Road to Resurrection: Cleansing the Temple Matthew 21:12-19

 We see through scripture the person of Jesus who God is and his heart.

Matthew 21:12-14 (ESV) "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers.' And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them."

Why is Jesus so upset?

Jesus got upset sometimes and he was always right to! He drove out both those who sold and bought. Why was he mad at those that bought? Originally the Israelites were supposed to take an animal to sacrifice from their own flock. If they didn't have a flock to choose from, then they could purchase an animal to sacrifice. During the Passover they were supposed to choose a spotless lamb and bring it into their home for 4 days before the sacrificed the animal at the temple.  

Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (ESV) "But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you."

Sacrifice is a heart check

Isaiah 1:4 & 13-14 (ESV) "Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged." "Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations-I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them."

There have always been "once a year believers" People weren't living a righteous life. They came once a year made atonement/sacrifice and believed they were "covered" for another year. What about us? Are we "once a year believers"? You cannot cover a multitude of sins by throwing a few more dollars in the plate or a yearly sacrifice. The condition of your heart matters.

Romans 12:1 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

The people selling (robbers/bandits/armed thief forcibly taking money)

God hates dishonest gain 

Proverbs 11:1 (ESV) "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight."

Those selling in the temple would cheat the pilgrims by exchanging their money for an unfair exchange rate so they could pay their temple tax and purchase animals for sacrifice. They would also charge more for the animals than necessary.

God REALLY hates people taking advantage of those seeking him

In Matthew 23 Jesus quotes form Jeremiah 7

Matthew 23:13 & 15 (ESV) "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves."

The people were promised blessings for giving more. Use me to draw people to God.

James 3:1 (ESV) "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."

We pray for our teachers, that they never be hot and cold. We as teachers need to draw people to Jesus, not push them away.

Location, Location, Location 

Jesus was upset with "where" the people were set up to sell the sacrifices and exchange money. They were set up in the "Court of Gentiles". This was the place where "non-Jews" could come to seek God and worship him. It was a sacred place and it became a stockyard and filled with "used car salesmen" It should been a place of prayer. The people coming and going in this location were watching and waiting for Messiah. The Jewish leadership, Pharisees etc. were supposed to be a light, but they failed and were hated.

Be a light to the world 

We are supposed to be a light.

Psalm 67:1-3 (ESV) "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"

In the book of Mark we see that Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7 (ESV) "these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my alter; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

The Jewish leadership was allowing the temple to be profaned and hindered people from drawing near to God. 

Matthew 21:15 (ESV) "But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' they were indignant, "

Hosanna means "save/deliver us". The children were crying out "save us" Jesus. The people knew he was Messiah. They called him "Son of David." 

1 Kings 9:5 (ESV) "then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'

The Scribes, Pharisees and Chief Priests knew that the people were close to "worshipping Jesus" and they did not like this.

Matthew 21:16 (ESV) "and they said to him, 'Do you hear what these are saying' and Jesus said to them, 'Yes have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praises?'"

Psalm 8:1-2 (ESV) "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."

YHWH is being praised in vs. 1.

Matthew 21:17-19 (ESV) "And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it again!' And the fig tree withered at once."

Jesus was giving an object lesson. He is illustrating through the fig tree what was happening in Jerusalem. He was probably drawing from Jeremiah 8:13 (ESV) "When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them." In this scripture Judah is the fig tree. It was about March when this took place. The tree should have had small edible green buds (sweet tasting), in April large green leaves would grow and then also figs. Jesus expected to find something to eat, but there was no fruit. It had all the appearances of bearing fruit, but it was not. This is just like the temple, it was ornate, beautiful. It had the appearance of grandeur and holiness, but it was not bearing fruit. What was happening on the inside was not pleasing to God.

Are you bearing fruit.

John 15:5-6 (ESV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."

vs 6 the branches that don't wither, gathered and thrown into the fire.

We should be growing in our faith and producing fruit.

There were 2 cleansing of the temple. The first one was at the beginning of his ministry and this one at the end. Some believe that by "cleansing the temple" Jesus was doing his "priestly duties" found in Leviticus 14. 

