iDols - Power and Glory - Logos Sermons

Who here struggles with insecurity? Who struggles with pride?

The need for Power and Glory are obvious idols, but that doesn’t mean we wont address them. From the very beginning of time, this temptation would loom in the hearts of Women and Men. In fact, when our first parents sinned and went against God’s command, they were rebelling against the constraints that God had graciously placed on their freedom. They wanted to become like God. To have no one control them. They sought to have their own power and glory. And in their attempt to attain new levels of power and glory, they were made low, dragging you and I, and in fact, all of creation, down into depravity with them.

The need for Power and Glory are obvious idols, but that doesn’t mean we wont address them.

– all humans struggle with a sense of being dependent and powerless

From the very beginning of time, this temptation has loomed in the hearts of Women and Men. In fact, when our first parents, Adam and Eve sinned and went against God’s command, they were rebelling against the constraints that God had graciously placed on their freedom. - don’t eat from that tree.

All humans struggle with a sense of being dependent and powerless - we don’t like it.

Genesis 2:17 ESV

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

They wanted to become like God. To have no one control them. They sought to have their own power and glory. And in their attempt to attain new levels of power and glory, they were made low, dragging you and I, and in fact, all of creation, down into depravity with them. Rather than accept the fact that we’re not in charge and are dependence on God, we desperately seek ways to assure ourselves that we still have power over our own lives.

But this is an illusion. We’re still insecure, and we’re still prideful.

“they go back to the beginning of the world, to our alienation from God, and to our frantic efforts to compensate for our feelings of cosmic nakedness and powerlessness. The only way to deal with all these things is to heal our relationship with God.” Page 107

Definition of God’s SOVEREIGNTY - God’s right and power to do whatever He pleases with everyone and anything at any time ()

Psalm 115:3 ESV

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY

- Intro

Insecurities

Patriotic Idolatry - Nazi Germany - They claimed love of country and people. But somehow as they pursued this thing called “love of country” their patriotism became demonic and destructive. In the end, Nazism accomplished the very opposite of what it was trying to achieve - cosmic shame rather than national honor.

Political Idolatry - because of our insecurity and feeling of powerlessness we can feel Safe and secure when “our Woman” or “our Man” is in office, then everything will be alright. And the inverse is true, we panic and become extremely fearful when their man or woman occupies the power seat. Another sign of idolatry in our politics is that our opponents aren’t considered to be mistaken, but to be evil. Regardless of which party wins, there’s always people on the other side of the isle who threaten to leave the country. I saw it with President Obama and I saw it with President Trump.

When we lose sight of the fact that there’s a serious problem with our world, and that sin is the reason it is fallen, we can look to political messiah’s to “make it right” when, truthfully, only God can. This is how politics becomes an idol.

Philosophical Idolatry - we call this ideologies - a set of ideas about a subject. An example of a recent ideology that failed is Communism. The pendulum then swings to free market-economy as the “only right way to see things.” But it’s not that simple.

Highly progressive tax-structures can produce a type of injustice where people who have worked hard go unrewarded and are penalized with high taxes. However, a society with low taxes and few benefits, produces a different kind of injustice where the children of families who can’t afford good health care and elite education have vastly fewer opportunities then those more fortunate.

Ideologues can not admit that there is always significant negative side-effects to ANY political program. They can not grant that the other side might have some good ideas too.

All of the power idols that we have go back to the beginning of the world, to our alienation from God, and to our frantic efforts to compensate for our feelings of cosmic nakedness and powerlessness. The only way to deal with all these things is to heal our relationship with God.”

It’s a good thing the Bible gives us a dramatic example of just such a healing. It’s s story about a man who’s need for power drove him to become the single most powerful person in the world.

“they go back to the beginning of the world, to our alienation from God, and to our frantic efforts to compensate for our feelings of cosmic nakedness and powerlessness. The only way to deal with all these things is to heal our relationship with God.”

Turn to with me please.

