NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S PRIDE

PRIDE BUSTERS 

God gave Nebuchadnezzar, 

the king of Babylon a fearful dream.

"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.
Then the magicians, the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me. But finally Daniel came in before me..."
Daniel 4:4-8 NASB


Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

"this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king; that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom,ever He wishes. And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules. Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity."
Daniel 4:24-27 NASB

If you exalt yourself, you will be abased, and if you humble yourself, you shall be exalted. 

"Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.

The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'

"While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.'"
Daniel 4:29-32 NASB


Driven out from hanging gardens of the palace to the cattle pasture, the mighty king spent 7 years discovering GOD, the true ruler of the heavens and earth.

"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?'

"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."
Daniel 4:34-36 NASB

Nebuchadnezzar looked up to heaven and praised the Most High God. 

"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 4:37 NASB


Leaders who walk in PRIDE will be brought down by God.  Those who are HUMBLE will be lifted up.  Are you a leader?

BONDSERVANTS OF THE BIBLE

PRIDE BUSTERS 

IS JESUS YOUR LORD? 

Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made know to you." 

John 15:15 NKJV

Jesus called the disciples who obeyed him, "friends."  What did the disciples call themselves?

"Simon Peter, a bond-servant..." 

II Peter 1:1 NASB

"James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ..." James 1:1 NASB

"Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James..." Jude 1:1 NASB

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John."  Revelation 1:1 NASB

"Paul, a bond-servant of Christ..." 

Romans 1:1 NASB

"Paul and Timothy bond-servants of Christ Jesus..." Philippians 1:1 NASB

Even after Jesus ascended into heaven, His disciples called themselves "bond-servants." "Doulos" is the Greek word.

In Bible times, on the 7th year, & the Year of Jubilee, slaves were set free. They had the freedom to go their own way; or become a 'doulos'--becoming a lifetime servant under a master. The servant's ear was pierced at the doorpost, signifying his was a bond-servant for life.

People making Jesus Lord of their lives, surrender all and become obedient to him, like a servant to a master. Jesus is the loving Lord, who treats his servants like friends.

Apostle Paul said, "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." 

Galatian 1:10 NASB

Is Jesus Lord of your life?

If so, he calls you "Friend."

What do you call yourself?

MARY THE MAID SERVANT

PRIDE BUSTERS 

Why is Mary highly favored among women?

"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the LORD is with you; blessed are you among women!" 

Luke 1:26-28 NKJV


"But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord."

"God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."   Luke 1:29-33 NKJV

MARY HAS BEEN CHOSEN

"Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."
"Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." 

Luke 1:34-37 NKJV

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

"Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

"And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
"But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

"And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arms; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever." 

Luke 1:38-55 NKJV

Mary regarded herself as a lowly maidservant before God.  God scatters the proud and exalts the lowly.
WHY DOES GOD CHOOSE THE HUMBLE?

ARE YOU BIG HEADED?

PRIDE BUSTERS

WHERE WOULD YOU SIT?

"And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 

Luke 14:7-9 NAS

Big headed people like to sit at the place of honor.  While humble persons like to be the table servants.

But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you." Luke 14:10 NASB

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  

Luke 14:11 NASB

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; PRIDE and arrogance and the evil way ..." 

Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

JUDAS SAT IN THE PLACE OF HONOR BESIDE JESUS AT THE LAST SUPPER.

PETER SAT IN THE SERVANTS PLACE, AT THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE.

IF YOU COULD SIT ANY WHERE AT THE TABLE, WHERE WOULD YOU SEAT YOURSELF?

FAMILY PRIDE

PRIDE BUSTERS

"As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up." Matthew 20:17-19 NASB

The mother of James and John, bows down before Jesus and asks for a favor.

"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him.
And He said to her, "What do you wish?"

She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left."

But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"
They said to Him, "We are able." 

Matthew 20:20-22 NASB

Jesus is referring to the cup of suffering. James was the first disciple to be martyred.

"Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword." 

Acts 12:1-2 NASB

It was Family Pride, for mama Zebedee to request her two boys to be put in the highest place of honor in God's kingdom.

"He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."

And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 

But Jesus called them to Himself and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord  over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, 

but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:23-28 NASB

Do you Lord over people?

Or do you enjoy serving others?

WHAT DOES GOD THINK ABOUT PRIDE?

PRIDE BUSTERS 

WHAT DOES GOD THINK ABOUT PRIDE?

WHAT DOES GOD THINK ABOUT THE HUMBLE?

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:18-19 NKJV

"Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble."  Proverbs 3:34 NKJV

"He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction." Proverbs 17:19 NKJV

"Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility." 

Proverbs 18:12 NKJV

"A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin."  Proverbs 21:4 NKJV

"...God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 NKJV

"Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." James 4:10 NKJV

"If my people who are called by My name will HUMBLE themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

"For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."  I Corinthians 11:31 NKJV

Is it time to give up all PRIDE in your life; and become HUMBLE before Christ?

WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?

PRIDE BUSTERS 

BECOME LIKE CHILDREN

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

And He (Jesus) called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said,

"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4 NASB


Jesus made it clear, unless you are converted (turn from sin) and humble yourself as a little child; you will not enter His kingdom.

And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." 

Matthew 18:5-6 NASB

Do you have faith like a child, and believe in Jesus?  Unless you are converted and humble yourself you will not ever enter the kingdom of heaven.