Sermon Note

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Difference Makers: Through Reputation By Senior Pastor Tom Harrison September 17, 2017 Part 3 of 3, summer focus: We help others follow Jesus when we worship, grow and influence. Difference Makers: Having a positive influence in challenging situations. Journal Intro: Daniel and Joseph both had sterling reputations and very similar career paths. Both were placed in harm’s way through no fault of their own. In fact, sometimes we suffer not because we do wrong but because we insist upon not compromising our character. There were several people in the Bible who had good reputations (Mordecai in Esther 9, the seven deacons chosen in Acts 6, Cornelius in Acts 10). There is a certain tension between keeping a good reputation and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Jesus pulled this off. Someone needs to interpret the gospel to people who are lost, but we can be lost in the translation, too. It’s a balancing act. To lose our reputation is ultimately to forfeit our influence. Few would say: “My goal in life = to have a bad reputation.” While some people genuinely don’t care, most really do care about the perceptions others have of us (maybe too much. Social Media “likes” become way too important). What are your thoughts about these folks’ reputations? What do their names mean to you? *Donald Trump *Hillary *Kim Jong-Un *Kanye West Marilyn Monroe *Pope Francis *Mother Teresa *Chief Bogo *John Wesley – said the Methodists had a reputation of “dying well.” *Francis Asbury – “We Rode Together” *Asbury UMC - We don’t do ministry to have a good reputation, that’s not our focus. The focus is upon living in the right

Kingdom – the KOG. Reputations are about image. They are often true, but are also often incomplete. A reputation has impact. Paul told Timothy that church leaders needed a good reputation, not only in the church but outside it. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. (1 Timothy 3:7) We don’t want to live in disgrace or fall into the devil’s trap. “Character is like a tree, reputation is like a shadow.” Reputation follows character. We bear fruit over time. It’s not a “one day” of service. But a reputation can be ruined or compromised in one day. There are basically 3 types of behavior we exhibit (we can all manifest them from time to time): Wise/Fools/Evil. Wise decisions are made when we learn from mistakes and listen to the input of others. We saw this with Nebuchadnezzar. He repented. He got better. Foolish decisions are made when we don’t learn from our mistakes or listen to the input of others. Foolish perspectives include blaming others and making excuses. A foolish perspective would be to hear this and to say, “Well, good! I hope ____ is hearing this because THEY sure do need to hear it.” Foolish people do not listen. They do not apply truth. Their hearts are closed. They “shoot the messenger.” Talking with a foolish person is a waste of time. The discussion won’t go anywhere. Nebuchadnezzar was a fool but he became wise by repenting. A “fool” describes the king we read about today. He will deal with deadly consequences. Maybe when they experience consequences they will get it and become wise. The third type of behavior is when people are evil. Our strategy of dealing with these folks is: call the police, get a lawyer and try to protect yourself. As Jesus said about Satan: “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.” Evil seeks destruction. Today’s text is a contrast with the ending of last week’s text in Daniel 4. It’s “The Tale of Two Kings.” Last week we read about the gifted and visionary Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. His great accomplishments led to being self-absorbed and ultimately, a mental breakdown. Yet, he repented of his pride and worshiped the true God. Nebuchadnezzar

died in 562 BC. 23 years later, in 539 BC, there’s a new king in town. King Belshazzar (his name means “Bel, protect the king!” The Babylonians worshipped the god “Bel.”) Belshazzar is part of the royal family. His foolishness is mind-blowing. Darius the Mede (Cyrus was the actual King) was the Persian (roughly equivalent to present-day Iran – and Babylon is present-day Iraq) was a great military commander. Darius is besieging Babylon. Belshazzar should be preoccupied with defending his city. Instead, he throws a party for his buds. That is a very strange response to potential disaster, yet we see this when people are ordered to evacuate from an approaching hurricane and some ignore the warning (when Mt. St. Helen’s was about to erupt one guy refused to leave– he died when it blew). If a student parties all night before the final exam, the results will be diminished. Why did Belshazzar party? Maybe he was trying to fool Darius by showing that he wasn’t afraid of him (doubtful). Possibly, he figured “eat, drink & be merry because I die tomorrow.” Maybe he was completely oblivious to the threat. Daniel 5:1-6 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, (uh oh…. King Tipsy does something stupid with his impaired judgment) he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. (having women present =was not a PG event) 3So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. (Big mistake. He desecrated the sacred vessels and used them to praise idols with them. The ultimate act of dishonor to the Jewish God) 4As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. 5 Suddenly (as the drunken revelry continued…Rembrandt’s picture) the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way. (Why didn’t God just let the king die in his sleep?