We need to examine our own hearts we can be found just like these. Where are you wanting? Are you withering? Repent! Where am I hurting the cause? Lord let me be a light! Let me always offer the right sacrifice. I want to be someone who leads others to God, not push them away.

Closing Scripture:

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV) "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

Road to the Resurrection: The Triumphal Entry - 3-8-26

 Leading up to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus performed his last recorded big miracle, raising Lazarus from the dead. In scripture you can see where Jesus, the prodigal prophets, and later the apostles raise people from the dead. The amazing thing about Lazarus being raised is that he had been dead for 4 days. The Jewish idea at the time was that when a person dies their spirit would "hover" around their bodies for about 3 days. After that they would move on to the after life. So Lazarus was "dead dead". His sister's did not want the stone rolled away because he would have stunk. It excited the people. At this time the people of Judea were looking for the Messiah, and Jesus was doing all of these miraculous things. He was raising people from the dead, restoring sight to the blind, which was a sign of Messiah. The chief priests and Pharisees did not like that and called a meeting where they plotted to kill Jesus (John 11).

John 11:48 (ESV) "If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

In addition they planned to kill Lazarus as well, because his testimony was so powerful.

John 12:10 (ESV) So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well."

If someone hates Jesus...they should probably hate you too.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of the Lord lives inside of you, you ought to look a whole lot like Jesus, you ought to talk like Jesus, you ought to walk so close to him that you smell like Jesus. Our goal can not be to please the world. We should not cause unnecessary offense, we should have a good reputation with outsiders, but our goal is never to please the lost. 

John 15:18-19 (ESV) "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you, If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

The Triumphal entry of Jesus...the coronation of Jesus 

This is their King that is coming....riding on a donkey colt...humble

Different from modern day coronation of King Charles III or even our inauguration of the US president. The first inauguration of the first US president, George Washington, was a 2 week party. Washington began a 2 week journey from his home in Mount Vernon on April 16, 1789. He traveled through Alexandria, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia and Trenton. In each town he was greeted with massive crowds, parades, and symbolic tributes, including a floral arch in Trenton and a child placing a laurel crown on his head in Philadelphia. On April 23rd Washington arrived at Elizabeth Town, NJ and crossed the Hudson River by a ceremonial barge rowed by 13 oarsmen, symbolizing the 13 original colonies. He was met by thousands of cheering New Yorkers, a Spanish ship firing a 13 gun salute and the ringing of church bells. It was a huge deal...in contrast that to Jesus who came in on a donkey, the greatest king who ever lived was the most humble of all. As Jesus was coming into Jerusalem there were large crowds amassing because it was close to Passover. 

Luke 19:28-35 (ESV) "And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, 'Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this: 'The Lord has need of it.' So those who were sent went away and found it just as he has told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, 'Why are you untying the colt?' And they said, 'The Lord has need of it.' And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it."

The 2 disciples go and find a colt that had never been ridden on before. This was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humbled and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 500 years before Jesus. 

God chooses and uses the humble and willing

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV) "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Christ Jesus is our ultimate example of humility. Christ Jesus being perfect, without sin. Christ Jesus was human and fully divine, he was God.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV) "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Christ demonstrated this perfectly. God used humble people throughout time to accomplish great things. King David started out as a shepherd boy. God used Gideon, the smallest and weakest of the people to fight the Midianites and lead the people of Israel. God used the disciples, lowly fishermen to change the world. Jesus poured into the disciples so that they could go out and speak with authority. God uses the humble and the willing.

Luke 19:36-37 (ESV) "And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near-already on the way down the Mount of Olives-the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,"

The laying down of their cloaks or coats showed an act of submission. We see the same thing in 2 Kings 9:13 an acceptance of kingship. In the book of John it talks about the people cutting down palm branches which was a sign of Jewish pride, Jewish nationalism. They had palm branches on decorations in synagogues and on coins. The palm branches were seen as fitting for a conquering king. The people were showing that they recognized Jesus was their king and they were going to submit to him.

Luke 19:38-40 (ESV) "saying, 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples.' He answered, 'I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.'"

