Podcast appearances and mentions of king nebuchadnezzar

Send us Fan MailToday's podcast is about humility and its role in spiritual warfare. Our scripture is Daniel Chapter 4:37b, "And those who walk in pride he is able to humble." These are the words of King Nebuchadnezzar II as he spoke about God.Nebuchadnezzar II was a Babylonian King who reigned from around 605 to 562 BCE. Among his many military conquests is the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. He is also known for his many ambitious building projects, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.He is also famous for his praise of God in the Book of Daniel, chapters 2-4. In chapter 2, after Daniel interprets the king's dream of an enormous statue, the king said, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” In chapter three, the king saw the three Hebrew boys escape the fiery furnace he had thrown them into for defying his order to worship an idol statue. After they emerged from that fire unscathed, Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces, and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”Again, in chapter four, the king pays homage to God, but only after he went mad for esteeming himself above the One, True God. After the king repented, his sanity was restored, and he said: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37 NIVWe can only hope that God reached Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4. His humility lasted only a little while after chapter 2. It is believed that 20-30 years will pass before we reach chapter 4.These chapters, especially chapter four, are about being humble and subduing pride. The most compelling reason to be humble is that we are all going to die. Yes, we are all going back to dust.Humility is a spiritual warfare weapon because you cannot be successful in spiritual warfare without three things—first submitting to the will of God, then admitting that you can do nothing without Him, and finally, committing to do what He leads you to do after you submit and admit.Humility subdues pride and puts pride under your foot where it belongs because God hates a proud look. Thus, God cannot be present with you in spiritual warfare if you are garnered in pride.So, for success in spiritual warfare, cover your armor in humble submission to his will. And don't be like King Nebuchadnezzar, whose humility was temporary. Be steadfast and stay humble all the days of your life.If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website and select www.cgmissions.com/podcasts, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see some video and audio podcasts at: www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist."   CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website:https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here-general-and-wecare/

Today, we look at Daniel chapter 2, where King Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream exposes the hidden helplessness beneath his immense power. As the frantic king demands that his wise men reveal both the dream and its meaning under threat of death, their immediate failure exposes the total insufficiency of human intellect and false religion.

Each Epic episode is produced by Playful World Ministries! And it's the we rely on the generous gifts of our Financial Champions that allow us to continue playfully reaching kids for Christ. To become a Champion, please go to: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/brownlee And Thank you!Episode 25: “Nebuchadnezzar Goes Completely Mental”-After our studio introduction takes at least three or four tries, and we destroy a few copies of the music, we eventually get to Chapter 27 – where we find Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar dream is spot on – giving the king of Babylon a huge dose of humility – and a life lesson we can each apply to our own lives! Featuring Chapter 27 the audiobook “The Prophet, the Shepherd, & the Star,” by Jenny L. Cote0:25 – Our show introductions become a bit of a mess, as we burn through several copies of the theme song!!4:44– Chapter 27: “Nebuchadnezzar Goes Completely Mental” 30:32 – In Jenny's Corner… we discuss ole King Nebuchadnezzar – what was his fate – eternally speaking? And what can we all learn from his fascinating story?And as always – we'd love to hear from you! Email Jenny: Jenny@epicorderoftheseven.com or email our studios: playfulworldministries@gmail.com And by the way: All of the Epic Order of the Seven books and audiobooks written by Jenny L. Cote, and narrated by Denny Brownlee are available from the Epic Store on Jenny's website at www.epicorderoftheseven.com. You can even get signed copies – signed by Jenny and even pawtographed by Max and Liz!

Do you struggle with pride? The Bible tells us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. On this episode of The Verdict, Pastor John Munro explains how we can heed the dangers of having an arrogant and prideful heart as we continue looking at the life of King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel.

In this episode of Personally Speaking, Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by actor Elijah Alexander. Elijah stars in the critically acclaimed series “The Chosen” portraying the calculating Roman magistrate Atticus. He's a graduate of The Yale School of Drama and has decades of experience in film, television and on stage. He has also recently joined the cast of the upcoming biblical film “Daniel: The Fiery Furnace” portraying King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon which will release in U.S. theaters nationwide in September. Elijah was born to an Egyptian/Israeli Jewish father and an Irish/Welsh Lutheran mother. He speaks about how his journey of faith unfolded while filming “The Chosen” last year and he was baptized on the set.Support the show

We're all guilty of the sin of pride, although we might be quicker to point it out in the lives of others! On this episode of The Verdict, Pastor John Munro explores the considerable pride of King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian empire. But, remember pride comes before the fall!

In Today's Secular Uncertainties, God is Sovereign; and God “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Political discord and health care uncertainties surround us in all directions today. Without Jesus in our lives, we have reasons to be anxious and fearful. However, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31: “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”. The future years may hurt our pride, wallets, and/or our freedom. On the other hand, we should not let the current secular political environment and culture hinder our resolve to continue in our fearless faith in the truth; our constant hope in the future; and our radical love for our neighbors. God has a plan; and, regardless of how things look from our eyes, we must remain faithful to His purpose. Now is the time to draw near to Jesus and to advance His Kingdom. Our gaze must remain on Jesus if we want to walk on the water during the storm. God is the King of Kings and the Sovereign God of the Universe. As Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 4:17 when God told Nebuchadnezzar: “to the end that the living may know that the Most High {God} rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”. God is always involved in our lives, and He gives the government offices “to whom he will”, even if the political processes produce “the lowliest of men {or women}”. Sometimes, we receive the elected officials we need, and sometimes we receive the elected officials that we deserve; but God is always Sovereign and faithful.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be a complainer (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:31; Philippians 4:5-7; Daniel 4:17; Psalms 106c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Our Realities Speak to Our Real Priorities”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The sermon examines the biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue, highlighting their unwavering faith despite the threat of death in a fiery furnace. It explores the theological significance of the fourth figure in the fire as a theophany or Christophany, demonstrating God's power to deliver His people. The preacher contrasts the Hebrew youths' loyalty with Nebuchadnezzar's pride and subsequent acknowledgment of the Most High God's sovereignty. Additionally, the discussion clarifies the chronological gaps in the Book of Daniel, distinguishing between historical events and prophetic visions. The message concludes by warning against spiritual amnesia and urging believers to recognize God's ultimate control over all earthly kingdoms.

Daniel 1, 2, 4 The way we live is shaped by how we see reality. Are we the Master of the Universe or do we see the everlasting dominion of the Most High God? King Nebuchadnezzar thought he had it all, until it was taken away and he found something better: the living God, a restored humility and lasting treasure. As we look at how Daniel navigated working in a powerful success culture, we will learn how he pointed the King of Babylon to the King of the Universe and how when he lifted his eyes to the heavens, everything changed.

