Not Just a Story…..
12/8/02
REV. JOHN C. MCCAHERTY
1ST BAPTIST OF MURPHY
TEXT: DANIEL 2: 31-45
INTRO. TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER THE MANGER, IN CELEBRATION OF OUR RECONGINITION OF THE GREATEST EVENT IN HISTORY THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
MOST OF THE TIME WE DO NOT APPROACH CHRISTMAS FROM THE STAND POINT OF DANIEL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING REALLY REMARKABLE HERE. GOD IS SHOWING KING NEB THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY HIS FUTURE BUT OURS ALSO. IN IT WE WILL SEE THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF MANKIND, THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND THE REIGN OF OUR LORD.
I. STORY OF THE DREAM
A. NEBUCHADNEZZER HAD THE DREAM (2ND YEAR OF HIS REIGN) A STATUE (PROBABLY OF A MAN) HAS A HEAD OF GOLD, A CHEST AND ARMS OF SILVER, BELLY AND THIGHS OF BRONZE, AND LEGS OF IRON. THE FEET WERE CLAY MIXED WITH IRON. THEN THE STONE THAT WAS CUT WITHOUT HUMAN HANDS CRUSHES THE STATUE AND CONSUMES THE WORLD…..
1. TROUBLED
2. COULDN’T SLEEP
3. CALL THE WISE MEN
4. NO-ONE COULD HELP HIM
2. DANIEL INTERPETS THE DREAM
1. GIVES GOD THE GLORY! HE DOESN’T CLAIM TO BE ABLE TO DO IT HIMSELF BUT SAY’S “THERE IS A GOD THAT REVEALS MYSTERIES”
Da: 2:28: But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.
3. INTERPETATION OF THE DREAM: 5 WORLD EMPIRES
A. HEAD OF GOLD WAS NEBUCHADNEZZER’S KINGDOM
B. CHEST WAS MEADS AND PERSIONS – OVER TOOK NEBS KINGDOM IN ???
C. BELLY AND THIGHS WERE THE GREEKS
D. LEGS OF IRON WERE THE ROMANS
E. FEET HAVE YET TO BE FULFILLED; BIBLE TELLS OF A FUTURE KINGDOM THAT WILL TEMPORARALY UNITE THE WORLD, RULED BY 10 KINGS.
4. THE STONE, CUT WITHOUT HUMAN HANDS - JESUS CHRIST
A. NOT BY TRADIONAL MEANS WILL THIS KINGDOM BE SET UP, NOT BY MEN. THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL KINGDOM AS WERE THE FIRST FIVE.
REFERS TO THE VIRGIN BIRTH, (CUT WITHOUT HUMAN HANDS) SOME SAY TODAY THAT THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST IS NOT IMPORTANT OR THAT IT WAS JUST A SYMBOL OF SOMETHING ELSE – THE VIRGIN BIRTH MEANS EVERYTHING, WITHOUT THE VIRGIN BIRTH THEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WOULD BE SET UP WITH HUMAN HANDS, WITH A MAN BORN IN SIN. THEREFORE IT WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER KINGDOM.
AND YET HERE WE ARE HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE THE MESSIAH, GOD REVEALS TO DANIEL THAT THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS WILL COME BUT IT WILL BE SUPERNATUAL, NOT BY HUMAN HANDS!!!
PROPHESY:
Da: 2:34: Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Isa: 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
FULFILLMENT:
Lu: 1:26: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Lu: 1:27: To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Lu: 1:28: And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Lu: 1:29: And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Lu: 1:30: And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Lu: 1:31: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
BORN OF GOD! BORN TO BE “GOD WITH US”, THE WORD MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US!
5. THE STONE CONSUMES THE WORLD!
Da: 2:44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Da:2:45: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
1. THE VISION GOES PAST THE FACT THAT THE STONE WOULD BE CUT WITHOUT HUMAN HANDS, AND GOES ON TO SAY THAT IT WILL CONSUME THE EARTH. (WON’T STAY IN A MANGER)
THINK OF THAT – JESUS WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN, LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, AND WAS CRUCIFIED UPON THE CROSS, ROSE FROM THE TOMB, AND ACCENDED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, TO RETURN AGAIN TO RULE.
MANY TIMES WE THINK OF CHRISTMAS AND ONLY THINK ON THE MANGER. BUT JESUS IS NO LONGER IN THE MANGER.
THE WORD OF GOD SAY’S:
Joh: 1:11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
M’r:15:27: And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
M’r:16:6: And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen
M’r:16:19: So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Joh: 14:1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh: 14:2: In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh: 14:3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN THIS BABY THAT WAS IN THE MANGER SHALL COME AGAIN AND RULES THE EARTH, THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD WILL PASS AWAY AND THERE WILL BE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
Re: 11:15: And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Re: 21:1: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Re: 22:5: And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6. THE TRUTH HAS BEEN REVEALED TO US, THE KING IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!
Da: 2:45: … The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure
CHRISTMAS IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR TO REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, BUT LET US NOT FORGET WHAT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST MEANS TO US.
1. GOD LOVES US AND SENT HIS SON JESUS
2. JESUS BECAME THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR SIN
3. JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE UPON THE CROSS, THAT WE COULD HAVE FORGIVNESS OF SIN
4. JESUS AROSE FROM THE GRAVE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER
5. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN, TO RECEIVE HIS BRIDE, AND SET UP HIS KINGDOM.
