When You're Afraid to Look

Daniel 2 October 6, 2024 Pastor Ricky Alcantar

Thesis God's infinite wisdom and absolute might mean that even when our circumstances appear chaotic and out of control, He is orchestrating all things for our good and His glory through the advancement of His eternal kingdom.

Series

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Type

Expository

Tone

pastoraldidacticcelebratory

Method

grammatical-historicalredemptive-historicalcanonicalapplicatory

What's in this sermon

The shape of the argument

34 units across exposition, application, illustration, theological claim, and conclusion. The pastor's argument is built from these moving parts.

Pastoral correction · unit #31

"A pastoral aside naming specific contemporary sufferings (breakup, terminal diagnosis) and calling the congregation to trust the God who planned the cross with these present griefs. The preacher acknowledges the emotional weight of these circumstances ('sometimes it feels like the world ends') while calling for trust grounded in God's demonstrated character at the cross. This is concrete pastoral counsel applied to real suffering."

Doctrinal loci· 7 surfaced

Providence / Sovereignty · 12 Eschatology · 10 Theology Proper · 9 Christology · 5 Soteriology · 5 Covenant Theology · 1 Pastoral Theology · 1

Bible citations· 16

Illustrations· 5

historical example · unit #2 — The Kasparov chess illustration establishes the sermon's controlling metaphor: appearances deceive when we lack God's comprehensive vision. A chess master can intentionally create apparent chaos while maintaining complete control and seeing moves his opponent cannot. The illustration prepares the congregation to understand how God operates through what appears to be chaos with perfect wisdom and foresight.
cultural reference · unit #8 — A cultural reference to horror movies illustrates the power of light to eliminate mystery and fear. When lights are on, what was hidden becomes obvious. This makes vivid the preceding theological claim: God's wisdom means nothing is hidden from Him because light dwells with Him—He sees with perfect clarity what terrifies us in the dark.
analogy · unit #14 — The Cowboys fan illustration makes the knowledge gap between God and humanity visceral and humorous. We judge God's play-calling while knowing virtually nothing compared to what He knows. The illustration functions to humble the congregation's confidence in their own assessment of circumstances and reinforce that God's comprehensive knowledge justifies His decisions even when they perplex us.
analogy · unit #17 — The art brushstrokes analogy illustrates the difference between local chaos and global coherence. Zoomed in, brushstrokes appear random; zoomed out, they reveal a masterpiece. This prepares the congregation to understand God's kingdom purposes as the coherent picture that makes sense of apparently chaotic historical events.
historical example · unit #26 — The thief on the cross illustrates the radical accessibility of the kingdom: even a criminal being justly executed can enter the kingdom through repentance and faith in Jesus. This example demonstrates that the kingdom invitation extends to the most unlikely candidates and that entry requires only repentance and recognition of Jesus as King. The illustration makes the gospel concrete and emotionally powerful.

Theological claims· 10

Appearances deceive us into believing God either lacks the wisdom to see what's happening in the world or the might to control it. unit #3
Appearances deceive—we must look more closely at the Lord to see that He is far more in control than circumstances suggest. unit #5
God's wisdom means He is all-knowing and judges rightly—He sees through all facades and cannot be deceived. unit #9
God's might means He gave His people over to Babylon intentionally—He rules over all nations and is so powerful He uses even pagan empires for His purposes. unit #11
God answers prayers according to His perfect wisdom—He gives us either what we ask or what we would have asked if we knew what He knows. unit #13
God's wisdom and might together mean He has both the knowledge to see all things and the power to shape all things according to His good purposes. unit #15
The kingdom of God is the Bible's central theme from Genesis to Revelation—God's purpose throughout history is to build and bring triumph to His kingdom. unit #18
The kingdom of God is eternal—unlike every world empire that has risen and fallen, God's kingdom established through Christ will never be destroyed. unit #22
The kingdom of God is not barely surviving but deceptively triumphant—like a mustard seed, it appears small but will ultimately crush all opposing kingdoms and fill the entire world. unit #23
God wields His wisdom and might in a cruciform way that binds together His glory and our good, such that every difficult circumstance will ultimately result in our good, His glory, and the kingdom's advancement. unit #27

Quotations· 2

"God always answers your prayers in precisely the way you would want them to be answered if you knew everything God knew." — Timothy Keller (unit #13)

"God will either give us what we ask for in prayer or give us what we would have asked for if we knew everything he knows" — Timothy Keller (unit #13)

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0 · The preacher introduces the text by comparing the Book of Daniel to a deep desert pool—deceptively deep beneath the surface

Let's open our bibles to Daniel, chapter two. This is going to be our second pass through this text. The Book of Daniel is a little bit like, have you ever been to Balmorhea, Texas? Anybody ever been to Balmorhea? Balmorhea is super cool. It's just the middle of the desert, and there's a pool, and you're like, okay, it's just a pool. But if you go up to it, it's 25 plus feet down. It's like this hole just keeps going.

That is what the book of Daniel is like. Some of these phrases or text in this book, you could dive in and not hit the bottom for a long, long time. So we're going to be taking two sections of this and diving a little bit further down today. Daniel, chapter two, beginning in verse 20. And as we read, let's remember, this is God's very word.

