City Life Church San Diego
Welcome to the City Life Church Podcast, where faith meets action in the heart of Mt. Hope. We are a diverse family of God, united by Jesus, led by Scripture, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are committed to caring for both the spiritual and tangible needs of the lost and hurting. Through inspiring messages and practical lessons, we seek to equip and encourage you to live out God’s calling in everyday life. Join us as we grow in faith, serve our community, and share the hope of the Gospel with the world.
City Life Church San Diego
Kingdoms Rise, Kingdoms Fall, But God Never Changes
The Book of Daniel contains some of the most precise prophecies in Scripture—visions of rams, goats, and horns that accurately foretold the rise and fall of ancient empires. When Daniel received these apocalyptic glimpses, he was physically overcome, "sick for days" at the destruction they revealed. His reaction mirrors God's own heart: not celebrating judgment but grieving over those who reject Him.
This episode unpacks three profound truths from Daniel 8. First, everything on earth fades, but God's kingdom endures forever. The mightiest empires—from Babylon to Greece to Rome—have crumbled to dust. Alexander the Great conquered the known world by 32, yet what remains? A coin in a museum. Where are we investing our lives? In temporary kingdoms or eternal values?
Second, God helps us understand if we honestly seek Him. Daniel persistently sought God's wisdom when confused, modeling a faith that presses in rather than abandons ship at the first sign of difficulty. Unlike our consumer approach to sports teams (which we forgive endless scandals), we often ditch faith communities over minor disagreements. True seeking requires patience and perseverance.
Finally, the destruction of the wicked should break our hearts. If we don't grieve over God's enemies, we've forgotten we once stood in their place. Jesus wept over Jerusalem even as it rejected Him. He prayed for His executioners' forgiveness. This radical compassion should characterize our approach to those we disagree with—showing love without compromising truth.
Whether you're already in your own lion's den or feeling the heat of a culture hostile to faith, God promises His presence. He doesn't always remove suffering, but He never abandons His children in it. Join us as we discover how to follow faithfully when the world laughs and true strength is found in humility.
The stories of the prophet Daniel are riveting, full of adventure and the miraculous. But what if we're telling these stories the wrong way? Yes, god saved his people and shut the mouths of lions, rescued those thrown into the scalding furnace. But maybe it's less about stopping wild beasts and power-hungry, egomaniac kings and it's more about humbly following our God when the world around us laughs. Maybe it's more about being faithful and kind when not promised deliverance from every king and executioner who threatens us, because our God never leaves us when the heat is turned up. He will never forsake us when the world demands we deny him. Daniel was obedient when he expected to die for his faith. Jesus obediently chose death for us. Today, the word of God challenges us to humbly follow our good and loving God, no matter what happens next. You may already be in the lion's den, but God will always be with his children. Join us for Daniel and the Upside-Down Kingdom podcast because I don't remember what I said.
Speaker 2:So you know, uh, yeah, I'd never preached before with a concussion. You know, keep turning my voice down, cause I can't yell if it's this loud. Um, so yeah, I preached with a concussion and I did not realize how much lights affect you when you have a concussion, and these lights were killing me. So if you guys saw me hanging on the pulpit barely getting words out, or if I said something really bad concussion it's been about 18 days since my concussion. But if I say something really improper today or wrong concussion, All right. So are you with me in Daniel eight? Now, when I was working through Daniel eight, I figured that you guys would need some help in in, in envisioning what we're seeing, and so what I did was is that I made sure to get some like an artist to draw some of the images for you and I don't use AI, it's real, okay, Real art. So I'll show you. I'll have them put up the art as I go through it. So I'll tell her at times to bring up the art. So Daniel 8, here we go.
Speaker 2:In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that appeared to me earlier. I saw a vision and as I watched, I was in the fortress city of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal. Now, guys, this is not a dream, okay, Do you understand that? This is a vision? Daniel was awake and, based on what we know of his eating habits from chapter one, Daniel was not ingesting peyote. So we know that this is like a real vision from god. He's not smoking anything, he's not sniffing anything. He's awake and god speaks to him. Daniel was completely sober.
Speaker 2:Okay, verse three. I looked up and there was a ram Standing beside the canal. Okay, let three. I looked up and there was a Ram standing beside the canal. Okay, let's bring up the artwork. Okay, so, um, I wanted to. I'm trying to help you guys. See this, see this.
