Daniel
Daniel 1
June 28, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
I have had a chance to be reading through the book and thinking about the man -- Daniel. Amazing guy. Humble, gentle, courageous, stable. He is uprooted from family and neighborhood and culture and thrust into a new life of servitude in a Godless nation, Babylon. How potentially traumatizing to a teenager! But instead of seeing bitterness, anger, depression, or indulgence, we see a young man who prospers in a remarkable way, helping to lead an empire without compromise of Godly conviction. In fact, Daniel wins the respect of four kings he serves under! Maybe Daniel's influence is even behind the pilgrimage of the Magi coming from the East and following the Star of Bethlehem! How did Daniel beat the odds? How did he thrive when others would have shriveled? Think about the difference between "conviction" and "opinion". Is there a difference? What is it? Are you a person of conviction or just opinion? How does this relate to Daniel 1? Ha! You will have to tune in to find out! VIEW AND SEE, Steve
Daniel 2:1-30
July 5, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
We find ourselves in Daniel 2:1-30. The chapter is just too long and too important to speed through. It is one of the most amazing prophetic passages in the whole Bible! The chapter starts with a very troubling dream, and by the end of the chapter Daniel and the others have been promoted and the mighty king of the mighty Babylonian empire is acknowledging Daniel's God as the true God. This is the stuff we live for! The first 30 verses give the setup, and some important observations and contrasts. We continue to see Daniel shine in the middle of crisis after crisis. In an identity crisis -- Daniel holds to his convictions. The crisis now is a matter of life and death! Is Daniel freaking out? How does the world system operate to produce the crisis? How does Daniel respond to the crisis? As for the specific content of the dream and the meaning of http://it...well...you will have to watch the next message. It is worth it! Amazing. Steve
Daniel 2:31-49
July 12, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
We left Daniel standing in the presence of the Nebuchadnezzar, having announced that he knows the dream and the interpretation. Can you feel the suspense? What was the dream? What does it mean? Daniel tells the king his dream and then tells him what it means. I don't want to give away too much, but I can tell you the dream is of a magnificent, giant, stratified metal statue (idol). Statues like this would be very familiar to the idol worshipers of the day. The statue gives God a way to walk Nebuchadnezzar through the history of world dominating empires from their current time in history on into the future. There is a succession of "kingdoms" (empires) that all meet a common end as the statue ends up being hit by something like a meteor -- a stone cut out without human involvement -- which utterly destroys it! I know that you know we live in strange times. Many have a sense that things are not getting better, but getting worse. We also have a sense that things cannot go on like they are. Where does it end? What happens next? Trust me when I say you will not want to miss the next installment of our study in Daniel! Steve
Daniel 3:1-18
July 19, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Daniel 3:1-18 actually doesn't involve Daniel at all! He is absent from the chapter. But his 3 friends are put in an awkward spot to resist public pressure, and even threats, to be true to their God. We often pray for safety, but there are times when our decision to be God serving people may actually put us in danger. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego make a statement that has resonated through the centuries with God's people.. It is as simple and clear and powerful today as it was when it was first uttered in Babylon. To whom do you offer ultimate allegiance? Remember, If you don't stand for something, you will fall for http://anything.....or anyone! Steve
Daniel 3:19-30
July 26, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
This Sunday we revisit one of the most well known of all the stories in the Bible -- the fiery furnace. Last week we watched as the story unfolded: potentially thousands of Nebuchadnezzar's government employees have been summoned to express their loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar under penalty of death in a fiery furnace. Just bow down when the Babylonian Anthem is played and everything is cool. But three monotheistic Jews couldn't pretend, and now its show time. Our God can rescue us, but if not.... How dare they defy the sovereign ruler of that world? What comes next? What will God do? Will they suffer agonizingly in the furnace? Will they become a lesson to everyone that you dare not cross Nebuchadnezzar? I think that deep inside we really wonder if God can protect us or care fir us.. We expect God to keep us out of the furnace (trial) and if He doesn't, he doesn't love us or has failed us. In our minds, we do the "right thing" to get the result we expect from God. But God has a different plan and it is much more clear in this passage than anywhere else. God has grace and power and freedom for us that we can only experience in the furnace. No fire, no freedom. What an amazing story to http://consider.....so be ready to be challenged! Watch and See! Steve
Daniel 4:1-27
August 2, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
You know I have been looking forward to and anticipating Daniel http://4...and here we are! Unfortunately, I will be forced to break the chapter into two parts, which means we will look at verses 1-27 this Sunday, and the conclusion next Sunday. Absent from Ch 3 and the fiery furnace, Daniel is back on the scene and gets another chance at dream interpretation for the king. Like before (Ch 2) the dream is troubling and causes confusion. The last dream was of a giant mixed media statue that was destroyed by a stone. This time his dream involves an enormous, beautiful, fruitful tree. But a declaration is made that the tree should be cut down! What? Why would someone cut down a tree that is big and beautiful and fruitful? That seems wasteful, or even frivolous! What is the lesson, and how did this chapter influence the writing of our Constitution?? OH my! Daniel 4 is extremely important and relevant to the current events in our world. The more things change, the more they stay the same! Watch and See... Steve