The answer is about God’s reputation. Judgment stories emerge when people trash God’s Name, holiness & reputation. 5:7-12 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom." 8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled. 10 The queen, (Some versions say “queen mother.” She was probably Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter and Belshazzar’s mother, not his wife. We are uncertain or her identity but she definitely knew the story of Daniel, though it seems he hasn’t been around the palace lately) hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father — your father the king, I say — appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means." Spoken with confidence! She knew Daniel was the real deal. His faith, his words and his actions all matched, consistently over time. 5:13-30 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. Daniel’s reputation. He was one of the few Old Testament characters said to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this

writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom." 17 Then (Belshazzar had a reputation too. Daniel has no patience or respect for him.) Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts (“take this job and shove it” – he couldn’t be bought off by a king blaspheming the true God) for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. 18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes. 22 "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, (Belshazzar is less great and more arrogant than Nebuchadnezzar. He knew Neb’s incredible story and still he did not humble himself before the Lord. Hubris cost him his kingdom and his life) though you knew all this. (he knew about Nebuchadnezzar but ignored it) 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 25 "This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN 26 "This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel: You

have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of 62. We see 5 reputations in this story. Nebuchadnezzar – proud but humbled. He ended well Belshazzar – party boy doofus. He died. King’s wise men – had a reputation of being “wise” but were exposed as being limited Queen – had a good reputation, because she heard the commotion and could tell the king about Daniel Daniel – he did not set out to have a great reputation, but it followed him because of his character and conduct. Application – We can have different outcomes in life. How we live will create a reputation. There are two different takes on how to create a good reputation. One is to focus upon myself = the Kingdom of Self. “I’m going to do the best I can. I’ll work at this and improve. Maybe I can eventually get (or keep) my good name.” This is not all bad. But our kingdoms are prone to short-term thinking. They don’t last. They have enormous limitations. They all crumble into dust. The other focus is completely opposite. It’s Daniel’s approach. It focuses upon the Kingdom of God. This is where we want to have a good reputation because we want to honor Christ. We want to represent Him well. “The Tale of Two Kings” shows this profound shift from the proud, arrogant and foolish Nebuchadnezzar who came to his senses (like the Prodigal Son) humbled himself and repented. The other king, Belshazzar, doesn’t. How do we shift from My Kingdom to God’s Kingdom? The truth is I have a Tale of 2 Kings, too. I want to be the King. My kingdom tries to

thwart and trump the KOG. John the Baptist had an interesting line: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8) My pride and desire for a good name came become my greatest enemy. It would be natural to hear a sermon on “reputation” and reach the conclusion: “I must make a good name for myself.” The way to have a good reputation = be linked w the greatest name, Jesus. My merits are not in my name, but in His. My reputation will never be sufficient. I’m a sinner. I need a savior. My reputation will never be sufficient. I’m a sinner. I need a savior. Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Salvation comes when I acknowledge my narcissism, pride, selfabsorption and turn from ME to God. The Kingdom of God was most fully known in Jesus, who went to the cross and died for my sin. I cannot get there on my own. I must repent and believe the gospel. It is truly good news. Have you ever done this? Have you ever made the shift? Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day nor is a reputation built by a single decision, so following Jesus isn’t just a one-time decision. It starts that way – like running a race – we’ve got to take the first step. But repentance and faith is an ongoing part of our relationship with Jesus. It keeps us from pride and self-sufficiency. We throw ourselves completely upon Him. Who deserves my trust? In God we trust. Only, completely in Him do we find out who God has made us to be.