Daniel answered and said, blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, o God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise. For you have given me wisdom and might and have now made known to me what we asked of you. For you have made known to us the kings matter. Now I'd like for you to skip down to his explanation of the vision in verse 44.

What will the God of wisdom and might do? Verse 44. And in those days, in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces, all these kingdoms. Bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.

Just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces. The iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God is made known to the king. What shall be after this? This is God's word.

1 · A brief pastoral prayer asking God to reveal His word to the congregation, echoing Daniel's language of God as the revealer of mysteries

And, lord, I pray you'd give us insight. Lord, may you, the revealer of mysteries, reveal your word to us. Today we pray. Amen.

2 · The Kasparov chess illustration establishes the sermon's controlling metaphor: appearances deceive when we lack God's comprehensive vision

Well, in 1999, one of the most famous chess matches ever to take place occurred. It became later known as the immortal game. Now, as soon as I said chess masters, 90% of you people were like, all right, let's see what's going on in the NFL, but stick with me here. It was a battle between two masters, Kasparov and Topolov and Kasparov. Well, it appeared that this grandmaster made some crucial mistakes right at the beginning of the game, losing a rook. Not content with that, he lost two bishops in quick succession.

And it appeared that the board was chaotic and Kasparov was losing control of the game. But sometimes appearances can be deceiving, because Kasparov actually intentionally created a chaotic board, lost a number of key pieces, and left his opponent believing he had just a handful of moves until he won the match. And in a few def moves, Kasparov turned the tables, revealed that despite his opponents having more pieces, he actually was the one in the superior position. And with now the reason I tell you that is there were two things that people highlighted in calling this the immortal game. First, Kasparov was able to see through the chaotic board far better than his opponent did.

And second, Kasparov was able to see far deeper into the game than his opponent could. And through the chaos and through the long lens of the entire game, Kasparov emerged victorious.

3 · This unit articulates the false belief the sermon will refute: that God lacks either the wisdom to comprehend world events or the might to control them

Now, why do I bring this up? Well, because our text today reveals that appearances are deceiving, that when we look out at the world around us, it appears that the world is chaotic. It appears that somehow, perhaps, the Lord has lost control of the game, that he is doing his best. Some people picture God like a kindly old grandfather in the sky, and he is huffing and puffing and doing his best to run from the Ukraine back to the Middle east. And he goes to the Middle east and he's like, what's going on? He's got to run back up to the Ukraine. He's like, oh, the hurricane in Florida. He's got to run over.

You know, that's the picture some people have of the Lord, that he either lacks the wisdom to see what's going on or he lacks the might to control it.

4 · The preacher situates Daniel 2 in its historical context: God's people in Babylonian exile and the subsequent centuries of subjugation by successive empires

And that, perhaps, is what God's people would have been wondering as they read this text. Right. This is written in a period where God's people are in exile in Babylon and would have been reflected on much in the post exile period, meaning the period between Babylon and the coming of Jesus. And in that period, God's people were subjugated by a variety of other empires. First the Babylonians, then the Medo Persians, then the Greeks, then the Romans. Always they seemed. They would look out, and it looked like on the world stage, God had either lost control of the game or didn't care about them.

5 · This unit states the sermon's controlling thesis: Daniel 2 reveals that despite appearances, God is far more in control than we perceive

But our text today reveals that the opposite is true. Our text reveals that appearances are deceiving, and we must look more closely at the world around us, at our own circumstances. But especially, we must look more closely at the Lord to see that he is far more in control than we often see.

6 · Structural transition signaling the sermon's two-part organization: first, God's nature (wisdom and might); second, God's kingdom purposes

Now, we're gonna look two things today. First, we're gonna look at the God himself, his nature and character. And then we're gonna very briefly look at what he is doing, what he's up to. So, first, look closely at the nature of the king.

7 · This unit unpacks the first divine attribute from Daniel 2:20—God's wisdom

Now look at verse 20 in Daniel, chapter two. Again, this is like balmoral pools with these two words, blessed be the name of God, meaning the character of God forever and ever, to whom belong. Look at these two things. Wisdom and might. You're like, okay, great. Wisdom and might. No, no, no. These are balmoral pools, right? You're not going to hit the bottom of them. Look at first wisdom.

The idea often people get about the Lord is, well, that he's something like a greek God or somebody who's just like us, but way smarter. And he's doing his best, but he can't see everything. No, that's not what the text reveals. Look at verse 22. It says, he reveals deep and hidden things. Meaning that just like, if you were to go to the bottom of the ocean, there would be all these hidden alcoves and places that no human being has ever seen in their life. There's massive portions of the ocean. We have no idea what goes on there. I hope it's sea dragons. I'm not sure that would be cool. But the Lord knows what's down there, and he knows what is in the darkness. Why? And the light dwells with him. Meaning that what is dark to us is fully illuminated by the Lord. Right? To the Lord, it's laid bare.

8 · A cultural reference to horror movies illustrates the power of light to eliminate mystery and fear

I heard somebody say one time, there was. They made an observation that pretty much every. You know, of those scary movies that they play on cable around this time of year, pretty much all of those. If everyone just turned the lights on, it'd probably be fine, right? If everybody's just like, let's just keep the lights everywhere in the neighborhood on maximum for the next couple weeks. It's like, oh, look, there's the killer right there. He's in the corner. Hi. You know, it's just like, there's not. There's no more movie, right? Because as soon as you have light, it's. Everything's illuminated. You can see clearly.

