The Idol Of Human Power - Part 1

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ make an idol out of human power is human powers, and illusion and ultimately never the joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana. Let's join Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word this past week. We all heard the annual state of the Union speech by the President of the United States and I believe that the American public who listened felling the three groups.

One group, those who believed every single word that was uttered.

The second group, those who didn't believe a single word in the third group, those who believed some of the worst. You see the same three groups listen to every state of the Union speech, every presidential election becomes the fulfillment of the great line. It was the best of times it was the worst of times for some.

Finally, a new beginning. To others. This is the end. There is no hope. I hope you realize that since Andrew Jackson and that's the earliest I could find since Andrew Jackson, people who voted for the losing candidate have threatened to leave the country.

Why was so wound up in this mailing gain some insight from the Dutch Canadian Christian philosopher Al Walters Walker says look there's only one main problem sin is only one solution to the grace of God. He stated that what happens to us so often as we look for an alternative to identify and we identify something else is the main problem and something besides God becomes then the main remedy.

It's not that we make and I idol out of something completely bad, it's that we make an idol out of something that cannot be ultimately good. The idol of human power.

Walters writes this piece of the great danger is the single on some aspect or phenomena of God's good creation and identify it rather than the alien intrusion of sin as the villain and wrong in the drama of human life. This something has been variously identified the body and its passions, Plato, and much of Greek philosophy, culture, in distinction from nature. Russo Romanticism institutional authority, especially in the state and family. Much of what is called depth psychology technology and management techniques. Heidegger and Elul. He said the Bible is unique in its uncompromising rejection of all attempts to identify part of creation as either the billing or the Savior. He then says this. This accounts for the constant political cycles of overblown hopes and disillusionment for the increasingly poisonous political discourse and for the disproportionate fear and despair when one's political party loses power. There's nothing new about the idol of political or human power, Nazi-ism, the Nazis, when you think about how they rose they rose in the 1930s and they did so because of the shame of Germany and the shame, the Germans had to feel because the Treaty of Versailles and so there's nationalism and were such a rise of nationalism for Nazis and they gave him absolute power in the Nazis brought more shame to the German people than anyone had in a thousand years. The ideology of communism and ideology that finally promised to level the playing field between the haves and the have-nots, but ending in World War II and going from that point all the way to the fall of the Berlin wall 1989 the beliefs the ideals of communism and crashing down and in the wake of the collapse of socialistic communism capitalism has marched now to the front of the line is Bible, Adam Smith, the wealth of Nations is not what he wrote in that book, the market is an invisible hand that when given free reign automatically drives human behavior to that which is most beneficial for society apart from any dependence on God or moral code, but I think that the massive financial meltdown of 2008 2009, revealing the systemic greed is casting doubt when deifying capitalism. In fact, Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson is written a book and a title that this the gods that failed how blind faith in the markets has cost us our future. Please understand what I'm saying. So far I think capitalism is a compelling economic model a good thing. I think leveling the playing field is a very worthy ambition. I think that the two-party system will be historically admired but I'm saying this that in a culture that is where you find God is largely absent human power always tries to fill the vacuum.

In fact, in many ways human power is an illusion and ultimately it's never the answer and ultimately it always feels it's a hard lesson to learn is a man who had to learn it. Six century BC.

This man was the head of the great Babylonian Empire. He replaced the Syria and Egypt with babbling. He invaded Judah conquered Jerusalem and took the best of Judah and carried it back into captivity in the babbling. The Babylonian empire was led by a great man, a great King a great general in his name was Nebuchadnezzar and he was at that time the most powerful man on earth, but he had trouble sleeping. Open your Bible is the Daniel chapter 2 Daniel chapter 2 we drop in a Nebuchadnezzar noun the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar and dreams, and his spirit was troubled in a sleep left them. He apparently has a recurring dream he can't sleep, and then the king gave orders to call the magicians in the conjurers and sorcerers in the Chaldeans, to tell the King's dreams. So they came and they stood before the king and the king said to them I had a dream, my spirit is anxious to understand the dream and then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic in a snow king live forever.

