From Failure to Success 09.16.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Daniel, please read Chapters 4-6 in your Bible or Click Here to read online. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204-6&version=9

Today we will read and learn about a second dream from Nebuchadnezar interpretated by Daniel; Belshazzar's feast; and Daniel in the lions den. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that failures in our lives bring out the greatness of God. When we put aside our pride and look to Him all of our failures become successes.

Nebuchadnezzar had another dream and once again he called on the magician's, etc. to interpret it. Getting no answers he called on Daniel, "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule." (Daniel 4:24-26).

Daniel urged Nebuchadnezzar to turn from his sins and listen his counsel, however he did not listen and his dream quickly became a reality. He began speaking to the people and credited himself as the successor even to the point of claiming himself as a god. ""At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (4:29-30).

As he was speaking God spoke to him and in an instant he lost his kingdom and began to turn into a beast like person. "While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." (4:29-33). Seven years passed by, Nebuchadnezzar humbly prayed, blessed and praised God. As he did he began to return to normal and his kingdom was restored to him. Consequently, Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar who also worshipped false gods, never heeded the warnings from God and lost his life due to his unchanging ways. (Daniel 5:1-30).

Today, we learn a lesson from both Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, God always gives us a chance to turn away from our sinful ways. He even gives us a way out should we ignore all the warnings, but we can not be too confident that we can continue to sin and God will bail us out because sooner or later it will be too late and there will be no chance to repent.

True repentance turns any failure into a success and many times we end up being successful far beyond what we even dreamed because we are giving God control. "(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:32-34).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I pray for the courage to stand up to all those who criticize us and try to change our way of thinking. It is You that I choose to obey and follow and not the wordly people. Strengthen our faith and help us to do what is right and not what is the popular thing of the week is. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Enjoy your day and be blessed.
God Bless You,
Christina

Visit A Spiritual Guide
aspiritualguide.net