Title: Thriving Spiritually When Circumstances Seem Impossible
Text: Daniel 2
I’ve had a recurring dream lately. And I’m not making this up—it’s for real.
I’m sitting in a math class, and Heather Gulgin—who, as many of you know, is a
professor at GVSU—is my teacher.
It’s time for the final exam.
There’s just one problem: I haven’t studied.
I haven’t even paid attention in class. I have no idea how I’m going to pass.
I feel completely unprepared, humiliated, and trapped.
Heather, however, is very kind to me in the dream.
And then, just like that—it’s over.
I wake up in a panic, convinced I need to take an impossible math test.
Then reality hits me—I’m not in school.
I don’t have a math class.
Heather isn’t my professor.
It was just a dream.
But what if it wasn’t just a dream?
That’s exactly what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
His dream wasn’t a random subconscious nightmare—it was a message from God.
And it didn’t just shake him—it terrified him.
So much so that he demanded his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans
not only interpret the dream—but tell him what the dream was.
And if they failed?
They would all be executed.
No pressure, right?
This wasn’t just a difficult situation.
It was a death sentence.
And among those who would be killed?
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
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What would they do?
There was only one option—trust God completely.
Have you ever been in a situation where there was literally nothing you could do but
pray and trust the Lord?
Maybe that’s where you are right now.
If so, this passage is for you.
Because no matter how impossible your circumstances seem, one truth remains:
Main Idea: God is Trustworthy Regardless of What You Face
Daniel and his friends were staring down an impossible situation—one that they did
not create.
How would they respond?
1. A Troubling Dream with a Troubling Demand (vs. 1–16)
Check this situation out in verses 1-12.
Daniel 2:1–12 ESV
1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his
spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the
magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the
king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them,
“I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said
to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will
show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word
from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you
shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the
dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great
honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second
time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its
interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying
to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the
dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying
and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I
shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king
and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great
and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11
The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the
gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” 12 Because of this the king was angry and very
furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
Nebuchadnezzar saw through their deception.
This situation exposed their powerlessness.
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If you look back at verse 11, you will see a statement that they basically admit they have
never had powers.
They were supposed to speak on behalf of the Babylonian gods, and now, all of a
sudden, they no longer have contact with them. Curious!
Daniel 2:11 ESV
11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the
gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
“When the occultists said that no one but the gods could reveal the dream to the king,
they admitted that their previous interpretations of dreams were bogus, since only the
gods can give such information. We might paraphrase the point this way: ‘Even though
we’ve given many interpretations of dreams in the past, the truth is (ahem) that only the
gods can do it.” - Ron Rhodes “40 Days Through Daniel”
This admission that only ‘the gods’ could reveal mysteries” exposes their deception.
But the Apostle Paul to the church of Corinth, makes it clear: these so-called gods have
no real power...
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 ESV
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real
existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called
gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet
for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
So, these men were correct. Their bluff had been called, and now their lives were on the
line!
But notice what Daniel did…
Daniel 2:13–16 ESV
13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought
Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and
discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise
men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the
king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in
and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to
the king.
When this difficult situation arises, who do Chaldeans look to? Daniel!
Daniel, because, if you remember from chapter one, Daniel and his friends were found
to be ten times better than all the rest.
Daniel’s wisdom was already evident.
The Chaldeans had seen firsthand that he possessed something they did not—true
insight from the God of heaven.
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So, when their lives were on the line, they turned to him.
They not only knew it, Daniel set out to prove it.
At this point did Daniel know the dream?
Did he know the dream’s interpretation?
No.
But He knew that his God was faithful, and so, in faith, he wanted to set up an
appointment with the king to give him the dream and its interpretation.
Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream and he had a bad plan as well.
An evil plan of murder.
Regardless of his reasons, it was wrong.
And there was only one person who could put a stop to it!
God!
And God had decided before the foundation of the earth to use this young Jewish man
to save the Chaldeans, magicians, and enchanters - people who definitely didn’t
deserve being saved.
Come to think of it, this sounds like another account in the Bible.
The story of another Jewish young man who was determined to save a people that
didn’t deserve it - Jesus Christ.
(Share the gospel).
Jesus Christ was willing to go to the cross on our behalf.
