It Not Easy
Men Mental Health
Nebachanezar
http://klangchurchofchrist.org/lessons-from-the-life-of-nebuchadnezzar#sthash.tnBFAl35.dpuf
Pharaoh of Moses
According to Smith Bible Names Dictionary the Pharaoh of the exodus was either Thothmes III., or Menephthah son of Rameses II., who with his army pursued the Israelites and were overwhelmed in the Red Sea. ttps://www.biblegateway.com/resources/smiths-bible-names-dictionary.
Both of these men, King Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh had a problem with pride. While one man, Nebuchadnezzar eventually humbled himself the other, Pharaoh, did not. Men when you refuse to humble yourself to the will and Word of God, your decision impacts everyone around you to include your children. How many men have made the decision to walk away from their family and in doing so have left their children emotionally damaged and open to feelings of rejection, poverty and pain. How many times has pride in the heart of a man caused him to lose a job or an opportunity because he would not yield? Feeling good about yourself and your accomplishments are not a bad thing but when those feelings cause you to exalt yourself above God then you are operating in pride.
Pride: Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. (Webster http://www.kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/pride)
Men don’t let your own thoughts or imaginations cause you to place too much confidence in your thoughts that are contrary to the will of God. The will of God which is found in the Word of God should be the final authority over your life. The principles found in the Word of God should not only lead and guide you in church but in every aspect of your life. So don’t let your pride get in the way of your relationship with Jesus Christ.
In looking at King Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh through the scriptures we see that both of these prideful men were given opportunities to humble their hearts before they were judged. We know from the scripture that Pharaoh hardened his hard on at least three occasions (Exodus 9:7, 8:32, 8:15) and as a result had to endure a series of unpleasant plagues before eventually having to yield to God anyway.
We also know that Nebuchadnezzar on at least three occasions came face to face with the power of God but his pride prevented him from recognizing that power as being relevant to him. But eventually after a seven-year test not only did he humble himself he recognized God as being the only God.
said Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
You are familiar with God because your wife talks about him or because you heard your mother pray to him. Yes, you praise that God because you can’t deny that a miracle has happened but you are not ready to humble yourself to the point that you acknowledge him as your God. In other words, it’s great that your wife is praying but that is her God not yours. It’s ok for your mother and grandmother to go to church because that’s what women do. But God will not give up on any man.
Daniel 4:27 which reads Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
: And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Sadly, the king had to lose his sense of self, his job and his thoughts before he got the hint. What do you have to lose before you humble yourself to God? Use Jesus Christ as your example and humble yourself to Jesus. Jesus Christ humbled himself to the will of the Father, he humbled himself so that Gods will could be done in him and the earth.
Philippians 2:5
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
God knew the king needed at least seven years to humble himself and pharaoh even after several plagues never would, which man are you?
Can You Be Trusted
Ruth 4 12-22 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Boaz was an honest man, safe man, a man that a woman could be safe with and find rest, he was thoughtful and not given to being overcome with emotions, he evaluated events, checked things out and did things in order. God trusted him. Can god trust you? Can your family and friends trust you? If not stop and ask God to make you a man of God that can be trusted. Men, we need men like never before who can stand up and be counted, men who can stand up and cover their families in prayer and with the Word of God. The Lord and the World needs a man that can be trusted