The Idol Of Human Power - Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. God is doing to him and is an amazing thing. He made that incredible statement. I mean look at this this is Babylon the great agreement with my power. Not only is that the idle of human power.

But that's narcissism me.

I did this morning the year joining us today on this additional fellowship in the work with Pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible Church, located in Metairie going pastoral never now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world poet Debbie Hadley lost his leg as a teenager that made him bitter 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. When you think you got that talent.

What you think the talent the poetry came from was at his control, not at all big open environment that apparently encouraged and allowed him to express himself poetically by the wayside line 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 the King of Kings and then the statement to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom the power and the strength and the glory.

Don't miss that Milligan is one of the be always referred to that way. Nebuchadnezzar said I'm not just a king on the King of Kings.

You see I replace the Syria Egypt the Babylonians are the power of the world and I am the power the Babylonians and noticed a difference to you, O 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 do you get your kingdom from God were to get the power from God were to get the strength 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 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 of 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 using Nebuchadnezzar was being asked to change his perspective of the power of God in human power was amazing. He does look at verse 46 and 47, then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to 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 revealer of mysteries, and you have been able to rebuild this mystery. And then the king promoted Daniel and gave the many great gifts and he made a moreover the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over the wise men of Babylon. Wonderful 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 hold you place your cousin 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 my 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 you 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, he said, with a power policy receiver's 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 is they want 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 you doing this by way business on just like us. I get all the time. What I really I recall Charles Stanley. I follow Chuck Swindoll. 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 of stewards that they 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.

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, 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 know what any of you think 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 were superior in why 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 using Jonathan 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 a sovereign God allow that to happen.

You see, I think there were some things out of your control that got orchestrated up would do exactly where you were exactly that moment. I'm not talking about no absence of absence of human responsibility when talking about the sovereignty of God either friend in the church that was a physician and anesthesiologist and study the word of God together a few times in one of the times were studying the word of God.

He talked to me and he said that he said he wanted me to know that, certainly not all but a few or some surgeons. He said they have the God complex.

He said they have a God complex. He said, is on the anesthesiologist I'm in the room with them and they believe life and death is completely in their hands and he says it's a really interesting thing to watch them adjust is that I've been in surgeries already were. The diagnosis was perfect and the surgery was perfect. Did everything right. Patient died. He said they are stunned. It's in disbelief. It can't be true is an up and other places where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and the patient probably should've died at least once or twice on the table and they lived Nice and the lessons clear it's not in your hands in God's hands, but it's so easy for us to believe in the idol of human power we decide we will decide anything.

Here is the most powerful man on earth.

Nebuchadnezzar and he was taken credit to be king of this great new Babylonian Empire. That's the idolatry of human power was go back to Daniel chapter 4 this time.

By the way, the problem that Nebuchadnezzar had is the problem with you and I often have and that is it look like he was really doing well there for two verses and in any kind of forgot about it ever do that.

I can still remember one of my mentors and favored men in the world. Howard Hendricks said you have to deal with the realization of people in your church and he said for a lot of the people to come to your church so they come into the worship to preach the word of God to fill up their spiritual thimble and ended in a spill of the parking lot whether get in the car and I got that was mighty harsh, but I didn't have the experience that I have now is a lot of insight into that well he starts having more restless nights. God is not finished with them yet, and he sees a new image and this is an image look at Ford of verse 11 of chapter 4 here's what he saw. He said the tree grew large and became strong and he said in his height reached to the sky and it was visible to the end of the whole earth its foliage was beautiful in its food abundant and in it was food for all and the beast of the field found shade under and the birds of the sky dwell in its branches and all the living creatures fed themselves from.

He said I was looking into the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed and, behold, an angel and what your holy one descended from heaven and he shouted out, he spoke as follows. Nothing. The first image was one Nebuchadnezzar lobbed. He's a smart man. I think on the tree. I am the tree I rose the heavens. I cover all these peoples of my shade everybody got sustenance off me and I'm sure it's one of those dreams you love, but notice what happens now. He shouted down spoke as follows chopped down the tree cut off its branches strip off its foliage scatter its fruit, but the bees flee from under it in the birds from its branches, yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field know what's the pronoun changes him and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beast and the grass of the earth and let his mind be changed from that of a man and when a bees mind be given to him and he says amid seven periods of time Passover. Now he knows it's him the meaning that have do all over me what you mean of the knee like animals eat what you mean by that. Why would God do that to me for 17 this census by the decree of the angelic watchers in the decision of the command of the holy ones wise is all happening in order that the living may know that the most high roller over the realm of mankind, and he bestows it on whom he wishes and he sets over the lowliest of men don't miss that, in order that the living may know that the most high is roller over the realm of mankind. He bestows on only wishes and he sets it over the lowliest of men.

Nebuchadnezzar and him to make you the lowliest of men. You understand that if you will apply that first, please understand, he bestows it on whom he wishes and sets it over the lowliest amendment that includes both Democrats and Republicans did get that that's God. I do this it runs on the levers of my sovereignty and it goes to the destination of already decreed. That's the way it works and is a very very hard lesson he see his first dream was more academic. God's power. My power the second one's personal I mean it's really personal.