9 · The preacher synthesizes the exposition of God's wisdom into doctrinal assertion: God is omniscient (all-knowing of all things, at all times, in all places) and possesses perfect judgment

That is what Daniel is praising God for. He's saying that in this world, what is dark to us, what is deep and hidden to us is not dark to the Lord, nor is it hidden from the Lord. It is saying that God is all knowing for all things, at all times, in all places. And not just can he see, he can judge rightly. That's what his wisdom means. Not just sight, but right judgment of what he sees. Meaning, he sees through facades, he sees through false promises, he sees through motives. Nobody's gonna pull the wool over his eyes. He sees clearly he's wise.

10 · This unit expounds the second divine attribute from Daniel 2:20-21—God's might—and establishes why wisdom and might must coexist

But second, he is mighty. Now notice why these two are so important together. If the Lord is wise but not mighty, all he is then is a guy who knows what to do, but he can't do it. Or if he's mighty and not wise, well, he might be able to do things, but he doesn't know what to do. These two things together are dynamite. They are powerful together. And the illustration of God's might is in 20 and 21, he says he changes times and seasons.

That's the first illustration of his might. Meaning this. Look, babylonian kings, they're big, they're powerful, they're the kings of the earth. They're the most important for they have the biggest economies, they have the biggest armies, they have all the culture of the world kind of wrapped up in them. They're building ancient wonders. None of those babylonian kings can snap their fingers and turn somewhere into fall or fall into winter, meaning that there is a far greater power than them. And further, it says, he not only changes times and seasons, not only does he govern all creation, but he removes and sets up kings.

11 · The preacher applies the doctrine of God's might to the specific situation of Babylonian exile

Now this men, this is profound when you look at the book of Daniel, because God's people would be tempted to think that, okay, if Babylon won against Israel, against the kingdom of Judah, right, the southern kingdom, if Babylon won, then it must reveal that Babylon's gods were stronger than our gods. That's what Babylon did, right? They intentionally did this. They would go in and change people's religion and assimilate them into their religion with the message, look, your gods are weak because we beat them. You should worship our gods, right? That's the pressure God's people would be feeling. If we won, then our gods triumphed. This is profound.

Chapter two reveals, as we said, much more about this last week, that in fact God gave his people over to Babylon. God gave the scepter to Nebuchadnezzar. God allowed him to rule. God, in fact, not just was over Babylon, he's over every nation, he's over every king, every government. He controls them all.

He rules over Babylon and is so mighty that he will use even Babylon for his purposes.

12 · This transition acknowledges potential congregational skepticism and pivots from doctrinal exposition to pastoral application

So why does this matter? Why does it matter that God is wise and that he is mighty? Well, I think one beautiful phrase from Pastor Timothy Keller. I think he helps us see the difference this makes. Because up until this point, perhaps you're like, okay, that's good. Sure, wise, mighty great. Sounds good. But what about when our own circumstances are perplexing, confusing? What if we find ourselves hurting and suffering? What if we find the circumstances? Maybe we're not in captivity in Babylon, but it feels like some area of our life we are in the babylonian captivity, where we feel trapped. We feel there's no escape. We feel difficult things are happening. What then? How do we deal with God's might and his wisdom then?

13 · The Keller quotation provides the pastoral application of God's wisdom and might: God answers prayers according to His comprehensive knowledge, which infinitely exceeds ours

Well, Pastor Timothy Keller, who actually passed away of cancer, semi recently, has this beautiful phrase. He says this, God always answers your prayers in precisely the way you would want them to be answered. If you knew everything God knew.

That's when it begins to hit home for us, because we often come to the Lord and we're like, why won't you blank? Why can't you blank? I want blank. But we remember, listen, we know a thimbleful of what's going on in the world. And God knows the ocean further.

He says this, God will either give us what we ask for in prayer or give us what we would have asked for if we knew everything he knows, right? That's where God's wisdom and what might come into play, that he knows better than us. Right? That is what we confess as Christians, that he knows better than us. We see the symbol. With the symbol, he sees the ocean.

14 · The Cowboys fan illustration makes the knowledge gap between God and humanity visceral and humorous

We are like Dallas Cowboys fans who plop down onto the couch and within 60 seconds, while munching potato chips, decide that the offensive formation is stupid, right? I mean, these poor guys, they've been sitting there, you know, all week watching game footage we haven't watched, that. We don't need that. It's fine. We know. We know. And we're telling our buddy, look at that. See that? Yep, yep, yep. You know, meaning this, we all, we all jump into situations in the world with this much knowledge. But this text says that the Lord sees the whole. He knows everything, down to the sore left foot of the defensive linemen, to which spots in the turf are softer. He knows everything. He knows all.

15 · This unit synthesizes the first movement of the sermon: God's character (wisdom and might) means He has both the knowledge and the power to shape all things according to His purposes

And he has the power to shape it according to his good purposes. That's where this comes home. Now, that's the character of the Lord. But perhaps then you're wondering, okay, well, then what is he doing in the world? Right? Because it seems like things are out of control. It seems like the chess game has devolved into chaos.

