(Read Daniel 5:1-4)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Daniel chapter five opens with Belshazzar as the sitting king of Babylon. Scholars argue over whether Belshazzar was the immediate successor to Nebuchadnezzar, and whether or not he was Nebuchadnezzar son or grandson. I will stay away from those arguments and simply focus on the fact that he was the king of Babylon and his disposition as king, as seen in the opening verses of chapter five, is much different than that of Nebuchadnezzar in the closing verses of chapter four. So let’s see what the Bible says.
The chapter opens with: “King Belshazzar gave a big party for 1000 of his officials. The king was drinking wine with them. As Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he ordered his servants to bring the gold and silver cups. His grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken these cups from the Temple in Jerusalem. King Belshazzar wanted his royal people, his wives, and his slave women to drink from those cups. So they brought the gold cups that had been taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his officials, his wives, and his women slaves drank from them. As they were drinking, they gave praise to their idol gods, which were only statues made from gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. If you don’t learn from history you are doomed to repeat it.
a) After all the painful lessons King Nebuchadnezzar learned, it is obvious that he did not pass them.
b) King Nebuchadnezzar dishonored God and he paid a terrible price for it. But he learned his lesson. By the end of Daniel 4 King Nebuchadnezzar was honoring the only true God. However, Daniel 5 opens with King Belshazzar dishonoring God all over again.
2. God can grace you to become a great leader.
a) In the end, Nebuchadnezzar was a leader who honored God and who led with divine favor.
b) Nebuchadnezzar’s path to Godly leadership was a painful one, but painful or not, when it was all said and done the king led with an understanding that he was being led.
c) Godly leaders understand the fact that they are both IN authority and UNDER authority.
d) If you follow God, God will see to it that others follow you.
3. Your success should outlive you.
a) Nebuchadnezzar arrived at the point of Godly success, but this success was not sustained.
b) The Bible is not clear over whether or not Nebuchadnezzar left safeguards in place that would protect his successors from repeating the same mistakes he made.
c) God does not want the lessons you have learned to die with you.
d) Pass on what you have learned and seek God concerning how to establish a climate that will promote sustained success, even after you are gone.
4. Pour into those coming after you.
a) This final point “hits home” for me, because I am less than three months away from my retirement ceremony. After 25 years in the Army the Lord has released me to move on to the next phase of my life.
b) We have all seen great leaders who have had tremendous impact, only to see their impact dissipate the moment they walk out the door. This is not the will of God.
c) God wants us to pour into those coming after us.
d) God wants us to take what we have learned (what has been entrusted into us), and pass that on to those coming after us.
e) Appreciate what God is doing in your life, but take the time to ‘build the bench’ and ensure your success outlives you.
f) Appreciate all your coaches, teachers and mentors have poured into you, just don’t keep it to yourself. Pay it forward. Pour into others what has been poured into you.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made great plans for me before the world began. You made those plans by Your unearned grace and You expect me to discover and deploy into those plans with my faith. You want me to be a great leader. You birthed me to make a significant impact in this world. I am here to make a difference, by Your grace and for Your glory. The more I walk with You, the more I become the person You have destined, designed and desire for me to be. I am growing, developing and maturing as a Godly leader in the earth. I have learned my share of lessons — some painful and some not — and I am thankful to be able to lead in Your Kingdom. By Your grace I am able to influence the people and systems of this world. But You don’t want that influence to die or stop with me. When seasons change and You transition me from one place to another, You want my impact to outlive me. So Father, I submit to You to receive the grace for not just success, but sustained success. You give me insight, wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding, to put systems in place, to ensure my success outlives me. And Father, as You have blessed me with great coaches, teachers and mentors, I gladly take what You have poured into me and pour it into others. I freely give what has been given to me. I build a bench of great leaders behind me, to ensure Your impact will be felt well after I am gone. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
