God Rules: Be Humble or Be Humbled

Introduction

Pride. A word that our world has mixed emotions about. Some love pride - it’s an expression of being true to yourself and being confident and boasting in who you are as a person. Others are less reluctant to be prideful about things because they see it as a negative thing. A couple of years ago, a basketball player was interviewed after winning a championship about his winning perspective, this was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s response, “When you focus on the past, that’s my ego… “I did this.” When you focus on the future, it’s my pride, “Next game, I’ll do this and that and dominate.” That’s your pride talking. When you focus on the present you stay humble.” Aren’t we all guilty at times of focusing on the past and being tempted to be prideful in what we have done? Or looking to the future with pride at what we are going to do? What is the correct response to these temptations? A Biblical dose of humble pie! Remembering who our God is, who we are, and why things go our way in the first place! It’s not because of us. We can’t boast in our power, abilities, background, or talent. We see people do this all the time and our world doesn’t need this population to increase. Instead, what we see over and over in Scripture is to boast in Christ, not in self. To give God thanks for what He has done, not to be prideful in what we have done. To remember that anything good in us is Jesus. We look to the Garden of Eden and we see the devastating results of pride - not only doubting God’s Word, but thinking that we know better than God! This is a serious issue that we must tackle in a Biblical manner before it destroys us.

This morning as we continue studying through the book of Daniel, we continue in Daniel 4 to see a battle of two Kingdoms. The Kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar and the Kingdom of God. We see a man who looks at all that he has acquired and accomplished and he is filled with pride. This same pride will become his undoing as God humbles him. As we prepare to read God’s Word, may we do so as humble people eager to be changed and shaped by the God of the universe as He speaks to us through His Word. Lets be humble before God, lest we be humbled by God.

Daniel 4:4–37 CSB

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. 6 So I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon to me in order that they might make the dream’s interpretation known to me. 7 When the magicians, mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me. 8 Finally Daniel, named Belteshazzar after the name of my god—and a spirit of the holy gods is in him—came before me. I told him the dream: 9 “Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, because I know that you have the spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery puzzles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its interpretation. 10 In the visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this: There was a tree in the middle of the earth, and it was very tall. 11 The tree grew large and strong; its top reached to the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. Wild animals found shelter under it, the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it. 13 “As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called out loudly: Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share the plants of the earth with the animals. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a human, and let him be given the mind of an animal for seven periods of time. 17 This word is by decree of the watchers, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over them. 18 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me. But you can, because you have a spirit of the holy gods.” 19 Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was stunned for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to the whole earth, 21 and whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant—and on it was food for all, under it the wild animals lived, and in its branches the birds of the sky lived— 22 that tree is you, Your Majesty. For you have become great and strong: your greatness has grown and even reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth. 23 “The king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share food with the wild animals for seven periods of time.’ 24 This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree of the Most High that has been issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants. 26 As for the command to leave the tree’s stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right, and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.” 28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you. 32 You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals, and you will feed on grass like cattle for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.” 33 At that moment the message against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. 34 But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” 36 At that time my sanity returned to me, and my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and my nobles sought me out, I was reestablished over my kingdom, and even more greatness came to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of the heavens, because all his works are true and his ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

What a text of Scripture! What a big God we serve! Let’s go to Him in prayer this morning and ask Him to help us see a glimpse of His greatness and goodness this morning.

God is in Charge, Humans Make Choices (4-17)

So far in this book, we’ve seen Nebuchadnezzar’s power on display. We’ve seen his army defeat the Israelites and conquer Jerusalem. We’ve seen his vast empire grow. We’ve seen him build a massive golden statue. We’ve seen how people fear him and desire to get on his good side because he is the most powerful man in the world - in fact, some would likely say that he himself had achieved godlike status! Yet, we’ve also seen throughout Daniel that there is a power greater than that of Babylon. There is a king greater than Nebuchadnezzar. There is a leader more wise than this emperor. Throughout Daniel we see that God is in control. God handed Jerusalem over to Babylon. God gave Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knowledge and understanding. God gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams. God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. God is in control throughout this book - not Daniel, not the soldiers, not the Babylonian gods, not even king Nebuchadnezzar. God is working all things out according to His perfect plan - even though that plan sometimes involves fires and lions - God is still good and in charge on His throne. However, this doesn’t mean that the people throughout these chapters haven’t made choices. Look at the choice that Daniel made in chapter 1

Daniel 1:8 CSB

8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself.

