August 2015

Lessons From King Nebuchadnezzar

I’ve just been reading and thinking upon the many lessons found in Daniel 4, about King Nebuchadnezzar. While we may not like to admit it, there seems to be a bit of the fleshly Nebuchadnezzar heart attitude in us all to some degree. A few quick observations from Daniel 4 which I hope encourage you:

  • Life’s circumstances and direction can change very quickly, yet the Lord is overseeing and governing it all, even though we may not recognise or feel His presence
  • The Lord is gracious with us, even when we are not responding to Him as He wants. He preserves our lives so that we can change for His glory
  • The Lord has a time-table for us, which He keeps perfectly synchronised with His will and plans for us (Eph 1). His plans never fail.
  • Every period of difficulty, even suffering, has an end.
  • No circumstance in life, good or painful, is without a God directed purpose which is to redirect us and grow us into being more God focused and God honouring. So our character and words will better express His character.
  • When the times of refreshment come, and they will come, and they do come, enjoy the wonder and joy of speaking well of the Lord (Praise) and being able to express His glory in ways you could not do had you not gone through the painful periods
  • Finally, realise you are not alone! As well as having the presence of the Lord, we have one another.

Daniel 4:37         Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Be encouraged to persevere and grow in your faith beloved. Recognise God in everything and appreciate the fellowship of each other. Pray for and actively encourage one another in some way today.

 

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Freedom in Christ

I wish to encourage you today in living the freedom we have in Christ. Freedom to choose Christ as Lord in place of sin, freedom to choose the truth of God’s Words in place of personal opinion or worldly thinking, freedom to persevere in your growing relationship with Christ in place of living for self.

John 8:31-32, 34-37         So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” …Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

Notice that the Jews who had so-called belief in Jesus spoken of in verse 31, are the same people who were ready to kill Jesus in verse 37. This exposes a possible “false belief” that our lying human hearts can deceive us with.

  • True belief surrenders all to the control of Jesus as Lord, and does not change it’s mind when life gets difficult, or when Jesus doesn’t do what you want Him to.
  • True belief surrenders it’s way of thinking and values to the controlling truth of God’s Word with no intention of taking back control of our values.
  • True belief surrenders in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ
  • True belief surrenders to persevering in faith in Christ, and does not give up

I pray that God will be honoured in each of our lives today as we live out the freedom we have in Christ through our surrendered belief in Christ as Lord.

 

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