Validated

Daniel chapter 2. Get your Bible with you know that you brought your Bible if you will take it out, open it up, turn it on Daniel chapter 2.

I have up here with me right now to pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. One of them is a think they are one of them is a real pair when I look at them I thought they were both real, but someone in his faith, I don't really know if you can tell a lot of difference between the top of the monitor. I would imagine that from your perspective you like your dumb sunglasses I get it I'm not, but they were looking equally dumb on me.

I don't think there is any one particular one that you could say, so they look very much alike. This is the think pair I ordered them from a clearance website, which should've been indication of the one they were probably fake. It was offering a deal that you view bought at least three pair then you could buy them a $25 each. Looking back at him like how did I not see right through this my first clue that something sinister was afoot, but this might look legit so legit and off over stuff like this order. It took like three months to get to my house and when they arrived they were in a box that looked like it had been drugged through rural China by a mule and then drop kick across the ocean which should have been my second clue that not everything was right, but when I open the box think that you look good, but honestly, in some ways, I like the color in the design better than this is genuine pair, but the moment that I put them on the moment that I put them on your I just didn't it didn't feel right. The metal feels really brittle. The view is not as clear as you expect from a quality pair of sunglasses. I am sure that an expert could pick these up and in a millisecond. They could tell that they are fake, but I am not an expert, so I did just a little bit of research to tell how can you tell fake Ray bans from real ones, and I found another one of the little signs is in the upper corner of the non-labeled lands Annapolis is Raymond you look you hold it just right to the light. You can see the itty-bitty teeny tiny RB that is engraved on the I guess is the right Lance, it's really hard not to produce because they don't scratch the lens so it's very subtle but it's also got to be deep enough that you can't just rub it out. Missing counterfeiters have a really really difficult time getting it right. Sure enough, upon closer investigation, was able to rub this little guy right out and confirm that these are indeed fake Ray bans and I had wasted $75. By the way, you get a birthday gift for me and it's a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. I would be crazy excited about it right now. But the good news is that PayPal reimburse me since they were fake so preacher for PayPal. I share that because what you're going to see today what you see today is how God distinguishes his kingdom from counterfeit once.

How does he distinguish his chemical sometimes his kingdom of the world's kingdom to somebody looking from a distance or somebody untrained, they might actually look similar. How can you tell the difference in the real one from the fake one to remind you we have titled this series shining in Babylon. That phrase comes from a phrase in Daniel 12 31 of my favorite Old Testament verses that says those who have wisdom will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. What an amazing amazing promise. You see, unlike most other Old Testament books the book of Daniel then wrote his book outside of the confines of Israel. Most of it. In fact, I explained to you is, is written in Aramaic which was the language of Babylon, not Hebrew. The language of Israel. The book is about how to live wisely in a place where God is not respected, how to shine in a culture where everybody around you, lives by different values and sees you, not just as I but as an enemy of or even a threat to the current regime in the book is about how not just to survive in that kind of environment. The book is about how to be a witness. There how to shine their how to lead many to righteousness like Daniel 12 recess. You see, when it comes to living in a hostile culture. Many Christians back then and today, many Christians feel like they gotta choose between either assimilation or separation assimilation or separate assimilation means that you just gradually look indistinguishable and indistinguishable from everybody else around me. Their values become your values there. Your lifestyle becomes theirs.

Are you talking some of them, all kinds of music you listen to everything about you just looks like the world around you what, that's it.

That's assimilation separation would be the opposite reaction right you see the world around you is so evil that you must come out from among them and be ye separate, says the Lord had grown up in a little independent Baptist Christian school environment.

We that was totally where we were with a Christian version of everything when I say everything I mean everything with these little things called shepherds guide to my membership was God little yellow pages where all the business owners are Christian, you could just do business 24 hours a day seven days a week with nobody to Christian and you could not get contaminated by all those unbelievers out there in the community.