Daniel 2:17–18 CSB

17 Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter, 18 urging them to ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.

Daniel 3:18 CSB

18 But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

These men have made choices that have cost them! Daniel’s determination to worship God and not defile himself could have cost his supervisor his life. Their prayer in chapter 2 was under the context of their near execution, yet instead of panicking, they prayed! In chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand up to a tyrant instead of worshiping an idol and bowing down to the king. God is in charge and working all things for His glory and our good, yet these humans make choices. These might seem like incompatible realities, yet they are the twin tracks that Scripture lays out before us. We know this to be true in our lives as believers! Last Sunday night we were blessed to have Kirk and Michelle Lightfield, our missionaries from Guatemala, with us for worship and they shared a little bit about how God is working in their ministry in Guatemala. If God is in charge, why would we send a team to Guatemala to share the Gospel this summer? If God is in charge, why would we minister here in Dent County and share the Gospel and help those in need? There was an older pastor who said this to William Carey before he embarked to take the Gospel to India. “When God pleases to convert the heathen, He’ll do it without consulting you or me.” What does Scripture command us to do as believers? To go therefore and make disciples. This requires us to share the truth of Jesus with those around us. Because God has all authority and because Jesus truly conquered the grave and is King of Kings, we go with confidence and plant seeds and water seeds

1 Corinthians 3:5–6 CSB

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

You and I are commanded to stand on God’s Word and share God’s Word because God works through His Word to accomplish His purposes. God is in control and we are to choose as believers to glorify Him and tell others of His goodness. This is what Daniel does throughout this book. He tells Nebuchadnezzar of his God for years and years. Remember, the events here in chapter 4 of Daniel are towards the end of the king’s life. He’s had much exposure to the gospel, but we see here once again that the king believes that he is the one in control. He is at ease in the text. He is in his palace and all is well. It would have been easy for the king to rest in his accomplishments at this point, in fact we’ll see that this is exactly what he does! As Bryan Chapell shares, “Talent, brains, and opportunity mean nothing apart from God’s provision.” If we begin to trust only in what we can achieve - to believe that we are the sole cause of our success - then all around us life will begin to whisper the foolishness of our faith in ourselves.” In other words, our abilities and accomplishments do not provide us with security. For the king, he began once again having a dream that was alarming to him as he did decades before in Daniel 2. What does he do? He seeks out Daniel, or known as Belteshazzar, because his other wisemen couldn’t answer his dream. Now, let’s think together here. Daniel already had proven his wisdom in interpreting dreams. He had great report with the king. Why would the king even bother with the other wisemen first? He still wasn’t a true believer! Notice what Nebuchadnezzar says, “Daniel has a spirit of the holy gods.” Not the spirit of the only God, but a spirit of the holy gods. This man still thought that he was all that in a bag of potato chips! We can all think of people who are a little bit too big for their britches - right? They act with a power or authority that they do not possess. Let’s look at the dream itself.

There’s a tree in the middle of the earth and the tree provided food and shelter for the whole world. It reached the heavens - literally. This isn’t a nightmare, this is a good dream so far! Do you think this dream reminded the king of himself? The most powerful man in the world who provided for people far and wide. This also brings us back to the Tower of Babylon in Genesis 11 - a structure in Babylon that stretches as high as the heavens. This tree clearly represents a kingdom that at first is doing well, prospering in fact… But Nebuchadnezzar say a watcher, a holy one, come down and order for the tree to be chopped down. This word - watcher only appears here in the Old Testament, and likely is in reference to an angel. Do you see what is happening in this dream? There is a change coming upon this tree. Everyone is fleeing from the tree. The tree is getting chopped down. The tree is given a personal pronoun of “he” in verse 15. His mind changed from a human to an animal for 7 periods of time. Why does this happen? Verse 17 - so that all the living will know that it is God who is ruler over human kingdoms and He gives them to whosoever He wills - including the lowliest of peoples.

