Daniel chapter four. We're going to read verses one through three three here in just a moment as we continue our series on shining brightly in the darkness. So far, we have seen that being a light in the dark in a dark world requires us to from the book of Daniel. Number one, to be committed to the person of Jesus Christ and his cause and not be a fair weather Christian. Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king's meat.

This young man in a foreign land in a foreign culture as a slave purposed in his heart. He committed himself to stay true to who? To stay true to the Lord and he did. He not only made the commitment but he followed through. We need committed Christians.

If we are to be salt and light, we must stay committed. We must purpose in our heart. To stay true to our Lord and not defile ourselves with the sin and lust of the world. Number two, from Daniel two, from Daniel two, we learn to trust God more and more each day and step out in obedience and faith. That's what Daniel did.

He went to the king and he said, give me a little bit of time and I'll I'll come back and I will give you the interpretation of the dream and he trusted that when he went back and met with his friends and they gathered and they prayed to the Lord that the Lord would give him the interpretation and would deliver them from death. He stepped out in faith and that's what we need to do. Like like David before Goliath in the world in which we live. We need to step out in faith and say, Lord, I trust you. I'm going to witness to that person that you want me to witness to.

I'm going to take a stand for what is right. I'm not going to point number three from Daniel three, I'm not going to compromise. We must stay standing and reject compromise with the world. We must not bow to it. Daniel's three friends.

We're pressured with the threat of death to bow before Nebuchadnezzar's image but they refused to bow. They refused to compromise. All they had to do was just a little bow and it would all be over. But they refused. Sad to say too often today, we're not the salt and light we ought to be because we think what's just a little bow.

It's just a small thing. A little bit of compromise doesn't hurt but when we're compromising the doctrines of the word of God, we're compromising our faith. We're not being the salt and light we ought to be and no wonder people are not drawn to people who are not committed and willing to sacrifice and take a stand for what they believe. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were courageous and God is looking for people who are strong and courageous today because they know God is with him. We get to Daniel chapter four this morning.

In Daniel three, we were commanded not to bow. In Daniel four, we are commanded to bow. Not to bow in Daniel three to the gods of this world but in Daniel four to bow in faith and submission to the God of heaven. Does God need to prove to you he is in charge? Have you surrendered to his authority as Lord?

Do you know him as a god or do you know him as the God? Does he get the credit that he deserves? What are your answers? From Daniel four, we're going to look at what were Nebuchadnezzar's answers this morning. Daniel four one through three.

What are Nebuchadnezzar's answers to these four questions? Daniel four one, Nebuchadnezzar the king unto all the people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth. Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs?

How mighty are his wonders? His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion is from generation to generation. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear heavenly father, thank you Lord today for your word. Thank you for the words we just read coming from a surprising place, the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar.

Lord, I pray that we today would recognize if there's a part of our life, our heart that is not submitted to you. I pray Lord that we would be a humble people and that we would give you all the glory that you are due and not take it for ourselves and I pray Lord that we would learn to be the mouthpiece that Daniel is here and to speak the truth. Lord, impress upon our hearts today the message that the Holy Spirit has for us. Lord, give us understanding. Lord, give us an open heart and change us into the image of Jesus Christ, our savior today.

In Jesus name, we do pray. Amen. In chapter four, first of all, here, we have Nebuchadnezzar's introduction. This is his introduction to the event that we're going to read about beginning in verse four. This introduction to the account given by Nebuchadnezzar sounds much like an official Babylonian decree from the king and very well may have been published by Nebuchadnezzar himself for the purpose of explaining his absence from and return to the throne that we're going to learn about here in just a moment.

This was likely a decree that Daniel included in his book that went forth from Nebuchadnezzar throughout his entire kingdom giving glory to who? Giving glory to God. In explanation as to what happened to him as we're going to read about here from chapter four and it sounds like maybe Nebuchadnezzar was starting to get things right in reference to God. Let's see what led him to this revelation on his part but as we do that, I want us to remember this verse here. Luke fourteen eleven.

It says, for whosoever exalted himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. For whosoever exalted lifts up himself shall be abased which means to be brought low. By whom? By God. And he that humbleth himself submits himself in humility before the Lord, he, God will what?

