Daniel: The Statue Dream

[00:00:00] Speaker A: And even with Google, with AI that seems to know everything and even my middle name and all the experts available to us, there are questions that we simply cannot answer. And I think this is where Nebuchadnezzar got to. Which is why chapter two of Daniel opens up with a clear, you know, this king is agitated, troubled. He cannot sleep because human power has limits, because human wisdom has limits. And we then have to answer the question, who is in control? That is a question that Daniel 2 gives us this morning to confront, to try and answer. And so I want us to just go before the Lord and say, father, have your way. This morning we have come to learn from your word. We have come to answer a question that really many hearts are even asking in this moment. You said to me that you have given us three reminders that you want us, your people, to go home with. And for some, it's maybe new words for them that they need to begin to run and live their lives by. So, Holy Spirit, you are the greatest reminder. So come and do the work for us today, as I share from all that I feel like you've put in my heart, Father, let your word land in the hearts of men on the good soils of their hearts and my heart, and let it yield a harvest unto your glory. In the name of Jesus. So, Holy Spirit, do your thing and have your way. In Jesus name, amen. So we are in Daniel chapter two. [00:01:37] Speaker B: I have said that this man had [00:01:39] Speaker A: a dream, a king, very powerful king. [00:01:42] Speaker B: He had a dream. [00:01:43] Speaker A: He could not interpret it, he did [00:01:45] Speaker B: not understand it, and he could not [00:01:48] Speaker A: rest, he could not sleep. Now the king has to sleep. Because if the king does not sleep, I feel like things are going to keep getting worse in that kingdom, isn't it? He probably will just keep saying, go and kill that person, go and kill that person. And I'm talking about Nebuchadnezzar, because that's the kind of king he was, right? [00:02:01] Speaker B: So he needed to have answers. [00:02:04] Speaker A: And so what we see is that [00:02:06] Speaker B: he says, okay, go and get me [00:02:07] Speaker A: all my advisors, you know, go and [00:02:09] Speaker B: get me the interpreters, go and get [00:02:12] Speaker A: me the religious experts that I have, you know, in this country, I mean, in this empire, I have them in this kingdom. [00:02:20] Speaker B: Of course, we know that in that [00:02:23] Speaker A: Bible story and context, they depended on demonic powers. [00:02:26] Speaker B: They were sorcerers, right? [00:02:28] Speaker A: To give interpretation. He said, go and call them. They are like, you know, the transporters of today. You know, they seem to know everything and how things are going to happen, educated. But the king says, you know what you're going to tell me what I dreamt, then you are going to interpret it. For the longest part of my preparing for this preach, I couldn't just get [00:02:51] Speaker B: that out of my mind. Maybe because I'm a dreamer and because [00:02:54] Speaker A: I also sometimes God gives me grace to interpret dreams. And I'm thinking, you didn't tell me the dream, and you want me to interpret it, and you want me to even tell you the dream. [00:03:05] Speaker B: You know, And I remember someone who was asking a question at a meeting. [00:03:08] Speaker A: I was saying, you know, they put their dreams, you know, into AI and [00:03:13] Speaker B: it sort of tells them. [00:03:14] Speaker A: And I'm like, you put your dream [00:03:16] Speaker B: in AI to tell you what you dreamt from God. But, you know, when I got even [00:03:23] Speaker A: to this point, I thought to myself, even if you dare go to AI now and say, I had a dream, can you tell me the dream? AI would be like, hello, Jacqueline. [00:03:34] Speaker B: You tell me the dream and I'll [00:03:36] Speaker A: tell you what it means. [00:03:38] Speaker B: Yes, I can tell you. And if you keep doing it, will keep saying, I'm sorry, I can't help. If you tell me the dream, then [00:03:44] Speaker A: I can tell you what it means. [00:03:45] Speaker B: Even though he's going to give you a meaning that clearly, maybe that clearly is not what the Lord really had for you. But I'm even letting you know that as intelligent as they say it is, [00:03:56] Speaker A: he couldn't do what this king wanted to do. [00:03:59] Speaker B: And that's exactly what this advisor said to him. King, you have asked an impossible thing. [00:04:04] Speaker A: I cannot