(Read Daniel 4:1-3)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. I feel led to go back to the opening words of King Nebuchadnezzar’s letter this morning. Remember, this letter went out to people of all nations, races, and languages in the world.
The king opened the letter by saying, “Greetings: I am very happy to tell you about the miracles and wonderful things that the Most High God did for me. God has done amazing miracles! He has done powerful miracles! His kingdom continues forever; his rule will continue for all generations.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. If a heathen could tell the world about your God, then surely you can.
a) King Nebuchadnezzar was so impacted by God’s grace towards him that he wrote a letter to all the world leaders of his day. In the letter he, a Babylonian, unashamedly talked about the God of the Hebrews.
b) King Nebuchadnezzar did nothing to earn or deserve God’s grace towards him. As a matter of fact, had he earned it, it would not have been grace. God was good to the king and he, in turn, told the world about God’s grace and favor.
c) In the next chapter God is credited with making Nebuchadnezzar rich and powerful. The king knew where his blessings were coming from and he was not ashamed to tell the world.
d) If a Babylonian king who had spent most of his life worshipping idols could ‘take God public’, then surely you can!
2. God has been good to me.
a) I am not ashamed to tell my story. I tell it everywhere I go. God has been too good to me, for me to keep it to myself.
b) My mother was raised with no running water or electricity in a third-world country. She came to the U.S. in 1970 with nothing, in hopes of a better life. I was raised on government assistance, Welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, WIC, etc., and I was told I was poor. But when I went back to the Dominican Republic, my family members there told me I was rich.
c) My wife was raised in a third-world country with no running water or electricity, barely any clothes, and hardly any food. Her Grandmother did not have the money to pay for High School and God moved on the heart of a man who had the resources to pay for her High School education. Isabella came to this country at 18 years old with nothing but a High School diploma.
d) People see us today — where we live, what we drive, how we dress, the rank we wear, education we have attained, the opportunities we have, etc. — and they have no idea where we came from; until we tell them!
e) We are not ashamed to tell people what God has done for us! I am NOT a self-made man. Isabella is NOT a self-made woman. We are a God-made couple and we are who we are by the grace of God!
3. God expects you to take your relationship with Him public; therefore He gives you the grace to do it.
a) God will never expect you to do something He has not already equipped you to do. But whatever He equips you to do, He expects you to do.
b) Jesus said, “If you stand before others and are willing to say you believe in me, then I will tell my Father in heaven that you belong to me. But if you deny me before others and say you do not believe in me, then I will tell my Father in heaven that you do not belong to me” (Mat 10:32,33).
c) Jesus said, “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).
d) Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel. I see it as the very power of God to save everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16).
4. God has been too good to you for you to keep it to yourself.
a) I am not saying that you need to walk around saying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” But what I am saying is that you cannot be ashamed of Jesus and what He has done for you.
b) You have a story to tell, God has graced you to tell it, and He expects you to do it.
c) No one can tell your story like you can. Tell your story and tell it everywhere you go!
d) If you are willing to tell your story, God will give you the platform to be heard.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You have been overwhelmingly good to me. You have blessed me profusely, and You have done it by Your grace. I did nothing to earn or deserve Your blessing. You bless me richly. You increase me more and more; me and my household. You expand my territory. You bring me before great men. You open doors for me that no man can close and close doors for me that no man can open. You are great and greatly to be praised. I look back over my life and I can’t do anything but thank You! You have been far better to me than I deserve. I am not a self-made man/woman. I am a God-made man/woman and I am not ashamed to tell the world about You. I take my relationship with You public. I am willing to tell the world about You, and I believe You will give the platform to do it. Father, glorify me that I may glorify thee. This is my prayer and declaration. I will tell my story and I will tell it everywhere I go! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
