Last weekend I asked the following question, "Is there ground in your life upon which you simply refuse to give?" or "Are there values that form you, values and convictions that you hold so dear, that you will never compromise them, no matter what?"
This weekend I ask you this: 'In what or whom do you place your confidence and trust?' Or better yet, 'Is there a confidence you and I have, as believers, that is unshakable and that remains steadfast, no matter what may come or how trying life may become?'
It may seem like a 'radical' question - even one that you never hope to have to answer. But, in my own experience I find that we all will face a day when answering this question will provide the future upon which we may have to stand. Indeed, there will be a time when the 'rug is pulled out from under you' or the 'wheels fall off the cart.' What holds you then, to what truth do you run or what hope do you have?
While there are many places one may turn, there is only one to which we can turn to find a rock solid foundation in the midst of the storm. That place is really a person - the person God Himself. In Daniel 2 the king has a dream that disturbs him to such a degree that he asks all of his 'wise' men (i.e. read foolish, according to the apostle, Paul) to interpret the dream BEFORE he will even tell it to them. They confess this power is not in them and resides only in God - this answer,though ironically correct, is unacceptable to the King so he decrees that they all be put to death - Daniel and his friends among them.
Daniel asks for audience with the King, goes before his three comrades and then goes before the throne of God - in confidence. Why did Daniel have confidence in the face of impending death in the midst of a foreign land? Well there are three reasons, really three attributes of God, which give Daniel and you and I confidence in the midst of lives most desperate moments! I would like to take just a moment and focus on these three attributes and the hope the provide to you and me today!
The first attribute in which Daniel takes confidence is the Power of God! In Daniel 2:20 - 21 we read, 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.' Daniel knows that in God resides power and might - enough power to change the times and seasons (circumstances and situations) and the depose and establish kings (rulers and authorities). You see Daniel knows who God is and because of this he has a confidence in the presence of a very powerful and evil king because Daniel's God has power of even this king and his decrees.
The second attribute in which Daniel takes confidence is the Wisdom of God! In Daniel 2:22 we read, "he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding." Daniel further knows that God is the God of all Wisdom and He freely gives this wisdom to those who seek Him. No, the magicians in Nebuchadnezzar's court do not have this wisdom (they already confessed that God alone could know the King's dream), but God's people are given wisdom from God, when we seek after Him. In First Corinthians 2:15 - 16 we see this clearly as Paul tells us, "The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." Who has understanding from God? His people, who have put on the mind of Christ and are no longer being conformed to this world, but transformed by His Word! We have confidence in this truth today! The question is, do you have the mind of Christ today? Or is one of your feet in the world?
The third attribute in which Daniel takes confidence is the Revelation of God! In Daniel 2:22 we read, "he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him." While this is somewhat similar to wisdom, the difference lies in the fact that even when there is nothing but darkness and confusion around us, our God is the God of Revelation! He is the very revelation of the way, the truth and the life for you and me and this attribute alone is enough to hold us in the darkest mysteries of life! Daniel takes confidence in this truth because in it he finds a hope the world does not provide and a truth it does not know!
So, I ask again: "in what or whom do you place your confidence?" Join us Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00 to explore more these great truths and the hope they should provide!
More than Before!
Biz
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