Music...
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James: All right, so we
are in Daniel chapter 2,
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we've gotten a good start...
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the... the red carpet
has been rolled out by God
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and all of the
wisdom of this world
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is not going to be
able to help Nebuchadnezzar
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with his crisis.
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Yvonne: Hmmm...
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James: And it's a
crisis, you know it's a crisis
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because he wants
all his wise men killed
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and Daniel's not
yet part of the crew...
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he's still in training... but
the decree doesn't exclude him
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so, when the wise... the...
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the captain's
guard comes to get him,
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Daniel is
surprised... he's shocked
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and this trial...
life and death trial
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could have thrown Daniel
into anxiety... stress...
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but it actually
throws him into prayer
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and that's where we left off.
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We left off with Daniel
saying, "Hey, wait a minute,
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could you give me a little bit
of time to think about this?"
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And Daniel, unlike
the rest of the wise men,
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doesn't come up with
some kind of lame excuse,
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you know, "I'm on payroll...
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and this
shouldn't happen to me...
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and this is unbelievable...
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and, this is not
supposed to happen to me... "
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he says, "I'm going
to go pray about this. "
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And somehow, what Daniel
has been through in the past,
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prepares him for his
present trial and crisis
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and the M O for Daniel is,
"Pray... we need to pray... "
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and that's what we need to
do right now, we need to pray.
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Yvonne: Ah, good, good segue.
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Ivor: "Heavenly Father,
we just want to thank You
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for giving us the
opportunity to open Your Word
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and to study it Lord,
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we thank You for the
insights you are giving us...
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we thank You Lord,
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for just helping us to
see that You have our future
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in... in... in
Your interest Lord
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and that You care about us...
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You care about
what's... what's coming
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and You want to prepare us
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and Lord, as we are
continuing to study,
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we ask that You would
continue to help us to see
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that You are asking us to
trust You with our future.
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Thank You Lord, for hearing
and answering this prayer,
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because we ask it
in Jesus' name, amen. "
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All: Amen.
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James: So, we left off
here, right at that juncture
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where Daniel has asked for time
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and he's gone
in... in verse 17...
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to his house
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to make this thing known to
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
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his companions...
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and I love that
phrase... "his companions... "
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Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm...
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James: We need companions...
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we need this help
that comes from those
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who are in a like
situation that we're in
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and that's why we're
doing this Program really,
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we're doing this Program
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because we are
wanting to be companions
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with our Brothers and
Sisters and Viewers out there
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who are going through the
same trials we're going through
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and none of us are exempt or...
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or left out of
the trials of life
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and Jesus, our
Savior, also became a man...
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became a human
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and He went through those
same trials with us and for us
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and so, He knows how
to deliver us, we're told
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and He wants to deliver us
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and He wants us to help
one another be delivered
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and so, Daniel is helping us.
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You know, Daniel is...
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Ivor: Iron
sharpens iron. All: Yes.
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James: Yes, and
Daniel is at rest right now
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but his... his legacy lives on
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and so, he is helping us
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and he's showing us
how to help one another
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and so, we do this Program
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so that we can have
this companionship...
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this commitment to each other
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and so, we can
together figure this out,
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so he goes in to his companions
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and they have
this prayer session
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and they desire
mercies of the God of heaven...
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verse 18, "Concerning the secret
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that Daniel and his
fellows should not perish
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with the rest of
the wise men of Babylon.
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Now, I really want us to
emphasize this point right here
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because I think this
is really interesting how
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even in Daniel's experience
there's this need for growth.
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We are selfish to the core and
the way we think sometimes...
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the way we respond sometimes...
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the way that we
interact a lot of the times
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is tainted with
that selfishness that...
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that needs to be purified
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and we don't understand
this until we see more of Jesus
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and when Daniel goes
into this Prayer Meeting...
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this prayer time
with his companions,
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his prayer is... it's
a... it's a sincere prayer...
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it's a good prayer...
it's an honest prayer...
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it's a prayer that
he would not perish
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with the rest of
the wise men of Babylon.
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Ivor: "Save... save me. "
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James: "Save me...
save us from their fate. "
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Yvonne: Hmmm...
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James: And God wants
to do that of course,
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but God wants to
do more than that,
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so, what happens is,
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and we'll go through
the prayer in a minute
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but I want you to
notice, what happens is,
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when he comes out
of this prayer time,
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right, it says that in verse 24,
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he comes out of this prayer time
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and it says in verse 24,
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"And therefore
Daniel went in unto Arioch,
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whom the king had ordained to
destroy the wise men of Babylon:
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and he went in and he
said thus unto him... "
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what did he say, Jason?
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Jason: And verse 24?
James: Hmmm... hmmm...
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Jason: "He said thus unto him:
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'Do not destroy the
wise men of Babylon;
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and take me before the king
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and I will tell the
king the interpretation. '"
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James: Woooo... now I love this,
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you see the transformation
that's taking place here?
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Yvonne: Hmmm...
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James: I mean,
it's... it's very little...
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it's very slight...
there's just a little hint here,
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Daniel has spent time with God
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and when you spend time
with God... things happen...
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things change...
perspective changes...
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and so there's not this
"them-and-us spirit" anymore
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there's a "we"
spirit... there's a corporate...
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"Don't destroy the wise men
of Babylon... bring me in... "
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and that's...
that's a type of Christ...
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"bring me in... "
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the king's
angry... the king's mad...
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the king's ready
to kill anyone...
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"I'm going to go in...
I'm going to risk myself
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and I want you to hold
back on this decree... "
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the death decree
against the world is put on hold
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while Daniel goes
in before the king
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and offers to help
him with his situation
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and this is exactly what
we see in the life of Jesus.
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Jason: So he
interceded on their behalf.
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James: Yes. Yvonne: Yeah.
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Ivor: I think
there's a... there's another
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powerful point here...
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you look at verse 1 again,
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"And in the second year of
the reign of Nebuchadnezzar
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Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,
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wherewith his
spirit was troubled,
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and his sleep brake from him. "
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James: Hmmm...