Daniel 2:1–3 ESV

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”

Why was Neb so troubled by this dream?

Summarize - The king was going to kill all the wisemen but Daniel came to the rescue

SO again, why was Neb so troubled by this dream? I believe it shook him so thoroughly because it touched on a deep insecurity of his. Does this mean my empire will fail? Will someone betray me?

The humble servant

- Daniel refused to take credit for what he was about to do.

Daniel 2:29–30 ESV

29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel 2:26–30 ESV

26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

The prophetic dream

– Daniel Reveals the dream

Daniel 2:31–35 ESV

“You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

The statue represented the kingdoms of the earth. It appeared as a giant idol, representing the idolization of human power and achievement. It was human civilization - commerce and culture, rule and power, all exercised by man beings to glorify themselves.

But what smashed this giant idol? It was a stone. In contrast to the rest of the materials in the statue, this stone was “cut out, not by human hands.” it was from God. Even though this stone was far less valuable than any of the precious materials in the statue, it was ultimately the most powerful component. It was as Daniel says in V44 God’s kingdom that would someday be set up on the earth. This was JESUS.

I believe it shook him so thoroughly because it touched on a deep insecurity of his. Does this mean my empire will fail? Will someone betray me? Many people with a great drive to power are very fearful and anxious. Fear and power go hand in hand. Those in power know they are the object of jealousy and stand in the cross hairs of their competition. And if their power is their identity, their idol, they’ll fear losing it and will seek to protect it at all costs. But, Powerful people do not like to admit how weak they really feel.

Many people with a great drive to power are very fearful and anxious. Fear and power go hand in hand. Those in power know they are the object of jealousy and stand in the cross hairs of their competition. And if their power is their identity, their idol, they’ll fear losing it and will seek to protect it at all costs.

I believe it shook him so thoroughly because it touched on a deep insecurity of his. Does this mean my empire will fail? Will someone betray me? Many people with a great drive to power are very fearful and anxious. Fear and power go hand in hand. Those in power know they are the object of jealousy and stand in the cross hairs of their competition. And if their power is their identity, their idol, they’ll fear losing it and will seek to protect it at all costs. But, Powerful people do not like to admit how weak they really feel.

Powerful people do not like to admit how weak they really feel.

KELLER writes about when Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 ears in prison for running a $65Billion Ponzi scheme, he publicly blamed his pride. As some point in the past he had a year where he should have reported significant losses but he could not admit his failures as a money manager. He couldn’t accept the loss of power and reputation that he’d experience if he came forward about it. Once he began hiding his weakness through the Ponzi scheme, he couldn’t admit his error in judgment whole the scheme grew, but he was always thinking he could work his way out.

See, Power is often born of fear and in turn gives birth to more fear. This dream forced Neb’s insecurities to the surface, and it was crazy uncomfortable for him. But, Powerful people do not like to admit how weak they really feel.

– Daniel Interprets the dream

Daniel 2:44–45 ESV

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

This dream was a call to humility. Even though world history seems to favor tyrants, God will eventually bring them down. either gradually, or dramatically. Those in power should see that they have not achieved power on their own, but that they have only been given their power by God, and that all human power crumbles in the end.

Romans 13:1–2 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Neb was being asked to chance his perception of God. As a pagan, he would have believed in pluralism, that there are many Gods and supernatural forces in the world. But he didn’t believe that there was one preeminent, all powerful law-giver to whom everyone was accountable. including him. He was being told that there was one supreme God, who was completely sovereign and judge, and to whom he was responsible to his us of power.

SO again, why was Neb so troubled by this dream? I believe it shook him so thoroughly because it touched on a deep insecurity of his.

Many people with a great drive to power are very fearful and anxious. Fear and power go hand in hand. Those in power know they are the object of jealousy and stand in the cross hairs of their competition. And if their power is their identity, their idol, they’ll fear losing it and will seek to protect it at all costs.