Daniel 4:28-37
August 9, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
As we continue to ponder and finish Daniel 4, we watch as God puts the powerful and proud Nebuchadnezzar on display as an extreme example of pride and humility. He goes from the palace to the http://pasture......and back again! King Nebuchadnezzar had another unsettling dream about an enormous tree that gets cut down and stripped. Daniel is able to explain the dream in which the tree symbolized Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel ends with a warning and some Godly advice to the king. Now twelve months have passed and has the king taken the advice? Has he humbled himself? Nope. In fact, he is more delusional and self congratulatory than ever. Guess what? Class is in session and Nebuchadnezzar has been enrolled -- like it or not - in Reality 101. For him, it's a seven year course of seminary study to learn the lesson. To enter the program he had to be stripped of http://everything....like the tree in his dream. I bet he would say it was worth http://it.....the humiliation, the loss, the new perspective and revelation. Humility can really only be learned in the school of suffering. Nebuchadnezzar gets his seminary degree from Bovine University! He has a masters in the theology of God's sovereignty! There is a remarkable ending to this incredible story. Watch and See..... Steve
Daniel 5
August 16, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
In the National Gallery in London hangs a Rembrandt painting called "Belshazzar's Feast". No, the picture I included above is NOT that painting. It is, however, a cartoon rendition of the painting in which the cartoonist has taken some liberties with the translation of the "handwriting on the wall". He's not too far off, though! Daniel 4 closed with Nebuchadnezzar recovering his mental health, being restored to his throne, and the reality of the Most High God who is sovereign over every eartly empire. Daniel 5 opens with a king named Belshazzar reigning over Babylon. What we know is that the saying, "The handwriting on the wall," has made its way into our modern culture as an idiom for "impending and unavoidable doom." Maybe you didn't know that saying comes directly from Daniel 5! In the midst of a Babylonian government drinking party and feast, Belshazzar expressed his pride and defiance toward the God who humbled Nebuchadnezzar. When a hand appeared and wrote a cryptic message on the wall, the party came to screeching halt! The DJ stopped the music and everyone froze in fear and astonishment. Is this really happening? What does it mean? Daniel, whose wisdom seems to have been forgotten or ignored, is called from the dugout to help. Here are some things to consider.... If, according to history, the last King of Babylon is a guy named Nabonidus, then who is Belshazzar? Is the Bible wrong? What was the message on the wall? What did it mean? For answers to these questions and more, you will have to tune in or show up for our study of Dan 5. By the end of the Chapter, the impenetrable Babylonian Empire, that head of Gold (ch2), will have been replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire without even the smallest battle! Wow. Are you curious? I hope so! Watch and See..... Steve
Daniel 6
August 23, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Hey Church family.... It turns out that the Book of Daniel has been the source of much spiritual as well as artistic inspiration! The painting above is by "turn-of-the-century" British artist Briton Riviere (1892). It is titled, "Daniel's Answer to the King". Notice that Daniel is pictured as an old man, and according to historical chronology, Daniel would have been in his mid to late 80's at this time. If you play a little "word association" and say the word "Daniel", the immediate response for many would be "lion's den". Chapter 6 is that well known Bible chapter. People have heard of the story but most don't know the details. They don't know about the new transitional government of the Medes and Persians or the new leadership structure. They don't know about Daniel's promotion or the political enemies he is making. http://hey.....why did he get thrown in that lion's den anyway? Why didn't the lion's eat him alive? For me, one of the coolest aspects was the real fondness the king had for Daniel. Ya know, if you have integrity, are trustworthy, and really seem to care about people, you find God's blessing in your work and relationships. When you live a Spirit filled life of loyalty to God, mouths get miraculously shut! Watch and See..... Steve
Daniel 7
September 6, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
If you could know the future, would you want to? Now before you answer, think about it. Maybe you would want to clarify your answer, -- "Yes, if...... or No, unless....". You get the idea. Now hash that out. If you could know the future of America, would you want to? What would you do with the information? Would it be comforting or would it be troubling? Would you tell people what you knew? http://well......our Jewish friends Daniel has just such a dilemma, and after tomorrow so will you! You will know what Daniel knew in the 6th century BC! Daniel 7 outlines an overview of world power using very visually dramatic and descriptive language! It parallels Daniel 2. How does it effect Daniel? What is the emotional response to the information God gives him? No spoiler here! You will have to watch to see. And you can bet that Daniel's vision is as relevant today as it was when God first opened his mind to see it. Watch and see what the future http://holds......if you want to know! Steve
Daniel 8
September 13, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