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Ivor: So, he has this
dream and now he can't sleep.
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right? He's
troubled, he can't sleep
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but in Daniel 2:21...
you look at Daniel 2:21
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and verse 19.
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"Then was the secret revealed
unto Daniel in a night vision. "
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James: Hmmm...
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Ivor: So, think about this,
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imagine if you
were told you know,
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"There's a death decree
and you're dying tomorrow. "
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Like, how many
of us could sleep?
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Yvonne: Right... that's true.
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Ivor: But Daniel
prays and after he prays,
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he has peace of
mind enough to...
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"All right, I'm
going to go to sleep now. "
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Yvonne: Hmmm...
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Ivor: You know,
prayer and communing with God
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allow him the peace.
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Like, he could have
been praying all night, like,
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"All right Lord, when
are you going to do this?
00:07:21.74\00:07:23.30
When are you going to...?"
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But he goes to sleep.
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He prays... he
believes God has answered...
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he's like, "All
right... " he goes to sleep
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and knows the Lord
is going to answer this.
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Jason: They
truly gave it to God.
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Ivor: Truly gave it to God.
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Jason: A lot of times we don't
always truly give it to God...
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we're still up till 3... 4... in
the morning thinking about it.
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Ivor: Nebuchadnezzar
couldn't sleep... Daniel slept.
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Yvonne: Wow! wow,
it's good. Ivor: Yeah.
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James: You know, in Isaiah 53,
00:07:47.50\00:07:49.03
it talks about
Christ's great sacrifice for us
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and part of the
imagery you get here...
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"He bears our
sins... our iniquities... "
00:07:54.84\00:07:57.17
and it says in verse 6,
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"All we like
sheep have gone astray;
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we have turned every
one to his own way. "
00:08:01.04\00:08:02.78
Not just Christians... but
the whole world needs a Savior
00:08:02.81\00:08:06.92
and God has laid on him...
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"the Lord laid on Him
the iniquity of us all... "
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and then in
verse 12 it says this,
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"Therefore will I divide
him a portion with the great,
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and he shall divide
the spoil with the strong;
00:08:15.49\00:08:18.16
because he's poured
out his soul unto death:
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he was numbered
with the transgressors;
00:08:20.90\00:08:23.23
and he bare the sin of many,
00:08:23.26\00:08:24.60
and He made intercession
for the transgressors. "
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Yvonne: Hmmm...
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James: Daniel is
making intercession
00:08:28.20\00:08:29.60
for the transgressors.
00:08:29.64\00:08:30.97
Now, to understand the...
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the depth of the
iniquity of the wise men,
00:08:32.37\00:08:35.18
their hypocrisy...
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they're on payroll
but they're worthless.
00:08:36.58\00:08:38.88
Yvonne: Right...
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James: They're worthless...
and the king's figured that out,
00:08:40.28\00:08:42.25
he's figured that out.
00:08:42.28\00:08:43.62
You had a different
version of the Bible...
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New King James...
00:08:45.85\00:08:47.19
the King James renders
verse 5 and verse 8 this way,
00:08:47.22\00:08:51.59
"The king answered
and said to the Chaldeans,
00:08:51.66\00:08:54.50
'The thing is gone from me...
00:08:54.53\00:08:56.46
the thing is gone from me... '"
00:08:56.50\00:08:58.37
and in verse 8, "The
king answered and said,
00:08:58.40\00:09:00.47
'I know of a certainty
that you would gain the time,
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because you see the
thing is gone from me. '"
00:09:02.57\00:09:04.01
Yvonne: Right.
00:09:04.04\00:09:05.37
James: "I don't
remember the dream...
00:09:05.41\00:09:06.74
I don't remember
it... it's gone from me...
00:09:06.78\00:09:08.11
and I've just figured how...
00:09:08.14\00:09:09.48
that I'm paying
you guys for nothing. "
00:09:09.51\00:09:11.35
Yvonne: Right, right right.
00:09:11.38\00:09:12.71
James: "You guys
aren't wise at all. "
00:09:12.75\00:09:14.08
Yvonne: Exactly.
00:09:14.12\00:09:15.45
James: "You're
trying to buy time...
00:09:15.48\00:09:16.82
you're trying to buy time. "
00:09:16.85\00:09:18.19
When... when this world
completely lets us down,
00:09:18.22\00:09:21.26
when we... when our
40K is a 10K... right?
00:09:21.29\00:09:24.83
when everything is just
diminished and insignificant...
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we come to the end of our life
00:09:28.50\00:09:29.83
and we've attained all the
things this world has to offer
00:09:29.86\00:09:31.50
and our heart is still empty.
00:09:31.53\00:09:32.87
Yvonne: Right.
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James: Right, that's where
Nebuchadnezzar is right now,
00:09:34.27\00:09:35.60
it may... these guys
have nothing to offer him
00:09:35.64\00:09:39.04
and that's why he's
so upset... that's why...
00:09:39.07\00:09:41.18
he's not really
upset at them per se,
00:09:41.21\00:09:42.98
he's upset at himself in a way,
00:09:43.04\00:09:44.41
you know, like, "How
could I be so foolish?
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mmm... I don't care about
any of the stuff anymore. "
00:09:46.92\00:09:49.68
Yvonne: "I'm paying you guys
00:09:49.75\00:09:51.09
and you can't do
what I'm paying you for. "
00:09:51.12\00:09:53.09
But instead of him
saying, "You're fired... "
00:09:53.15\00:09:54.86
No... "I'm killing you. "
00:09:54.89\00:09:56.22
I mean, he was just... this is
the mind of a conqueror, right?
00:09:56.26\00:09:59.63
Someone who's conquered
all these other nations,
00:09:59.69\00:10:02.03
"Look, you can't do
what I'm telling you to do,
00:10:02.06\00:10:04.33
you're dead. "
00:10:04.40\00:10:05.73
That's it.
00:10:05.77\00:10:07.10
Jason: No unemployment.
Yvonne: That's right.
00:10:07.14\00:10:08.90
James: And that's the way
it was in my early experience,
00:10:08.97\00:10:10.57
I mean, when I was a kid, we
went through some tough times...