As we near the end of 2 Kings, Fr. Mike takes us through Babylon's conquest of Judah, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar. He touches on the importance of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs and revisits the sons of Josiah to explain why the people of Israel are so lost. Today's readings are 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 35, and Proverbs 8:22-36. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Today's Bible Verse: "The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people." — Daniel 4:17 God Is Still in Control Daniel 4:17 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty. Spoken during King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, this verse reminds us that no ruler, nation, or earthly authority exists outside of God's knowledge and control. The purpose of God's message was clear: everyone should recognize that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the earth. Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Membertoday: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribeLooking for a peaceful way to end your day? Listen to "Your Nightly Scripture" to end your day with God's word Meet Today’s Host: Carol Ogle McCracken Carol Ogle McCracken is a dynamic Christian speaker, author, and Bible teacher known for her warmth, humor, and transparency. She brings biblical truths to life through real-world stories and relatable experiences—whether navigating alcohol recovery, parenting a child with special needs, or walking through divorce. Today, she serves as Minister of Discipleship at her local church and shares God’s Word through women's retreats, conferences, and online devotionals. Her book, Wisdom: Where to Find It if You’ve Lost, Forgotten, or Never Had It, was released in 2020 and continues to encourage readers in their pursuit of godly wisdom. Full Transcript Below: Hello, thank you for listening to Your Daily Bible Verse, the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn more about God and His will for us. I'm your host, Carol McCracken, and after a short word from our sponsor, we'll dive into today's Bible verse, Daniel 4:17. Today's Bible Verse: Daniel 4:17 "The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people." Have you ever noticed that power seems to change people? I'm in the middle of watching some small-town politics publicly clashing, and it got me thinking. It doesn't seem to matter whether we're talking about a president, a mayor, a CEO, a pastor, or even the president of the neighborhood homeowners association. Give someone enough authority, enough influence, and enough people who stop asking hard questions, and something begins to surface. Sometimes power reveals remarkable humility and wisdom. Other times it exposes pride that had been quietly growing for years. We've watched enough public scandals to know the pattern. Someone rises to a position of influence. They're admired, respected, maybe even trusted. Little by little, accountability begins to disappear. People look the other way. Those closest to the situation either become afraid to speak or convince themselves that someone else surely will. Then one day, what had been hidden becomes impossible to ignore, and everyone asks the same question: How did this happen? As followers of Christ, we often ask another question: If God is sovereign, why does He allow people to misuse power for so long? Why doesn't He step in sooner? Why does it sometimes seem as though arrogance, manipulation, and corruption continue unchecked? Those aren't new questions. In fact, the Bible answers them through the life of one of history's most powerful men. King Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon during the sixth century B.C. Under his leadership, Babylon became the dominant empire of the ancient world. The city itself was breathtaking. Massive walls surrounded it. Magnificent temples and palaces displayed unimaginable wealth. Ancient historians even described the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon as one of the wonders of the world. Humanly speaking, Nebuchadnezzar had every reason to believe he'd built something that would outlast him. But there was one problem. He slowly began to believe that the success of Babylon was ultimately because of him. Daniel tells us that God gave Nebuchadnezzar a disturbing dream. In the dream was an enormous tree that provided shelter, food, and security for the nations. Then suddenly, the tree was cut down. Daniel explained that the tree represented the king himself. God was warning Nebuchadnezzar that unless he humbled himself and acknowledged the Lord's authority, his kingdom would be taken from him for a time. What strikes me is what happened next. Nothing. Not immediately, anyway. God didn't judge him the next day. He didn't remove him from office that week. In fact, Daniel tells us an entire year passed. Think about that—a full year between the warning and the judgment. Now, that wasn't weakness on God's part. It was patience. Scripture consistently reveals a God who warns before He disciplines, who calls people to repentance before He brings judgment. The apostle Peter later writes that God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Nebuchadnezzar experienced that same patience firsthand. Then came the defining moment. Daniel says the king was walking on the roof of his royal palace overlooking the magnificent city of Babylon. Imagine the view. Everywhere he looked were monuments to his accomplishments. It must have been breathtaking. And as he surveyed the city, he said: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Listen to those personal pronouns: "I have built." "My mighty power." "My majesty." His problem wasn't appreciating good leadership. It was forgetting where every opportunity, every ability, and every position of authority had come from in the first place. Before the words had even left his mouth, God fulfilled the warning He had given a year earlier. Nebuchadnezzar lost both his kingdom and his sanity. For a season, he lived apart from society until, as Daniel records, he finally lifted his eyes toward heaven. Only then did his understanding return. And the first thing he did was praise the God he had once ignored. That's the backdrop for today's verse: "The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth." Daniel wasn't simply making a statement about Babylon. He was revealing a truth that applies to every generation. Every throne on earth is temporary because there is only one throne that is eternal. That truth changes how we view the headlines. It's easy to become discouraged when we see leaders fail. It's tempting to believe that corruption is winning or that evil has escaped God's notice. But Daniel reminds us that God has never surrendered His authority. He's never been surprised by human pride, and He's never lost control of history. Sometimes God's patience is mistaken for His absence. It isn't. Throughout Scripture, God often allows time for a person's true character to become unmistakably clear. What looks hidden to us has always been fully visible to Him. There comes a moment when what has been cultivated in private is revealed in public. That should certainly make us pray for our leaders. But it should also make us examine our own hearts. Because here's the uncomfortable truth: This passage isn't only about kings. Most of us will never govern a nation, but every one of us has some measure of influence. We lead families. We supervise employees. We volunteer at church. We mentor younger believers. We make decisions that affect other people. Power isn't reserved for politicians. Influence is something God entrusts to every one of us in different ways. And the temptation is always the same: To believe the success is ours. To begin protecting our position instead of our character. To crave recognition more than faithfulness. Or maybe to slowly believe that we're indispensable. That's why humility isn't something we achieve once and keep forever. It's something we practice daily by remembering that everything we have is ultimately a gift from God. The older I get, the more convinced I become that power doesn't create character nearly as much as it reveals it. Pressure exposes what's already there. Authority magnifies what already lives in our hearts. And that's why Daniel's message remains so relevant. When we watch the rise and fall of leaders, we're reminded that no human being sits on an ultimate throne. God alone does. Our confidence isn't found in the wisdom of elected officials, church leaders, business executives, or anyone else. Our confidence rests in the One who raises leaders up, removes them when His purposes require it, and whose kingdom will never end. Daniel wanted every generation—including ours—to know this simple but life-giving truth: The Most High still rules. That means we don't have to panic when earthly kingdoms shake. We don't have to lose hope when people disappoint us. And we certainly don't have to believe that evil will have the final word. Because while every earthly position of power is temporary, God's reign is eternal. Prayer Will you pray with me? Dear Lord in heaven, Sometimes the world is a scary place, and we watch in horror at how people are acting. A little power corrupts, doesn't it? Or so it seems. You sit on Your throne, and nothing is a surprise to You. You see everything with perfect wisdom, and You love us even in our brokenness. Lord, reveal our character to us. Show us the places where pride has taken root. Help us become more like You each day, growing in humility, faithfulness, and dependence on You. We praise You, dear Lord, and we thank You. In Your precious name we pray. Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The sermon examines the biblical narrative of Daniel and his friends in Babylon, focusing on the conflict between cultural assimilation and religious fidelity. It highlights King Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to erase Hebrew identity through indoctrination and the subsequent decree mandating worship of a golden image. The preacher emphasizes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's unwavering trust in God, illustrating that true faith persists even if deliverance does not occur. Through personal testimonies and historical context, the message encourages believers to maintain their loyalty to Christ amidst societal pressure and persecution. Ultimately, the account demonstrates God's power to protect those who refuse to compromise their allegiance to Him.