Speaker 2:Okay, Um, this is a professional artist. He had two horns, I see it, Um, and the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other and the longer one came up last. Oh wait, change that. There it is. Okay, perfect, I got that for you guys. The longer horn. I saw the ram charging to the west, the north and the south. No animal could stand against him and there was no rescue from his power. He did whatever he wanted and became great. As I was observing, a male goat appeared coming from the west, across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. Okay, next photo. That's the male goat. It looks a little bit like a fox. That's the male goat.
Speaker 2:Continuing in the verse, the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. Oh wait, next one. Okay, there, there's. It's kind of like conspicuous. It's supposed to be one horn, so I'm sorry. Uh, I don't know what the artist was doing.
Speaker 2:Verse six Um, he came toward the two horn Ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury. I saw him approach the Ram and, infuriated with him, he struck the ram, breaking his two horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand against him. The goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his power. Okay, go ahead. Next one. There it is. So see, the ram has now crushed the ram with the one longer. Can you see it? Can you tell what's happening? This helps me to envision it. Then the male goat acted even more arrogantly, but when he became powerful, the large horn was broken. Four conspicuous horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven. Next photo so there's the four conspicuous horns and then there's another one here that's coming up.
Speaker 2:I don't know why I wrote truth. I don't. I mean the person. Verse nine from one of a little horn emerged and grew extensively towards the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. It grew as high as the heavenly army, made some of the army and some of the stars fall to earth and trample them. Verse 11,. It acted arrogantly even against the prince of the heavenly army. It revoked his regular sacrifice and overthrew the place of his sanctuary. In the rebellion, the army was given up together with the regular sacrifice. The horn threw truth to the ground. Oh, that's the truth. The horn threw truth to the ground and was successful in what it did.
Speaker 2:Then I heard a holy one speaking and another holy one said to the speaker how long will the events of this vision last? The regular sacrifice, the rebellion that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the army to be trampled? He said to me for 2300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be restored, While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared like a man. I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the ulai the ulai being that water Gabriel, explain the vision to this man. And so he approached where I was standing. When he came near, I was terrified and I fell face down. Son of man, he said to me understand that the vision refers to the time of the end. While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up and said I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end.
Speaker 2:The two horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king. The four horns that took the place of the broken horn represents four kingdoms. They will rise from the nation, but without its power. Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, a ruthless king skilled in intrigue will come to the throne. His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause outrageous destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the powerful, along with the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and in his own mind he will exalt himself. He will destroy many in a time of peace. He will even stand against the prince of princes, Yet he will be broken not by human hands the vision of the evenings and the mornings.
Speaker 2:That had been told is true. Now you are to seal up the vision because it refers to many days in the future. I, daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it, probably like you guys.
Speaker 2:But let's pray, father. Even listening to this prophecy, we know that it means violence. Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people died when these prophecies were fulfilled and we know that there's more of this prophecy to finish one day. But, god, I ask that you would help us to not ever see human life as expendable. But also we ask that you help us to understand why there are times when you allow things to happen for a season, why you use tyrants to punish idolatry, why you use ruthless men to attack ruthless men. Lord, we know that your son is the prince of peace and while we wait for peace, while we plead for peace, while we beg for your peace, it slips from our fingers like trying to catch, like a fog. We see pain and destruction all around us. But we plead with you. Please comfort the families in Minnesota who lost children so young. Please comfort the families in Minnesota who lost children so young. Please be near to the family of the shooter and for the people of Gaza.
Speaker 2:We pray for an end of the violence. God, I ask that you would disarm Israel as they continue to punish Palestine for the crimes of Hamas. Father, we ask that you would end the corrupt regime of Hamas. We pray your protection on the people of Russia and Ukraine and that you would soften their hearts this morning and the hearts of their leaders.
Speaker 2:God, today we pray for the day when our swords are beat into plowshares, when our guns are melted down into shovels, when the lion can sit next to the lamb and the child can play beside the viper's nest, when the bloods and the crypts join hand in prayer, when the Brims, lincoln Park, skyline, neighborhood, west Coast, okb Market Street and Canto worship you together in peace, when Nortenos and Sorrenios look down their arms and serve the poor together. God, we know that it's impossible, but possible with you. Lord, have your way in Mount Hope in San Diego, in Darfur, in Haiti. Be glorified and teach us and empower us. This morning, we don't want to pray for anything. We aren't willing to work for either, but we cannot do this without your help. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of our hearts be pleasing to you. We pray this all in Jesus' name.
