WEBVTT

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 Thank you, Treg.

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 Well, if you would, please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to Daniel chapter 4.

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 Daniel chapter 4.

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 If you're just visiting with us, if this is your first time, second time, third time, joining us for worship,

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 you know, the type of preaching that we do here is called biblical exposition.

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 And so typically how we do this is we walk through books of the Bible.

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 And so if you're wondering why here on Mother's Day I'm preaching a sermon called Pride Mercifully Cut Down,

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 I want you to know it doesn't have anything to do with your mom.

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 All right?

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 It's because last week we were in Daniel chapter 3.

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 And so this week we are in Daniel chapter 4.

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 When you found that, if you would, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's word.

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 Daniel chapter 4.

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 King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth,

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 peace be multiplied to you.

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 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

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 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders.

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 His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

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 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.

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 I saw a dream that made me afraid.

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 As I lay in bed, the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.

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 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me,

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 that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

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 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in,

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 and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

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 At last Daniel came in before me, he who was named Belshazzar after the name of my God,

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 and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.

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 And I told him the dream, saying,

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 O Belshazzar, chief of the magicians,

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 because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you,

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 and that no mystery is too difficult for you,

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 tell me the visions of my head that I saw and their interpretation.

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 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these.

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 I saw and behold a tree in the midst of all the earth,

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 and its height was great.

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 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven,

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 and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.

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 Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant,

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 and in it was food for all.

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 The beasts of the field found shade under it,

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 and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches,

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 and all flesh was fed from it.

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 I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed,

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 and behold a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

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 He proclaimed aloud and said thus,

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 Chop down the tree, and lop off its branches.

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 Strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit.

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 Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches,

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 but leave the stump of its roots in the earth,

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 bound with a band of iron and bronze,

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 amid the tender grass of the field.

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 Let him be wet with the dew of heaven.

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 Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

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 Let his mind be changed from a man's,

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 and let a beast's mind be given to him,

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 and let seven periods of time pass over him.

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 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers,

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 the decision by the word of the holy ones,

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 to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men,

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 and gives it to whom he will,

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 and sets over it the lowliest of men.

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 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw,

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 and you, O Belshazzar, tell me the interpretation,

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 because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation,

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 but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

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 Then Daniel, whose name was Belshazzar, was dismayed for a while,

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 and his thoughts alarmed him.

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 The king answered and said,

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 Belshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.

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 Belshazzar answered and said,

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 My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you,

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 and its interpretation for your enemies.

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 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong,

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 so that its top reached to heaven,

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 and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,

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 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant,

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 and in which was food for all,

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 under which beasts of the field found shade,

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 and whose branches the birds of the heavens lived.

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 It is you, O king,

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 who have grown and become strong.

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 Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven,

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 and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

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 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one,

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 coming down from heaven and saying,

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 Chop down the tree and destroy it,

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 but leave the stump of its roots in the earth,

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 bound with a band of iron and bronze,

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 in the tender grass of the field,

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 and let him be wet with the dew of heaven,

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 and let his portion be with the beasts of the field,

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 till seven periods of time pass over him.

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 This is the interpretation, O king.

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 It is a decree of the Most High God,

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 which has come upon my lord the king,

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 that you shall be driven from among men,

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 and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.

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 You shall be made to eat grass like an ox,

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 and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven,

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 and seven periods of time shall pass over you,

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 till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men,

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 and gives it to whom he will.

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 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree,

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 your kingdom shall be confirmed for you,

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 from the time that you know that heaven rules.

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 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you.

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 Break off your sins by practicing righteousness,

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 and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed,

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 that there may be perhaps a lengthening of your prosperity.

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 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

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 At the end of twelve months,

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 he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

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 and the king answered and said,

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 Is not this great Babylon,

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 which I have built by my mighty power,

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 as a royal residence for the glory of my majesty?

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 While the words were still in the king's mouth,

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 there fell a voice from heaven.

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 O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken.

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 The kingdom has departed from you,

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 and you shall be driven from among men,

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 and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field,

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 and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox,

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 and seven periods of time shall pass over you,

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 until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men,

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 and gives it to whom he will.

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 Immediately, the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.

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 He was driven from among men,

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 and ate grass like an ox,

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 and his body was wet with the dew of heaven,

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 till his hair grew as long as eagle's feathers,

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 and his nails were like bird's claws.

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 At the end of the days,

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 I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven,

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 and my reason returned to me,

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 and I blessed the Most High,

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 and praised and honored him who lives forever.

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 For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

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 and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

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 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

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 and he does according to his will among the hosts of heaven,

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 and among the inhabitants of the earth.

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 And none can stay his hand or say to him,

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 What have you done?

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 At the same time, my reason returned to me,

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 and for the glory of my kingdom,

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 my majesty and splendor returned to me.

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 My counselors and my Lord sought me,

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 and I was established in my kingdom,

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 and still more greatness was added to me.

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 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,

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 praise and extol and honor the King of heaven.

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 For all his works are right,

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 and his ways are just,

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 and those who walk in pride,

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 he is able to humble.

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 This is God's holy, perfect word.

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 Would you pray with me once more?

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 Lord, we pray now as we open your word,

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 would you speak to us through it?

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 Would you show us what truth you would have us to learn from it this morning?

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 Would you teach us?

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 Would you humble us this morning?

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 Would you lead us to Christ in honor and praise?

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 Well, one of my favorite parts about being a pastor,

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 and being your pastor,

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 is that I get to hear all of your testimonies

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 of how you came to faith in the Lord.

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 I get to share my own testimony fairly often,

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 and as a part of becoming a member of our local church here,

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 I get to hear all of your testimonies.

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 And for many of us, there's a common theme.

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 Our story begins with us observing the work of God in someone else's life.

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 We see, by our nearness to them,

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 the work that God's doing in them.

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 We observe something incredible that God's done in their life,

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 but then all of a sudden, something starts to happen,

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 and the Lord begins to work in us.

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 And now all of a sudden, we begin to trust the Lord.

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 And now all of a sudden, it's not just what God's doing for them,

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 it's what God is doing to us.

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 Our heart is changed.

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 We begin to thank the Lord.

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 We begin to praise the Lord.

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 We begin to love the Lord.

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 It moves from what God is doing for them to what God is now doing for me.

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 As we come this morning to Daniel chapter 4,

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 it seems to me that that is what's happening here with Nebuchadnezzar.

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 Now, through three chapters of Daniel,

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 Nebuchadnezzar has seen the Lord work.

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 He's been impressed with the way that Daniel has trusted God for wisdom.

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 He's witnessed secondhand.

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 He's witnessed the Lord save three men through the fire.

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 But now, here in chapter 4, I think that a shift has taken place.

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 In chapter 3, it ended with Nebuchadnezzar making a decree

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 that no peoples, nations, and languages should ever speak a negative word

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 against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

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 But now, here in chapter 4, King Nebuchadnezzar,

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 he speaks to all peoples, nations, and languages again.

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 But now, it's not in response to what God has done for someone else.

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 Verse 2, it says that it has seemed good to me

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 to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

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 Something has changed in Nebuchadnezzar.

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 What we see here in chapter 4, I believe,

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 is Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony of God's work in his life.

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 This is his personal testimony.

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 It's not a pretty story.

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 We're going to see that here in just a moment.

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 But it is a beautiful story of God's mercy towards prideful sinners.

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 This is a story of God's mercy towards prideful sinners like Nebuchadnezzar,

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 prideful sinners like me,

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 and prideful sinners like you.

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 It's a story of pride mercifully cut down to the praise and glory of God.

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 The big idea for us this morning here in Daniel chapter 4

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 is that God is merciful to save prideful sinners like us.

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 That's the big idea.

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 So we're going to see three acts of God's mercy towards the proud this morning.

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 Daniel chapter 4.

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 If you're a note taker, if that helps you to follow along,

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 we try to make it easy for you.

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 So we're going to have three acts of God's mercy towards the proud this morning.

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 First, first act of God's mercy towards the proud

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 is that God mercifully reveals his sovereignty to the proud.

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 God mercifully reveals his sovereignty.

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 Look there to verse 4 with me.

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 Here we find Nebuchadnezzar dreaming again.

