotten by the Lord. His faith is being rattled. And that's a good thing. Many years ago in Texas, There was a preacher by the name of George Truitt.
Now George Truitt is known in Baptist circles. He was the pastor of First Baptist in Dallas up until the 1940s, and he knew many wealthy oilmen when the oil business was just really kicking off down in Texas. He was invited over for dinner one night into this. Wealthy oil barons' home, and he went up on the upper level of the house, which was a big balcony overlooking fields that he owned. And the oil Tycoon.
taking him outside, said to Pastor Truitt, I came to this country. Without a penny.
Now Everything you see in that direction? That direction? That direction And that direction I own. I own everything you see in all of these directions. George Shrewett put his hand on the man's shoulder and says, How much do you own in that direction?
You've only thought of the temporary. You've been very successful. but you haven't planned very well. Have you thought about your future?
So, this whole incidence of failure for the Chaldeans rattles the faith. of the cane. Second thing it serves to do is it reveals the fraud of the Chaldeans. They can't really produce here. Dreams and omens were supposed to be their forte.
They can't deliver the goods.
So they're saying, look, King, tell us what. The dream is, and then we'll make something up. That's really what they meant. We can figure this out. Nebuchadnezzar goes, No, I want you to actually tell me what I dreamt because then I know that you'll be able to tell me the interpretation.
If you're in touch with the gods, Cough it up. They couldn't produce anything. The best they could do is some generic fortune cookie thing. It will rain somewhere today. You will attain wisdom.
Just generic slop. I remember back to the days when I was experimenting with occultic practices. A thought that occurred to me as I was getting involved in some of these practices. I thought I know I'm dabbling in things I shouldn't be dealing with. But there's power here.
And then I thought, if there's this much power. on the wrong side. What kind of power is there on the right side? If I could get in touch with that, with him, with truth. That could be life-changing.
So It rattles the faith of the king. It reveals the fraud of the Chaldeans. And, even more than that, it rallies the fervor of these captives, Daniel and his buddies. This is a set up so Daniel can show them up. To show them, no, there's not many gods.
No, it's not like pick your belief because we all Get to the same place because all roads lead to God, He's going to show them there's only one God. And that God, the God, has revealed these things to me. And king, I'm here to reveal them to you.
So the king can't sleep well. The Chaldeans can't see well. And now the camera shifts. To the prayer room of Daniel and his buddies. Here the theme is the captives can't sit well.
They're not They're not the kind to just sit back and watch this happen. Oh, they get involved, they insert themselves. Verse 14, Daniel 2. Then, watch this, with counsel and wisdom. Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard.
who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He answered and said to Arioch, the king's captain. Why is the decree from the king so urgent? Then Ariok made the decision known to Daniel.
So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time that he might tell the king the interpretation. And then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and his companions. that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then The secret? was revealed to to Daniel.
In a night vision.
So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. A dream happens when you're asleep, a vision happens when you're awake. Daniel had been praying, or was at this moment praying, And it was revealed in a night vision.
So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. For wisdom and might are his, and his And he changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness. And light dwells with him. I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers. You have given me wisdom and might.
And have now made known to me. What we asked of you for you have made known to us The King's Demand What's immediately striking, first of all, is that Daniel. doesn't panic.
Okay, a decree has been signed to take the life of everyone who fits the job description that Daniel and his buddies are in. because, remember, he had been trained for three years with all that wisdom of Babylon.
So there's a death threat out. Hi, I'm Ariok. I've come to kill you. Daniel doesn't panic, but he answers with. Wisdom?
And poise. and says, okay, now tell me again, what's the big deal here? Most people, in hearing this, would try to figure out a way to run and get out the back door. You may have heard the story about the pilot, who was in the air, in mid flight, and three of his four engines conked out. And suddenly the cockpit door opens, and there stands the pilot with a parachute saying to everybody on board, don't worry, I'm going for help.
In other words, I'm bailing out. See you later. You would think When your neck is on the line, that you would be tempted to do that, but not so. Daniel answers with wisdom, And with poise takes a different tact Proverbs 15 says, a soft answer turns away wrath.
Now just. Push the pause button. What a contrast between the king And the captives Here's the king. A sleepless, concerned, King. Here's a serene Calm.
captive. Trusting in the Lord. What a contrast. There's a great old poem that was written probably 100 years ago. And I've always loved it.
It goes like this. Said the robin to the sparrow, I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so. Said the sparrow to the robin, Friend, I think that it must be. They have no heavenly father such as cares for you and me. Boy, life makes a big difference when you know the one who gave you life, when you walk with the Creator.
You can step into a situation like this and step up, as Daniel does here, steps up. and make a difference.
Now, how do these Four individuals. Daniel and his three buddies, how do they step up?
Well, first of all, they step up by putting their faith On the line. Verse 16 says, Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time that he might tell the king. The interpretation.
