Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul

Daniel 4

A few days back I was reading the first 4 chapters of the book of Daniel. I have read these scriptures several times, but 2 days ago, the spirit of God showed me something about King Nebuchadnezzar before he was driven away from his kingdom.

Daniel 4 New International Version (NIV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!

2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians,enchanters, astrologers[b] and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,[c] coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[d] pass by for him.

17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel then goes on to interpret the King’s dream.

19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’

24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. 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. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, 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 that then your prosperity will continue.”

Verse 27 is where the spirit of God stopped me and I read it over a few times. After Daniel interpreted the dream, he goes to tell the King how this situation can be prevented from happening. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, 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 that then your prosperity will continue.”

The King James Version reads: Daniel 4:27 (King James Version)
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
I saw in Strong’s Concordance that lengthening of thy tranquility meant: healing of thine error. I never saw before how God was showing mercy to King Nebuchnezzar by first warning him in the dream but also showing him how it could be prevented what was to happen to him. I just assumed that he was driven out of his kingdom, no mercy. As I continued to read on I saw that God did show mercy and gave the King 12 months to do what Daniel had advised him to do.

The Dream Is Fulfilled

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?”

31 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. 32 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.”

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

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.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 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.

Thank God, that our father is merciful.

Exodus 34:6

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_pvBA0fQRA

God bless,

Pamela

CE ESTE EVANGHELIA?/WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? by Doyle Davidson Chapter 4 Part 1 română/engleză

Isus A Predicat Evanghelia, Capitolul 4, Partea 1

I Ioan 2:6 afirmă că o persoană care spune că trăiește în Isus trebuie să meargă așa cum a mers Isus. Dacă vrem să mergem așa cum a mers Isus, atunci ar trebui să examinăm predica Lui.

Uită-te la Marcu 1:14:

Acum, după ce Ioan a fost aruncat în temniță, Isus a venit în Galileea, predicând Evanghelia Împărăției lui Dumnezeu,

Ce a predicat Isus când a venit în Galileea? El a venit predicând evanghelia Împărăției.

Predica

Cuvântul “predică” în Marcu 1:14 înseamnă a publica sau a proclama. Isus a venit să publice sau să proclame Evanghelia Împărăției lui Dumnezeu.

Isus nu a predicat pur și simplu cuvinte; El a demonstrat puterea prin predicile Sale. Luca 8:1 afirmă despre Isus:

Și s-a întâmplat după aceea, că el amers de-a lungul fiecărui oraș și sat, propovăduind și arătând [expunând] vestea bună a Împărăției lui Dumnezeu: și cei doisprezece erau cu el,

Isus nu doar a predicat, El a prezentat, de asemenea, vestea bună--Evanghelia--a Împărăției lui Dumnezeu.

Uită-te la Faptele Apostolilor 8:5-7:

Atunci Filip a coborât în cetatea Samariei, și l-a predicat pe Hristos lor (v. 5).

Și oamenii au fost de acord cu cele spuse de Filip, auzind și văzând minunile pe care le-a făcut (v. 6).

În versetul 6, poporul a auzit și a văzut minunile pe care le-a făcut Filip. Ce au auzit și văzut ei? Citiți versetul 7:

Căci duhuri necurate, strigând cu glas tare, au ieșit din mulți care erau posedați de ei: și mulți slăbănogi și șchiopi s-au vindecat.

Asta se întamplă odată cu predicarea Evangheliei. Poporul a auzit duhurile necurate strigând, și a văzut șchiopii umblând.

Isus a predicat și cu putere. Marcu 1:22 afirmă:

Și erau uimiți de învățătura Lui, căci El îi învăța ca unul care avea putere, nu cum îi învățau cărturarii.

Cuvântul “putere” în acest verset este cuvântul grecesc exousia. Acesta înseamnă privilegiu. Peste ce avea Isus puter sau privilegiu?

Citiți Luca 4:32-36. Aceasta este aceeași relatare ca Marcu 1:22. Începe cu versetul 32:

Și au fost uimiți de învățătura Lui: pentru că cuvântul Lui avea putere [autoritate sau privilegiu] (v. 32).

Continuați cu versetele 33-35:

Și în sinagogă era un om care avea duhul unui drac necurat, și care striga cu glas tare (v. 33),

Spunând, Să ne lași în pace; ce avem noi de-a face cu Tine, Isus din Nazaret? Ai venit să ne distrugi? Eu știu cine ești; Cel Sfânt al lui Dumnezeu (v. 34).

