we are on chapter two still we're just we're finishing up we're on verse twenty one or point number twenty one we're on page number twelve at the very bottom we're finishing up point number twenty one is he has completely sovereign dominion over all creatures to do through them for them and to them whatever he pleases. Man people got problem with that one. This is one of those attributes of God that causes the world to recoil and every professing Christian that I know of, of the Armenian bent, to close their eyes and run screaming for the hills. God has complete sovereign dominion over all of his creatures to do through them, for them, and to them whatever he pleases. The Bible is clear that he orders and numbers our steps. The breath you're breathing in right now is a gift from God. But it's also clear in the ordering and numbering of our steps that nothing is left to chance. Nothing happens by oops. There's no such thing as luck. There's no chance or happenstance, none of that stuff happening. No incidents that happen that just were you know luck of the draw it's all sovereign it's all divine it's all God's doing now to start this off Gary read if you would Daniel four twenty five and then Kristen I'll give you Daniel four thirty four and why it I'm gonna give you Daniel four thirty five Diane can you do Hebrews four thirteen I'm going to continue reading on this section so that we can hopefully get through this. It says, God has complete sovereign dominion over all of His creatures to do through them, for them, and to them whatever He pleases. In His sight all things are open and manifest. His knowledge is infinite and infallible and not dependent upon the creatures obviously the creatures that he's made. What it means is he does not depend upon the angels or people for reports of what is uncertain. Think about what they're saying. God knows all events. He's decreed all events. It doesn't. It's not that he looks down the quarters of time to find out what's going to happen. He is the one that has ordained it. Go ahead and read Daniel 425 Gary if you would please. Yeah, you got 35. So, Daniel 4.25 says that God decreed of Nebuchadnezzar that he was going to be driven from men. His dwelling was going to be with the beast of the fields and he shall be made to eat grass like ox. He'll be wet with the dew from heaven. For seven years will pass over him until he knows the most high rules in the kingdom of men and giveth to whoever he wills and Romans 9 the Bible says of God that God says to Moses He will mercy those whom he'll mercy and he'll compassion those whom he'll have compassion and It is God who decrees when He will mercy, and God who decrees when He will compassion. You know, a lot of people say, well, that's not fair. It's not fair for God to do whatever He wants to do with mankind. That makes us robots. That makes us, what about my free will? What about my will? This, that, and the other. And the Bible doesn't declare that you have a free will. Now, you have a conscience-free choice, but that's not a free will. Free will means you have to have absolute sovereign ability to do anything you want to do even in direct defiance against God up to the point of even taking His throne. You have to have absolute freedom to do anything you want to do without any outside influence, without any conflict of other people or other things telling you what you must do. Even God. I mean, if you have absolute free will, and that's the thing that Armenian has a problem with. When you tell the Armenian that God is the saving God and that he alone does it, they'll have to come up and say, well, what about my free will? He can't violate my free will. The question comes then, then why do you ask for God for people to pray for you? Why do you ask for? I mean, OK, even if you say you're a Christian, why do you ask somebody to pray for you? Because if God can't violate your free will, then he can do nothing unless you give him permission. So you say, oh, well, you pray for my long-lost cousin. They're a crack addict, and they're running out in the streets. Pray that God will save them. I can't. But if you do pray, God can't save them. They have to make the choice on their own. God's done everything they can. I asked an Armenian friend of mine. I asked this question I said OK. So you believe in an absolute free will and freedom of the will. They said yes. I said OK. Let me ask the question. If God. Exercises salvation by sending Jesus down to die for all mankind universally. And it and he does everything he can to prepare the way for salvation. And if God sends Jesus down for that purpose and he's done his purpose, but his purpose is not actually to save anyone, but just to potentially save. If that is God's purpose. In the sending of Jesus. And that's all Jesus can do. He can't change a person's heart, can't force him, can't do anything. They have to make the first step. They have to come of their own free will. If that's the case, then what is it in you that caused you to come to God through Jesus Christ? Now, I've had this one brother, he says, well, I made the decision to come to Christ. I said, okay, apart from the gospel, apart from salvation, apart from any work outside of God, you're telling me you made the decision to come to God without God doing anything to you. And he goes exactly right. I said here's the problem. You are now saying there's something inherently inside of you that's better than everyone else that didn't make the free choice to come to Christ. You're saying that you deserve the glory because you did something that everybody could do or you're doing something that is in you that's better than everyone else. What you're doing is you're taking the glory from God and you're giving it to yourself. See, God says that he does whatever he wants to do in the hearts of men. He does what he will. He uses men for his purpose. And it makes people mad because then they'll say, well, you're saying God's responsible