16 · The preacher transitions from God's character to God's purposes by cataloging contemporary chaos—hurricanes, wars, political violence, technological disruption—that parallels the chaos of Daniel's era

Well, second point, look closely at the nature of the kingdom, because here's what happens. We will flip through our newsfeed and see headlines from around the world that just look like chaos. An unstoppable hurricane that leaves devastation across the southeast us, or a conflict raging in the Middle east, or another conflict in Ukraine, or two men trying to assassinate the former president. Or artificial intelligence advancing so rapidly no one knows what will happen next. We see all these situations, and then we look at our own lives and we're like, man, my situation seems out of control. What about my family? What about my finances? What about my health? What about this? What about that? It all seems like the board has been thrown into chaos, and the Lord says, no, I'm going to use my wisdom and my might to do something. Well, what is it that he's going to do? Verse 44.

In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.

17 · The art brushstrokes analogy illustrates the difference between local chaos and global coherence

You ever had the experience where you're watching an artist's work and you see, you were to zoom in perhaps on the individual brushstrokes of an artist and then some more brush strokes from the artist? It's hard to tell. I mean, it may be nice color, but it's hard to tell. It looks a little chaotic, doesn't on that level. But step back, especially these large pieces of art. Step back and look at the whole. And you go, oh, I see it now.

18 · This unit establishes the kingdom of God as the Bible's organizing theme from Genesis to Revelation

This is the Lord saying, step back, my people, and look at what I am painting across world history. The kingdom of God. Right. The purposes of God come to their fruition in the kingdom of God. Now, this is a massive biblical theme that runs from Genesis all the way to revelation. Because when we are asking, what has God done through world history? He has built the kingdom of God. What is he doing now? Today he is building the kingdom. Where are things going in the triumph of the kingdom?

19 · The preacher expounds the phrase 'in the days of those kings' from Daniel 2:44 to establish that the kingdom was being built even during the exile—not postponed until some distant future

So a couple things we should know about what God is painting across the lives of world history and across our own lives. First, the kingdom God is building is even now. It's right now. Notice the phrase, in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up. Now, often we think of the kingdom of God as something that will be established at the very end of time, meaning like we're kind of not. God's not building the kingdom, but one day he's gonna. That's actually not biblical. This text says that right now. And this is, remember in what, 600 bc? Right now at this time, God was establishing his kingdom, the kingdom, even in the midst of the other reigns and other triumphs of other kingdoms, that there is an underground kingdom, as it were, growing underneath the kingdoms of Babylon and Persia and Greece and Rome. And it will one day emerge.

Now, I'm gonna spoil the end of the story because the story's been out for like 2000 years. But the kingdom bursts out of the ground, as it were in mark, chapter one, where Jesus coming into Galilee, it says, he comes in proclaiming the good news of God and saying, listen, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. When does the kingdom come? Jesus inaugurates this kingdom.

20 · The preacher traces the biblical-theological arc of the kingdom through redemptive history: established in Eden, lost at the fall, partially restored through Abraham and Israel, lost again at the exile, and ultimately established through Christ

Now, this is a rich biblical theme where you realize, okay, the kingdom of God, first established by God, God's people in God's place under God's rule in the garden of Eden. The kingdom is then lost because humanity rejects God's rule and is no longer God's people and is cast out of God's place. But God launches a plan through Abraham to, in a sense, reestablish an outpost of the kingdom where at least among this family, this nation, God's people would dwell in God's place under God's rule. And he gives it to them. And what happens again? It's Adam 2.0, right? They fail again. They reject God's rule, are cast out of God's place, and yet God has a plan. Even during that period, God is growing this kingdom underneath the other kingdoms of the world and it bursts forth in the coming of Jesus Christ. Right?

21 · A pastoral aside reframing Christmas in light of Daniel 2: not a sentimental holiday but the eruption of God's long-promised kingdom into history through the King Himself

I want to say so much here, Christmas. If I could say Christmas, because Christmas stuff is out at Costco already. Christmas we often think of as this kind of soft hallmark movie kind of, you know, like, oh, Christmas is here, you know? No, no, no. Biblically, according to the book of Daniel, Christmas is the bursting of the kingdom out into full view in the world brought about by the king himself.

22 · This unit establishes the second characteristic of God's kingdom: it is eternal

That's what the Lord is doing. The kingdom is now. So for those of us who live on the other side of Jesus incarnation, we know right now the kingdom of God is growing and advancing and one day will culminate in all its fullness. So the kingdom of God is here now truly, yet not fully, but it is here now truly the kingdom is now second. The kingdom is forever, okay? It says that God will set up in those days a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. Now, notice the contrast here. The world empires around us, they seem to last forever. They say that they're going to last forever, but they all fade. The vision of Daniel, chapter two has these four parts representing four armies. The babylonian empire. We're going to live forever. No, bro, you're not going to even make it to the end of Daniel, right? You won't like Daniel. Think about this. Daniel sees the end of the babylonian empire. That's how quick it was on the world stage. Then you, you've got the persian empire, right? You think, okay, Persia, Xerxes, this is a bad dude. He's going to take over the world. His kingdom will last forever. Nope, nope, nope, nope. The Greeks, who he stubbornly couldn't defeat, well, there's a Greek named Alexander the great, conquers, well, the entire world, and you think, man, this kingdom of Alexander is going to last forever? Nope, not that either. Rome, right? Rome at the time of Jesus, everyone's going, oh, Rome, it's the biggest empire. It's going to last forever. Nope, listen, these great empires have been reduced to footnotes and facts my children are unwillingly forced to memorize for tests, right? That's what's become of the babylonian empire, the greek empire, the persian empire, and in contrast, God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to anyone else.