Tell the dream to your servants and we will declare the interpretation they bring her before they understand this you just give me the dream, and will tell you something wonderful about your dream.

King answered and said to the Chaldeans. The command for me is firm. If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation. You will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap. But if you declare the dream and its interpretation. You will receive from me gifts and rewarding great honor, and therefore declared to me the dream and its interpretation, a fly in the ointment. He says not not know no interpretation.

This time tell me the dream I mean you have these magical incredible powers tell me the dream and then tell me what it means for their light come on, there's nobody in the world I can do that type of thing. You just can't do that kind of thing.

Well the diverse 24 someone steps on the same.

Therefore, Daniel went in the area whom the king appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon.

Anyone he spoke to Ms. followers do not destroy the wise men of Babylon take me says into the king's presence and I would declare the interpretation of the king and then areata currently brought Daniel to the king's presence and spoke to him as follows, I find the young men among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king and the king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Boca shahs or he said are you able to make known to me the dream which I've seen in its interpretation and Daniel answered before the king and said. As for the mystery of about which the king has inquired neither wisemen or conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare to the king, however, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar.

What will take place in the latter days, and this he says what is your dream and the vision you had in mind while you were on your bed and so what you find right now is Daniel says, look no man could do that but there is a God who could do that now. It's kind of interesting that this set up. Here is kind of we know the story, we know he has this image of this image in his head, gold and silver and bronze and iron and feet of clay.

We know this, and we interpret it as soon as we see it in a unique way. Prophecy is all about prophecy. It is he says, in the latter days is a prophetic book. In fact, you never understand the book of Revelation. If you don't understand the book of Daniel, especially along with Ezekiel, but you will not but I would ask a question, how do you think Nebuchadnezzar thought about Nebuchadnezzar's not trouble because he's worried it somewhere way down the road. Some is going to happen that the hymn is in his worry.

He and Perley by the way he's very worried. He says in verse three.

My spirit is anxious and by the way, in verse three, also says about waiting until member to tell you limb from limb. That's not a threat he's been actually tear them limb from limb. So this tells you something about this guy. He's afraid he understand something he sees the crushing of something he sees that head and it looks a lot like him to him and he sees this image being crushed is a consequently he's very much afraid Reinhold Niebuhr in his book the nature and destiny of man has a chapter called manna center and he writes this he said man is insecure. He seeks to overcome his insecurity by a will to power. He said he pretends that he is not limited in his power as mankind.

We pretend mankind we pretend we have power.

That's what we do and that's exactly what Nebuchadnezzar is doing. He is pretending we come by this naturally you remember Lucifer hi, I will sit on the holy month I will ascend. You see, I will be like the most high. I'm in there. The statements I'm going to be power. What he said at many you will be like God me think of men.

Doesn't Mendez to secular humanism. We got the power we have the power we make an idol out of human power is interesting, human powers, and illusion and ultimately never the answer.

You realize 95% of what happens happen to you in your life is completely out of your control.

95% of who you are right now completely out of your control. Given a real control over what center you were born in any any and all non-Budweiser possible you could of been born in the seven or 800 right in the middle the dark ages is a possible shortage you having to do that you having to do with what country were born in.

You can been born in Gaul and 800 see your ancestors given people who died themselves blue, were barbarians could been easily begged to be near family tree had nothing to do with you that you had nothing do with her family were born into your nothing to do with you almost had nothing to do with your childhood, your childhood was kind of dictating to you.

You grew up in a certain environment you are in control. In fact, think about it this way, you have genetically hardwired talents there just a gift, you unit do that you having to do that all some of you can sing on key and just comes natural. And then there's the rest of us what is true your IQ. Some of you are very smart you having to use you having to do with any of that.

And yet somehow we believe that somehow it's all up to us. Even the British poet Debbie Henley. He lost his leg as a teenager and made him bitter and so you know the words.

It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul what you think you got that talent. What you think the talent for poetry came from was that Ms. control not all be grew up in an environment that apparently encouraged it and allowed him to express himself poetically by the wayside barn that is after he wrote that his five-year-old little girl died and it said he never recovered. You see, God wants all of us like Nebuchadnezzar to learn a lesson.