do it. [00:04:06] Speaker B: We cannot, all of us. No one can do it. [00:04:08] Speaker A: Let's see how he says it here. [00:04:10] Speaker B: So it goes there in Daniel, chapter two. [00:04:12] Speaker A: If you want to open up in your Bible, please do, but I have it on the screen. [00:04:15] Speaker B: He says, I'm certain that you're trying to gain time because you're like, tell us the dream. [00:04:20] Speaker A: You know, and you're trying to gain [00:04:22] Speaker B: time because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided. He had actually said to them that if you don't get it, I'm going to kill you all. He actually said, I will slaughter you. So their lives were on the table, right? And he said, if you don't tell me the dream, there is one, only one, penalty for you. [00:04:38] Speaker A: You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situations will change. [00:04:43] Speaker B: So then tell me the dream, and [00:04:45] Speaker A: I will know that you can interpret it for me. [00:04:48] Speaker B: There is a bit of a debate around, did he know the dream? Was he trying to be funny? Was he? Or is it that he really forgot the dream? Or was he trying to test that? Do you guys even really know what? [00:04:58] Speaker A: You tell me. [00:04:59] Speaker B: There's a lot there, but you don't bother about it, you know, verse 10, you know, he then says the astrologer said to him, and I want you [00:05:05] Speaker A: to pay attention, he says, there is no one on earth who can do what the king has asked. No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing. Like literally, Nebuchadnezzar, are you okay? Be okay, please, you know, and don't do this. But this man was not relenting. You know, they said what the king asked is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans. [00:05:31] Speaker B: So obviously, in that moment, what he had said had to happen. [00:05:35] Speaker A: All of them were going to be wiped out, killed. So they went to get even those that were not present in front of him. Right? [00:05:45] Speaker B: They went to get them, and in that moment, look at them in front of him. [00:05:50] Speaker A: Yes. [00:05:50] Speaker B: And they went to bring Daniel, too, because Daniel happened, if you remember what all of what Kewton said last week was now in, you know, that cabinet. [00:05:58] Speaker A: And Daniel is like, why was the king. [00:06:00] Speaker B: Why? Why? What's happening? [00:06:02] Speaker A: And they told him what was happening. And he said, please take me to the king. Let me go, you know, and seek some time and see whether we can, you know, we can do this. So Daniel then goes to God, takes his friends, very important, takes Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and says, guys, the king has asked for such an impossible thing. So even Daniel attested to the fact [00:06:26] Speaker B: that even what the king had asked was impossible. But then he said, you go and [00:06:31] Speaker A: pray to God for mercy that he will show us what the king has asked. So they went and Daniel went to pray. And the Bible tells us that Daniel. Actually, I'm coming here first because the [00:06:46] Speaker B: Bible tells us that Daniel actually got a vision in the night that told [00:06:50] Speaker A: him the dream and the meaning of the dream. [00:06:53] Speaker B: Remember that? They have said nothing and no one can do it. So Daniel comes and says, take me [00:06:58] Speaker A: before the Lord and, you know, let [00:07:00] Speaker B: me before the king and let me [00:07:01] Speaker A: tell him what has happened. So they prayed. God told them Daniel went before the king, that. What's it called? Ariel, if I remember his name, the king's, you know, man or the guard who was taking them, you know, said to the king, I have found someone who can, you know, tell you what he dreamt. [00:07:19] Speaker B: And when I was reading the Bible, I said to myself, you did not Find Daniel. Daniel came to you, you know. But anyway, let's put that by this time. [00:07:26] Speaker A: But that's how I read the scripture. [00:07:27] Speaker B: But, you know, it was so funny. [00:07:28] Speaker A: But anyway, Daniel came before the king. [00:07:30] Speaker B: And Daniel replied, no wise man, enchanter or magician or diviner can explain to [00:07:35] Speaker A: the king the mystery he has asked about. And Daniel says, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mystery, mysteries. He has shown Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. [00:07:50] Speaker B: Your