(Read Daniel 2:28-30)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. In yesterday’s message we saw how Daniel emphasized the fact that Nebuchadnezzar’s men — sorcerers, warlocks, witches and magicians — were unable to give him the answer he was looking for. Human power was unable to come up with the answer and the powers of darkness failed. However Daniel made it clear that, “there is a God in heaven” who could provide the answer. Let’s pick up the story from there.
Daniel said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “But there is a God in heaven who tells secret things. God has given King Nebuchadnezzar dreams to show him what will happen later. This was your dream, and this is what you saw while lying on your bed: King, as you were lying there on your bed, you began thinking about what might happen in the future. God can tell people about secret things—he has shown you what will happen in the future. God also told this secret to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other men, but so that you, king, may know what it means. In that way you will understand what went through your mind.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The dream came to king Nebuchadnezzar by God’s grace.
a) Nebuchadnezzar did nothing to earn or deserve God speaking to him in a dream.
b) Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan who did not even acknowledge God and God chose to speak to him.
c) Grace is unearned and often even undeserved.
2. The dream was God’s attempt at preparing king Nebuchadnezzar for the future.
a) Daniel said, “God has given King Nebuchadnezzar dreams to show him what will happen later.”
b) If God spoke to a pagan in a dream in order to help him prepare for his future, don’t you think God will speak to you?
c) God knows your future (you don’t), and He is gracious enough to give you the “glimpses” into you future that you need to help shape your decisions and actions today.
d) God will grace you to see what you need to see (i.e. divine vision), so you can make decisions that line up with His will.
e) You may not know what your future holds, but you can have peace when you know the one who holds your future.
3. God still speaks!
a) If God spoke to a pagan king, then surely He will speak to you.
b) God has a myriad of ways of speaking to you. God can speak to you in dreams while you sleep, visions while you are awake, through His Word as you read it, through His Spirit as you walk throughout the day, through other people with prophetic words, through circumstances that help drive you towards God’s best, and through many of means.
c) God is speaking. Are you listening? Open your heart to receive what God is saying to you today.
4. The same God who provided the dream provided someone to interpret it.
a) God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream by His grace and He then graced Daniel to see it and interpret it.
b) Daniel put all the emphasis on God. He made it clear that God provided the dream and God provided the answer.
c) The message of Grace puts the spotlight squarely on God and His power.
d) The Old Covenant was works-based. It focused on man – it was about making working for God. The New Covenant is grace-based. It focuses on God – it is about God working for, with and through man.
5. God can create situations that require divine answers and then anoint you to provide them.
a) Like what He did with Daniel, God can create a situation at your job that requires a divine answer, and He can then grace you to provide it.
b) Don’t think God does not care about your success. God went out of his way to create an opportunity for Daniel and He then graced Daniel to shine and get promoted. God can do the same for you.
c) I have been presented with many situations where others have failed and God has graced me to succeed.
6. When God anoints you to perform the supernatural it has nothing to do with your wisdom or power.
a) Daniel said, “God also told this secret to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other men..”
b) Daniel did not take any credit for what God was doing through him.
c) Daniel made it clear that he was not special and he did not come up with the answer through personal brilliance. Daniel put the spotlight on God and His grace.
d) God can anoint you to succeed by His grace. You may have gifts and talents and He will use those. But then again, even if you don’t think you have the background, education, aptitude, intellect, or mental acuity, God can still do it through you, by His grace, for His glory!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You can grace me to do whatever is needed. You have placed people in authority over me. I honor and respect that authority. I know You can get involved in my work environment, creating situations that need inspired answers; situations that cause others to fail. You can then grace me to have an open door of opportunity to provide the answers by Your grace, and to get promoted and elevated. You do this so I can be in a position of greater influence and responsibility, so You can use me for Your glory. You actually care about my business. You are interested in my personal success. You want to influence the people and systems of this world, and You want to do it through Your children. I am Your child, I am called by Your name, I am graced to succeed, and You use me to impact and influence the people of this world and the systems of this world I am graced to operate in. Not because of my personal wisdom, giftings or talents, but only because of Your grace. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
