Daniel - The King Who Lost His Mind (notes)

Daniel - The King Who Lost His Mind

This Is The Personal testimony of the king of Babylon and how God completely destroyed his mind, restored his mind and saved his kingdom.

His Letter sounds like one of the letters in the New Testament from one of the apostles of the church of Jesus Christ.

Daniel 4:1-7

1 NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE king, to all people, nations, and languages that dwell on all the earth: May peace be multiplied to you! 2 It seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed toward me. 3 How great are His signs! And how mighty His wonders! His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation. 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I had a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts and imaginations and the visions of my head as I was lying upon my bed troubled and agitated me. 6 Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me the interpretation of it.

Dreams

• In the ancient world had great significance especially to the rulers of the nations. Example of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon.
• When the king had the dream it had great meaning but because God was speaking it troubled him even more.
• Are still a means of divine communication today.

Daniel 4

• The king acknowledges the power of the Holy Spirit upon Daniel in giving him the ability to know and interpret dreams.
• Daniel listens to the dream. A great tree in the midst of the earth.

Daniel 4:8-10

8 But at last Daniel came in before me--he who was named Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God - and I told the dream before him, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you and no secret mystery is a burden or troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen and the interpretation of it. 10 The visions of my head [as I lay] on my bed were these: I saw, and behold, [there was] a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

How Daniel Impacted The Nations He Was A Part Of:

1. He never compromised with evil.
2. He was a man who believed God.
3. He was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in.
4. He was a man of intense prayer.

Daniel 4:11-12

11 The tree grew and was strong and its height reached to the heavens, and the sight of it reached to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The living creatures of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches; and all flesh was fed from it.

• Daniel gives the meaning. This vast tree with great influence, great prosperity but also where the birds of air dwell in its branches is a type of the occultic (demonic teachings and influence through the religious system of Babylon).

Daniel 4:13

13 I saw in the visions of my head [as I lay] on my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from Heaven. Daniel sees a watcher, could have been an angel who watches over the affairs of the kingdoms of the earth.

Daniel 4

• Daniel sees a stump with deep roots. This shows the tree would be cut down (the king) would loose his mind, but not loose his kingdom.

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the midst of the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of the heavens, and let him share the lot of the living creatures in the grass of the earth.

16 Let his nature and understanding be changed from a man's and let a beast's nature and understanding be given him, and let seven times [or years] pass over him.

• Daniel sees that the king’s total transformation from a great leader to an insane, almost animalistic creature. A court session is held by the Heavenly Sanhedrin that the world may know the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and can give power to the lowliest of men if God chooses.

The Interpretation (Daniel 4)

20 The tree that you saw, which grew [great] and was strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which was visible to all the earth, 21 Whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, on which was food for all, under which the living creatures of the field dwelt, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their nests -- 22 It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; your greatness has increased and it reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

• Daniel sees the tree as being the king and his great empire.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of the heavens, and let his portion be with the living creatures of the field until seven times [or years] pass over him--

• Daniel sees a holy one come down from Heaven and say to cut the tree down but leave a stump with roots.

24 This is the interpretation, O king: It is the decree of the Most High [God] which has come upon my lord the king:

• Daniel gives the revelation that God is the one who makes decrees and has the final say about the reign of any king, any man over any kingdom.

Meaning

Daniel sees that the king’s total transformation from a great leaders to an insane, almost animalistic creature. A court session is held by the Heavenly Sanhedrin that the world may know the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and can give power to the lowliest of men if God chooses.

Daniel 4

17 This sentence is by the decree of the [heavenly] watchers and the decision is by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High [God] rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He will and sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men.18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. And you, O Belteshazzar [Daniel], declare now its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.

The Meaning

• Daniel sees the tree as being the king and his great empire.
• Daniel sees a holy one come down from heaven and say to cut the tree down but leave a stump with roots.
• Daniel gives the revelation that God is the one who makes decrees and has the final say about the reign of any king, any man over any kingdom.
• Daniel gives the interpretation that the king would be driven from among men and will live as a homeless person for seven years until he recognizes the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He will.
• Daniel (God speaking through the prophet) gives the king a way out of what will happen. Break off your sins and show the reality of your repentance by righteousness and liberate yourself from your iniquities by showing mercy and kindness to the poor and oppressed and your error will be covered by God’s mercy & forgiveness.