23 · This unit establishes the third characteristic of God's kingdom: it is not merely enduring but triumphant

Here's the reality. Often we forget this. After the kingdom of God, through the person of Jesus, burst onto the world stage 2000 years ago, has it yet been defeated? No. Has it not grown from one geographic area to the next, from one generation to the next, from one century to the next, has not yet continued to grow and advance and take shape across the entire globe. And has it not outlasted the Roman Empire? Right? The spanish empire, the british empire, it will outlast us too. The kingdom of God is forever. Third, the kingdom is triumphant. Now notice this. It says, the kingdom shall break in pieces, all these kingdoms and bring them to an end. And it, it shall stand forever. So not only will the kingdom endure, we don't want to get the picture of like, oh, man, the kingdom's just barely hanging on, you know, it's just like rocky, he lasts at least the ten rounds and it's like, yeah, right. The kingdom of God doesn't, you know, it's not really up to fighting the other empires of the world. But it can hang in there. No, this kingdom will crush every other in the end. It says earlier that it will grow and fill the entire world. Do you see why appearances are deceiving? Jesus himself says this in Matthew 13, where he says, he tells them a parable, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. What's Jesus saying? He's saying this, the very nature of the kingdom of God is such that it is deceptively triumphant that you think you're winning like Kasparov's opponent. Only in the end to realize I've been losing this whole time, right? That is the nature of the kingdom of God.

24 · This unit establishes the fourth characteristic of God's kingdom: it is open to any who will repent and believe

Fourth, and this is the good news, friends. The kingdom of God is for any who will come to the king. Look, all of this would be, it may not necessarily be good news, right? Everything we've said so far, if it's like, hey, there's a kingdom, God's bringing it. He's perfectly just. He can crush everyone else. All of us shouldn't be cheering. We should be going, uh oh. Like, this is not great. Is there anything that you'd like to confess before we proceed? Like that's, that's what we should be feeling. The kingdom of God, if it's just, if it's wise, if he's all powerful, if it will, if we'll beat anyone who opposes it. Is that good news? Well, it may not be if you're unjust, right? But the nature of this kingdom is extraordinarily good news. Remember, Jesus comes announcing the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. Meaning Jesus comes with an invitation for sinners to be added to the kingdom. In fact, even the book of Daniel foreshadows this, where there is a repeated offer to even the pagan king of Babylon to come join the kingdom, right? God's kingdom is for all that will repent and believe in the good news of Jesus Christ.

25 · This unit contrasts the kingdom of God with all earthly kingdoms: in human empires, people are expendable means to achieve the king's ends (power, buildings, reputation), but in God's kingdom, the people ARE the kingdom—the King sacrifices everything to purchase His people rather than sacrificing people to build His kingdom

And here's the extraordinary thing about then, the kingdom of God versus every other kingdom, every other world empire. The human beings are what you use to get the power, the wealth, the buildings, the armies, the reputation, right? You throw people into the grinder, the meat grinder, as it were, so that you can conquer another kingdom. You throw people at things so your economy can go. You throw people. I mean, you know how many people died building the pyramids, right? It's just like, whatever. We got plenty of people. We can get more. Just keep throwing it. We gotta build this thing. That's every other kingdom, right? Do you know how the kingdom of God differs in the kingdom of God?

The people are the kingdom. The kingdom is not measured in its soaring stone works or geographic land mass. And people are not used as means and tools to get the stuff the king wants. No, in the kingdom of God, all of that other stuff, in a sense, is given. Think about what Jesus gives. His power, right? His life, his body. He gives all of it. Why? To purchase the people of the kingdom of God. Do you see how? Jesus is a king unlike any other king.

26 · The thief on the cross illustrates the radical accessibility of the kingdom: even a criminal being justly executed can enter the kingdom through repentance and faith in Jesus

And here is the good news for anyone who will repent, who will acknowledge that they are unjust and believe in the gospel, meaning they believe that Jesus is the king he claimed to be, believe he died on the cross. For their sins, they are invited to join the kingdom. Look, there's no clear example. I think of this, then, Luke 23, where on the cross Jesus is crucified with two people who deserve to be crucified. Right? Right. You got to remember that Jesus is crucified with people who deserved it. It wasn't like they fell onto the cross, right? No, they were. They were bad people. And on the cross, one of them repents, acknowledges Jesus as who he claimed to be. And what is Jesus to today? You will be with me in paradise. What's he doing? Come into the kingdom, son. Even on the cross, Jesus invites sinners like us, like him, into his kingdom. Isn't that extraordinary? I mean, it is extraordinary.

