Sermon Tone Analysis

*SERMON NOTES*

* *

*Subject:          “Heaven Rules”*

*Speaker:         Dr.

A. Burge Troxel*

*Date:               January 14, 2007*

*Scripture:       Daniel 4:1-37*

* *

*Introduction:*

* *

*Don’t forget that Heaven Rules!*

It is pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began.

- C. S. Lewis

* *

Did you hear about the clever salesman who closed hundreds of sales with this line: “Let me show you something several of your neighbors said you couldn’t afford.”

- Anon

* *

4825 “Tops” In Humility

The late Prof. Irwin Edman of Columbia University once had a chat with a French monk who bemoaned the fact that his order was not as famous as the Jesuits for scholarship or the Trappists for silence and good works.

“But,” he added, “when it comes to humility, we’re tops.”

—Leonard Lyons

* *

Dr. H. A. Ironside felt that he was not as humble as he thought he ought to be.

Showing his concern, he asked an elder friend what he could do about it.

His friend replied, “Make a sandwich board with the plan of salvation in Scripture on it and wear it, then walk through the business and shopping area of downtown Chicago for a whole day.”

Ironside followed his friend’s advice.

Upon completion of this humiliating experience, he returned to his apartment.

As he took off the sandwich board, he caught himself thinking, “There’s not another person in Chicago that would be willing to do a thing like that.”

* *

*I.

God Warns that when Anyone Forgets that Heaven Rules They will be Humbled.*

*A.

Neb – Dan 4:1-23*

!  

! Daniel 4:2

!! “It is my (Neb’s) pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

!

Daniel 4:3

!! “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.”

!

Daniel 4:17

!! “The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.”

!

Daniel 4:22

!! “you, O king, are that tree!

You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.”

!

Daniel 4:23

!! “You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground.

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’”

* *

*B.

Other OT Examples – Isa 2:11, 13:11, 23:9, Prov 16:18, 18:12a*

!

Isaiah 2:11

!! “The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”

!

Isaiah 13:11

!! “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins.

I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.”

!

Isaiah 23:9

!! “The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.”

!

Proverbs 16:18

!! “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

!

Proverbs 18:12a

!! “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, . .

.”

* *

*II.

Being Humbled is Horribly Embarrassing Experience*

*A.

Neb – Dan 4:29-33*

!  

! Daniel 4:29-30

!! 29Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

!

Daniel 4:31

!! The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.”

!

Daniel 4:33

!! “Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.

He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle.

His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.”

* *

*B.

Other OT Examples – Prov 11:2a, Ex 10:3, 2 Chron 26:16a, 21, Isa 13:19, Ez 32:12*

!  

! Proverbs 11:2a

!! When pride comes, then comes disgrace, . . .

! Exodus 10:3

!! So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?

Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

! 2 Chronicles 26:16a

!! “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.

! 2 Chronicles 26:21a

!! “King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died.

He lived in a separate house—leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. .

.”

!

Isaiah 13:19

!! “Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

!

Ezekiel 32:12

!! “I will cause your hordes to fall by the swords of mighty men— the most ruthless of all nations.

They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all her hordes will be overthrown.”

* *

*C.

Modern Examples – Hitler, Hussein, Nixon, Clinton*

!! Adolph Hitler

!! Saddam Hussein

!! Richard Nixon

!! Bill Clinton

* *

A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane.

The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people.

The pilot added, “/I/ should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.”

So he took one and jumped.

The computer whiz said, “/I/ should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.”

So he took one and jumped.

The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, “You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.”

The Boy Scout said, “Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!”

* *

*III.

However, If One Repents, They will be Restored*

*A.

Neb Encouraged to Repent – Dan 4:26-27*

!  

! Daniel 4:26