KELLER writes about when Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 ears in prison for running a $65Billion Ponzi scheme, he publicly blamed his pride. As some point in the past he had a year where he should have reported significant losses but he could not admit his failures as a money manager. He couldn’t accept the loss of power and reputation that he’d experience if he came forward about it. Once he began hiding his weakness through the Ponzi scheme, he couldn’t admit his error in judgment whole the scheme grew, but he was always thinking he could work his way out.

See, Power is often born of fear and in turn gives birth to more fear. This dream forced Neb’s insecurities to the surface, and it was crazy uncomfortable for him. But, Powerful people do not like to admit how weak they really feel.

“Human beings have very little real power over their lives. Ninety-five percent of what sets the course of their lives is completely outside of their control. This includes the century and place they were born in, who their parents and family are, their childhood environment, physical stature, genetically hardwired talents, and most of the circumstances they find themselves in. In short, all we are and all we have is given to us by God. We are not infinite Creators. We are finite, dependent creatures.” - Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods

Has anyone seen the movie INVICTUS?

Invictus - by the British poet W.E.Henley - had a leg amputated when he was a teenager. He went on to have a career as a critic and author. When he was a young man he defiantly penned His famous INVICTUS, latin for “unconquered”

INVICTUS

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

-W.E. Henley

This my friends is a view of reality that is completely distorted and infected with the sin of pride. Could Henley have written this if he had been born without literary talent or with aery low IQ or with different parents and social connections? NO! and somewhat like Neb, he was forced to face his own powerlessness when his five year old daughter died, a blow from which he never recovered. He was a finite and limited man who boasted of being more.

JAMES the womanizer turned pastor.

- seduce women and then after having sex with them would lose interest and move on.

- he became a christian and quickly renounced his sexual escapades.

- He became active in the christian ministry but his deep idol did not change

- James was argumentative and domineering. in every class and meeting he had to be the leader

- he was abrasive and harsh with skeptics

- Eventually it became clear that his value had not shifted to christ, but was still based in having power over others - it made him feel alive

- The reason James wanted to have sex with those women was not because of attraction, but because he was seeking the power of knowing he could sleep with them if he wanted to. once he had achieved that power, he lost interest in them.

The reason he wanted to be a pastor was was not to serve God and others, but to have power of knowing he was right and to dominate others

His power idol first took a sexual form and then a religious one. It hid itself well.

See, we have to understand that “Idols of power” are not only for the powerful. you can pursue power in small petty ways

- by becoming a local neighborhood bully

- a low level bureaucrat or employer who bosses around the few people in her field of authority

- by being a harsh and domineering parents insisting that you be obeyed at all costs.

Power idolatry is all around us. so what’s the solution??

—> The chastened King

– The king accepts the interpretation and humbles himself

Daniel 2:46–47 ESV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

The

Response: intellectual assent that God is “God of gods and Lord of kings”

The King confessed that God is “lord of kings” and the most powerful man in the world prostrated himself. This was crazy. this was an act of humility compleatly out of accord with Neb’s usual pride. But we see that this intellectual assent wasn’t enough to topple the kings deep power idol.

This Is how the first showdown with God went.

Paraphrase - Golden statue - He was saying to God, you think i’m just the head, I’m the whole thing! Everyone will bow to me!

He was saying to God, you think i’m just the head, I’m the whole thing!

Arrogance is when a person has an inflated opinion of his abilities or possessions.

The illusion of Control - check out these helpful verses.

“human beings have a deep fear of powerlessness stemming from their alienation from God, then there must be many ways that they deal with it, not just through politics and government. Power idols are a “deep idols” that can express themselves through a great variety of other “surface” idols.”88 Page 111

The illusion of Control

Paraphrase - Golden statue

– Everything you have is from God.

1 Corinthians 4:6–7 ESV

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Students that are boastful about their brand name clothes. - YOUR MAMA GAVE THAT TO YOU!