27 · This unit synthesizes the sermon's argument into its climactic theological claim: God's wisdom and might are directed toward establishing a kingdom where God's glory and His people's good are inseparably bound together

And so here's the point. God is using his wisdom and his might to establish a kingdom that is good news for each and every, every one of us. Because in the kingdom of God, the good of God's people and the glory of God himself are bound together. Look, Romans 828 says this, that God works all things together for the good of what? For the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes, meaning goddess wields his might and his wisdom in such a way, in a cruciform way. If you could say it that way, in a cruciform way, that brings together his glory and our good. Such that. Look, this is where it meets the road, guys. Such that every perplexing, difficult event in your life. Will ultimately result in your good, his glory, and the advancement of the kingdom.

28 · This application unit addresses the congregation's perplexity about their own circumstances

That changes everything. Because so often. Look, the reality is we live looking at a chaotic chessboard, don't we? Right? We live looking at the circumstances in our life. Maybe it's the relational life we have, the economic life, the relationship that we wish we had that got away, or the darkest health turn this relative is taking, or the concern about our country. We look out, we see the board, and we're like, this looks like chaos. There's nothing that's going to come out of this. And here's what we do, okay? We go. I just don't see a way through. I just don't see how. What combination of moves. God could use this, and somehow it would still be for my good. I just don't understand it. And therefore we say, well, then either he must not be good, he must not be wise, or he must not be powerful enough. But Daniel chapter two says this. Just because we don't see where it's all going doesn't mean he doesn't have a plan. Just because we don't know how to navigate the next week or day or decade doesn't mean he does not have a plan for us.

29 · This unit brings 1 Corinthians 2 to bear on Daniel 2, establishing that God's wisdom and might are definitively revealed in the cross

And so the good news, brothers and sisters, is this, that the God of Daniel two is also the God of the cross. And I want to read very briefly from one corinthians about the nature of God seen in the nature and act of the cross. Look at in light of Daniel two. Listen to what first corinthians two says about the cross. It says this, where is the one who is wise according to the world? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world through the cross? For since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, meaning we couldn't find our way to God in our own wisdom, why are we relying on it now? It pleased God then through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs, and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, meaning that the wisdom of God is not the world's wisdom. The might of God is not the world's might. The wisdom of God and the might of God look like the cross. That's what it means to, it's a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, meaning anyone who will come into the kingdom, both Jews and Greeks, I just love this. Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Amen.

30 · This application unit uses the cross as the warrant for trusting God with our current perplexing circumstances

And that helps. It helps because when we look at the board and think, I don't think the player knows what he's doing. We can look to the cross and we think, look, his wisdom was far greater than mine. His wisdom in sending Christ the way he sent Christ. He worked out a plan that was impossible for God's people to fathom before the coming of Jesus. But then at the coming of Jesus at the cross and resurrection, we go, of course, there it is. Right? And his might, right. His might came through a manger. His might came through Jesus Christ incarnate. His might came through the cross. And so it's almost as though we see up until the cross and then we are called to trust that the grandmaster who gave us the cross will bring us home. We even switch players. Church, the same God of might, wisdom and goodness who planned the cross. Listen, is planning your life.

31 · A pastoral aside naming specific contemporary sufferings (breakup, terminal diagnosis) and calling the congregation to trust the God who planned the cross with these present griefs

And the reality is we so often forget it. We think, okay, that's somebody else, right? The God that planned the cross. Yes. I see how he used what seemed foolish and what seemed weak to accomplish his glory and my good. But what about now? My girlfriend just broke up with me. Right. And I mean that sincerely. I don't mean that, like, as a joke. Like, sometimes it feels like the world ends. This person in my life that I love just got diagnosed with something incurable.

Trust the one who planned the cross. Trust that he loves you. Trust that he's powerful. Trust that he knows. That's what this text calls us to do together.

32 · The conclusion provides eschatological perspective: in the end, we will look back on our lives and see God's wisdom and might as clearly as we now see it in the cross

Look, in the end, the kingdom that has come truly will come fully. In the end, we will look back on our lives just as surely as we look back on the cross now. We will look back on our lives and see, there it is. I see it now. His wisdom, his might, his goodness. He was piloting me through things I didn't even see, things I didn't even understand, things that were perplexing to me, things I thought were out of control. He used them all for my good and his glory. And in the end, we'll sing the song of Daniel. Blessed be the God of heaven to whom belong wisdom and might. Amen.

33 · Closing pastoral prayer that gathers up the sermon's themes—God's wisdom as light in darkness, His undeserved grace in binding our good to His glory, and the call to trust that the God of the cross governs the chaotic chessboard of our lives

Would you stand and let's pray now? Heavenly Father, I just. I thank you for your word, Lord. So often our lives are like living in a dark room until we come to your word and you with a text, with a chapter, with a verse, even you flip on the light. And then we see. Lord, thank you for extending your might and your wisdom for our good God. That is. That is an incredible act of grace. You do not need us. We have nothing you need. And yet you have chosen, in your mercy, to set your love on us and to bind together our good and your glory. And, Lord, it is undeserved. And so, Lord, I pray that you would encourage the heart of every brother and sister today that has walked in thinking that the pieces of their life look like the disconnected pieces of a chessboard that's gone wildly out of control. I pray that you would secure them, father. I pray that even now, as we sing, Lord, they would feel your strong hands upon them and around them and they would trust that the God of the cross is the God of their life.

Where this fits

Recent preaching context

The three sermons immediately preceding this one in the preaching schedule.