Speaker 1:And all God's people said amen.
Speaker 2:Okay. So by now you may have noticed that the book of Daniel is not in chronological order. Jewish storytelling does not happen in a timeline like we might think, it's more like a soup, you know. Like you throw this in, then some of that it's still true. It's just told differently.
Speaker 2:This vision took place during the reign of King Belshazzar. Do we remember King Belshazzar? If you've not been here, he was a dude we were talking about a couple weeks ago, king Belshazzar, through this big old party. He was using the holy utensils from the Temple of Israel and he was using it to get drunk. And then this disembodied hand, like that guy thing from the Adams family, shows up and starts writing on the wall, scratching at the plaster, and he's writing a condemnation against the king for his arrogance. If you recall, the king wet his pants or worse, which is kind of funny.
Speaker 2:And if you've read this apocalyptic literature and felt uncomfortable before good, it should make you feel uncomfortable. It should make you feel confused at times. It should cause you to seek God. Sometimes God will explain these things to us. He does a lot of it here, but sometimes God is a mystery. Learn what you can, but also understand on our own. We know about as much about God as an infant knows about the outside world. Inside their mom's uterus there was so much we don't know without God. Let me say this the word of God is powerful. It can show us a lot.
Speaker 2:The prophecies of Daniel 8 were believed to be so right on that. Many people believe they were written years afterwards, which happens a lot, doesn't it? Anytime that a prophecy comes true later, they say, oh, this was probably written after. And it's crazy to me even the prophecies in the book of Isaiah 53 is the one that always is funny to me that people had said that is too on. It is too consistently true about Jesus that we know it's fake. And then we found the Dead Sea Scrolls that were written hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus and everybody's like, oh well, we'll find a new problem Because it was like now they had said it's too exactly perfect. But were they willing to change once they realized that it was that old? And the answer is no. And there's a lot of people out there that are the same way about the book of Daniel it's too true to be true.
Speaker 2:But today I'm going to give you three truths from Daniel, mr Daniel's wild ride. My first point is this everything on earth fades, but the kingdom of God continues forever. Put faith and energy into things that last. That was long, and so I'm asking that she would leave it up there a little bit longer. Everything on earth fades, but the kingdom of God continues forever. Put faith and energy into things that last. Maybe leave it up a little longer too, while I continue. So, in verse 7, we saw that there was that first ram, and the first ram was the guy. Until he wasn't, until he was trampled. Then the goat acts arrogantly and says I'm the guy. And in verse 9, from one of them, a little horn emerged and grew extensively towards the south and the east, towards the beautiful land Verse 10, it grew as high as the heavenly army, made some of the army and some of the stars fall to the earth and trampled them. So these are the greatest kingdoms on earth that we're talking about today. And how quickly are they broken, these humongous, mighty kingdoms that can stop anyone they want, and then one day they're stopped.
Speaker 2:Now, if you want to be a part of something that lasts forever, friends, if you want to be a part of something that lasts forever. You will not get the credit when it lasts forever. God gets the credit. If you want to be a part of something that lasts forever, go plant a garden with squash and pumpkins and tomatoes, water that garden, take care of it. Then I want you to go out of town for two weeks and see what happens to your garden. What happens? You got weeds everywhere. You got animals in there eating it. You got squirrels. You got birds. You got, I mean, every single bug has now destroyed it. All you have left are weeds and trash. But life is like this. You can build something, but if you're going to build it for yourself, it's not going to last. It's not going to last.
Speaker 2:See, god showed Daniel several kingdoms in advance. He saw the powerful Medes and the weaker Persians, and then one day the Medes were weak and the Persians were strong. Then the Greeks showed up with this powerful horn we know as Alexander the Great. Eventually, this great horn is divided up into smaller horns. One of them actually becomes Ptolemy, who ends up founding, with the help of Alexander, alexandria, and he becomes actually pharaoh of Egypt. When Alexander the Great's kingdom is divided, ptolemy takes over Egypt and he becomes pharaoh. Now his relatives, they end up founding the great library, the great lighthouse, in Alexandria.