So, this is how it works. Ariat comes and says, Okay, you're a dead man. I'm going to kill you and everybody else. Dan just says, ho, ho, ho, wa, wait, wait, wait. Let me have a private audience with the king.
That I might Tell him what his dream is and the interpretation.
Now, knowing the temperament of this king, that could mean Daniel's neck. He could die because of it. But you know what? That's the whole point. If Daniel does nothing, he'll what?
He'll die anyway.
So, what does he have to lose? I'm going to die if I say nothing. And if I fail, I'm going to die. Either way, I'm going to die. But the Lord may give me, may give me the dream and the interpretation.
I'm going to go for it. I'm going to step up. and talk to this guy. And so he goes in and he promises the king to do what no man has been able to do in his court up to this point, and that is tell him the dream and the interpretation. He's wrong, he'll die.
If he does nothing, he'll die either way. This is Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we return to Skiff's teaching, Do you ever feel stuck when it comes to studying the Bible? Pastor Skiff's book, How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It, shows you how to go from feeling intimidated by scripture. to engaging it with joy and confidence.
This helpful book is yours when you give $50 or more to help keep this Bible teaching ministry going strong around the world. Request your copy of How to Study the Bible and enjoy it today. At connectwithskift.com/slash offer or call 800-922-1888. Let's return now to today's message. Reminds me of a great story in your Bibles.
2 Kings chapter 7. It says there's a famine in the whole area of Samaria, the Samaria area. And that was not only a county, but it was a city, the city of Samaria. There's a famine, people were starving to death. And there's a story of four lepers who are at the gate of Samaria.
And these four lepers are just kind of looking at each other one day, and one of them says, Why do we sit here until we die? If we go into the city, We'll die. If we stay here, We'll die. But if we surrender to the Syrians, they may kill us, we may die. But they may not.
We could live. If we do nothing, we'll die.
So let's risk our lives because it could be that we won't die. And that's exactly what happened. They were spared, but they took that dare. They took that risk.
So here's Daniel. He activated his faith in God because he had already abandoned his life. to God. What does he have to lose? He's in God's everlasting arms.
Here's God saying, Daniel, step up, step out, jump. He goes. Done. I've abandoned my life to God. I will now activate my faith in God.
See, it's one thing to say God Can do it. It's another thing to say, God. We'll do it. And if he doesn't do it, I'm dead. Boy, that's quite a step.
You know that that actually happened not only here, But in more recent history, back in the 1800s, there was a missionary to the islands of Fiji named James Calvert. He was from Britain, And he got on a vessel a ship with his family. And he was taken to the Fiji Islands, which at that time were filled with cannibals. And as they came to the shores, The captain warned James Calvert: Don't go aboard, don't do this, spare the lives. of your family.
and those with you. And yourself these are savages you're gonna die, said the captain. James Calvert, in exhibiting his commitment to Christ, said, You don't understand. We died. before we got here.
We've died. We died before we came here. We've already surrendered our life to the point of death to our Lord. What do we have to lose? One person said it this way faith Is putting all of your eggs in God's basket and then counting your blessings.
before they hatch. That's what I see Daniel doing. He steps up. puts his faith on the line. Go tell the king I'll tell him the dream and the interpretation.
The second way he steps up is they stepped up By putting their faith In the Lord. Yeah, they put their faith on the line. They made the commitment before man, but now they place their faith in the Lord in this prayer meeting. In verse 17, then Daniel went to his house and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, his companions. I'm sure it was a very lively discussion.
You said what? To the king? Yeah, I told them that we're going to come up with the dream and the interpretation. Let's pray now. I'm sure they wanted all of the details because their necks are on the line as well.
So they had one incredible prayer meeting. What a great picture. four young men around twenty years of age praying in pagan Babylon. And what I love Is that prayer is their first resort, not their last resort? It's not like, quick, let's find some of the Magi.
Maybe they have some. Books on dreams and stuff. Their first resort was prayer.
So often that's our last resort. We say things like, Well, I've tried everything else, and there's nothing left to do except. Pray.
Well, that's quite a statement. You should start there. That's my first resort. Let's take this before the Lord and see what he's going to say. Let's spend some time together.
Let's step up. Our prayer lives. And talk to the Lord about this.
Now Your prayer life. is directly proportional to three things. Number one. Your perception of prayer. Number two, Your perception of God, and number three, your perception of the problem.
Let me explain. Your prayer life. is directly proportional to those three things. Number one, your perception of prayer. A lot of people see prayer as gibberish.
You're just talking out loud. That's all you're doing. You're just talking into the air. You're really just talking your confusion out loud to yourself. That's all prayer is to a lot of people.
It's not real, it's just people talking into the air. Or Yeah, prayer. That's the stuff you say when you're a kid. You memorize.
Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord, my soul, to keep. Or bless us, O Lord, in these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen. You memorize that stuff.
and ye say em at certain times.
