Facing the Impossible
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Unshakable: Facing the Impossible
May 12, 2019
Introduction
We are in the middle of a series entitled, “Unshakable.”
So, our current sermon series is “Unshakable.” In this series, we are looking at the book of Daniel. Daniel had an unshakable faith. Daniel had an unshakable commitment to God.
Do we have an unshakable faith? Do we have an unshakable commitment to God?
Today, we are going to look at chapter 2. Let’s set the stage for what’s happening in chapter 2. Lots of graduations going on right now. Graduations last weeks. Graduations this week. Daniel is a recent graduate from a three year program in which he was indoctrinated in the culture, history, language, literature of the Chaldeans. (). Upon graduation, Daniel serves as a wiseman in the king’s palace.
At the beginning of chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has dreams. The king is deeply trouble about the dreams. Have you been deeply troubled about something that you couldn’t sleep? That was King Nebuchadnezzar. He was so deeply troubled by the dreams that he could not sleep. So he summoned for the wise men. Let’s read our text for today to see what unfolds in .
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Illustratration: Gift of Interpreting Dreams book (iPad, weekend at the beach, Diamond Necklace)
Nebuchadnezzar can’t sleep. He’s deeply troubled by the dream. So he summons for the wise men to interpret the dream. But the process of discussing things with the wise men. Nebuchadnezzar demands that the wise men tell him the dream and interpret the dream. Here is the wise men’s response to the king’s demand.
(MSG) What you’re asking is impossible unless some god or goddess should reveal it—and they don’t hang around with people like us.
King Nebuchadnezzar is asking the impossible. King Nebuchadnezzar is angry. He’s furious that his wise men aren’t able to do it. So, King Nebuchadnezzar orders their execution.
Well, Daniel is a wise man. (v. 13). Daniel seems to be facing the impossible: tell and interpret the dream. Daniel seems to be facing the impossible: he has been sentenced to death.
What are seemingly impossible situations that we face in life? Sickness and disease, caring for a sick loved one, an addiction, trouble from our past that we can’t seem to escape, problems with a kid, a hard deadline at work. We could even add our church facility needs to the list.
What can learn from Daniel’s life about facing impossible situations?
1. Calm under Pressure (v. 14-16)
Daniel was calm under pressure. He kept his composure. He kept his cool. Daniel was calm under pressure. In other words, Daniel didn’t panic.
Illustration: We have all heard of the reality television show survivor. Next year’s addition is going to have a new twist. Six men will be dropped on an island with 1 van and 4 kids, for six weeks.
Here are the challenges:Each kid plays two sports and either takes music or dance lessonsThere is no access to fast food.Each man must take care of his 4 kids, keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do all the laundry.There is only one television between them, and there is no remote.The men only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.The men must attend weekly PTA meetings, clean up after their sick child at 3:00 AM, make an Indian hut model with 6 toothpicks, a tortilla, and 1 magic marker, and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.
The other wise men panicked. The other wise been were frazzled, flustered, frustrated. We tend to be like the other wise men. We tend to panic when faced with seemingly impossible situations. We tend to get frazzled, flustered. We tend to lose our cool, lose our composure. We tend the think of the worse possible outcome.
How did Daniel do it? How did Daniel keep from panicking. Daniel’s confidence was in the Lord. The wise men panicked because their limitations. Daniel was confident because of God’s unlimited power.
(NKJV) For with God nothing will be impossible.
Daniel had an unshakable faith. He was calm under pressure.
2. Enlist Prayer Support (v. 17-18)
Daniel wanted people praying with him. Daniel needed people praying with him. So, Daniel enlisted his three friends to pray with him.
We don’t have to face what seem like impossible situations alone. We need a support system. We need people praying with us.
Illustration: Gordon Thomas big things — asks three people to pray with him.
Who are the people you enlist for prayer support? Maybe, it’s close Christians friends of yours. Maybe, it’s your Sunday school class. Maybe, you got to your pastor or church staff.
If you don’t have people in your life that you can enlist for prayer support, you need to get people. We are not meant to face the impossible on our own. We need a support system. We need people praying with us.
3. Pray Earnestly (v . 19)
Daniel is praying through the night. Daniel is fervently, earnestly praying for God to reveal this mystery or the secret of the king’s dream to him.
(AMP) …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
Illustration: Earnestly (Figuring out how to get home)
That’s how we need to approach prayer. When we face what seem like impossible situations, we need to pray earnestly. We need to pray earnestly for guidance, wisdom, strength, guidance, grace, and His will to be accomplished.
4. Praise and Thank God
Daniel and his friends are praying. God reveals the dream to Daniel in a vision. Look at what Daniel does. (v. 21-23)
Daniel praises God for who is. Daniel praises God for what he has done. Daniel thanks God.
What do we do when God answers prayers?
To be honest, a lot of times we breathe a sigh of relief and move on with our lives. We are like the lepers that Jesus healed. 10 lepers we’re healed by Jesus. Only one returned to thank Jesus. When God answers our prayers, we need to stop so that we can praise and thank God.
Let me say one more thing before we move to the last point.
For Daniel, it was a quick solution. Problem solved. Many times, God does not remove from our impossible situations. But just because God doesn’t remove us from our difficult situations, doesn’t mean that God is not working in the midst of our difficult situation. Sometimes, it’s about praising and thanking God for the small victories along the way.
5. Humble Testimony
Illustration: Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak at a Large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as "our illustrious guest." Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, "Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master."
We see humility from Daniel. Daniel didn’t credit for interpreting the dream. Daniel didn’t say, “Look at what I did!!! Where is my reward. Where is my promotion.” Daniel was humble. Daniel gave credit where credit was due. (v. 27-28)
We must never take credit for what God accomplishes. Look it’s tempting to take the credit. We like getting the pat on the back. We like getting the accolades and the recognition. But we must be humble and give God the credit. When we give God the credit, it produces a powerful testimony that touches lives. Look at what happens to the king at the end of the chapter.
v. 47: A pagan king praised the one, true God. When we give God the credit, it produces a powerful testimony that touches others.
When we as Christians face what seem like impossible situations, people are watching. What testimony are they seeing from our lives?