Pride has a way of convincing us that we are stronger, wiser, and more secure than we really are. In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar stands at the height of his power, only to discover that God is able to humble even the greatest ruler on earth. His remarkable story serves as a sobering reminder that "those that walk in pride he is able to abase."In this episode of Take Courage: A Study of the Life of Daniel, Malachi Herbster explores the destructive nature of pride, the dangers of self-exaltation, and the gracious purpose behind God's discipline. Whether pride appears in obvious arrogance or quiet self-reliance, it always leads us away from dependence on God. Yet Daniel 4 also reveals the hope of restoration for those who humble themselves before the King of heaven.Join us as we learn why true courage begins with humility and why God deserves all the glory.

I. Introduction: The Shift from History to Vision JT Patton begins by noting a major shift in the Book of Daniel. While Chapters 1–6 were historical narratives (Daniel in the lions' den, the fiery furnace, etc.), Chapter 7 begins the apocalyptic and prophetic section of the book. Context: The vision takes place during the "first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon." This chronologically places the vision before the events of Chapter 5 (the writing on the wall). II. The Setting: The Great Sea (v. 1-3) The Vision: Daniel sees the "four winds of heaven" churning up the "Great Sea." Symbolism: In biblical prophecy, the "sea" often represents the restless, chaotic mass of humanity or the nations of the world. From this chaos, four distinct, terrifying beasts emerge. III. The Four Beasts (v. 4-7) The sermon provides an expository breakdown of the four kingdoms represented by these beasts, paralleling King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue in Daniel Chapter 2: The Lion with Eagle's Wings (v. 4): Representation: The Babylonian Empire. Note: The plucking of the wings and the beast being made to "stand on two feet like a man" is a direct reference to Nebuchadnezzar's humbling and restoration (Chapter 4). The Bear (v. 5): Representation: The Medo-Persian Empire. Details: Raised up on one side (Persia being stronger than Media) with three ribs in its mouth, representing its major conquests (Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt). The Leopard with Four Wings and Four Heads (v. 6): Representation: The Grecian Empire under Alexander the Great. Details: The wings represent the incredible speed of Alexander's conquests; the four heads represent the division of his empire into four parts after his death. The Terrifying and Strong Beast (v. 7): Representation: The Roman Empire. Details: Described as "dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong," with large iron teeth. It is distinct from the others and utterly destructive. IV. The Ten Horns and the "Little Horn" (v. 8) The climax of the passage focuses on the ten horns of the fourth beast. The Little Horn: Daniel sees a "little horn" emerge, which uproots three of the first horns. This horn has "eyes like the eyes of a man" and a "mouth speaking pompous words." Application: The pastor explains that this horn represents a future ruler (the Antichrist) characterized by arrogance and opposition to God. V. Theological Conclusion: Who is in Control? The sermon concludes by reminding the congregation that while these beasts (kingdoms) appear terrifying and chaotic, they all "come up out of the sea" under the sovereign gaze of God. The Gospel Connection: Even as earthly kingdoms become more "beastly" and arrogant, the vision in Daniel 7 ultimately points toward the "Ancient of Days" and the "Son of Man" (to be covered in the next sermon, Daniel 7:9-14), who will establish an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed.

What decision will you make before the pressure comes? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face a life-or-death test. King Nebuchadnezzar commands everyone to bow before his golden image, but these three men had already made their commitment: they would worship God alone. When given one final chance to compromise, they refuse. They declare that God is able to deliver them. But even if He does not, they will not bow. Their faith is not based on whether God gives them the outcome they want. Their faith is rooted in who God is. The challenge is clear: don't wait until the fire is in front of you to decide where you stand. Make your commitment now, before the circumstance comes. Sermon Notes Daniel 3:1 – 7 King's golden image created and law issued to worship it Daniel 3:8 – 12 Certain Jews were made known to the king they were not worshipping it Daniel 3:13 – 15 3 Jewish men were given a chance to change their minds and worship the image, but if they don't immediately, they would be cast into the fire Daniel 3:16 – 18 Instead of accepting the king's offer they say they won't worship and that God is able to deliver them, but if He does not they still won't worship the image Exodus 20:1 – 5 Commandments against what king is demanding Daniel 3:19 – 30 God delivers them and the king blesses God Matthew 5:11 & 12 Rejoice at persecution Hebrews 11:35 – 38 People the world is not worthy of

"There is a God!" This is King Nebuchadnezzar's first formal introduction to Yahweh – 'God of gods and Lord of kings' who 'reveals mysteries.' Have you met him? Do you know him? He certainly knows you. We will either be greatly comforted by this truth or completely terrified by it. Because in the end every earthly endeavour to make a name for ourselves will come to nothing and only the kingdom of God will remain. As he reveals himself to us in his Son, Jesus Christ, let's not reject the stone that all other kingdom builders have rejected. For it is only through faith in him that we are welcomed and adopted into his kingdom family forever.

Pastor Jim preached from Acts 9, highlighting Saul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. Once a proud Pharisee determined to destroy the church, Saul was humbled by Jesus and transformed by God's grace. Drawing a parallel to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, Pastor Jim showed that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The message reminded believers that God's humbling work is a gift of grace and that He alone deserves the glory for our salvation.New here or need prayer?We would love to connect with you. Visit: https://form.church/connectionGive online: https://subsplash.com/u/-QJD4RD/give

Today we're going over this past Sunday's message from Daniel chapter 4, and King Nebuchadnezzar's struggle with pride.

This sermon examines Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, highlighting the supremacy of God over human history and political powers. The preacher emphasizes that true wisdom and revelation come solely from God, who reveals mysteries to those who seek Him in prayer and humility. Central to the message is the prophecy of an everlasting kingdom established by God that will destroy all earthly empires, fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ. The transcript connects this ancient vision to the present reality of the church as an agent of God's kingdom, urging believers to trust in divine sovereignty during times of crisis. The study concludes with a call to worship and faith, affirming that God controls the rise and fall of nations according to His sovereign plan.

