Out of the Ashes
Day 13 • February 15
Out of the Ashes –
God’s Story
Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 4:34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward Heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” With those immortal words, Charles Dickens launched into his most famous novel A Tale of Two Cities. What is it about that single line that makes it so memorable and powerful, even after all these years? In just twelve words, Dickens revealed a deep truth about life: that even in our best moments, trouble can rear its head. And hidden in our very worst moments can be the grace and redemption for which we long. That is the story of Nebuchadnezzar. When we are first introduced to King Nebuchadnezzar II, he seems to have it all. In fact, he almost does. Nebuchadnezzar was the absolute king on the throne of the renowned Babylonian empire. Babylon was cruel, immoral and completely pagan. It was also rich, vast, and powerful. Nebuchadnezzar had the desires of his heart at his disposal. He lived in opulent luxury, and with the thick walls surrounding the city and the Euphrates River running under them, his way of life seemed impenetrable. It was the best of times… except… Daniel 4 tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall. One day, as he was walking on the roof of his palace, he allowed his eyes to sweep across his vast empire. In that moment, his heart swelled with praise… for himself! “He 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 4:30). At that moment, God decided to teach the king a lesson: “Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from Heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority
has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.’” (Daniel 4:31-32) Just like that, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled. History records that he was afflicted with some sort of mental illness. For seven years he lived as a madman. Instead of the royal bed, he slept outside in the elements. Instead of being carefully groomed, he allowed his hair and beard and fingernails to grow. Instead of eating from the king’s table, he ate grass. He went from the penthouse to the outhouse. It was the worst of times… except… Daniel 4 is a strange chapter of Scripture. It is actually autobiographical, written by the king’s own hand. He tells the story of his downfall, but he also tells the story of his restoration. The king of pagan Babylon who once worshipped his own majesty, lifted his eyes and gave glory to God. At that moment his sanity was restored, and so was his crown. The same God who took him from the top to the bottom, now brought him back to the top. He took Nebuchadnezzar’s worst moment and used it as the catalyst for his best. Who knows? As a result we may one day see the former king of Babylon in Heaven. He wrote: “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.” (Daniel 4:37) In other words, He can transform our worst into our best.
Out of the Ashes – Nebuchadnezzar
Your Story
The first part of telling your story is thinking back to what your life was like BEFORE CHRIST. After all, at its essence, the Gospel is all about TRANSFORMATION. God loved us while we were still His enemies. He adopted us into His family and gave us full rights as heirs. Do you remember how Paul described the transformation of knowing Christ as Savior and Lord? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Paul was describing something that he knew all too well. In fact, when Paul would tell his story, he always started by candidly discussing what his life used to be life. (See Acts 26:4-11). Paul would say, “I was religious, works-based, disciplined… and I hated Christians. I opposed them, testified against them, even persecuted them. I did all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus…” That was Paul’s life before he met Christ.
Day 13
Again, many of you may answer that question by saying that you can’t remember a time that you weren’t in Church. You were born on Thursday and were in Church the next Sunday. If that’s you, maybe you just want to say, “I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t in Church. So I grew up with a simple belief in God.” Take a moment and jot down some ideas for that question. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
What about you? What was YOUR life like before Christ? Some of you might not have had a relationship with Jesus until adulthood. In that case, like Paul, you probably have some harrowing stories to tell. Some of you may have accepted Christ as your Savior while you were young, but fought against surrendering to Him as Lord until later in life. Still others of you may have walked with Christ for as long as you can remember. In that case, your story is one about how you came to adopt your parent’s faith and make it your own.
Question Two – What caused you to begin considering Christ? Was it another person? Was it something that you read or someone that you heard on TV? Did you have an experience where you hit rock bottom? Take a moment and jot down your ideas.
Take a moment and ponder your (early) story. Here are some questions to help you think1:
____________________________________________________
Question One – What was your early spiritual background? How did it affect you as you grew up? Did you have a bad experience that turned you off to God? What did your friends think about God? Did they influence you poorly?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
We will continue working on YOUR STORY next Saturday. As you close today, take a moment and thank God that He has made you a new person and has removed sins of your past as far away as the east is from the west.
____________________________________________________
1
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
These questions are taken from Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg. (Hybels, Bill, and Mark Mittelberg. Becoming a Contagious Christian. Zondervan, print).
