King Nebuchadnezzar's Testimony

I have studied Daniel through small group studies and church, but for whatever reason this is the first time that I caught the truth that Daniel didn’t write Daniel 4. Daniel 4 is the testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar sharing about how he came know and praise the Most High God.

It wasn’t just a testimony shared with a family member or a neighbor. It was a testimony that was written and sent to all nations and peoples of every language. Maybe it is because I am teaching a course on evangelism and missions. Maybe it is because I am reminding students to tell their story.

Every good story has good guys and bad guys, a problem or struggle, an “ah ha” moment, and a resolution. As I read Daniel 4, my mind exploded as I realized Nebuchadnezzar shared a great testimony!

1. King Neb shared his struggle. He had a dream he didn’t understand.

2. King Neb shared his issue. Pride.

3. Daniel shared the solution. Acknowledge the Most High God, acknowledge heaven rules, repent, do righteousness, and do justice.

4. King Neb did not! He continued on his journey. Hearing and seeing again God's work but ignoring Him.

5. King Neb shared the moment of his fall and how bad it got. He became like an ox eat the grass of the field. His hair grew long, and his nails were like claws.

6. King Neb shared his restoration came when he acknowledged the Most High God and His eternal rule.

He then told everyone all about his journey of humbling to praise the Most High GOD!

It is such a great story. You should go and read it now! Can you imagine all of the nation’s leaders receiving this letter from King Nebuchadnezzar? What a shock!

King Nebuchadnezzar was known for being impetuous, violent, and irrational. He was the ruler of the biggest ruling nation, and he could make you bow to a statue simply because he had music played. Even though God had been reaching out to get his attention, he wasn’t listening to God. In his mind, he was a god, and all should bow to him. He wasn’t willing to listen even when Jesus showed up in the fiery furnace that had killed the men throwing Daniel’s three friends in. But, GOD had a plan! God was after this bad guy!

At this point Daniel is the leader of the wise men in Babylon, so when the king had a dream that his magicians and sorcerers could not interpret, Daniel was brought in as the pitch hitter for the team. The king’s last resort or the wisdom team’s hail Mary.

The king had a dream. Since Daniel had already proven that he could tell the king what his dream meant because God spoke to him. The king said, “I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too hard for you.” King Nebuchadnezzar gave attribute to his lowly gods as if they were the reason Daniel was able to interpret the dreams.

Once God revealed to Daniel the dream’s meaning, he was terrified. In humility, Daniel wished aloud that the dream was about one of the king’s enemies instead. The king cried out, “Just tell me!” Daniel was a truth teller because the One he served was Truth.

“You are the tree!”

In the dream, the big, glorious tree was huge, full of strength, prominence, width, depth, height, fruit, fullness, shade, shelter, and beauty. There was nothing like it providing for the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. “You are the tree. Great and strong. The messenger is of God. You will be cut down. You will be driven away from your people. You will live with the animals. Eat like an animal. The dew will cover you. Seven years will pass until you acknowledge the Most High is Ruler over all kingdoms. You will not be restored until you acknowledge that, Heaven Rules!”

Daniel then began to seek the king’s well-being hoping that a change of heart might change history about to unfold. He boldly stated, “Your majesty please accept my advice: renounce your sins, do righteousness, and seek justice by being kind to the oppressed.

The meaning was given, but it took an entire year before the dream was fulfilled. On the day that King Nebuchadnezzar asked, “Isn’t this the great Babylon that I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Instantly the Voice of heaven spoke, “This is what was decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar: your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven from your people. Eat like an animal. Eat grass like an ox for seven years until you acknowledge that the Most High is Ruler over all and gives them to anyone He wishes.”

King Nebuchadnezzar was driven from his people, and he ate with the animals as his body was drenched by the dew. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails were like the claws of a bird.