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 If you're getting deja vu,

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 if you've been with us throughout the book of Daniel,

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 this might sound familiar to you

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 because we've been here before, haven't we?

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 We're on familiar ground.

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 Do you remember from Daniel chapter 2,

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 Nebuchadnezzar had this terrifying dream.

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 He called in all the wise men of Babylon,

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 all the sorcerers and the magicians and the Chaldeans,

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 and the wisdom of Babylon.

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 Was it successful?

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 No, it failed.

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 They were unable to tell him both the dream and its interpretation.

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 That was Daniel chapter 2.

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 And so he calls in Daniel,

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 and Daniel was able by the wisdom of his God

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 to reveal both the dream and its interpretation.

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 Well, we don't know exactly how much time has passed

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 between chapter 2 and here in chapter 4,

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 but here we are again.

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 And Nebuchadnezzar, again, is having a nightmare,

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 a bad dream, and he wants to understand what he's seeing

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 as he sleeps in his bed at night,

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 and apparently this one caught him off guard.

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 It came when he was least expecting it.

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 He said that he was at ease in his house.

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 He's prospering in his palace.

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 He falls asleep, no doubt,

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 his belly full and happy,

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 and he's terrified by a vision and a dream.

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 And so once again,

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 he calls for the wise men of Babylon to come,

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 and once again they fail.

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 And so verse 8,

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 he calls in Daniel,

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 who he's renamed Belt-Shazar after the name of his God.

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 Nebuchadnezzar tells him his dream,

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 and he says in verse 10,

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 the visions of my head as I lay in bed were these.

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 He sees a great tree in the midst of all the earth.

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 Its height was great.

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 This tree grew and became strong.

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.019
 Its top reached up to the heavens.

00:14:12.180 --> 00:14:15.139
 It was visible to the end of the whole earth.

00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.860
 The leaves of the tree were beautiful.

00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:19.620
 Its fruit was abundant,

00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.060
 and it was food for all.

00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:22.420
 The beasts of the field,

00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.379
 they all came and found shade under the tree.

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:26.120
 And the birds of the heavens,

00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.320
 they lived in its branches.

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.700
 All flesh was fed from this tree.

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.840
 This tree was an incredible,

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:36.320
 beautiful, life-giving,

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:39.100
 strong, fruitful tree.

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.240
 And you see,

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:42.120
 it kept growing and growing and growing,

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:42.720
 which of course,

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:44.560
 that seems like a good thing, doesn't it?

00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.940
 That would mean more beauty,

00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:47.560
 more provision,

00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:48.519
 more life,

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:49.379
 more strength,

00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.240
 more glory.

00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.980
 That sounds like a good thing

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:53.440
 for this tree to grow.

00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.160
 But then verse 13,

00:14:57.380 --> 00:14:58.540
 he sees something else.

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:58.860
 He says,

00:14:58.940 --> 00:15:00.020
 Behold, a watcher,

00:15:01.020 --> 00:15:02.000
 a holy one,

00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:05.660
 and we can understand this to be an angel,

00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.320
 came and said,

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.380
 Chop down the tree

00:15:09.380 --> 00:15:12.340
 and lop off its branches,

00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.720
 strip off its leaves,

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:15.840
 scatter its fruit,

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:18.240
 let the beast flee out from under it,

00:15:18.280 --> 00:15:20.320
 let the birds fly away from its branches.

00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:23.040
 Why in the world would anybody do this

00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:23.860
 to this great tree?

00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:26.460
 All the environmentalists

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:29.000
 are quaking in their boots right now, right?

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.240
 Why in the world

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.200
 would we chop down this beautiful,

00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:32.980
 strong,

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.400
 life-giving,

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.879
 fruitful tree?

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.620
 We'll see why in just a moment.

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:40.420
 But the watcher goes on

00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.480
 with more to the vision.

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:41.980
 He says,

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.800
 But leave the stump of its roots

00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:45.440
 in the earth,

00:15:45.540 --> 00:15:46.880
 bound with a band of iron

00:15:46.880 --> 00:15:48.260
 and bronze,

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:50.740
 leave it there amid the tender grass of the field,

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.860
 let him be wet with the dew of heaven,

00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:55.519
 let his portion be with the beast

00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.799
 in the grass of the earth,

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.639
 and let his mind be changed from a man's,

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:02.279
 and let a beast's mind be given to him,

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:05.980
 and let seven periods of time pass over him.

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.299
 Now it's clear at this point

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.860
 that we're not talking about a tree, right?

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:13.879
 This beautiful, strong, abundant,

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.519
 life-giving tree

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.120
 is really one person,

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:18.940
 him,

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.279
 who's going to be cut down.

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.039
 The tree is cut down in the vision,

00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:25.200
 but that tree is symbolic of a person

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.340
 who will be cut down

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:28.759
 to the stump.

00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:29.600
 Why?

00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:30.840
 Well, here's the point of the dream.

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:33.560
 To the end,

00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:35.000
 that the living may know

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:38.399
 that the Most High rules the kingdom of men

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:41.060
 and gives it to whom he will

00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:44.280
 and sets over it the lowliest of men.

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.340
 You hear that?

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:47.820
 That's the point of this dream.

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.300
 Well, Daniel hears this dream

00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:52.300
 and he's dismayed.

00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.360
 It says he's alarmed

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.379
 and he tells Nebuchadnezzar

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:56.680
 that this tree in the dream

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:59.300
 is you, Nebuchadnezzar.

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:01.799
 Your greatness has grown.

00:17:01.979 --> 00:17:03.039
 You've become strong,

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:03.839
 but Nebuchadnezzar,

00:17:03.979 --> 00:17:06.259
 you are about to be chopped down

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.480
 to the stump.

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:09.720
 Again, verse 25,

00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:11.359
 till you know

00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.240
 that the Most High rules the kingdom of men

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.539
 and gives it to whom he will.

00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:20.079
 All this is going to happen to you

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.980
 until you know, Nebuchadnezzar,

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.200
 that heaven rules.

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:26.680
 Now, we'll see the fulfillment

00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:28.119
 of this dream in just a moment.

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.680
 But for now,

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.639
 we need to understand

00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:34.680
 this big picture purpose of the vision.

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.359
 We need to understand

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:38.119
 the big picture message of the dream.

00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.740
 This is God mercifully revealing

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:45.059
 his sovereignty to a prideful sinner.

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:45.799
 Do you see that?

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:49.139
 This is God mercifully revealing

00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:50.419
 his sovereignty.

00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.799
 Now, I realize that we've said that word,

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.259
 sovereignty.

00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:55.299
 I haven't defined it yet for you.

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:57.859
 So, it's a Christian, theological,

00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.859
 biblical word,

00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.940
 but it's very simple in its meaning.

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:03.399
 Sovereignty simply means control.

00:18:04.919 --> 00:18:07.659
 Sovereignty means God rules.

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.720
 If you're sovereign,

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.659
 you're the one in charge.

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.139
 If you're sovereign,

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.299
 you are in control.

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.039
 If you're sovereign,

00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:14.940
 then you're the one that's ruling.

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:17.119
 So, to say that God is sovereign

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.819
 means God is in control.

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.639
 It means God is ruling.

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.680
 Kings of the earth,

00:18:22.780 --> 00:18:26.240
 they have a limited geographical territory

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:28.700
 with a limited number of people

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.960
 under their charge,

00:18:30.020 --> 00:18:32.600
 and their reign is for a limited amount of time.

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:37.160
 But God has total, complete,

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:39.580
 absolute sovereignty

00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:42.380
 over everyone, everywhere,

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:46.300
 at all times, in all places.

00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:49.600
 In fact, that's a lot of the point

00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.639
 of the book of Daniel.

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.439
 It's to teach us

00:18:52.439 --> 00:18:54.119
 that God is sovereign

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:56.359
 over all of human history.

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.799
 He raises up kings,

00:18:57.899 --> 00:19:00.139
 and He sets them down.

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.980
 As kingdoms come,

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.839
 and as kingdoms go,

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.879
 the Lord is working out all things

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:09.379
 to usher in His perfect kingdom.

00:19:10.219 --> 00:19:11.079
 And it works opposite

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.279
 as the way that the kingdoms

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.679
 of this world work, doesn't it?