We are the product of three things - genetics, environment, and our personal choices. But two of these three factors are things we have no control over. We are not nearly as responsible for our success as our power-driven culture and pride might lead us to think.

Neb was pretty arrogant in this showdown with God in Daniel three - but God is working him over.

Paraphrase - Golden statue

After God saved these 3 boys from the certain death that the king had ordered for them, Neb’s like - “Oh dang. wow, that’s impressive.”

–Neb Blessed God.

Daniel 3:28 ESV

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

Response: emotionally impressed by the salvific power of God

Paraphrase - Golden statue

– Bless God.

See, but King Nebuchadnezzar is just like us. He’s a slow learner. because he hadn’t dealt with the true deep power idols of his heart, he’s still susceptible to insecurity, arrogance and pride. He’s still relying on his own power as the source of his identity. And God just wont have that.

Pride is when a person feels satisfied with his abilities or possessions or accomplishments

Nebuchadnezzar had taken personal credit for his rise to prominence and power. Now he had began to be humbled and his false view of God was changing, but the changes didn’t go very deep. More intervention from God was necessary.

The gracious warning - God gives Neb another dream .

– Dream of a Big Tree

Daniel 4:10–12 ESV

The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

Paraphrase – voice from heaven said chop the tree down

– The tree is a “he”

Daniel 4:16–17 ESV

Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’

– Daniel interprets the dream

Daniel 4:24–27 ESV

this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

The first dream of the statue was an academic lesson. But it didn’t help. The king was still a tyrant who oppressed particular races and, classes and the poor - v.27. This time, God was getting personal. Now God was going to teach him what he needed to learn.

This would be discipline - pain inflicted with the motive of correction and redemption. This harsh treatment is extremely gracious of God. it’s the same in our lives when he threatens and removes our various counterfeit God, the idols in our lives.

So what lesson did he want to teach Neb -

“The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.” This means that anyone who is successful is simply a recipient of God’s unmerited favor. Even the people at the top of the world’s hierarchy of power, wealth, and influence are really “lowliest”—they are no better than anyone else. This is a rudimentary form of the gospel—that what we have is the result of grace, not of our “works” or efforts.

God was saying something like this: “King Nebuchadnezzar—you must understand that your power has been given to you by grace from God. If you knew that, you would be both more relaxed and secure and more humble and just. If you think you earned your position through your own merit and works, you will continue to be both scared and cruel.”

THE GOSPEL GAIN: Faith in the sovereignty of God is the death of insecurity and pride.

The hard way to learn

– Prideful Neb didn’t get it.

Daniel 4:29–30 ESV

At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

The ling looked over his realm and the pride of his heart asserted itself.

The power and glory removed

– The mad King

Daniel 4:31–33 ESV

31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

My friends, this is what happens when out power idols go unchecked. When we look out at what we’ve accomplished, puff our chests and say “I’m pretty awesome. Look at what I have done, created, accomplished.” And guys, WE ALL DO THIS. We all do! No one is except.

This is my idol, too. After preaching a sermon, which God gave me the mind to conceive, the fingers to type, the eyes to read, the mouth to deliver and the holy spirit to give the declaration of his word it’s power - I can still sit back and go either, “that was terrible, I suck” (insecurity) or “Wow, that was awesome. God sure is lucky to have me!” (pride)

Now, I or you would never say that out loud, but in our pride, that’s exactly what we’re saying in our hearts! It’s pure evil. God alone can change hearts, God alone draws people to himself. God alone opens the ears of people he hear his word, not me! I’m the tool. He’s the master. Just as a hammer doesn’t contain the power to drive a nail into the wooden beam, but is only effective when welded by a powerful hand, so too, are all the things we accomplish a testament to God’s power, not to our sense of worthiness or ability.

Neb didn’t get this, so God humbled him, and took his mind and gave him the mind of an animal. - To be our own God and to live for our own glory and power leads to the most animal-like and cruel behavior. Pride makes you a predator, not a person. That’s what happened to the king.