00:10:10.61\00:10:13.27
you know, food stamps and...
00:10:13.31\00:10:14.84
you know, that kind of stuff...
00:10:14.88\00:10:16.44
and I remember when I
started really, I mean...
00:10:16.48\00:10:19.48
when I was 12... 13...
14... I started working hard,
00:10:19.51\00:10:24.12
I mean, I wanted to
make my way in the world,
00:10:24.15\00:10:25.89
I wanted to get jobs...
I wanted to have my car...
00:10:25.92\00:10:27.56
I wanted to have my house...
I wanted to have my stuff...
00:10:27.59\00:10:29.29
and when I was 21... just
before I came to Christ...
00:10:29.32\00:10:33.26
I was getting
ready to buy a house...
00:10:33.29\00:10:34.63
had a couple cars...
00:10:34.66\00:10:36.23
I had a winter
car... summer car...
00:10:36.26\00:10:38.23
you know, my
nice hot rod Camaro...
00:10:38.27\00:10:39.60
Yvonne: At 21?
00:10:39.63\00:10:41.20
James: Hmmm...
hmmmm... I had a good job,
00:10:41.24\00:10:42.80
I'd been working at a
hospital for seven years,
00:10:42.84\00:10:44.97
I had lots of
vacation time... sick time...
00:10:45.01\00:10:47.41
full health coverage...
I had my motorcycle...
00:10:47.44\00:10:49.78
you know, for
those nice summer days,
00:10:49.84\00:10:51.35
I had my friend...
I had... I was set up
00:10:51.38\00:10:53.21
and it was...
00:10:53.25\00:10:54.82
and I came to the place where
I realized... this stuff...
00:10:54.85\00:10:57.42
I thought this was
going to bring me happiness...
00:10:57.45\00:10:59.79
I thought this was going
to take care of my dreams,
00:10:59.82\00:11:02.09
but this stuff isn't
taking care of my dream...
00:11:02.12\00:11:04.06
Nebuchadnezzar is...
00:11:04.09\00:11:05.43
"These guys aren't
taking care of my dreams... "
00:11:05.46\00:11:06.80
and so, I got rid of all of it.
00:11:06.83\00:11:08.20
When I became a
Christian, I got rid of all...
00:11:08.23\00:11:10.23
all of it
died... I slew it all...
00:11:10.27\00:11:12.30
it all went up the
window... it was gone...
00:11:12.33\00:11:14.27
but in time,
God said, "You know,
00:11:14.30\00:11:17.51
you don't have to
kill all that stuff...
00:11:17.54\00:11:19.37
you don't have to get rid of it,
00:11:19.41\00:11:20.74
you can use a car... you
could use a bank account...
00:11:20.78\00:11:23.11
you can do some of the stuff.
00:11:23.14\00:11:24.68
Just don't depend on it... "
00:11:24.71\00:11:26.18
"Don't depend on
it Nebuchadnezzar...
00:11:26.21\00:11:28.28
you don't have to
kill the wise men...
00:11:28.32\00:11:29.65
just don't depend
on the wise men. "
00:11:29.68\00:11:31.02
This life can teach you lessons,
00:11:31.05\00:11:33.05
but the God of
heaven is ultimately the One
00:11:33.09\00:11:35.16
that's in control...
He's ultimately the One
00:11:35.19\00:11:37.23
that's going to
navigate you through life.
00:11:37.26\00:11:39.19
He's going to be able to
answer your difficult questions
00:11:39.23\00:11:41.90
and give you direction through
these visions and dreams.
00:11:41.93\00:11:44.07
Ivor: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:11:44.10\00:11:45.53
James: And I see
that in Daniel chapter 2,
00:11:45.57\00:11:47.54
Daniel chapter 2...
we're about to find out
00:11:47.57\00:11:49.44
the answer to every
question that we have in life...
00:11:49.50\00:11:55.61
the answer is in
Daniel chapter 2.
00:11:55.64\00:11:57.88
Now, Daniel 2, of
course, repeats and enlarges
00:11:57.91\00:12:00.15
in Daniel 7... in
Daniel 8 in Daniel 11...
00:12:00.18\00:12:02.38
and then, even
fills out in Revelation,
00:12:02.45\00:12:04.65
especially Revelation chapter 13
00:12:04.69\00:12:06.72
as we get into the...
the end-time scenario,
00:12:06.76\00:12:08.79
so... but the
questions we have in life...
00:12:08.82\00:12:10.83
what's our
purpose... why are we here?
00:12:10.86\00:12:12.29
Remember Daniel...
he found his purpose.
00:12:12.33\00:12:13.76
Why are we here...
why were we created?
00:12:13.80\00:12:15.20
What does the future hold?
00:12:15.26\00:12:16.60
How can I navigate?
00:12:16.63\00:12:17.97
How can I make
the right decisions?
00:12:18.00\00:12:19.33
Do I really need to be
doing this, this and this
00:12:19.37\00:12:21.07
or should I be doing
something else with my life?
00:12:21.10\00:12:23.00
These are the questions that are
all going to come to pass here
00:12:23.14\00:12:25.81
in Daniel chapter 2
00:12:25.84\00:12:27.28
at least foundationally...
00:12:27.31\00:12:28.64
they're going to
build that foundation
00:12:28.68\00:12:30.01
for moving us on through life.
00:12:30.05\00:12:31.38
It's a beautiful,
beautiful picture that we have
00:12:31.41\00:12:33.58
of God's care for us here.
00:12:33.62\00:12:34.95
Yvonne: I love the way God works
00:12:34.98\00:12:37.29
because like, as you read the...
00:12:37.35\00:12:39.75
the fact that... okay
00:12:39.82\00:12:41.82
His articles went into
the house of the other gods
00:12:41.86\00:12:44.46
and you brought this
out, Pastor James, earlier...
00:12:44.49\00:12:47.03
it's so interesting to me
00:12:47.06\00:12:50.07
that God does
things on His own time,
00:12:50.10\00:12:53.20
He's sovereign,
like, you know, we...