He's telling them something is going on here. Now I find it interesting to me that he doesn't even stop there. Notice that that verse 25 he said that you may driven of David as Daniel was talking to Medina says you will be driven away from inclining a dwelling place will be the bees the feeling you'll be given grassy like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven set 477. The time will pass over you until you recognize that the most high is rollover the realm of mankind, and he bestows it on whomever he wishes.

You have to recognize this notice is given as we are an opportunity. He's given an opportunity but again he so much like us.

Verse 29. 12 months later, a nothing happened before that happens after periods of conviction to us a lot. You going to the word of God in a Bible study or hearing a sermon, and you get really convicted about something in your life and you will examine really change it and then nothing happens and you go buying cesium must not be that bad. I mean come on, nothing happened anyway and he was talking like godly disappointed away or not.

He's not really because things are going along just fine. 12 months later he was walking on the roof.

The royal palace of Babel in verse 29 the king reflected in. Here's what he said is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence of the might of my power and for the glory by majesty is just like Wheeler. We did this we did this you look at this country. We did this is what he said and by the way he really did. From a human point of view do a lot of he's a dictator does exactly what he wants. And while the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven sinking Nebuchadnezzar to you.

It is declared. He said it is declared sovereignty has been removed from you, your out he sitting you will be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place will be with the beast of the field will be given grass to eat like cattle and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize the most high is rollover the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever he wishes. Once again the same thing immediately.

The word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like Eagles feathers and his nails like bird clause.

Just imagine that psych one of the people thinking yeah is going crazy this clinking and went crazy easy grass with his hands. He's all wet. What is going on here, God is doing to him what he could've done to anyone is ever led any group of people.

He's put them in his place. You see, he's putting them in his place and is an amazing thing.

He made that incredible statement. I mean look at this this is Babylon the great, and I am the greatest is my power my glory. Not only is that the idle of human power. But that's narcissism me. I did this and boy he had a year to get it right and he didn't and so look what happens to him. She look what happens. The Nebuchadnezzar now notice verse 34 pieces by the end of that.

I Nebuchadnezzar raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me and I blessed the most high praise and honored him and lives forever for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, but he does according to his will, and the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and I know now, no one can word office in or say to him what have you done what a great lesson is, what a great lesson for Nebuchadnezzar. What a great lesson for us human powers, and illusion. You see, and ultimately ultimately it always feels she always does by the way, what's the whole point of those that big image. The image is the history of man and he says it could be Babylonian. It could be me to person it could be greasy could be wrong but I would tell you something everything man does ends up in nothing. You see, it all fails is only one that's stone that crosses the image there's only one that succeeds. There's only one who's has the king of an endures forever, and instead of saying I will ascend I will send my power. This is one is that I have all the power I will descend I will become one of them.

I'll be your servant of thy for them exactly the opposite of human power.

We live in a wonderful country truly blessed by God. We get to participate in the wonderful thing coming. If you were Babylonian you to participate in government that's Nebuchadnezzar. He decides. You see, but we get the participate. What a privilege that is we should take advantage of every opportunity to participate, but I would tell you something.

The power that established for this country has been in the past, the power that establishes what this country is now in the power that will establish where this country is in the future is Almighty God. That's God in but we have to stop putting so much more faith in people than we putting God. You see, that's the issue that's Nebuchadnezzar had the learning we have to wanted to. Also, I think most of us live wonderful lives. I think most of us save my life been truly blessed by God.

And here's what's new we get the participate you get the participate in your life. That's a privilege and for many of us, we've taken tremendous advantage of the opportunities that God has given us gave us an opportunity get educated. Many of us. We did and we really worked hard at it was an easy but we took advantage of it gave us our choice. He gave us this opportunity to choose our life partner. We got to choose is a wonderful thing. It flows within his sovereign lobbies, but we get to choose. We got to choose our career opportunities will want to do in our lives, our investments, we get to choose. We get to be part of that. Speaking for myself. Most of the good things that have happened in my life been out of my control, but not his. You see, I agree with Paul. What way have not received, ask yourself the question, what you have not received human power is an illusion. Ultimately, it always feels the spring. Father I pray for us that this particular idle.

The idle of human power is one that is just so much part of who we are. We believe with all of our hard father that we are the captain of our own souls. We establish everything we take the credit because we feel we put in the work.

Father, you taught Nebuchadnezzar a lesson that we need to learn you put Nebuchadnezzar in a position of pagan King. Father, I realize that as people we do everything we can in our own lives there always put ourselves on the throne of her life rather than you and there's probably no way in which we do it in a greater capacity than one want to take credit for what we have instead of giving it to you. Father, I would pray that each of us would learn this lesson about human power without having to go through what Nebuchadnezzar did just by looking at the truth of the word of God. Father, I thank you that there is only one power in this whole universe, one who was sovereign, one who accomplishes his medicine Christ pastoral Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship lower if you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listening to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as Fellowship in the Word.

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