00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:14.599
 The kingdoms of this world,

00:19:14.699 --> 00:19:15.859
 they grow big and strong,

00:19:15.959 --> 00:19:16.399
 and eventually,

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.459
 they're cut down to the root.

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.120
 But the kingdom of God,

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.640
 what happens?

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.380
 It starts as small as a mustard seed,

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.059
 and it grows,

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:24.960
 and grows,

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.920
 and grows,

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.500
 and grows,

00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.980
 until it's the greatest tree

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:30.799
 that covers the whole earth.

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.319
 To say that God is sovereign

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:36.400
 is to say that all peoples,

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.680
 all places,

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.940
 all kings,

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.220
 all nations,

00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:42.519
 every minute of every day

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:44.220
 of your life and mine

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:47.039
 is under God's sovereign control,

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.119
 which means,

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.920
 Nebuchadnezzar,

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:50.519
 God is in charge,

00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.079
 not you.

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.980
 Which means,

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.720
 you and me,

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.980
 God is in charge,

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.859
 not us.

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.680
 Here's what we need to understand.

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:03.559
 Understanding that God

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:05.180
 is totally sovereign,

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:08.139
 absolutely in control,

00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:12.059
 is crucial to killing our pride.

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:15.079
 We have to get to that point

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:17.599
 of attributing absolute sovereignty

00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.099
 to Him.

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.940
 Our pride,

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.359
 it wants to hold on

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:22.179
 to some level of control,

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:24.500
 to hold on to some sphere

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.299
 of influence,

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:25.940
 but God,

00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.159
 He's merciful

00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:29.099
 to strip everything away

00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.940
 so that we see

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.740
 that we are not in control,

00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:33.159
 but He is.

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:35.259
 Now,

00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:35.680
 I wonder,

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.940
 how much sovereignty

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.720
 do you attribute

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.480
 to the Lord?

00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:42.560
 Listen to what the Scriptures

00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:43.440
 have to say.

00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:44.560
 I just want to point you

00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:46.200
 to just a few places.

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.940
 This is all over the Bible.

00:20:48.060 --> 00:20:48.660
 I just want to show you

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.600
 just a few places

00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:50.840
 that talk about

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.920
 God's sovereignty.

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.860
 Psalm 115,

00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:54.660
 verse 3.

00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.360
 It says,

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:58.000
 Our God is in the heavens.

00:20:58.360 --> 00:21:00.980
 He does all that He pleases.

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:01.620
 You hear that?

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.559
 That's sovereignty.

00:21:04.479 --> 00:21:05.559
 If you get to do

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.059
 whatever you want to do,

00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.719
 you are sovereign.

00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:09.919
 Now,

00:21:09.979 --> 00:21:10.859
 we want to act like that,

00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:11.219
 don't we?

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.319
 When we try to do

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:13.079
 all that we please,

00:21:13.179 --> 00:21:14.479
 is that good or bad?

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.439
 Normally,

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.339
 that doesn't work out

00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.079
 so well for us.

00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:18.519
 That's sinful for us,

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.079
 but that's sovereignty for God.

00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:21.619
 Our God is in the heavens.

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.319
 He does whatever He wants.

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.459
 Isaiah 46,

00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.579
 verses 9 and 10.

00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:29.139
 We've already seen in Daniel,

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.299
 God has planned out

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.599
 all of human history

00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:33.159
 from beginning to end.

00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:34.099
 Isaiah 46,

00:21:34.199 --> 00:21:35.139
 verses 9 and 10.

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.219
 He says,

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.119
 I am God,

00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:38.539
 and there is none like me,

00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:40.299
 declaring the end

00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:41.219
 from the beginning,

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.079
 and from ancient times

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.419
 things not yet done,

00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:45.039
 saying,

00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:46.779
 My counsel shall stand,

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.759
 and I will accomplish

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.839
 all my purpose.

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.179
 You know,

00:21:52.199 --> 00:21:52.959
 there's only one way

00:21:52.959 --> 00:21:53.739
 that you can declare

00:21:53.739 --> 00:21:55.079
 the end from the beginning,

00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:57.259
 is if you know

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.319
 what the end's going to be,

00:21:58.419 --> 00:21:58.859
 but He says,

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.259
 He doesn't just leave it at that.

00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:00.579
 He says,

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.439
 I'm going to accomplish

00:22:01.439 --> 00:22:02.599
 everything I want to do

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.099
 in the meantime.

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.480
 He's not just looking

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.480
 to see how the end's

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.279
 going to play out.

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.679
 He doesn't just write

00:22:08.679 --> 00:22:10.019
 the last page of the book,

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.319
 read the last page of the book.

00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:14.139
 God writes all of human history

00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:16.720
 to accomplish all His purposes.

00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.500
 And then in the pages of Scripture,

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:20.059
 He tells us how it's going to play out.

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.720
 He's sovereign

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:22.839
 over all of human history.

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:25.579
 Revelation chapter 4,

00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.079
 it tells us,

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.839
 You created all things,

00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:29.159
 and by Your will

00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:29.919
 they existed

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:31.119
 and were created.

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.359
 He's sovereign in creation.

00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:34.399
 Paul says in Ephesians

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.819
 chapter 1 verse 11,

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.839
 He works all things

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.319
 according to the counsel

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.139
 of His will.

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.000
 All things.

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.459
 Which means He's sovereign

00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:43.819
 in providence

00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:45.019
 and the working out

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:46.740
 of our daily lives

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:48.279
 within His own sphere

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.419
 of creation.

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.339
 He's sovereign in creation.

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.599
 He's sovereign in providence.

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:54.279
 He's sovereign in salvation.

00:22:55.219 --> 00:22:56.879
 2 Timothy 1 verse 9,

00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:59.179
 God saved us

00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:00.459
 and called us

00:23:00.459 --> 00:23:01.719
 to a holy calling,

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:04.159
 not because of our works,

00:23:04.699 --> 00:23:06.740
 but because of His own purpose

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.659
 and grace,

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.099
 which He gave us

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.179
 in Jesus Christ

00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:10.559
 when,

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:11.699
 when,

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:14.759
 before the ages began.

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:18.079
 He's sovereign in creation

00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.019
 and providence

00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.759
 and salvation.

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.059
 He's sovereign over every

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.339
 roll of the dice

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.199
 in every board game

00:23:23.199 --> 00:23:24.059
 you play with your kids,

00:23:24.199 --> 00:23:24.339
 Mom.

00:23:25.959 --> 00:23:27.779
 Proverbs 16 verse 33,

00:23:28.919 --> 00:23:31.199
 The lot is cast into the lap,

00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:33.359
 but as every decision

00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:35.079
 is from the Lord.

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:38.079
 The point is,

00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:40.480
 God is totally,

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.339
 completely,

00:23:43.199 --> 00:23:44.199
 absolutely,

00:23:44.919 --> 00:23:46.059
 without limit,

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.299
 universally

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.679
 sovereign.

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.460
 Which means

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:52.799
 He's sovereign over you.

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.359
 He's sovereign over me.

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:57.439
 He's sovereign over

00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.879
 your family.

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.839
 He's sovereign over

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.980
 your struggle,

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.939
 whatever that may be

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.500
 this morning.

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.940
 He's sovereign over your job.

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.259
 He's sovereign over your sickness.

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.360
 He's sovereign over your,

00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.259
 your prosperity

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.039
 and your wellness.

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.799
 He's sovereign

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:12.140
 over everything.

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:14.039
 We have to get this message.

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:16.880
 And it's an easy one,

00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.660
 it's an easy one

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.740
 for prideful people

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:23.059
 to just shut out of our minds.

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.920
 Because again,

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.160
 prideful people

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.519
 want control.

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.259
 We want to contribute

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.160
 in some way

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.059
 to our salvation.

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.519
 We want to control

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.440
 and be in charge

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.200
 of our life.

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.180
 We want to manage

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.660
 our own little sphere

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.639
 of influence.

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:40.660
 And this is my kingdom.

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.859
 This is my life.

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:43.559
 This is what I have control

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.359
 of right here.

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.279
 Church,

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:45.900
 listen to me.

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.680
 Until we realize

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.740
 that God is in control,

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.900
 not you,

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.559
 you will be proud

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.759
 when things go well

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.339
 and you will be devastated

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.480
 when things fall apart.