Daniel was willing to go to the king on behalf of these pagans.
Two examples of sacrifice - Christ’s obviously greater.
It reminds me of what missionary David Livingstone once said about sacrifice. And I can
hear Daniel saying the same thing…
I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of “sacrifice” when we remember the
great sacrifice which he made who left his Father’s throne on high to give himself for
us.
David Livingstone
Friends, there will be times in your Christian life when you are called on to choose to
sacrifice for the Lord.
What are you facing right now when you, like Daniel, must choose to do something for
someone who doesn’t deserve it.
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Maybe it’s a coworker who takes credit for your work.
Maybe it’s a family member who has wronged you.
Maybe it’s someone who rejects your faith, yet God is calling you to show them
kindness.
Why can you do this? Because there is One, Jesus Christ, who has sacrificed far more
for you! More than you can realize in this life.
Review: Recap the Point
• Never forget that God is trustworthy no matter what challenge you face. He has you!
• Nebuchadnezzar had bizarre and disturbing dreams.
But even more disconcerting than the dream was the promise to kill all the
Chaldeans, magicians, and enchanters if they couldn’t tell him the dream and its
interpretation.
And even though they didn’t deserve it, Daniel set out, by faith, to rescue these men.
• But how would Daniel accomplish this impossible task? By going to the God of the
impossible.
2. A Prayerful Servant of an All-Knowing God (vs. 17–23)
When faced with an impossible situation, Daniel’s first response wasn’t panic—it was
prayer…
Daniel 2:17–18 ESV
17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven
concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Do you see what his immediate reaction was? He prayed!
Not only that, he got his friends to pray!
Daniel wasn’t just concerned for himself and his friends—he interceded for the very
people who practiced idolatry and sorcery, people who had no regard for his God.
This is something we should do when we are facing trials of many kinds.
Our first response should always be prayer.
And we should get our friends to pray with us.
(Our Saturday Morning Discipleship Group are men of prayer)
What should we pray about?
We can pray for a lot of different things and we should.
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But here we learn to pray for mercy for those who do not know the God of the Bible.
What happens in this situation?
Look back at the text.
Daniel 2:19 ESV
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed
the God of heaven.
Apparently, that night God gave Daniel an affirmative answer to their prayer.
He revealed to him not only the vision but also its intended meaning.
God ALWAYS answers prayer.
Always! —sometimes with a 'Yes' like Daniel, sometimes with a 'No' like Paul’s thorn (2
Cor. 12:9), and sometimes with a 'Wait' like Abraham and Sarah.
You can trust your Heavenly Father with your prayers.
Daniel received an immediate ‘Yes’—and his response?
Not pride, not relief, but worship.
Daniel 2:20–23 ESV
20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom
belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and
sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have
understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we
asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Have you ever asked God for a specific thing, and He gives you an unquestionable and
resounding, yes?
What did you do when that happened?
Hopefully, you fell on your face and thanked Him for listening and agreeing with your
need.
We should always be grateful when God says yes to our request.
Honestly, we should always be grateful for every answer to prayer!
But in this case, Daniel was overwhelmed that God said yes to the outpouring of these
young men.
Did you notice what Daniel’s praise focused on?
Verse 20 - His eternality, wisdom and power
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Verse 21 - His power, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Verse 22 - His unceasing knowledge
Verse 23 - For giving Daniel wisdom, strength and God’s knowledge.
Daniel’s prayer reminds us that before we just ask from God, we should stop and
acknowledge who God is—eternal, wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, and sovereign over
all things.
God’s wisdom, power, and knowledge are entrusted to Daniel, and Daniel would use
these things to save those destined to die.
Daniel tapped into the wisdom, power, and knowledge of God by the act of prayer.
The same God and the same means of communicating with God are available for you
today.
What are you facing that seems insurmountable?
The God of the Bible is standing by, waiting to hear your prayer of faith.
He will answer. He will!
1 John 5:14–15 ESV
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according
to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know
that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” -
Archbishop Trench (Richard Chenevix Trench)
Are you a prayerful servant entrusting your prayers to an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-
wise God?
Many times, we get up in the morning, our feet hit the floor, and we run throughout our
day without giving our Father in Heaven another thought until something hits that we
cannot fix.