The Resurrection from the death of pride

One of the main characters is a young boy named Eustace Scrubb. Eustace had a lust for power, but be expressed it in the mean, petty ways that only a school boy could, in teasing others, torturing animals, tattling, and ingratiating himself to adult authorities.

Keller says - He was a Nebuchadnezzar in training.

One night Eustace found a huge pile of treasure in a cave. He was stoked out of his mind and began to imagine his life of ease and power that he’d now have. But when he woke up the next morning, to his horror, he had turned into a giant hideous dragon.

READ - “Sleeping on a dragon’s hoard with greedy, dragon-ish thoughts in his heart, he had become a dragon himself.”

For Eustace, becoming a dragon was the “cosmic natural consequence” of his power idol. Because he had thought and acted like a dragon, he became a dragon. It’s actually what he wanted most in the world.

READ - “In spite of the pain, his first feeling was one of relief. There was nothing to be afraid of anymore. he was a terror himself now and nothing in the world but a knight would dare to attack him.”

When we set our hearts on power, we become hardened predators. We become like what we worship. Eustace was now an a massive and powerful being. way more powerful than he had ever dreamed he could be. But as the story goes on, he was very fearful, hideous and compleatly alone. But that’s exactly what being power-drunk does to us. Bullies don’t have close friends. Domineering bosses aren’t respected. Harsh parents are loved, they’re feared.

The shock of his transformation humbled Eustace and he longed to be a normal boy again. A his pride faded, the idolatry in his heart began to be healed.

One night Eustace met a mysterious lion. The lion challenged him to undress, to try and take off his dragon skin. So Eustace did, and he managed to peel off a layer, but found he was still a dragon underneath. He tried this over and over, but every time he peeled off a layer of skin, he was still a dragon.

DO we ever do this? We finally become disillusioned with your idols, and we see the ugly things they have made us. We hate the idols and try our best to rip it out of our lives… but alas, we’re back, moments later at the foot of our idol, holing it, caressing it. We come back to our pride, to our money, to our security, to our romantic relationships, to our Isaacs. Do we do this??? YES! Do our won efforts to rid the idols work??? NO!

Eustace couldn’t do it on his own. Finally the lion said: READ 91-91

What’s the name of the Lion? Aslan. This lion represents Christ, and the store bears witness to what Christians have discovered, that pride leads to death, to a breakdown, to loss of humanity. But if you let the glory of Jesus humble you and turn to God instead of living for your own glory, then faith in the sovereignty of God will not only bring about the death of insecurity and pride - but will lead to a new life of restoration and redemption.

That’s what the Gospel does. When we see what Jesus has done for us, when we see his awesome love and power, we can let go of our foolish insecurity and pride and can become like him, loving and tender to those we used to abuse and dominate.

That’s what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 4:34–37 ESV

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to 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; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor 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.

Response: worshipful faith in the sovereignty of God

When the King could from his heart of hearts attest that God is Sovereign and in control, worshipful faith poured out of his being. He had finally learned his lesson. The power idol of his life had finally be toppled.

When Neb “raised his eyes and looked to heaven” to look to God, the result was more then restoration of his sanity. God made him greater than before.

The way of Jesus

That’s what the Gospel does. When we see what Jesus has done for us, when we see his awesome love and power, we can let go of our foolish insecurity and pride and can become like him, loving and tender to those we used to abuse and dominate. Look at the TRUE KING!

When Neb “raised his eyes and looked to heaven” to look to God, the result was more then restoration of his sanity. God made him greater than before. This is such a deep pattern of grace which we see in Jesus.