We have your own little Christian sports leagues and Christians were expected to listen to their own kind of music. No drums. Of course at all with this style are hair a certain way I could long harem boys was assigned the demons were at work in your heart, right, John Miller, right, we had to dress in distinctive ways. Boys insert should always be in ties and girls in what ways culottes member culottes unit sale fashions come back down and come back I promise you, but you the play was you dress like a Christian. The idea was that the more isolated you were from the world more faithful by the weirder the spiritual were I guess interestingly real quick machinist. This is actually a controversy in Daniels. They also have a legal background sheepishly. The controversy working from seven okay, I get you to dinner to just a second. Across the exile actually happened. That's all happen in two stages. Stage I took place from 597 BC and King Nebuchadnezzar carried off about 10,000 Israelites, mostly the elite military leaders, government leaders, scholars, teachers, Daniel and all his friends were in that stage I stage II Took Pl. about 10 years later and that's when King Nebuchadnezzar brought everybody else when between those two stages that 10 year gap a bunch of false prophets rose up in Israel and they begin to prophesy same. We can resist this exile. Babylon is bad right now on his bed. That's even easy to say that one is bad. Stay away from Babylon. If you have to live there.

Keep to yourself right steel conclave and if you pray anything about Babylon pray against it. Pray that God would destroy this wicked city when prophet Jeremiah is book is in your Bible. By contrast, he was actually a true prophet of God.

He lived in that 10 year window, and he said the opposite.

He said no it is God's will for us in this moment not to stay separate from the culture of Babylon, but infiltrated and to influence it.

In fact, he wrote a letter to all the exiles in Babylon that is recorded in Jeremiah 29 that we actually quote here.

A lot of us on the church you come here you should be familiar with. With these verses Jeremiah 29 verse four. This is what the Lord knows the God of Israel says to all the exiles build houses in Babylon is limited to the house there live in plant gardens and eat their produce, have sons and daughters multiply their do not decrease, seek the well-being of the city to which I have deported you and prayed to the Lord on its behalf when it drives your life may only use that verse. A lot of the summit because, like Daniel, we live as exiles in a hostile culture that's literally what the apostle Peter called us member study. First Peter two months ago. That was the whole thing about where exiles and that means like Dana like Peter explained when I sparsely huddled up in small group singing Kumbaya waiting on Jesus to come back and rapturous office trailer part of a planet and then destroy it.

Were supposed to be in Babylon living in Babylon seeking the well-being of our city praying for you as it drives we thrive. Most Christians like the Jews in Daniels they think the options are either assimilation or separation, but there is 1/3 option transformation. We are called, neither to assimilation nor separation. We are called transformation to Daniel and his friends take on Babylonian names. They speak the Babylonian language. They work in the Babylonian palace but they do so as faithful servants of God. Some of the reason we end every single service here by those three words, you are set is because we believe this, we gather in here as God's community for just a a few precious hours each week in Israel, so to speak, and in most of you most of you go back out there to Babylon except for me, a Savior in Israel right but you you go back out to work in and pray Babylon what we tell you the church is supposed to feel like a spiritual tornado had drawn him here for a few hours only if one back out to we see happening in the book of acts right the majority of the stories and acts take place outside of the church, redirecting her with uncertain often message and Gollum say that's not where all the action takes place and told you before the 40 miracles in the book of acts 4039 of the 40 happen outside of the church with a type tells you that's the place when I want to demonstrate his power today in the neighborhoods in the businesses and hospitals in the jail GLS context we bring into Daniel chapter 2 chapter 2 opens up a king them away.

His short his name is a thought, spent about 1/3 of the sermons of work my way. That man you can manage their what what would Ned Debbie Netzer supply that I'm not aware what to talk about this. What Babylonian mom chooses a name like Nebuchadnezzar for their little baby. You look a little infant in a crib and say Nebuchadnezzar to meet you.

It just doesn't seem to fit so I'm never Ned Shaffer opens up would now waking up in a cold sweat.

He's had that dream again.

He's had a dream you cannot treat my and every time he has that he gets more and more upset. Chapter 2 verse one in the second year of his reign.