Speaker 2:At the time, alexandria was like the greatest city on earth. Guess what Alexandria looks like now Dust. The most powerful, the most prominent place on earth is dust. Alexandria had the greatest library on earth. It was burned down in an instant by hatred. Alexandria had the most beautiful lighthouse. It was one of the wonders of the world. It's gone, but they were it at the time. Now, just as a side note, eventually Ptolemy's great, great, great, great great granddaughter, cleopatra, ended up on the same throne in Alexandria and she actually saw the change from Greek-Egyptian to Roman. And as the transition happened, cleopatra met the most powerful king of the time, new king that was coming in, julius Caesar. I'm sorry that I'm nerding out and guess what? She had a son with him, named Caesarian, and then Julius Caesar was murdered. Et tu Boutet. Right, we know this from Shakespeare. Maybe some of us know this, okay.
Speaker 1:Well, he was murdered.
Speaker 2:Then the empire splits into several different horns or segments, however you want to say it, and then you have Marcus Aurelius and Mark Antony of Rome and Caesar Augustus fighting it out, and guess what? Then Mark Antony meets Cleopatra and then they make three more babies. Like, there's some crazy stuff that happens in history and I wish I could go further. But we have to stop thinking about this. On human timing, let's stop worrying so much about power and money and influence, because it doesn't last. Jesus says in Matthew 6, don't store up yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourself treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves don't break in and steal. All of these people had everything and then one day, thieves, moths and rust took it away. These Kings all eventually learned at one point that their time was up.
Speaker 2:Now, when I lived in Wichita, kansas, there was this museum. It was the museum of world treasures and I loved it and I don't know if you know this, but I love, love history and what they had is they had the whole, like Roman history, out in coins. It was so cool, like each coin with the head of a king and I got lost in there for so long and I think I might have even been supposed to watch my kid at the time. I don't remember what happened, but I just got transfixed and basically this is how each coin was written. So this guy took power and then one night he was murdered. So this guy took power and then one night he was murdered. So this guy took power, and then one night someone poured poison into his ear. So this guy took over, and you just go through the list and everybody who's the most powerful person in the world is gone, and all they become is this small little coin in a place like this. See, julius Caesar was ambushed and killed by his own guys. Antony and Cleopatra ended up killing themselves because they had nowhere to go. Genghis Khan's legacy was eventually given to fat, lazy kings who didn't lift a finger to work, had to have people pick them up because they couldn't get up themselves anymore. Alexander the Great likely died from poisoning we don't know if it was alcohol poisoning or friend at the age of 32, alexander the Great he was not called great while he was alive. See, these kingdoms they come and they go, and they come and they go, and if you're really awesome, they will dig you up and they will put your mummy on display somewhere in a museum in like Wichita, kansas. Congratulations, you did it. You made it. Your dead body is on display. If you become the most awesome person on earth they might and if you lie and you steal and you cheat to get to the very top, you become infamous they'll put your body on display in like London. So congrats. Now tourists can see you in London. People will travel the world there and see pictures of your dead body. You did it.
Speaker 2:I have a family member who often talks to me about the fact that their life has no meaning, that if they just do something of note, then they will live forever, and I'm always encouraging them. Okay, go care for people. We got some kids in our neighborhood that could learn how to read. Why don't you help them out? But the problem is they don't belong to the kingdom of God, and so they have this yearning, this yearning in them for forever. But the problem is there's no connection to forever, and so they want to do something more, but one day they will die, just like me, just like you. But the thing is, when we belong to God, we don't die. In the same way, we continue to exist and we continue to be a part of a kingdom that lasts forever.
Speaker 2:Now, all these kingdoms come and go, but God's kingdom is forever. James 4 says you are like a vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Guys, only God can make you forever. Why not serve him instead of yourself? Why not devote yourself to things that last, not these kingdoms that come and go? And parents, let me say this If you just devote yourself to your kids only, that's not God's generosity. Pretty much everyone loves their own kids, but if you're called to love all of God's kids, then you can be a part of something that's forever. If you want to teach your kids something, teach them that they're not the center of the universe, teach them to be generous to all people, and then you have to show them by doing that. Guys, all kingdoms come to an end, even yours.