What do you do when faced with a problem that is bigger than your ability to solve? In this episode of Take Courage, Malachi Herbster walks through Daniel 2:1-30 and the crisis surrounding King Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream. As Daniel and his friends faced an impossible situation, they didn't rely on their own wisdom or panic in fear—they took time to seek God.Discover how godly wisdom begins with dependence on the Lord, why prayer must precede action, and how God delights in revealing Himself to those who trust Him. The episode culminates in Daniel's heartfelt praise as God answers prayer and provides the wisdom needed for the moment.Join us as we learn that true courage in a hostile culture comes not from human ingenuity, but from seeking the God who gives wisdom from above.

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 379, “Refusing to Humble Oneself,” Kim discusses the last king of Judah and some lessons listeners can learn from his bad choices. This is the first in a mini-series on the Fall of Jerusalem and the insights we can glean from what led to its consequences. Sadly, Zedekiah seemed like a fitting king to be on the throne as the last bits of the once God-fearing nation are taken into captivity for the evil lives they chose to live and the carnage they left in their wake.   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 36:11-16 and Jeremiah 37:1-10, with 2 Chronicles 36:12-13 and Jeremiah 37:2 and 37:17 as the focal verses:   12 But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God's name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.   2 But neither King Zedekiah nor his attendants nor the people who were left in the land listened to what the Lord said through Jeremiah.   17 Later King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jeremiah come to the palace, where the king asked him, “Do you have any messages from the Lord?” “Yes, I do!” said Jeremiah. “You will be defeated by the king of Babylon.”     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   When you hear the phrase “refusing to humble oneself,” does anyone immediately come to your mind? Pray that he/she will humble himself/herself.   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings (1 & 2 Chronicles) PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Our Modern-Day Golden CalfJonah Series Introduction | June 14, 2026This week, Pastor Mark opened our new Jonah series by addressing a question that sits at the center of every believer's life: Who has authority over us?It's a question that affects far more than our church attendance or our Sunday morning worship. It impacts our spiritual growth, our relationship with God, our daily decisions, and ultimately our eternity.Pastor Mark pointed out that many Christians would enthusiastically respond "Amen!" when asked if they want to walk in God's power, experience healing, live in obedience, or hear God's voice more clearly. Yet there is often a disconnect between what we affirm in church and how we live throughout the week. The issue may not be that we don't know the truth. The issue may be whether we truly submit to it.Throughout Scripture, authority has always been a central issue. From the Garden of Eden to Jonah's rebellion, humanity has wrestled with the same question: Will we trust God's authority, or will we choose our own way?Jonah's story begins with a direct word from God. The problem wasn't that Jonah didn't hear God. The problem was that he didn't like what God said. Instead of submitting, he ran. Pastor Mark challenged us to recognize that we often face the same temptation. God has already spoken through His Word, yet many times we resist because His instructions conflict with our preferences, emotions, or plans.The sermon invited us to honestly evaluate whether we truly view God's Word as the final authority in our lives. If we did, our actions would reveal it. We would read Scripture to know it, study it to understand it, memorize it to share it, meditate on it to obey it, defend it rather than reshape it, and live it out without shame. Submission to God's Word would become more than intellectual agreement. It would become a lifestyle.Likewise, living under God's authority means yielding our will to His. It means following His plans instead of insisting on our own, responding to the Spirit rather than our flesh, listening to His voice above competing voices, and allowing Scripture to shape our moral compass instead of personal preference. It means viewing correction as spiritual guidance rather than a personal attack.Pastor Mark contrasted God's offer of truth with the world's offer of sin. God freely gives truth that leads to life, while the world continually markets alternatives that appeal to our desires but ultimately lead us away from Him.One of the most challenging portions of the message focused on why many people reject God's authority in the first place. The answer may be found in the nature of God's Word itself.Hebrews 4:12 describes God's Word as living, active, and sharper than a two-edged sword. It cuts. It exposes. It reveals motives and desires that we would often rather keep hidden. While we naturally seek comfort, control, safety, and independence, God's Word confronts those things. It shines light into places we would rather leave untouched.This is why many people resist inner healing. Instead of allowing God to expose wounds, struggles, and areas of brokenness, we convince ourselves that we're fine. We compare ourselves to others, dismiss our struggles as unimportant, or tell ourselves we've learned to live with them. Yet Scripture reminds us that nothing is hidden from God. Everything is already exposed before Him.The goal of exposure is not shame. The goal is healing.Pastor Mark challenged the common belief that we can hide parts of ourselves from God or manage our brokenness on our own. The hidden areas of our lives are often the very places where God desires to bring freedom and restoration. Refusing to acknowledge them only prolongs the struggle.This led into the central theme of the sermon: the modern-day golden calf.When we hear about idols in Scripture, it's easy to imagine carved statues or ancient acts of worship that seem distant from our lives. But Pastor Mark suggested that today's golden calf often looks much different.What if the idol isn't made of gold?What if the idol is ourselves?He challenged the congregation with the possibility that God's greatest rival in our lives may be our own desires, opinions, feelings, and self-will. While we may worship God with our lips on Sunday, we can spend the rest of the week crafting a version of life centered around ourselves.The comparison to King Nebuchadnezzar was powerful. We often marvel at the arrogance of a king who built a giant image of himself and demanded worship, yet we can do something remarkably similar when we elevate our own wisdom above God's and insist on living life according to our own terms.This deception is often difficult to recognize because deception, by definition, remains hidden until it is exposed.Pastor Mark encouraged everyone to ask a difficult question: Does what I praise God for on Sunday align with the way I live throughout the week?If we truly believe God is our provider, why do we so often place our trust in people before Him? If we truly believe His Word is true, why do we knowingly continue in patterns of sin? If we genuinely trust God, why do we so easily believe the lies of the enemy over the promises of Scripture?Many believers walk defeated not because God has abandoned them, but because they have chosen to trust voices other than His.Drawing from Hebrews 12, Pastor Mark warned against refusing to listen when God speaks. The people of Israel suffered consequences when they rejected God's message through earthly messengers. How much more serious is it to reject the One who speaks from heaven?The sermon then addressed one of the defining challenges of our culture: the elevation of feelings and emotions above truth. When individuals or entire societies become driven primarily by emotions, God can no longer function as an authority in their lives because truth becomes subject to personal preference.Looking at the life of Jesus, Pastor Mark pointed out that Christ never altered truth to accommodate feelings. He used Peter as a powerful example. Peter frequently approached Jesus with strong emotions, opinions, and reactions. Yet Jesus consistently responded with truth rather than emotional validation. Whether Peter was resisting Jesus washing his feet, objecting to Jesus' mission, or wrestling with failure after denying Christ, Jesus continually called him back to obedience, purpose, and truth.As the introduction to the Jonah series concluded, Pastor Mark brought everything back to the central issue that runs throughout Jonah's story and throughout human history.The issue is authority.The same question that surfaced in Eden remains before us today. Who gets the final say? God or us?When humanity rejects God's authority, we begin redefining the things He has already established. We place ourselves in the position of determining right and wrong, truth and error, purpose and identity. The farther we move from God's authority, the more confusion and brokenness we experience.Pastor Mark also referenced a recent survey indicating that a significant percentage of churchgoers trust artificial intelligence more than biblical preaching rooted in God's Word. While the statistic was startling, it underscored the larger point: every person is living under some form of authority. The question is whether that authority is God, culture, feelings, popular opinion, personal preference, technology, or self.The message ended with a challenge that every believer should carry into the coming weeks as we journey through Jonah together:What authority do you live under?Who are you submitted to?And perhaps most importantly:"God, what is on Your heart?"