Do you see what this dream is saying? There’s a person who is the ruler of the world who will be cut down and humbled. Do you see how this dream is extremely terrifying? God gives this decree. It will come to pass. God is in charge. Humans make choices. But we are not the master of our fate. Things don’t happen randomly or purposelessly. God is at work here. He gave the king power. He exalted his kingdom. God continues to do this today. He gives power. He gives wealth. He gives success. Those things don’t happen randomly but purposefully! As a believer this must be reason to give God thanks… but the unbelieving world doesn’t see this. They often take the credit, much like the king, because he is blinded by pride and his own accomplishments. Let’s see what Daniel says next.

God’s Conviction Highlights Our Sin (18-27)

Daniel begins to explain the dream to the king and the news isn’t exactly good news! Whenever someone comes up to you and says that they have good news to share and bad news to share, how many of you want the good news first? How many want the bad news first? We usually don’t like hearing bad news, but sometimes the bad news is necessary in order to really understand and appreciate the good news! Still, it can be hard to share bad news with someone. Daniel is forced to make a decision: Do I speak the truth and risk my life with the King, or do I water the truth down and risk my life with God? The king isn’t exactly the calmest of people when it comes to other people. He threatened to kill all of his wisemen just because they couldn’t answer his dream. He actually did throw Daniel’s friends in a fiery furnace whenever they dared stand when Nebuchadnezzar commanded them to bow. What will the king do this time if Daniel tells him the truth? Sometimes whenever we’re convicted of our sin or whenever we are told the truth and the truth is a painful pill to swallow, we react poorly. Daniel is told to spill the beans - and this is what he does. He shares what we already know - this tree represents Nebuchadnezzar. He has provided for his subjects. He is great and he rules much of the earth. But, God has determined to cut Nebuchadnezzar down. The same king who built a mighty statue to be worshiped as a god will be cut down and live with the wild animals - but he will only do this for a period of time (7 periods).

What on earth is this all about? The theme of the book of Daniel is that God is in control. Not Nebuchadnezzar. Not Babylon. Not Daniel. God and God alone. Whenever we think for even a nanosecond that we are the one in control, we dethrone God in our heart and assume godlike status. This is sin. We are all guilty of sin. We have all fallen short of God’s standard and glory. While we haven’t all ruled an empire, we have all built for ourselves kingdoms of our own domain that we try to rule over as king. In all of this, we see ourselves. There was a time in all of our lives where we were lost. Dead in our sins. Walking in darkness. Children under wrath. Do you know what the last thing a person in this condition needs? Someone who sugar coats God’s Word and only gives them the good news. So many in our world are quick to share “God loves you, bro!” Yes, He does! He loves you so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for your sins to save you from eternal separation from Him that you and I both deserve. We are living in a culture that celebrates death and is headed for a thousand foot cliff and many are completely oblivious of the danger they are in. The most loving thing that you and I can do is to live out Ephesians 4:15

Ephesians 4:15 NLT

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

A couple of years ago, Gabriel and I were at the Salem park and there was a wasp on the ground and Gabriel began walking towards it with his hand reaching out for it. I knew something that Gabriel didn’t - that wasp isn’t a toy. It isn’t a puppy. It’s a satanic adversary! It will hurt him. I reach for him and say, Gabriel stop! Praise the Lord for God’s intervention and conviction of us whenever we are doing something wrong and walking towards danger. Daniel offers the king advice here in the midst of this bad news - “Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right.”

Friends, whenever we share the Gospel with others and share Who God is, this is the good news. Yes, you and I have done wrong. Yes, we deserve to be chopped down. Repent from your sins - confess your sins - trust in Jesus. This is our response to Godly conviction. Like Daniel, we witness to others by reminding them of God’s power to save. Like Daniel, we must love others enough to speak the truth and appeal before others to repent before it is too late. Daniel didn’t want to see this man suffer in this way - as we think of the wages of sin being eternal separation from God, we must desire others to be saved and avoid this punishment that we wouldn’t wish on our worst opponents! This conviction, this bad news reminds us of our sin. It reminds us of God’s holiness.