00:24:58.199 --> 00:25:00.179
 The message of God's sovereignty

00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.519
 is good news for us

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.259
 because ultimately

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:04.119
 it means it's not about us.

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:08.559
 Has he shown you

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:11.159
 that you are not sovereign?

00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:13.500
 That he is.

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:17.379
 God reveals this

00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.359
 to Nebuchadnezzar here

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:21.059
 as an act of divine mercy.

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.199
 God is merciful

00:25:22.199 --> 00:25:23.119
 to show us

00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:25.359
 that prideful sinners

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:25.899
 like us

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:27.599
 are not in control.

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:28.899
 He is.

00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.579
 Not only this,

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:29.939
 second,

00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:32.339
 second act of God's mercy

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.879
 towards prideful people

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.479
 like us

00:25:34.479 --> 00:25:35.139
 is that God

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:36.919
 mercifully rebukes

00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:37.639
 our sin.

00:25:39.219 --> 00:25:40.199
 God mercifully

00:25:40.199 --> 00:25:41.139
 rebukes

00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:42.459
 our sin.

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.459
 In light of God's

00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:47.859
 revealed plan here

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.619
 through this dream,

00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.279
 Daniel's counsel

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.279
 to Nebuchadnezzar

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.920
 was pretty clear,

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.639
 wasn't it?

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.639
 Pretty bold, too,

00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.579
 to say this to the king.

00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.299
 Verse 27

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.160
 says,

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.960
 Therefore, O king,

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.700
 let my counsel

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.899
 be acceptable to you.

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.720
 Break off your sins

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:04.519
 by practicing righteousness

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:06.299
 and your iniquities

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.099
 by showing mercy

00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.980
 to the oppressed

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:09.279
 that there may perhaps

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.460
 be a lengthening

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.720
 of your prosperity.

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.160
 In other words,

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.539
 king,

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.700
 repent.

00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:17.779
 Repent of your pride.

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.619
 Humble yourself.

00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:20.919
 Stop basking

00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:21.919
 in your greatness.

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:23.279
 Be merciful to others.

00:26:23.439 --> 00:26:24.799
 Give some of your greatness

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.979
 away to the oppressed.

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:26.799
 Give to the poor.

00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.919
 Break off your sins

00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:31.079
 and practice righteousness.

00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:31.639
 Why?

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:33.559
 Because you're not as great

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.319
 as you think you are.

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.059
 Yeah,

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.979
 the meaning of the dream

00:26:37.979 --> 00:26:38.519
 was clear.

00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:41.319
 I think Daniel's counsel

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.500
 was clear.

00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:44.279
 But apparently,

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.159
 the message

00:26:45.159 --> 00:26:46.779
 didn't stick.

00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:47.500
 And the fact is,

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:49.619
 our pride is not easily killed,

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:49.980
 is it?

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.819
 It runs deep within us.

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.480
 You would have thought

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.759
 that by this point,

00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.960
 after seeing all that he's seen,

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.180
 Nebuchadnezzar might have

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.660
 gotten the message by now,

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.960
 but it's clear that he didn't.

00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.339
 It's not a problem

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.099
 with the clarity

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.039
 of the message.

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.119
 It's a problem

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:03.880
 with the hardness

00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:05.599
 of Nebuchadnezzar's heart.

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.839
 I read a story

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.460
 this week

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.640
 from Sinclair Ferguson.

00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.559
 He told a story

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:13.339
 about the Welsh evangelist

00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.720
 John Elias.

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.079
 And he said that

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.720
 there was a time

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.799
 when the local blacksmith

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:19.019
 bought a new dog.

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:20.140
 And shortly afterwards,

00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:21.940
 when Elias visited

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.160
 the blacksmith's shop,

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.339
 the dog could be heard

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.240
 just barking

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.059
 and barking

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.620
 and barking

00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.600
 fiercely

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:29.180
 as the blacksmith's hammer

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.480
 beat down on the metal.

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.299
 As often as he

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.500
 whacked that hammer

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.480
 down to the anvil,

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.660
 that dog would be barking.

00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.019
 Well,

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.900
 as time went on,

00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.759
 the hammering continued,

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.319
 but the barking

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.559
 got quieter

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:43.000
 and quieter,

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.420
 less frequent,

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.200
 less often

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.039
 until one day

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.860
 Elias looked

00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.660
 inside the shop.

00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.640
 He saw the blacksmith

00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.620
 hammering away

00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.360
 at the anvil

00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:51.720
 and there was the dog

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.600
 by his side

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:54.420
 asleep by the fire.

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.940
 He had grown numb

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.660
 to the hammering

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.880
 on the anvil.

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.480
 In a similar way here,

00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:03.320
 Nebuchadnezzar,

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.080
 he's heard the banging

00:28:05.080 --> 00:28:06.120
 of this truth before,

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.539
 hasn't he?

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:08.460
 He's come face to face

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.860
 with God's power

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.880
 and God's might

00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.840
 and God's sovereignty

00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:12.580
 and God's goodness

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.699
 over and over

00:28:13.699 --> 00:28:14.919
 and over and over

00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.439
 again,

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:17.339
 but he's grown numb

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.740
 to it.

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:20.339
 He's asleep by the fire,

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.379
 so to speak.

00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:23.439
 He says he's at ease

00:28:23.439 --> 00:28:24.359
 in his palace,

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.059
 he's comfortable

00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:26.079
 in his prosperity,

00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:28.179
 but all of that

00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:29.139
 is about to change

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.980
 because as you probably

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.279
 know,

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.319
 if God wants to get

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.939
 your attention,

00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:34.339
 he's going to do it.

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.819
 The easy way

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.559
 or the hard way?

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:39.700
 Nebuchadnezzar chooses

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:41.000
 the hard way here.

00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:42.700
 So verse 28,

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.220
 it says,

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:46.480
 all this came upon

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.700
 King Nebuchadnezzar.

00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:51.419
 At the end of 12 months,

00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:53.539
 he was walking on the roof

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.359
 of the royal palace

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:54.859
 of Babylon

00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:56.720
 and it says that he said,

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:58.519
 is not this great Babylon

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.720
 which I have built

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:02.480
 by my mighty power

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:04.319
 as a royal residence

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.039
 for the glory

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:07.240
 of my majesty.

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.400
 You hear how humble he is?

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.759
 This is after the dream.

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.700
 Can you believe this?

00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.680
 He looks out

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:15.180
 and admires his kingdom

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.759
 which no doubt

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.660
 was very impressive,

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:16.940
 right,

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.099
 by all accounts,

00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.019
 historical accounts

00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.980
 of the ancient city

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.519
 of Babylon.

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.860
 It was very impressive.

00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.620
 Nebuchadnezzar,

00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:25.319
 he did play a large role

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.539
 in the building

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.360
 and the greatness

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.079
 of this city.

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.259
 The records show

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.579
 that he rebuilt

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.660
 12 temples

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:33.060
 he finished

00:29:33.060 --> 00:29:33.680
 the construction

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:35.380
 of the great city wall.

00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:36.940
 He built this royal palace

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.700
 that he was walking

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.980
 on the roof of

00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.720
 and attached

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.800
 to the royal palace

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:42.200
 was the hanging gardens

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.820
 of Babylon,

00:29:43.300 --> 00:29:43.460
 right,

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.200
 which if you've heard

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.519
 of that,

00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.480
 that's one of the

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.340
 seven wonders,

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.060
 great wonders

00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:48.040
 of the ancient world.

00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:50.100
 He was incredibly

00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:50.880
 accomplished

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.560
 and he knew it.

00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.580
 And I want to say,

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:53.900
 too,

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.440
 that there's nothing

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.200
 wrong whatsoever

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.380
 with accomplishing

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.259
 great things.

00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.519
 There's nothing wrong

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:03.240
 with putting your skill

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.960
 and your mind

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.960
 and your labor

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.500
 to work

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.420
 and accomplishing

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.059
 great things

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.559
 and achieving

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.519
 great goals,

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.400
 but it makes

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.400
 all the difference

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.539
 in the world

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.720
 who it's for

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.700
 and who gets

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.119
 the credit.

00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.339
 Listen again

00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:17.859
 to what Nebuchadnezzar

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.220
 said.