Once, seven years passed and his sanity was restored. King Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Once my sanity was restored and I praised the Most High God. My kingdom was restored to me. Now, I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and glorify the King of Heaven because everything He does is righteous and just. Those who walk in pride He is able to humble!”

 

Acknowledge that Heaven Rules

'Acknowledge that "Heaven Rules!"' (Daniel 4:26)

I do not know how I never caught that phrase before, but yesterday it lept off the page at me. Daniel sure had gumption! 

Daniel interpreted his second dream for the volatile King of Babylon and then said, "Therefore, my king be pleased to accept my advice: renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be then that your prosperity will come." (Daniel 4:27)

This is worth repeating in my own words.

1. Repent

2. Do right

3. Be kind to the oppressed

Our greatest economy are our people. The LORD blesses through those around us.

God sure demonstrated patience with Nebuchadnezzar and blessed him with Daniel. I realize that Daniel might not have thought of his captivity as a blessing, but Daniel never stopped being a blessing. He understood the value of investing well in those around him. He spoke truth, gave God glory, and pressed on in serving as if he served God and not man. God used him over a very long period of time to be an instrument in King Nebuchadnezzar's life. 

Daniel 4 is the only chapter not written by Daniel. It is unique because it is the testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar sharing how he came to his senses and believed in the Most High God. 

He addresses all people every where in a letter so that they might hear about God's most miraculous signs and wonders and that the Most High God's kingdom is eternal with dominion over every generation. 

It wasn't until King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that HEAVEN RULES and he praised the Most High God as sovereign over all that his sanity, after seven years of acting like an animal, was restored. God never gave up on him. The moment he renounced and proclaimed God restored him.

It is important to note King Nebuchadnezzar's last documented words in the Bible, "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble."

Do you need to acknowledge that "heaven rules"? The same rules apply today.

1. Repent

2. Do right

3. Be kind to the oppressed

Who might you need to be willing to speak with gumption to about the Lord?

Father, please restore our sanity across this land cause our leaders choose to acknowledge that heaven rules.

Pray for OPEN BIBLES

Open Bibles... last week one day God put it on my heart to pray for OPEN BIBLES. We faithfully pray for open hearts, open minds, open doors, and open heavens, but it occured to me that with Biblically illiteracy on the rise we do not know what is biblical truth anymore. In order for transformation to take place, it must come through the Truth. So, I started praying for OPEN BIBLES. 

OPEN BIBLES happens when we listen or read the WORD of GOD with the intent to listen, with the intent to hear, with respect and the intent to respond. 

It is crazy beautiful. At times, it is challenging because the Bible is a book that if you are in it to receive, you will be convicted of sin. Yes, sin. We all sin and fall short of God. But the beauty of it is the conviction is bathed in love. The love of God permeates the entire text. When you know His love you want to be set free.

Not long after I prayed this prayer for OPEN BIBLES, I just happen to open my door for a person that was delivering documents to us. This would be my third time to meet him. I had enough time to know pieces of his story because he allowed a few open doors as Greg and I met with him. There I stood at the threshold of my open door as God began to move. 

"Would you consider forgetting the past and opening the Bible to just read the book of Luke and ask God to show you He is real?"

"I think I could do that. I might have a Bible somewhere."

"Would you like me to give you one?"

"Yes. I would like that."

As I turned to go get a Bible. I heard in my heart, "This one," and then saw my Bible that Greg gave me two and a half years ago. It was my Bible that has all of my notes and prayers from the last two and half years of study and travel.

I literally said aloud, "Alrighty, then!" I went and grabbed it to give to him.

I handed it to him and said, "Here is my Bible. Greg gave it to me. In this Bible, I chose to focus on the character of God. I haven't finished it completely because God had me slow down to read through it, but it's almost done. You will be able to see how God is real to me by the things He taught me. It also has the teaching notes from my travels in it. So you will see in Acts what I taught in Asia. You will see in David's story what I taught in Kenya. You will see what I taught in Ethiopia through Joseph and through Ruth you will see how I taught in another Asian context. 