dream and the visions that passed [00:07:52] Speaker A: through your mind as you were lying in bed are these. He then tells him all of that. But I like that. But that bot is a way to say Babylon says that nobody knows, but there is a God in heaven who knows. [00:08:10] Speaker B: We may say that what has happened [00:08:12] Speaker A: is beyond human understanding or what you're going through now. You don't even understand it. But there is a God who knows. And that God is in heaven and is our God. [00:08:23] Speaker B: So, meaning that I may not know, but I know the One who knows. And that is our testimony, no matter what it is, no matter what, where we are, what puzzle, what darkness, but that there is our God. Then he goes on to tell us, you know, and I think a beautiful thing to see. There's a lot in this chapter that [00:08:42] Speaker A: I've, you know, my heart has just [00:08:43] Speaker B: been palpitating about how to bring it all together. [00:08:45] Speaker A: But I trust the spirit of the [00:08:46] Speaker B: Lord is that when Daniel saw the [00:08:48] Speaker A: vision, the first thing that Daniel did was to raise praise and worship to God. [00:08:54] Speaker B: And in that praise and worship, we see him where he says, praise be to the name of God forever and ever. Wisdom and power are his. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals. I cut out a bit of 21, because I'll use it later. He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in darkness and [00:09:16] Speaker A: light dwells in him. I thank you and I praise you, God of my ancestors. You have given me wisdom and power, [00:09:23] Speaker B: and you have made known to me [00:09:24] Speaker A: what we asked of you. You have made known to us the dream of the king. I'm taking time to show you how Daniel talks about the God that you serve, the God that you know, the [00:09:39] Speaker B: God that you need. He talks about him and says, you [00:09:42] Speaker A: reveal deep and hidden things, and that is our God. What is hidden from you is not hidden from God. And I hope your heart finds comfort in that today. [00:09:53] Speaker B: And I hope it maybe takes you back to your knees like Daniel to say, God, what is here? What is happening in this situation? Whether it's with a child or a spouse or a business or a work, you can take it to him and say, father, I heard today God reminded that there is nothing that is dark to you. That's actually what Psalm 139 says. It reminds us that even darkness is not dark to him. God does not need tomorrow to arrive before he knows what is in it. And I'm telling that to you, telling that to myself, that even when it's bleak, he knows. He knows, he knows. And if we're his children, we go to him and we seek his face. I love all the songs. Today was like the whole sermon. I wanted to say Razma, maybe just take over, you know, because it was just line upon line. Lord, I look to you. You are where my help comes from. Give me wisdom to know what to do. Students, parents, brother, sister, married, single, all of us church elders. [00:10:56] Speaker A: There is a God who knows, and [00:10:58] Speaker B: that is our God. [00:11:00] Speaker A: There is a God who knows, and that is our God. Daniel 2. 28 says, There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. There is so much to say there, but I want you to take it in. So. And we see Daniel give us one or two things that I want us to take away. Even maybe as dreamers, interpreters. The moment he got there, he said to Nebuchadnezzar, he said, it is God who gave me this dream and interpretation. I'm the vessel, I'm not the source. He was redirecting Nebuchadnezzar from the very beginning. Hey, look up to God. Hey, eyes on God. He's the one who knows. He's the one who can tell you. And even though Daniel had been. We have heard of him in chapter one, that he had a gift of interpretation and visions and all of that which was, you know, we see that Daniel didn't just ride on the glories of yesterday when he was confronted. He went to the Lord today and he prayed and said, give it to me. Tell me so. Knowing is one thing, but does he have the power to act on what he knows? And Daniel's answer is yes, because there is also a God who rules, and that is our God. And I know, I know, I know, I know that in the days we live in, with the many things that are happening, nations, if possible, I want [00:12:35] Speaker B: to say bullying, but maybe not even just bullying, but eating up nations, you [00:12:38] Speaker A: know, bringing nations to a halt, abominations