The people were shouting Hosanna. They were quoting Psalm 118:25-26 (ESV) "Save us, we pray, O LORD! O, LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD." Hosanna means "Save us! Please Deliver us!" They were expecting a messiah, but one that was different. One that would conquer the Romans and free them and grow their territory. A warrior like David, but a super version. Jesus had different things in mind. He was interested in the spiritual and eternal way. 

God's Ways are Always Bigger and Better 

We see such a tiny bit of the picture. But God sees EVERYTHING and we only see a small portion.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV) "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Romans 8:28 (ESV) "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

We ask for help in prayer, but must understand, not my will, but yours God. God is working ultimately for his glory and our good. We don't always understand we should remember...not my will but yours.

The Pharisees want Jesus to stop his followers from worshipping him. What does it mean when Jesus says "even the stones will cry out"? Matthew 3:9 (ESV) "And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham." God created all creation for his purpose to worship him, to point to him, to cry out to him. Examples of this can be found in Psalm 96:11, 98:7-9, 114:7, Isaiah 55:12. God is worthy of all worship and he will receive it.

Luke 19:41-44 (ESV) "And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'"

Why did he weep? He knew what was going to come. The people stopped listening to his teachings and began listening to the Pharisees and scribes. He also knew what was coming within 40 years...the destruction of the temple and the people were killed. He had great compassion for the people because they were sheep without a sheperd. 

Follow Jesus Not the Crowd

We need to honor Jesus no matter what the crowd is doing. The crowd is often going in the wrong direction.

Be Careful Who You Listen To 

Not everyone will be good influences. It is important to choose wisely who and what we listen to. Jesus had some strong words for the Pharisees because they were teaching wrong things.

Test for True Teachers 

You must confess that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 4:1-3, 1 John 5:1)

They actually practice righteousness (1John 2:4, 1 John 3:10

They hold to the teachings of the apostles (1 John 4:6)

They are not like the world (1 John 4:5)

They have love for other Christians (1 John 4:20-5:1)

Closing Scripture Psalm 118:25-26 & 28-29 (ESV) "Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Daniel 9:1-19 The Prayer of a Righteous Man 3-1-2026

 There are themes are throughout the book of Daniel, the biggest being that the Kingdom of God is greater than all of the kingdom's of man. The kingdom's of man will turn to ruin...to dust, but God's kingdom will grow and grow and last forever. God showed himself to be greater than the god's of the Babylonian's and he will show himself to be greater than the god's of the Medes and Persians and all the nations that rule after. God is willing to deliver his people. He remembers his people. Judah was attacked, conquered  and many were taken into captivity. Why the captivity? One reason is the people were to restore the Sabbath rests. Leviticus 26: 344-43 (ESV). Another reason was to purge them from idolatry. The people were serving other god's and mixing it into their worship of God. They were tolerating practices that they should not have been tolerating. (See Jeremiah 7) Ultimately God purged them from their idolatry  for their good. Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

To set the scene... Daniel had a scroll from Jeremiah. Jeremiah would have prophesied during Daniel's childhood and then continued to prophesy in Judah when the people were in exile. Jeremiah was then taken by force to Egypt where he continued to prophesy. A Christian historian Tertullian (he died in 220 AD), said that Jeremiah was stoned in Egypt by Jews because he prophesied things they didn't want to hear. 

Daniel had access to the scroll, he knew that it was the word of God and he knew it was true.

Daniel 9:1-19 (ESV)

Jeremiah had prophesied that the people would be in exile for 70 years. If you count the years from when the first exiles were taken until when they began to return it was about 70 years. If you look at the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the time it was rebuilt...it was about 70 years. As Daniel is reading this scroll he realized that the time was close for them to return to Jerusalem.

I. Approach God with fear and humility 

We can get into the trap of familiarity. We can forget who we are and who God is and how mighty he is and how small we are. In vs. 3 Daniel is in mourning for his people and he was fasting. It is important to see how Daniel approaches God. He has the right "posture". How we pray (physically and spiritually) is important. Is our heart rebelling against God or are we surrendering humbly before God. Should we "demand" things from God? We should approach God with confidence, but also with reverence and fear.

Hebrews 12:28 (ESV) "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,"

Daniel was in the habit of praying. He would pray 3 times a day. It was a regular practice.