Ned had dreams that troubled him and sleep deserted him. So the king gave orders to summon the magicians the mediums the sorcerers in the Chaldeans, to tell the King's dreams when a canister before the king, he said to them I had a dream and I'm anxious to understand it, so they replied okay live forever. Tell your service to dream and we will give you the interpretation she Babylonian wisemen had this little book and I had little interpretive key that had all these explanations of what various elements and dreams met the cow meant that suburban there's puff the Magic Dragon met this if you appeared before the royal court nothing but your underwear. That meant this and so when some of you to dream you look up all the images in your little book and boom dream interpretation course they would give their interpretations and these sweeping generalized terms like a horse gopher fortune cookie today where we got broad categories, like always, in some sense be true. Like your patience will one day be rewarded or trust people gossip about you or something like that and then they give interpretation and they get paid the big bucks but old Ned old man had started to suspect that this was all a bunch of malarkey, which is the Hebrew word for about to make up stuff and he said verse nine. I don't trust you. I need you to prove that you got the power God by telling you first for the green wise and then I'll know that you have the power to interpret pretty smart nap pretty smart members did the Chaldeans answer the king but no one can make no marketing request. No king great or small, has ever asked anything like this on any medium. When the king is asking us are difficult that no one can make it known to him, except the gods will is not of morals. Because of this the king became violently angry and gave orders to destroy all the wisemen about Alano there's trouble in Camelot. The problem, of course, Daniel and his friends shed let me send Abednego when they're all counted among the wisemen, which means that they're going to be murdered in this purge also summer 17.

Dana went back to his house and told his friend Hannah and I Misael and Azariah, that's judging me send Abednego better Hebrew names they told him about the matter, urging them to ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery to Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon's wisemen. The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night and Daniel praise the God of the heavens and he declared me the name of God be praised forever and ever, even in Babylon for wisdom and power belong to him.

He changes the times and the seasons, he removes kings and establishes things.

He gives wisdom to the wise use knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and the hidden things he knows what is in the darkness and light wells with him. Daniel says let me see the king.

Verse 26 and so the king said to Daniel, whose Babylonian name of Dr. Salazar. Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation. They know answer the king well, let's review the wise man, no medium, no magician know Devon or is able to make known to the king. The mystery he asked about this is a great phrase but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries we parked there for just a minute on that phrase.

But there is a God in heaven because that's really the question behind all these other questions right. Is there a God in heaven and has he said something to us on earth. Is there a God in heaven, and is his power available to us. You see, sometimes, like Nebuchadnezzar, you get to a point where all human strategies fail. Well, the wise man in the Devon errors and the scientist of our age. No longer can answer that deep question that problem you got in your heart and I thought my first role is to sustain appear and proclaim to you not, rich, complex things of theology but sin appeared just proclaim to you that there is a God in heaven there is a God in heaven would that not change how you sell your problem you try to make the relationship work.

You try to fix what's broken and it's all failed and you feel like there is no hope.

Friend, I've got good news for you, but there is a God in heaven, and his power starts were yours and you try to make that kid turn out like you told them everything you know how to tell him you tried everything you know how to try to make him choose what is right.

There is nothing left for you to do and you are in despair. Yes, but there's a God in heaven. You try to overcome addiction you try to find that missing piece and you have failed so many times that you started to think this is no point to any of it but but that is a huge conduction but there is a God in heaven. Death and disease seem so total, so final to you and this year this year.

Death and disease and taken things from you that you thought you could never get back. What's the point you're asking why doubts and diseases can take away all of us in the end anyway. Yes, there's a God in heaven disappointed politics. Mito this made bar leaders Democrats disappointment Republicans disappoint new/if you are putting power. You disappoint us to yes but there's a God in heaven and speaking to disappoint us us us talk about your four-minute as we really are right for some of you. Nobody has disappointed you more than you every morning I get up and I look in the mirror. I look at the guy who has letdowns anywhere more than anybody else in his life there is nobody that is lied to let me down broken promises to JD more than JD so you got no confidence to go forward and create a better future than today because that same person is messed everything up mouse to look at you in the mirror yes blights for. There's a God in heaven. You believe that you believe that when I change everything. When I change everything up there actually was a God in heaven who makes power and wisdom available on earth, so Daniel continues I God told me what you urge magicians couldn't can come up with the Daniel tells tell Bonetti what his dream was the king that he saw this giant statue.