00:12:53.23\00:12:56.77
we can't even
fathom what He's doing
00:12:56.81\00:13:00.28
and the way He does it.
00:13:00.34\00:13:01.68
He... His ways
are not our ways...
00:13:01.71\00:13:03.21
His thoughts
are not our thoughts
00:13:03.24\00:13:05.15
but the way He
handles things, the...
00:13:05.18\00:13:07.55
He's just so...
it's so awesome to me
00:13:07.58\00:13:09.75
the way He does
things, like, He...
00:13:09.78\00:13:12.29
He didn't... He came in a dream
00:13:12.32\00:13:14.79
that no one else could
deal with... no one else...
00:13:14.82\00:13:19.03
and the enemy, of
course... He blocked him...
00:13:19.06\00:13:21.10
so that those guys couldn't
come up with what the dream was.
00:13:21.13\00:13:25.43
God blocked him... he
was just out of the picture
00:13:25.47\00:13:27.77
and so, it's
like... God just does things
00:13:27.80\00:13:30.41
that no one else
can do to let you know,
00:13:30.44\00:13:32.94
"I'm God... that's
it... your gods are nothing,
00:13:32.97\00:13:36.11
I'm God. "
00:13:36.44\00:13:37.81
I mean, He's just so
awesome, I just get excited
00:13:37.85\00:13:40.02
but He's so awesome
the way He does things...
00:13:40.05\00:13:42.18
I love it.
00:13:42.22\00:13:43.75
James: So, let's
move on now in... in...
00:13:43.79\00:13:47.06
Daniel chapter 2 and I just...
00:13:47.09\00:13:50.76
there's something here
that I want us to bring out
00:13:50.79\00:13:53.73
in relationship
to the prayer time.
00:13:53.76\00:13:55.73
I've already talked about
how Daniel had peace, right,
00:13:55.76\00:14:01.44
through all of this process...
that he went to God in prayer,
00:14:01.47\00:14:05.44
he gave it to God in
prayer and then he had peace
00:14:05.47\00:14:07.61
and then God reveals this
to him... what does he do?
00:14:07.64\00:14:09.61
As soon as the
vision is revealed to him,
00:14:09.64\00:14:11.25
what does Daniel
do... how does he respond?
00:14:11.28\00:14:12.61
Ivor: He praises God.
00:14:12.65\00:14:14.75
James: I mean,
how do you respond
00:14:14.78\00:14:16.35
when God gives you something
like... you know what I mean?
00:14:16.38\00:14:18.85
Like insight, like...
00:14:18.92\00:14:20.26
you know, like...
because I think sometimes
00:14:20.29\00:14:21.82
one of the biggest stumbling
blocks to religious people...
00:14:21.89\00:14:24.49
is religious people.
00:14:24.53\00:14:25.86
All: Laughter.
00:14:25.89\00:14:27.23
James: I mean, to
religion... excuse me...
00:14:27.26\00:14:28.86
to religion is religious people,
00:14:28.90\00:14:30.23
like, one of the
biggest stumbling blocks
00:14:30.27\00:14:31.63
to Christ are Christians.
00:14:31.67\00:14:33.34
Yvonne: Hmmm...
00:14:33.37\00:14:34.70
James: You know, the
way we are sometimes...
00:14:34.74\00:14:36.20
the way that we react
when we've got something...
00:14:36.24\00:14:39.01
when we've got
light... when we've got truth...
00:14:39.07\00:14:41.21
we got understanding...
we got the message...
00:14:41.24\00:14:43.38
we got... we know the Bible...
00:14:43.45\00:14:44.85
we know we're right,
you know what I mean?
00:14:44.88\00:14:46.75
And so, Daniel now... he...
00:14:46.78\00:14:49.45
I mean, he's in a position
where all the wise men, like,
00:14:49.48\00:14:52.75
"I know I'm just a resident here
00:14:52.79\00:14:55.02
and I know I wasn't
even included with you guys,
00:14:55.09\00:14:57.56
you got like, you got
this thing to go to the king
00:14:57.59\00:15:00.00
and you could have
given me, like a... a memo...
00:15:00.03\00:15:02.36
like, 'Hey, come
on with us, Daniel...
00:15:02.40\00:15:03.80
hear the story...
this is how it works... '
00:15:03.83\00:15:05.93
No, you left me out and...
00:15:05.97\00:15:08.04
and so, here you know... I
got a little thing on you now...
00:15:08.07\00:15:12.17
I've got it on my head
now... I've got this. "
00:15:12.24\00:15:13.81
But what does Daniel do?
What's his first reaction?
00:15:13.84\00:15:16.14
It says here in
verse... in verse 20,
00:15:16.18\00:15:20.02
"And Daniel answered and said,
00:15:20.05\00:15:22.62
'Blessed be the name
of God for ever and ever
00:15:22.65\00:15:26.02
for wisdom and
might are His... '"
00:15:26.05\00:15:28.49
wooo... why do
we call people wise?
00:15:28.52\00:15:30.79
Why do we call people smart?
00:15:30.83\00:15:32.29
Why do we look up to people?
00:15:32.33\00:15:33.66
He is the One Who has
the wisdom and the might,
00:15:33.70\00:15:36.00
God is the One that has
the wisdom and the might,
00:15:36.03\00:15:38.47
He is the One that
changes times and seasons
00:15:38.50\00:15:42.14
and removes
kings and sets up kings
00:15:42.17\00:15:44.01
and gives wisdom to the wise
00:15:44.04\00:15:45.37
and knowledge to them
that have understanding
00:15:45.41\00:15:46.81
and reveals the
deep things and...
00:15:46.84\00:15:48.71
and He knows
what's in the darkness
00:15:48.74\00:15:50.61
and the light dwells with Him.
00:15:50.65\00:15:51.98
God is the One
that has all of this
00:15:52.01\00:15:54.55
and I thank You and I
praise You O God of my fathers.
00:15:54.58\00:15:57.62
You know, we don't
praise God enough...
