Lesson 2
Source: Daniel 2; Philippians 1:6
Have you ever faced a situation, problem or decision that
seemed impossible? Think about it for a minute – seriously, take a moment right
now and remember it. I’ll wait.
…
Okay, now that you remember that time, or maybe you are in
the midst of it right now, what thoughts consumed your mind? Maybe something
like:
- · I can’t believe this is happening to me
- · I am stuck, there is no way out
- · Where’s the exit, I just want to get away (Southwest has $79 tickets…)
- · I can’t do it, it is too much to ask
I don’t know what your situation was or is. I don’t know the
depths of pain you are facing, or the struggles you had to overcome. I know my
own story and being in places where I felt all of these and more. I also know
that every situation, problem or decision we face is an opportunity to see the
faithfulness and glory of God. In fact, He is the God of the Impossible.
The Big Problem
What if you got a phone call from the President of the
United States saying, “I had a dream last night and I want you to tell me what
it means. But first, you have to tell me my dream and then give me the meaning
of it. If you can’t then you, your family and your friends will all lose your
life!”
What would you do?
I think my first thought would be, “well Canada is looking
pretty good right now!” Or, “WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!” (read that last part in
your most dramatic voice)
As crazy as this sounds, this is exactly the situation that
Daniel finds himself and his friends in. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream
and wanted to know what it means. Now our good old friend Neb had a serious
anger issue and it often lead to, “Off with his head!” Sort of like the Queen
of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.
Now that is not a great attribute of a king, but it is
pretty motivating to do what the king wants. But this time, the king asked for
the impossible. He realized that his advisors often deceived him and told him
what he “wanted” to hear. They were “yes” men.
But he wanted to the truth. They said they were magicians
and wise men, then they should be able to tell him his dream and what it means.
But that is not something we humans were designed to do. We don’t know each other’s
dreams. And the wisemen didn’t either. This lead to a death sentence for all
the king’s advisors, and yes that meant Daniel, Hananiaha, Mishael and Azariah
too.
The Nonconformist
Response: Prayer
Now Daniel didn’t panic like the rest of the wisemen. Last
week we learned a lot about Daniel’s Love for God, Care for others and his
desire to Communicate his faith. Daniel’s love for God led him to take a stand
for God’s law. Daniel chose his friends wisely and together they obeyed God
over the king. Their faithfulness communicated God’s glory before the courts
and they were promoted to wisemen.
I’m sure that their present circumstance would have caused
them to wish they were back in Judah instead of facing Neb’s wrath. But Daniel
had a quiet confidence about him. He trusted in His God and sought some more
time so he could show the king the interpretation.
In face of the impossible, Daniel didn’t run away from it,
he ran toward it. He took the king’s request upon himself and went back to his
friends and had a prayer meeting.
We are quick to look to our checking accounts, to Google, or
even look up the latest strategies on Pinterest, but how slow are we to go to
prayer? A Nonconformist does things differently, and prayer is the starting
point for him.
Prayer leads to
Praise
As the four young men prayed into the night, God answered
and revealed the dream and interpretation to Daniel. Upon receiving an answer,
Daniel didn’t run directly to the king. He paused to praise God for answered
prayer.
His prayer of praise is recorded for us and it is a prayer
that brings me so much confidence in my God, even today over 2,500 years later.
It’s a prayer that shows that God is in control of everything, from Climate
Change to Government Changes. God is in control.
Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name
of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and
seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and
knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he
knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of
my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for 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 matter.” Daniel 2:20-23
Overcoming the Trial
Daniel took the answer that God gave him, went to king Neb
and reported to him.
“No wise men,
enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the
king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries… Daniel
2:27-28
Daniel proceeded to tell him the dream and then a detail
description of the meaning of the dream. It was a dream about the coming
kingdoms and God’s faithfulness to set up His own Kingdom that will never
perish.
Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king with great power, was humbled
by the interpretation.
The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of
mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Daniel 2:47
Now this isn’t believed to be a conversion experience for
Neb, but WOW what an awesome testimony that Daniel’s nonconformist ways
provoked praise from a pagan king’s mouth!
We see an uncommon confidence in Daniel, a lived-out faith
that is best described by Paul hundreds of years later in the book of
Philippians.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
Do you see the confidence in Daniel? He is one who knew his
God, who understood his God was with him, and that his God was able to overcome
anything in this life.
Do you want that kind of confidence? Are you willing to be a
nonconformist and trust God in face of the impossible?
God of the Impossible
in Your Life
Now back to your story. I’m sure you are not facing Daniel’s
situation in your life, but you may be facing something too big for you. God is
powerful enough to overcome even the most difficult of situations.
We were all born dead in our trespasses and sins. We all
deserved death and hell. But God intervened and made a way of salvation in
Jesus Christ. He performed the impossible for us. If He was willing to leave
heaven, enter our world, live a perfect life, go to cross to shed His blood for
our sins, be buried and rise again on the third day so that you could find
forgiveness and reconciliation with Him, don’t you think this same God is willing
to fulfill His promise to continue this work in you?
You might be facing the end of a relationship, or know you
need to end it. You might be facing bullies at school or in the office. You
might have bills too big for you right now. You might have to face the drama
director because the script compromises your Christian values. You might have
to tell your boss you won’t lie to make the sale. You might be facing an
addiction that is beating you down. You might be facing…
In each of those, they feel impossible. Are you willing to
trust Christ in your struggle? Are you willing to be a Nonconformist?
God is the God of the Impossible. Daniel is just one story
in the Bible of God’s faithfulness to overcome. Daniel would have known the
stories of David and Goliath, of the call of Samuel, of Isaiah’s call and of
Ezekiel’s prophecy. These stories would have encouraged him to be faithful. They
are there for our encouragement as well. Listen to this song as it alludes to all of these stories and more and be encouraged!
EVERFOUND - God of the Impossible from Dillon C. Novak on Vimeo.
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