His hair was made out of gold on the chest and arms were were made of silver in the belly was bronze in the ledger made out of iron and the 10 toes. The feet were a mixture of iron and clay, and while you are admiring this awesome statute, a rock came out of had a heaven out of nowhere and shattered statue and a billion pieces.

Nebuchadnezzar said that was said that was my dream and Daniel gives him the interpretation which were to get you in a second.

I promise at first let me highlight the significance of how this went down because this can give us another important principle for shining in Babylon.

I know you like.

Just tell us what things mean, and I want to get to that. But the point here is the principle for you and me that is transferable to how we live is the principal right principle out you will conference 101 is gotta be different to make a difference.

God validates his message supernaturally in Babylon, God validates his message supernaturally when you're in Babylon. Supernatural confirmation is how God distinguishes his real kingdom from his fake here, here, here, in a story that happened to the supernatural revelation of the Greek all the other ways as happens in Scripture that your little Goldring Mark chapter 2 were Jesus said, to a crippled man, your sins are forgiven, and all the legislators like your faith. Nobody can forgive sins but God.

When Jesus point to is the proof that he had the power to forgive sins rockthrowing biking as well rinsing and forgive sins your sins are forgiven and your sins are forgiven and send forgiveness for you. Look in your chair and I got some forgiven threat that we never know if you tell the truth. Just like any old wise men of Babylon could fake a dream interpretation, the genes and proof that I got the power to forgive senses that I can make this line and walk it out of the power to make that laymen want and that proves that I got the power of God to forgive sins.

Also I suggest was happening in Nebuchadnezzar's situation and of course all the ultimate miracle to prove Jesus's power was the resurrection know something that no other religious Guru would know what a wise man or philosopher Dr. scientist has ever been able to do one things you can say that Mohammed booed Stalin, Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche anybody want to put my category one things all have in common is all still in the race. The only one that came out of the grave didn't show his power and his wisdom by putting on displays in like this because he could do something that only God could do that supernatural kind of verification continued on into the ministry of the apostles, the writer of the book of Hebrews explains that God validated the writings of the apostles came to be known as our New Testament validated the signs and wonders usually says in Hebrews 2, verse three, the gospel was declared to us first by the Lord Jesus and then it was much this attested to us in writings by those who heard him, the apostles, God bearing witness with them through signs and wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. How did God distinguish the apostles, whose writings we have from all the false prophets of that day went on the trip.

It was to miracles and signs and wonders. Now today, our experience of this is a little bit different because we have a completed Bible, but the apostle Paul still points to supernatural power at work in our preaching that validates that this message is from God, and that it's not counterfeit. Paul said, for example, to the Corinthians were attributes to his of my preaching of my speech were not with persuasive words of wisdom. Not much of the green thing on my wall but they came with a demonstration of the Spirit's power because I didn't want your faith be based on how smart I was but on God's power that was in the message first 2014 25. Paul talks about an unbeliever who comes into a church setting like this one on one of our small groups were believers begin to use the supernatural gift of prophecy to call out and pray for what is going on in this unbeliever's heart and as they are doing that Paul says for screen is 14 the secrets of his heart begin to be revealed, and as a result, he falls down, face down and begins to worship proclaiming God is really among you, because you know things about me that only God can know that is supposed to be happening as we are living out gospel witness in the Triangle with a roster that the searcher now, not something that we gotta be open to us a God. How are you wanting to do this through us still today I will tell you, God often validates the message the supernatural dreams and visions. There is nothing in the Bible that says God has ceased that and listen.

If you have spent any time overseas, especially among Christians you work with Muslims. You will be inundated with stories of Muslims who come to faith in Christ, dreams and visions, almost spooky, but it is so consistent and so pervasive that it's difficult to dismiss all of it is just made up just for me personally.