Și Iisus l-a certat zicându-i: Taci, și ieși afară din el. Și când diavolul l-a aruncat jos, în mijlocul adunării, a ieșit din el fără să-i facă vreun rău (v. 35).

În versetul 35, Isus i-a poruncit duhului necurat să iasă din om și duhul a ieșit.

Acum uită-te la versetul 36Ș

Și toți au rămas uimiți, și au vorbit între ei, zicând: Ce cuvânt este și acest! Pentru că prin autoritate [privilegiu] și putere [abilitatea] el poruncește duhurilor necurate, și ele ies afară.

Isus a predicat cu autoritate și putere. El a avut putere asupra duhurilor rele, iar duhurile rele trebuiau să vină afară atunci când El vorbea.

Împărăția lui Dumnezeu este Putere

Nu vă lăsați înșelați. Dacă numai predicați cuvântul și nu îi demonstrați puterea, voi nu propovăduiți Evanghelia Împărăției lui Dumnezeu.

Pavel scrie în I Corinteni 4:18-20:

Acum, unii s-au îngâmfat, ca și cum nu aș mai veni la voi (v. 18).

Dar voi veni la voi în scurt timp, dacă va fi voia Domnului, și voi știi nu numai vorbele celor care s-au îngâmfat, ci și puterea (v. 19).

Căci împărăția lui Dumnezeu nu stă în cuvânt, ci în putere (v. 20).

În I Tesaloniceni 1:5, Pavel scrie:

Pentru că Evanghelia moastră nu a venit la voi numai prin cuvânt, ci și putere, și în Duhul Sfânt, și cu o mare îndrăzneală; că voi știți ce fel de oameni am fost printre voi pentru binele vostru.

Când Pavel afirmă că Evanghelia nu a venit numai în cuvânt, “cuvântul” la care se referă este moartea, îngroparea, și învierea lui Isus. Ea nu este orice cuvânt al lui Dumnezeu. Este Evanghelia--că Isus a murit, a fost îngropat, și a înviat a treia zi. Evanghelia este puterea lui Dumnezeu.

Jesus Preached The Gospel, by Doyle Davidson, Chapter 4, Part 1

I John 2:6 states that a person who says that he abides in Jesus ought to walk as Jesus walked. If we are to walk as Jesus walked, then we should examine His preaching.

Look at Mark 1:14:

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

What did Jesus come into Galilee preaching? He came preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

Preaching

The word “preaching” in Mark 1:14 means to publish or proclaim. Jesus came publishing or proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Jesus did not simply preach words; he demonstrated power with His preaching. Luke 8:1 states about Jesus:

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing [exhibiting] the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

Jesus was not only preaching, He was also exhibiting the glad tidings--the gospel--of the kingdom of God.

Look at Acts 8:5-7:

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them (v. 5).

And the people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did (v. 6).

In verse 6, the people heard and saw the miracles that Philip did. What did they hear and see? Read verse 7:

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

This is what happens with the preaching of the gospel. The people heard the unclean spirits cry out, and they saw the lame walk.

Jesus also preached with authority. Mark 1:22 states:

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

The word “authority” in this verse is the Greek word, exousia. It means privilege. Over what did Jesus have authority or privilege?

Read Luke 4:32-36. This is the same account as Mark 1:22. Begin with verse 32:

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power [authority or privilege] (v. 32).

Continue with verses 33-35:

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice (v. 33),

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God (v. 34).

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not (v. 35).

In verse 35, Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man, and the spirit came out.

Now, look at verse 36:

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying. What a word is this! for with authority [privilege] and power [ability] he commanded the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Jesus preached with authority and power. He had authority over evil spirits, and the evil spirits had to come out when He spoke.

The Kingdom of God Is in Power

Do not be deceived. If you are preaching the word only and not demonstrating the power, you are not preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Paul writes in I Corinthians 4:18-20:

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you (v. 18).

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power (v. 19).

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (v. 20).

In I Thessalonians 1:5, Paul writes:

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

When Paul states that the gospel came not in word only, the “word” to which he is referring in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is not any word of God. It is the gospel--that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day. The gospel is the power of God.