II. Approach God with adoration 

Taught to pray using ACTS

A. Adoration

C. Confession

T. Thanksgiving

S. Supplication 

In Daniel's prayer we get adoration, confession and supplication. In vs 4 we see adoration. In Babylon and Persia when the people, including Daniel, would approach the king they would say "O king live forever". When we approach God it is good for us to thank God for who he is, for mercy, for his faithfulness, his trustworthiness, his unchanging love.

Mary's song in Luke 1: 46-55 is a great example of this, Mary thanks God for being a savior, for her humble estate, for being merciful, for being strong, that he humbles the mighty, fills the hungry, and he helps his servant. We serve a good and gracious and powerful king, let's say it and set our minds on those things.

III. Confess YOUR sins  

Daniel did a lot of confessing. He was the one who would not eat from the king's table, he would not worship the king. This is the same Daniel whom God had blessed with wisdom and knowledge. As Daniel was confessing he kept saying WE. He aligned himself with his people saying he was involved with the rebellion too. In vs 14-15...after all you've done for us we have done wickedly. The biggest chunk of Daniel's prayer is confession.  It is real easy for us to look around the world (room) and say they are wrong...they are wrong...they need to hear this message. We are never in need of changing our own hearts.... we need to look in the mirror as Christian's and see our own failure.

IV. Confess to God daily 

Psalm 32:5 (ESV) "I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

God is a good, gracious and forgiving god.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Hopefully we are all doing that. We can confess our sins directly to God, we do not need to sit in a box and confess to a priest. However it is also good for us to confess our sins to one another.

James 5:16 (ESV) "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

When should you confess to other people?

1. If you have done someone wrong.

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV) "So if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the alter and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

The confession should be handled how the sin was committed. If you have hurt someone privately then you should handle your confession/apology privately, but if it has affected everybody then you should have a public confession/apology. It is also good to confess your sin when you need accountability. A great person to start with is your spouse. When you confess you take the power away from the accuser. Confession also has a way of disarming the sin, taking the power that the sin has over you. You don't have to confess your sins to everyone, but it is good to have someone to keep us accountable. Confession is a powerful weapon.

V. Be an intercessor 

Daniel was a great intercessor. We should be intercessors too. Daniel was praying on behalf of his people. He was not just concerned with his own well being, but also the well being of his people. We see all through scripture good and godly people who would intercede for the people. They didn't want them to be punished, they threw themselves in with their people interceding for them to God. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses interceded for the people of Israel after the golden calf. Samuel called for a time of repentance and sacrifice and turning to the Lord before going into battle against the Philistines. Esther called for a time of fasting and prayer before going before the king on behalf of her people. 

In his confession Daniel mentioned 3 things that the people failed to do. 

1. We failed to listen to the truth. Your prophets...we didn't listen to them.

2. We failed to obey. God gave them clear commandments. We did what we wanted to do. 

3. We failed to repent. When confronted with our sins we just kept on going. In truth we are not much different. Daniel knows that God is about to physically restoring the people to their homeland, but he is also concerned with their heart, about their spiritual wellbeing. Are we concerned about that? We should be concerned with getting back to God, where the church stands out and stands up. We need to repent, we need to change. We need for people's hearts turn back to God.

We ought to pray to God to grant repentance and lead our hearts back to him.

Closing Prayer

Psalm 85:1-7 (ESV) "LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation."

Daniel 6 The Lion's Den: Obedience, Defiance and Testimony

 The point of the first 6 chapters of Daniel is "God is Sovereign". Recap... chapter 1 taken captive, refused to eat from the kings table. Chapter 2 Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Chapter 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Chapter 4 humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar, chapter 5 Belshazzar's wall.

Daniel 6:1 (ESV) "It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;"

Who is Darius? Some think it is another name for Cyrus or a title. It could also be Ugbaru who we learned last week was a general and governor. It could just be a guy named Darius. The Bible is criticized many times because they cannot find proof of certain people do not exist in historical writings and then archeologist discover something that proves the Bible true! (example Belshazzar, Jonah and Nineveh and Jericho.)