Prayer should not be our last resort but our first step of every day - throughout the day.
Daniel, as we will see in a later chapter, was a man of faithful and consistent prayer.
So, when this problematic situation arose, He did what he usually did - pray.
And he asked his friends to pray as well.
Friends - you must make prayer - regular prayer - the language of your soul with the
God who loves you!
Talking with God isn’t a duty to check off—it’s the lifeline that connects us to the God
who holds our future.
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Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, prayed and prayed often.
If He needed to talk to His Father regularly and often, what makes you think you don’t?
Pride!
Review: Recap the Point
• What are you facing today? If you can’t handle it, our God is faithful and trustworthy
to do so. And to do it well.
• Daniel was a faithful servant who trusted the God who knew all things.
• And God blessed him with an answer that would save a lot of people.
• But I wonder how Daniel felt about taking the dream to the King of the land, who had
the ultimate power over so many lives?
3. A Respectful Servant Explains the Troubling Dream (vs. 24–45)
The first thing Daniel Does is he sets up a very important appointment with the king.
Daniel 2:24 ESV
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise
men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of
Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”
Do you see what Daniel does here?
He intercedes for the “wise men of Babylon.”
He doesn’t intercede and plead for his own life but for the lives of those charlatans.
What a beautiful picture of what Christ does for us.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through
him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Daniel’s intercession delayed judgment temporarily.
Christ’s intercession secures salvation eternally.
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Do you deserve the prayer of Christ on your behalf?
As soon as we start to think that we deserve anything from God we misunderstand the
gospel.
The meeting of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar actually happens…
Daniel 2:25 ESV
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25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have
found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the
interpretation.”
Arioch rushes Daniel into the presence of the king and says this man claims he can
interpret your dream.
And he just so happens to be one of the exiles from Judah.
If you remember from the last chapter, the king found Daniel to be ten times better than
all the “wise men” in the land.
Look at what Daniel is careful to do in this exchange with the king?
Daniel 2:26–30 ESV
26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make
known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the
king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the
king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals
mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter
days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O
king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals
mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been
revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in
order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the
thoughts of your mind.
Daniel is careful to give all the credit to God.
Friends there is something we can learn from Daniel here.
Everything we have.
Everything we do.
Everything we can think and accomplish comes from one place alone. God.
Be careful to give God the credit for what you can do.
After Daniel credits God for the dream and its interpretation, He proceeds to reveal what
he knows from God.
The first thing Daniel does is tell the king the dream…
Daniel 2:31–35 ESV
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding
brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this
image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its
legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out
by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them
in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were
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broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the
wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that
struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
I imagine king Nebuchadnezzar was standing in front of Daniel with his mouth gaping
open.
“How in the world do you know my dream, even down to the last detail?”
Well, we know that the only way this is possible is through the all-knowing mind of God.
But for Nebuchadnezzar, it must have been shocking to hear his dream come out of the
mouth of Daniel!
But it gets even better.
Daniel now, through the power of God, will interpret this bizarre and disturbing dream.
Daniel 2:36–45 ESV
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the
king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the
might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the
children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule
over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise
after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And
there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and
shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as
you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided
kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with
the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the
kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft
clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as
iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set
up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another
people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall
stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human
hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A
great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain,
and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel tells the king, “Now WE will tell the king its interpretation.”
Who is we?
God is the revealer, and Daniel is the mouthpiece.
Daniel Goes on to articulate what the dream is all about.
In Daniel 2, the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents a prophetic timeline of
Gentile world empires, showing the course of history from Babylon to Christ’s
millennial kingdom.
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Head of Gold – Babylonian Empire (605–539 BC)
Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, characterized by absolute power and wealth.
Chest and Arms of Silver – Medo-Persian Empire (539–331 BC)
An inferior but stronger kingdom with a dual-ruler structure (Medes & Persians).
Belly and Thighs of Bronze – Grecian Empire (331–146 BC)
Alexander the Great’s swift conquest, spreading Hellenistic culture.
Legs of Iron – Roman Empire (146 BC–AD 476)
A powerful, crushing empire that dominated the world.
Feet of Iron and Clay – Future Revived Roman Empire (End Times)
The ten toes correspond to the ten kings who will form a fragile coalition in the end
times (Daniel 7:24, Revelation 17:12). This will set the stage for the Antichrist.