Speaker 2:Football people Do? I got football people in the room. I'm not really a football person anymore, but let me ask the football people in the room Ten years ago who was considered the greatest football coach in the NFL Bill Belichick. I only heard one answer Thank you, that's the exact answer I was looking for. That dude is out of the NFL. That guy built himself a kingdom and now he's dating like a 22 year old influencer who's like 40 years 20 years younger than his daughter or son, and people are just laughing at him. Now this was the guy. He was the guy everyone wanted to be, the guy everyone looked up to. And where is his kingdom now? It all fades everything. But remember our text from last week, from Daniel 7, 14,.
Speaker 2:It said about Jesus he was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation and language should serve him. His dominion, jesus, is everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. That's what I want to be a part of. How about you? Who is he? Jesus? He rules on the throne from everlasting to everlasting. He is king and his kingdom is moving forward here on earth, with or without you, even if you can't see it. And this Jesus, he wants you to carry forth his vision. He wants to make you a part of his rescuing party, to seek justice and to share the gospel with all those who hurt. And if you don't understand, that's okay. Seek him while there is time and you will find some answers. Devote yourself to following him and you will learn. And that's our second point God helps us to understand many things if we honestly seek him. God helps us to understand many things if we honestly seek him. God helps us to understand many things if we honestly seek him.
Speaker 2:Verse 15. While I, daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared to be a man. I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai River, gabriel, explain the vision to this guy. See, this is the first time we meet Gabriel in the Bible. Isn't that cool? He is an angel. What does the original term for angel mean in the Bible? Messenger? He's one of God's messenger. Gabriel is a messenger from God, verse 17,. So he approached where I was standing. When he came near, I was terrified and fell face down. Son of man, he said to me understand that the vision refers to the time of the end. While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up and said I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end.
Speaker 2:Now one thing I have to explain to you guys is oftentimes prophecy in the Bible has multiple uses. Many times something in the Bible will be used for that moment and for later. So example Isaiah has times talking about the prophet Isaiah that apply to Jesus later In the same way these prophecies were having to do with then. But we know that when we talk about the end of time, it might have been talking about the end of a time, but it's also talking about the end of the time. Okay, god had Gabriel explain, and so we saw the rise of Philip of Macedon, who was then murdered at his daughter's wedding. Then his son, alexander, who we see is the goat here Now, one of the authors I read said that it's funny that Alexander, the greatest of all time, is called the goat.
Speaker 2:Now, you're never going to forget that, right, it's so dumb, but God could have just made the vision confusing. Right, and it was. But Daniel asked for help. Daniel needed help. And how do I know that Daniel asked for help? Because Daniel was constantly seeking God in prayer. We have so many examples of Daniel going in the toughest of times when he's confused to God. Remember from before he prayed several times a day and it was given to him.
Speaker 2:Sometimes God won't answer you right away, though, friends, like God is not gonna answer you with every question you have, because oftentimes God knows that without your pain, without your confusion, you're not going to seek him. So if, like, the only time my kid comes to me is for candy, I'll be like, okay, I'm gonna give you some candy in like 30 minutes, but you gotta hang out with me first. Now, god's not vain like that. He's not vain, but he knows you need him. So he doesn't mind having pain in your life if it draws you to him, where you'll receive true healing. And I mind the pain, but I also tell God God, don't let me be so self-satisfied that I need more pain to go to you. So sometimes God's not going to answer you.
Speaker 2:And the thing is is that most kings and powerful people, they take all the glory for themselves for the good things. But when things go bad, who gets blamed? I blame God. I'm going to be real with you. When something bad happens to me, when someone I love passes away, I'm like God, where were you on that? Couldn't you have done something? And he could? The problem is he still draws us to him to understand, and this suffering should draw us to him so he can carry us through. But usually when we receive suffering, this is kind of the way it goes we blame God and then we dip. A lot of people just dip, they just quit. Let's be honest Belonging to Jesus means he takes over your time.
Speaker 2:He takes over your wallets. He takes over your marriage. He takes over your wallets. He takes over your marriage. He takes over your single life.
Speaker 2:But, honestly, you and I don't like being told what to do. Do we? So you still seek God, but you do it with like one foot out the door, right Like God, I'm going to give you a chance right here, and you're like already ready, right to go. You're already ready to bounce. And you're like already ready, right to go. You're already ready to bounce. Like it's crazy to me. Like you would leave a church because you met a bad person in it. Like didn't you know? We're all bad people coming to church.