here and there, legislations that are looking [00:12:45] Speaker B: almost opposite of what we have in the world, and many things that we can look at and think what's really going on in this world. [00:12:55] Speaker A: Daniel 2:21a tells us that our God in heaven changes times and seasons, and he deposes kings and raises others up. This is the sovereignty of God. This is the absolute power that God has that we must remember. So that's reminder number two. Reminder number one was what? There is a God who knows nothing in creation outranks our God. Nothing. You see the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. I'll tell you a summary, because this dream is. I feel like it's a whole Bible study, because the more I was preparing, the more I just. I saw a lot of things that [00:13:44] Speaker B: a lot of these dreams have actually come to pass. A lot of the interpretation of this dream has come to pass. And I feel like that's one of the things that God wanted me to [00:13:52] Speaker A: really pass on today, which is if [00:13:54] Speaker B: you ever doubted the word of God and all these things we tell you about Jesus and the kingdom of God, you see Daniel 2, Daniel 4, Daniel 7. Go and plot it. Sit down with the meaning. Sit down with the nations and the kingdoms that I will show you in a bit. [00:14:09] Speaker A: I'm going to show you briefly. [00:14:11] Speaker B: I feel like I still would have done a better job of that history, so I ran away from it. But I will show you just in a bit how these things have actually happened. [00:14:19] Speaker A: These kingdoms have come one after the other to show you that our God rules. So he says, and this is how the dream looks. [00:14:28] Speaker B: Daniel has a dream. Sorry, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that there is this big statue. Look at it standing in front of him. He says, you, Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion, power, might and glory. [00:14:45] Speaker A: And he says, you had this dream, this dream. [00:14:48] Speaker B: There was a statue, gold, up until here. And from here it then became silver, and from here bronze, and then from here it became metal, literally. And then towards the end, it became [00:14:59] Speaker A: what it became wood and clay. [00:15:01] Speaker B: Something very interesting. [00:15:03] Speaker A: You know, just look at that picture. [00:15:05] Speaker B: So, of course, you can now tell why Nebuchadnezzar could not sleep. [00:15:07] Speaker A: Can't you tell? [00:15:08] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. He saw something really powerful, that scary, but he couldn't make sense of it. [00:15:14] Speaker A: But you know that the whole thing about this statue in front of Nebuchadnezzar was really to say that there will be kingdoms that will come after kingdoms that will come. And at the end of it, in [00:15:29] Speaker B: that dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a stone, a small stone that came and crushed into the feet. [00:15:38] Speaker A: And immediately the whole statue came down, crumbling. And the whole summary is that even though Babylon will come and Babylon will go, and it has already gone, if you know history, you know that kingdom of Babylon is gone. [00:15:54] Speaker B: Other kingdoms came too. Persia, all of them, they're gone. And where we are at the moment too is another kingdom rising and still trying to exist. We. But do you know the interesting thing I find in verse 39 is how he says after you, God was saying, I am the ruler. I am the one who knows everything that would happen. And I've come to tell you, Nebuchadnezzar, what's going to happen. Listen to me so that we are on the same page and you are mine. And maybe I can be yours, you know, like literally, because after your, another kingdom will arise inferior to you. And literally, if you at look at that dream, there's something about how we're [00:16:30] Speaker A: going from gold to silver to bronze. [00:16:32] Speaker B: There's a decreasing level. Even though it speaks of. There's a lot it speaks of. But I'll leave you to go and do the Bible study yourself. You need to. But the point really is that having said all. [00:16:44] Speaker A: All these kingdoms will go because that stone that went and crashed into it. Bible says the stone was. Was not cut out by hands, meaning it's divine. [00:16:54] Speaker B: I'll come to it in a bit. [00:16:55] Speaker A: But it shows us clearly that that stone crashed this. And then a mountain came up. Simple point. God gave you