Topics: God's glory, mistery, secrets
I. Who gets the credit?
* After you kneel before God, you can stand before any man!
- Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king?s presence and spoke to him as follows: "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!" (Daniel 2:25).
- Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men (Proverbs 25:6).
- The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?" Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries" (Daniel 2:26-28a).
- The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. Many seek the ruler's favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord (Proverbs 29:25, 26).
II. Who knows the future?
* God is revealing the Messianic future and the "time of the Gentiles"!
- "He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind" (Dan 2:28b-30).
- He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord." And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:17b-21).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins October 4th, 2020
