Acknowledgment
January 29, 2012
Introduction
Daniel 2 is the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and then forgot it. He then asked his wise men to tell him the dream and its meaning, and when they could not, he ordered them all killed. Arioch came to kill Daniel because Daniel was one of the wise men, and Daniel asked for time. He called his friends, and they prayed, and God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel. Daniel went in to the king, and told him the meaning of the dream. Here is the kings response to Daniel’s interpretation.
(Dan 2:46-49 NKJV) Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. {47} The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." {48} Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. {49} Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
But did the king really change? Check the next verse: (Dan 3:1-6 NKJV) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. {2} And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. {3} So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. {4} Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, {5} "that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; {6} "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."
So what is the acknowledgement that God wants? That is our study this morning.
Body
I. Acknowledge God as Lord of our life.
A. Acknowledge Him in all our ways.
1. True acknowledgement is more than saying He is our Lord.
(Luke 6:46 NKJV) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?
2. Put our trust for guidance in Him.
(Prov 3:5-6 NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; {6} In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
B. Acknowledge Him in all we think.
(Psa 119:10-12 KJV) With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. {11} Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. {12} Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
C. Acknowledge Him in all we do.
(1 Th 4:1-8 NIV) Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. {2} For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. {3} It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; {4} that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, {5} not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; {6} and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. {7} For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. {8} Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
D. Acknowledge Him in our treatment of others.
(James 3:13-18 NKJV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. {14} But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. {15} This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. {16} For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. {17} But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. {18} Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
E. Acknowledge our need of Him
As in the song, "I Need Thee Every Hour."
E. Have you ever seen children and wondered to whom they belonged?
- Have you ever seen parents and wondered who their children were?
I think of children staying close to their parents and visa versa.
Are we close to God? Do we choose to be in his presence?
II. Acknowledge our sinfulness.
- David was painfully aware of his sin.
(Psa 51:1-3 NKJV) Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
- We must acknowledge that we have sinned.
(1 John 1:8-10 NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. {9} If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. {10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
- Jesus came to save those who know they are sinners.
(Mat 9:13 NKJV) "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
The Handbook of Bible Application says it a little differently.
Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: “I want you to be merciful: I don’t want your sacrifices,” for I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.. (The Handbook of Bible Application)
1. Many today, think they are “already good enough.”
2. These become difficult or impossible to bring to Christ.
III. Acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers.
- Do we know that we are incapable of directing our own lives?
(Jer 10:23-24 NKJV) O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. {24} O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
- Has our material wealth blinded us to how little we really know?
(Rev 3:17-20 NKJV) "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; {18} "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. {19} "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. {20} "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
IV. As a nation we need to acknowledge Him.
A. Israel had forgotten God.
(Isa 1:3-4 NKJV) The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." {4} Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.
B. God will punish the nations that forget Him.
(Psa 9:17 NKJV) The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
Conclusion
I. Is Jesus the Lord of your life?
- Do you acknowledge Him before men?
(Mark 8:38 NKJV) "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
- Do you need Him in your life?
II. Have you acknowledged Christ by confessing Him before men?
(Mat 10:32-33 NKJV) "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. {33} "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.