Daniel 6: 2-3 (ESV) "and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom."

The 120 satraps were in charge of the provinces and there were 3 others over the 120 and Daniel was one of those 3 and was about to be promoted. Daniel was about 80 yrs. old at the time of this story.

I. Use your gift! Don't stop short of the finish line.

Daniel was 10 times better than all of the magicians/enchanters, understanding in wisdom and literature. He gave understanding of dreams and visions.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV) "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it."

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV) "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Daniel 6:4-5 (ESV) "Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, 'We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.'"

II. Be Blameless

What does it mean to be blameless? It does not mean sinless. Job, Noah and Moses were said to be blameless. They were suitable for service.

Psalms 119:1 (ESV) "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!"

Philippians 2:14 (ESV) "Do all things without grumbling or disputing,"

III. A pure life is the best apologetic 

Psalms 24:4 (ESV) "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully."

1 Peter 4:15-16 (ESV) "But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

People don't care about what you know until they know that you care.

IV. Jealousy will ruin your life. 

Proverbs 14:30 (ESV) "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."

The satraps were jealous of an 80 yr. old slave who had spent most of his life in captivity.

The works of the flesh found in Galatians 5...you should squash it before it squashes you!

Daniel 6: 6-9 (ESV) "Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, 'O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.' Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction."

The laws of the Medes and Persians, once written could not be revoked. It was seen as a weakness to apologize.

Daniel 6:10 (ESV) "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously."

Daniel prayed in private. He wasn't trying to make a point. He was just obeying God. There are times for public prayer, but private prayer is important. Daniel prayed 3 times a day... he was willful. It showed that Daniel believed that God had ultimate authority. God is my judge and I am living for that. It took courage.

Examples of private (hidden) prayers... 1 Kings 8:22-53, Ezra 10:1, 1 Kings 18:36-37, Matthew 15:36, Acts 4:23-31

Example of public prayer... See You at the Pole. If the heart behind public prayer is to draw attention to yourself then it would be seen as wrong.

V. We must honor God no mater the cost 

If there were consequences for following Jesus, would we still follow Him? We must honor God no matter the cost (position, promotion, life)

Acts 5:29 (ESV) "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"

Daniel was faithful.

Daniel 6:11-18 (ESV) "Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, 'O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? ' The king answered and said, 'The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.' Then they answered and said before the king, 'Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.' Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!' And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be charged concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him."

The king loved Daniel. He was concerned for him. Darius would not have shown concern for anyone else. 

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV) "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

VI. Are you representing Christ well? 

Daniel was a great example to other believers and pagans alike. Daniel lived through several kings and remained faithful to God. 

Daniel 6:19-23 (ESV) "Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, 'O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?' Then Daniel said to the king, 'O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.' Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den, and kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."

VII. Be Merciful and Point People to Jesus. 

Was the man (angel) in the lions den the same as the man (angel) in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Daniel seemed to have gotten more rest than the king that night! God is able to deliver. Daniel gave God all the glory. Just as Daniel pointed everything back to God, we should be merciful and point our persecutors back to Jesus.

Daniel 6:24 (ESV) "And the king commanded, and those men who maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions-they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces."

Just to prove the lions ferocity. The accusers and their families were tossed into the pit. God did not save them!

Closing scripture: 

Daniel 6:25-28 (ESV) "The King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: 'Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.' So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian."

The Handwriting on the Wall Daniel 5

 Scene Setter: It is 539 BC, Nebuchadnezzar has been dead for 24 years. His son, Evil-Merodach, ruled for 2 years, was  assassinated by his brother-in-law, Neriglessai who was a general in Nebuchadnezzar's army when they took Jerusalem. Neriglessai ruled for 4 years and died. His son ruled for 9 months and was murdered. Nabonadus is now the ruler of Babylon and is married to Nebuchadnezzar's daughter. He did not spend much time in Babylon, but chose to stay in other parts of the Empire, so his son Belshazzar is the co-regent and ruler of the city of Babylon. Babylon is known as the "gateway to the gods". The city is the largest city in the world at this time. It covered 3 1/2 square miles. 2 1/2 miles were located within the city walls. The walls were 75' thick at the base and 330' high. It was surrounded by a large moat and had 100 strongly fortified gates. The city was stocked with enough food for many years and the Euphrates River flowed through the city and was their water source. The river had large metal grates that prevented invaders from entering by boat. The city was considered invincible. During this story the city was under siege by the Medes/Persians, but the people were not afraid because of how fortified the city was. So during the siege Belshazzar threw a big party!