00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:18.639
 He said,

00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.639
 I built this

00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:22.799
 by my power

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:25.160
 for my glory.

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.059
 You hear that?

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.420
 Verse 31,

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.200
 it says that

00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.300
 while these words

00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:31.340
 were still in his mouth,

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.360
 he heard a voice.

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.980
 King Nebuchadnezzar,

00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:35.300
 to you it is spoken,

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.620
 the kingdom has departed

00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.240
 from you.

00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:38.400
 You shall be driven

00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.340
 from among men.

00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:40.259
 Your dwelling shall be

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.840
 with the beasts

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.420
 of the field.

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.640
 You shall eat grass

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:43.300
 like an ox

00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:44.200
 and seven periods

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.100
 of time shall pass

00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:45.640
 over you

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.900
 until you know

00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:48.539
 that the Most High

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.400
 rules the kingdom

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:49.920
 of men

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:51.300
 and gives it

00:30:51.300 --> 00:30:52.019
 to whom

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.080
 he will.

00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:54.800
 Immediately,

00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.060
 it says,

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.319
 the word was fulfilled

00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:59.019
 against Nebuchadnezzar.

00:30:59.079 --> 00:30:59.599
 Can you imagine?

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.419
 One minute,

00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.619
 he's standing

00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:03.460
 on his palace

00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.440
 and he's looking

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.480
 out over his kingdom.

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.259
 He's boasting

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.240
 in all this great

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.179
 accomplishment,

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.179
 great achievements,

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.099
 patting himself

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.799
 on the back,

00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.299
 thinking about

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.039
 all that he's done

00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:13.500
 and the next moment

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.599
 he's an animal

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.519
 out in the field

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:17.339
 eating grass

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.099
 like an ox.

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.200
 His body's wet

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.879
 with the water

00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.359
 and the dew.

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.339
 His hair grows out

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.839
 as long as eagle's feathers.

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.519
 His nails

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.740
 are like bird's claws

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.759
 and Ferguson,

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:27.140
 again,

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.519
 he says,

00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:29.140
 he becomes externally

00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.599
 what he's proven

00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.400
 himself to be

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:31.980
 internally.

00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.240
 A beast.

00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:37.539
 For seven periods

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.019
 of time,

00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:38.620
 all of it

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.539
 was stripped

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.700
 away.

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.599
 And we don't know

00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.599
 how long

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:45.339
 those seven periods

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.299
 of time are.

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:46.720
 Days,

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.319
 minutes,

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:47.740
 weeks,

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.220
 months,

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:48.759
 years.

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.480
 We're not told

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.660
 how to measure

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:51.720
 those seven periods

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.140
 of time.

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.460
 I think it's more

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.460
 likely than not

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.620
 that Daniel's

00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.140
 showing us

00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:56.680
 with seven

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.500
 being the number

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.180
 of perfection

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.980
 and completion

00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.079
 that whatever

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.079
 the actual amount

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.240
 of time was,

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.240
 it was just

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.380
 the right amount

00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.160
 of time

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.600
 prescribed by

00:32:06.600 --> 00:32:07.759
 a sovereign God

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.840
 until this king

00:32:08.840 --> 00:32:09.420
 got it.

00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:11.160
 Until he knew

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.740
 that the Most High

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.700
 rules the kingdom

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.860
 of men.

00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:16.480
 Now just think

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.860
 about how humiliating

00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.600
 this must have been

00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.680
 for King Nebuchadnezzar.

00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:21.860
 The king has been

00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:23.180
 reduced to an animal.

00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:23.860
 Today,

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.220
 doctors would

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.019
 diagnose this

00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.820
 as clinical

00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:27.940
 lycanthropy.

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.279
 Have you ever

00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.660
 heard of this?

00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:30.080
 It's an actual,

00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:31.039
 I'm not joking,

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.840
 it's a medical

00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.420
 condition.

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.500
 You can look it up.

00:32:33.580 --> 00:32:34.480
 It's a mental

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.320
 illness where

00:32:35.320 --> 00:32:36.279
 an individual,

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.220
 he genuinely

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.620
 believes that

00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:39.019
 they have

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:39.740
 transformed

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.900
 into an animal.

00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:42.420
 Sometimes it's

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:43.240
 long lasting,

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:44.000
 sometimes it's

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.060
 short periods

00:32:45.060 --> 00:32:46.380
 of just mental

00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:46.860
 illness.

00:32:47.060 --> 00:32:47.680
 There are all

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.340
 sorts of medical

00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:48.720
 cases.

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.960
 You can go home

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.480
 and read.

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.339
 They understand

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:51.759
 it to be an

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.680
 extremely rare

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:54.079
 form of psychosis

00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.700
 and it is

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.279
 fascinating.

00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:57.559
 But you just

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.420
 imagine the

00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:59.120
 king.

00:33:00.360 --> 00:33:00.860
 You would never

00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:01.579
 imagine the

00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.839
 king to be

00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:04.019
 reduced to that

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.339
 level of

00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.660
 sickness and

00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.880
 weakness and

00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.759
 humility.

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.860
 One who's

00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.539
 mentally and

00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.400
 physically impressive,

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.120
 who's accomplished

00:33:12.120 --> 00:33:12.799
 all sorts of

00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.620
 incredible feats

00:33:13.620 --> 00:33:14.400
 during his reign.

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.120
 All of a sudden

00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:15.779
 he's stripped

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.940
 down to

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.660
 nothing.

00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:19.460
 driven out in

00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.060
 the fields to

00:33:20.060 --> 00:33:21.060
 go eat grass

00:33:21.060 --> 00:33:21.380
 like an

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.759
 animal.

00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:25.800
 If I didn't

00:33:25.800 --> 00:33:26.180
 know any

00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:26.660
 better, I

00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.100
 would say that

00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:28.440
 this looks like

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.000
 judgment,

00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:30.120
 doesn't it?

00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:32.540
 How in the

00:33:32.540 --> 00:33:33.340
 world can this

00:33:33.340 --> 00:33:34.519
 be merciful?

00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:36.240
 We say this is

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:36.580
 the Lord

00:33:36.580 --> 00:33:37.840
 mercifully rebuking

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.460
 Nebuchadnezzar's

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.660
 sin.

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.140
 How in the

00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:39.640
 world is this

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.200
 an act of

00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:40.980
 God's mercy?

00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:41.400
 Well, there's

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.759
 one word there

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.300
 that gives us

00:33:43.300 --> 00:33:43.580
 hope.

00:33:43.840 --> 00:33:44.279
 You see it?

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:46.139
 That word

00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:47.319
 until.

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.879
 All this will

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.899
 come upon you.

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.500
 All this will

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.539
 happen until

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.980
 you know that

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.980
 God is king.

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.480
 That God

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.139
 rules.

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.740
 This may look

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.299
 on the surface

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.480
 like judgment,

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.220
 but if the end

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:02.099
 purpose, if the

00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:02.940
 purpose of this

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.680
 condition is

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:05.279
 redemptive, then

00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:06.779
 it is mercy,

00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.899
 even if it

00:34:07.899 --> 00:34:08.279
 hurts.

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.460
 Of course, God

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.320
 does judge

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.900
 pride.

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.139
 We're going

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.519
 to see this

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.000
 more clearly

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.840
 next week with

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.740
 the story of

00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.519
 Belshazzar.

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.660
 He's well

00:34:16.660 --> 00:34:17.519
 within his

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.160
 rights to

00:34:18.160 --> 00:34:19.519
 judge pride.

00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:20.200
 God does

00:34:20.200 --> 00:34:20.960
 not owe

00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.980
 anybody an

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.619
 until.

00:34:23.720 --> 00:34:23.900
 Do you

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.460
 understand me?

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.039
 God does

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.920
 not owe

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.119
 anybody one

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.099
 more minute to

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.700
 repent of their

00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:30.039
 pride.

00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.280
 God does

00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:31.940
 not owe

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.660
 anybody

00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:33.500
 patience.

00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.059
 He doesn't

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.639
 owe anybody

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.539
 seven periods

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.320
 of time until

00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:36.900
 they get it.

00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:37.820
 God does

00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.340
 not owe

00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:40.260
 anyone tomorrow

00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:41.079
 to repent of

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:41.519
 your sin.