Stone Cut Without Hands – Christ’s Millennial Kingdom
The second coming of Christ, destroying all human kingdoms and establishing His
eternal rule (Daniel 2:44-45).
This statue outlines the "Times of the Gentiles"
Luke 21:24 ESV
24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and
Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled.
And this stone emphasizes the literal, future fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom at His
second coming.
The stone does not represent the church, but the future literal, geopolitical reign of
Christ in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6).
And Daniel ends his interpretation with “The dream is certain, and its interpretation
sure.”
In other words, this will most definitely take place in the future.
Well, if you are Nebuchadnezzar, you can see why he is so troubled by this dream.
His kingdom will not last forever. Neither will the other gentile kingdoms. They all are
temporary.
All kingdoms are temporary, and God will put them down at some point - Even the good
ole USA.
But there is a Kingdom that will never end.
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In speaking about the Kingdom of Jesus, Luke says
Luke 1:32–33 ESV
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Friends, Christ and His kingdom will never end and here is a very real thing you must
come to terms with.
You and I must be part of Christ’s eternal kingdom!
And the only way to be a part of His kingdom is by faith and repentance.
While Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom will fade, Christ’s kingdom is eternal.
But entering His kingdom comes with a cost—faithfulness in a world that opposes Him.
As Spurgeon put it...
"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below. The
kingdom of Christ is an everlasting kingdom, and He calls us to share in its eternal
glory." – Charles Spurgeon
Although God’s kingdom has yet to arrive, are you living for it now?
Review: Recap the Point
• Regardless of what you are facing today, God is trustworthy to handle it.
• Daniel was given an amazing opportunity to explain this enigmatic dream to the one
who was ready to kill.
• Instead of executing Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar is about to do something
shocking—he bows before the one who speaks for God!
4. A Humbled King Makes Good On His Promise (vs. 46–49)
Daniel 2:46–48 ESV
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and
commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered
and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of
mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel
high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of
Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
Imagine the most powerful king in the known world at the time fell on his face before
Daniel.
He paid homage.
Homage can refer to acts of reverence toward a deity or sacred figure.
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Not only this, but he also ordered an offering of incense for him - this was an act of
worship reserved for the Babylonian deities.
Daniel understood well that the Babylonian gods were no gods at all, but this was a
significant action by the king.
He recognized that his gods were not powerful like the God of the Bible.
Nebuchadnezzar, in his limited understanding, treated Daniel like a divine figure.
But Daniel never received this honor—he consistently pointed everything back to the
true God.
King Nebuchadnezzar made good on his promise and not only relinquished his plan to
kill all the wise men, but he also lavished high honors and gifts on Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar made him a ruler over an entire province and head of all the wise
men. Pretty amazing.
As I said last week, faithfulness leads to blessing!
Some in this life. Ultimately, in the next!
But do you see what else he did? He didn’t leave his friends behind.
Daniel 2:49 ESV
49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s
court.
God is not intimidated by anyone, not even the most powerful king on the planet.
Do you know what impresses God?
Your faith!
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Daniel was a young man of great faith! And his great faith led to his great faithfulness.
Hebrews 10: 39 is a beautiful summary of Daniel’s life and character.
Hebrews 10:39 ESV
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have
faith and preserve their souls.
“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not
understand at the time.”— Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
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Nebuchadnezzar recognized God's power, but recognition alone is not faith.
It’s one thing to be amazed by God—it’s another to trust Him fully.
Daniel didn’t just see God work; he lived by faith daily.
That’s what we’re called to do.
How can we all grow in faith.
There are many ways, but one of the most powerful is to develop a life of consistent
prayer because it builds deep trust in God's character.
Especially when we recognize that He always answers.
Review: Recap the Point
• Our God is trustworthy regardless of what we face.
• When you trust and obey Christ, you will see God do some amazing things that will
make you and those around you stand with your mouth wide open.
Conclusion
Where is God calling you to trust Him today?
Like Daniel, will you step forward in faith, even when circumstances seem impossible?
And even more—will you trust the One greater than Daniel, Jesus Christ, the true Rock,
who is building a kingdom that will never end?