00:15:57.65\00:16:00.12
we don't praise God enough.
00:16:00.16\00:16:01.76
And because we
don't praise God enough,
00:16:01.82\00:16:03.73
we end up praising men...
00:16:03.76\00:16:05.09
we end up praising ourselves...
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.93
we end up exalting man
and exalting ourselves.
00:16:06.96\00:16:08.76
We need to learn
how to praise God.
00:16:08.80\00:16:10.60
Yvonne: Yes.
00:16:10.63\00:16:11.97
James: This is something that's
taught to us in prophecy...
00:16:12.00\00:16:14.24
you get it in Daniel...
you get it in Revelation...
00:16:14.27\00:16:16.30
praising God...
praising God... praising God.
00:16:16.37\00:16:18.34
Yvonne: The other thing was
00:16:18.37\00:16:20.18
his relationship with
the Lord was so strong
00:16:20.21\00:16:22.31
that he knew that that
interpretation came from God.
00:16:22.34\00:16:25.58
He knew God's voice...
00:16:25.61\00:16:28.08
he knew that this was from God
00:16:28.12\00:16:29.98
and he could praise
Him and thank Him for it
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.32
and go to the king
with it with confidence
00:16:32.35\00:16:34.62
that it came from God,
so it's got to be true.
00:16:34.66\00:16:36.83
All: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:16:36.86\00:16:38.23
Yvonne: It wasn't
coming from him...
00:16:38.26\00:16:39.59
he knew that it came from God.
00:16:39.63\00:16:40.96
James: And there are so many
00:16:41.00\00:16:42.33
different theories out
there now, isn't there?
00:16:42.36\00:16:43.70
So many different ways
of interpreting things.
00:16:43.73\00:16:45.17
How do we know for
sure this is the right one?
00:16:45.23\00:16:46.80
Yvonne: That's right.
00:16:46.84\00:16:48.17
James: Well, I
think one of the ways is
00:16:48.20\00:16:49.54
we give the glory to God.
00:16:49.57\00:16:50.91
A lot of people put their
name next to the theory...
00:16:50.94\00:16:54.21
their name next to
the interpretation...
00:16:54.24\00:16:56.04
you know, this
person... that person...
00:16:56.08\00:16:57.88
"Well, have you heard his... "
00:16:57.91\00:16:59.25
or "Have you heard his...?"
00:16:59.28\00:17:00.62
What does the Bible say?
00:17:00.65\00:17:01.98
What does God say?
00:17:02.02\00:17:03.35
Jason: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:17:03.39\00:17:04.72
Ivor: I think
another really powerful point
00:17:04.75\00:17:06.99
about Daniel's character is...
00:17:07.02\00:17:10.73
first he's praying,
00:17:10.79\00:17:13.16
like, "Let us not be killed
with the other wise men. "
00:17:13.19\00:17:17.67
But then, he goes in
and gives an interpretation
00:17:17.70\00:17:21.10
that could cost his life.
00:17:21.14\00:17:22.90
All: Hmmm...
Yvonne: That's right.
00:17:22.97\00:17:24.31
Ivor: He goes in like,
00:17:24.34\00:17:26.98
"I'm about to
tell you this dream
00:17:27.01\00:17:28.64
whether you like it or not
00:17:28.68\00:17:30.01
I need you to know that
your kingdom is going to fall.
00:17:30.05\00:17:33.52
All: Hmmm...
00:17:33.55\00:17:34.88
Ivor: You don't
want to tell a king that.
00:17:34.92\00:17:36.45
Yvonne: Right, that's true.
00:17:36.48\00:17:37.82
Ivor: You lie...
00:17:37.85\00:17:39.19
"There are some other
kings that are going to fall
00:17:39.22\00:17:41.52
and you O king, live forever. "
00:17:41.56\00:17:43.43
All: Laughter.
00:17:43.46\00:17:44.79
Ivor: No... you go in there
and you're telling the king,
00:17:44.83\00:17:46.43
"Your kingdom
is going to fall. "
00:17:46.46\00:17:47.80
James: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:17:47.83\00:17:49.16
Ivor: I mean,
that's... that's risky
00:17:49.20\00:17:51.17
and so, I think even
his... in his courage,
00:17:51.20\00:17:55.50
he was just like, "This
dream, you might not like it
00:17:55.54\00:17:58.91
and you might punish me for it,
00:17:58.94\00:18:01.14
but I'm telling you... this
is what's going to happen. "
00:18:01.18\00:18:05.41
James: I love that... and
the only way we can do that
00:18:05.45\00:18:09.35
is if "self" is out of the way.
00:18:09.38\00:18:10.85
We're not
worried about ourselves,
00:18:10.89\00:18:12.35
we're only worried about God...
and that's what you see here.
00:18:12.39\00:18:14.49
As we set up for
this, we see that Daniel...
00:18:14.52\00:18:16.76
he is pressured...
00:18:16.79\00:18:18.43
the world pressures us
to put self in the picture
00:18:18.46\00:18:21.00
so, as Daniel praises God,
self is completely obliterated
00:18:21.03\00:18:25.50
and then in verse 24,
Daniel goes unto see Arioch
00:18:25.53\00:18:30.07
who the king had ordered to
destroy the wise men of Babylon
00:18:30.11\00:18:32.14
and he said to him,
00:18:32.17\00:18:33.51
"Don't destroy the
wise men of Babylon,
00:18:33.54\00:18:34.88
bring me in before the king,
00:18:34.91\00:18:36.24
and I will show the
king the interpretation
00:18:36.28\00:18:38.58
and Arioch brought Daniel
in before the king in haste,
00:18:38.61\00:18:41.32
and said thus unto him,
00:18:41.35\00:18:43.22
'I have found a man
of the captives of Judah,
00:18:43.25\00:18:46.09
that will make known unto
the king the interpretation. '"
00:18:46.12\00:18:48.16
"Wow! Arioch, you found him. "
00:18:48.19\00:18:49.92
It must have been...
you must have worked...
00:18:49.96\00:18:52.66
that was
something! You found somebody.
