Six Moral Conflicts

1
Six Moral Conflicts Gods Sovereignty is
Victorious!

• Ted Barker

2
Summary

• Daniel and his friends are involuntary
  missionaries and yet God is Sovereign and
  delivers them so that He is glorified and His
  ways are demonstrated to mankind. Will you let
  Him do the same with you?

3
Goal

• I stir up your pure minds that ye may be
  mindful of the words spoken before by the holy
  prophets and the commandment of us the
  apostles of the Lord and Saviour. (2Peter 31-2)
  and for you to recognize, appreciate and
  anticipate that the Sovereignty of God will apply
  to your own life.
• Other references 1Cor. 1011

4
Main Theme

• The Sovereignty of God over the affairs of
  mankind and how it may apply to you.
• Pagan kings confessions Daniel 247 437 626

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Six Moral Conflicts

• No. 1 Between pagan Self-indulgence and obedient
  Abstinence in promoting health Abstinence Wins
  Daniel19 117
• No. 2 Between pagan Magi and heavenly Wisdom in
  the interpretation of dreams Divine Wisdom
  Wins Daniel 247
• No. 3 Heathen Idolatry arrayed against loyalty
  to God
• Loyalty to God Wins Daniel 328

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Six Moral Conflicts

• No. 4 A pagan kings pride challenges Divine
  Sovereignty --
• Sovereignty wins -The King is turned out to grass
  until he extols God Daniel 437
• No. 5 Impious sacrilege defies the Reverence for
  sacred objects
• Reverence wins The handwriting on the wall.
  Belshazzar dethroned Daniel 526
• No. 6 Malicious plotting against both His saint
  and the Providence of God.
• Providence wins. The lions mouths are kept
  closed Daniel 6 22, 26, and 27

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Prayer

• Ephesians 618 Philippians 46 1Thessalonians
  517 1 Timothy 28 Jeremiah 333 Hebrews 116

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Introduction

• Daniel God is my Judge (not a critic but One
  Who sees and determines causes).
• Sovereignty Supremacy of Authority royal
  rank, total independence, paramount
• Daniel and his friends were involuntary
  missionaries and were given a foreign name, lived
  in a foreign land, learned a foreign language,
  adapted to a foreign culture and be loyal to
  foreign monarchies.

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Underlying Theme

• Gods sovereign power through miracles One of 6
  primary periods the others are (i) Creation
  and the Flood, (ii) Patriarchs and Moses, (iii)
  Elijah and Elisha, (iv) Jesus and the Apostles,
  and (v) Time of the Second Advent --
  authentication of Divine Purpose.

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Conflict No. 1

• Between Pagan self indulgence and conscientious
  abstinence in promoting health
• Abstinence based on Gods principles and for
  His Glory wins.
• Ref. Daniel 1 1-21 1 Corinthians 1031

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Conflict No. 1

• Daniel 11-2 Nebuchadnezzars siege of Jerusalem
  and capture of vessels
• 3-4 Eunuchs selection, training and development
• 5 The kings meat and wine a bad thing?
• 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah
• 7 New names as part of the brainwashing and
  indoctrination

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New Names

• Daniel God is my judge
• Hannaniah The Lord is Gracious
• Mishael Who is like the Lord
• Azariah The LORD is my helper

• Belteshazzar Bel protect the King
• Shadrach Command of Aku (Babyl. God)
• Meshach Who is what Aku is
• Abed-nego Servant of Nego (a god of vegetation)

13
Conflict No. 1

• 8-16 Daniel purposed in his heart favor
  favorable standing the test
• 17-21 Gods blessings their interview with the
  king outstanding results

14
GODS SOVEREIGN WISDOM EXCEEDS THE WORLDS WISDOM!

• How does this apply to me? Am I being tempted by
  the worlds enticements?
• Who has my heart? 2326
• Where do I go to satisfy my appetites -- the
  world?
• Who do I honor? 1 Samuel 1230b

15
Conflict No. 2

• Between pagan magi and Heavenly Wisdom in the
  interpretation of dreams. Heavenly or Divine
  Wisdom Wins
• Ref Daniel 2 1-49

16
Conflict No. 2

• Daniel 21-9 Nebuchadnezzars troubling dream and
  seeking an interpretation
• 10-11 The Chaldeans are close to knowing from
  whom to obtain an interpretation
• 12-14 Kings fury and degree to slay the wise men
• 15-18 Daniels respectful and wise response
  more time and more prayer

17
Conflict No. 2

• 19-23 The secret interpretation revealed and
  Daniels blessing of God
• 24 Daniel reveals he knows the interpretation
• 25-30 Daniel meets with King Nebuchadnezzar and
  God is given credit
• 31-45 The interpretation of the dream gold
  Babylonian silver Medo-Persian brass Greece
  iron and clay Roman empire-revived Roman empire
  stone cutout without hands- Messianic Kingdom

18
Conflict No. 2

• 46-47 Nebuchadnezzars response God of gods
• 48-49 Promotion of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and
  Abed-nego

19
GODS SOVEREIGNTY PREVAILS AND LIVES ARE
PRESERVED!

• How does this apply to me?When did wisdom come
  from God?
• How do I respond to answered prayer?
• Do I almost know God? Daniel 210-11 46-47
• How must I be saved? Acts 412

20
Conflict No. 3

• Heathen idolatry arrayed against allegiance or
  loyalty to God
• Allegiance and loyalty to God Wins
• Ref Daniel 3 1-30

21
Conflict No. 3

• Daniel 31 Nebuchadnezzars image of gold
• 2-3 Summit meeting
• 4-5 Instructions how to worship
• 6 Consequences of failure to worship identified
  
• 7 The worship ceremony
• 8-12 Certain men accuse the Jews and approach
  the king