2026-06-07 Grow Where You've Been Plantedby Seth Carroll  Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 29:1-1129 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!All are welcome. 217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448Church Office: (985) 626-3114Sunday Service: 9:30AMAdult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AMNursery and Children's church available.

PRIDE TURNS MEN INTO MONSTERS Daniel 4:19-37 In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar receives another troubling dream. He sees a massive tree that provides shelter, fruit, and blessing to the world. Yet a messenger from heaven announces that the tree will be cut down, leaving only a stump behind. Daniel courageously explains the dream: the tree is Nebuchadnezzar himself. The issue is not power, success, or influence. The issue is pride. Daniel warns the king to repent, turn from his sin, and care for the oppressed. God graciously gives Nebuchadnezzar a warning before judgment comes. But pride often refuses to listen. Main Points: Pride Ignores Warnings Daniel pleads with the king to repent before consequences arrive. One of God's greatest mercies is a warning. Before destruction comes conviction. Before collapse comes correction. Before judgment comes an invitation to repent. Pride Turns Men Into Monsters Pride destroys empathy, compassion, relationships, and accountability. God does not turn Nebuchadnezzar into something he wasn't; He reveals what pride had already been doing to him. Outwardly he was a king, but inwardly pride had made him a beast. Pride Takes Credit for What God Built After twelve months of grace, Nebuchadnezzar stands on his palace roof and declares, "Look what I built." Pride shifts our focus from God's provision to our accomplishments. Faith remembers that everything we have ultimately comes from God. Humility Restores What Pride Destroys When Nebuchadnezzar finally lifts his eyes toward heaven, his sanity is restored. Before his kingdom is restored, his perspective is restored. Humility begins when we recognize who the true King is. Key Truth: Pride is fundamentally a vision problem. Pride causes us to look at ourselves. Humility causes us to look at God. Application Questions: • Are there warnings from God that I am ignoring? • Where has pride crept into my relationships, leadership, or decisions? • What am I taking credit for that God has built? • What would it look like for me to lift my eyes toward heaven and surrender control? Bottom Line: Pride makes us forget who the real King is. Humility begins when we lift our eyes toward heaven and remember that Heaven still rules.

Psychology on Trial – The Truth Behind "AI Psychosis" In this episode of Hardcore Christianity broadcasting from Phoenix, Arizona, host Brother Mike (a counselor at the Arizona Deliverance Center) tackles the intersection of mental health, artificial intelligence, and spiritual warfare. Key Takeaways The Claim on "AI Psychosis": Brother Mike introduces a concept he claims the American Psychological Association (APA) has warned about: AI Psychosis. He describes it as a phenomenon where heavy, overwhelming interaction with AI chatbots (like ChatGPT) triggers, worsens, or validates delusions and paranoia, causing vulnerable users to believe the AI is alive or issuing commands. Biblical Parallels to Psychotic Breaks: The episode draws historical and biblical parallels to modern-day mental health crises. Brother Mike examines major "psychotic breaks" in scripture, pointing to King Saul’s emotional torment by an evil spirit in 1 Samuel and King Nebuchadnezzar’s temporary loss of his mind and exile to the fields in Daniel 4. The Spiritual Perspective on Illness: From a deliverance ministry standpoint, the host asserts that chronic physical or mental illnesses that do not respond to medical treatment are heavily driven by spiritual or demonic infection. He argues that AI isolates users, erodes real-world social skills, and makes people susceptible to these spiritual attacks. AI and Prophecy: The episode concludes with an interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Brother Mike posits that the biblical prophecy of the False Prophet bringing a statue of the Antichrist to life will actually be achieved through modern Artificial Intelligence, setting the stage for the end times. About the Host & Ministry Brother Mike offers free Christian counseling services for born-again Christians through the Arizona Deliverance Center, a red brick building located on 15th Avenue just south of Osborn Road in downtown Phoenix. Services Mentioned: Ladies' Night (Tuesdays at 6:30 PM), Live Services (Thursdays/Fridays at 7:00 PM), and Worship Services (Saturdays at 4:30 PM). Contact Info Provided: 602-636-5800 | mike@hardcorechristianity.com H.C.C. is a non-denominational, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation specializing in counseling, healing, teaching, ministering in the Spirit and deliverance. It is based on Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and patterns its practice after the Book of Acts. It’s board members include one licensed Assembly of God pastor and one former Arizona prison chaplain. The ministry also operates the House of Healing and the Charity Counselor’s Association in central Phoenix. The Biblical theme of the ministry is Acts 10:38: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost & power. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." One of the main services provided by the ministry is to provide free counseling services to the poor. https://hardcorechristianity.com/Support the show: https://hardcorechristianity.com/donations/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are in Daniel 2, beholding the statue in the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. God has told us what the dream means. Here's the beginnig, the head of gold and the chest and arms of silver, the first and second kingdoms.

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.Isaiah 48:101. What do I feel in the middle of suffering? The Groan2. What do I see in the middle of suffering?Discerning3. What is happening in the middle of suffering?3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.Romans 5:32 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.James 1:2-46 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6God is Refining10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.Isaiah 48:10Refining: to improve or purify something by removing unwanted elements or making small, precise adjustments.“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”MichelangeloGod's love is a consuming fire3 Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God.Deuteronomy 9:3“Safe?... Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”C.S. Lewis (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)“The consuming fire of God is not the fire of a wild animal attacking us; it is the fire of a savior who loves us too much to leave us untouched.”God sees His children stuck, and will refine them until they're free.In The Fire of God's Refining Love:NOTHING OF VALUE IS LOSTKing Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.Daniel 3:1-226 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.Hebrews 12:26-29We lose what we've tried to cover ourselves with.We lose what we've been bound up in.23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”Daniel 3:23-25 Fear tells us that everything being broken off is a loss. The Gospel tells us that everything being broken off is gain.8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:8NOTHING OF VALUE IS ADDEDThe Gospel doesn't say, “Jesus makes life better.”The Gospel says, “Jesus is life.”THE VALUE OF JESUS IS REVEALED25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”Daniel 3:25His love does not change; it cannot be made to alter; the furnace cannot scorch us, not a single hair of our head can perish; we are as safe in the fire as we are out of it.Charles Spurgeon