(Brief Pause)
As Spurgeon once said, “God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be
mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”
Text: Daniel 2
I’ve had a recurring dream lately. And I’m not making this up—it’s for real.
I’m sitting in a math class, and Heather Gulgin—who, as many of you know, is a
professor at GVSU—is my teacher.
It’s time for the final exam.
There’s just one problem: I haven’t studied.
I haven’t even paid attention in class. I have no idea how I’m going to pass.
I feel completely unprepared, humiliated, and trapped.
Heather, however, is very kind to me in the dream.
And then, just like that—it’s over.
I wake up in a panic, convinced I need to take an impossible math test.
Then reality hits me—I’m not in school.
I don’t have a math class.
Heather isn’t my professor.
It was just a dream.
But what if it wasn’t just a dream?
That’s exactly what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
His dream wasn’t a random subconscious nightmare—it was a message from God.
And it didn’t just shake him—it terrified him.
So much so that he demanded his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans
not only interpret the dream—but tell him what the dream was.
And if they failed?
They would all be executed.
No pressure, right?
This wasn’t just a difficult situation.
It was a death sentence.
And among those who would be killed?
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
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What would they do?
There was only one option—trust God completely.
Have you ever been in a situation where there was literally nothing you could do but
pray and trust the Lord?
Maybe that’s where you are right now.
If so, this passage is for you.
Because no matter how impossible your circumstances seem, one truth remains:
Main Idea: God is Trustworthy Regardless of What You Face
Daniel and his friends were staring down an impossible situation—one that they did
not create.
How would they respond?
1. A Troubling Dream with a Troubling Demand (vs. 1–16)
Check this situation out in verses 1-12.
Daniel 2:1–12 ESV
1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his
spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the
magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the
king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them,
“I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said
to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will
show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word
from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you
shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the
dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great
honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second
time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its
interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying
to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the
dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying
and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I
shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king
and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great
and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11
The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the
gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” 12 Because of this the king was angry and very
furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
Nebuchadnezzar saw through their deception.
This situation exposed their powerlessness.
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If you look back at verse 11, you will see a statement that they basically admit they have
never had powers.
They were supposed to speak on behalf of the Babylonian gods, and now, all of a
sudden, they no longer have contact with them. Curious!
Daniel 2:11 ESV
11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the
gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
“When the occultists said that no one but the gods could reveal the dream to the king,
they admitted that their previous interpretations of dreams were bogus, since only the
gods can give such information. We might paraphrase the point this way: ‘Even though
we’ve given many interpretations of dreams in the past, the truth is (ahem) that only the
gods can do it.” - Ron Rhodes “40 Days Through Daniel”
This admission that only ‘the gods’ could reveal mysteries” exposes their deception.
But the Apostle Paul to the church of Corinth, makes it clear: these so-called gods have
no real power...
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 ESV
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real
existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called
gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet
for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
So, these men were correct. Their bluff had been called, and now their lives were on the
line!
But notice what Daniel did…
Daniel 2:13–16 ESV
13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought
Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and
discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise
men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the
king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in
and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to
the king.
When this difficult situation arises, who do Chaldeans look to? Daniel!
Daniel, because, if you remember from chapter one, Daniel and his friends were found
to be ten times better than all the rest.
Daniel’s wisdom was already evident.
The Chaldeans had seen firsthand that he possessed something they did not—true
insight from the God of heaven.
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So, when their lives were on the line, they turned to him.
They not only knew it, Daniel set out to prove it.
At this point did Daniel know the dream?
Did he know the dream’s interpretation?
No.
But He knew that his God was faithful, and so, in faith, he wanted to set up an
appointment with the king to give him the dream and its interpretation.
Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream and he had a bad plan as well.
An evil plan of murder.
Regardless of his reasons, it was wrong.
And there was only one person who could put a stop to it!
God!
And God had decided before the foundation of the earth to use this young Jewish man
to save the Chaldeans, magicians, and enchanters - people who definitely didn’t
deserve being saved.
Come to think of it, this sounds like another account in the Bible.
The story of another Jewish young man who was determined to save a people that
didn’t deserve it - Jesus Christ.
(Share the gospel).
Jesus Christ was willing to go to the cross on our behalf.
Daniel was willing to go to the king on behalf of these pagans.