He will exalt, okay? And we read verses similar to this one many times in scripture and we see it portrayed here in the life of Nebuchadnezzar. So, back to Daniel chapter four and beginning in verse four. Daniel four beginning in verse four. Nebuchadnezzar was at rest.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore, may I decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then, came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them, but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof, but at last, Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar according to the name of my God and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods and before him, I told the dream saying, oh Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee and no secret trouble with thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen and the interpretation thereof. Nebuchadnezzar to begin with in our in our chapter here has a disturbing dream.

Nebuchadnezzar had had disturbing dreams before if you remember in Daniel chapter two. This dream was particularly disconcerting for some reason. I think he feared that it was not a a good message for him and so he was concerned and so he brought called the magicians and his counselors in, his hidden counselors and they couldn't tell him the interpretation. Well, why? Because this dream came from who?

This dream came from God. Now, not all dreams come from God. A matter of fact, most dreams to today don't come from God. They just come from a gobbledygook that gets in our head that comes out at night, okay? But this dream came from God and there was a message to it and they did not know it but guess who did?

Daniel. So, finally, Daniel comes before Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuchadnezzar shows him great respect especially when it came to interpreting dreams because as the king said, the spirit of the holy God was within who? Was within Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar recognized that the Holy Spirit dwelt within Daniel and that there was something much different about him than his other counselors. Be assured Christian that the spirit, the very same spirit of the holy God that dwelt within Daniel dwells where?

Dwells within us today. He will help and assist us in serving the Lord just as he did Daniel. Probably not with interpreting dreams but in serving the Lord, in speaking his word which we have right here, we don't have to have it in a dream. Ministering to others and standing for him. That holy spirit that dwelt in Daniel that gave him that knowledge, that same holy spirit dwells within us.

He helps us to understand the word of God, to apply it to our lives. He empowers us to walk in it and to follow the Lord today. We are indeed blessed with having that same spirit. Acts four thirty one, the early church, it says this, and when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God with what? Boldness.

The early church, they prayed on this particular occasion in a in a rare form, God shook the place where they lived, where they were worshiping but even more so, what was most important was the Holy Spirit enabled them to go out in a crowd of people who were not welcoming to them. And to preach the word of God with what? With boldness. The Holy Spirit does many things for us. He has sealed us into the day of redemption.

He's baptized us into the body of Christ. He's given us spiritual gifts to be used in his service and in the church. One of the things he also does is he helps us to speak out boldly. The gospel of Jesus Christ and the word of the Lord. You too can speak the word of God with boldness.

If you will seek God's help in prayer as they did. The Holy Spirit will help us too and others will also recognize the spirit of God in us like Nebuchadnezzar recognized the spirit of God in Daniel. That can also, should also be true of God's people today. Continuing on in verse 10, verse 10. Nebuchadnezzar continues, thus were the visions of mine head and my bed.

I saw and behold a tree in the midst of the earth and the height thereof was great. The tree grew and was strong and the height thereof reached unto heaven and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair and the fruit thereof much and in it was meat for all for all or food for all. The beast of the field had had shadow or shade under it and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the bowels thereof and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of mine head upon my bed and behold a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven like an angel.

He cried aloud and said thus, hew down the tree, cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, scatter his fruit, let the beast get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches. Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth. Even with a band of iron and brass and the tender grass of the field and let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let his portion be with the beast in the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from man's and let a beast heart be given unto him and let seven times pass over. This matter is by decree of the watchers, by the demand of the word of the holy ones.

To the intent that the living may know that the most high rule within the kingdom of man and give it to whomsoever he will and set it up over it the basis of man. So, this was the vision, Nebuchadnezzar is describing to Daniel for him to interpret. He saw this tree. It was impressive, tall, strong, healthy. It provided food and shelter for a myriad of animals, beasts of the field, birds of the air to shelter therein.

There was an angel from heaven that came down with a decree from God. The decree was chop down the what? Tree. Chop down the tree almost to the ground. Just leaving a small trunk in the roots.

Shake off the fruit, scatter the animals that were sheltered there. And change the heart from the heart of a man to the heart of a what? To the heart of the beast, to the heart of, we would say, an animal, okay? And then in verse 17, it tells us the purpose of the dream, the purpose of the dream, as announced by the angel, to the intent that the living may know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men and give it it to whomsoever he will and sitteth and set it up over it the basis of men. Who is the basis of men?