for evil. OK, here's the problem. There's nothing created that God did not create. It wasn't an afterthought to God, it was the thought, the plan of God to allow men to fall into sin and for God to save wicked sinners through Jesus Christ. It's also God's plan, and this is going to hurt a lot of people, it's also God's plan to condemn wicked sinners. He decrees the condemnation. He says they were born for this condemnation. The Bible tells us that the wicked are being prepared for the day of wrath. That they're being built up for the day of wrath because they hate God, they're enemies of God, they will not follow God, and God uses them for His sovereign purpose. Daniel 4, 34. Kristen, I believe it's you. So listen to this. Seven years pass over him till thou know that the most high rule of in the land this is Daniel four twenty five this section is nebuchadnezzar reporting what happened to him this is his testimony about what happened to him he was a a tyrant a wicked man I mean he was beloved by Daniel you have to think about this he was something of a of a protector of Israel He took him under domination and then God caused him to be a protector of Israel to a point. I mean he didn't kill him. He raised Daniel up. Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. I mean even though he put him in the fire and was going to burn him to crisp. You know but he was still a protector. The people of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar. He has a discussion with God. One way discussion and God says you're condemned. You're going to. I believe it's through Daniel, but he says you're going to be cast out into the fields for seven years. Says this is going to happen until. Until you know that the most high rules and the kingdom of men. Now you think about this, Daniel 434 we Christian just read and at the end of the days, end of what days? at the end of the days that were decreed by God. See, this is talking about sovereign dominion. He has dominion over all of his creatures. Now, here's what you don't understand from what we just read. Just those little verses. If you read around the verses, you will see that he was made into a wild man. He was caused to have hair that was said to be like feathers. of an eagle. It was long hair all over his body that poured over his body. His fingers kind of went into like claws, his fingernails kind of turned into claws. This is an honest to goodness event of what you would call lycanthropy, of becoming a werewolf, if you would. It's not a werewolf, okay, but it's a changing into an animal. A bird man, or whatever you call it. But you think about this. He didn't go after blood, he didn't go eating people, but he went after, he ate the grass like an ox. Well, just from what we've got here in verse 24, it says, He's going to drive you from men, and you shall dwell with the beast of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass of oxen, They shall wet thee with the dew of heaven. He's in a field eating grass like an ox chewing a cud, and he's out of his mind. But this is what God did to him. You're talking about sovereignty of God over his creatures to do whatever he wants to them and through them and for them. But look at the purpose in it. He says the purpose of driving you mad for seven years, the purpose in doing this for seven years is so that you will know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men. And that you will know that he's the one that gave you what you've had. Because Nebuchadnezzar was looking around saying, look what all I did. And God says, no, I gave it to you. Think about Pharaoh. Pharaoh was given everything he was given. Every person in history has been given by God what they have. And they are liable to God to praise Him and thank Him for what He's given them. They're liable to give back what God demands. God by rights could say, hey, you know what, the government, whatever percentage the government takes, I'm taking 10% more. I'm taking 50% more. He says, give a tithe unto the Lord. Give a tenth or give a portion unto the Lord. Give it with joy. Give it with gladness. And most people give it as if it was the worst thing in the world to give 10% to the Lord. They don't mind giving 50% to parties and luxury and everything else. Another subject. But you think about that. We owe God everything. Nebuchadnezzar found out that everything that he had was given to him. Now go to Daniel four thirty five. Why. Number one. Nobody has the right to question God. He does what he wants to do with inhabitants of the land and no one has the right to question him and say what are you doing. Nobody can stop his hand. People that shake their fist at God they all die at a point in time. Every single person that says there is no God they all die. They don't have even sovereign control of their life. That want to declare what their life is gonna be like or what they're gonna do, it's all in the hand of a sovereign God. They can lose everything that quick. They can be lifted up and brought down. The Bible declares that he's the one that establishes the kingdoms and he's the one that sets up the rulers of that kingdom. Don't think that the leadership we have in this country is not here because God didn't decree it. Don't think that it was just an accident. God put him here on purpose. And he will take them down on purpose. Now think of this. It not only says that. But he also does according to his own will in the armies of heaven. That's amazing that that tells me in heaven and on earth no one. Not even of of of any of creation. No one can stand against God. You know, I think where you have to look at this is when you begin to consider, what about Satan? Did Satan stand against God? Yeah. Did Satan stand against God? No. Yes, he stood against God, but no, he didn't do it outside of God's decree and will. Think about it. God allowed Satan to fall into his wicked sin. God allowed Adam and Eve to fall in their sin. Was it part of God's sovereign