Application

• Daniel and the king wait a whole year before he sees the fulfillment of the dream or the pronouncement of the verdict.
• Daniel gives seven years of the torment of the king in one verse v. 33.

God’s Mercy

Daniel says what happens when the seven years of insanity is up for the king. He lifts his eyes to Heaven and God returns his understanding and the right use of his mind. The king blessed the Most High God and praised and honored and glorified Him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His Kingdom endures from generation to generation. What revelation God gives the king! God completely restores the king, his mind, his kingdom, his honor but with still more greatness than before.

Daniel - The King Who Lost His Mind

Daniel - The King Who Lost His Mind

this message was given on 6-26-11

Courageous Dads - Joshua 1:6-9 (notes)

Courageous Dads - Joshua 1:6-9

Courageous

• Means, not deterred by danger or pain, brave.
• God told Joshua after having to take the place of probably one of the greatest leaders in history. Moses, the man who stood up to Pharaoh with great signs and wonders and miracles. The one who saw the glory of God and who was given the 10 commandments and the blue prints to the tabernacle, who wrote the first five books of the Bible.

What God Told Joshua:

Joshua 1:6 Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. 9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Courage Demonstrated

• The greatest person who can change society is a Godly Father.
• Godly dads protect, serve and teach their children the Word of God.
• Godly dads love their wives, are faithful to them, honor them and are willing to lay down their lives for them as Christ did for us.

Courageous Dads

• Bless their children and teach them to love God with all their hearts, mind and strength.
• Train their children to honor authority and live responsibly.
• Confront evil, pursue justice and love mercy.
• Pray for others, and treat them with kindness, respect and compassion.
• Work diligently to provide for the needs of their families.
• Forgive those who have wronged them, and reconcile with those they have (I) have wronged.
• Learn from their mistakes, repent of sin, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
• Seek to honor God, to be faithful to their church, obey God’s Word and do His will.
• Courageously work with the strength God provides fulfill these promises.
• Remember what Joshua said. “…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
• Fight for their families. We are called to war as men of God. We fight against evil, corruption, perversion, drunkenness, dishonesty, unfaithfulness and compromise.
• Are called to victory because Jesus was victorious over evil.

When God

• Repeats something three times to someone it is significant. God told Joshua three times to be courageous.
• God tells us (men) to be courageous as leaders of our homes.

God Tells Us

• To be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power in Ephesians 6
• In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10

Application

Ephesians 6:11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

(AMP)

The Family

Is under attack by the enemy.

Gay marriage, abortion, divorce, porn, adultery, unfaithfulness, etc. etc.

There is an all out war against families.

Unwed pregnancy, gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration etc. are all symptoms of families that are sick.

It starts with fathers being faithful to their wives, connected with their children, involved with their families

What is the Answer?

Courageous Fathers.

• Who protect, serve their families as they teach them the Word of God.
• Who are faithful to their wives, who love and honor them.
• Who bless their children & teach them to love God.
• Who train their children to honor authority & live responsibly.
• Who confront evil, pursue justice and love mercy.
• Who pray for others as they treat them right.
• Who work diligently to provide for their families.
• Who are forgiving.
• Who learn from their mistakes.
• Who honor God, go to church and obey the Word.

God is Looking

Daniel saw the deterioration of human civilization. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was gold while the succeeding kingdoms were increasingly inferior. Silver, brass, iron and finally clay. The world will become

For courageous men who are willing to stand in the gap for their families, walk in integrity, have pure hearts, obey the Word of God on a daily basis, raise their children to love God, love their wife as Jesus loved the church and who will not compromise with the world.