That would be Nebuchadnezzar, okay? Nebuchadnezzar was not a fine example of refinement and morality and ethics and character. He was the basis of men but yet God had placed him over the kingdom of Babylon. This reason, purpose for this dream is repeated in verse 25 and then again in verse 32. This is definitely the theme of this chapter that God is impressing upon Nebuchadnezzar and others that who rules, that he does, that he sets up rulers, that he takes down rulers as he pleases.

Revel, Romans chapter 13 and verse one, not sure if I have that up here or not. Revel, I do. Revelation, Romans thirteen one, let every soul be subject under the higher powers. For there is no power but of who? But of God and the powers that be are ordained of who?

God. We are to be even as Christians, children of God, we're to give unto Caesar the things that are what? Caesar's. Why? Because his power has been permitted by who?

By God and unless he tries to stop us from worshiping God or doing the things God has required, we are to respect the authority that is placed over us because it represents the authority of God. Now, imperfectly, oh yes, but it represents the authority of God. Sadly, the politicians of our day seem to have forgotten where their authority comes from. And it may come back to haunt them. It is certainly haunting us.

While they bicker amongst themselves, boast in their accomplishments or lack thereof, and do everything they can to keep a hold of power, our country languishes in spiritual darkness and confusion and the void of godly leadership. How how desperate we lead godly leadership. Leadership that will recognize that their authority comes from God and give him the glory and go to him for advice and honor him in the decisions that they make. God is the answer for our leadership and for our country. Be warned you rulers, your time is short and God is still where?

God is still on the throne. God is still on the throne and for us as Christians, isn't that good to know? That God is still on the throne. We see a foreboding interpretation in verse 19. Look if you would in verse 19.

Then, Daniel whose name was Belteshazzar was astonied or astonished for one hour and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake and said to Belteshazzar, but not the dream of the interpretation thereof trouble thee, Belteshazzar answered and said, my Lord, the dream, be to them that hate thee and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. In other words, what I'm about to tell you is going to make happy your enemies. Ain't going to make you that happy. But those who hate you will like what I have to say.

In other words, this isn't going to be pleasant, but here it is. The tree that thou sawest which grew and was strong, whose height reached under the heaven, the sight thereof to all the earth, whose leaves are fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all under which the beast of the field dwelled upon whose branches the fowls of heaven had their habitation. This tree is thou, oh king. That art grown and become strong, for thy greatness has grown and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth, and whereas the king saw a watcher, and an holy one coming down from heaven and saying, hew the tree down and destroy it. Yet, leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth.

Even with the band of iron and brass and the tender grass of the field and let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let his portion be with the beast of of the field till seven times pass over him. This is the interpretation, oh king, and this is the decree of the most high, which is come upon my Lord, the king, that they shall drive thee from men, thy dwelling shall be with the beast of the field. They shall make thee to eat grass as oxen. They shall wet thee with the dew of heaven and seven times probably seven years shall pass over thee till thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of man and giveth it to whomsoever he will and whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, thy kingdom shall be sure or secured unto thee After that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. So, here is the interpretations.

We had the dream. Now, we have the interpretation and when Daniel saw the interpretation, he was so astonished at what it was that for a moment, he hesitated. Actually, for a few moments, he hesitated and and Nebuchadnezzar said, no, I want to hear what has to say. So, he continued and he didn't mince words and he told that Nebuchadnezzar exactly what God showed him. We'll come back to that in a minute.

Let's look at Daniel's interpretation. He said to Nebuchadnezzar, you are the tree. Now, at first, that's pretty good, you know? This is a massive tree. It it is very impressive tree, very healthy tree.

It stretches out to the ends of the earth. It makes a habitation for all the animals, the field, or the nations of the earth. Very impressive the power that Nebuchadnezzar had. But just in a moment, all that power can be what? Can be taken away.

All of that can be taken away because God rules in heaven and God does as he pleases. In the affairs of men. God decreed through this angel that the key, the tree be cut down. That is that Nebuchadnezzar be deposed from his throne. That he be given the heart of a beast, that he be deprived of his reason.