00:18:52.69\00:18:54.93
Jason: He got a raise.
00:18:54.96\00:18:56.33
James: He got a raise...
00:18:56.36\00:18:57.70
he wanted some credit didn't he?
00:18:57.73\00:18:59.37
Yvonne: He put
himself on the line, though,
00:18:59.40\00:19:00.77
to support his work.
00:19:00.80\00:19:02.20
Jason: What did he have
to lose? James: That's right.
00:19:02.24\00:19:04.44
Ivor: He could
have got killed too...
00:19:04.47\00:19:08.84
like, "You found
this guy that just told me
00:19:08.88\00:19:11.85
that my kingdom
was going to fall?
00:19:11.88\00:19:13.21
All right... both of you... "
00:19:13.25\00:19:14.58
James: "I found a man... "
00:19:14.62\00:19:15.95
and... and it's
interesting how we...
00:19:15.98\00:19:18.12
we all wanted a
little bit of the credit...
00:19:18.15\00:19:19.65
We... human nature
wants a little bit of credit.
00:19:19.72\00:19:22.29
Yvonne: Yeah, that's true.
00:19:22.32\00:19:23.66
James: So, let's read verses...
let's read verses 26, 27 and 28.
00:19:23.69\00:19:27.10
Jason: "The king
answered and said to Daniel,
00:19:27.13\00:19:30.33
whose name was Belteshazzar,
00:19:30.37\00:19:32.70
'Are you able to make known to
me the dream which I have seen,
00:19:32.73\00:19:35.60
and its interpretation?'
00:19:35.64\00:19:36.97
Daniel answered in the
presence of the king, and said,
00:19:37.01\00:19:40.28
'The secret which
the king has demanded,
00:19:40.31\00:19:42.74
the wise men, the
astrologers, the magicians,
00:19:42.78\00:19:45.38
and the soothsayers
cannot declare to the king.
00:19:45.41\00:19:47.98
But there is a God in
heaven who reveals secrets,
00:19:48.02\00:19:51.85
and He has made known
to King Nebuchadnezzar
00:19:51.89\00:19:54.86
what will be in the latter days.
00:19:54.89\00:19:59.76
Your dream, and the visions
of your head upon your bed,
00:19:59.79\00:20:04.17
were these... '"
00:20:04.20\00:20:05.63
James: Okay, so Daniel
is a politician in training,
00:20:05.67\00:20:10.97
right? He's a
politician in training
00:20:11.01\00:20:12.87
but God is the One who's
training him above and beyond.
00:20:12.94\00:20:15.48
So, the king asked him...
you know how politicians are...
00:20:15.51\00:20:18.01
the king asked him a question,
00:20:18.08\00:20:19.41
did he answer the question?
00:20:19.45\00:20:20.78
Yvonne: Well, he did, he said...
00:20:20.82\00:20:24.45
"Nobody else could do
it but God could do it. "
00:20:24.52\00:20:27.26
James: Did he
answer the question?
00:20:27.29\00:20:28.62
The question was, "Are you
able to interpret the dream?"
00:20:28.66\00:20:31.19
See how he did that?
00:20:31.23\00:20:32.73
See how... how God gave him
a heavenly political answer...
00:20:32.76\00:20:37.80
heavenly... you see...
00:20:37.83\00:20:39.23
Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:20:39.30\00:20:40.67
James: So, Daniel
should have said, "Yes" or "No"
00:20:40.70\00:20:42.70
"Yeah, I can answer... "
or "I can't answer... " right?
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.74
But he didn't say
that... he didn't say that
00:20:44.77\00:20:46.47
but what he did was masterful.
00:20:46.51\00:20:47.88
Ivor: Hmmm...
00:20:47.91\00:20:49.24
James: He said, "You know,
00:20:49.28\00:20:50.61
in answer to
your question, O king,
00:20:50.65\00:20:51.98
can I answer the dream
and I answer that question?
00:20:52.01\00:20:53.65
The wise men,
astrologers and the magicians
00:20:53.68\00:20:57.25
and all your wise men...
they can't answer it... "
00:20:57.29\00:20:58.95
James: Completely
bypasses himself...
00:20:58.99\00:21:01.36
"but there is a God in heaven. "
00:21:01.39\00:21:03.66
James: That's so
beautiful. Yvonne: Yes.
00:21:03.73\00:21:06.09
James: That's what we need...
00:21:06.13\00:21:07.46
that's what the
Christian world needs.
00:21:07.50\00:21:09.10
Yvonne: Yes.
00:21:09.13\00:21:10.47
James: We need
to bypass ourselves
00:21:10.50\00:21:12.23
and direct all the glory to God
00:21:12.27\00:21:14.17
in the context of people's
lives completely falling apart,
00:21:14.20\00:21:18.14
Nebuchadnezzar's life is
completely falling apart.
00:21:18.17\00:21:19.91
Now, think about this,
00:21:19.94\00:21:21.28
his whole empire
that he's built...
00:21:21.31\00:21:22.64
all the wisdom that
he has in that empire...
00:21:22.68\00:21:24.31
he's about ready to
throw in the garbage can...
00:21:24.35\00:21:26.21
he's just going to toss it
00:21:26.25\00:21:27.58
and in that crisis of his life,
00:21:27.62\00:21:29.92
God steps in
through a man named Daniel
00:21:29.95\00:21:32.39
who can step out of the way
and then give God all the glory.
00:21:32.42\00:21:35.46
Yvonne: Yes.
00:21:35.49\00:21:36.89
James: "Those guys can't...
but there is a God in heaven...
00:21:36.93\00:21:38.73
I'm eclipsed...
I'm out of here...
00:21:38.79\00:21:40.23
there is a God in heaven... "
00:21:40.26\00:21:41.70
and I love that picture
that... that he's giving
00:21:41.73\00:21:43.50
because that's the picture
that sets Nebuchadnezzar up
00:21:43.53\00:21:46.07
to say, "Your God
is the God of gods...
00:21:46.10\00:21:47.94
not you, Daniel, you're not...