Daniel 5:1-31 5King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. 2Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.3Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.4They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 5Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.6Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.7The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.8Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.9Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed. 10The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your fatheryour father the kingmade him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,12because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. 13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.14I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.15Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.16But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.19And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.20But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.21He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.22And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,23but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. 24Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.25And this is the writing that was inscribed:Mene,Mene,Tekel, andParsin.26This is the interpretation of the matter:Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;27Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;28Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. 29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.31And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Continuing to look at mental, emotionally and spiritual health issues, we turn this week to look at a particular story of madness in the book of Daniel and how a king went mad with his delusions of grandeur and himself. Certainly, pride played a factor, but from King Nebuchadnezzar’s life we learn that there is a warning God intends for us when it comes to building our own kingdoms and brands without Him. Even if we don’t heed the warning God gives, He can still restore us from the insanity that we find ourselves trapped by. You can find this story Daniel 4. From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer). Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 4, Pastor Zac teaches about the pride of the King and the humbling lesson he learned.Always start your story by giving God the glory.Instead of being told from Daniel's perspective, Daniel chapter four is actually narrated by Nebuchadnezzar. While describing the most humbling experience of his life, King Nebuchadnezzar chooses to start by acknowledging God as Most High and worthy of worship. When we reflect on our own lives and our own stories, we ought to do the same. God must be first in our lives.Start your story with repentance.As the King tells his story in Daniel 4, he noticeably fails to repent early on. If he had changed his ways when God gave him a dream of warning, he would not have needed the extreme humbling later. Instead, because the King failed to repent, God cursed him to become like a dumb animal for seven years. Fortunately for Nebuchadnezzar, God gave him another chance to repent at the end of those seven years. Eventually, the King's sanity returned to him and he looked to God and changed his ways.Your story isn't about you; it's about God working in you and through you.At the end of Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar once again acknowledges the greatness of God. This is an important lesson for us because we should recognize that our stories are also mere windows through which God displays his glory. The purpose of your life and your story is to give glory to God. Even for people who reject God, the bible teaches that their lives will still eventually demonstrate the glory of God. However, it is always better to choose to acknowledge God's greatness yourself. How can you choose to give God the glory in your life this week?

Daniel 4:1-37 1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!2It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3How great are his signs,how mighty his wonders!His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and his dominion endures from generation to generation. 4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.5I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.6So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.7Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.8At last Daniel came in before mehe who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy godsand I told him the dream, saying,9O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.10The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.11The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.12Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 13I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.14He proclaimed aloud and said thus: Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.15But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.16Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.18This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you. 19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!20The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,21whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived22it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.23And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,24this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,25that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.26And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. 28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.29At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,30and the king answered and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?31While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,32and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.33Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. 34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;35all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,and he does according to his will among the host of heavenand among the inhabitants of the earth;and none can stay his handor say to him, What have you done? 36At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The questions this week come from Daniel 2:31-46, about the image in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream that Daniel interprets.  What do the different parts of the image represent?  What time frame does it cover?  What is the importance of the specific traits of the elements that the image is made of? (Part 1)Program: Biblically SpeakingAired: April 18, 2015

This week, Pastor Kenny brings a powerful standalone message centered on trusting God through every season of life. Drawing from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, this message reminds us that even in the middle of trials, God is present and faithful. When these men refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar, they were thrown into the fire—but the flames did not destroy them. Instead, the only things burned away were the chains that had been binding them. Sometimes God uses difficult seasons to remove the very things that have been holding us back. As we place our trust fully in Him, He can use trials to strengthen our faith, deepen our dependence on Him, and bring freedom where there was once bondage. No matter what fire you may be facing, this message will encourage you to trust that God is with you in the middle of it all.

Ever have a really bad dream? An upsetting dream? Long before Freud took up the challenge of interpreting dreams Daniel was on the job. God used dreams to speak to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel told him what those dreams meant - and he didn't like it. Daniel had to rely on God's presence and God's persistence, otherwise he would lose his head. Find out more in this episode of Gospel Wabi Sabi.

“Bow or burn, your choice.” That's the predicament Daniel's friends faced before King Nebuchadnezzar. Worship the golden statue or be thrown into the inferno. But Daniel's friend found another option. Trust God. They knew that God could send a miracle and deliver them from the furnace, but they didn't know if he would - so regardless of the outcome they decided to trust God. What does it take to have that kind of faith? Find out more in this episode of Gospel Wabi Sabi. 

Drew Balch - The most powerful man in the world tells his story: not of pride and triumph, but of humiliation and transformation. King Nebuchadnezzar learns the hard way that God alone rules over all kingdoms and all people. Why does pride lie at the root of our rebellion against God and why does it ultimately leads to downfall?

Drew Balch - The most powerful man in the world tells his story: not of pride and triumph, but of humiliation and transformation. King Nebuchadnezzar learns the hard way that God alone rules over all kingdoms and all people. Why does pride lie at the root of our rebellion against God and why does it ultimately leads to downfall?

