Drew Mathews
Associate Pastor
“Sovereign Over All”
The Book of Daniel
What is the Lesson of Daniel?
What is the Lesson of Daniel?
• God is sovereign
What is the Lesson of Daniel?
• God is sovereign
– God is the main character in the story
What is the Lesson of Daniel?
“Everyone loves a story and children are first
on the list. Children see the world as very small
with them in the very center. One of the roles of
the Christian parent is to train our children to
shift from self-centeredness to otherscenteredness and especially Godcenteredness. God’s story, as told in his word,
is a bigger story. He is the main character and
we are his supporting cast. We are privileged to
be a part.”
From LCF “Transit” Newsletter, “Parents’
What is the Lesson of Daniel?
• God is sovereign
– God is the main character in the story
– God is the hero of the story
What is the Lesson of Daniel?
• God is sovereign
– God is the main character in the story
– God is the hero of the story
Summary Statement:
God is sovereign over the past, the present,
and the future of people and of nations
Daniel Background
Daniel Background
• Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar first
took exiles from Judah in 605 B.C.
Daniel Background
• Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar first
took exiles from Judah in 605 B.C.
• Daniel and his friends were among the first
group of exiles
Daniel Background
• Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar first
took exiles from Judah in 605 B.C.
• Daniel and his friends were among the first
group of exiles
• Daniel remained in Babylon until 536 B.C.
An Overview of Daniel
• Chapters 1-6: stories about Daniel and
his friends living faith-filled lives in a
hostile culture; God uses them to reveal
himself to foreigners and exalt himself
above their gods
An Overview of Daniel
• Chapters 1-6: stories about Daniel and
his friends living faith-filled lives in a
hostile culture; God uses them to reveal
himself to foreigners and exalt himself
above their gods
• Chapters 7-12: a series of dreams and
visions detailing present and future
political situations and the ultimate triumph
of the kingdom of the Messiah
God’s Sovereignty
God’s Sovereignty
“The sovereignty of God! What do we mean by
this expression? To say that God is sovereign is
to declare that He is the Most High, doing
according to His will in the army of heaven, and
among the inhabitants of the earth, so that no
one can stay His hand or say unto Him, What
doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is
sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty,
the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth,
so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His
purposes, or resist His will (Ps. 115:3).”
God’s Sovereignty
“To say that God is sovereign is to declare that
He is ‘The Governor among the nations’ (Ps.
22:28), setting up kingdoms, over throwing
empires, and determining the course of
dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that
God is sovereign is to declare that He is the
‘Only Potentate, the Kings of kings, and Lord of
lords’ (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the
Bible.”
A. W. Pink, The
Sovereignty of God
God’s Sovereignty
1. He has the authority to do whatever he
wills with his creation
God’s Sovereignty
1. He has the authority to do whatever he
wills with his creation
2. He is powerful enough to accomplish his
will
God’s Sovereignty
1. He has the authority to do whatever he
wills with his creation
2. He is powerful enough to accomplish his
will
3. He governs all the details of the Universe
God’s Sovereignty
“When we say that God is sovereign, we affirm
His right to govern the universe, which He has
made for His own glory, just as He pleases. We
affirm that His right is the right of the Potter
over the clay, that He may mould that clay into
whatsoever form He chooses. . . . We affirm
that He is under no rule or law outside His own
will and nature, that God is a law unto Himself,
and that He is under no obligation to give
account of His matters to any.”
A. W. Pink, The
Sovereignty of God
The Lesson of Daniel
God is sovereign over the past, the present,
and the future of people and of nations
Pray
Pray
The way to tune in to the Sovereign God
and support him in what he is doing is, first
of all, to pray.
Pray
1. Acknowledge God and his attributes in
prayer
Pray
1. Acknowledge God and his attributes in
prayer
2. Repeat the Gospel repetitively
Pray
1. Acknowledge God and his attributes in
prayer
2. Repeat the Gospel repetitively
3. Focus on God’s fame
Pray
1. Acknowledge God and his attributes in
prayer
2. Repeat the Gospel repetitively
3.
Focus
on God’s
fame
“When
we ask
that God’s
name be hallowed, we
must then have no consideration for our own
benefit but must set before ourselves his glory, to
gaze with eyes intent upon this one thing . . . and
in the remaining petitions . . to be affected in
precisely the same way.”
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian
Religion
• Video here
Pray
1. Acknowledge God and his attributes in
prayer
2. Repeat the Gospel repetitively
3. Focus on God’s fame