22
Conflict No. 3

• 13-15 The kings furious response and his
  interview with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego
  and his brash answer regarding who is that God
  that will deliver you? (again so close to the
  truth)
• 16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-negos reply
  with unwavering faith and obedience to God
• 19-20 Nebuchadnezzars furious response hotter
  furnace, strong men

23
Conflict No. 3

• 21 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in their
  combustible attire
• 22 The kings men are consumed by the fire
• 23 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego are cast down
  into the furnace
• 24-26 Nebuchadnezzar sees four men and calls for
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to come forth

24
Conflict No. 3

• 27 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-negos lack of
  harm confirmed
• 28-30 Nebuchadnezzars praise to the God of
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, the kings
  decree and the promotion of Shadrach, Meshach and
  Abed-nego

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GODS SOVEREIGN PROTECTION EXCEEDS THE WRATH OF
MAN!

• How does this apply to me?
• Am I willing to say No to the gods of this
  world and suffer the consequences and experience
  the blessings? Romans 121-2
• How do you classify God? One of many? A god of
  someone else?
• Who have you chosen to give your heart to?
  Proverbs 2326

26
Conflict No. 4

• A pagan kings pride challenges Divine
  Sovereignty
• Divine Sovereignty wins the king is turned
  out to grass until he extols God
• Ref Daniel 4 1-37

27
Conflict No. 4

• Daniel 41-3 Nebuchadnezzar introduces his
  personal experiences which he describes as
  wonders of God
• 4-7 Another dream that he wants interpreted his
  men fail
• 8-9 But at last Daniel and the king tells
  Daniel the dream
• 10-18 Nebuchadnezzar describes the dream
• 19-26 Daniel is astonished at the dream and
  interprets it

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Conflict No. 4

• 27 Daniel urges the king to repent
• 28-33 The dream unfolds and Nebuchadnezzar is
  driven to the fields
• 34-37 Nebuchadnezzars restoration and manifold
  praise of God and his
• key acknowledgment those that walk in pride he
  is able to abase.

29
GODS SOVEREIGN WAYS NULLIFY THE KINGS PRIDE!

• How does this apply to me? Daniel encouraged
  Nebuchadnezzar to break off his sin by
  righteousness and his iniquities by showing
  mercy Why? because God wanted Nebuchadnezzar
  to repent is he showing me an opportunity to
  demonstrate repentance in some area of my life
  for salvation? (Isaiah 557 Isaiah 646
  1Corinthians 130 Righteousness provided by
  God.)

30
GODS SOVEREIGN WAYS NULLIFY THE KINGS PRIDE!

• Am I proud? Do I even look proud? Proverbs
  616-17? Am I suffering the consequences of
  pride? Proverbs 112 166 Am I succumbing to
  the pride of life? 1John 216 How shall I repent?

31
Conflict No. 5

• Impious sacrilege defies reverence for Sacred
  Objects
• Reverence wins handwriting on the wall and
  Belshazzar dethroned
• Ref Daniel 5 1-31

32
Conflict No. 5

• Daniel 51-2 Belshazzars feast command to
  bring the gold and silver vessels
• 3-4 The vessels were used for drinking and the
  gods praised
• 5-7 The handwriting on the wall and call for
  interpretation

33
Conflict No. 5

• 8-12 Wise men fail, queen identifies Daniel and
  he is summoned.
• 13-28 An offer to Daniel and Daniels explanation
  and interpretation
• 29-31 Daniel is rewarded and Belshazzar is
  dethroned and slain and Darius takes the kingdom

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GODS SOVEREIGNTY DEMANDS THAT HE AND HIS OWN
WILL BE REVERED

• How does this apply to me?Do I profane God, His
  name or the things of God?
• Am I being brought to sin by worldly pleasures?
  Has God been putting any writing on the wall
  for me to read? Psalm 384, 513

35
Conflict No. 6

• Malicious plotting against both His saint and the
  Providence of God Gods sovereignty results in
  His shutting the lions mouths.
• Ref Daniel 6 1-28

36
Conflict No. 6

• Daniel 61-3 Darius reorganizes and Daniel is
  preferred
• 4 Jealous princes attempt to find a fault
  (crime) against Daniel
• 5-9 They concur that they will only entrap
  Daniel by the law of his God (which they know by
  now, Daniel will adhere to) and thus plot
  successfully by duping the king
• 10-13 Aware of the decree, Daniel prays, is
  observed and the men confront the king

37
Conflict No. 6

• 14-15 The king is displeased with himself and is
  pressured to follow through and put Daniel in the
  den of lions.
• 16-17 At the kings command Daniel is put in the
  den of lions
• 18-20 The king has a sleepless night and goes
  early to the den of lions

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Conflict No. 6

• 18-20 The king has a sleepless night and goes
  early to the den of lions
• 21-23 Daniel assures the king he is well because
  God has sent an angel and shut the lions mouths
  the king rejoices
• 24 Daniels accusers are cast into the den of
  lions and are consumed
• 25-28 Darius issues a decree praising God and
  Daniel prospers

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GODS SOVEREIGNTY GUARDS HIS OWN AND BRINGS
PRAISES TO HIMSELF!

• How does this apply to me? Do I plot against
  what is Gods, intentionally or unintentionally?
• As an act of mercy, do I see Gods trying to
  persuade me to stopping fighting Him and submit
  to Him as even the Apostle did?
• Is my life so consistently godly that my enemies
  would know that they could entrap me by
  obedience, love and dependence ? Am I an epistle
  readable to all me? (2Cor32)

40
So What?

• GODS SOVEREIGNTY IS PRESENT WHAT HINDERS ME
  FROM EXPERIENCING IT?