power, Daniel. [00:17:06] Speaker B: Nebuchadnezzar, God gave you power. And God was trying to call your attention to it, but also telling you that after you, meaning you're not going to be here forever. Stop living like you're gonna be here forever. Live for me, for my kingdom. My kingdom is greater, is the greatest. Nebuchadnezzar, bring your kingdom under my own. Simple. And it's the word that the Lord [00:17:27] Speaker A: is bringing to you this morning. The empire is the kingdom we're building in our homes, in our businesses, even in our parenting, the empires we're building with those children. And there is a whole thing after you. After you, meaning it's not forever. [00:17:48] Speaker B: And there is a need for our [00:17:50] Speaker A: heart to be grounded in maybe what is going to be forever. There needs to be that shift. And so Nebuchadnezzar hears all of it. Daniel tells him. And you have to remember that Daniel is saying this in Babylon. [00:18:07] Speaker B: Daniel is not at home. He's not in his, you know, in his own country. He's saying this in exile. You have to understand but he's telling him, listen, let me, let me tell you. I wrote, I said, Daniel is saying this from Babylon. Jerusalem has been invaded, his people are in exile. And everything around him could suggest that Babylon has won. [00:18:24] Speaker A: But Daniel gets the wisdom of God and tells him that no, no, God is in charge. [00:18:31] Speaker B: The empires. And I know Nebuchadnezzar, hearing the empires, the gold and all of that, God telling him, after you, you will pass. Babylon will pass. Every ruler, government will pass, even here. [00:18:41] Speaker A: Look at us in this country. Have we not seen the passing and passing of kings, queens? [00:18:45] Speaker B: And it would not end. [00:18:46] Speaker A: It will continue to happen. It tells you something, that your life needs to be in sync with the [00:18:54] Speaker B: ruler, the one who rules above all. And the Bible says he rules over the affairs of men. And like I said earlier, that it may not look like it, the economic power, the financial power, the technical power. And I know that those in it will be like only God knows what next is going to happen. [00:19:13] Speaker A: But I can tell you nothing, nothing is a surprise to the God that we serve. This Daniel too is a big confirmation for me. So what does that mean for us? It means that when we are in situations as well that maybe look like a skyscraper beside us, you see, we can also then tell ourselves in that moment that God is in control. We can, because Babylon may be ruling, but God is sovereign. I'm telling you. And there are many ways to look at it. Look at what? Even in the education, there are many things that you can just see what's happening here. But God is sovereign. God is sovereign. The Lord has established his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over all. That's what Psalm 103:19 declares. And Daniel 4:35 then goes on and says, he does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. [00:20:13] Speaker B: No one can hold back his hand [00:20:15] Speaker A: or say to him, what have you done? Unquestionable God. That's what we say. We sing a song about it where I come from. It doesn't mean that you cannot take your questions to him. It's just the fact that he's sovereign. He's got all the power and he's got the whole world in his hands. You know that song? He's got the whole world in his hands. He's got the whole world in his hands. He's got the whole world, Whole wide world in his hands. He's got the whole world in his hands. We need to remember. That's the sovereignty of my God. He's not subject to human Permission. And it's okay. It doesn't mean that everything that happens is good or that God approves injustice. No. But it also does not mean that we should become passive. No. And that's the challenge today. That's the admonition. [00:21:18] Speaker B: It means that, like Daniel, we must engage the world without panicking, as though [00:21:23] Speaker A: God has lost, Lost control, because he [00:21:24] Speaker B: has not stop, you know, stop approaching those situations even in your life. Like God is wondering, oh, how am I going to save Jackie? No, that's a word for myself. I literally have to remember that heaven is not running helter skelter to sort my destiny around or my children or whatsoever. [00:21:43] Speaker A: And that's a word for you. [00:21:45] Speaker B: God is not running helter skelter to sort out your marital destiny if you're single in the room and you desire it. And