decree? Yes. Was it God's fault? No. He allowed them to do the wickedness they wanted to do. People have major problems with this. But you think about this. I'm going to tell you like this. I'm not God, so I can't give a perfect analogy. However, I can tell you this. If I put a sign down here that says the speed limit is 35, I am positive that there are people going to break this law. Does that make me responsible for them breaking the law? No. Now God is so specific that he's not positive people are going to do it. He knows the ones that are going to do it. He's decreed that they're allowed to do it. And he gives them the rebellious heart to do it. OK. He's decreed the moment they're going to sin. They do sin because of their own wickedness. But who was it that said all the world is a stage but we are but small players in the in the play. Was it. I think it was Shakespeare, actually. I think you're right, it was Shakespeare. But listen to Daniel as he talks about Nebuchadnezzar's discussion about what God had shown him. his mind came back to him and he praised and he honored God who had dominion over everything. He says an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation. I think that's an important point that his kingdom, it's not something we see, it's not something we build, it's God's kingdom, it's from generation to generation. His kingdom is the people that he saves His kingdom one day will be manifest here on earth where he will exercise dominion and control visibly. But right now he exercises dominion and control internally, spiritually. Diane, I asked you to do Hebrews, I believe. Hebrews 4.13, yeah. Unless she's getting ready. Gary, can you do Ezekiel 11.5? Kristen, Acts 15.18. So point number 22 would be that in his sight, all things are open and manifest. In other words, there's not a secret sin. There's not a secret thing that we've done, and we should keep short accounts. We need to repent of our sin. God, forgive us of our wickedness and depravity for the sin that we commit. Even the things that we don't know that we're doing, the things that we do know that we're doing as well. Gary, would you go ahead? His knowledge is infinite and infallible, and it's not dependent upon any creature. You say you haven't sinned. God knows it. Not only does God know it, if you decide you're going to rebel against God and you don't want to be accountable, He's going to openly expose you to the world. You see, here's the thing about a Christian. A Christian doesn't hide their sin. They humbly come before God and they say, God, forgive me, a sinner. You already know it. I'm not hiding it from you, Lord. I am this. I am that. I'm, you know, I'm greedy, hateful, mean, ornery, nasty, no good, sorry. I'm a liar, a thief, blasphemer. I've done all these things. What sin is there that a Christian hasn't committed? Well, the unbelieving world, the false converts, they try to cover it up and hide it. A Christian will say, Lord, please forgive me. Because he already knows it. He knows it even when we try to hide it. And so we don't want to hide it. We want it to be exposed so that it can be cleansed. We want to be rid of lust and greed and hate and idolatry and pornography. We want to be rid and free of alcohol and I was going to say ATF, but we don't want the F part. But I mean, we want to be free from all this stuff. And we want God to cleanse us and to make us pure and holy. God does that because he looks into every crevice of our heart and mind. And he knows us. And he doesn't have to ask our permission to do it. You know, the wickedness of the world, the people that exercise wickedness, The Bible says in chapter 20 of Revelation that the books were opened and another book was open which is the Lamb's Book of Life. And on the final day of judgment the books are opened and the dead, that's spiritually dead, were judged out of things that are written in the book. Those that are alive in Christ have been judged by the cross. Those that are dead are gonna be judged by what's written down in the book. And the book is every second of their lives. Everything they've ever done, both good and bad. Because God knows it all. He knows it perfectly. Let's see, Kristen, I believe I gave you Acts 15, 18. Okay. Now we have context. God's promising to restore the people of Israel and the things of Israel, the certain events and they're seen as the things that Israel was called to. And he promised these things from all the way back in the past that he would do this. Diane, I believe I gave you the next one. Did I not? Okay. Okay. Psalm 145, 7. And Gary, I'm going to give you Revelation 5, 12 through 14. Now, I'm going to go ahead and finish reading this and we'll be done. I'm sorry. Therefore, nothing is for him contingent or uncertain. In other words, contingent meaning dependent upon events or upon his creatures. Now, you think about it. God doesn't have to say, boy, if this happens, I can do this. He doesn't have to say, you know, I would really like for this thing to happen. There's an open theist point of view that says God doesn't know the future, but he's a really good guesser. And so what he can say is, if this thing will happen, then then I can do this thing. And if this thing happens, then I think this will happen. And maybe if that happens, this will happen. But you know somebody could throw a wrench in the works and I have to change my whole plan. That really poses major problems when you talk about in times prophecies. You know the entire book of Revelation almost. It throws a major monkey wrench in that because God is not saying I think this might happen he's decreeing what will happen. Diane go ahead. He is most holy in all of his councils. That's his plans and purpose. And in his works, and in all of his commands. That's verse 24, not 25. Point number 25. All of his commands. To him is due from the angels and men whatever worship, service, or obedience they owe as creatures to the Creator. And whatever