Pastor Jonathan Fiddy reminded us of the need to guard our hearts against pride.  'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.' (Prov16v18). Pride is lifting up ourselves, and can sometimes make us think that we can manage to run our lives without God's help.  Psalm 10v4 says: 'In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.'

The account of King Nebuchadnezzar told in the book of Daniel shows us how God sometimes deals with man's pride. This king was ruler over an enormous empire, and was very self-satisfied. He had encountered God several times before, but sometimes people still do not commit themselves to God even after having met with Him. God sometimes allows people to go through hard circumstances to bring them to Himself, which is the most important thing of all in life.

Nebuchadnezzar later wrote a letter telling of what happened to him, and he sent it out to all of the known world at the time - a copy of that letter is actually still stored in the British Museum! 

He was still proud and full of his achievements despite God's warnings, so God humbled him by making jhim lose his mind and eat grass like a cow for seven years. 

At the end of this time he acknowledged that 'the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.' (Dan4v31). He praised God 'the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.  And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.' (Dan5v37).

The next king, Belshazzar, was also brought low by God because he exalted himself.  The charge against him was 'you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven....You did not honour the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.' (Dan5v23). A human hand appeared and wrote on the wall while the king was feasting, with a warning of the end of his reign. That night the king was killed, even although his city, Babylon, had virtually impenetrable security and defences. We learn from history that Darius, who invaded and took over the kingdom, had blocked the river Euphrates causing the moat around the city to drain, and the army were able to get in under the city gates. Belshazzar lost his kingdom and his life due to his pride and complacency.

It's fascinating to see that Isaiah 45 tells all about King Darius (or Cyrus as he was also known as) - yet this chapter was written 150 years before it happened! Again we see secular history tying in with what the Bible says, in amazing accuracy.  

Peter sums it up well in 1 Peter5v5-6: 'clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.'

Please note that the special meetings announced in last week's article for Sunday, July 26, have had to be postponed, but will be rescheduled later. All are welcome to our Sunday morning service at 10.15 am. Pastor Fiddy is available on 871975, and the website is emmanuelgospelministries.org.