Courageous Dads - Joshua 1:6-9

Courageous Dads - Joshua 1:6-9

this message was given on 6-19-11

Daniel - Trial By Fire (notes)

Daniel - Trial By Fire

Daniel

• Is known as one of the most amazing books in the Word of God.
• Has some amazing stories of faith and courage and confidence.
• Mentions Daniel and three of his friends as men of faith who did not compromise.

The King

• Sets up a 90 foot tall image in the province of Babylon. He orders all important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue. When the band strikes it up - fall to your knees and worship the gold statue
• Whoever does not will be cast into the furnace.

Not Everyone

• Obeyed the king’s order. Three young men. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not obey. They stood when everyone else bowed down to the statue.
• They stood strong in faith.

Courage Demonstrated

Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if He doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

Revelation

Trials come and go but people who stand in the midst of trial are the ones who will shine in the darkness.

Trial Lessons

• Trials come to those who believe in Jesus.
• Trials will either make us bitter or better.
• Trials can be the best thing that ever happened to us or the worst.
• Trials are for purification.
• Trials can be part of our transformation.

James 1

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

NKJV

2 My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. 4 Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

GNT

2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

The Message

Application

Tests will come.

They have a purpose!

Let them run their course.

Don’t give in to the temptation to bolt but stand like the three did.

Daniel 3:24-28

24 Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, "Didn't we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?" "That's right, O king," they said. 25 "But look!" he said. "I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!" 26 Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the roaring furnace and called in, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the High God, come out here!" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of the fire. 27 All the important people, the government leaders and king's counselors, gathered around to examine them and discovered that the fire hadn't so much as touched the three men not a hair singed, not a scorch mark on their clothes, not even the smell of fire on them!

28 Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They ignored the king's orders and laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own.

Daniel 3:29

Daniel saw the deterioration of human civilization. Nebs kingdom was gold while the succeeding kingdoms were increasingly inferior. Silver, brass, iron and finally clay. The world will become

29 "Therefore I issue this decree: Anyone anywhere, of any race, color, or creed, who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and their houses torn down. There has never been a god who can pull off a rescue like this."

God honors those who stand in the midst of a test of their faith with promotion.

Let’s Learn

From this ancient event in the history of Israel and learn that trials of fire are designed to bring us to a place of total dependence on God.

• Fire burns off impurities.
• Fire changes the nature of the element that is burned.
• Fire transforms.

Daniel - Trial By Fire

Daniel - Trial By Fire

this message was given on 6-12-11

Daniel - Dreams That Shape History (notes)

Daniel - Dreams That Shape History

The Life of Daniel

Is one of the greatest examples of a man who shaped history by his prayer and by visions and dreams!

Daniel Impacted

His generation by living a dedicated life to God and to the purpose God had for him.

Daniel 2:1-3

1 IN THE second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams by which his spirit was troubled and agitated and his sleep went from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, the enchanters or soothsayers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans [diviners], to tell the king his dreams. So they came 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 said the Chaldeans [diviners] to the king in Aramaic [the Syrian language], O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. 5 The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me! And the decree goes forth from me and I say it with all emphasis: if you do not make known to me the dream with its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghill!

Daniel

• Is known as one of the most accurate prophets in history. He saw the rise and fall of some of the major civilizations in history.
• Was the advisor to many rulers; Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar, Amelmarduk, Neriglissar, Labishimarduk, Nabonidas and after the defeat of Babylon, he served Darius the Mede and Cyrus in the Persian court. 8 rulers total.

Dreams

• In the ancient world had great significance especially to the rulers of the nations. Example of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon.
• When the king has the dream it had great meaning but because God was speaking it troubled him even more.
• Are still a means of Divine communication today.

Daniel 2:6-7

6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So show me the dream and the interpretation of it. 7 They answered again, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it. 8 The king answered, I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me and because you see that my word [against you] is sure 9 If you will not make known to me the dream, there is but one sentence for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me [hoping to delay your execution] until the time is changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can tell me the interpretation of it.10 The Chaldeans [diviners] answered before the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can show the king this matter, for no king, lord, or ruler has [ever] asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.11 A rare and weighty thing indeed the king requires! None except the gods can reveal it to the king, and their dwelling is not with [human] flesh.