Sep 16, 2024

Why Have Hope for Hopeless People

Christians should have hope for themselves and others not because of human merit or performance, but because of God's unbreakable faithfulness to sustain and glorify all who are in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Sep 22, 2024

Welcome to Babylon High

Faithful navigation of complex decisions in a hostile culture requires daily asking 'What honors God?' in mundane matters, trusting that God is worthy of such devotion because he proves himself faithful to those who depend on him.

Daniel 1:8-21

Sep 29, 2024

Uneasy the Head That Wears the Crown

True rest is found not in seizing control of our lives but in surrendering the crown to the King of kings, Jesus Christ, whose eternal kingdom alone brings peace.

Daniel 2

October 6 · This sermon

When You're Afraid to Look

God's infinite wisdom and absolute might mean that even when our circumstances appear chaotic and out of control, He is orchestrating all things for our good and His glory through the advancement of His eternal kingdom.

Daniel 2

Take it further

Discuss · apply · pray

Small groups

6 discussion questions

In Daniel 2, what specific detail causes Nebuchadnezzar to become afraid and feel like circumstances are spiraling out of control? What does…

Daily readings

5-day reading plan

This week, we trace how God's infinite wisdom and absolute might—revealed in Daniel 2—mean He sees all things and governs all things according to His eternal kingdom purposes, even when our circumstances appear chaotic.

Prayer

Prayer: Trusting God's Hidden Wisdom

Father, we come before You in awe of Your infinite wisdom and absolute might. You see all things—past, present, and future—with perfect clar…

Family table

The Stone That Crushes Kingdoms

In the sermon, Ricky talked about how God's kingdom starts small—like a mustard seed or a stone—but will ultimately crush all other kingdoms…

Couples

God's Wisdom and Our Circumstances

When you look at the chaos in our own life right now—whether it's relational, financial, or just the dailiness of it—what did the sermon sti…

Memorize

Daniel 2:20-21

This verse captures the sermon's central claim: God possesses both infinite wisdom and absolute might, and He exercises that wisdom and might to govern all things—including the rise and fall of nations—according to His eternal purposes. It is the text from which Ricky draws the twin theological anchors (wisdom and might) that make sense of apparent chaos and disorder in our circumstances.

Sunday-evening family table

The Stone That Crushes Kingdoms

For the parent

In the sermon, Ricky talked about how God's kingdom starts small—like a mustard seed or a stone—but will ultimately crush all other kingdoms and fill the whole world. This prompt invites your family to think about what it means that God is building something that looks weak but is actually unstoppable. Listen for how your kids understand 'small but powerful.'

In the sermon, we heard that God's kingdom starts out looking small and easy to miss—like a tiny stone—but it will grow and crush every other kingdom. What's something in your own life that looked small or weak at first but turned out to be really powerful? (It could be a person, a choice, a friendship, anything.) How does that help you understand what Jesus meant when He said His kingdom would grow and fill the whole earth?

Works for ages 7+. Younger kids (ages 7–9) may need help thinking of examples; ask them about a time they were surprised by something small turning out to matter a lot. Older kids and teens can engage with the theological parallel more directly.

Draft · pending review

Couples · three questions over coffee

God's Wisdom and Our Circumstances

When you look at the chaos in our own life right now—whether it's relational, financial, or just the dailiness of it—what did the sermon stir in you about whether God is actually in control of it?
How might it change the way we talk to each other this week if we truly believed that God's wisdom means He sees what we can't see, and His might means He's already moving in ways we don't yet understand?
What's one circumstance or fear you're both carrying right now that we could pray for each other—asking God to give us eyes to see His hand at work, even in what looks broken?

Draft · pending review

Memory verse this week

Daniel 2:20-21

Daniel answered and said: 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.'

Why this verse: This verse captures the sermon's central claim: God possesses both infinite wisdom and absolute might, and He exercises that wisdom and might to govern all things—including the rise and fall of nations—according to His eternal purposes. It is the text from which Ricky draws the twin theological anchors (wisdom and might) that make sense of apparent chaos and disorder in our circumstances.

Draft · pending review

Small-group discussion

6 questions for your group this week

In Daniel 2, what specific detail causes Nebuchadnezzar to become afraid and feel like circumstances are spiraling out of control? What does his fear reveal about what he believes God can or cannot do?

Daniel 2:1-3

→ Where do you see that same fear showing up in your own life right now—a situation where you're tempted to believe God either doesn't see what's happening or can't do anything about it?
Walk through Daniel 2:20-23. What two attributes of God does Daniel highlight in this prayer, and what does each one mean? Why does Daniel emphasize both together rather than just one?

Daniel 2:20-23
The sermon claims that 'appearances deceive us.' Look at the historical moment in Daniel 2—Israel is in exile, Jerusalem is destroyed, and Babylon seems to be in total control. Based on what you know about God's plan from the rest of Scripture, what is actually true that doesn't appear to be true in that moment?

Daniel 2:44-45

→ Can you think of a time when what appeared to be happening in your life turned out to be very different from what God was actually doing?
In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul talks about the cross appearing to be foolishness and weakness to the world, but being God's infinite wisdom and absolute might. How does understanding the cross this way help you reframe what looks chaotic or out of control in your own circumstances?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The sermon emphasizes that God's kingdom—unlike every earthly empire that rises and falls—is eternal and will ultimately triumph. How does believing that God's kingdom is 'deceptively triumphant' (small now, but destined to fill the whole earth) change the way you approach a setback or loss this week?