Speaker 2:Like, if someone gets up here and preaches something you disagree with, you're out. If someone up here reads a different news source than you, man, I'm done with the church. Like really that quick. Somebody has a different opinion or they think something else is true, and you're just done. That's all it took you to move on. That's all the devil needed to do to get you to move on. Put some guy up here who disagrees with you on Israel I'm out. Donald Trump, I'm out. Someone who disagrees with you on gun control I'm out. That's not faith. Rather than pressing into tension and working with that person and having a conversation, you dip, you dip on God's church. You dip on God that is so weak Like.
Speaker 2:Let me ask you this we had some NFL fans in the room. How many terrible things has the NFL done? Okay, so what? We've seen entire documentaries, right, how they covered up CTE. Football players have been constantly accused and convicted of spousal abuse, drug abuse, murder. Nfl owners are making billions of dollars off of you and raising rent and raising prices off of you and raising rent and raising prices. Teams have abandoned cities that they were in for 60 years, that were a part of the local economy.
Speaker 2:You had dudes intentionally deflating footballs to cheat, taking videos of other teams' practices, but most people haven't given up on football like that. Why? Why? Because football is for you. Football is a product that entertains you. If they want to keep making money, they have to keep you happy. They want your money, so they cater to who you. They especially want men to be happy. It's why we know what the halftime show is going to have shaking around, should I say Concussion? It's why they have cheerleaders. Why do you think they have cheerleaders in the NFL? Because they want men to be happy and spend money. They want the men and they want their money. So football, basketball, baseball, they have all done terrible things.
Speaker 2:Your team constantly hurts you. I mean, how many times have I said I'm done with the Padres and I'm crawling back? You have refs that cheated in basketball refs cheating for money, but we stick with it. But if a fellow sinner in the church treats you bad, man, I'm done with the church. So then what really is your God? Because it sure doesn't sound like Jesus forgives that sinner on the stage who disagrees with you.
Speaker 2:See, with God. He demands everything from you. He's not here to cater to you. Life with him is better, but he's not here to cater to you. So if someone treats you bad on Sunday, or if the coffee is bad, not here, thank you, miss Yanni. Or if there's no parking, I mean how far would you walk for a game? I mean you show up early and you cook food in the parking lot. Or if God demands too much of your schedule, unlike fantasy football, you bounce. But if you dip for those reasons, were you actually honestly seeking God, or did you just want to cross him off a list? Or did you just want to say I tried and you already had your foot out the door? People who tell me. They pray all the time are the least likely to actually be here on Sundays. Why, now, I know that's a lot of you and you're like mad at me now but it's because you want to fit God into your schedule only, and so God has to bend to your schedule, but you don't make time for him, rather than the opposite. Yes, we should always be praying, but instead of the things God commands, it's a part of the many things he desires for us to thrive.
Speaker 2:People who have left our church have left our church over the craziest reasons. I'm going to tell you just one, so you'll hate me for the first part. So we vaccinated people during COVID because we thought it was the best thing to do and I've heard new things from different people who don't like it say it's bad, whatever, but at the time we thought this is the best way to help our neighbors. People left our church over that. Then we had a dude who left our church and he said it's because of all these churches I see out there that are against the vaccines and I was like why are you leaving our church? Then we vaccinate people. Well, because those pastors just make me mad, right, but but we vaccinated people. Now I'm out and it's like man. That person must have been like this right, like they were ready to go.
Speaker 2:But when we honestly seek god, I think he does answer our questions. I think he does help us to understand. But you have to stick with it. I don't want to downplay how painful it is to wait on god when you're confused okay. I don't want to downplay how hard it is sometimes to wait on god when you're suffering. I, okay, I don't want to downplay how hard it is sometimes to wait on God when you're suffering.
Speaker 2:I've talked to several of you who are waiting for test results on your health. I get it. Some of you really want to be married. Many of you are waiting for God to provide for you the job that you've been needing for a long time. I'm not trying to downplay that and you're wondering why God is taking so long and I can't tell you the answer. Sometimes it will take a lifetime for you to understand. I've had questions for God that took decades. I don't know when he's going to answer your prayers, but I can trust that God cares for you. We can trust that he's good. We can trust that he is listening to our cry and he never leaves us. Now CLCL, he says for all our discomfort with the idea, at times suffering may indeed be meaningful and instructive, perhaps even bringing about positive incomes, outcomes, incomes, concussion I'm going to keep that. If you came late, I had a concussion like 20 days ago and I'm just blaming it on everything.