for those people who are married to think, what's going to happen to my family? He's not running helter skelter. He's got it under control. [00:21:58] Speaker A: Lean on him. So I wrote a few things and I want to share it. I said, your circumstances are not sovereign. [00:22:08] Speaker B: Your employer is not sovereign. When I was preparing the Lord, my heart continued to pick, you know, a palpitation for anybody under an employer that [00:22:18] Speaker A: feels like a Nebuchadnezzar. [00:22:20] Speaker B: And the Lord really saying to say [00:22:21] Speaker A: to you that, don't worry, I am sovereign. [00:22:26] Speaker B: I will bring you out if I need to. [00:22:28] Speaker A: And if I don't need to bring [00:22:29] Speaker B: you out, I may do an after you. And even if I don't even need to do any of that, I am in control. [00:22:35] Speaker A: Rest in me. Rest in your God. [00:22:39] Speaker B: That's what he's saying. [00:22:45] Speaker A: So the main point of the King's dream was that all of human history, present and future, are under God's control. And so don't bother too much. I wrote that here because that really felt like it was echoing in my ears. And we are still living in the world where nations rise, rulers are exercising their powers. Some nations are more powerful than the others. And when they cough, the whole world is running. It's okay. I can tell you for sure that when it is time, the kingdom of our God will be fully established. [00:23:22] Speaker B: When it is time. [00:23:23] Speaker A: And all those kingdoms, they would have come to an end. But you and I, you and I, by the grace of God, will be a part of the kingdoms that remains and stays forever. That is my prayer. In Jesus name. Do I hear an amen? That is the biggest point of all of this. Daniel, chapter two. So where we are still living in that part of the story where the earthly power still rise and fall. But God's kingdom has already broken into history through Jesus Christ. And so we await his final universal triumph when he returns. I'll tell you about that a little bit. That dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had was really not, you know, it didn't end there. It was predicting the future. Yes, yes, but it was simply not about that. It was revealing who rules over them all and who have the final word. Let's go quickly to see what he says. Then in Daniel, chapter two, 34, 35, he says, while you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and CL and smashed them. [00:24:35] Speaker B: Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, [00:24:37] Speaker A: the silver, the gold were all broken [00:24:38] Speaker B: to pieces, becoming like shaft or became [00:24:41] Speaker A: like shaft on a threshing floor in the summer. [00:24:44] Speaker B: The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. [00:24:47] Speaker A: But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. He goes on in verse 44 to say, in the time of those kings, that's all of those kings, you know, the silver, the bronze, all those kingdoms. He says, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. You need to listen to the description about the kingdom of God in verses 44 to 45. [00:25:20] Speaker B: It says it will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands. A rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, the gold. As great as they were, that rock came and broke them. [00:25:39] Speaker A: He says the great God has shown the king what would take place in the future. And he said this dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy. I like that line, but it's a conversation for prophetic gifts and all of that. I really like how he said it is true and this interpretation is trustworthy, meaning God gave it to me. I know God said it. This is what's going to happen. Final. [00:26:06] Speaker B: So we see here that is an introduction of a stone. And I want to go there quickly because that is the summary of this message. The first reminder we had is that there is a God who. What? Who. [00:26:18] Speaker A: Who knows. [00:26:19] Speaker B: And the second reminder that God is bringing to us today as a church is that there is what? A God who. [00:26:25] Speaker A: Okay, I'll take us back there. I'm not going to let us go. [00:26:29] Speaker B: There is a God Who. [00:26:31] Speaker A: Thank you. Yes. [00:26:33] Speaker B: And the third reminder, we'll get there in a bit. [00:26:37] Speaker A: But I'll tell you quickly, because my heart is burning for it, is that there is a kingdom that