I am not sure if I will feel more like a sports commentator or a Bible preacher! Why? Daniel has another vivid and descriptive vision. This time, its the Bucks against the Rams in this with a surprising end! This chapter, like chapter 7, is full of action. The ram seems unstoppable, but http://wait.....out of nowhere comes a male goat (otherwise known as a "buck")! He is moving at lightning speed and charging right at the unstoppable ram! The tension is high as the raging buck attacks the stronger ram! Who will survive the colossal collision? Who will be victorious? Now that you are on the edge of your seat, I can ask the more important questions. Who do the ram and the goat represent? What is the vision about? Why is this chapter so important, and why should you care? If you tune in, show up, and pay attention, you will learn why so many doubt that Daniel was really written in the 6th century BC. I'll give you a hint. The information in chapter 8 is so detailed and accurate that it is hard to believe he wrote http://it........over 200 years before it happened. You will also learn the identity of the Bucks' MVP (most vicious prince). Watch, and learn why you should have hope in dark times! Steve
Daniel 9:1-19
September 27, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Hey Church family... If you are like me (and I assume you are) we are all trying to make good decisions in a complex time. To make good decisions about life, we need information, and we are certainly inundated with information, right? There are "authoritative" voices on both sides of the election, and on both sides of pandemic management. The confusing thing is that both voices speak with authority and suggest a clear -- although opposing -- direction. Who should we believe? This may be more complicated than meets the eye..... Spiritual life is no different. There are authoritative voices that can say opposing things about God's plan and purposes. If you were hopeful spiritual things would be more clear, sorry to disappoint. There are http://prophets.....and false prophets. There are http://teachers.....and false teachers. There are http://sheep.....and wolves dressed up as sheep. There are spiritual experiences and dreams and visions, http://and...well... Daniel 9 opens for us a window to sit and listen and watch a man of God pray. That is the content of Daniel 9:1-19. But how does Daniel know WHAT to pray for? How does he know HOW to pray and to what end? What informs his prayers? What if your prayer is motivated by the wrong information? What if the sermon you heard was http://exciting......but wrong? GOD'S WILL DOES NOT ALWAYS FIT NEATLY INTO OUR PLAN OR OPINION. Should I give you a spoiler? Naaaahhhhh! I will, however, tell you that reading Jeremiah 25-29 will give some real background to what we will read in Daniel 9. Grab your Bible and, at a minimum, read Jeremiah 25 and 29 and you will be a step ahead of the game! VIEW AND SEE!!! Steve
Daniel 9:20-27
October 4, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Having spoken to many of you about current events, I know that you are paying close attention to prophecy -- God's word about future things! Many are curious as to how the events taking place and what we see in America fit into God's picture of the future of planet earth. We have talked about much of this over the last number of weeks in previous chapters of Daniel. Well, Daniel 9:20-27 may just be the most important, and most debated, prophecy in the entire Bible. It is comprehensive, concise, and cryptic. It is God's answer to Daniel's prayer and it is known as Daniel's "70 Weeks Prophecy". The interesting thing to note is that if you want to be a really astute student of current events and the BIG picture of Bible prophecy, then get your eyes off of America and onto Israel! Despite our sentiments of America's importance on the world stage, all of human history revolves around the past, present, and future of Israel -- and her king, Jesus! What is the BIG picture? Where do you and I fit? What comes next? Good questions! You won't want to miss the study of Daniels "70 weeks prophecy". It's the key to "understanding" everything. COME AND SEE!!! Steve
Daniel 10
October 11, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
We are closing in on the end of our study in Daniel. Although there are three chapters left, they all connect around one grand and detailed vision that Daniel has. It is so precise in its historical accuracy that many believe it could not have been written by Daniel! The scope reaches into and even past our own time. Tomorrow we will handle chapter 10 and get the introduction to the vision. We get descriptive detail about the physical impact this event had on Daniel. His angelic experience might not climb the charts of the bestseller list if it was published today! Daniel is not the picture of people having strength and courage in the presence of angels. Daniel's desire to understand was heard immediately and God responded immediately. http://but......daniel sees no answer to prayer for THREE WEEKS! Have you ever wondered why prayers don't always get answered immediately? Have you ever felt like God was acting too slowly? Maybe He doesn't care of didn't listen? Daniel 10 may just change the way you think about prayer and what happens in the "heavenly realm" when you pray on earth. The reality may surprise you! VIEW AND SEE!!! Steve
Daniel 11:1-24
October 18, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
History is HIS Story! How do you feel about history class? Do you remember "social studies" in school? Not your favorite class? It was not mine either. Memorize dates and events for the test and then forget it all after the test. Yuck! And then I got saved and became a follower of Jesus and started reading the Bible. History began to be much more interesting because it was related to a big, worldwide story that connected all the dots and gave me a context to plug all the facts into. Daniel 10-12 are one unit. Daniel 11 is the longest and most detailed prophecy in the Bible. It is so specific and so accurate that many have questioned if it could really have been written before the events happened. The person writing it MUST have already known what was going to happen because it is so precise! God is sovereign (has complete authority and freedom to act), and He is omniscient (knows everything). The Bible is clear that God "declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). This chapter is astounding and historical as you see the hand of God working through human history. At the center of all history is the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. We will talk about things past, things present, and the prophecy will take us into the future as well! VIEW AND SEE! Steve