Daniel 5:1-4 (ESV) "King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote."

During this wild party King Cyrus' general Ugbaru, went upstream from Babylon and diverted the flow of the Euphrates river, thereby reducing the water level well below the water gates. This occurred at night during the Big Party, so no one (of consequence) noticed! Ugbaru's army waded into the city, under the water gates (knee deep water), clamored up the banks inside the city and took it totally by surprise with very little resistance. How do we know all this (it is not recorded in the bible)? This story was recorded by the Greek historian Herodotus. So while Belshazzar is hosting his Big Party, the Persian army was infiltrating the city...virtually un-noticed. 

Meanwhile back at the party...

Daniel 5:5-25 (ESV) "Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, 'Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.' Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. The King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed. The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, 'O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father-your father the king-made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.' Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, 'You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writings and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.' Then Daniel answered and said before the king, 'Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this it the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN."

The inscription: MENE, MENE = numbered

                           TEKEL = to weigh

                           PARSIN = to divide

The interpretation Daniel 5:26-28 (ESV) "This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

Remember Nebuchadnezzar's dream? The head of gold/ chest of silver. It is coming to fulfillment 

Daniel 5:29-31 (ESV) "Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old."

Darius and Cyrus were the same man.

The prophets said this would happen...no one believed that it would until it happened.

The point of this story is exactly the same as....

Chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar's dream/image...YAHWEH is Sovereign!

Chapter 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and A!bednego... YAHWEH is Sovereign!

Chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar's insanity....YAHWEH is Sovereign!

Chapter 5 Handwriting on the wall...YAHWEH is Sovereign!

and we will see in Chapter 6 Daniel and the Lion's Den...YAHWEH is Sovereign!

The point...God is Sovereign! Sometimes we struggle with this because we question why God permits bad things to happen. The prophets struggled with this as well. God uses everything for His glory.

Habakkuk 1:1-7/12b-13 (ESV) "The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. 'Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.' 'O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgement, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?'"

Why do you allow unrighteous people to thrive and punish the righteous?

Remember God's Sovereignty does not eliminate your free will

Daniel 4:27 (ESV) "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity." 

Daniel was telling Nebuchadnezzar...if you change this insanity would not come upon him.

Daniel 5:22-24 Daniel told Belshazzar that he had not humbled his heart, but he had been proud and he knew of the warnings given to his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar.

Application

Wisdom Suggests 

1. You should recognize God for who He is!

2. You should humble yourself before Him! If you do not humble yourself...He will humble you. Every person who defies the Lord will be humbled. Every great nation, every great Emperor falls. 

3. You should surrender to His will.

4. You should choose to serve Him.

There is no need to complicate this!!!

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (ESV) "Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work."

God is going to use you to accomplish His purpose. You decide how  He will use you. "You can be a flowerpot or a chamber pot."

Joseph-slave in Egypt/Pharaoh...flowerpot/chamber pot 

Gideon-"the least in Israel"...flowerpot 

Samson-defiled his calling....chamber pot

Jonah- ran from God...chamber pot

The people in Romans 1 who refused to thank Him

God used all of these to accomplish His purpose! He is going to have the final say! You may have a bold and great kingdom, but it will fall, you will wither and die and will stand before Him in judgement.

Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV) "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"

We don't just sit back and let it be done...we do it in...

1. Recognition of Him

2. Appreciation of gifts and opportunities 

3. In conjunction with His will

4. In partnership with Him

One more thing...

You should do all this under the Lordship of His Son Jesus Christ.

John 5:23 (ESV) "that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Father who sent him."

Some have never surrendered to Him as Savior and Lord. Give this sermon some consideration. All of us need to periodically revisit our commitment to Him.

Daniel 4: Pride goes before destruction

 Nebuchadnezzar was very proud. We are all subject to being proud at some point in our lives. God has a way of using the humble and humbling the proud.