00:21:48.00\00:21:49.70
but your God is
the God of gods. "
00:21:49.74\00:21:51.37
So that's what
we need to be at...
00:21:51.41\00:21:53.01
if we can be at that juncture
in the crisis of people's lives,
00:21:53.04\00:21:56.85
where we're just there
to direct people to God...
00:21:56.88\00:22:00.35
and we're
eclipsed... it's not about us...
00:22:00.38\00:22:02.18
it's about
directing people to God...
00:22:02.25\00:22:04.02
that's where God wants us to be.
00:22:04.05\00:22:05.85
That's where we can
be of... of the most help
00:22:05.89\00:22:08.19
and that's where
Daniel is in this time.
00:22:08.22\00:22:09.99
Powerful stuff...
00:22:10.03\00:22:12.59
James: So, there is
a God who reveals...
00:22:12.63\00:22:17.33
and then he goes... and then
he's going to begin the dream.
00:22:17.37\00:22:19.83
So, in verse 30, Daniel begins,
00:22:19.87\00:22:24.54
and let's just...
let's just read this,
00:22:24.57\00:22:26.57
there's going to be
a lot of verses here,
00:22:26.61\00:22:28.54
maybe we can read
through the first part of this
00:22:28.58\00:22:31.31
and we can stop at verse 35,
00:22:31.35\00:22:36.45
let's read at
verse 35... 30 to 35...
00:22:36.48\00:22:38.72
Yvonne: Okay.
00:22:38.75\00:22:40.09
"But as for me, this secret
has not been revealed to me
00:22:40.12\00:22:42.76
because I have more
wisdom than anyone living,
00:22:42.79\00:22:45.19
but for our sakes who make known
the interpretation to the king,
00:22:45.23\00:22:49.23
and that you may know
the thoughts of your heart.
00:22:49.26\00:22:52.03
'You, O king, were watching;
and behold, a great image!
00:22:52.07\00:22:56.37
This great image,
whose splendor was excellent,
00:22:56.40\00:22:58.84
stood before you;
00:22:58.87\00:23:00.21
and its form was awesome.
00:23:00.24\00:23:01.71
This image's
head was of fine gold,
00:23:01.74\00:23:04.38
its chest and arms of silver,
00:23:04.41\00:23:06.45
its belly and thigs of bronze,
00:23:06.48\00:23:08.45
its legs of iron,
00:23:08.48\00:23:09.82
its feet partly of
iron and partly of clay.
00:23:09.85\00:23:12.69
You watched while a stone
was cut out without hands,
00:23:12.72\00:23:16.12
which struck the image on
its feet of iron and clay,
00:23:16.16\00:23:19.53
and broke them in pieces.
00:23:19.59\00:23:21.10
Then the iron,
the clay, the bronze,
00:23:21.13\00:23:23.77
the silver, and the
gold were crushed together,
00:23:23.80\00:23:26.40
and became like chaff from
the summer threshing floors;
00:23:26.43\00:23:29.60
the wind carried them away
00:23:29.64\00:23:31.47
so that no trace
of them was found.
00:23:31.51\00:23:33.64
And the stone
that struck the image
00:23:33.68\00:23:35.74
became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth. '"
00:23:35.78\00:23:38.98
James: Wow!
00:23:39.01\00:23:41.32
"This is the dream and
we're going to tell you
00:23:41.35\00:23:42.98
the interpretation. "
00:23:43.05\00:23:44.49
Just think about what
Nebuchadnezzar's thinking
00:23:44.52\00:23:46.05
right now, what's he thinking?
00:23:46.09\00:23:48.59
Ivor: That's what I dreamed.
00:23:48.62\00:23:51.09
Jason: He's probably blown away.
00:23:51.13\00:23:52.73
James: "How did
you know... what?"
00:23:52.76\00:23:54.43
Yvonne: Like, yes...
nobody else could do it.
00:23:54.46\00:23:56.60
James: "Nobody
else could do this...
00:23:56.63\00:23:57.97
nobody else can do this. "
00:23:58.00\00:23:59.33
Jason: And
you're still in school.
00:23:59.37\00:24:00.74
James: You haven't
even graduated yet.
00:24:00.80\00:24:04.54
You know, it's
interesting to realize
00:24:04.57\00:24:08.28
that Daniel is probably
a teenager at this point,
00:24:08.31\00:24:10.78
he's probably a young man
00:24:10.81\00:24:12.15
and to see that
God doesn't use us
00:24:12.18\00:24:14.35
because of our
years of experience
00:24:14.38\00:24:16.52
or wealth of knowledge...
00:24:16.55\00:24:17.89
because of
letters behind our name...
00:24:17.92\00:24:19.69
God uses us
because we're available
00:24:19.72\00:24:21.49
because we found His
purpose for our lives
00:24:21.52\00:24:23.46
and we make
ourselves available to Him.
00:24:23.49\00:24:24.89
Yvonne: Amen.
00:24:24.93\00:24:26.26
James: And I've been so blessed.
00:24:26.29\00:24:27.63
Many times when I'm
doing ministry or whatever,
00:24:27.66\00:24:31.57
I tell people,
"God has me in ministry
00:24:31.60\00:24:33.84
for my own salvation,
00:24:33.87\00:24:35.20
I'm not in ministry...
because I've been saved
00:24:35.24\00:24:37.37
and I'm good and I
don't need anything
00:24:37.41\00:24:39.44
but to share with
others what God has shown me,
00:24:39.47\00:24:42.14
I'm in ministry because
00:24:42.21\00:24:43.55
every day I need
more of the grace of God
00:24:43.58\00:24:45.58
and the blessing of God... "
00:24:45.61\00:24:46.95
and as I pour out to
others... others pour into me...
00:24:46.98\00:24:50.22
I was just reading a testimony
00:24:50.25\00:24:52.92
from one of the
students in Australia...
00:24:52.95\00:24:54.36
we'll be going back there...
00:24:54.39\00:24:55.72
I've been there...
here just a few weeks ago
00:24:55.76\00:24:57.79
and we're going to be going
back there toward the end of May
00:24:57.83\00:24:59.73
for the graduation
and doing Revelation...