Daily Scripture Reading: Daniel 4
Out of the Ashes –
God’s Story
Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 4:34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward Heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” With those immortal words, Charles Dickens launched into his most famous novel A Tale of Two Cities. What is it about that single line that makes it so memorable and powerful, even after all these years? In just twelve words, Dickens revealed a deep truth about life: that even in our best moments, trouble can rear its head. And hidden in our very worst moments can be the grace and redemption for which we long. That is the story of Nebuchadnezzar. When we are first introduced to King Nebuchadnezzar II, he seems to have it all. In fact, he almost does. Nebuchadnezzar was the absolute king on the throne of the renowned Babylonian empire. Babylon was cruel, immoral and completely pagan. It was also rich, vast, and powerful. Nebuchadnezzar had the desires of his heart at his disposal. He lived in opulent luxury, and with the thick walls surrounding the city and the Euphrates River running under them, his way of life seemed impenetrable. It was the best of times… except… Daniel 4 tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall. One day, as he was walking on the roof of his palace, he allowed his eyes to sweep across his vast empire. In that moment, his heart swelled with praise… for himself! “He 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 4:30). At that moment, God decided to teach the king a lesson: “Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from Heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority
has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.’” (Daniel 4:31-32) Just like that, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled. History records that he was afflicted with some sort of mental illness. For seven years he lived as a madman. Instead of the royal bed, he slept outside in the elements. Instead of being carefully groomed, he allowed his hair and beard and fingernails to grow. Instead of eating from the king’s table, he ate grass. He went from the penthouse to the outhouse. It was the worst of times… except… Daniel 4 is a strange chapter of Scripture. It is actually autobiographical, written by the king’s own hand. He tells the story of his downfall, but he also tells the story of his restoration. The king of pagan Babylon who once worshipped his own majesty, lifted his eyes and gave glory to God. At that moment his sanity was restored, and so was his crown. The same God who took him from the top to the bottom, now brought him back to the top. He took Nebuchadnezzar’s worst moment and used it as the catalyst for his best. Who knows? As a result we may one day see the former king of Babylon in Heaven. He wrote: “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.” (Daniel 4:37) In other words, He can transform our worst into our best.
Out of the Ashes – Nebuchadnezzar
Your Story
The first part of telling your story is thinking back to what your life was like BEFORE CHRIST. After all, at its essence, the Gospel is all about TRANSFORMATION. God loved us while we were still His enemies. He adopted us into His family and gave us full rights as heirs. Do you remember how Paul described the transformation of knowing Christ as Savior and Lord? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Paul was describing something that he knew all too well. In fact, when Paul would tell his story, he always started by candidly discussing what his life used to be life. (See Acts 26:4-11). Paul would say, “I was religious, works-based, disciplined… and I hated Christians. I opposed them, testified against them, even persecuted them. I did all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus…” That was Paul’s life before he met Christ.
Day 13
Again, many of you may answer that question by saying that you can’t remember a time that you weren’t in Church. You were born on Thursday and were in Church the next Sunday. If that’s you, maybe you just want to say, “I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t in Church. So I grew up with a simple belief in God.” Take a moment and jot down some ideas for that question. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
What about you? What was YOUR life like before Christ? Some of you might not have had a relationship with Jesus until adulthood. In that case, like Paul, you probably have some harrowing stories to tell. Some of you may have accepted Christ as your Savior while you were young, but fought against surrendering to Him as Lord until later in life. Still others of you may have walked with Christ for as long as you can remember. In that case, your story is one about how you came to adopt your parent’s faith and make it your own.
Question Two – What caused you to begin considering Christ? Was it another person? Was it something that you read or someone that you heard on TV? Did you have an experience where you hit rock bottom? Take a moment and jot down your ideas.
Take a moment and ponder your (early) story. Here are some questions to help you think1:
____________________________________________________
Question One – What was your early spiritual background? How did it affect you as you grew up? Did you have a bad experience that turned you off to God? What did your friends think about God? Did they influence you poorly?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
We will continue working on YOUR STORY next Saturday. As you close today, take a moment and thank God that He has made you a new person and has removed sins of your past as far away as the east is from the west.
____________________________________________________
1
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
These questions are taken from Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg. (Hybels, Bill, and Mark Mittelberg. Becoming a Contagious Christian. Zondervan, print).
Daily Scripture Reading: Daniel 4
