Plays On Word Radio
An in-depth look at the Word of God, the Plays On Word community, and the Plays - with original music - we perform, that are based on the Word of God. New episodes drop Fridays at 7AM EST! To find out how Plays On Word Theater can perform 'LIVE on YOUR STAGE' and to support this missionary & podcast visit: https://playsonword.org/
Plays On Word Radio
Ep 129: The Power of Audio Scripture Transforms Faith and Fuels Storytelling (Part 2)
"Have you ever stood firm in faith when the whole world demands you bow down — that's the powerful message at the heart of this week's deep dive into the Book of Daniel. Today, we journey through chapters 3 and 4, witnessing extraordinary demonstrations of faith and divine power."
Pastor Teddy, a.k.a., Fred Kenney, Jr., continues his exploration of the Book of Daniel, focusing on chapters 3 and 4 which detail the fiery furnace experience and Nebuchadnezzar's humbling transformation.
• Working on creating a historically accurate throne prop for the upcoming 'DAN' play
• The throne will feature the Babylonian lion with wings, made in blue with Babylonian-Persian styling
• Reading of Daniel chapter 3 explores the story of the golden image and the fiery furnace
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the golden image despite threats
• God protects them in the fire by sending a fourth figure "like a son of the gods"
• Reading of Daniel chapter 4 covers Nebuchadnezzar's dream, madness, and restoration
• Nebuchadnezzar's testimony shows his transformation from pride to acknowledging God's sovereignty
• God doesn't prevent trials but meets us in them – demonstrated when Christ joined the three men in the fire
• The faithful testimony of these young men ultimately influenced the pagan king
• We're called to trust God even in difficult circumstances, as He's worthy of our trust
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ~ Numbers 6: 24-26
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Speaker 2:It's the best, king Nebuchadnezzar. Through all peoples, nations, languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion endures from generation to generation. You're the only name. You're the only name. You're the only name.
Speaker 1:Hello and welcome to Plays on Word Radio, where we discuss, analyze, work and play on the Word of God. Thank you for joining us on this excursion. Today let's join Pastor Teddy, also known as Fred David Kenny Jr, the founder of Plays on Word Theater, as he does a deep dive into the Word of God.
Speaker 2:All righty y'all, welcome to Plays on Word Radio. Every single one of you. Oh yeah, introduction there. Last week we got into our Dan production that we are working on and I took you behind the scenes a little bit into some of the preparation and oh, who's calling me? Somebody's calling me, let me help. And I did. I did get feedback and I was blessed to see that some people were. They really appreciated that. So that's, thank you for getting back. And for those of you that did not check it out, go back and check out last week's episode, episode 128,. This is episode 129. And you will be brought up to speed.
Speaker 2:The book of daniel's really cool. I'm looking forward to showing you guys, or bringing you along, as I work on part of the set. I wouldn't call it the set, but in each one of our plays and each one of our productions we have at least one aspect of the set. For example, in our Pete play we have our boat, and in our Genesis Joe play we have just the basket with the staff that Jacob uses. We have our clipboard. Our plays, our pyramids, are us clipboard, and those of you that have seen the Genesis Joe play, you know exactly what I'm talking about. So in the Dan play we are going to have a throne I'm working on and it will be the throne of Nebuchadnezzar and then Darius. So we're looking forward to that. It's going to be really cool. It's um, it's going to be pretty accurate too. You know me, I'm diving in historically, trying to make sure we are as correct as possible. Our boat is not to scale, but it gives you an idea what's going on in the peat play. But this throne is going to have the excuse me, it's going to have the Babylonian lion with the wings on its back. It's going to have that. It's going to be blue, babylonian style and there was crossover to the Persian. So we're going to keep that aspect the persians. So we're gonna keep that aspect.