Maybe you’re here and you think that you are too far gone or that you know someone too far gone for the good news of Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sins once for all on the cross. Maybe you think that Jesus can’t save you or He can’t save this other person that you know who has done something really bad. Do you remember how the earth was made? In the beginning God… He spoke all things into existence! Do you think the same God who created the universe, the same God who conquered death, the same God who woke you up this morning, the same God who brought you here today, do you think this same God can save this person? You’d better believe so.

Acts 16:14 CSB

14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.

Our job is tell people about the truth of the Gospel. God’s job is to open blind eyes. Let’s see how Nebuchadnezzar responds

God’s Character Humbles the Prideful (28-33)

Sadly, the king doesn’t respond well. After 12 months, he was walking on his palace roof. He was looking around at his mighty city. Possibly even the great statue that he had built decades before. He might see a mighty army that he helped lead to victory over Egypt and Israel. He might see the large roads that lead to landmarks throughout his city. He might see the Hanging Gardens, an ancient wonder of the world that he built for his wife. He looks over all of these things - the works of his hands. Look at his remark - “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built…” What have we seen throughout Daniel? God gave. God handed. God provided. God used. God is the Sovereign King - Nebuchadnezzar is a temporary ruler. Instead of giving God the glory that he knows God deserves, the king boasts of himself and his own works. Do you see the pride dripping off this page in your Bible?

Maybe it’s easy to say that this is simply what powerful pagans do and we as believers never would dare do this thing. Oh, you’re wrong. Isn’t it easy for us to look at our past, and say, “Look at that song I sang…” Look at that program I led. Look at this thing I did. Look at my abilities. Look at my work. Look at my accomplishments. Do you know what the Bible says about our best of works?

Isaiah 64:6 CSB

6 All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

As Genesis reminds us, we are dust. We return to dust. Yet so often we think that we’re bigger than we really are. Maybe as Christians we’re aware of some of this, but instead our temptation is to try and correlate our success by our goodness. In other words, it isn’t because of our power, but it’s because of the good things that I’ve done. The good person that I am. The kindness of my heart. The reason why God blessed me is because of me! This is the cry of our heart, even as redeemed sinners… I know I’m right about that. As those whose hearts are prone to wander and boast in our achievements, it’s easy to look at Nebuchadnezzar and say that I’d never make the statement that he made in verse 30. I’d never boast in the works of my hand. Brother and sisters, to borrow from HB Charles, “You don’t know what you might or might not do in a certain situation! What we must do is thank God for keeping us from these situations!”

The king is prideful. And God humbles the prideful. Listen to the voice from heaven to the king, “You will be driven away to live with the wild animals… until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms.” This idea shows up multiple times in this text. Because God is sovereign and has no rival or His Kingdom is Cosmic and Universal, because He is holy, because He is righteous, those who defy His power will be humbled. Either they will be humbled in this life as King Nebuchadnezzar was or they will be humbled when they stand before God and bow to Him as Lord and God tells them to depart for He never knew them. Either way, every person will be humbled.

Can you imagine this change? He went from the palace to the pasture. From luxury to insanity. Why? Because of his pride and because God demonstrates his power to raise leaders up and bring them crashing down. As Danny Akin shares, “The one who saw himself as superman became subhuman.” He ate grass like a cow, he lived outside, his hair became long and matted, his nails became like the claws of an animal. How far had this man fallen? This goes on for 7 periods of time. Many believe this to be 7 years, but we aren’t told that definitively. This happens for the complete or full amount of time that he needed to be humbled in order to learn the truth that there is one God who deserves praise and glory and that he is not Him.

Whenever we remember who God is, this must humble us to our core. Thankfully, God is patient. God uses this time in the wilderness for something good. He didn’t leave Nebuchadnezzar - as Daniel told him, separate from your sins… the voice told him that he would be in this state until he acknowledged God’s sovereignty and rule as God gives power only to the lowliest of people. In the midst of madness, God is still moving. For those who struggle with pride, remember who God is. Remember who you are. Repent, and align yourself with His rule and, understand that, finally

God’s Command in Heaven Deserves the Praise of His People on Earth (34-37)

At first the king looked out at the city that he ruled over and was filled with pride. Then the king lost his mind and went out into the wild in his kingdom and was filled with panic. But after looking out and looking down, the king looked up. He turned his eyes upward to heaven. As soon as he looked up, we see that his pride gives way to praise. He remembered who God was. He remembered who he was. There is a God who rules and reigns from His throne in heaven. His command in heaven makes Him deserving of the praise of His people.