"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 2, Pastor Zac teaches about the advent of God's Kingdom on earth.There are problems in life that human wisdom cannot fix.In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar asks for his wisemen to interpret his dream. The problem is, the King knows that his wisemen might make up an interpretation from their own wisdom, so he tests them. He wants them to tell him what the dream was in the first place! None of the wisemen with their human wisdom could do this. What they needed was a word from God himself. None of the Babylonian wisemen were able to interpret the dream. Only Daniel, because God told it to him, was able to ultimately give the interpretation.Don't stand alone, stand in prayer with godly people.Before God revealed the answer to Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to kill all of his wisemen! Hoping to avoid this, Daniel went to his three godly friends and they all prayed together. This is an important lesson for Christians today, because we need to remember prayer as well. Prayer is a practice of turning to God, and we should be turning to him every day. We also need to go to other believers and pray with them as well. There is power in the prayers of God's people.Don't take credit for things only God can do. When God responded to Daniel's prayers and gave him the interpretation, Daniel could have taken credit. Daniel could have gone to the king and pretended that the wisdom and insight came from himself. Wisely, he refused to do this, instead, he gave all the glory to God alone. He did not speak of his ability to interpret, he spoke of an interpretation God had given him. In all things, we should give honor to God and not try to steal it for ourselves.Jesus the cornerstone.In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he saw a statue representing earthly kingdoms destroyed by a stone from heaven. The bible speaks in many places of the "stone" from heaven being Jesus Christ. When Jesus came, he came to establish the Kingdom of God, and that kingdom will never fade away. This is the ultimate meaning of the vision in Daniel 2: that God's Kingdom will reign forever. So the question is, where will you stand? Will you stand in the kingdoms of this earth? Or will you stand in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Daniel 3:1-30 3King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubitsand its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.3Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4And the herald proclaimed aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,5that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.6And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.7Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.9They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever!10You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.11And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 13Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.20And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.21Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.22Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.25He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.27And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.28Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.29Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Do you work in a hostile or competitive environment where your coworkers are contentious and will do anything to get ahead? That's a difficult place to be day in and day out, but with God's help, and lessons we learn from his Word, you can be a light in that place. For example, look at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We read in the Bible about how they were targeted for their faith. Nebuchadnezzar, the king decrees that as soon as anyone hears the music they are to bow down and worship his golden image, which is the very definition of an idol. Anyone who doesn't obey will be thrown into a blazing furnace. Of course, these young Israelite men are God worshippers, and so they do not follow this order. And the other Chaldeans, or maybe we could call them coworkers, observe their behavior and call them out—basically tell on them to the king. Nebuchadnezzar confronts them himself and kind of gives them one more chance to worship him. Listen to their reply: King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (Daniel 3:16b-18). Did you hear that? They are so confident God would rescue them. They know he can do it. They have heard the stories of how God rescued the Israelites from Pharoah, how God parted the Red Sea and led them in the wilderness, how God went before Joshua and the walls of Jericho came down from the trumpeting of the horns. They know God can save them. Then this phrase—But even if he does not— they will still not worship any other God. They have faith in an everlasting God, even if he doesn't save them from the immediate fiery furnace. And the end of the story is they do get thrown into the blaze—so hot the men who threw them in died. But they are not there alone. When king Nebuchadnezzar looks in, he sees four men walking around. God was there with them in it. And when they came out, not a hair was singed. God not only miraculously saves them as no one else could do, but because of their beliefs and behavior it is an example to everyone how great and mighty God is. I hope this encourages you to be your authentic, genuine self at work. May you find your identity in Christ and know you can trust him for anything! Even if you can't see how it could possibly resolve itself, you and I serve and worship a God who can do mighty and miraculous things, even in a contentious and hostile workplace. Trust him to guide and help you. You just might be an example to others and glorifying to God.

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You! In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners  the account of GOD's judgement on King Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance and Daniel warning him about what would happen by giving the king the interpretation of his dream.  Scripture References: Daniel 4:27; 2 TImothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Daniel 1:1-16; Daniel 3:17-18; Daniel 4:1-32 Scripture translation used is the NASB “Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995, 2020 (only use the last year corresponding to the edition quoted) by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org”CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S NEW PODCAST- The First Love ProjectHere is the video introducing the podcast on You Tube-https://youtu.be/PhFY1moDDmsHERE IS A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST FOR FIRST LOVE PROJECThttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdaujk1npuKR0BLSkTlKyxmuxavrZQHM6&si=dC10K4Qdh0xMKElU FIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishaffer DAILY MUSICAL DEVOTIONAL BY THE WORSHIP INITIATIVE:Text SING to 79316CHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain  Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you,  if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z  BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com Support the show

Daniel 2:1-49 2In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.2Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.3And the king said to them, I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.4Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic,[a]O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.6But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.7They answered a second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.8The king answered and said, I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm9if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.10The Chaldeans answered the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.11The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 12Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.13So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.14Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.15He declared[b]to Arioch, the king's captain, Why is the decree of the king so urgent? Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel.16And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. 17Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,18and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.19Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.20Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,to whom belong wisdom and might.21He changes times and seasons;he removes kings and sets up kings;he gives wisdom to the wiseand knowledge to those who have understanding;22he reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what is in the darkness,and the light dwells with him.23To 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 king's matter. 24Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation. 25Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.26The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?27Daniel answered the king and said, No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked,28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:29To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.30But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. 31You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening.32The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,33its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.34As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation.37You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory,38and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them allyou are the head of gold.39Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.40And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.41And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.42And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.43As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage,[c]but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.44And 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,45just 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 has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure. 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him.47The king answered and said to Daniel, Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.48Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.49Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

Do you now what a Magic 8-Ball is? It's a toy, a black ball the size of a cantalope with a small glass window where messages will appear to answer your questions. The answers are on a 20-sided die that floats inside: answers like “not very likely,” or “outlook good,” “most definitely”, or answer “hazy try again later”. I got my Magic 8-Ball out this week because I've noticed there's a whole industry out there of people who are trying to do just that. Trying to figure out where the world is headed. Pollsters, stock market analysts, political pundits, Hollywood stars, talk show hosts, pod-casters, psychologists, futurists, as well as star gazers and palm readers – a bushel of people who make it their business to try and predict what lies ahead for our nation, our world, or for your personal life. King Nebuchadnezzar had the same itch to know the future because his dreams were tormenting him. See what happens when Daniel enters the king's presence in this episode of Gospel Wabi Sabi.

What happens when your faith is actually tested?In this message through Daniel chapters 3 and 4, we look at two major tests every believer faces: the test of trust and the test of pride. Through the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and King Nebuchadnezzar, we see that real faith is more than belief. It is surrender, even when life does not go the way we expected.A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. True faith says, even if God does not, I still will. Pride builds kingdoms, but humility sustains them.Whether you are walking through a difficult season, questioning your faith, or needing a reminder of who is in control, this message is for you.Key Takeaways:- Faith is proven in the fire, not in comfort- Trusting God means surrendering outcomes- Pride leads to destruction, but humility leads to restoration- God does not owe us an explanation, but He is always worthy of our trust

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

We were grateful to have guest speaker Nate Anderson present this important lesson on pride and humility — what pride is, how it quietly enters our lives, and how we can overcome it through a heart devoted to God.Throughout Scripture, we see powerful examples of how pride separates people from God and harms relationships with others. From the Tower of Babel to King Nebuchadnezzar and King Herod, the Bible consistently reminds us that pride leads to downfall, while humility leads to grace.In this message, Nate encourages us to carefully examine our hearts and consider how pride can subtly grow through self-reliance, recognition, and comparison with others. He also shares practical, biblical guidance for developing humility and maintaining a Christ-centered mindset.In this sermon, we explore:• What pride is and why it can be spiritually dangerous• How pride can quietly develop in everyday life• The effects pride has on our relationship with God and others• Biblical instruction for cultivating humility• The importance of constant watchfulness and prayerScripture reminds us in 1 Peter 5:5 that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” As followers of Christ, we are called to imitate Jesus, who demonstrated perfect humility and a servant's heart.This lesson challenges us to remain vigilant, prayerful, and focused on honoring God rather than elevating self.

