Our Faithful God Who Rules

DANIEL: “Worshiping Our God Who Rules”

In God's opinion of History, the Kingdom of Babylon was the richest and most glorious of all in character. Babylon was the head of gold in the image God revealed to NEBUCHADNEZZAR. As its realm spread across the then known world, it left in its wake the dust of crushed opponents foolish enough to challenge God's chosen instrument of judgment. To the helm of that incredible Empire rose an incredible young man of God - Daniel. But have you ever considered what it must have been like to be prime minister to the greatest empire in the world in its time? Untold streams of decisions, meetings, conferences, banquets, clay tablet work (Like our paper work), holdups on the freeways in your chariot as well as all the everyday needs of life. Like going to the sandal shop, stopping at the repair shop to have new wheels put on the chariot and the needs of the horses ... ALL that considered, Daniel was a very responsible man, committed and most of all BUSY! How did he cope with life at the top? He knelt on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks to his God -- AS HE ALWAYS DID! In the midst of his cabinet position in a world wide empire and all the pressures that came with such a position, DANIEL FAITHFULLY PRAYED. Not just at a meal, no, he found a way to stop it all, go to a quiet, private chamber, KNEEL and come into the presence of God in thanksgiving. When life is tough, when it seems like the bad guys are winning, remember there is a God in Heaven Who Rules! When you are spied upon, attacked and cast into the lion’s den by your adversaries, remember there is a God in Heaven Who Rules!

I.                  A God in Heaven Who Rules should cause each of us to be:

A.                PEOPLE OF CONVICTION (Present Holiness) 1:8

B.                PEOPLE OF CONFIDENCE (Past and Future Confidence)

1.                OUR GOD RULES - Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (KJV)

2.                OUR LORD CARES Daniel 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. (KJV)

3.                OUR GOD MOVES HISTORY ALONG! Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (KJV)

C.                PEOPLE OF COMMUNION (Constant Prayerfulness)

1.                OUR LORD WANTS US TO BRING IT ALL TO HIM! Daniel 2:17-18 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (KJV)

Three Megathemes

(present in all 12 Minor Prophets)

I.                  The Minor Prophets declare GOD IS IN CONTROL. Indeed, they do more than merely declare it; the Sovereign hand of God is everywhere visible. Overriding the words of these twelve writers is the reality that God is the sovereign Lord of history. They affirm that nothing happens, either to Israel or to the gentile nations, that is not the result of His direct determination. The destruction by locusts in Joel was God's doing. Nineveh’s ups (revival with Jonah) and downs (complete destruction in Nahum) was sent -from the Lord. When Assyria decimated Israel and Babylon wiped out Judah, it was God who did it. Any doubts these prophets had over the precise purpose of God's actions-Habakkuk is one who had great problems-evaporate the moment they remember the Almighty God is in control.

II.              The minor Prophets declare GOD IS HOLY. A comprehension of His utter holiness was the impetus for their scathing indictments of sin. Wherever the sin was found, among God's people or in foreign lands (Edom, as in Obadiah; Assyria, as in Nahum) -it was still an affront to the Lord and must be dealt with. As nowhere else in the Scriptures, sin is denounced and repentance is ardently and earnestly demanded. They declare that with genuine repentance, the judgment of God falls.

III.           The minor Prophets declare GOD IS LOVINGLY JUST. God's love and justice appear so harsh that liberals verses dealing with God's love. Such actions betray a basic misunderstanding of the perfections of our Lord. The great love of the Lord for His people (even His love for Nineveh) caused Him to send messengers with His message. They warned of coming judgment. And in time the judgment falls. Sin is always an affront to God. Sin always destroys. Sin is always judged. But for His own, judgment is to turn them from sin to their Rightful Master. These truths must be emphasized as much today as they were 28 hundred years ago. Individuals are still sinning and running away from God just as Israel did. Nations are still offending the righteousness of a Holy God just as Israel did.

HOSEA “Worshiping Our Faithful God”

Hosea had a life of grief. His only beloved wife Gomer was persistently unfaithful to their marriage. This sorrow gave Hosea a unique perspective with which to speak about the parallel unfaithfulness of Israel for their Lord. The compassionate heart of God with no diminishing of His holy standard is seen in this book. Hosea paints a powerful portrait of the coming revelation of the love and holiness of God perfectly revealed in Christ. There is moral and spiritual bankruptcy. Sin is unashamedly practiced. God is abandoned. Worship of the True and Living God is replaced by false and lifeless idols. Hosea depicts the inward decay of a collapsing nation. Ultimately Assyria captured and deported the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC.

I.                  Worshipping the Beauty of Christ in Hosea:

A.                As the Promised Messiah Hosea 1:10

B.                As the Prince of Life Triumphing over the Grave Hosea 6:2

C.                As a Child protected by God Hosea 11:

D.             As our Wonderful Savior:

1.                He Drew us to Himself Hosea 11:4

2.                He is our only Hope Hosea 13:4

3.                He is our Redeemer Hosea 13:14

II.              seeing God's faithfulness in hosea

A.                God Faithfully Warns His People: Israel forgot their Maker (8:14) but God never forgot them, rather He:

B.                Israel Faithlessly lives apart from God: By their deeds (Hosea 7:2)

C.                Israel Faithlessly Neglects God's Word: Israel stumbled into sin (4:5; 5:5) and didn't even know it (7:8,9) because she became satisfied and forgot God (8:14; 13:6).

D.               Israel Faithlessly Compromised God's Plan: Mixing with the nations (7:8) caused them to stray and rebel (7:13) and ultimately to be led astray by a spirit of harlotry (4:12; 5:4).

E.                God Faithfully Disciplines His Disobedient Children: Since Israel has stumbled into sin, God will surely chastise them (4:1; 5:2) for they have transgressed His covenant (6:6,7; 8:1; 13:4).

F.                 God Faithfully seeks His People: Hosea urges Israel to ACKNOWLEDGE their guilt (5:15) and then RETURN to (6:1), KNOW (6:3) and WAIT for Him (12:6).