The lesson of our own limitations looked down at verse 37 he says you will gain are the king of kings. And then this statement to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom the power and the strength and the glory.

Don't miss that Nebuchadnezzar wanted to be always referred to that way. Nebuchadnezzar said I'm not just king I'm the king of kings. You see, I replaced the Syria Egypt the Babylonians are the power of the world and I am the power the Babylonians and noticed a difference to them.

You owe king of the King of Kings. By the way, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory so where did you get your kingdom from God were to get the power from God were to get the strain from God were to get the glory from God. That's the fact you see not understand Nebuchadnezzar's opinion. He has lots of duties. He believes Dana says it doesn't even matter. God is sovereign.

See God is sovereign in faculty. Verse 44, at the end of the image.

He says in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it itself one door forever is by the way, your distemper will help when you think of the river of history and history of all men. The levees established by God. That river flows just the way is sovereign God decrees it and by the way it flows to the destination that he decrees in all of these players are just players, that's all that they are easy. Nebuchadnezzar was being asked to change his perspective of the power of God in human power with amazing he does look at verse 46 and 47, then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage the Daniel and he gave orders to present to him and offering and fragrant incense and the king answered Daniel and said surely your God is a God of gods and the Lord of kings and reviewer of mysteries, and you have been able to rebuild his mystery and then the king promoted Daniel and gave them many great gifts and he made a over the whole province of Babylon in cheaper effect over the wise men of Babylon. Wonderful is that just great. He doesn't. And you know this is a really hard lesson to learn is not only hard lesson to learn for pagan kings but it's a hard lesson to learn for believers in Jesus Christ, just like you, me, Holger Placer because were coming back and go with me to first Corinthians chapter 3 first Corinthians chapter 3 verse 18. The apostle Paul talking to the church of Corinth and most is what I read on will give you the context he said, let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age must become voice so that he may become wise is it for the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God, for it is written, he is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness and again the Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that they are useless. So then let no one boast in men for all things belong to you is that whether power policy receivers or the world or life or death, or things present, or things to come. All things belong to you and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God and go, what is he talking about what happened is the Corinthians, decided that what they wanted to do was they wanted to be followers of particular men.

They idolize certain men and a signal I follow Paul, I like the way Paul teaches, and he's my guy knows about me. I follow Apollo's. He is more eloquent policy is amazing and he is unbelievable in the Old Testament the way he handles and other said no, I really I really prefer Peter I like to be a follower. Peter noticed pulsing what are you doing what are you doing this by way business on just like us. I get all the time. What I really I really thought Charles Stanley.

I follow Chuck's window. By the way, one on the MacArthur right now. Those men would almost be embarrassed to get say that you see will make idols of even teachers of the word of God, you'll make idols of them and that's what Paul was trying to tell them the watch. He said let a man regardless.

In this manner as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

In this case, moreover, is required to stewards at be found trustworthy. He said, but to me it's a very small thing that I be examined by you or by any human court. In fact I don't even examine myself for.

I'm conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted, but the one who examines me is the Lord. He said therefore do not want passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will bring both the like. The things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motive of men's hearts and take each man's praise will then come from God, but I don't care what you think of me.

To be honest I don't want any of you think you is going to matter what the Lord think of me and that's can become clear at a certain time in the future. Then he says this now these things brother and I figure we applied myself up always for your sakes so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other for who regards you as superior in the why do you think your superior.

What do you have and here's the question what do you have that you did not receive. What did you have that you did not receive.

And if you did receive it. Why do you both as if you not not received it. See you understand I pull myself up by my own bootstraps, you understand. I'm a self-made man.

I made myself, what I am today really I don't think you did. I think the sovereign God of love that you see. I think there were so many things out of your control but got orchestrated but knew exactly where you work exactly that moment. I'm not talking about no absence or absence of human responsibility and I'm talking about the sovereign God is pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listening to the message one more time. Remember that you can Google great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting monthly with just the 100 support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor Bill delivered during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC 10 oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sermon series are looking you can search by title. Once you find the messenger looking for. You can listen online work you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt, undies and heart.

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