Fr. Joseph Dalimata, FSSP, serves as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Littleton (Denver), Colorado. He was ordained in May of 2021. In Today's Show: How can someone begin again and build a strong faith foundation? Is a Votive Mass of the Angels used for adults who do not have full use of reason? Why were Adam and Eve ashamed after eating the forbidden fruit? ​​Why do we use Vidi Aquam during Easter? ​​Why is Judica Me omitted from Mass during Passion Week? ​​Is an acoustic guitar, along with a piano, an acceptable instrument for a mass? Who are "the poor in spirit" whom Jesus refers to? Is Lucifer not Satan, but instead King Nebuchadnezzar? ​​Does the St. Gertrude prayer save 1000 souls out of purgatory every time you say it? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

It's Tuesday, March 3, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson, Timothy Reed and Adam McManus Taliban back in control in Afghanistan After 20 years of U.S. conflict in Afghanistan, the Taliban is back in control. Here's the latest. The Associated Press reports that the new Afghan penal code allows husbands to beat their wives, criminalizes criticism of the nation's leadership, and bans education for women beyond primary school.  And the Afghan-Pakistani War is heating up. According to recent numbers from Afghan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, 415 soldiers with the Taliban have died and 580 have been injured. Republicans support and Democrats oppose Iranian attack Here in the United States, there's a sharp partisan divide with Americans concerning the latest war with Iran.   An Ipsos/Reuters survey finds that 55% of Republican voters are in favor of the U.S. attack on Iran. Only 13% opposed it. And 7% of Democrats support the attack while 74% oppose.  Thus far, as of Monday — the casualties racking up in the war include 555 Iranian deaths, 31 Lebanese deaths, 10 Israeli deaths, and 4 American deaths.  Time on Doomsday Clock Ever heard of The Doomsday Clock?  Sponsored by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, it warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder, of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet. As of January 2026, the Doomsday Clock was moved to T-minus 85 seconds.  That's down from 17 minutes in 1992, and 5 minutes in 2012.   China, Russia, and France's place in the nuclear arms race Recent estimates put China's spending on its nuclear arsenal at $12.5 to $14 billion for 2024 and 2025. The communist country is outspending every nation except the United States. News reports point to Russia's development of a nuclear weapon to be detonated in space. And, just yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to increase the size of the French nuclear arsenal, as the second nuclear arms race progresses. Psalm 46:8-9 instructs us to “Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the Earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the Earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.” Evidence a Mexican cartel bribe Mexican politicians Mexico's El Universal newspaper carried pictures of the ledgers found in the cabin of the late drug lord Nemesio Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” The ledgers included references to Mexico's Attorney General's Office as well as members of military and state agencies.   Mexican journalists have explained that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has bankrolled political campaigns of Mexico's ruling party members in the National Regeneration Movement in exchange for relative immunity,  reports Breitbart. War Secretary Hegseth ends cooperation with woke Ivy League schools As The Worldview reported last month, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth cut ties between Harvard and the Pentagon, discontinuing military-sponsored and funding of graduate-level education programs.  Now, the War Department has announced no more cooperation with the rest of Ivy League schools. Secretary Hegseth explained the reason for this. HEGSETH: “Our senior service colleges have always been expected to act in the interest of this principle, to transform our senior war fighters into strategic thinkers, capable of mastering the complexities of modern warfare, and leading our joint force to victory at every echelon. Unfortunately, this sacred trust has been broken in this military's professional military education system. “For decades, the Ivy League, and similar institutions, have gorged themselves on a trust fund of American taxpayer dollars, only to become factories of anti-American resentment and military disdain. They've taken our best and brightest, the men and women who pledged their lives to this nation, and subjected them to a curriculum of contempt. “They've replaced the study of victory and pragmatic realism with the promotion of ‘wokeness' and weakness, they've traded true intellectual rigor for radical dogma, sacrificing free expression for the suffocating confines of leftist ideology.” As of last week, the Pentagon has also reached an agreement with Scouting America (including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts), to move away from what they call “diversity initiatives” and woke policies. Trust in U.S. government at 17% Among Americans, trust in the federal government has hit its lowest levels in seven decades — now at 17%. That's down from 77% in 1964, according to Pew Research's latest numbers. Oregon Democrats block bill to protect babies who survive abortions Oregon Democrats blocked a bill that would have given babies a chance to survive after a failed abortion. House Bill 4087, or the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, mandated that infants who survived a botched abortion be afforded the “same degree of professional skill, care and diligence … that a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.” Oregon Right To Life Executive Director Lois Anderson  laid out the inhumanity of the state's abortion law. ANDERSON: “Later abortions are currently legal in Oregon. There are no restrictions, no protections for unborn babies up until birth. And even if they survive an abortion procedure, they are not protected and required to be given medical treatment. “We know, from not only polling, but anecdotal information, and all of these candidates and discussing with Oregonians, that they would support this kind of legislation.” Micah 6:8 reminds us to “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” “I Can Only Imagine 2” movie lands #3 at the Box Office And finally, “I Can Only Imagine 2,” hit movie theaters this past weekend. The sequel focuses on the Christian band MercyMe and its famous “Even If” song, which lead singer Bart Millard said was written during a tough period in his life.   “I know You're able and I know You can Save through the fire with Your mighty hand But even if You don't My hope is You alone I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt Would all go away if You'd just say the word But even if You don't My hope is You alone” In 2014, Bart Millard and his wife learned that their young son, Sam, had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic and life-threatening autoimmune disease. Sam's blood sugar levels were dangerously high, and he was hospitalized. Doctors warned that managing the disease would be lifelong and complex. For Bart, who had spent years singing about faith and trust in God, the situation shook him deeply. He later admitted that he struggled emotionally and spiritually. The crisis forced him to confront hard questions about faith in the face of suffering — especially when prayers do not bring immediate healing. Listen to comments he made to CBN. MILLARD: “These two songs in particular, “Imagine” and “Even If,” were written out of some difficult seasons of my life. Not all songs are written that way, but my therapy is working issues out through my songs. The ones that mean the most to me have come out of some pretty painful places and been therapeutic for me.” The idea for the song “Even If” came from Daniel 3:16-18. It says, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your Majesty's hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” “I Can Only Imagine 2” was #3 at the box office, grossing around $8 million. Watch the trailer and get your tickets at the website  www.ICanOnlyImagine.com. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, March 3rd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Extra print story U.S. State Dept shedding the light of freedom for Europe The U.S. State Department is on the verge of launching an online portal to fight European censorship. The site, Freedom.gov, will allow Europeans to access content that has been banned by the European Union.  The Times reported, “This includes criticism of the Online Safety Act in the UK and the European Union's Digital Services Act, which force platforms to remove illegal content and harmful speech or face steep fines.” One official at the State Department added, “Digital freedom is a priority for the State Department, and that includes the proliferation of privacy and censorship-circumvention technologies like Virtual Private Networks.” 

Daniel 4v4-9, 22-34 with Ken Shigematsu Through the rise, fall, and restoration of King Nebuchadnezzar, humility is revealed as acknowledging God as the true source of power and life. The story shows how pride unravels us from the inside out, and how recognizing God's rule restores what was lost. bridgetown.church/teaching