Topics: sovereignty, honor
I. Dishonor brings discipline
* Honoring God involves more than lip service to His greatness!
- The king had acknowledged God earlier several times, but had not truly trusted Him as his personal and sovereign Lord (Daniel 1:17, 20; 2:47; 3:28, 29; 4:8, 9, 18).
- "You will be driven away from mankind . . . until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes" (Dan. 4:32).
- See Matthew 7:15-23.
- You have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives" . . . All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:5, 6, 11).
II. Repentance brings restoration
* Honoring God requires humble repentance under His sovereignty!
- The sovereignty of almighty God does not invalidate the responsibility of man. King Nebuchadnezzar finally understood the difference between God's perfect will and His permissive will.
- "But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'" (Daniel 4:34, 35).
- "At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride" (Daniel 4:36, 37).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins January 10th, 2021