Speaker 2:Um, but yeah, and I'm, I'm praying that you guys are blessed, or were blessed by last week's uh, what is that? The reading of from daniel. That's what I? I don't say that's what I. That's not the only thing I study from, but that is a reinforcement to just remembering learning scripture. A lot of people ask me how do you remember all this stuff? How do you remember? Well, one of the ways is by just washing my brain with the word and saturating myself with it, and this is one of the ways, so I'm going to continue. We heard chapter one and 2 last time, so now we're going to rock chapter 3 and 4. And I pray that you're blessed. Check it out, Chapter 3.
Speaker 2:King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits and its breadth 6 cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 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. Then 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 and the herald proclaimed aloud you are commanded, o peoples, nations and languages, that 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. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, as soon as all the people 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 worshipped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, an image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Speaker 2:Therefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar O King, live forever. You, 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. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There 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.
Speaker 2:Then Nebuchadnezzar, in furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, meshach and Abednego be brought. So they were brought, these men, before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them Is it true, shadrach, meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up. Now, 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? Shadrach, meshach and Abed Nebo answered and said to the king O king Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If 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. But 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.
Speaker 2:Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and the expression of his face changed against Shadrach, meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace be heated seven times more than it was usually heated, and he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, meshach and Abednego and cast them into the burning, fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats and their other garments and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace Because the king's order was so urgent. The furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, meshach and Abednego, and these three men, shadrach, meshach and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king True, o king. He answered and said but I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire and they're not hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and 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 and the satraps and 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. Nebuchadnezzar 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. Therefore, 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 homes laid in ruins, for there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way. Then the king promoted Shadrach, meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Speaker 2:Chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you that dwell in all the earth. Peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion endures from generation to generation.
Speaker 2:I, nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid as I lay in bed, the images and the visions of my head alarmed me. So 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. Then the magicians and 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. At last, daniel came in before me, he who was named Belteshazzar, after the name of my God, and in whom is the Spirit of the Holy Gods, and I told him the dream, saying O 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.
Speaker 2:The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these I saw, behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew up and became strong and its top reached to heaven and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beast of the field found shade under it and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches and all flesh was fed from it. I saw in the visions of my head as I laid in bed and behold a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He 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, but 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, let 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. Periods of time pass over him. The 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 whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men.
Speaker 2:This dream I, 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. Then I Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar. I was dismayed for a while and my thoughts alarmed me. Then the king answered and said Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or the interpretation alarm you. So I answered and said my lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies. The tree you saw, which grew up and became strong so that its top reached heaven and its visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field found shade, in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived. It is you, o king, who have grown to become strong. Your greatness has grown to reach to heaven and your dominion to the ends of the earth".
Speaker 2:And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump of its roots in the ground, 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. This is the interpretation, o king. It is the decree of the Most High which has come upon my lord, the king, that you shall be driven from among men and your dwelling 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 kingdoms of men and gives it to whom he will, and 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. Therefore, o king, let my counsel be acceptable to you Break off your sins by practicing righteousness and your iniquity by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.
Speaker 2:All these things came upon King Nebuchadnezzar At the end of twelve months. He was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon and the king answered and said and 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? While 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 and you shall be driven from among men and your dwellings 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.
Speaker 2:Immediately, the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox. His body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as an eagle's feathers and his nails were like birds' claws. At the end of the days, I, nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me and I blessed. The Most High 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. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing and he does according to his will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him what have you done? At 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 out and I was established in my kingdom. Amen and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and all his ways are just, and those who walk in pride he Is able to humble. Amen, amen, amen. Man, I'm feeling that I have a feeling we are going to see and meet. I have a feeling we are going to see and meet this King Nebuchadnezzar in glory. I think we're going to meet him. I'd be surprised if we didn't.
Speaker 2:He started out not knowing the God of Israel. He started off not knowing yet he was a tool in the hands of the God of Israel. But clearly in this document that is part of the book of Daniel is in Aramaic. So you have part in Hebrew and then part in Aramaic. So this part here is absolutely one of those sections and it's an official letter, proclamation thing and he's over and over. He says there's no God like your God. That is a common theme in this book of Daniel, and you think about it. That is a common theme in this book of Daniel and you think about it.