How Daniel Impacted The Nations He Was A Part Of:

1. He never compromised with evil.
2. He was a man who believed God.
3. He was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in.
4. He was a man of intense prayer.

God Can

• Give us the information on how to do our job. This is where we find the spirit of wisdom and revelation in operation.
• Revelation is the divine information and wisdom is the ability to apply the knowledge God gives us.
• The anointing is God’s ability given to people but revelation is God’s insight needed to do our job.

Daniel 2:16:19

16 And Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would set a date and give him time, and he would show the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 So that they would desire and request mercy of the God of heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

How Do I Know Daniel Was A Man Of Prayer?

• Because of the acts of Daniel.
• By the revelations God gave Daniel.
• By the ability Daniel had to interpret dreams.
• By the life Daniel lived.
• By the way Daniel is still impacting lives today.

In Daniel 2

• We find the king had a dream and could not find anyone who could tell him the dream or the interpretation of it.
• Daniel & his friends were students of Babylonian culture but they never lost their love for God and their culture.
• In Daniel 2:18 Daniel & his friends go to God in prayer for understanding and God answers.

Daniel 2:20-49

20 Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! 21 He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! 22 He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him! 23 I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers, Who has given me wisdom and might and has made known to me now what we desired of You, for You have made known to us the solution to the king's problem. 24 Therefore Daniel went 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 to the king the interpretation. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: I have found a man of the captives of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation [of his dream]. 26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and the interpretation of it?

27 Daniel answered the king, The [mysterious] secret which the king has demanded neither the wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor astrologers can show the king, 28 But there is a God in heaven Who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that shall be in the latter days (at the end of days). Your dream and the visions in your head upon your bed are. 29 As for you, O king, as you were lying upon your bed thoughts came into your mind about what should come to pass hereafter, and He Who reveals secrets was making known to you what shall come to pass. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than anyone else living, butt in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king and that you may know the thoughts of your heart and mind. 31 You, O king, saw, and behold, [there was] a great image. This image which was mighty and of exceedingly great brightness stood before you, and the appearance of it was frightening and terrible. 32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 Its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay [the baked clay of the potter]. 34 As you looked, a Stone was cut out without human hands, which smote the image on its feet of iron and [baked] clay [of the potter] and broke them to pieces.) 35 Then the iron, the [baked] clay [of the potter], the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken and crushed together 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. And the Stone that smote the image became a great mountain or rock and filled the whole earth. 36 This was the dream, and we will tell the interpretation of it to the king. 37 You, O king, are king of the [earthly] kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the might, and the glory. 38 And wherever the children of men dwell, and the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens--He has given them into your hand and has made you to rule over them all. You [king of Babylon] are the head of gold. 39 And after you shall arise another kingdom [the Medo-Persian], inferior to you, and still a third kingdom of bronze [Greece under Alexander the Great] which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom [Rome] shall be strong as iron, since iron breaks to pieces and subdues all things; and like iron which crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of [baked] clay [of the potter] and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it some of the firmness and strength of iron, just as you saw the iron mixed with miry [earthen] clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of [baked] clay [of the potter], so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle and broken. 43 And as you saw the iron mixed with miry and earthen clay, so they shall mingle themselves in the seed of men [in marriage bonds]; but they will not hold together [for two such elements or ideologies can never harmonize], even as iron does not mingle itself with clay. 44 And in the days of these [final ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break and crush and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever. 45 Just as you saw that the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. The dream is certain and the interpretation of it is sure. 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid homage to Daniel [as a great prophet of the highest God] and ordered that an offering and incense should be offered up to him [in honor of his God].

47The king answered Daniel, Of a truth your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a Revealer of secret mysteries, seeing that you could reveal this secret mystery! 48Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and he made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. 49And Daniel requested of the king and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained in the gate of the king [at the king's court].

The Meaning

This is one the most powerful dreams ever recorded. It lays the ground work for civilizations even until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

Daniel - Dreams That Shape History

Daniel - Dreams That Shape History

this message was given on 6-5-11