Daniel 2:44, Matthew 13:31-33

→ What would it look like to live as if God's kingdom is genuinely winning, even when the news cycle or your circumstances suggest otherwise?
Romans 8:28 promises that God works all things together for our good and His glory. Based on what the sermon teaches about God's wisdom and might working together in a 'cruciform way,' how would you explain to someone who is suffering that this promise is actually true—without dismissing their pain?

Romans 8:28

Draft · pending review

Daily readings · Monday–Friday

5-day reading plan

Monday 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Paul tells us that while the rulers of this age are passing away, God's wisdom operates in a hidden, counterintuitive way that the world cannot perceive. When our circumstances look like God has lost control, we're seeing with earthly eyes only. The Spirit of God searches all things, even the deep things of God—nothing escapes His gaze, and His judgments are always true.

Tuesday Romans 8:28

We know that God works all things—not some things, not just the easy things—together for good for those who love Him. This promise rests on His combined wisdom (knowing what good looks like) and might (the power to accomplish it). When we are afraid to look at our circumstances, this word invites us to trust that the God orchestrating them is binding our joy and His glory together.

Wednesday Luke 23:32-46

On the cross, Jesus appeared abandoned, defeated, utterly powerless. Yet this moment—the darkest appearance of all—was the hinge of all history, the wisdom and power of God in perfect operation. If God was this intentional and in control during the cross, orchestrating redemption through what looked like complete disaster, we can trust He is equally in control of our confusing circumstances now.

Thursday Matthew 13:31-33

Jesus teaches us that the kingdom begins as the smallest of seeds, yet grows into a tree where birds find shelter. It works like yeast, hidden but transformative. When we survey the world and our own lives, the kingdom of God may appear marginal and fragile. But appearances deceive—God's kingdom is advancing toward its appointed triumph, unstoppable and eternal.

Friday Mark 1:14-15

Jesus begins His ministry with a proclamation: the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has drawn near, repent and believe. Every detail of our lives—our fears, our prayers, our circumstances—is being woven into the story of God's advancing kingdom. When you are afraid to look at what's happening around you or within you, look instead toward the King whose kingdom encompasses all of history and all of eternity.

Draft · pending review

Pray together this week

Prayer: Trusting God's Hidden Wisdom

Father, we come before You in awe of Your infinite wisdom and absolute might. You see all things—past, present, and future—with perfect clarity. You rule over all nations and all circumstances with sovereign power. We confess that we are often deceived by appearances. When we look at the chaos around us and the confusion in our own lives, we forget that You are at work. We doubt that You see what we cannot see. We question whether You have the power to accomplish Your purposes through circumstances that appear broken and beyond redemption (Daniel 2:22). Forgive us for our small vision of You.

We believe and receive what Daniel proclaimed: that You are the God who possesses both infinite wisdom to see all things and absolute might to govern all things according to Your purposes (Daniel 2:20-21). You established an eternal kingdom through the cross—a kingdom that appeared weak and defeated but proved to be the very power and wisdom of God. That same God is orchestrating every detail of our lives and our world. Nothing surprises You. Nothing is outside Your control. Your kingdom will not be shaken, will not fail, and will ultimately crush every opposing power and fill the entire earth with Your glory (Daniel 2:44-45).

We ask, Father, that You would give us the grace this week to trust You when circumstances tempt us to fear. When we are afraid to look at what is happening, help us look to You instead. Give us eyes to see that You are far more in control than our circumstances suggest. Grant us the faith to believe that You answer our prayers according to Your perfect wisdom—that You give us either what we ask or what we would have asked if we knew what You know (Romans 8:28). Bind together Your glory and our good in every difficult circumstance we face, and help us rest in the fact that all things are working toward the advancement of Your kingdom and our eternal joy.

We commit ourselves to You this week, Father. We choose to trust the God who rules over all things. Glory to You, who alone possess infinite wisdom and absolute might, now and forever.

Draft · pending review

Where this was preached

About the church

Cross of Grace Church

About us · What we believe

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# Cross of Grace Church

A church preaching expository sermons through the books of the Bible.

## Sermons
- [Why Have Hope for Hopeless People (1 Corinthians 1:4-9, 2024-09-16)](/CoGElPaso/sermons/2024/09/why-have-hope-for-hopeless-people)
- [Welcome to Babylon High (Daniel 1:8-21, 2024-09-22)](/CoGElPaso/sermons/2024/09/welcome-to-babylon-high)
- [Uneasy the Head That Wears the Crown (Daniel 2, 2024-09-29)](/CoGElPaso/sermons/2024/09/uneasy-the-head-that-wears-the-crown)
- [When You're Afraid to Look (Daniel 2, 2024-10-06)](/CoGElPaso/sermons/2024/10/when-you-re-afraid-to-look)

## About
- [About the church](/about)
- [Plan a visit](/visit)

The page itself ships with Schema.org Article + Church markup, Open Graph + Twitter cards for share previews, and a canonical URL. Transcripts are server-rendered HTML — no JS dependency for the readable body.