Speaker 2:Just rewind a little bit, daniel. He's a young guy, young kid. He ends up in college, in Babylon, college for the wise dudes, the wise men, and then he ends up running everything. God exalted him because he was way him and buddies, hannah and I, michelle and azariah they were way, way, way, way, way more intelligent because god gave them intelligence, wisdom in the hebrew, in the greek it's sofia and that was granted to them by God and they were elevated and ended up running the whole school, the wise men. This is no, I mean, you gotta. It's not something light. This is amazing. This is how they got elevated. This guy though, this pagan king Nebuchadnezzar, he saw over years, but he saw over and over the God of Israel do amazing things.
Speaker 2:First with the dream, by telling it to Daniel, giving him the dream and the interpretation, and he was about to wipe all of them out. They were almost all done, they were almost all finished, and we saw how he was amazed when Daniel revealed all the detail. Can you imagine somebody telling you exactly a dream that you dreamt you didn't tell it to anybody and then somebody like Daniel comes in and tells you exactly what you dreamed? First of all, that's amazing. But then he tells you the interpretation gives you. The interpretation helps you understand it. That only comes from God. That's what Joseph said to the people when Joseph was in prison, when they were trying to figure out what the dreams meant. And Joseph said doesn't the interpretation of dreams, doesn't that belong to God? Tell me, what did you dream? So right there, it's showing it, probably blew his mind right there, but then he here. You know what we just listened to.
Speaker 2:It was like it was the State of the Union type situation we have here in America, where all the dignitaries, every dignitary is there, everybody who is anybody is there. And then these three young kids are not complying because of their god. And in a sense I, almost I can understand Nebuchadnezzar. It's funny what he says. His countenance changed, his face changed towards them when they were like listen, King, we're not bowing down and you know our God is able to deliver us. But even if he doesn't deliver us, it's not happening, man, we're not doing it, we're not bowing down. And it says his face changed towards them. I think some of that had to do with the fact that all these other dignitaries are looking at these young kids disobeying the king. There was a lot at stake here and God shown himself mighty in this situation where he was like, wait a minute, he's doing the math and he's like, didn't we throw three guys in there? Why is there four? And why is that one in the middle? Why does that one look like a son of the gods or a son of God? See, christ met them because of their obedience. Their testimony to that king was galvanized because of their obedience not bowing down.
Speaker 2:And God did not prevent them from going into a difficult situation or going into the fire. No, he didn't stop them. What was going through their minds as they were falling in? And they see the guys, that the Commandos that we had their arms around them, you know, strong, arming them and about to throw them into the fire, and sees to see the flames. They open a door and they got Bum, rushed by flames, push, the flames came out. What was going through their minds when they saw the guys completely incinerated, burnt up, and then, maybe because of the momentum or whatever, but they're still going forward into the fire.
Speaker 2:God did not prevent them from going into the fire. What he did? He protected them in the fire. Not only did he protect them in the fire, only did he protect them in the fire. But he met with them in the fire. This didn't escape the notice of the king, and when the king, he went over to the, they said come out, come out. And they came out three of them, not all four and they didn't smell like smoke. Come on, man, they did. They weren't even singed, they weren't even nothing. You can't tell me. That did not blow everybody's mind, and this king was. He was impacted, impacted because of a faithful few that were willing to trust the God of Israel.
Speaker 2:I challenge you trust the God of Israel today. Yes, trust him. He's worthy of praise, he's worthy of trust, and he will meet you in a difficult situation. He might meet you in the fire. He'll meet you wherever you are. That's all the time we have for today, until next week, hey, we're going to continue. This book continues. We're going to continue it. Please let me know, though, if you're being blessed by this. Until then, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, hey, and give you peace.
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