Proverbs 16:18 ESV – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 27:21 NIV– The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
Proverbs 17:3, The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.
The Test of Success
Daniel 4:2-3 ESV – 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.
Daniel 4:4-7 ESV – I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 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. 7 Then the magicians, 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.
Daniel 4:8 ESV – 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…
Daniel 4:9-10 ESV – I told him the dream, saying, 9 “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. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: …
Daniel 4:17 ESV –…that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
Daniel 4:19a ESV – Then Daniel… was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him
Daniel 4:19c-22 ESV – “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
Daniel 4:23-26 ESV – 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 the stump of its roots in the earth, 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,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall 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 kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as 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.
Daniel 4:27-28 ESV – 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. All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Tests
Comfort
Daniel 4:4 ESV – I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
Jeremiah 29:7 ESV – seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Daniel 4:29-20 ESV – At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, whichIhave built by mymighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
Proverbs 16:5 ESV – The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (NIV)
Tweets: I just did something very selfless. But, more importantly, it was genuine and I know it means a lot to the person I helped! #so worth it
David Hasselhoff tweet: “An evening with the Hoff! Britain’s Got Talent followed by my life story on Peirs Morgan. Hope you don’t get sick of me.”
Proverbs 16:5 ESV – The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (NIV)
Warning Signs
Daniel 4:27, 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.”
Do you see any warning signs?
1 Corinthians 13 says, Love does not rejoice in evil.
Daniel 4:27 ESV – Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sinsby practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Daniel 4:28-33a – All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months …
Psalm 1:3 ESV –
He is like a tree, planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Daniel 4:29-33 ESV – …he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?”
31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar,…. … The kingdom has departed from you,32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling 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.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilledagainst Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:27, Daniel says, 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
Coming Home: The Road to Recovery
Daniel 4:34 ESV – At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, I lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
Look Up (to God)
Move from Pride to Praise
1 Corinthians 1:12 ESV – Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
1 Corinthians 1:14 ESV – But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 1:16 ESV – For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”But we have the mind of Christ.
Speak Out (Share God’s Good News)
Daniel 4:27 …break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed
Daniel 4:36-37 ESV – 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, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
37 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.
What’s Your Good News Story?
Before Jesus. After Jesus.
What’s the best way to do that?