Two examples of sacrifice - Christ’s obviously greater.
It reminds me of what missionary David Livingstone once said about sacrifice. And I can
hear Daniel saying the same thing…
I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of “sacrifice” when we remember the
great sacrifice which he made who left his Father’s throne on high to give himself for
us.
David Livingstone
Friends, there will be times in your Christian life when you are called on to choose to
sacrifice for the Lord.
What are you facing right now when you, like Daniel, must choose to do something for
someone who doesn’t deserve it.
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Maybe it’s a coworker who takes credit for your work.
Maybe it’s a family member who has wronged you.
Maybe it’s someone who rejects your faith, yet God is calling you to show them
kindness.
Why can you do this? Because there is One, Jesus Christ, who has sacrificed far more
for you! More than you can realize in this life.
Review: Recap the Point
• Never forget that God is trustworthy no matter what challenge you face. He has you!
• Nebuchadnezzar had bizarre and disturbing dreams.
But even more disconcerting than the dream was the promise to kill all the
Chaldeans, magicians, and enchanters if they couldn’t tell him the dream and its
interpretation.
And even though they didn’t deserve it, Daniel set out, by faith, to rescue these men.
• But how would Daniel accomplish this impossible task? By going to the God of the
impossible.
2. A Prayerful Servant of an All-Knowing God (vs. 17–23)
When faced with an impossible situation, Daniel’s first response wasn’t panic—it was
prayer…
Daniel 2:17–18 ESV
17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven
concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Do you see what his immediate reaction was? He prayed!
Not only that, he got his friends to pray!
Daniel wasn’t just concerned for himself and his friends—he interceded for the very
people who practiced idolatry and sorcery, people who had no regard for his God.
This is something we should do when we are facing trials of many kinds.
Our first response should always be prayer.
And we should get our friends to pray with us.
(Our Saturday Morning Discipleship Group are men of prayer)
What should we pray about?
We can pray for a lot of different things and we should.
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But here we learn to pray for mercy for those who do not know the God of the Bible.
What happens in this situation?
Look back at the text.
Daniel 2:19 ESV
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed
the God of heaven.
Apparently, that night God gave Daniel an affirmative answer to their prayer.
He revealed to him not only the vision but also its intended meaning.
God ALWAYS answers prayer.
Always! —sometimes with a 'Yes' like Daniel, sometimes with a 'No' like Paul’s thorn (2
Cor. 12:9), and sometimes with a 'Wait' like Abraham and Sarah.
You can trust your Heavenly Father with your prayers.
Daniel received an immediate ‘Yes’—and his response?
Not pride, not relief, but worship.
Daniel 2:20–23 ESV
20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom
belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and
sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have
understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we
asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Have you ever asked God for a specific thing, and He gives you an unquestionable and
resounding, yes?
What did you do when that happened?
Hopefully, you fell on your face and thanked Him for listening and agreeing with your
need.
We should always be grateful when God says yes to our request.
Honestly, we should always be grateful for every answer to prayer!
But in this case, Daniel was overwhelmed that God said yes to the outpouring of these
young men.
Did you notice what Daniel’s praise focused on?
Verse 20 - His eternality, wisdom and power
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Verse 21 - His power, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Verse 22 - His unceasing knowledge
Verse 23 - For giving Daniel wisdom, strength and God’s knowledge.
Daniel’s prayer reminds us that before we just ask from God, we should stop and
acknowledge who God is—eternal, wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, and sovereign over
all things.
God’s wisdom, power, and knowledge are entrusted to Daniel, and Daniel would use
these things to save those destined to die.
Daniel tapped into the wisdom, power, and knowledge of God by the act of prayer.
The same God and the same means of communicating with God are available for you
today.
What are you facing that seems insurmountable?
The God of the Bible is standing by, waiting to hear your prayer of faith.
He will answer. He will!
1 John 5:14–15 ESV
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according
to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know
that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” -
Archbishop Trench (Richard Chenevix Trench)
Are you a prayerful servant entrusting your prayers to an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-
wise God?
Many times, we get up in the morning, our feet hit the floor, and we run throughout our
day without giving our Father in Heaven another thought until something hits that we
cannot fix.
Prayer should not be our last resort but our first step of every day - throughout the day.