Our hearts say, I will ascend, i will be like God for my own sake” but jesus said, “I will descend, I will be made low, to be made nothing, for your sake.” He became a human and willingly went to the cross to die for our sins. -

“Jesus lost all power and served, in order to save us. He died, but that led to redemption and resurrection.... Jesus’s example and grace heals our will to power. The normal response to our sense of powerlessness is to deny it, to find people to dominate and control in order to live in that denial. But Jesus shows us another way. By giving up his power and serving, he became the most influential man who ever lived. Jesus is not only an example, however, he is a Savior. Only by admitting our sin, need, and powerlessness, and by casting ourselves on his mercy, will we finally become secure in his love, and therefore empowered in a way that does not lead us to oppress others. The insecurity is gone, the lust for power is cut at the root. As a preacher once said, “The way up is to go down; the way down is to go up.” - Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods

“Jesus lost all power and served, in order to save us. He died, but that led to redemption and resurrection.... Jesus’s example and grace heals our will to power. The normal response to our sense of powerlessness is to deny it, to find people to dominate and control in order to live in that denial. But Jesus shows us another way. By giving up his power and serving, he became the most influential man who ever lived. Jesus is not only an example, however, he is a Savior. Only by admitting our sin, need, and powerlessness, and by casting ourselves on his mercy, will we finally become secure in his love, and therefore empowered in a way that does not lead us to oppress others. The insecurity is gone, the lust for power is cut at the root. As a preacher once said, “The way up is to go down; the way down is to go up.”

In Jesus you are free to serve

See that God is in sovereign. He’s in complete control. He loves you, and empowers you to live for him. In the Gospel you have all the love and security you need. So take your idols to jesus, to the cross, see there his lavish love and care for you. See his supreme Sovereignty over sin and death.

people to dominate and control in order to live in that denial. But Jesus shows us another way. By giving up his power and serving, he became the most in

Response: follow Jesus’s example and let it go

Arrogance is when a person has an inflated opinion of his abilities or possessions.

The power struggle in Eden

Genesis 2:17 ESV

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The manifestation of power idols

Patriotic Idolatry

Political Idolatry

Philosophical Idolatry

The insecure king

See that God is in sovereign. He’s in complete control. He loves you, and empowers you to live for him. In the Gospel you have all the love and security you need. So take your idols to Jesus, to the cross. See there His lavish love and care for you. See His supreme Sovereignty over sin and death. and then let it go. Let all of your pride and insecurity and other counterfeit God’s go. Jesus is in control. You don’t need them. He’s got you.

See that God is in sovereign. He’s in complete control. He loves you, and empowers you to live for him. In the Gospel you have all the love and security you need. So take your idols to jesus, to the cross, see there his lavish love and care for you. See his supreme Sovereignty over sin and death.

– Daniel Reveals the dream

– Daniel Interprets the dream

The chastened King

– The king accepts the interpretation and humbles himself

Will you stand with me as we close our time together.

Prayer Partners

– Bless God.

The gracious warning

– Dream of a Big Tree

Paraphrase – voice from heaven said chop the tree down

– The tree is a “he”

– Daniel interprets the dream

The hard way to learn

– Prideful Neb

The power and glory removed

– The mad King

Voyage of the Dawntreader

Daniel 4:34–37 ESV

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to 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; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor 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.

In Jesus you are free to serve

See that God is in control

“Jesus lost all power and served, in order to save us. He died, but that led to redemption and resurrection…. Jesus’s example and grace heals our will to power. The normal response to our sense of powerlessness is to deny it, to

people to dominate and control in order to live in that denial. But Jesus shows us another way. By giving up his power and serving, he became the most in

iDols - Power and Glory

Introduction - The power struggle in Eden

THE GOSPEL GAIN: Faith in the sovereignty of God is the death of insecurity and pride.

THE GOSPEL GAIN: Faith in the sovereignty of God is the death of insecurity and pride. Introduction

The manifestations of power idols

The insecure King –

Power idols are deep idols that can express themselves through a great variety of other surface idols -

The arrogant King –

The prideful King –

Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S.Lewis.

THE GOSPEL GAIN: Faith in the sovereignty of God is the death of insecurity and pride.

The true King –

THE GOSPEL GAIN: Faith in the sovereignty of God is the death of insecurity and pride.

CLOSING PRAYER