00:24:59.76\00:25:01.30
we did Daniel too and Revelation
00:25:01.33\00:25:02.73
and it was a
powerful testimony...
00:25:02.76\00:25:04.10
and part of what
this young lady said was,
00:25:04.13\00:25:06.60
"I used to think that...
00:25:06.63\00:25:10.54
my life was... was just
too broken to give to God
00:25:10.57\00:25:14.28
and... but now I realize
that God wants all the pieces...
00:25:14.31\00:25:17.35
all the pieces...
even the broken pieces...
00:25:17.38\00:25:21.08
He wants all the pieces
00:25:21.12\00:25:22.58
and I just need to
give Him all the pieces...
00:25:22.65\00:25:23.99
including the broken pieces... "
00:25:24.02\00:25:25.35
and that just really
ministered to me this morning
00:25:25.39\00:25:27.32
and as I read that...
00:25:27.36\00:25:28.69
as I thought about
that in my own life...
00:25:28.72\00:25:30.39
you know what I'm saying?
00:25:30.43\00:25:31.76
And this is
where we see Daniel at,
00:25:31.79\00:25:33.63
Daniel is available...
00:25:33.66\00:25:35.13
he's a young man and
he's available to God
00:25:35.16\00:25:37.20
and sometimes, young
people can be intimidated,
00:25:37.23\00:25:39.40
they can be
overwhelmed, "What do I have?
00:25:39.43\00:25:41.40
I'm just in the shadow
of these great giants...
00:25:41.44\00:25:43.64
I don't have
anything to offer... "
00:25:43.67\00:25:45.17
but the story of Daniel tells us
00:25:45.21\00:25:46.64
that it's not about
us, it's about God...
00:25:46.68\00:25:49.04
it's about
being available to Him
00:25:49.08\00:25:50.91
and fulfilling the purpose that
God has for us in our lives.
00:25:50.95\00:25:53.48
It's beautiful... it's powerful
00:25:53.52\00:25:55.08
and so, Nebuchadnezzar
is literally blown away.
00:25:55.12\00:25:57.75
We mentioned this yesterday
00:25:57.79\00:25:59.45
but Nebuchadnezzar was
the first person to attend
00:25:59.52\00:26:02.29
a Daniel Seminar.
00:26:02.32\00:26:03.66
All: Laughter.
00:26:03.69\00:26:05.03
Yvonne: That's true.
00:26:05.06\00:26:06.39
James: He sat on the front
row and he's just listening,
00:26:06.43\00:26:08.13
he's going like,
"Wow! that's exactly
00:26:08.16\00:26:09.96
what I saw, Daniel,
how could you know that?
00:26:10.03\00:26:12.47
Who told you that...
00:26:12.53\00:26:13.87
who told you that?
00:26:13.90\00:26:15.24
And I didn't
even remember that...
00:26:15.27\00:26:16.67
how could you
know my thoughts...
00:26:16.71\00:26:18.31
what I was thinking...
what I was cogitating on...
00:26:18.34\00:26:20.34
what I was worried about...
00:26:20.38\00:26:21.71
what I was anxious about...
how could you know that?"
00:26:21.74\00:26:23.08
All: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:26:23.11\00:26:24.45
James: And that
really sets him up for the...
00:26:24.48\00:26:27.28
for the interpretation
00:26:27.32\00:26:28.65
and I think at this point,
00:26:28.68\00:26:30.42
what Ivor said earlier that
Daniel was taking a great risk
00:26:30.45\00:26:33.25
because he's
about to tell the king,
00:26:33.29\00:26:34.72
"Your kingdom's going to
end at a certain spot... "
00:26:34.76\00:26:36.62
but I think
because God set this all up
00:26:36.66\00:26:40.46
so that He could
actually just impress the king
00:26:40.50\00:26:44.87
with the fact that
he didn't remember this
00:26:44.90\00:26:46.84
it's not just an interpretation,
00:26:46.87\00:26:48.20
I think this prepares
the king to be receptive.
00:26:48.24\00:26:50.94
Yvonne: Right.
00:26:50.97\00:26:52.31
James: And God
wants to do that for us,
00:26:52.34\00:26:53.78
we're in situations
and circumstances...
00:26:53.81\00:26:55.44
we're talking with people
who are in "influence... "
00:26:55.48\00:26:57.81
positions of influence
00:26:57.85\00:26:59.18
we don't know what to say.
00:26:59.21\00:27:00.55
God knows what we can say...
00:27:00.58\00:27:01.92
that we can sow
that seed and have a word
00:27:01.95\00:27:07.56
that's going to impact them in a
way that's going to be powerful
00:27:07.59\00:27:09.59
and that's what
God does with Daniel.
00:27:09.62\00:27:10.96
Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:27:10.99\00:27:12.33
James: God sets him up
so he has a word to share
00:27:12.36\00:27:13.70
that can be
impactful and powerful.
00:27:13.73\00:27:15.20
Yvonne: Yes. James: So...
00:27:15.23\00:27:16.56
Yvonne: That was so powerful,
00:27:16.60\00:27:17.93
God was preparing
King Nebuchadnezzar
00:27:17.97\00:27:21.20
for what was going
to come with Daniel...
00:27:21.24\00:27:25.07
He was opening up
the door for Daniel to...
00:27:25.11\00:27:28.84
to minister to him
really and to show him the way.
00:27:28.88\00:27:31.61
James: He had to
have influence with him.
00:27:31.65\00:27:32.98
Yvonne: Absolutely.
00:27:33.01\00:27:34.35
James: Because Daniel was... as
Ivor said, was taking a big risk
00:27:34.38\00:27:35.98
and God will do
the same with us.
00:27:36.02\00:27:37.35
Yvonne: Yes.
00:27:37.39\00:27:38.72
James: When we're willing
to step out and take that risk,
00:27:38.75\00:27:40.09
God will prepare the way.
00:27:40.12\00:27:41.46
Yvonne: Amen. Jason: Amen.
00:27:41.49\00:27:42.82