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:43.960
 God doesn't

00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.440
 owe anyone

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.139
 warning after

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.860
 warning after

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.519
 warning after

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:46.920
 warning.

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.320
 He doesn't

00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.139
 have to give

00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.720
 us an

00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:49.720
 until, but

00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:52.240
 here, in

00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:53.059
 his heart of

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:54.200
 mercy, he

00:34:54.200 --> 00:34:54.599
 does.

00:34:56.180 --> 00:34:56.840
 As sovereign

00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:58.019
 king of the

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.720
 universe, he

00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.619
 chooses to

00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:01.039
 show mercy to

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.400
 Nebuchadnezzar by

00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.579
 rebuking his

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:06.039
 pride until he

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:06.860
 humbles himself

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.579
 and honors the

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:07.860
 Lord.

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.599
 Now, I wonder

00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:10.139
 if this seems

00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:10.940
 like mercy to

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.160
 you.

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:14.619
 to be driven

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.280
 away from your

00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:17.500
 comforts, to

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.539
 be cut down to

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.180
 the stump,

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:19.460
 right?

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.639
 That might seem

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:22.260
 harsh to you,

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.360
 but I want you

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.039
 to listen because

00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.460
 we need to

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.559
 understand that

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:29.059
 our pride is

00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:30.240
 like a cancerous

00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.000
 growth in our

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:31.340
 heart.

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.900
 If we keep

00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:36.800
 it, it will

00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:37.460
 kill you.

00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:39.679
 it may be

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.480
 today, it may

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.659
 be tomorrow, it

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.220
 may be ten

00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.340
 years from now, I

00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:44.940
 don't know when, but

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:45.820
 if we are

00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:47.079
 harboring this

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:48.519
 sickness of pride in

00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.460
 our heart, it

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:51.320
 will kill you.

00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:53.280
 God is

00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:55.679
 merciful to

00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:56.300
 serve as a

00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.699
 surgeon and cut

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.920
 us open and cut

00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:00.179
 that out of our

00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:00.460
 hearts.

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.539
 As painful as that

00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.320
 might be, it's

00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:03.300
 mercy for the

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.240
 Lord to remove it

00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:06.139
 from us now, while

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:07.199
 there's still time to

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:08.599
 repent, than for us

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.579
 to wait and be

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:11.000
 prideful until the

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.839
 return of the

00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:12.739
 Lord when we will

00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:15.019
 be humbled, without

00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:16.079
 the opportunity to

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.479
 repent.

00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:19.559
 Church, I would

00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:20.479
 rather the Lord cut

00:36:20.479 --> 00:36:21.659
 away every temporary

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:23.000
 comfort, every

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:24.199
 temporary pleasure,

00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.339
 every temporary

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:27.159
 accomplishment, every

00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:28.759
 source of pride in my

00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:30.919
 life right now, that

00:36:30.919 --> 00:36:31.559
 I might humble

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.619
 myself before Him

00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:34.460
 now, than for Him

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.980
 to enact judgment

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.380
 by letting us sleep

00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:38.159
 by the fire.

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:44.199
 And be

00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:44.759
 temporarily

00:36:44.759 --> 00:36:45.400
 comfortable,

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.639
 temporarily happy,

00:36:48.839 --> 00:36:49.839
 temporarily rich,

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.440
 temporarily proud on

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.799
 our way to eternal

00:36:52.799 --> 00:36:53.299
 judgment.

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.519
 Friend, which would

00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:54.960
 you prefer?

00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.299
 We're called to

00:36:58.299 --> 00:36:59.259
 humble yourselves

00:36:59.259 --> 00:37:00.339
 before the Lord, and

00:37:00.339 --> 00:37:02.139
 He will exalt you.

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.299
 Maybe in this life, but

00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:04.940
 certainly at the

00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:06.059
 return of our Lord.

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:09.019
 God is merciful to

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.759
 show us His

00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.659
 sovereignty, to teach

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.920
 us that He's in

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.079
 control, not us, and

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.519
 God is merciful to

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.900
 strip us of our

00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:19.279
 pride, cut away our

00:37:19.279 --> 00:37:19.579
 sin.

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:22.279
 And third, finally,

00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:25.299
 ultimately, God is

00:37:25.299 --> 00:37:26.440
 merciful to redeem

00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.119
 our soul.

00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:29.859
 It's the third act of

00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:31.599
 God's mercy here with

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.240
 Nebuchadnezzar.

00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:33.700
 God mercifully

00:37:33.700 --> 00:37:35.680
 redeems His soul.

00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:37.460
 Look here to verse

00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:38.039
 34.

00:37:39.620 --> 00:37:40.220
 Nebuchadnezzar, we

00:37:40.220 --> 00:37:41.640
 see he endures this

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:42.120
 discipline.

00:37:42.300 --> 00:37:43.280
 Everything is taken

00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:44.460
 out from him.

00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.700
 But verse 34 says,

00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:46.420
 at the end of the

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:48.400
 days, I, Nebuchadnezzar,

00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.599
 lifted my eyes to

00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.200
 heaven, and my reason

00:37:51.200 --> 00:37:52.099
 returned to me.

00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:53.460
 And I blessed the

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.880
 Most High and praised

00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:56.340
 and honored Him who

00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:57.840
 lives forever.

00:37:57.840 --> 00:38:01.079
 Now, you might be

00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.900
 surprised to hear there

00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:03.620
 is disagreement here,

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:05.559
 right, with Christian

00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:07.180
 scholars and those who

00:38:07.180 --> 00:38:08.019
 interpret this passage

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:09.000
 over whether or not

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.900
 Nebuchadnezzar was

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:11.539
 actually truly converted.

00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:12.920
 And I guess on the one

00:38:12.920 --> 00:38:14.120
 hand, right, it's

00:38:14.120 --> 00:38:15.539
 probably impossible to

00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:16.260
 know for sure.

00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.360
 He's given some lip

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:18.700
 service to the Lord

00:38:18.700 --> 00:38:19.200
 before.

00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:22.260
 But in my opinion, I

00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:22.920
 think something just

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:23.660
 seems different here,

00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:23.980
 don't you?

00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:26.480
 And again, this whole

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.420
 chapter is Nebuchadnezzar

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:30.380
 taking the initiative to

00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:31.480
 share with the whole

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:33.340
 world what God has done

00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:33.980
 for him.

00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.440
 And look what he says

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:35.659
 here.

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:37.619
 He personally praises the

00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:37.840
 Lord.

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:39.860
 He realizes that finally,

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:41.559
 finally he sees that his

00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:43.019
 reign is limited, but for

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:45.159
 the Lord, his dominion is

00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:46.719
 an everlasting dominion.

00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:48.960
 He recognizes that

00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:50.599
 Nebuchadnezzar, his reign

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.599
 will come to an end, but

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:53.519
 for the Lord, his kingdom

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.839
 endures from all

00:38:54.839 --> 00:38:56.119
 generations to all

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.759
 generations.

00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:59.299
 He realizes that for all

00:38:59.299 --> 00:39:01.000
 his greatness, for all

00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.480
 his accomplishments, even

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.980
 the greatest, most

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:05.119
 accomplished on the earth

00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:07.039
 are nothing compared to

00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.500
 the Lord.

00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:09.380
 All the inhabitants of

00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:10.360
 the earth are accounted

00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:12.259
 as nothing, he says in

00:39:12.259 --> 00:39:12.839
 verse 35.

00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:15.079
 He praises the Lord for

00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:17.019
 his unstoppable sovereign

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.579
 will.

00:39:17.719 --> 00:39:19.179
 He does according to his

00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:20.440
 will among the host of

00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:20.719
 heaven.

00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:22.039
 And among the inhabitants

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:23.239
 of the earth, and none

00:39:23.239 --> 00:39:25.279
 can stay his hand or say

00:39:25.279 --> 00:39:26.159
 to him, what have you

00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:26.480
 done?

00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.500
 He says in verse 36 that

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:31.679
 at the same time when he

00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:32.959
 finally got it, when he

00:39:32.959 --> 00:39:34.859
 looked up and lifted his

00:39:34.859 --> 00:39:36.599
 eyes to heaven to honor the

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:38.859
 Lord and to give glory to

00:39:38.859 --> 00:39:40.719
 the God of heaven, he says

00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:42.339
 my reason returned to me.