Speaker 2:Deuteronomy 4 22 says you will search for the lord, your god, and you will find him when you seek him with all your heart and all your soul. Now, that was written to israel, but I I believe it's to us as well. Amos 5 4 says this is what the lord says to israel seek me and live. That's Amos 5, 4.
Speaker 2:Now Daniel eagerly sought understanding from the Lord. He went to the Lord and he cried out friends, do you seek God the way you seek to get a good price on a new car? Do you seek God the way you seek to find a sleeper for your fantasy football team earnestly? Do you seek God the way that you would seek to find a good babysitter for your child? Do you seek God the way that you would seek to find the right boyfriend or girlfriend? Or do we just seek him for a moment and then move on to our quote, real world problems, not realizing that, like Daniel did, that God is the solution to our problems. It's just not going to come the way we want it to always and it's not going to come at the speed we want it to always.
Speaker 2:Now, indian scholar Ngukali Rotaka says this he says God has everything planned and he knows what he's doing. Like Daniel, we may not understand everything about God's plan and his word, even if we receive a revelation. It is all right to have and raise questions, but in the end we must trust that God has everything planned and he knows what he is doing. Friends, let us seek the Lord and find him, but when you find him, when you follow the Lord, when you truly seek him, you will get his heart. God has a very big heart, have you not noticed? And there's enough room for everyone and everyone who might turn from their sin. And this is my third point the destruction of the wicked should break our hearts into a million pieces. The destruction of the wicked should break our hearts into a million pieces. Guys, if you don't grieve over God's enemies, I'm not convinced you truly understand that you were saved from something that you were awful when God found you too. Guys, when I hear people making gay jokes about people who are far from God that happen to be gay, it breaks my heart.
Speaker 2:You don't got to agree with someone to speak kindly of them. You don't have to. You don't have to agree with someone to not show them a ton of love, guys, it's okay. And if you show love to somebody that you disagree with, that is openly sinning. Let me just say, as your pastor, I would rather people see you as a sinner than a sinner see you as a hypocrite. I'm your pastor. I'm saying this so I've had friends that have shown up at pride. They don't agree with their beliefs on sexuality, but they agree that they need love and kindness and compassion and love, and so, like the thing is, guys, we have to be known by the way we love, right? You don't have to agree with people to love them.
Speaker 2:Then verse 27,. I, daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days. I got up and went about the king's business. I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it. So it's explained to Daniel, but he couldn't understand it. I feel pretty good about not understanding this as well. There's so much death, so much destruction and so much pain. I don't understand those things, do you? Daniel was confused. He was grieved by it.
Speaker 2:Next week, in our text, though, you'll see the way Daniel responds he repents for his own people, not just for his sins, but for the sins of his people. They were guilty and he prays for them. They were awful and he prays for God to give them mercy. Now the Bible has a lot of examples of the wrath of God being poured out on those who deserve it, and I've seen many times where someone is called by God to destroy an entire village. And I want to tell you this I don't understand. It bothers me, but I trust God is good and loving and that's just what I have to do. But if that's all you see of God, you're going to miss it. God weeps over his enemies. In the same way, Daniel is confused and hurt. He knows God is sovereign and yet he knows people are going to suffer and he's seen his own people suffer. He's forced to put his trust in God or deny him, but our God doesn't have to. Our God doesn't have bloodlust. You know what I'm saying? He doesn't. He doesn't desire to kill people. He doesn't want anyone to die apart from him.
Speaker 2:Listen to 2 Peter 3, 2 Peter 3, 9. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day, the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. See, God is called long-suffering, and if you've been around us long enough, you know that this comes with a Jewish idiom which I love. It's one of my favorites as a big-nosed dude. It says God has a big nose, and it's it's. The idea is that it takes a long time for his big nose to get red and angry. I love that term as a big nose, a dude. God doesn't want his enemies to perish. He weeps at the brokenness of the world.
