Have you felt like our culture has lost its grounding in reality?
I think it arises from the pride that has come to define our times.
We build a life where we depend on ourselves instead one that relies on God.
We think we are the ones who deserve the credit for what we have.
We think we rule our world and our lives when it's God who rules.
See below the outline and the message based on the story of how King Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind for seven years over his pride and how he found the way back.
COUNTERCULTURE—End-Time
Crazy
(Daniel
4:1-3) “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.”
(Daniel
4:4) “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.”
BIG
IDEA: The greatest sin of culture is
pride, and pride sickens the soul.
3 Paths
Leading to Soul-Sickness
1.
When we’re self-dependent
instead of God-dependent.
(Daniel
4:22-24) “Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great
and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your
dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. 23 Your
Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and
saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron
and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground.
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals,
until seven times pass by for him.’”
(Daniel
4:25) “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.”
2. When we give ourselves the credit
instead of thanking God.
(Daniel
4:26) “The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that
your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.”
(Daniel
4:28-30) “All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as
the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?’”
(Daniel
31-32) “Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, ‘This is
what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been
taken from you. 32 You will be driven away
from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the
ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High
is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.’”
(Daniel
33) “Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was
driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. 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.”
3. When we think we know best
instead of acknowledging that Heaven rules.
(Daniel
4:34-37) “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. 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?’ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor
were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought
me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because
everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in
pride he is able to humble.”
WHAT’S THE
PATH TO SANITY?
1.
Exalt the King of heaven.
2.
Acknowledge that God does
everything right and all His ways are just.
3.
Walk in humility.