"Dreams, Dreams, Dreams” Series

OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO Daniel 2 & Acts 17

1. A Book. A Movie. A Song. An Angel. A Friend. A Donkey.

a. That’s interesting list.

b. SO: What do they have in common?

c. God can use them all to communicate to His creation.

Hebrews 1.1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

VARIOUS TIMES… God speaks to us when we expect it and when we don’t. He speaks to us when we WANT TO hear and when we don’t.

• He’s voice is continually going forth…

VARIOUS WAYS… God speaks to us in ways that are unique to getting our attention. Friends & enemies. Sermons & Signs. He’ll use a CD.

• He’ll use the internet. He’ll use just about any avenue to reach through this dark & depraved world to a culture that needs Him!

That’s the heart of God… to reach down, to reach in, to lift up those that live on this earth.

• And so he’s sent messengers with his message of love.

• He’s sent a book, a collection of love stories that He himself has written so that we might know Him and embrace Him.

• Finally, He sent His Son…

John 3.16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

AND I LOVE THIS TRUTH: NO ONE IS UNREACHABLE. NO ONE.

• Rich or poor, old or young, wanting to know more, not caring at all. It doesn’t matter, God’s love is toward everyone.

• If they are soft… share. If they are hardened… share.

• We just don’t know what’s working behind the scenes.

1 Cor. 3.5-6 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

• And I’ve seen that the harder a person seems to be against the things of God, the closer they are to surrendering their lives!

NOTE: Paul the Apostle was a messenger of God. He was entrusted with the gospel & took it from city to city, powerfully & confidently

• Some received him, but still most rejected him.

• In Acts 17, Paul has come to a group of SMART MEN.

• As he’s waiting in Athens, his spirit is provoked. God wants to use him to speak to a group of seasoned, educated, and intelligent philosophers. READ THROUGH Acts 17:22ff

So NOW we see it again, God reaches a king named Nebuchadnezzar.

• He’s the most powerful & influential man on the planet.

• Talk about someone who seems unreachable.

• But God has it all set up… It’s a DIVINE SET-UP FOR SURE!

• The captivity, the capture of Daniel, & a recurring dream!

NOTE: We find Nebuchadnezzar alone in the dark… wondering about the future, thinking about immortality.

• He’s a little confused about these dreams. What do they mean?

• Why do I keep getting them? What’s going on?

• I’m in control in so many other areas, and this one seems to be far beyond my abilities.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR thought that history was his. That he could control his own destiny, be the captain of his own ship.

• Yet, he’s about to find out that HISTORY BELONGS to GOD.

• And that history is simply, HIS-STORY, as God was writing in advance all that would happen.

• The powers that be will soon be the powers that were!

APP: That’s why is so important to take advantage of today.

• Not to get too hung up on what happened in the past.

• Not to get to worried about what might happen in the future.

• But to live in the NOW, for today, redeeming the time before us!

2 Cor. 6.2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

I. (2:24-45) DREAM IS MADE CLEAR

1. (24-30) Taken into His Presence

a. Fresh from the prayer meeting, Daniel talks to Arioch.

b. He’s inspired & hopeful as he PLEADS for the lives of the wise men, the pagan astrologers, the pagan unbelievers!

NOTE: That’s the GRACE of God. Most might have thought about saving their own lives and making sure they wipe out the lost.

• Especially guys like these as we learn in CH3 they have been trying to get Daniel and his friends for a long time!