Wise Counsel
Daniel Chapter 4
Jacob Bot is one of my specific prayers that is regularly lifted to the Lord. I hope if he wasn’t already one of yours, that he is now. For the next 3 weeks, he will be undergoing treatment from that “More Sensitive Machine” that he spoke of, every day at three PM, please remember to pray for Jacob.
If you have any messages or encouragement for him or mom and dad, please send them to us at info@kozabaptistchurch.org
We’ll be sure to get them to the Bot Family.
You should know that another prayer that I regularly pray is for you. I pray every day for our church, which means I pray for you. I pray that you grow in your relationship with Christ, and that He leads you daily in your life.
As Paul prayed for the Church in Ephesians 1:
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 23 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 24 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
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How has your study of Daniel gone so far? Are you reading the book of Daniel?
This week we are in Chapter 4. We’ll look at another of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, and Daniel’s interpretation of it.
More importantly, we’ll look at the Counsel of Daniel to the King in light of the dream. This could also be the counsel of the Holy Spirit to each of us.
Let’s give a quick review of last week’s message that leads to the events that open our text today.
We saw the construction of a 90 feet high and 9 feet wide golden idol which Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all in the kingdom should worship.
There were some faithful young men who refused to bow to this idol, and boldly said that they would only worship the living God in heaven.
When they were given a second chance they continued to refuse Nebuchadnezzar, and said yes to God.
Did you hear that?
They said NO to the world and said Yes to God.
How are we doing in that area?
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Because of their faith, they were thrown bound into the furnace, and were unharmed, and were joined there by who Nebuchadnezzar said “looks like a son of the gods.”
Daniel 4:1-3
1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
This is a cycle that Nebuchadnezzar appears to be stuck in.
We should not be so quick to judge him.
Last week we talked about the problem of idolatry, and the fact that our deep idols lead to sin.
Have you been examining yourself this week?
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Has God revealed some things that you need to confess?
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What is the specific sin that you are dealing with?
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Why are you trying to deal with it in your own strength?
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The same mighty God that divinely directed Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel, is also in touch with you today.
He convicts of sin, calls for repentance, and restores those who confess and repent to right relationship with Him.
This week as I was preparing this message, God has been calling me out. I am thankful for His activity and presence, and I think He is calling us out as a church.
What is the sin that is in your life?
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God is calling us to break it off!
The BLUF comes from Daniel 4:27.
This is not only God’s message through Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar, it is God’s message to Koza through His word and the power of the Holy Spirit.
27 “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
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So now that we have the bottom line up front, let’s see what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was, and the interpretation from Daniel.
Verses 10-17:
10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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.’
Verse 19:
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!
Verses 20-26
He goes on to tell the king that the image of the tree is the King himself.
Verse 23
the demise of the King.
But there is a glimmer of hope in the verse.
This is God reaching out His hand to the king and saying return to me, confess and repent.
Live righteously, and I will not cut you off. But if you don’t, this will happen.
Then verse 27 says:
27 “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
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Last week we talked about laying down your idols. This is akin to confessing your sin and repenting, in order that you may be restored.
You see, that is the reason for repentance and confession, restoration.
Some of us have been dealing with Anger issues.
Some of us have been dealing with abusive relationships.
Some of us have been dealing with addicitions.
Maybe there are some who have been dealing with sexual sin…such as lust or same sex attractions.
Maybe there are some who have been coveting their neighbor’s possessions.
Maybe there are some that have been running away from the Lord, or worse, hiding from Him among His people.
I don’t know what the case or issue is, but the Lord does. Do not let this go, or just walk away from it the same today as every day! Deal with the business at hand, and let the Lord bring healing to your life. He desires relationship with you and righteousness in your life.
Nebuchadnezzar is stubborn, it is almost as though as soon as he heard from the Lord, his eyes turned to His possessions.
He was still on the throne of his heart.
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Summarize Verses 28-33
This was the King for 7 years. After that period, the word says, Nebuchadnezzar turned his eyes toward the Lord.
Does it take a season of chastisement to get our attention?
Verse 37 says:
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.
Micah 6:6-8 says:
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
God has already provided the sacrifice! His calling on our lives is to walk humbly with Him.
How is your walk?
This week, God laid a scripture on my heart Psalm 119:57-64.
57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
Have you turned your feet toward him?
Is He teaching you today?
If He is, He is always teaching, What is He saying to you?
Lay down your Idols.
Confess your sins.
Walk Humbly with your God.
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