WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:06.639 Hey, I'm Pastor Steve Holt. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:11.119 I want to empower you today to walk in your true identity as a worshiper and warrior. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.400 Embrace the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.920 Today, be encouraged with a word from my guest speaker. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.280 Welcome to the Born for War podcast. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.839 It's such a wonderful day to be in the house of the Lord. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.000 I am Pastor Matt Rupert. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:35.039 I am the children's pastor here at The Road. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:42.000 The title of my message today is A Sovereign God in the Midst of Chaos. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:44.960 A sovereign God in the midst of chaos. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:48.799 If you would just bow your heads with me as I open in prayer. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:50.799 Father God, thank you for this day. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:59.039 Thank you for this opportunity to speak, to open your word, to read your word together with this body of Christ. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:09.519 I pray that your word would come alive to us today, that you would speak to us through it, that we would just encounter you in a real way as we turn through the pages of the Bible. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:11.280 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:12.079 Amen. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:24.400 So I wanted to start off with a short story, a story of a dream that I had some years ago, because I feel like it kind of sets up the message that I'll be sharing with you today. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:35.280 In this dream, I was in a crowd of thousands of people, and we were shoulder to shoulder, and there just felt like there was this tension hanging in the air. 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:43.280 And as I was maneuvering and making my way through the crowd, in the dream, I knew that chaos was close at hand. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:46.560 In the dream, I knew that a purge was about to happen. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:48.480 I don't know if you've seen the movie years ago. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:02:01.120 I never saw it, but uh it was a movie called The Purge, and the concept was that during a specific time frame, people could commit any crime that they wanted and they would not be prosecuted for it. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:04.560 Um it's doesn't that sound like a terrible theme for a movie? 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.000 It just sounds awful. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:17.759 But that was in the dream what I knew was about to happen, and I was very anxious because I was in this crowd of thousands of people, not the place that you want to be when a purge is about to happen. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:22.800 But as I'm maneuvering through the crowd, I come face to face with this child. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:27.919 And this child was someone in the dream I knew I had done ministry with. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:38.240 And so I grabbed onto the shoulders of the child, thinking about what was about to happen, and I said, Whatever you do, hold on to Jesus. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.000 The child and I hugged and we both cried. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:49.759 There was a lot of emotion in the dream, and we come back face to face, and he smiles at me, and I just knew that he was going to be okay. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:56.400 I think the state of our world echoes the tension that is felt in my dream. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:05.439 Old or young, many of us feel anxiety that seems to hang in the air, with uncertainty about what the future holds. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.639 In recent years, we've seen civil unrest, deepening political division. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:14.719 We've seen economic struggles that have affected all of us. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:22.879 In recent history, we've seen more fear, loneliness, and depression in unprecedented levels. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:29.199 And every time we turn on the news, it seems like chaos is unfolding. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:45.120 But what I'm here to tell you today, and what I believe that God's word clearly tells us, is that in the midst of a chaotic world, we are called to hold on to the sovereign Jesus who is in control of everything. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:54.479 Let me tell you today that the events of our world, the events that are unfolding right now and what's coming in the future is not a surprise to God. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:56.560 He's not caught off guard. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:10.400 He is orchestrating a plan and a purpose that involves every single one of us. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:17.759 And I don't know about you, but I want to be a part of that plan and purpose in chaotic times. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:29.199 Today I want to look at the sovereignty of God and how he is sovereign over everything space and time, creation, history, the nations, and our lives. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:32.560 So let's begin with a definition. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:35.279 What is sovereignty? 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:41.040 The sovereignty of God is the fact that he is the Lord over creation. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.319 As sovereign, he exercises his rule. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:58.079 His rule is exercised through God's authority as king, his control over all things, and his presence with his covenant people and throughout his creation. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:03.600 God is ruling and reigning over all things. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:09.439 And his presence never ceases to be with his covenant people. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:13.120 That's what it means that we serve a sovereign God. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:23.279 As we go through different points of God's sovereignty, we'll be reflecting on a time in Israel's history that I believe was very chaotic. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:27.279 A time when Israel was exiled to Babylon. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:37.600 Imagine with me a time when Jerusalem, once a thriving city of faith and prosperity, lies in ruins. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:46.000 The temple of King Solomon, an icon of prosperity and faith, has been destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:51.680 The Israelites are in chains, being hauled away from their dear homeland. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:06:01.279 They're being paraded through the streets of Babylon as prisoners of war, and we know by Scripture that they will be under attack. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.560 Their faith is considered hostile. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:06.879 This pretty well sets up the story. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.160 Now, thankfully for us, we're not being exiled to a foreign land. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:16.240 But I think all of us can relate to the chaos that these individuals may have been feeling. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:23.360 Feelings of angst and uncertainty about what lies in our future. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:36.959 But what we will see through these stories is a people or individuals who chose to stand up for truth and righteousness in the midst of a chaotic world when there seemed to be no future in store for them. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.480 God decided to use them in incredible ways. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:46.959 And God wants to use every single one of you in incredible ways in these unprecedented times. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.279 So let's start with point number one. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.759 If you're taking notes, God is sovereign over space and time. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:59.839 In our kids' ministry, we talk through all of the attributes of God. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:12.560 And one of those attributes is that God is eternal, that he has no beginning and end. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:16.480 And that's probably some of you may have experienced explaining that to a child. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:18.160 So when was his birthday? 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.680 Well, he never had a birthday. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:20.800 Well, when's he gonna die? 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:22.399 Well, God's never gonna die. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.120 He actually was there before there was time. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:25.920 Huh? 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.560 Like that is hard to explain to a child. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:31.360 But it's the truth. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:39.600 Psalms 90, verse 2 says, Before the mountains were formed, you had formed the earth and the world. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:43.920 From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:52.079 Isaiah 46, 9 through 10 says, Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:08:08.480 I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all of my purposes. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:18.959 God is the one declaring the end from the beginning, ancient times from things to come, and all of his purposes will be fulfilled. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:28.160 Revelation chapter 22, verse 13 says, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:30.959 God is saying, I am these things. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.279 I don't just control them, I am the beginning and the end. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.080 I am above all of these things. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.759 You'll see a diagram on the screen. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:46.639 I think this helps illustrate how God is touching all points of history at the exact same time. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:57.279 Another illustration that I heard was that you take a sheet of paper and you take a Sharpie and you put a single dot on that piece of paper and you say, that dot represents all of time. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.559 And the sheet of paper represents God. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:06.320 And how God is actually touching all points of time in the same moment. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:10.159 Another illustration is that an author can write a book. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:19.279 And as we are reading that book, we are comparing what we're currently reading to how it was set up in the beginning of the book, and we're wondering how the events are going to unfold. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.960 Is so-and-so gonna get the girl? 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:23.840 Is he ever gonna make it out of that war scenario? 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:29.200 And yet the author knows the end from the beginning and everything in between because he wrote it. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.679 He can hold the book in his hand and tell you anything you want to know about that book. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.519 God is the author of space and time. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:44.080 The study of physics tells us that matter, time, and space must all exist together. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:51.600 And since God existed before there was no matter, he obviously is before all time. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:56.000 And he created the whole, the very concept of time. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:04.879 We read in Psalms 90, verse 4, for a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:16.480 And as a watch in the night, 2 Peter 3, 8 expounds on this, saying that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:25.600 We know by comparing these two concepts together that a long period of time is as if it's a very short period to God. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:29.600 And a short period of time seems like it goes on forever. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:38.639 As systematic theology tells us that God is present throughout every moment of time all at once. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:41.120 That's super energizing to me. 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:45.759 And I think number one is because God is the one in control writing this story. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:58.639 You know, we say to the kids, the Bible is 66 books of history, stories, letters, and poetry that fit together to tell one story: the story of how God created everything, sin under the world, and God made a way to rescue us. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.799 We are a part of that story. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.559 Somewhere near the end of that story is you and I. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:14.639 And we are actually part of this giant story that God has written and that He is aware of all of its plot twists and turns all in the same moment. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:23.600 What's also so encouraging to me about this is that God sees your life all at the same time. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:30.799 He sees when you were born, he sees the day that you will die, he sees the mistake you made yesterday, and guess what? 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.440 He sees the mistake you will make tomorrow. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:39.039 And yet he chooses to love us with such abandoned love. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:50.480 He chooses to partner, he chooses to partner with us on a journey of sanctification, taking us from glory to glory into the person that He is intending for us to be. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.360 God is not surprised by your sin. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:12:01.279 He's not surprised by the circumstances of your life, but he is actually present with you through it all. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:05.039 I don't know about you, but that is so encouraging to me. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.759 Because sometimes we get so caught up in our present. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.480 It's like, oh, God must be so mad at me. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:13.840 He must be so frustrated because dang, I did it again. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:20.159 Like, actually, God knew all of that the day you asked him into your heart. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.240 And he still chose you as his child. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:33.679 A story in Babylon that illustrates the sovereignty God has over space and time is Daniel interpreting the dream for King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.720 King Nebuchadnezzar has this terrifying dream. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:43.600 He dreams of this statue that's been built and it's got all of these different types of material that it's constructed out of. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.960 What could it mean? 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:50.320 He calls all of his wise men together and he says, Wise men, I need to know what my dream means. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.600 Yes, King, of course, uh Sir King, may you live forever, King. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:56.320 Tell us the dream, and we'll tell you what it means. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:56.960 No? 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.519 I want you to tell me the dream. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:03.200 I think in this moment he's actually testing. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:05.519 I think he really wants to see the divine. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:10.159 He wants to see true wisdom and not just, well, your dream means this. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:15.279 And so, but I think this is a little overreactive, and the back and forth is kind of hilarious. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.360 They're like, yes, king, we heard you, king. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.320 May you live forever. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.200 Tell us your dream, and we will tell you the interpretation. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:22.799 No, you're not hearing me. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:24.720 I said, you tell me the dream. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.240 Yes, king, of course, king. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.799 You tell us the dream, we'll tell you the interpretation. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.159 If you don't tell me the dream, all of you will be beheaded. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:38.000 They're like, King, there is nobody on the face of the earth that can do what you've asked. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:42.559 Only the gods can tell you your dream, and they don't even live among men. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:47.919 Little did they know that there was a man who God was living among. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.399 So off with all the wise men's heads. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:56.399 You know, the knock comes to Daniel's door, and I imagine Daniel, oh, hi, how's it going? 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.360 He's like, oh, it's fine, you know, just going about my daily routine. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.320 Well, what can I help you with? 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.639 Well, I've got to take you to kill you. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.559 What? 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.919 You've got to kill me? 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.879 Why do you have to kill me? 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.399 He's like, Well, the king had a dream. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:12.159 It was terrifying, and no one could tell him what the dream is, so everyone's got to die. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.639 I mean, that had to be like terrible. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.600 But he's like, no, no, no, give us a little bit of time. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:21.519 We're gonna fast and pray and ask our God to reveal this dream to us. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.279 So the king agrees. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.519 Daniel has some time. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:30.559 He and his friends go into the prayer closet, they fast and they pray, and God reveals the dream to Daniel. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:36.559 Daniel goes to the king and he tells him the dream, and he tells him what the dream means for the future. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:43.519 Now, this is what's so cool is in that moment, Daniel's like some kind of time traveler person. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:50.480 Like in the present time, he's telling about events that happened in the past that nobody had any information about. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:55.759 And now he's telling what those events in the past are actually foretelling in the future. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.440 That is so cool. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:11.360 Now no man is able to do this, but a sovereign God, a God who is ruling and reigning over the entire timeline of history, is able to tell and reveal to Daniel what happened in the past and what that actually means for the future. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:15.919 God is sovereign over all of time. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.840 And for us, what does that mean? 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:28.159 That means that God is writing your story, that he is present with you through all of the events of our story of history. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:32.080 The next point is God is sovereign over creation. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.879 God is sovereign over creation. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:42.799 Job chapter 12, verse 10 says, In his hands is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:16:04.000 Colossians 1, 16 through 17 says, For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him, and he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:14.720 The very molecules of our existence are held together by our sovereign God, who is in control of all of creation. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:23.279 Revelation or Hebrews 1, verse 3 says, God upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:35.840 Revelation 4, 11 says, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.960 By his will, they existed. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.440 By his will they were created. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:46.639 This points to the ability of God to be above the laws of nature. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:51.600 You know, it's so fascinating because evolution is so against like laws. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.919 Like laws don't just come from anything. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:55.679 Like someone has to write laws. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.440 Like that's very practical, right? 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:02.480 Laws are intelligent information that is communicated and it doesn't come from nothing. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:10.000 God has written the laws that govern our existence, that govern physics, that govern uh medicine, that govern everything. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:18.319 But he is above all of these laws, and he is able to bend these laws to make provision and bring protection for his people. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:25.599 A great illustration of this is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:29.039 King Nebuchadnezzar erects this giant statue. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.720 He's like, everyone worship it. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:33.519 When the music plays, everyone should bow down and worship it. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:45.200 Now, this is when the story of these individuals who are coming from a foreign land really starts to get heated because they could choose to just follow the crowd. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:48.480 You know, they're not in their homeland anymore. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.759 They're in a foreign land. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.960 They have to choose. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.799 Should I just do enough to get by? 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.640 I don't want to make any waves. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:58.240 I mean, the king could have a scary dream and off with all of our heads. 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:00.160 Like, I need to play it safe here. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.839 But they're not gonna play it safe. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:09.279 In the midst of a chaotic world, they're gonna stand for truth and righteousness, and God is going to use them in a profound way. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:18.960 All of this crowd, I imagine thousands of people, the music plays dun dun, like you probably even hear the sound of people, thousands of people bowing down. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:21.680 It's like, oh, look, all these wonderful people bowing. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:25.839 What are there are three people standing? 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.319 What is wrong with those jokers? 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.680 Hey, call them over here. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.559 Wait a second. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.640 It's Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.839 I liked those guys. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:41.599 Okay, listen, guys, I know you're like trying to be all holy and stuff, but I'm going to kill you if you don't bow down. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.519 So um, I'll give you one more chance. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.720 We'll play the music. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.680 Okay? 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.400 Sound good? 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:46.960 Okay, cool. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.039 Plays music, they don't bow down. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.400 What do they say to the king? 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:59.759 They say, Our God is great enough to save us from the fiery furnace, but even if he does not, we will not bow down to your statue. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:03.119 It's like the cartoon character that starts at the feet, you know, red. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:07.839 He's like furious, he heats the furnace seven times hotter. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:13.039 The strong men throw them in and die instantly at the mouth of the furnace because it is so hot. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:16.480 God performs a miracle on their behalf. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.799 I mean, that's like one of the most practical things. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:21.039 Like we tell all our kids, don't touch, it's hot. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:25.920 That's one of the words that my one and a half-year-old learned pretty early is hot. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.240 And the sign language that goes with it, hot. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.920 And now she thinks everything is hot. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:35.279 But you you teach it because it's like, no, don't touch that, don't touch fire, don't touch the stove. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.279 It's hot, it will burn you, right? 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:39.279 Not in God's book. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:44.400 God can bend the laws of nature to make provision and protection for his people. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:51.039 When we stand up in faith, we stand up as a standard for righteousness in chaotic times. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:57.039 God and his sovereignty can move in ways that baffle the minds of the onlooker. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:00.240 Let's read what Nebuchadnezzar's response is. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:11.039 And I want to look at the king's responses throughout this message because it's basically heathen kings that are declaring who God is in these accounts. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:34.160 Daniel chapter 3, verse 28 through 29, Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him and has set aside the king's commands and yielded up their bodies rather than to serve or worship any other God except their own God. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:47.920 Oh my goodness, that we could say this about ourselves, that people would say, Look at Bob and Jill, who would sacrifice their own bodies as not to serve a God that is not their own. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:51.359 I hope that one day someone says that about me. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.880 But he makes a decree. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:21:07.440 Therefore, I make a decree: any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, against torn limb from limb, and their house laid in ruins. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:11.599 For there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:15.200 There is no other God who is able to rescue in this way. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:25.680 And what I forgot to mention was after the first dream that Nebuchadnezzar had, he promoted Daniel as the ruler over the entire province of Babylon. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:33.839 And promptly, Daniel promotes his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to also be rulers over the province of Babylon. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:36.240 What an incredible turn of events. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:41.839 Aren't you glad that God is writing our story and not what circumstances would predict for us? 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:52.319 Because he is able to take prisoners of war into a foreign land and actually put them as influential and powerful rulers over the entire known world. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:57.759 That's bizarre, but that's how our sovereign God works. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.759 He is sovereign. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.440 Over space and time. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.880 He is sovereign over our story. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:05.039 He is sovereign over nature. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:11.599 Another illustration of God's sovereignty over creation is Daniel in the lion's den. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:19.279 Daniel has survived three kingdoms at this point, and he is up for promotion again to be ruling over the province of Babylon. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:27.519 But some people get jealous, and they discover that the only way to condemn him to death is to attack his spiritual identity. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:36.640 And so they devise a plan that no one should pray to anyone else except for King Nebuchadnezzar, or at this time, King Darius, I believe it was. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.079 Yes, King Darius. 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:44.079 And they catch him in the act, they throw him in the lion's den. 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.400 The lions can't touch him. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:52.400 You know, imagine the tour guide of a safari and being like, oh yeah, these are lions, but they're harmless. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.359 Yeah, they're harmless. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:55.039 You can go, you can go pet them. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:57.759 It's like, no, it's practical. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:02.400 Hungry lions eat other animals, and they eat people. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:07.759 And these lions, in this case, definitely would have been eating people because they're in a den and that's their only diet. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.720 Probably. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.240 I don't actually know that. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:18.319 But God bends the laws of nature to make provision and protection for his people. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:21.599 Let's read what the king's response is. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.519 Daniel chapter 6, verse 20, starting with verse 26. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:31.359 Then King Darius wrote to all the people, nations, and languages that dwelt in all the earth. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:33.200 Peace be multiplied to you. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:44.160 I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:51.759 His kingdom shall never end or be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:24:06.480 These kings, wicked, evil kings, rulers of the entire known world, are writing letters and shipping it to every province, every language, declaring who God is. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:10.240 Like for Israel, this would have seemed like a terrible situation. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:19.920 Our nation is removed and it's exiled, and God's like, yeah, I'm bringing you into an exiled nation because I intend for the entire world to hear about me. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:22.480 And I'm gonna use you to do it. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:26.640 If you can stand up for righteousness in chaotic times. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:30.559 In your life, you may be faced with impossible situations. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:35.680 God in his sovereignty can bend the laws of the universe to make provision for you. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:43.599 I remember the story where my mom, they were very poor at the time, and it was a very hard time, and all they ate for breakfast was grits. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:49.759 And my mom sent a flare prayer up to God and was like, God, it'd be really nice to have yogurt. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:55.279 That same day, they get a phone call from a friend that says, Hey, you're never gonna believe it. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:59.440 This yogurt truck just broke down, and there's a semi-truck full of yogurt. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:01.279 You gotta come get as much as you can. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.640 The same day. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:05.920 And it was just like, God, it'd be nice to have yogurt. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:11.359 You know, God can bend the laws of the universe to make provision for you in your situation. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:16.799 Number three, God is sovereign over nations. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.559 Have we not already seen this? 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:21.839 The sovereign hand of God over the nation of Babylon. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:26.960 Job 12, verse 23 says, God makes nations great and he destroys them. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:30.079 He enlarges nations and he leads them away. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:38.240 Psalm 22, verse 28 says, For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.839 Don't we forget that sometimes? 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:48.319 Don't we forget that he is still in control of the nations, that he is ruling over kings, that kings will be forced to bow down to him? 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:52.400 He truly is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:26:05.920 Acts 17, verse 26 says, And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:12.480 He has determined the allotted periods and dwellings or boundaries of their dwelling place. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:19.519 You know, King Nebuchadnezzar, he gets a little prideful and God just chops him down. 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:33.920 There's this beautiful fruit, and then the tree is cut down and only the stump remains. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:36.960 He calls his wise men, Daniel interprets the dream. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:40.799 He says, King, I wish this dream was actually for your enemies. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:48.160 But God is saying that he is going to cut you down, and you will be removed from a place of pride and you will be humbled. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:56.559 Shortly after, King Nebuchadnezzar is on his rooftop and he makes a statement of pride: look at the beautiful kingdom that I have made. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:00.400 And in that instant, God allows him to go insane. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:08.480 And he ends up running into the woods, grappling around like an animal, his fingernails grow long, and his hair grows long, and crazy things. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.160 God does this to show him who is truly in control. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.559 Listen to the king's response. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:21.920 At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, again, this is a letter going out to every no every person, every region, every language. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:31.599 I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him who lives forever. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:38.240 For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:50.880 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among all the hosts of heaven, among the inhabitants of the earth. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:57.200 And none can stay, stay his hand or say to him, What are you doing? 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:59.200 We can't say that to God. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:04.319 Listen to what Nebuchadnezzar is saying about God, that his kingdom never ends. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:18.079 He's declaring the sovereignty of God that what God intends will happen, that God is ruling over the nations, that God is ruling over creation, that God is ruling over time and space. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:23.920 We don't have to fear the events of the nations that surround us. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:29.359 Because God is using all of these events to carry out his will. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:47.839 This doesn't, however, give us reason to be passive because as we look at the examples of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, and eventually Esther, these individuals stood up for righteousness and God was able to use them in powerful ways. 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:54.319 Number four, God is sovereign over all aspects of our lives. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:29:00.319 God is in control of every aspect of your life, both the good and the bad. 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:07.599 Job chapter 23, verse 14 says, For he will complete what he appoints for me. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:10.559 And many such things are in his mind. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:29.279 Psalms 139, verse 16 says, Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, and when yet as there was none of them, before you were even born, God knew the contents of your days. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:39.920 Proverbs 16, verse 9 says, The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:47.039 You know, in our pride, we think that we have so much control, and yet God is still in control over our lives. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:51.039 Now, it's easy to talk about the sovereignty of God in context to good things. 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:57.279 You know, verses like James 1:17 that say, every good and perfect thing comes down from God. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:06.240 Or Jeremiah 29, 11, for I know the plans you have for me, plans of good and not evil, plans to prosper and to give me a hope and a future. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:17.680 We hold on to these verses and we rejoice in these verses as we should, but this message gets really challenging to talk about when we talk about the bad things that happen in our lives. 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:29.759 Every one of us in this room has experienced deeply hurt, deep hurt and circumstances that were completely unprecedented. 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:37.759 And we are left to grapple with the concept of a sovereign God in the midst of a chaotic life. 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:45.279 I personally believe that in our fallen world we experience bad things because we have free will. 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:51.440 And we can make choices that will hurt ourselves, hurt others, and others can make choices that will hurt us. 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:59.519 And that in our fallen state of a world, there are things like sickness and disease that are now part of this world because of sin. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:12.880 I believe that God has ordained things to happen in our lives for the purpose of bringing us to a point of completion, bringing us into the calling that He has for us. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:25.680 And I believe that God does not cause some things, but He allows certain things for the same reason, so that the plan that He has for us will be carried out to fulfillment. 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:29.279 But which one of these happens when? 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:45.599 When we lose the family member that we love, when we are encountered with job loss, when we are faced with a sickness or a disease or a prediction, I don't believe that it's our job to know. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:54.960 God in his sovereignty knows which one of those answers it is, whether it's the fallen world we live in or something he's caused or something he's allowed. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:59.119 But our job is to rest in the sovereign God. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:06.880 And in the midst of all of this, in the midst of chaos, we have a hope that the people in this world do not have. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:11.119 This hope is that all things work together for good. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:29.599 You know, God in his sovereignty, sovereignty is just one attribute, he's also good, and he's loving, and he's righteous, and we can rest in the sovereignty of God, that he's not working or allowing these things for no reason, but he's got a master plan that our life is a part of. 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:38.160 Philippians 4, 12 through 13, Paul says, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:46.799 In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:51.119 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:57.200 God is promising that no matter what comes your way, he is going to be your strength. 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:59.119 He is going to be your guide. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:02.400 He is present through your timeline all at the same time. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:05.839 He's not gonna leave you, he's not going to abandon you. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:12.319 Romans 8 28 says, and we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:16.000 For those who are called according to his purpose. 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:24.799 All things, the good, the bad, the ugly, the joyful, he's using all things for our good. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:36.000 Philippians 1 6 says, and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in me will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:45.039 God has begun a good work in you, and he's not done because you're facing some trials, he's not done because you're facing a sickness. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:49.039 He's still there and he's still working it out to completion. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:54.079 He's got a plan and a purpose that's so much bigger than our imagination. 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:58.880 And he wants to carry it and he will carry it out to completion. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:06.480 You know, uh, I've encountered kids who have just been through terrible things that no child should ever have to go through. 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:09.519 I um at our my last church, I was talking with a child. 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:11.440 I was like, hey buddy, what seems to be the problem? 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:13.599 You seem sad, you seem downcast. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:22.400 And he said to me, Well, yesterday my dad left and he took the TV and he took the dog and he took a suitcase. 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:24.880 And I don't know if I'm ever gonna see him again. 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:33.679 My heart, I mean, my eyes are welling up with tears in that moment because my heart just breaks for this child who's going through terrible things. 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:37.599 And I couldn't just say, Well, you know, God's gonna work it out for good. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:43.360 I told him, hey, listen, you know, God actually said we're gonna go through really hard times. 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:47.119 The Bible actually says you will go through tribulations. 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:49.360 But I said, you know what the other part of that verse is? 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:54.000 It says that we can take heart because God has overcome the world. 00:34:54.239 --> 00:35:03.280 Because God is still in control, because God, who is loving and true and faithful and just, is working all things together for our good. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:15.440 And we might not be able to see it right now, we might not understand it, but he has got a purpose that is so much greater to have an impact and to give us places of power and authority in a chaotic world. 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:18.320 So, what does this mean for me? 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:22.800 In light of God's sovereign, what can we learn from this today? 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:29.519 First and foremost, it means that we can rest in assurance that nothing happens outside of God's control. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:33.519 There's nothing that he purposes that will not be accomplished. 00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:39.599 God is not sitting back hoping that things will work out well, but he's holding and orchestrating all of it. 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:47.440 That he's sovereign over time, he's sovereign over creation, he is sovereign over the nations, he is sovereign over our lives. 00:35:49.440 --> 00:36:11.760 You know, I see a generation like Shadrach, Meshach, Abendigo, and Daniel, who, in a world of chaos, they are receiving the training and the equipping and they are applying themselves despite what the news is saying, despite what all of the resources are saying, they're applying themselves because they're saying, I'm going to stand for righteousness in this time. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:27.920 And God is going to raise up this generation to stand in places of power, of places of authority, of places of influence, in a corrupt world, in a chaotic world, and he is going to allow his name to be proclaimed through them. 00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:39.840 And that's why I'm dedicating my life to that purpose, to raising up Daniel's, to raising up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigos. 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:42.480 That's happening in your homes. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:45.280 As parents and grandparents, uncles. 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:55.039 Your children are being equipped every single day when you put in the effort, when you give them the love that they're not receiving anywhere else. 00:36:55.280 --> 00:37:00.719 When you give them the love when they just messed up, but you say, Listen, I still love you. 00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:24.320 And they're receiving that training here in the church, that we're able to compound the efforts that you as parents and grandparents are making because we're endeavoring to give them a biblical education that is going to give them the truth and the foundation to stand on, so that when that giant statue is in front of them, they're like, You listen, I know the truth, I know the one true God. 00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:28.719 There's no one else I can worship, there's no one else I can bow down to. 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:36.559 My parents have told me, my church has told me I'm surrounded by a community that is doing the exact same thing. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:42.960 And that's why I invite you to come to our Road Kids Open House on September 29th at one o'clock. 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:48.719 We're gonna have a free lunch and we're gonna demonstrate for you our mission, values, and purpose for the kids' ministry. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:51.920 I invite you to consider coming to that. 00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:57.440 As we wrap up today, I want to leave you with a powerful image. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:08.559 Jesus on the cross, in that moment, there must have been a party going on in hell saying, We've finally done it, we've killed the actual Son of God. 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:34.880