else he is pleased to require from them. So many people find it to be annoying to even have to come to church. They find it to be annoying to have to sit and listen to a sermon, or especially somebody like me that preaches for more than 10 minutes. They find it annoying that they have to do anything more than just show up. The Christians that come in every once in a while, Todd Friel talks about the holiday Christians. You ever heard of them? They show up when the holidays, you know, events, Easter and Christmas, especially maybe on Thanksgiving every once in a while. And sometimes if somebody's really good, they'll show up for like a Christmas in July, something like that. Any kind of holiday, they'll show up. they'll show up for those events, especially if their kids are involved, they'll show up, but then they're gone. We had an event over at the Tri-Cities, and it kind of displayed that. Here, all these kids were coming in to sing a musical performance and different types of performances to glorify God, to worship God, and there must have been seven, eight, 900 people there. I mean, there was a lot of people there. The whole entire gymnasium was completely packed out. People were standing in the back, all the way around the corners. I mean, it was a ton of people. But as soon as their kid got done, or their grandkid, or their niece, or nephew, or friend got done, they got them and took off. They were done, out. They weren't there to worship God. They weren't there to glorify God. They were there to see their friend do this or that. We have so many people that come in into the church. They want to be served, but they have no heart for serving God. I have one friend of mine that I've been witnessing to and sharing the gospel with that I'm trying to. I'm trying to talk to him about coming to the church and serving the Lord and being faithful and committed, and he contends he's a Christian. He has no desire to come to church and his idea of serving the Lord is to put up Christmas decorations. on Easter, he puts up the Easter stuff, which is, you know, he does the decorating, but he doesn't live his life to the glory of God. He doesn't serve the Lord in the local church. He doesn't serve the people. He doesn't love the people. He doesn't have any desire for the people. He doesn't have any desire for the Lord. Now, think about this. If God is the sovereign God of the universe, does he not deserve all worship and praise and adoration and everything else he commands? I mean, there are people that come into the church and if they happen to possibly just maybe have a little extra pocket change that they're not using for to go over to the new movie theater. They'll throw it in the pot. But the idea of actually coming in and serving alongside of each other and serving the Lord in the church is absolutely foreign. It's a concept that is offensive to them. To us, we have a desire to please God and to serve God, and we should have a desire to glorify and magnify God because He's worthy. He's not only worthy of worship, but He's worthy of service and obedience, and everything else that He says pleases Him because of who He is. The Bible says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God. There will be a day when the demons, Satan, when every single angel, when every person that's ever lived will bow down, every atheist and agnostic and every single God-hating person that's ever existed will bow down and they will worship Jesus Christ and they will say that he is the Lord to the glory of God. They will declare that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. They will shout to the heavens that He is the one true living God. They will declare that He alone deserves praise and worship and adoration. I mean, that passage you just read tells us that heaven and hell will declare that God deserves all the glory. Now, here's the difference. All those who love God do it out of love and adoration. All those who do not do it out of command. They don't have a choice. They're not being asked to do it. They are told you will. Because he's sovereign God. It's just the problem. Is the world doesn't see that. They never think about that day. I've heard, I've heard several say that every knee will bow, some will now bow today, and some will bow when the Lord breaks their kneecaps. And it's the truth. Every knee is going to bow. Every tongue will confess Jesus Christ. It's not repentance. It's not confession of, oh, praise God, worship the Lord. It's not that. It's because they have to. It is truly an amazing thing that we serve a God who allows us to know Him and He opens our eyes to Him. I think the more and more we get to know Him, the more and more we fall in love with Him. And the more we get to know Him, the more the world hates Him. So, all right, let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, I do want to come before you. I want to thank you for the day that you've given us. Glorify yourself in our hearts. Magnify your own holy name. Lord, lift up your name in our hearts and our lives and let our hearts be purified to be. As your word says, those who see this truth and those who expect Jesus Christ, they purify themselves as he is pure. They seek after righteousness and holiness. Lord, Not only that but they are obedient. God I pray for my children. I pray for my wife. Pray for Gary and his wife. I pray for the farmers and I pray for the Hutton's and I pray for the kitchens and the bowling's and I pray for every other group. The Robertson's Lord I pray for for the Campbell's and the Browns I pray for all the people that have ever been here Lord. that they will humble themselves and be obedient to the Lord and seek to be pure in the sight of a holy God, obediently serving, worshiping, and glorifying God because you are worthy. Coming to repentance, seeing their sin, and crying out to God, even myself, crying out to God for forgiveness where we have failed. In Christ's holy name I pray, Lord, amen.