00:39:42.899 --> 00:39:44.019
 And for the glory of my

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:45.519
 kingdom, my majesty and my

00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.879
 splendor returned to me.

00:39:46.939 --> 00:39:48.639
 My counselors, my lords

00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:49.339
 returned to me.

00:39:49.340 --> 00:39:50.039
 They sought me.

00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:51.960
 I was established in my

00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:53.160
 kingdom and still more

00:39:53.160 --> 00:39:54.640
 greatness was added to me.

00:39:54.720 --> 00:39:56.100
 The tree began to grow

00:39:56.100 --> 00:39:56.860
 again.

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.220
 But there was one

00:39:58.220 --> 00:39:58.760
 difference.

00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:01.900
 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,

00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:04.400
 praise and extol and honor

00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.820
 the king of heaven.

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.900
 For all his works are

00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:10.340
 right and all his ways are

00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:10.960
 just.

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.920
 And take it from me, those

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:15.760
 who walk in pride, he is

00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:16.660
 able to humble.

00:40:16.659 --> 00:40:21.079
 Church, I could be wrong, but

00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:21.719
 I've heard a lot of

00:40:21.719 --> 00:40:22.399
 testimonies.

00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:25.279
 This sounds like the

00:40:25.279 --> 00:40:27.319
 testimony of a believer to

00:40:27.319 --> 00:40:27.539
 me.

00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:32.139
 And I wonder as we read

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:35.719
 these words, friend, do you

00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:37.239
 have a testimony like this?

00:40:39.899 --> 00:40:42.000
 Maybe not so dramatic, maybe

00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:43.279
 you've never risen so high or

00:40:43.279 --> 00:40:44.659
 fallen so low, but I wonder

00:40:44.659 --> 00:40:46.179
 as we read this chapter and

00:40:46.179 --> 00:40:47.480
 consider the work of God.

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.960
 Has the Lord worked in your

00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:52.039
 life to humble your pride?

00:40:53.299 --> 00:40:54.980
 Has the Lord worked in your

00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:57.500
 heart to strip away every

00:40:57.500 --> 00:41:01.159
 ounce of me, me, me, me,

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:04.339
 my control, my life, my work,

00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:07.000
 my effort, my achievement, my

00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:07.619
 accomplishment.

00:41:07.859 --> 00:41:09.219
 Has he stripped that away from

00:41:09.219 --> 00:41:09.639
 you yet?

00:41:09.639 --> 00:41:11.839
 So that you look to him as your

00:41:11.839 --> 00:41:12.400
 only hope?

00:41:15.059 --> 00:41:17.579
 It may be that you don't have a

00:41:17.579 --> 00:41:19.359
 testimony of God's work in your

00:41:19.359 --> 00:41:19.960
 life at all.

00:41:20.059 --> 00:41:21.900
 You may still be proud, you may

00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:23.900
 still be clinging on to something

00:41:23.900 --> 00:41:25.559
 that you think you have to offer

00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:26.019
 God.

00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:27.239
 Maybe you still think you have

00:41:27.239 --> 00:41:28.819
 something to contribute to your

00:41:28.819 --> 00:41:30.339
 salvation in some way, your

00:41:30.339 --> 00:41:32.219
 works, your effort, your

00:41:32.219 --> 00:41:34.420
 riches, your upbringing, whatever

00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:35.219
 it may be.

00:41:35.219 --> 00:41:37.759
 If that's you, I want you to hear

00:41:37.759 --> 00:41:39.719
 the voice of Daniel again.

00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:42.179
 Break off your sins.

00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:45.399
 Repent of your pride.

00:41:46.959 --> 00:41:48.219
 Or better yet, hear the words of

00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:49.039
 Jesus, friend.

00:41:49.379 --> 00:41:52.119
 Repent and believe the gospel.

00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.879
 The good news of the gospel of

00:41:55.879 --> 00:41:57.559
 Jesus Christ is that we have

00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:59.159
 absolutely nothing to bring to the

00:41:59.159 --> 00:41:59.480
 table.

00:42:00.439 --> 00:42:01.859
 It doesn't sound like good news,

00:42:01.939 --> 00:42:02.219
 does it?

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:05.019
 It starts with the bad news that

00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:07.659
 all we have to offer the Lord is

00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:10.519
 our sin that requires salvation.

00:42:11.399 --> 00:42:13.699
 All we have to bring to the table is

00:42:13.699 --> 00:42:17.059
 our darkness and our debt and our

00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:17.819
 rebellion.

00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:19.919
 You got nothing good to offer him.

00:42:22.119 --> 00:42:26.219
 But the true king, the only one who

00:42:26.219 --> 00:42:28.339
 truly can boast in how perfect and

00:42:28.339 --> 00:42:31.000
 how glorious and how great he is,

00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:33.000
 the true king who created all

00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:35.860
 things, who built the world and

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:38.159
 reigns and rules over everyone and

00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:39.400
 everything and now all places

00:42:39.400 --> 00:42:40.039
 everywhere.

00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:43.360
 The true king took the form of a

00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:46.199
 servant and humbled himself to die in

00:42:46.199 --> 00:42:46.880
 our place.

00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:50.900
 So that prideful sinners like us might

00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:52.679
 receive salvation.

00:42:53.559 --> 00:42:55.519
 Not because of anything you've done.

00:42:56.179 --> 00:42:58.360
 Not because of anything you've built in

00:42:58.360 --> 00:42:58.820
 your life.

00:42:58.820 --> 00:42:59.860
 Not because of anything you've

00:42:59.860 --> 00:43:01.460
 accomplished or accumulated.

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:05.380
 You receive what he has done by God's

00:43:05.380 --> 00:43:08.420
 grace through simple faith in the

00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:09.860
 true king, Jesus Christ.

00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:14.059
 Have you come to the place where you've

00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:16.559
 repented of your pride and cast

00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:19.039
 yourself wholly on the work of Jesus

00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:19.800
 Christ alone?

00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:21.320
 Have you done that?

00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:23.140
 Has God done that in you?

00:43:23.139 --> 00:43:26.379
 And we sing a song.

00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:28.299
 Jesus paid it all.

00:43:30.299 --> 00:43:31.719
 All to him I owe.

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:36.119
 My sin, my sin has left a crimson stain.

00:43:36.259 --> 00:43:38.980
 He washed it white as snow.

00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:41.059
 Friend, what do we have to boast in?

00:43:42.539 --> 00:43:43.579
 What have we received?

00:43:43.659 --> 00:43:44.920
 What have we earned that we have not

00:43:44.920 --> 00:43:45.139
 received?

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:48.460
 Friend, repent and believe the gospel.

00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:52.159
 And Christian, Christian, don't be fooled to

00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:54.699
 think that that repentance ends the moment

00:43:54.699 --> 00:43:55.559
 you come to Christ.

00:43:56.879 --> 00:44:00.099
 That lingering sickness of pride is alive

00:44:00.099 --> 00:44:01.920
 and well in every one of our hearts.

00:44:03.819 --> 00:44:07.139
 Beware of the temptation to pride in

00:44:07.139 --> 00:44:08.500
 your life right now.

00:44:10.119 --> 00:44:12.139
 Where do we need to repent?

00:44:12.379 --> 00:44:14.399
 Where do we need to humble ourselves?

00:44:14.539 --> 00:44:16.420
 A prideful Christian is an oxymoron.

00:44:17.659 --> 00:44:19.440
 Those two things don't belong together.

00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:22.780
 If we understand the grace of God,

00:44:23.559 --> 00:44:25.360
 if we understand the work of Christ,

00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:27.780
 why should we be proud?

00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:31.320
 It may be true of us that we have nothing

00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:34.179
 to boast in but what Christ Jesus has done

00:44:34.179 --> 00:44:37.599
 for us and what he does in us and through us,

00:44:37.659 --> 00:44:40.099
 not for our sake but for his glory.

00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:42.179
 And the testimony of every Christian in the

00:44:42.179 --> 00:44:42.920
 room is this.

00:44:43.220 --> 00:44:45.780
 I was dead in my trespasses and sins in which

00:44:45.780 --> 00:44:46.480
 I once walked.

