From Pride to Humility
Daniel 4
Head Knowledge is Not Enough vv.1-18
James 2:18-19 “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
What about Chapter 3:29, Didn’t Nebuchadnezzar turn to the One True God? Maybe so, maybe what we see in the following text of chapter four is a battle with pride and self-glory. I believe that its worthy to make a point of Head knowledge verses heart knowledge here. What if we never fully surrender to Jesus? What if we are so infatuated with the world that we forsake the Creator? Jesus answers this in many ways. I’ll share two examples.
Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
As a pastor I stay awake at night wondering if many are saved! I hear talk about God, but I see little fruit. I see people who want the benefits of Heaven, yet have never fully surrendered to the Benefactor. If Christ has saved you, you will thirst to give Him glory! You cannot encounter the Savior and remain the same. Is it overnight? No, it’s maturing process. You thirst for the Word, not the world. You thirst for worship, not self-worth, you thirst for witnessing, not whining, you thirst for living water, not waste.
I don’t think King Neb ever got it. How do we know if we’ve had a heart transformation, if we’re born again, if we’ve got it? Fruit
Hear the Warning vv.19-27
God is calling us to repentance, to stop playing church and to fully surrender. God has called Daniel to share the truth with boldness to Nebuchadnezzar. Do you warn others? Listen to Paul’s instructions.
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
Did Neb hear or heed the warning Daniel gave him?
Humbled Before the Throne vv.28-33
God hates pride.
Proverbs 16:5 “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”
Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”
Honored Upon Repentance vv.34-37
There is two types of repentance 1) sorry you were caught and 2) Godly sorrow and true repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. “
Peter knew this listen to what he tells us in Acts 3:19-20 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,”