"Are you sure?" He asked multiple times.

"Yes," I said with great joy in my heart for I obeyed immediately and released it knowing that this would be one Bible that would continue to be opened. I had been praying for him. I couldn't believe how God worked it out for me to give him the Word of God.

"You have our number and our address. If you ever have a question just reach out. We are here for you."

"You have no idea how much this means to me!" 

I smiled and we said good bye. When I shut the door, I wept. I wept for his soul. I wept that God allowed me to to play a role in his life. I wept because I knew I was in a holy moment. My notes will mean more to his journey and I can look them up again if needed. God has already written them in my heart, but now GOD will sew them into his heart. 

Will you join me in praying for more open Bibles in our lives, in our homes, in our churches, and in our nations worldwide? And for our dear friend.

Paul and Timothy's Discipleship Phases

As I study Paul and Timothy's relationship, God put it on my heart to do a quick track of what each discipleship phase looked like for them. Here is my quick summary of Paul's discipleship phases with Timothy.

1. Meets a young believer.

2. Observed character and invited to tag-a-long.

3. Encouraged him to honor culture.

4. Invited him to stay with another disciple to continue the work.

5. Invited to go share the good news of Jesus

6. Proclaiming partner

7. Publicly praised

8. Co-author & brother

9. "And" phase... known as Paul, Silas and Timothy

10. "My" phase... True son in the faith

As I wrote this yesterday, so many of you that are my "friends" on Facebook came to mind. I smiled because some are my Pauls, some are my Silas, and some are my Timothys. I can't help but smile with deep joy because when true Discipleship happens the love is so deep and rich in the faith that time, distance, and/or circumstances cannot stop the deep love. I believe it is one of the great treasures of heaven we get to know and experience on this earth. 

Who might be your Paul? Who is your Silas? Who is your Timothy? We all should have them around us working in our lives. 

I love you.

Shalom y'all.

Have you read or listened to the whole Bible?

When I started seminary, I went to the bookstore to buy my books. A stranger came up to me as I was looking at the Bible section and asked me, "Have you ever read through the whole Bible?"

I am embarrassed to say that my answer was "No."

The kind person picked out the Chronological Bible and suggested that I read it. This Bible tells the story of good in order of time not by book, chapter or verse. So I bought it and began my journey of reading through the Bible. I read through it so many times that the binding was worn. 

I have been doing this for 33 years. I didn't always complete a Bible in a year. There came a time when God convicted me to slow down and take two. But, I have been faithfully reading His Word daily since 1992.

Did I miss days? Of course!

I discovered that God's Word nourished me in ways I had no clue were changing me. I was being fed mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. I felt it in my bones when I heard truths that changed me and grieved it when circumstances hindered my time in the Word of God.

I know God is real because He has proven Himself over and over through His text as I searched out His story written in the sacred book called the Bible.

GO... a powerful word

Ooooh the word "go" has such a rich place in the Bible. It is in all three key texts about reaching the nations for the LORD.

"Abram, GO from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1

"GO make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19

"GO be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the outer most parts of the world." Acts 1:8

I had to look up various definitions of GO.

GO: to move from one place to another: to move or proceed. It implies movement of all kinds. It is physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.

We can GO...

GO to

GO in

GO up

GO out

GO around

GO through

GO with

GO on

GO off

GO again

GO aside

GO away

GO over

GO beyond

GO about

GO above

GO forth

Such a tiny word with so much power. It can inspire us. It can freeze us. It can exvite us. It can fill us with dread. 

How many times would we rather walk away than go? 

Essentially, go requires change. Serious change. It takes the whole being to truly embrace GO. 

What go would it be to GO if we did let it do it's work in us in the many implied ways? 

Here is to GO in the New Year! Trust that GOD will show you like He did with Abram and the disciples. Know that God's GO blesses and bears good fruit.