00:44:47.480 --> 00:44:48.300
 Spiritually dead.

00:44:49.440 --> 00:44:50.500
 Totally dead.

00:44:51.080 --> 00:44:53.160
 All I could do was be dead.

00:44:54.420 --> 00:44:58.620
 But God, by his mercy, by his grace,

00:44:58.860 --> 00:45:02.320
 made me alive with Christ.

00:45:02.440 --> 00:45:03.700
 That's your story, Christian.

00:45:06.220 --> 00:45:08.420
 I wonder, when's the last time you stopped

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:11.340
 and reflected on how God saved you?

00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:12.460
 If you're a believer in the room,

00:45:12.460 --> 00:45:13.920
 when's the last time that you stopped

00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:17.079
 and just really gave time to think

00:45:17.079 --> 00:45:18.880
 about your testimony?

00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:22.039
 And I would challenge you just by way of

00:45:22.039 --> 00:45:23.320
 application this week,

00:45:23.619 --> 00:45:24.980
 as you leave from this place,

00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:27.220
 as you reflect on what God's done here

00:45:27.220 --> 00:45:28.400
 in Daniel chapter 4,

00:45:28.500 --> 00:45:30.380
 as you reflect on what God's done in your life,

00:45:30.559 --> 00:45:31.360
 I would challenge you,

00:45:31.460 --> 00:45:33.119
 even just write it down.

00:45:33.220 --> 00:45:34.639
 Put pen to paper this week.

00:45:35.639 --> 00:45:39.280
 Write down the story of how God saved you.

00:45:39.280 --> 00:45:40.860
 And I'm not talking about something cool

00:45:40.860 --> 00:45:42.040
 God's done in your life.

00:45:42.660 --> 00:45:44.540
 It's something interesting you see God doing

00:45:44.540 --> 00:45:45.420
 in somebody else.

00:45:45.620 --> 00:45:48.860
 I'm talking specifically about the testimony

00:45:48.860 --> 00:45:51.400
 of how God has humbled your pride

00:45:51.400 --> 00:45:54.440
 and given you faith in Jesus Christ.

00:45:55.580 --> 00:45:57.880
 Would you think on that this week?

00:45:59.040 --> 00:46:00.320
 And then application number two,

00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:03.340
 as you reflect on what God's done for you,

00:46:04.180 --> 00:46:05.300
 would you share it?

00:46:05.300 --> 00:46:09.760
 These things aren't meant to be kept

00:46:09.760 --> 00:46:11.360
 close to the chest, church.

00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:15.100
 If God has done a work in your life

00:46:15.100 --> 00:46:16.760
 to save your soul,

00:46:17.700 --> 00:46:19.500
 that's meant to be shouted

00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:21.780
 from the rooftops,

00:46:22.440 --> 00:46:24.560
 to be shared with our family,

00:46:25.120 --> 00:46:26.400
 to be shared with our friends,

00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:27.700
 to be shared with our neighbors,

00:46:28.519 --> 00:46:29.920
 to be shared with our coworkers,

00:46:30.160 --> 00:46:32.120
 to be shared with that random person

00:46:32.120 --> 00:46:33.720
 in line with you at the checkout aisle.

00:46:33.719 --> 00:46:37.619
 Let's be like King Nebuchadnezzar

00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:38.019
 and say,

00:46:38.299 --> 00:46:39.619
 it seemed good to me,

00:46:40.139 --> 00:46:42.019
 all nations, peoples, and languages,

00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:43.379
 to share with you

00:46:43.379 --> 00:46:46.239
 what God has done for me.

00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:51.779
 We're going to conclude our time this morning

00:46:51.779 --> 00:46:52.579
 as we always do,

00:46:52.679 --> 00:46:54.059
 singing a song of response.

00:46:54.219 --> 00:46:55.279
 And as we do, again,

00:46:55.399 --> 00:46:57.599
 I want you to consider the words

00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:58.679
 that we're going to sing.

00:46:59.759 --> 00:47:01.299
 And I want you to ask yourself again,

00:47:01.300 --> 00:47:03.180
 is this true of me?

00:47:03.280 --> 00:47:04.420
 And if it's not,

00:47:04.460 --> 00:47:05.200
 as you sing,

00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:06.880
 would you pray and ask the Lord,

00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:08.200
 would you make it true of me?

00:47:10.380 --> 00:47:12.700
 When I survey the wondrous cross

00:47:12.700 --> 00:47:16.280
 on which the Prince of Glory died,

00:47:17.120 --> 00:47:20.080
 my richest gain I count but loss,

00:47:20.760 --> 00:47:23.400
 and pour contempt on all my pride.

00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:25.900
 Forbid it, Lord,

00:47:25.960 --> 00:47:26.880
 that I should boast,

00:47:27.139 --> 00:47:29.440
 save in the death of Christ my God.

00:47:30.160 --> 00:47:32.660
 All the vain things that charm me most,

00:47:32.780 --> 00:47:35.260
 I sacrifice them to His blood.

00:47:36.740 --> 00:47:38.619
 Were the whole realm of nature mine,

00:47:38.680 --> 00:47:39.579
 if I owned it all,

00:47:39.660 --> 00:47:41.119
 if I had everything I needed,

00:47:41.220 --> 00:47:42.099
 everything I wanted,

00:47:42.500 --> 00:47:44.200
 were the whole realm of nature mine,

00:47:44.300 --> 00:47:47.220
 that were a present far too small.

00:47:47.219 --> 00:47:49.659
 Love so amazing,

00:47:50.039 --> 00:47:50.719
 so divine,

00:47:50.819 --> 00:47:52.039
 demands my soul,

00:47:52.539 --> 00:47:53.399
 my life,

00:47:54.079 --> 00:47:54.639
 my all.

00:47:54.739 --> 00:47:55.519
 Is that true of you?

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.679
 Let's pray.

00:47:58.819 --> 00:47:59.079
 Father,

00:48:00.039 --> 00:48:01.099
 make it true of us.

00:48:03.039 --> 00:48:04.299
 Make it true of us.

00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:08.500
 For those who have not yet bowed the knee

00:48:08.500 --> 00:48:09.299
 to King Jesus,

00:48:09.459 --> 00:48:12.459
 would you work your grace in our heart

00:48:12.459 --> 00:48:14.259
 now this moment

00:48:14.260 --> 00:48:15.440
 to humble us,

00:48:15.920 --> 00:48:17.320
 that we might trust fully,

00:48:17.460 --> 00:48:18.640
 cast ourselves fully

00:48:18.640 --> 00:48:20.200
 on the finished work of Jesus.

00:48:22.600 --> 00:48:25.000
 And for those who you've done that work

00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:25.580
 in our lives,

00:48:25.680 --> 00:48:25.800
 Lord,

00:48:25.860 --> 00:48:27.840
 we pray that we would rejoice

00:48:27.840 --> 00:48:28.940
 in what you've done,

00:48:29.020 --> 00:48:30.320
 that you would continue to kill

00:48:30.320 --> 00:48:31.440
 the pride in our heart,

00:48:31.540 --> 00:48:32.700
 that we would boast

00:48:32.700 --> 00:48:34.820
 in the cross of Christ,

00:48:35.760 --> 00:48:36.660
 that we would share

00:48:36.660 --> 00:48:37.840
 the good news of the gospel

00:48:37.840 --> 00:48:38.940
 with those around us.

00:48:39.400 --> 00:48:41.300
 To the praise of your glorious name,

00:48:41.380 --> 00:48:42.580
 we ask this in Jesus' name.

00:48:43.600 --> 00:48:43.840
 Amen.

00:48:44.260 --> 00:48:45.980
 Amen.

00:48:46.220 --> 00:48:48.320
 Amen.

00:49:08.320 --> 00:49:09.320
 Amen.

00:49:09.320 --> 00:49:10.340
 Amen.

00:49:10.340 --> 00:49:11.400
 Amen.

00:49:11.400 --> 00:49:11.820
 Amen.

00:49:12.060 --> 00:49:12.380
 Amen.

00:49:12.380 --> 00:49:13.220
 Amen.

00:49:13.220 --> 00:49:13.460
 Amen.

00:49:13.460 --> 00:49:13.520
 Amen.

00:49:13.520 --> 00:49:13.700
 Amen.