He would go from being a very wise in some ways and intelligent man. To a man that was a babbling fool. Just like an animal. He was indicated that he would live not in the palace but that he would live where? In the field.

Because of his insanity that would come upon him. He would be deprived of his home, his shelter, and every last bit of his pride. Until seven times or till seven years, most likely would pass before Nebuchadnezzar would finally come to his senses and acknowledge that God is sovereign. At which point, God says, because he left the roots in the stump there, God says, I will restore your kingdom to you. What is Daniel's advice?

Look in verse 27. Wherefore, oh king, let me, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. If it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility. Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, please consider my counsel in in in lieu of this warning here from the God of heaven. Repent of your sins and do right.

Repent of your perversities and show mercy to the poor in your kingdom. Repent. Turn from your wicked ways. The same advice that Christ gave to the people of his day. He said, unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.

The Jews thought, well, repentance, that's for the filthy Gentiles, not for us. Jesus said, no, unless you repent, you will perish just the same as they. You are sinners too. Also in need of a savior. Just like Nebuchadnezzar was.

Same as God's message to a growing and rebellious world today. God still calls us to do what? To repent, to turn from our wicked ways, and to of heaven and Jesus Christ. The same advice given by Daniel is the same today as I want you to notice something. As I mentioned earlier, Daniel did not sugarcoat the message.

Or to pamper the king which was probably the habit of the other council person who wanted the king to be happy. People need to hear the why. Need to hear the truth. And I'm afraid too often from Christians, they get the watered down version. Oh, we give them the truth if we open our mouth.

But often they get the the watered down version. Thinking we are doing them a favor by being nice, we are instead enabling them. Like a friend continuing to give money to a drug addict so he can go out and buy more drugs. It may seem caring but you are enabling something that is destroying them. When we water down the message of the gospel, when we fail to warn people of the judgment that is coming, we are watering down the message and we are enabling them.

And we need to be confronted with truth and we must tell the truth out of a heart of love. Was that not what Daniel was doing? Nebuchadnezzar knew of Daniel's love. He knew of Daniel's loyalty. He knew of Daniel's honesty.

And so he accepted. Albeit, did not act upon at first like. It is not our responsibility to make people In a world that's trying to to let people know there is a god in heaven. The judge and will judge. To let them know there is a savior who came to die on the cross for their sins.

That if they will repent and trust Christ, they can be saved. We must tell them. Out of a heart of love, out of a heart of concern, the great need that they have. They need so desperately to hear it. It is our prerogative, our privilege.

Let's see what happened to Nebuchadnezzar in verse 28. So, we see the vision, the interpretation. Now, we have what happened. Verse 28. All this came upon the king, Nebuchadnezzar, Just like was proposed in the dream.

At the end of twelve months, he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake and said, is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty. Did you notice the eyes and the minds? Look in verse 31. While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven saying, oh king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken, the kingdom is departed from thee.

They shall drive thee from man and thy dwelling shall be with the beast of the field. They shall make thee to eat grass as an oxen and seven times shall pass over thee until thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of man and give it it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from man. He did eat grass, his oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hairs were grown like eagle's feathers and his nails like bird's claws.

It happened just like God said it was. Just as Daniel interpreted the dream, it happened. Now, it took twelve months. Why? Because God is what?

Long suffering to us. We're not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Second Peter three nine. God has been long suffering with us. He was long suffering with Nebuchadnezzar but the day came and judgement came and Nebuchadnezzar took all the credit and all the glory for himself.

Daniel four thirty again, as he strolled through his gardens, he said, is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my The honor of my majesty and as he finished speaking, guess who else spoke up? God did. And God is always going to have the last what? He's always going to have the last word. Always going to have the last word.

Nebuchadnezzar didn't listen to God. He ignored his warning. Are you ignoring God? Salvation? Your day is coming.

Are you ignoring Holy Spirit? If so, you are putting yourself in great Says here, he says ten thirty one. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. He is not a statue. He is not a religion.

He is not a fairy tale. He is not a myth. He is a living God. He is an almighty God. He is a just and holy God and it is a fearful thing to put him off.

It is a fearful thing to tell him no. It is a terribly, terrible thing to reject his message. Nebuchadnezzar didn't listen the day came. He took credit for himself. How about you?