I sing six Muslims come to faith in Christ personally for. Of the six came to some kind of drink I talked about various ones of those me. I really quick lipids version of just want to suck your taste what I'm talking about. I was in Southeast Asia was a Muslim 30 Jerome is a man I've never met who was a friend of a friend who asked to meet with me in that meeting he tells about a dream he's had in which these walking through this field. This expansive field for days like that that Phil represented my life because though I'm a very committed Muslim. I feel lost and alone is suddenly the middle.

This dream a man and radiant white clothing suddenly appears behind me with a face that that shown like the sun. He said he called my name and and this man reached inside of his robe and pulled out a copy of the gospel and told me that this was the only message that would get me out of this field of emptiness and loneliness. After tell me about this dream. He looks at me he said no, my friend here tells me you are expert at the gospel he said can you tell me what my treatments now. As I noted earlier, I was raised in a very conservative Baptist context and dreams and visions and interpretations thereof were not part of our spiritual repertoire. But I'm happy to tell you that in that moment without a lick of seminary training, I knew exactly what to say library or some of my dream interpretations my spiritual gift I walk them into the gospel for two hours and he got saved he got baptized he corresponded with me several times over the next few years. Talk about growing in and faith that makes evangelism easy. By the way, when that kind of stuff happens, but it happens out in Babylon. The New Testament writer James tells us that God validates his messengers today through answers to prayer. James five. He points to the example of Elijah. When Elijah never this first Kings 18 when Elijah wanted to prove Israel, who the true God was with the true God, Jehovah, or was it male human what the test was which God answers prayer.

He says first Kings 1824 you call name your God now called the name of the Lord in the God who answers which is going agree he is God. That's one of the reasons we believe prayer ought to define our ministries here at the summit church that we don't just pray in preparation for the ministry. What we say prayer is the ministry is not just that I'm the one that's ministering or small group leaders are ministry, the people who are praying there actually doing the ministry because Jesus said, his house was to be a house of prayer for all nations. It was supposed to validate her messages. Why don't you, that a lot of times we do up here at the end of the service and having brothers and sisters ready to pray. That's not like you know I thought you hey, here's a Q&A group furthers you were too lazy to go to the website. That's a group of people who are here to do what what what arguably is the main ministry the church and that is to take our birds of the Lord is a garbage movement goblet you act. That's why say that it's might be the most port thing we do every weekend.

One of our church planters share the story with me this week and I don't really have time for this mimosa gets to perfect little. I got this this week and having heard the message of rigid PVC said hey I got to see him to background Indian men come to faith in South Africa after he lost everything in a bad business deal when I met him, he articulated that this might be happening because God was trying to communicate with him over the next couple of days. He struggled with suicidal thoughts, and the idea that God could be all good and all-powerful, and still let this happen to him. Nevertheless, I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to share with him the story of Elijah and the prophets of bail, I've been asked if I could take a week to pray that in a similar way that God revealed himself to Israel he would reveal himself to this man that he was the one true God and this Hindu man said I could do that. The next day.

I pray that the Lord would meet his tangible need for clothing. I then got an email randomly from a church asking if we had any ministry needs because they had set some money aside for us. I went back to meet this man told him about what God had done in providing clothing for him. To this church. I took him to the mall to pick out his clothes and then we sat and I explained the gospel to him. I was asked of the end. If I could pray for him because I didn't want to be too pushy with them and I just pray the gospel over him. But when I said amen. He asked me if he could pray also. He proceeded to pray God over the last week. You know that I have dealt you, and not believe in you and thought about ending my life. But today, you have proven to me that you are real and that Jesus is your son and I just want to say thank you. That's what supposed to happen as the gospel goes forward in Babylon will more real quick spiritual changes in your life validate that this gospel is God how to pull say that if any man is in Christ is a new creation. Hope things are passed away behold all things are become new. When you get born again God gives you a new heart, a new heart that that is characterized by things that no no religious resolution no resolve to do better in producing the usual heart that has a genuine love for God. It's in your emotions you you you begin to desire his word you want to be close to the usual love for his people he serves to give you a hatred for sin and company sermons and gone through you resolving a better these are things that can be produced by religion is proof that that what is happening in you is from God, by the way, that change had happened in you. That's a really good indication that you never actually experience God, you got fake religion. The point is, God intends to make you shine him Babylon to distinguish the truth of his message from the counterfeits all around you, it does about supernatural outpourings of power are you experiencing this are you you look for it Francia still ready to do this today.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.