Daniel, as we will see in a later chapter, was a man of faithful and consistent prayer.
So, when this problematic situation arose, He did what he usually did - pray.
And he asked his friends to pray as well.
Friends - you must make prayer - regular prayer - the language of your soul with the
God who loves you!
Talking with God isn’t a duty to check off—it’s the lifeline that connects us to the God
who holds our future.
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Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, prayed and prayed often.
If He needed to talk to His Father regularly and often, what makes you think you don’t?
Pride!
Review: Recap the Point
• What are you facing today? If you can’t handle it, our God is faithful and trustworthy
to do so. And to do it well.
• Daniel was a faithful servant who trusted the God who knew all things.
• And God blessed him with an answer that would save a lot of people.
• But I wonder how Daniel felt about taking the dream to the King of the land, who had
the ultimate power over so many lives?
3. A Respectful Servant Explains the Troubling Dream (vs. 24–45)
The first thing Daniel Does is he sets up a very important appointment with the king.
Daniel 2:24 ESV
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise
men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of
Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”
Do you see what Daniel does here?
He intercedes for the “wise men of Babylon.”
He doesn’t intercede and plead for his own life but for the lives of those charlatans.
What a beautiful picture of what Christ does for us.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through
him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Daniel’s intercession delayed judgment temporarily.
Christ’s intercession secures salvation eternally.
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Do you deserve the prayer of Christ on your behalf?
As soon as we start to think that we deserve anything from God we misunderstand the
gospel.
The meeting of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar actually happens…
Daniel 2:25 ESV
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25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have
found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the
interpretation.”
Arioch rushes Daniel into the presence of the king and says this man claims he can
interpret your dream.
And he just so happens to be one of the exiles from Judah.
If you remember from the last chapter, the king found Daniel to be ten times better than
all the “wise men” in the land.
Look at what Daniel is careful to do in this exchange with the king?
Daniel 2:26–30 ESV
26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make
known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the
king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the
king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals
mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter
days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O
king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals
mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been
revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in
order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the
thoughts of your mind.
Daniel is careful to give all the credit to God.
Friends there is something we can learn from Daniel here.
Everything we have.
Everything we do.
Everything we can think and accomplish comes from one place alone. God.
Be careful to give God the credit for what you can do.
After Daniel credits God for the dream and its interpretation, He proceeds to reveal what
he knows from God.
The first thing Daniel does is tell the king the dream…
Daniel 2:31–35 ESV
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding
brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this
image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its
legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out
by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them
in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were
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broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the
wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that
struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
I imagine king Nebuchadnezzar was standing in front of Daniel with his mouth gaping
open.
“How in the world do you know my dream, even down to the last detail?”
Well, we know that the only way this is possible is through the all-knowing mind of God.
But for Nebuchadnezzar, it must have been shocking to hear his dream come out of the
mouth of Daniel!
But it gets even better.
Daniel now, through the power of God, will interpret this bizarre and disturbing dream.
Daniel 2:36–45 ESV
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the
king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the
might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the
children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule
over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise
after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And
there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and
shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as
you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided
kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with
the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the
kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft
clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as
iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set
up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another
people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall
stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human
hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A
great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain,
and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel tells the king, “Now WE will tell the king its interpretation.”
Who is we?
God is the revealer, and Daniel is the mouthpiece.
Daniel Goes on to articulate what the dream is all about.
In Daniel 2, the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents a prophetic timeline of
Gentile world empires, showing the course of history from Babylon to Christ’s
millennial kingdom.
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Head of Gold – Babylonian Empire (605–539 BC)
Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, characterized by absolute power and wealth.
Chest and Arms of Silver – Medo-Persian Empire (539–331 BC)
An inferior but stronger kingdom with a dual-ruler structure (Medes & Persians).
Belly and Thighs of Bronze – Grecian Empire (331–146 BC)
Alexander the Great’s swift conquest, spreading Hellenistic culture.
Legs of Iron – Roman Empire (146 BC–AD 476)
A powerful, crushing empire that dominated the world.
Feet of Iron and Clay – Future Revived Roman Empire (End Times)
The ten toes correspond to the ten kings who will form a fragile coalition in the end
times (Daniel 7:24, Revelation 17:12). This will set the stage for the Antichrist.