What we see in this conclusion is similar to the beginning of this chapter. Remember this is at the end of the king’s life, some 30 years after Daniel 3. Possibly 40 years after Daniel and his friends were taken from Jerusalem. For years he knew about God, but finally at the end of his life it appears as though he was saved by God. Have you ever known someone who seemingly wanted nothing to do with God for a long period of time and might have even appeared like a lost cause similar to Nebuchadnezzar? Think of a John Newton - slave trader turned Gospel proclaimer. The apostle Paul - Church persecutor turned Church planter. I can think of my dad’s father who for years didn’t go to church because of an issue he had at church when my dad was a little boy over something silly. You know why I can’t stand bickering over table shapes, carpet colors, and light bulbs? Because stuff like that divides unnecessarily and distracts substantially from our God given commission - I know I’m right about that - if you care more about a chair or a table than you do seeing people worship, Jesus take the wheel and take it now! He spent 70+ years of his life walking in darkness and wanted nothing to do with God - but thankfully God wanted something to do with him. It took decades of prayer, many Gospel conversations, lots of seeds planted, but eventually in God’s time, my grandfather repented of his sins and put his faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. His pride turned into praise. Whenever you begin to praise your God, your life changes. Because Jesus is King, He deserves our praise. Because He rules and reigns, we must bow and worship Him as He deserves. As you look at your life, do you see pride or praise? One day every knee will bow and every tongue will praise Jesus Christ. His Kingdom is eternal. His rule is cosmic. He does what He wants with the army of heaven. He is in control!

Think about how this truth has encouraged God’s people historically. For Daniel and the other faithful followers of God in Babylon, imagine your eyes… the Babylonian king in all his power was praising your God. Nebuchadnezzar was reestablished over his kingdom and didn’t praise himself, but the God of Daniel - the king of the heavens. Nebuchadnezzar might have seemed mighty, but Daniel’s God is ALMIGHTY. Even though they might not have all the answers they’d like to have in exile, they knew their God was still good and that He is still sovereign. Surely, this sovereign God could bring them out of exile one day. Surely this is what our God will do for us as well. Think about what God has done in sending His Son, Jesus. 2000 years ago, Jesus came bearing news that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Jesus entered this world of sin and declared war on it. Healing people. Casting out demons. Demonstrating His power. Yet, as we get ready for Easter we know that this Jesus who never once sinned was killed on the cross of Calvary. The evil emperor, Satan, likely believed he had won the victory. However we know that Jesus conquered sin and death. Jesus rose and said that He has all authority. While we still live in exile in this culture of death in this world of sin, we know this world is not our home. We see kingdoms and kings rise and fall - this is no surprise to our God. We look around the world and see hundreds of millions of believers worldwide live each day with their very lives in danger. Church, we are at war in Babylon and there is a temptation for us to question God’s plan and power. Why did God do this? Why would God allow this person to rule? Why did this person get elected? I wouldn’t do this if I were God - these questions at times are drenched with human pride. In actuality, our response must be that of the king - God does what He wills in heaven above and earth below. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. While we wait on Christ to return, we praise His name.

God’s Call For Us

Saved?

Be a Faithful Witness of God’s Word in a godless world. Daniel was a faithful witness of God’s Kingdom while in Babylon. He did his job for God’s glory and the good of this pagan king. This must be how we operate in this life! We witness for God’s Kingdom and we stand on God’s Word.

Not Saved?

Humble yourself before God humbles you - Praise God before He punishes you. It doesn’t matter what your past looks like. If God could reach down and save an evil emperor like Nebuchadnezzar. If God could reach down and save the chief of sinners in Paul. If God could reach down and save me - friend, He can save you. The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus forgiveness receives! God delights in saving sinners. If you look at your sin, you might wonder how on earth can I be saved? But if you look to the cross of Calvary where Jesus died for sinners, you wonder “How on Earth can I be lost?” Jesus changes everything! Has He changed you?

FBC, let’s boast in Jesus. Not in self. Not in us. Not in what we’ve always done or what we’re currently doing. Let’s boast in Jesus. Let’s give the credit to the One who deserves it.