So it's asking for motivate student morale and music come out of this are doing right now we do not want to bow your heads father before I finish these last few moments here in this message. I'm asking God. I know that there are people right now who you will Holy Spirit putting something in their heart that you want in the pray for some relationship to be reconciled semi-to be fueled so might be brought back. Father I pray that this house of prayer right now you hear this request and you would answer them and you would teach us to be this house of prayer, so that our community could know that there's a God in heaven God in heaven who is as real as active on earth as he was with Daniel and then the days of the apostles in our day.

I pray that you do this and teach this in a separate Jesus name be Ruth S. Amen. Like what you do remaining time which I will was using time to consider the dream itself because it's an important piece of prophecy. It reveals the core substance of our message.

The Babylon again verse 31 right now is up explains is a gigantic human statue. Every part of such is made out of a different substance.

The head is made of gold that is made of gold. This verse 38 says Daniel says is represent the Babylonian Empire, which lasted from 626 BC to about 539 BC. Daniel says to Nebuchadnezzar directly. Verse 38 you are that head of gold.

Babylon was to note the world's first super about and it was mightier than anything the world had ever seen up to that point. It was impressive even by today's standards. Nebuchadnezzar, for example, build a wall around Babylon, a wall that stretched for 56 miles and places it was over 80 feet wide and 300 feet high and his Empire historians say was laden with more gold than anybody knew was on earth wanted to see was a contemporary historian visited Babylon in the middle of all this and road that never in his life had he seen such an abundance of gold was gold on the buildings of gold on the stairs. There was gold on the signs Throne was made of solid gold snap is that head of gold in the Babylonian empire. After that we had a chest and arms made out of silver that's gonna represent what you find out the Medo Persian Empire, which is gonna conquer Babylon in 539 BC. What you see that Take Pl. in Daniel five here we got we we we got to body parts, the chest of the arms representing the two kingdoms. Media from the north in Persia from the east that unite over there Babylon again 539 BC.

After that we got the belly and upper thighs made of bronze.

Here you will warning to venture out just a little bit on our own because the text was really clear about the first two parts, but they are there or not really like is clear about the last ones because it's all in the future, but it's what I meant to share with you is the basically way most scholars do, but we just want him. The point is not who exactly are the various parts of the thing that's not the whole point here come the point is what God is saying to all human kingdoms everywhere run the same page here. God see some you already you get your charts out your registrar identifying which politicians of the antichrist don't do that okay that's not what were going to go.

Most scholars believe that this bronze belly and thighs represent Greece. The superpower that conquered Medo Persia around 220 BC, but of course by Alexander the great. Interestingly, by the way, Alexander's armies pioneered the use of bronze and weaponry.

Greek soldiers were bronze how much their chariots were made out of bronze shields and even their swords made out of bronze, which might explain bronze being a metal that symbolizes not after that we can have the legs of iron, which likely represent Rome, the kingdom that conquered Greece in 63 BC say why iron well iron was considered to be the strongest of all the metals now was supposed to prophesy something about Rome strength. Sure enough, scholars say the Rome took military strength to a new level shown by the fact that that that they held their empire for several centuries right and think about a Babylonians rule only last 70 years.

The Medo Persia lasted about 200 in the Greek when lasted another 200 but the Roman Empire lasted for more than 500 years in the West at Rome and more than 1500 years in the east to Constantinople.

Scholars say the length of legs making some indication about that. Finally we got the seat made out of a mixture of iron and clay.