Stone Cut Without Hands – Christ’s Millennial Kingdom
The second coming of Christ, destroying all human kingdoms and establishing His
eternal rule (Daniel 2:44-45).
This statue outlines the "Times of the Gentiles"
Luke 21:24 ESV
24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and
Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled.
And this stone emphasizes the literal, future fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom at His
second coming.
The stone does not represent the church, but the future literal, geopolitical reign of
Christ in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6).
And Daniel ends his interpretation with “The dream is certain, and its interpretation
sure.”
In other words, this will most definitely take place in the future.
Well, if you are Nebuchadnezzar, you can see why he is so troubled by this dream.
His kingdom will not last forever. Neither will the other gentile kingdoms. They all are
temporary.
All kingdoms are temporary, and God will put them down at some point - Even the good
ole USA.
But there is a Kingdom that will never end.
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In speaking about the Kingdom of Jesus, Luke says
Luke 1:32–33 ESV
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Friends, Christ and His kingdom will never end and here is a very real thing you must
come to terms with.
You and I must be part of Christ’s eternal kingdom!
And the only way to be a part of His kingdom is by faith and repentance.
While Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom will fade, Christ’s kingdom is eternal.
But entering His kingdom comes with a cost—faithfulness in a world that opposes Him.
As Spurgeon put it...
"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below. The
kingdom of Christ is an everlasting kingdom, and He calls us to share in its eternal
glory." – Charles Spurgeon
Although God’s kingdom has yet to arrive, are you living for it now?
Review: Recap the Point
• Regardless of what you are facing today, God is trustworthy to handle it.
• Daniel was given an amazing opportunity to explain this enigmatic dream to the one
who was ready to kill.
• Instead of executing Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar is about to do something
shocking—he bows before the one who speaks for God!
4. A Humbled King Makes Good On His Promise (vs. 46–49)
Daniel 2:46–48 ESV
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and
commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered
and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of
mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel
high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of
Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
Imagine the most powerful king in the known world at the time fell on his face before
Daniel.
He paid homage.
Homage can refer to acts of reverence toward a deity or sacred figure.
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Not only this, but he also ordered an offering of incense for him - this was an act of
worship reserved for the Babylonian deities.
Daniel understood well that the Babylonian gods were no gods at all, but this was a
significant action by the king.
He recognized that his gods were not powerful like the God of the Bible.
Nebuchadnezzar, in his limited understanding, treated Daniel like a divine figure.
But Daniel never received this honor—he consistently pointed everything back to the
true God.
King Nebuchadnezzar made good on his promise and not only relinquished his plan to
kill all the wise men, but he also lavished high honors and gifts on Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar made him a ruler over an entire province and head of all the wise
men. Pretty amazing.
As I said last week, faithfulness leads to blessing!
Some in this life. Ultimately, in the next!
But do you see what else he did? He didn’t leave his friends behind.
Daniel 2:49 ESV
49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s
court.
God is not intimidated by anyone, not even the most powerful king on the planet.
Do you know what impresses God?
Your faith!
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Daniel was a young man of great faith! And his great faith led to his great faithfulness.
Hebrews 10: 39 is a beautiful summary of Daniel’s life and character.
Hebrews 10:39 ESV
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have
faith and preserve their souls.
“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not
understand at the time.”— Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
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Nebuchadnezzar recognized God's power, but recognition alone is not faith.
It’s one thing to be amazed by God—it’s another to trust Him fully.
Daniel didn’t just see God work; he lived by faith daily.
That’s what we’re called to do.
How can we all grow in faith.
There are many ways, but one of the most powerful is to develop a life of consistent
prayer because it builds deep trust in God's character.
Especially when we recognize that He always answers.
Review: Recap the Point
• Our God is trustworthy regardless of what we face.
• When you trust and obey Christ, you will see God do some amazing things that will
make you and those around you stand with your mouth wide open.
Conclusion
Where is God calling you to trust Him today?
Like Daniel, will you step forward in faith, even when circumstances seem impossible?
And even more—will you trust the One greater than Daniel, Jesus Christ, the true Rock,
who is building a kingdom that will never end?
(Brief Pause)
As Spurgeon once said, “God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be
mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”