remains. There is a kingdom that remains. [00:26:46] Speaker B: There is a kingdom that remains. And we must be a part of that kingdom. Meaning we cannot just be churchgoers and people who are trying to live and maybe survive in this kingdom. [00:26:58] Speaker A: But we must be. I love. There was a song we sang as [00:27:01] Speaker B: well that talked about the citizens of heaven that pending when the kingdom comes. So powerful, you know, the songs just reinforcing what the Lord has for us today. [00:27:09] Speaker A: Listen, Church, this is what really matters. [00:27:13] Speaker B: And I feel like what God was inviting Nebuchadnezzar to. [00:27:16] Speaker A: But if you look at chapter three, you see that he didn't get it. [00:27:18] Speaker B: Painful. But you know, the preacher will do [00:27:21] Speaker A: justice to that next week or whenever we're doing it. [00:27:23] Speaker B: So Daniel 2:44 says that God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Daniel talks about the kingdom of our God is how Jews also came and brought us a word about the kingdom of heaven. And I just thought, so. [00:27:35] Speaker A: So good, Church. God is inviting us to keep our [00:27:39] Speaker B: eyes on that kingdom more than anything else. And I know that we first need to maybe survive on earth. But let that goal of seeking the kingdom of God first. Let it be on top, because that stone is coming. It looks small. It's like how Jesus came in a manger. He didn't come with all the paparazzi of Babylon, isn't it? Yes, but he came and that little mustard seed. We know what happened when he came and died on the cross for us. And we are in that second phase [00:28:05] Speaker A: of the kingdom coming. I'll tell you in a bit. You can see I'm excited. [00:28:08] Speaker B: I'm running, getting ahead of myself. [00:28:10] Speaker A: But Daniel spoke about the kingdom of God and he said it is indestructible. It will never be destroyed. He said, it is fine now. [00:28:17] Speaker B: No kingdom will succeed it. We need to take these things in. He said, it is victorious. It will ultimately overcome every opposing kingdom. So don't worry. See, when I said don't bother too [00:28:28] Speaker A: much, really, I meant it. [00:28:30] Speaker B: I got the assurance as I was also preparing. Don't bother too much about all the things. You know, sometimes I pick a body like, don't talk about this. [00:28:36] Speaker A: Let's talk against this, you know, And I'm don't worry, don't worry. [00:28:41] Speaker B: And supernatural is also the other word. [00:28:43] Speaker A: He described it as a, you know, not by human hands. But established by God. God establishes his kingdom. So what does this stone represent? It represents our Lord Jesus. How does it connect to Jesus, Jackie? In Daniel 7:14, Daniel had a vision and the Spirit of God was. The angels were explaining it to him and they were telling Daniel, Daniel 7, that a ruler is coming, the king is coming, and is coming with everlasting dominion. And the angel announces to, you know, to. [00:29:20] Speaker B: To that Jesus is the king whose kingdom will never end. That's what the angel actually said. If you go and look at Luke chapter 1, verse 33, the angel announces the birth of Jesus and said he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. Who are the descendants of Jacob? Who? River Church. Who are the descendants of Jacob? It's you and I. [00:29:41] Speaker A: Father Abraham has many sons, many sons. [00:29:43] Speaker B: As father Abraham, I am one of them. [00:29:45] Speaker A: And so are you. [00:29:47] Speaker B: That's us. So he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever and his kingdom will never end. The very thing that Daniel said, an [00:29:55] Speaker A: angel said it In Luke, in 1st [00:29:58] Speaker B: Peter 2, 4, 8, Peter calls Jesus the living stone, the chosen and the precious cornerstone. And the stone rejected by people. And we know all of that. We see that in the gospel, isn't it? But then he says about the stone, about Jesus. It says those who believe in him are described as living stones being built into a spiritual house. That kingdom that will remain. That's us. That's us. And that's why praying for other people who don't know the Lord is critical, because actually it will be nice. And what God wants is for them [00:30:31] Speaker A: to be part of that kingdom. [00:30:33] Speaker B: So I want to tell you about [00:30:34] Speaker A: the kingdom of God that remains forever. [00:30:37] Speaker B: And I want to tell you what that looks like. How