So, yeah, prayer. It's for preachers and for kids. It's not what the Bible says. James says the fervent. That means red hot.
The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much, or gets the job done.
So your prayer life is directly proportional to your view, your perception, of prayer what it is. Second, It's directly proportional. to your perception of God. A lot of people are reticent to pray. They hesitate because they think, Well Is God in a good mood or a bad mood?
Does God really love me, like some people say, or maybe he just sort of tolerates me and I've ticked him off lately, so he's not going to answer this prayer? You know, we approach God sort of like we used to approach our dad. Is he in a good mood or a bad mood tonight? Did he win at the golf game or did he lose? Was it a good day at the office or a bad day at the office?
So their perception of who God is. will alter how they approach that God. What I want you to notice is that they, Daniel and his buddies, prayed according to what they knew God to be. Their perception of God is given to us in the text. For example, in verse 21, they recognize God is in total control, absolute control.
For they say He's the one that changes times and seasons, removes kings and sets up kings. That's their perception of God. He's in total control. Also, it reveals that they believe their perception is that God is interested in guiding people. For in verse 21, the second half, God gives wisdom to the wise and understanding.
to those who have knowledge. And then at the end of their little praise session, thank you, Lord, that you've given me wisdom. You've answered our prayer.
So, God's in total control. God's interested in guiding. The third thing they know about God, He's in tune with everything. Verse twenty two. He reveals The deep and secret things He knows what's in the dark.
And light is with him. Your perception of prayer, your perception of God, and third, your perception of the problem will determine. What you pray, if you pray. And how often do you pray? Your perception of the problem.
Have you noticed? That when you have a problem, When you have a trial, When your life is hurting, When things are bad, that you pray differently. You pray fervently. The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. People pray more and more intensely when life is harder than when life is easier.
No wonder, then, God allows a sufficient number of heartaches and trials to come our way. Because he knows we need him, we don't, until life gets really hard.
So I dare you. I dare you to step up. I dare you to put your faith on the line, and I dare you to place your faith in the Lord. I dare you to step up and to talk to men about God. And to talk to God.
about men. That's the dare. Talk to men about God. That's evangelism. Talk.
to God about men That's intercession. That's the challenge here. Step up to that. You could say, yeah, but I'm so afraid of people. I don't know what they're going to think about me, and I just don't like to engage in these kinds of conversations.
They make me feel uncomfortable. That's why you begin. with getting alone with God. Because here's the secret. Never forget this.
If you can bow before God, you can stand before men. Make sure that you're bowing before him, that you're on your knees before him, and from the strength you derive from that, like Daniel and his buddies, you step up to that diving board of crisis and you step out. Here goes, God. might get fired because of it. might lose this relationship because of it.
Bad things might happen. But I've knelt before you.
Now I'm going to stand before people. Let me tell you about a creative way that A high school class. decided to do something like this. There were 93 in this graduating class. and before the graduation ceremony the Principal, vice principals, and heads of the school got the class together and prepped them on the protocol.
for the graduation ceremony. There had been a recent court ruling And the principal, vice principal, wanted them to know what that ruling was. Absolutely, no blessings can be said, absolutely, no prayers can be said, this is a public school setting, this class can't. Have any prayers? Do you understand?
Yes, we understand.
So the ceremony goes on. Speech after speech, predictable speech. You know, have a good life, work hard. Tie your shoes, brush your teeth, all the stuff you hear at high school graduations. But the last speech Was the most impressive, the shortest, the most impressive, and one that brought the standing ovation.
This student goes up to the microphone. Stands there. After a strategic pause, Gives his speech, which was one loud, amazing sneeze. And when he sneezed, The 92 other students stood to their feet and shouted out in unison, God bless you! And all the parents and all the people in the audience gave a standing ovation.
That these students found a way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without. A court's approval. God bless you. in this graduation. Ask God for Creative ways to talk to men about God.
And then go to your knees and talk to God about men. Insert yourself into these situations. Believing that the Lord will use you as a change agent to make your world different. Be bold. We have chalkboards at all of the campuses where people will write in.
I dare to, not I dare you, but I dare to, that is this week or this series to do this. One person wrote as I walked by on one of the chalkboards in big bold printing, I dare. to be bold. And it was big printing, bold face, exclamation point, and I thought. I love it.
And I bet God does too. We're so glad you joined us today for Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we go, don't miss this chance to request How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It, Pastor Skip's practical guide to getting more out of every page of Scripture. It's our thanks for your generous gift of $50 or more to help share God's Word through Connect with Skip. Call 800-922-1888.
or visit connectwithgift.com slash offer. And don't forget to grab your free download of how to approach studying the Bible when you sign up for Skip's weekly devotionals. Tune in next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word here on Connect with Skip Heitzigs. Make a connection. Make a connection at the foot of the cross sand.
Cast your burdens on his wood. Make a connection. Connection. Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