Do we take credit even as God's children? For the job that we have? Is that all our doing, for our home, for our reputation, for our health, our success, our intelligence, family, do we forget to give God the glory? In the New Testament, when Paul often wrote epistles, the churches that he had planted, he didn't take the glory for himself. He gave the glory to who?

God. He thanked God for them. Over and over again, he thanked God for them with joy. What God was doing. Do we thank God?

Do we give him the glory he is due? If we're taking it for ourselves, you better watch out. God exalts those who humble themselves but he brings low, abases those who exalt themselves. Nebuchadnezzar took the credit for himself and it came. It was clearly identified by a voice from heaven.

It was immediate, the same hour. It was inescapable and it was complete. We're told in numbers thirty two twenty three, be sure your sin will find you out. So, will God judge and come to you and one day, it will be final. Better learn and repent today for the parable may never come.

We're not assured of tomorrow. Better get right with God today. But tomorrow did come for the king. He did have a change of heart and he was restored to his kingdom. He would in verse 34 and at the end of days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lift up mine eyes into heaven and mine understanding returned unto me.

I bless the most high and I praise and honored him that liveth forever whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest it? At the same time, my reason returned unto me for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor, and brightness returned unto me and my counselors and my Lord sought unto me and I was established in my kingdom an excellent majesty was added unto me. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extore and honor the king of heaven.

All whose works are true and his ways judgement and all those that walk in pride, he is able to. He is able to obey his true name. After seven years, the king lifted up his eyes in submission to faith. God's mercy and grace restored him. He was blessed and he blessed the God of heaven and gave him the credit he was due.

In return. In closing, turn if you would to Ephesians chapter two. Ephesians chapter two. I'm going to read from verse one down through verse nine. And I want you as we read of this, I want you to think about the story that we read about Nebuchadnezzar.

That story was about Nebuchadnezzar. This story is about us. And I think you'll see that there are some parallels. Ephesians two one, and you, Hathi quickened, the word quickened means made alive. Who were dead in trespasses and insults.

Wherein, in time past, we walked according to the course of this world. According to the prince and power of the air, the spirit that now worketh for the children of disobedience. Among whom also, we all had our we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. That describes our life before we came to Christ. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace you are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

That in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone. You see, we were in a similar condition to Nebuchadnezzar. Spiritually, we were without reason led by the lust of the flesh Apart from God, when sin entered humanity, man was kicked out of the garden.

But through by God's word. Not by our works. We can be restored and we who have come to Christ in faith and accepted his offer have been restored. As Nebuchadnezzar was. Nebuchadnezzar restored the throne of his kingdom.

We, in Christ, restored our relationship. We don't deserve it anymore than Nebuchadnezzar did. It is only by God's what? By God's grace. That we when we submit with thy mouth, believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Deliver, rescue, restore. Three lessons. From Daniel four. Don't ignore God's warnings. He warns us in his word to flee the wrath of God.

Have you done that? Have you fled to Christ? Have you embraced him by faith? Have you called upon him? In repentance to be your Lord and savior?

If you have, you saved yourself. Please come to him. Number two, you have better give God the glory he is due. Take it for yourself and he will have to humble you the heart. And number three, if you're going to be light in the world, you have to speak the truth to those who need to hear it.

Even when Daniel spoke the truth the be to a story. And he could turn and repent. It was important of for Nebuchadnezzar to hear the truth. It's important for them to hear it too and if they're not hearing it from us today, I'm afraid in many cases, they're just not here. Let's pray.

Dear heavenly father, thank you Lord for this day. Thank you for Daniel four and for example that Daniel said. Thank you Lord for the grace of of God. We see expressed in the life of Nebuchadnezzar and the grace Lord that we have experienced in Jesus Christ and Lord, I pray if there's one here today that's never trusted Christ that as we give this hymn of invitation, they'll come. Lord, that we can show them from God's word how they can be saved.

On the first verses we sing, Lord. Let them come. And Lord, I pray, Lord, if there is a need in our heart, if we're taking credit that is yours today, that you might show us that. We might humble ourselves and give you all the glory and that we might be willing to be the mouthpiece. To testify to the world, the truth of the gospel, the truth about God, his justice, mercy, and his will.

In Jesus name, amen.