Speaker 2:God created a perfect world and he gave us the option to rebel. And guess what we did? We did Because what is true love, though if it's forced on you? We chose rebellion. We didn't want anyone telling me what to do. So the world was torn into two and we chose the way of the devil. Because it was easier, I think because it was ours and we wanted to decide our own fate. We didn't want any God, not even a compassionate God, telling me what to do. Why would God make room for people so awful to him though those of you who are parents might understand, no matter what your dumb child does, you love them, no matter what. It's why my parents still love me, because I did a lot of dumb stuff, still do. But even if my children treat me like an enemy, I will never stop pursuing them. I will never stop loving them. I may add boundaries and consequences, but my heart will always break for them.
Speaker 2:Colossians 13 says he has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son. God had compassion on us, his enemies, and we made our house in the camp of God's enemies. And yet, as we chose the nemesis, he chose to rescue us. And yet, as we chose the nemesis, he chose to rescue us. He wept for us as Jesus was hated, as people were scheming to murder Jesus. In Matthew 23, he prayed this prayer Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you are not willing. But God didn't just weep over us. God did something about it, didn't he? He's not some distant God sitting on a cloud watching a rerun. He is active in our lives and very present in our troubles. He even gives his spirit to us, and this is the joy of the gospel. The gospel is this that Jesus left the perfection of heaven, came, lived a perfect life on behalf of me and you and died as a sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice, was willing to be murdered by his enemies, just like us. But as Jesus was being murdered, he said Father, forgive them, His enemies Forgive them because they did not know what they do. They do not know what they're doing. Some of you feel like you've done too much to be forgiven by God, Because if he's a good and loving God, he knows better. You've said yes to him too many times and then denied him a day later. Again and again and again you do this and I just say to you one more time. He's good enough to love you. Come, be real, give your sin to him and come back one more time. This time might stick. This time might stick because he's pursuing you.
Speaker 2:In Ezekiel 28, God says do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? This is the declaration of the Lord. Instead, don't I take pleasure when he turns from his way and lives. God wants you to live. He's not like oh, you're just too darn stained for me to get that stain out. That's not how he works. He clothes you in white.
Speaker 2:If you truly repent, it's not too late, as long as today is called. Today, Give him your life, Repent of your sin, Turn to him. Your sin is not so big that he can't forgive it. He is God. He is more powerful than even your greatest, most shameful sins. And for my Christians in the room friends, if God wept over you in your sin, if he died for you, how can we ever think about doing anything but the same for the people around us? There are people outside of these walls that God is sending you to. We should cry over their souls. They deserve hell, but so what? We did too, but God? But God stepped in and saved us. God is calling you to pray and weep over those who need him most. God is calling us to love justice and mercy and tell good news to everyone. So City Life Church, I am with this. We need perspective. Yes, everything on this earth fades, but the kingdom of God continues forever. Put your faith and energy into things like that.
Speaker 2:The kingdom of God has no end, and if you are confused or feeling weak, go to him go to him, be praying constantly, like Daniel, and if you struggle to pray, find someone to pray with you. God helps us to understand many things if we honestly seek him in his timing. Finally, friends, if knowing Jesus and having his spirit causes us to be arrogant, we have missed it. The destruction of the wicked needs to break our hearts into a million pieces, and we should bend over backwards. So the poor, the hurting, children and sinners alike find love unlike any other in Jesus, but many times, it's going to be you who meets them first. Let's pray, father.
Speaker 2:We thank you that you are here, that you are present. We thank you that you are willing to explain to us. We thank you that you are willing to give us your word so we don't have to be confused. We thank you that you are forgiving when we don't deserve it, and we thank you that you forgive so much better than we do. Would you allow us to be forgiven, but then also in your spirit, would you take us places that we couldn't imagine, take us to people we couldn't imagine, and have a supernatural forgiveness and love and mercy in our hearts?
Speaker 2:God, in this moment, though, we're going to bring to you our sins and we're going to silently confess them to you. Father, we thank you that as far as the east is from the west, so our sin is from your side. That when you look upon us you see righteousness, the goodness, the holiness of your son Jesus, and you pronounce us good. We don't understand that either. We don't understand how you could love us with that much love. But we accept it, we take it, we grab, hold to it and we're not letting go. Lord, we love you and we pray this all in Jesus' name, amen, amen. Let's give a hand clap of praise for God's servant, pastor Bill.