Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

1. Nebuchadnezzar served a purpose before God in punishing the wayward bride in Judah, but theking never quite gave up his insistence on resisting God2. contrary to Calvinism, God can be resisted and rejected, but always to the infidel’s doom3. when he cast the three friends of Daniel into the fiery furnace, he challenged, “And who is thegod who will deliver you from my hands” (Daniel 3:15)?4. in the apostles’ time, Gamaliel would warn, “if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest youeven be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:39)5. how much of our time do we spend resisting God, fighting against him because we aredetermined to have our way?a. after we have prayed that he would guide, guard and direct us, we do everything possible toprevent it by closing our ears, our hearts and our Biblesb. Stephen’s accusers were stiff-necked and of uncircumcised heart, but the Hebrew writeraddressed Christians whose hearing had become dull through apathy and lack of application (cf. Hebrews5:11-14)6. God guides, guards and directs by answering prayer, working through providence and employingpeople both good and evil, but all that will profit you nothing without the word (First Peter 1:22-2:3)D. Break Off Your Sins1. Daniel urges Nebuchadnezzar to break off sins and repent so that God might avert thepunishment intended for him, but until he hit rock bottom in utter insanity, he would not bend his willa. so many today want to feel religious and be “churched” as they put it without the messy, butnecessary step of repentanceb. they fill the pews of the party churches where nothing will ever be said to offend their guilty,but unfeeling consciences, yet it is God’s desire that sinners come to repentance and a knowledge of thetruth, not blissful ignorance about their lost condition2. today they are called the “unchurched” but in more religiously correct times, they were known asthe unsaved–the lost, and no amount of syrupy sermonizing is going to change that condition3. the message of the New Testament regarding sin is one of repentance (“ Repent therefore and beconverted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence ofthe Lord” (Acts 3:19).4. break off your sins, because to persist in them is to reject God’s grace (First John 3:7-10)ConclusionNebuchadnezzar is an interesting character, partly because he seems so willing to acknowledge Jehovah,but so reluctant to give up his idols. He wants the best of both worlds–faith and filth–and it just doesn’thappen that way. Choose this day whom you will serve.Character Studies! 117