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2023-Q4-L09: Mission to the Powerful

Read for This Week’s Study: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Kings 5:1-19; John 3:1-12; John 7:43-52; Matthew 19:16-22; John 19:38-42.

Memory Text: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Notes

  • Power of wealth, authority, or influence.
  • Disadvantages of being powerful.
  • Powerful. Those through position or possessions have influence over people. Those with possession have power, because people want what they have.
  • Referent power. The power to inspire and influence. Their leader is a kind of role model. Leading by example. The authority that comes from the extent to which people admire, respect, and like a specific leader. Think of movie stars. They have interpersonal skills and personal qualities.
  • Expert power. One with academic credentials. You would be more interested in listening to me if I told you that I had a doctorate degree in NT studies, with six years of Greek and author of a dozen books.
  • Physical power. They have muscles. They own guns.
  • Jesuit power. Go after the institutions and leadership and influence them. Control the head and the rest of the body will follow. Spanish conquistadors went after the kings of the empires.

Judgments

  • 1. Our Judge God. "Did God really say" (Genesis 3). Trusting God or not. Romans 3:4, "when you are judged." Elijah on Mount Carmel.
  • 2. Judgment of Sin and Wickedness. Wrath on the wicked so as to restore order. Evil cannot be allowed to overwhelm the righteous. Examples: Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Israel's destruction of neighboring nations, etc.
  • 3. Investigative Judgment by the Saints. In the millenium, we review the "books" to gain an understanding of what went on in earth's history.
  • 4. Judgment of the Wicked. After the millenium, the final judgment.

How does God reach the Powerful

  • 1. Insanity vs. Pride.
  • 2. Mortality. God's power is most evident when we recognize how powerless we are.
  • 3. Insecurity. Nicodemus.
  • 4. Insatiability. Rich, young ruler.
  • The scary thing is: A person can be proud, even when he has nothing and has accomplished nothing.

SUNDAY. Nebuchadnezzar

Notes

  • Neb. was a modern-day narcissist.
  • Neb. struggled over his insanity. Money and power can buy many things, but not a sound mind.
  • What Nebuchadnezzar learned:
  • Daniel 2. There is a God in heaven.
  • Daniel 3. Fear-based. After the three worthies exit the furnace, Neb. acknowledges God in the context of "power" and edicts. Lip service to God. External worship.
  • Daniel 4. Trust-based. After Neb's sanity is restored, he acknowledges God in terms of power and character. That God is righteous and worthy of trust.
  • God is the supreme source of power.
  • Book of Acts. Felix: I'll call you at an opportune time. Festus: You are mad. Agrippa: You almost convince me.
  • It is pride that changed angels into devils; and it is humility that changes men into "sons of God".
  • Pride leads to insanity.
  • We generally loath people who are prideful.

Narcissist

  • Narcissism is a mental health condition that involves an exaggerated sense of self-importance. People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) may:
  • Have an excessive need to feel important or impress others
    Lack empathy
    Be preoccupied with power, beauty, or success
    Feel entitled
    Only want to be around people who are important or special
    Exploit others for their own gain
    Be arrogant
    Need constant praise and admiration
    Surround themselves with people who cater to their craving for affirmation
    Have one-sided relationships
    Dominate conversations
    Manipulate their loved ones
    Engage in deceptive behaviors for profit
  • Other symptoms:
  • Ignoring the needs of others
    Not understanding the effect that their behavior has on other people
    Being envious of others
    Believing others are envious of them
    Showing arrogant and haughty attitudes and behaviors
    Being unable to love others
    Lacking empathy
    Feeling emptiness
    Feeling bored
    Having an unremitting need to search for power
    Making themselves unavailable to others

Daniel and Friends

  • Difficult circumstances can either make you or break you. Fortitude in trial.
  • Everything was against Daniel and his friends. They lost family, future (marriage, home life), self determination, etc.
  • Daniel chose to ENGAGE with the culture, not turn away from it. Daniel also offered QUALITY, not mediocrity.

MONDAY. Naaman the leper.2 Kings 5.1-8.

Notes

  • Naaman struggled over his health. Money and power can buy many things, but not health.
  • Baal worship. Baal was the "son of El." Blood sacrifices.
  • Eccl. 3:19. Animals and man, all die.
  • The notion of "territorial gods".

TUESDAY. Witnessing to the Learned: Nicodemus

Notes

  • Knowledge can bring satisfaction in many areas, but does not save, in and of itself.
  • Truth must be believed in the heart. It must change the person.
  • Nicodemus' insecurity.
  • John 19:38-39. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus on the body of Jesus.
  • Why did they now come out in boldness?

WEDNESDAY. Mission to the Rich. Rich, young ruler and Zacchaeus

Notes

  • Money can buy many things, but not salvation.
  • Zacchaeus was a chief of tax collectors.
  • Insatiability of the rich, young ruler. Matt. 19; Luke 18.
  • You don't go to heaven because you're good; and, you don't go to hell because you're bad.
  • A pardon is not a pardon, unless it is accepted.
  • The will. In the end, there will be those who say, "Thy will be done." And there will be those whom God says, "They will be done."

THURSDAY. Mission to the Powerful. Joseph of Arimathea.

FRIDAY. Further Thought: Christ died for the prince and the pauper; both should be given the message of salvation.

APPENDIX