The “Seven Deadly Sins” Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Anger, Envy and Pride

The only legitimate way to come to terms with our sinfulness is to remove our masks and admit that we are sinners. We are sinners who are redeemed in, because of, and despite our sins.

The Story of King Nebuchadnezzar and His Dream Daniel, Chapter 4 (NLT)

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity. (v. 4)

• King Nebuchadnezzar was living the good life and the most powerful king in the world at that time.

I had a dream that frightened me; I saw visions that terrified me as I lay in my bed. So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant. When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant. (vv. 5-7)

• The king had a dream that frightened him. He called in the smartest people in Babylon to interpret the dream, but no one could explain it.

At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) (v. 8)

• Daniel was a man who worshipped the one, true God. The king respected Daniel, but didn’t understand his devotion to God. To keep Daniel’s spirituality in check, the king renamed him by giving him a Babylonian name – Belteshazzar – naming him after his own pagan god.

I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth. The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree. (vv. 10-12)

• A large, healthy, prosperous tree that provided food, shade and shelter for the people and animals of the earth. What could be the meaning of that?

• Nebuchadnezzar continues …

I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit!…But leave the stump and the roots in the ground…For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human. For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. (vv. 13-17)

• That was the dream and the king asked Daniel to explain his nightmare.

The Mask of Pride May 28, 2017

Pastor John Speight LISTEN, GET NOTES + SHARE AT CHRISTCHURCHVA.ORG/MEDIA

Daniel Interprets the Dream

Belteshazzar replied…that tree, Your Majesty is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth. Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground…Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals of the field for seven periods of time.”

This is what the dreams means…and what the Most High has declared will happen. You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow. You will live this way until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. But the stump and the roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules. King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper. (vv. 19-27)

What was the cause of King Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall?

___________________________ Is all pride sinful and deadly? No. Being proud of your country, your race, or of a job well-done is not necessarily sinful. Experiencing joy in achievement or having gratitude for a sense of belonging is not sinful. Sinful pride is _________________________________________. Pride is sin when it is arrogant, conceited, egotistical, vain, insensitive, demanding, condescending and cruel. Sinful Pride is deadly because it ____________________________. It destroys marriages, friendships, working relationships, and it will absolutely destroy you spiritually. Wise words from King Solomon: Pride disgusts the Lord. Proverbs 16:5 (LB) First pride, then the crash – the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

Proverbs 16:18 (MSG) Arrogance and pride – distinguishing marks in the wicked – are just plain sin.

Proverbs 21:4 (MSG) So what did God do about it? He gave us the example of how to live a humble life. How? By sending Jesus. (Jesus) Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)

Prayer God give me the courage to remove my mask,

and heal me of my sin. Amen. Major sources for today’s teaching: Sinning Like A Christian by William H. Willimon, and Seven Deadly Sins by Dan Boone.