The Roman Empire would eventually be shattered into different kingdoms and different nations, not a fullness of this has not happened yet we know that because these same 10 kingdoms are mentioned again in the book of Revelation as a part of a future event and I know that saying that make some of you out trying to figure out which nations are going to be and whether or not the code vaccine is the mark of the beast, which by the way, I'm not a medical expert, and so I will not speak on the medical ramifications of taking it, but I can 100% sure you vaccine is not the mark of the beast and I don't know anything here that you just heard it okay talk of prophecy on every people makes you want to geek out and try to figure all the stuff out. But let me encourage you not to go there at least if you do go there though Beaumont spent longer that ambiguity in the Bible is intentional. If God had wanted us to know more specifics, he would've given them to us. The point is not the specifics of the statute. The point is is what happens to the statute once it was Walmart drink verse 34 there's 40 as you were watching Daniel says to Nebuchadnezzar, a stone broke off without him touching it still made without hands. It struck the statue on his feet and across the feet. Then he iron the fireplace the bronze and silver, the gold were shattered and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away and not a trace of them can be found anymore. All but the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth on Nebuchadnezzar, the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. In the days of those kings and those kingdoms, the God of the heavens will set up his own kingdom that will never be destroyed, and it will crush all these other kingdoms and bring them to an inn, but back kingdom that God establishes endure forever, so the rock is the kingdom of God. The text directly says that when Jesus shows up. He makes clear.

Matthew 2141 killing of a reference but this rot coming from heaven was actually a picture of him.

Think about the stone was made without human hands to see the detail means it came about with no human agency. Interestingly, did you know the stones of the Temple.

Israel's Temple had to be made without human hands. They couldn't harden and pulled right out of the spine the right size and pulled right out of the rivers that was to demonstrate that no part of God's salvation was going to come about by human agency know him would touch it, God would do it all by himself so like this stone Jesus would be made without human hands. He was born of a virgin. Second, the rock is the least valuable substance in the dream is not silver is not gold, not bronze rock is the least valuable thing of all these metals yet. This rot comes with the power of God.

And so it shatters into dust. Always more expensive metals. This represented how Jesus would not come up all the bleeding and the shine of the world.

He was born poor.

He never owned a home. He never raised an army. He was no head of gold. Yet he came was something the golden have and that was the death-defying power of God third in this dream the rock start small and it eventually grows into a gigantic mound that fills the whole earth know in the same thing in that the exact same things you said about his kingdom. Matthew 13 is my teams will start small and see that you crush your foot, but adventures gonna multiply so that it covers every part of the earth you guys realizing she's left.

We left Earth you can put all his followers into one room was it was a poor blue-collar untrained men women fishermen even leave an army fortress in a little fortune like Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Mohammed, yet that little tiny movement you could've crossed underneath your foot has today swelled into the largest religious movement in history literally covers the face of the earth. I told you to places the gospel is growing the fastest. Today, the places with the least money, Africa, Asia, Latin America, did you know he has a business of it. Two thirds of all self identified Christians two thirds of all Christians today live in Latin America, Africa, Africa or Asia by 2050. Experts say that numbers going to exceed 80%. Get this today. This morning in church.

There are more practicing Christians in Africa were in church this morning than in all European countries combined. More Christians will attend to, and more. 10 church in Kenya this morning than in all of Canada. Uganda has more Anglican Christians than Great Britain, Canada or the United States combine and Anglican literally means English. Donna has more Presbyterians than Scotland and scholars where Presbyterianism started. Brazil now sends out more overseas missionaries in either Britain or Canada know we talked about the villager in Africa who's never heard about Jesus, statistically, you're more likely to run into a born-again Christian in a village in Africa. You are in Montr�al and get me started about Asia in 1970 there were no legally functioning churches in all of China. Yet today it is estimated that the number of practicing Christians in China exceeds that of the United States. Experts predict that by 2050. China will be a majority Christian country what's document due to global politics.

People say Christianity is a Western thing that Americans should not impose on everybody else be real Christianity is not a Western thing is never been a Western think anything is a Middle Eastern thing that graced the West for a while is now headed around the world just like Nebuchadnezzar predicted that leads us to the core substance of our core message to Babylon when you and I are here to testify to witness to it are Babylon and that is this God sent rock to earth and not rock was named Jesus and he will destroy every false kingdom erected by man, whether those are large geopolitical kingdoms of the world or that little independent, self-centered kingdom your building on your loan and all the irony is that's not why Jesus came home first to destroy what he say John 317.

