Reaching Leaders with the Gospel
“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets,” (Daniel 2:28)
Nebuchadnezzar ruled the mighty Babylonian empire. He had immense wealth and power. Everything was perfect for him. Then one night he started having troubling dreams: “…Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” (Daniel 2:1)
The king called his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. He hoped they would help him. He told them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” (Daniel 2:3)
They replied, “O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.” (Daniel 2:4) That answer didn’t help. He couldn’t remember the dream. If these people were true spiritual advisers, they should be able to tell him what it was. Yet they asked again for the dream. He could tell they were stalling for time. Finally, they told him he was asking the impossible, and that “the gods,” as they called them, do not dwell with people. When Nebuchadnezzar heard that answer, he was furious.
Ever had a bad experience with religion? Ever trust people for spiritual guidance and then learn you had been lied to, or they were something else than what they claimed to be? Did you feel betrayed and start to think all religion was a racket? Then you can imagine how Nebuchadnezzar felt. These advisers who he thought had so much spiritual knowledge were all a bunch of phonies. The king was so angry, he decreed for ALL the religious advisers to be killed, even Daniel and his three friends.
Daniel heard of the decree. He asked the king for time, and he would get the interpretation. The king knew Daniel was wise, and he gave it. Daniel and his friends prayed for God’s help. God gave Daniel the dream and interpretation. Daniel thanked God, then went to the king. He said, “But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living,” (Daniel 2:30) Daniel made it clear that God deserved the glory, not him.
Daniel also said, “But there is a God [not “the gods”] in heaven that revealeth secrets,” (Daniel 2:28) He told the king he saw an image in his dream: head of fine gold, silver chest and arms, brass belly and thighs, iron legs, feet of iron and clay. A stone struck the image, destroyed it, and then became a great mountain that filled the whole earth. The image represented different earthly kingdoms. The stone that destroyed it represented God’s kingdom. It would break up and consume the others and last forever.
The king was thrilled at Daniel’s words. He knew he was hearing the truth. In Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the book of Daniel, God showed the king that for all his wealth and power, he had no relationship with God. Nebuchadnezzar could have lived, died, and gone to eternal hell. Yet God had mercy on him. In the end, the king said, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:37)
The election cycle is in full swing in America. Candidates, leaders, and politically-minded people are focused on power. It is not wrong to do so, but in the meantime, they may not give God a second thought. Yet if leaders do not know Jesus as Saviour, they are headed for the same hell as anyone else who is lost.
1 Timothy 2:2 says to pray “…for those in authority;” That includes leaders, whether you like them or not. Pray for God to deal with them as He did with Nebuchadnezzar, to show them their need for Jesus and to be saved. To see how to have your sins forgiven and eternal life by receiving Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 9/30/2026
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822