Daniel 4:1-4 (ESV) "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 ease in my house and prospering in my palace."

This portion of the chapter seems to be written in the 1st person by Nebuchadnezzar. Of course we don't know for sure. But what we do see is that he praises God at the beginning and then again at the end of the chapter. Is this the same Nebuchadnezzar that is seen in the first 3 chapters? We do not know. Some believe that it was Nebuchadnezzar II. He was the son of Nabopolassar. He was the founder and first king of the Neo Babylonian Empire 626-605 B.C. He led a revolt against the Neo-Assyrian Empire. He could have been named after his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar I 500 years earlier Babylonian Empire known for defeating the Elamites and recovering the idol of Marduk. Nebuchadnezzar II grew Babylon to great power and former glory. He built huge structures, canals, the Hanging Gardens (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world), the Temple of Marduk. He built the Babylon Gate to the Gods or heaven. He also built a very tall building; The House of the Foundation of heaven of earth. It may have been built in the same location as the tower of Babel. They believed this was where their god descended. The Ishtar Gate was built with blue bricks with lions, bulls and dragons which represented their gods Marduk and Ishtar. This gate had the following inscription; "Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the faithful prince appointed by the will of Marduk, the highest of princely princes, Beloved of Nabu, of prudent counsel, who has learned to embrace wisdom, who fathomed their divine being and reveres their majesty. The untiring governor, who is constantly concerned with the well-being of Babylon and Borsippa, the wise, the humble, the first born son of Nabopolassar."

Others believe that it could have been Nabonidus. (Babylon had 3 kings in 6 years after Nebuchadnezzar II, they were violently removed) Then Nabonidus came to power. He is not from royal blood. He was probably a general with connections to priesthood. He pushed out Marduk and brought in the mood god Sin. He moved the capital to Teyma and built a palace in the desert oasis. He was focused on securing trade routes and archaeology of temples. His son Belshazzar is the king in chapter 5 of Daniel. In the 1800's the Nabonidus cylinder was found that had Belshazzar's name engraved on it. Belshazzar was the last king. In the 50's a Dead Sea Scroll was published that included the Prayer of Nabonidus which describes a similar story.

Which is it? We don't really know, but a powerful King in the most powerful empire and proud.

Daniel 4:5-19 (ESV) "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 made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, 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 Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods- and I told him the dream, saying, 'O Belteshazzar, 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 in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its 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 in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's 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 over it the lowliest of men.' This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, 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."

I. Have compassion for your enemies 

Matthew 5:44 (ESV) "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

Don't be like Jonah! He was mad at God when he showed mercy to his enemies. 

As the king told Daniel his dream, Daniel knew the interpretation. Was Daniel worried about telling the king, or did Daniel have compassion on his enemy?

Daniel 4:20-27 (ESV) "The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived- it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of it's roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

II. Don't water down the truth  

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,"

III. Call to repent 

Romans 2:14 (ESV) "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."

We as believers should call people to repent. We can't live a life like we want to and sprinkle a "little of Jesus" on top and expect to be saved. It doesn't work that way. 

How hard was it for Daniel to share the truth with the king? How hard is it for us to share the truth with those around us?

Daniel 4: 28-29 (ESV) "All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,"

The king did not lose his mind for 12 months. He did not repent.

IV. God is Patient, but eventually time runs out. 

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Daniel 4: 30-37 (ESV) "and the king answered and said, 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?' While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox. and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to who he will.' Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done? At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

V. God can save even the "most lost" 

1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

There is no one that God cannot save!

VI. God is sovereign over all earthly powers 

Psalms 2: 10-12 (ESV) "Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

Daniel 2: 21 (ESV) "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;"

VII. Good times can make us prideful 

Deuteronomy 8: 11-14 (ESV) "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,"

When we get prideful...humility is coming!

CS Lewis Mere Christianity "the great sin"

"There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice (pride). There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular. And no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. Christians are right ; it is pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. Other vices may sometimes bring people together: you may find good fellowship and jokes and friendliness among drunken people or unchaste people. But pride always means enmity- it is enmity. And not only between man and man, but enmity to God."