I want to condemn the world, I came to save it first to save you come to judge us but the diamond cross to save us. He came to be the rock of salvation to not go relies on see friend.

We will do that with this ring tells us is that rock will crush us the choice.

I put in front of you today you see what this dream is telling you is going to happen if you oppose Jesus, we can open our fortress in the Daniel 235, when the kingdom when the rock strikes every kingdom in the statue which will include your little kingdom you build and independence of God when they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors going to scare them away money for trace of them can be found, but the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth that your choice you can receive Jesus build your life on rock and last forever. All you can be crushed by him. 2500 years ago a pagan king's dream tells you the end of history the end of your life receive Jesus as the rock of salvation will be crushed by him submit to him or tell him is your enemy but you can't do what you won't be able to do is resist you to submit him until July for hammer your crushed by habitability on Charles Spurgeon compared to what Matt tried to resist the coming of a locomotive, he would place himself was in this place himself in front of a fast-moving railway car will be crushed would be no more foolish than you who are opposing the gospel. Who are you to attempt to stand against you will be crushed.

Let me tell you when the railway car runs over the wheel will not even be raised an inch by your size for you. The timing that a creeping worm which that will will crush to less than nothing, and not leave you even a name as having ever been an opponent of the gospel. Let everyone in the world know assuredly that the gospel will win its way, whatever they may do poor creatures.

Their efforts to oppose the gospel are not even worthy of our notice, we need not fear that they can stop the truth though I cannot who thinks he can quench the sun tiny insect into it. If you can. You will only burn your wings and die. Likewise, there may be a fly who thinks he can drink the ocean drive drink the ocean. If you cannot fly more likely you will sink in it and it will drink you from SMS is a mystery that I remind you again that's not why Jesus came came first to save.

Jesus said it was the rock that the builders rejected the became the chief cornerstone for those who put their hope of salvation in him makes the choice is yours. You have a life of meaning and purpose built upon a rock. You have a temporary king, and this is crushed in the powder you choose is no middle ground. Jesus do not form your gifts ready. Sam much about your heads. If you would what's happening right now is God speaking to whom I speak into some, it's time to put the games aside time to plan a popularity game. The business acquisition game going to do it my way again. There's a rock came from heaven's name is Jesus income to continue became to save you.

But if you will not submit to him, he will destroy you, so as to look like a surrender to him do it right here right now where you said or Jesus I surrender, technology, or the Lord. I receive US save save save me, but I pray for those in this moment that a beginning that surrender a summit family master got some on your mind that you need pray for right now some question you bring to God right now is a God in heaven is ready to listen, pray right now you take these moments God we believe your real Savior friend save her family. Use this church to demonstrate not eloquence of his preacher are not untalented.

Worship leaders use it to demonstrate God in heaven doesn't know what a human can do the rings life back from the dead's mercy and grace to those who were dead in sin, we assess God and Jesus thing. Amen. Having prayed with me got business. It was God is always studying this text, the number 3393 text were ready Re: 80 wine to the number 3393 smile follow you on ask the right now with our prayer teams come down here as they always do this. Like I said maybe most important part of her service as a time for you, to satisfy pray for me to burp the people here you have physical healing needs that you need to be prayed for your relationships that are falling apart got a financial strain right now, say there's a magic thing that can happen on here, but I'm saying that there were here brothers and sisters in Christ will take us to God. This is a house of prayer, master, stand your feet if you would have all the campuses I'm going to send you out by reminding you that when the disciples had questions about prophecy. Jesus responded by saying it's not feeder the times or seasons is what you will know you can receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. The uttermost parts of the earth and frost. That means Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill Triangle rest, North Carolina, United States, Dominican Republic, and the world Summit church go in that confidence go with that Holy Spirit go with that commission in Jesus name. You are sent