6-25-2006
Integrity - Dependence on God.
Daniel 4:1- 37
West Glendale Baptist Church
Pastor Don Jones
Over the course of the past three weeks, we have been looking at the character trait of integrity. We have looked at how integrity involves being true to your self no matter the pressure that is brought to bear. We also looked at how, in the believer’s life, God deserves all the credit. Last week we looked at counting the cost and how who we are is sometimes revealed best in the midst of the fire. This week we are going to look at one more aspect of integrity: dependence on God.
We have all watched the news at one time or another so the following should be easy. Imagine for a moment this introduction Robert Shank gives us to Daniel chapter four. The scene has America, the land of opportunity, written all over it.
The news conference is just beginning. Press people are crowded around the well-dressed person who just came in. Microphones and cameras are apparent everywhere you look. The six o’clock news team is standing by to cover the event live. Five, four, three, two... "Can you tell us what the secret to your success is?" The question seems sophomoric, but launches the interchange because it is on the minds of everyone there.
"I’ve made it because I worked hard and got the right breaks" he says. Pencils scribble on spiral pads, tape recorders are shut down, and cameras are packed to travel. Yet another success, attributed to the efforts of man that were better than average.
Is this the answer? We normally think so. But there is a different perspective that is seldom heard. It is the missing piece of the puzzle. The missing piece is; people cannot succeed without God. A person of integrity recognizes that fact and acts accordingly.
Cue slide - The Prophecy
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. God was trying to break through into this ruler’s life in a mighty way. Once again, the other sorcerers, enchanters and magicians had failed. So he called on the trustworthy Daniel. This time Daniel was perplexed and terrified because the dream concerned the king. In verse 24-25 he warns,
"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
Daniel must have thought that this time Nebuchadnezzar would heed the warning. He had been given opportunities to believe and trust in Almighty God before and for a brief time, it seemed he had changed.
In chapter one, he had seen the Lord work in Daniel’s life through the diet, how the Lord’s way was the best way. He had the future revealed to him in the second chapter and briefly acknowledged God as "God over the gods". In chapter three he had seen a glorious miracle in the furnace. Three young men survived the fiery furnace and the Lord had revealed himself in the midst of the flames.
Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzar was still consumed with himself and his works. The Most High was going to give him one more chance to repent and acknowledge Him. Nebuchadnezzar was warned, the punishment declared, now, it was up to Nebuchadnezzar to make his choice.
Cue slide - The Problem - Pride
We have all, at one time or another, stood with our hands on our hips and declared, "Look what my hands have done!" We tend to want to take credit for our lives, our accomplishments, our successes. At opportune moments we forget about what God has done. Is there a price to pay? I think so, but I don’t want to run the risk after reading this account of Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar took the credit and the risk in verses 28-30,
"All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 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?”
"Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" It wasn’t a question, it was a boast. Look at all the "my’s" and "I’s" in this verse. He was ignoring all the dreams and visions and the power of God already revealed. He was declaring success and prosperity and leaving God out of the equation. This was a demonstration of pride at its worst.
Pride is nothing new. The Lord had warned the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:11-18 saying,
"Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today."
The Lord knows that our very nature is one of pride. We take the credit for success. When it comes to failure we are quick to point the finger and blame another. Nebuchadnezzar however, was about to pay the price for saying, "Look what my hand has done!"
Cue slide - The Price
As he was speaking the words of conceit and pride God brought judgment to his life. He was immediately confused and bewildered. He was driven from the presence of people and began to eat grass like a cow. You might say God brought him down to earth, literally. Scripture says,
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
For seven years he lived in this state. He was, by all standards, humbled. This once proud and mighty king was at the mercy of Almighty God. The truth is he was at God’s mercy all along. Only by God’s power did he sit on the throne and only by God’s might had he been made king of all the nations.
The problem was he was unwilling to recognize those facts and humble himself before God. He had declared his independence from God. He wanted to take the credit. But in doing so he ran the risk of God’s judgment. That judgment finally came.
Does God view pride the same way today? The answer is yes. Proverbs 3:34 (OT) and James 4:6 (NT) says,
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Pride has, and always will be greeted, with opposition from God. Pride is what keeps us from acknowledging our need for Him and ultimately our need for a savior.
Cue slide - The Prescription
Daniel had given him the prescription in verse 27,
"Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
All Nebuchadnezzar had to do was repent and acknowledge the Lord. Daniel must have thought "How much longer will he rebel against God?" Surely the king knew God’s might and power. He had seen it first hand. Unfortunately, he did not repent.
Cue slide - The Profession
God gave Nebuchadnezzar a second chance. Verse 34 says,
"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever."
God allowed the king the opportunity to profess Him. It says that his sanity was restored. Was it by chance? No, God clarified his mind so he could acknowledge and profess God as Lord of all. Nebuchadnezzar realized that God is God, and he was not. The praise that was declared is an autobiography of our Lord. Look at it closely.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”
It is a testament to Him who reigns. When the king exalted the Lord, all was restored and even more. Nebuchadnezzar finally, after all this time, makes a commitment to Almighty God. Verse 37 says,
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.
He also makes a public declaration in the opening verses of chapter 4. He says,
King Nebuchadnezzar, to the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar finally realized his dependence on God. All his power and might were a result of God’s mercy and grace. The last piece of the puzzle fell into place. There is no success apart from God.
Are you ready to recognize and receive the Lord this morning? Quit thinking you can do it on your own. There is no salvation, heavenly destination without recognizing and receiving Jesus as Lord. Will you continue to run the risk, or will you receive Him today?
Invitation
Outline
Integrity: Dependence on God 6-25-2006
Daniel 4:1-37 WGBC
I. The Prophecy v.13-18
Other sorcerers failed, again
Daniel is called
Dream is interpreted
II. The Problem - Pride v. 28-30
The king takes the credit
God is left out of the equation
Deuteronomy 8:11-18
III. The Price v. 33
Twelve months later
Warned punishment is received
The king is "brought down to earth"
IV. The Prescription v. 27
Repent
Give God the Credit
V. The Profession v. 34-35
A second chance is given
Nebuchadnezzar professes the Lord