does this kingdom come? The first is that the king came to save us. Jesus arrived without, I told you, the grandeur of Babylon. [00:30:47] Speaker A: And he proclaimed, proclaimed the kingdom of [00:30:49] Speaker B: God has come near. Repent and believe the Good news. Mark 1, verse 15. And through his death and his resurrection, he dealt with our sin. He defeated death and he opened the [00:31:00] Speaker A: way for us to be reconciled to God. That's the first part done. [00:31:04] Speaker B: Has it not been done? [00:31:06] Speaker A: Done? [00:31:07] Speaker B: Second part is that his kingdom is [00:31:09] Speaker A: advancing through the gospel. [00:31:11] Speaker B: Jesus commissioned his disciples to make disciples of all nations. And that extends to us. As people hear the gospel, as they repent, as they believe in Jesus and they submit to his rule, they become citizens of his kingdom, like we are. What began, like a mustard seed, continues to grow. Do you see what's happening with that small stone and how he's crushing down the kingdoms and is moving on, and it becomes a big mountain entirely. The third part of it, should I tell you, is that his kingdom will be fully revealed when Jesus finally returns. It will be. The kingdom is already present right now through Jesus Christ. But his final victory is still to come. And that's why Revelations 11:15, John tells us the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our God and of his Messiah, and it will reign forever and ever. [00:32:01] Speaker A: John speaks about that as if it is present, but we are still coming to it. One of the songs we sang talked about the expectation. Like, you know, we have an expectation for the future. And it's true. This is the expectation that when Jesus [00:32:14] Speaker B: comes, when the king of kings, the real king of kings, comes, [00:32:22] Speaker A: we will be there and ready for him. And we don't enter God's kingdom through nationality or good works. No, we don't. We enter through Jesus. He's the gate. He's the way. And so the question today simply is not whether you believe that Jesus is king. I just want to ask you if you have surrendered to him as your king. If you have surrendered to him as the king of your family and all [00:32:46] Speaker B: the things that God has given you, [00:32:47] Speaker A: like he gave Nebuchadnezzar, I want to ask you that. But Jesus will reign forever. [00:32:53] Speaker B: So our reminders are here. Which kingdom are we living for? [00:32:57] Speaker A: The kingdom of our God or the ones we are building? So these are our reminders. Who really rules? We see the limitations of human wisdom and power and kingdoms. We see the limitations. And the summary that God is giving us is, you know what, my people, Build your career, but seek first the kingdom of God. Raise your family, but seek first the kingdom of God. Use your gifts and resources, but seek first the kingdom of God. [00:33:21] Speaker B: Don't spend your whole life building something [00:33:24] Speaker A: that cannot survive eternity. If the band doesn't mind, just come up. We're going to sing a song that really just ties this up beautifully. And I trust that God, as we go home, we take this home with us. [00:33:33] Speaker B: Don't worship Babylon, don't fear Babylon. [00:33:37] Speaker A: Serve faithfully in Babylon, but put your hope in God, the God of the kingdom that cannot fail. A kingdom that cannot be shaken. So who really rules our God rules. And so if you need a reminder, here is it, church that this morning [00:33:53] Speaker B: God said, this is what God has [00:33:54] Speaker A: come to tell us, that there is a God who knows. There is a God who rules over the affairs of men. And there is a kingdom that remains forever and ever. Father, I just thank you for this morning because you have spoken your word over our lives. You have reminded us clearly. It's such a reset. [00:34:13] Speaker B: It gives so much peace. And we just ask that we will not just step out of here forgetting it, but you would help us to live our lives, you know, with these reminders, helping us to make the choices we make and to seek youk first. And that in the name of Jesus, [00:34:28] Speaker A: when Jesus comes, we will all be a part of that kingdom, you know? [00:34:33] Speaker B: Yes. That kingdom where they said the streets [00:34:36] Speaker A: are painted in gold. [00:34:37] Speaker B: We will all be there, and all of this will not be in vain. [00:34:40] Speaker A: Oh, God, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.