VII. God uses hard times to bring his people back. 

That is what the exile is all about. It is always good for all of us to examine our own hearts.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV) "My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."

Closing Scriptue

Psalm 25:8-10 (ESV) "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies."

Daniel 3: Faith for the Fire

 Recap Daniel 2- Nebuchadnezzar had dreams about 4 kingdoms, Daniel told the king what his dream was and then interpreted the dreams. Daniel gave God the credit and Nebuchadnezzar praised God and promoted Daniel over Babylon. Daniel promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to administrators over Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar's heart was stirred but his heart was not changed.

Daniel 3:1-7 (ESV) "King Nebuchadnezzar made and image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasures, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasures, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, 'You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.' Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."

Babylon was located where the tower of Babel was erected. Now Nebuchadnezzar is building a golden image of the king. The kings heart was not changed and he wanted to be worshiped.

Daniel 3:8-12 (ESV) "Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, 'O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'"

Were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego set up to get rid of them? They would not bow before the golden image and worship the king. They were following what they had been taught  to worship only God.

Exodus 20:4-5 (ESV) "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or 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. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,"

It is a clear cut distinction between Christians and those not in Christ.

Luke 16:10 (ESV) "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."

I. Real Faith Stands Out 

1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV) "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

We ought to be an example.

1 Peter 2:12 (ESV) "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

John 15:8 (ESV) "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Does your life show the world that you are a believer.

Daniel 3:13-15 (ESV) "Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, 'Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?'"

Nebuchadnezzar had a short memory. He began to hate believers in God.

II. Real Faith Brings Out the Contempt of the Wicked 

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"

John 15:18 (ESV) "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."

John 3:19-20 (ESV) "And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed."

The wicked hate the righteous because it show where they lack. We need to love the haters. When you are mocked, rejoice that you are worthy to suffer.

Proverbs 16:18 (ESV) "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

III. Real Faith = Submission 

Luke 6:46 (ESV) "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"

IV. Real Faith Produces Confidence 

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV) "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'"

These young men were talking to the king and believed that God would deliver them one way or another. They were not afraid. Protestant work ethic is/was a thing if we work hard and do what is right God will bless us. 

1 John 5:14 (ESV) "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us."

Galatians 6:9 (ESV) "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Sometimes God uses normal things, means and people. God can bless this life and we should use those that He gives us. When we honor God we should believe that God will bless us and we should give glory for those things.

Hee Haw song "Gloom despair and agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all. Gloom despair and agony on me."

Charismatics vs Traditional.... Don't put your faith in faith...We trust that God can and often he will, BUT even if he doesn't we still serve the Lord.

V. Real Faith Yields to God's Will 

Even if God doesn't deliver us we know He is still good and He still has a plan. Faith is not a rabbits foot or a vending machine. God doesn't always give you what you "want", but we should serve Him. God will deliver us in the end. Sometimes God delivers in this life, sometimes He doesn't, but He always COMPLETELY delivers His people.

Peter was in prison (Acts 12) and God delivered him and he was free, but Peter still died a martyrs death. God is good in both situations.

Paul was delivered multiple times and yet he had a "thorn in his flesh" throughout his life. It kept him humble.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

Hebrews 11:32-38 (ESV) "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated- of whom the world was not worthy- wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

God loves both the good and the bad. God is good in both groups. There is reward for the sufferers.

Daniel 3:19-25 (ESV) "Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were known into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'"

Who is the 4th man? Was it an Angel? Some say it was Jesus. No matter who it was (I believe it was Jesus) these young men were saved from the fire. They didn't even smell like smoke!

Daniel 3:26-27 (ESV) "Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!' Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them."

VI. Real Faith Saves 

This is a picture of how God saves us COMPLETELY!

Romans 8:1 (ESV) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"

Romans 4:7-8 (ESV) "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."

Psalms 32:1-2 (ESV) "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."

When we are saved - we are COMPLETELY SAVED!

It is a miracle when a soul is saved, only God can do that! Once you are saved, God doesn't see the unrighteous, He sees the righteous.

Closing Scripture:

Psalms 91:1-4 (ESV) "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler."