Dream On!

Notes: Dream On!
Greg Laurie
End of Days - Book of Daniel
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Daniel 1, Daniel 2
Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/dream-on

Peace in the Middle East. Will that ever happen? Yes and no.

The U.S. is in a conflict with Syria now. If Russia is modern day Magog, then we should be paying attention.

Daniel is the Old Testament counterpart to the book of Revelation in the New Testament. 

Daniel teaches us to live a Godly life in an Ungodly place.

Romans 13:12-14 NLT
[12] The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. [13] Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. [14] Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Daniel helped us with living with character. 

You are being put to a test all the time. 

1. These men had purpose and conviction

Daniel 1:8 NLT
[8] But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

2. Little compromises turn into big problems.

4. God will bless you when you make a stand for Him

Proverbs 16:7 NLT
[7] When people's lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.

A little with God is better than much without Him.

Compare notes 40 years from now as a child of God with a nonbeliever.

You will be a happier person if you walk with God.

Daniel 1:21 NLT
[21] Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.

His whole life, no one had a negative thing to say about Daniel.

Like Billy Graham he lived 99 years. The evening of your life is determined by the morning of it.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of the future. 

Daniel 2:8-11 NLT
[8] The king replied, "I know what you are doing! You're stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say, [9] 'If you don't tell me the dream, you are doomed.' So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I'll know that you can tell me what it means." [10] The astrologers replied to the king, "No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! [11] The king's demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people."

Daniel 2:17-19 NLT
[17] Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. [18] He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. [19] That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.

What should you do about a hardship... pray!

Lots of prayer, like Esther or Nehemiah.

The believer has a better handle on what is going on in the world toady than many experts, because we know what the Bible says.

Daniel 2:27-30 NLT
[27] Daniel replied, "There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king's secret. [28] But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed. [29] "While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. [30] And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.

Joseph from Genesis was an example available to Daniel.

The word of God will help us know the will of God.  Build your foundation on God’s word.

1. It had a head of Goal.

That is Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.

His dream starts with Babylon and ends with the antichrist.

Daniel 2:44 NLT
[44] "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.

1. We win in the end.

Romans 11:15 NLT
[15] For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!

2. When crisis hits we need to pray.

3. We need to hold our course to the very end.

Pastor Chuck said we should “hold the course.”

4. We should be people of character and purpose.

Daniel 1:8 NLT
[8] But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

Dare to be a Daniel.

My purpose is to know God and follow God and making Him know.

Do you know God?