SIX THINGS "GOD IS SAYING" IN DANIEL CHAPTER 5
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1. “DON’T BE BLINDED BY THE PARTY.” (v 1-2)
(A) THE FALSE SECURITY OF THE GREAT KINGS PARTY
The king had invited 1,000 of his nobles. These were renowned people in his kingdom. The rich, the elite, everybody who was anybody was there. Babylon was a fortified city with 300 feet walls. The bragged of having enough food in storage to feed everyone in the kingdom for twenty years. The Euphrates river ran underneath the northern wall, down the middle of Babylon. If there was ever a place to feel secure, it was Babylon. What the people at this great party didn’t know was the God was about to show up. God had arranged the Medo-Persian armies to overthrow Babylon on this very night. The people were drinking it up! They were having the time of their lives. God was about to interrupt the party.
(B) THE PARTY GOES ON TODAY
If there has ever been a party society in America, it is today. Colleges are reporting that binge drinking is at an all time high. Today there are more high school students drinking than ever before. How many of us know someone who parties at least once a week? The media projects this wonderful lifestyle of partying. It’s not only ok to be a party hound, but unless you want to be thought of as a square, you better get your party on. NOT JUST DRINKING AND DRUGS, BUT SEX! It’s ok! Go ahead! Do it safe! You can even have sex with the same gender, but do it safe! Friends, this world has a messed up view of life. Be careful don’t become blinded to the truth.
(C) DON’T BE BLINDED AND BROUGHT DOWN TO RUIN
At a glance it appears that these are the people who are living the life. Don’t be fooled! The media isn’t showing you the violence that is on the party scene. The media isn’t showing all the broken homes and divorced that are caused by alcohol and drugs. The media isn’t showing the people who are dying because of overdose and addiction. IT MAY LOOK GOOD ON THE SURFACE, BUT JUST BENEATH IS PAIN, HEARTACHE AND DESPAIR. Teenagers, don’t have sex until your married. Your only attaching baggage to yourself later down the road. You’re only going to get your heart ripped out and bring trouble upon your head.
(D) GOD’S ABOUT TO SHOW UP
We will all stand before God someday. The party will be over. The music will stop. The hangovers will be gone. THEN WE WILL HAVE TO FACE GOD. I don’t know about you, but the party scene ain’t what it appears to be.
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2. “I AM A PERSONAL GOD, BUT I AM TO BE REVERED.”
(v 3-4)
(A) HE IS A PERSONAL GOD
Sometimes we have a false portrayal of who God is. At times we get a picture of God being this big gray haired guy who lives way out in space and is so far away that He could never relate to the world, much less my personal problems. Well, God is right here with us. He isn’t old, because he is eternal. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He isn’t old and He isn’t far away. He is within us. Through the Holy Spirit (which is God) is living right within our very being. We can conclude that God is close, but He is also personal. He desires to be a part of our lives. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants to walk with us.
Just like John at the table of the Last Supper. Scripture tells us that John is reclined against Jesus. That’s Jesus! Personal and close. BUT—
(B) HE IS TO BE FEARED AND REVERED
This same John who was reclined against Jesus is seen in the Book of Revelation on his face before Jesus. We have to be careful and not get so caught up in the closeness of Christ that we forget to give Him the reverence that He deserves. Now to steal the vessels from the temple was bad enough. God allowed that to happen to correct Israel. But when Belshazzar broke the vessels out and used them at his drunken party - wow! That’s slapping God in the face. I believe there are times that we as believers have to have respect for God and things that belong to Him. We should be careful to teach our children that the church is a place to respect God. We have a gym for playing and running, but the sanctuary is a sacred place. Not necessarily to the point we have to act like He’s dead and we’re attending His funeral each week, but a place to give respect.
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3. “YOU CAN’T IGNORE MY WRITING.” (v 5-6)
(A) A DEATHLY SILENCE AS GOD’S HAND WRITES ON THE WALL
Imagine this big party. Champagne is flowing. The finest musicians were there. Imagine the noise as one thousand dignitaries talking back and forth, music in the back ground. Then suddenly the music stops playing. An eery silence begins to fall over the great hall. Hey, when God shows up and begins to write, people can’t help but stop and take notice. This giant hand is suspended in mid-air writing His decree on the wall. Boy, you talk about crashing a party. King Belshazzar turns pale and his knees get weak. Oh yea, he sees the hand of God!
(B) NO 5th AMENDMENT IN HEAVEN
God’s Word has been with us through out the ages. Never has there been a society who is less concerned about the word of God. I listen to debates on CNN as to what is right, what is wrong, what’s acceptable and what is not. Oprah had a group of teens on her program the other day telling parents to listen to there children who want to discuss their sex life. Where has the Word of God gone in our society. I think our society believes in it’s government so much that when we stand before God we are going to have to option of pleading the fifth amendment. God isn’t going to give us that option. We are going to be held accountable at the end of time as to how we lived our lives based upon the scriptures. The world feels if the don’t know they won’t be held accountable. There isn’t a greater lie on the earth.
(C) ILLITERACY IN THE CHURCH
What is equally sad is that so many people who fill churches weekly are as illiterate as the world is. Now I’m not saying it’s the majority of church goers, but I will say MANY! What is sad is that not only are church goers illiterate of God’s Word they want to remain that way. If you start trying to get into the meat of the Word or some Bible Prophecy you loose interest of so many people. “Let’s get back the fun stuff!” Do you know why enrollment in Sunday School is at an all time low? People don’t want to know the Word of God. That’s the reason satan is defeating so many believers today. It’s time for us to get down to business! It’s time to for the church to get back to the Word of God and proclaim it’s truths.
(D) THE BOOKS AT THE JUDGEMENT
There are going to be books at the judgement. One will be the Lambs Book Of Life. Anyone whose name isn’t found in this book will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. There will be another book there. The Holy Bible will be opened. GOD IS SAYING, “YOU MAY IGNORE MY WORD FOR NOW, BUT YOU WON’T FOR LONG!”
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4. “DON’T BUILD YOUR TREASURE ON EARTH.” (v 17)
Matthew 6:19-20 “ Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...
(A) THE KINGDOM WAS ABOUT TO FALL, WHAT GOOD WAS 3RD IN COMMAND TO A FALLEN KINGDOM?
Daniel told the king that he didn’t want a purple robe and a gold chain. These would have been significant in the kingdom, but the kingdom in 24 hours wouldn’t be the kingdom anymore. The Medo-Persians were about to overtake it. That would by like someone offering you $1 million in confederate money. That would be useless.
(B) THIS WORLD ISN’T GOING TO BE AROUND MUCH LONGER, DON’T BUY INTO IT’S TREASURE
Just like Babylon this world isn’t going to be around a whole lot longer. Even if it is around for 1,000 more years (which I seriously doubt) we will not be. Let me ask you. What good will a Lexus do you in 100 more years? What good will $1 million do you in 100 years? A 3,000 square foot home in 100 years will mean absolutely nothing to you.
NOW - What good will feeding a hungry person do you in 100 years? What good will helping an elderly person do you in 100 years? What good will being kind to a stranger, helping an orphan or a widow? You see, these are the things that in the end will matter. Nothing else.
(C) A TEST OF FIRE
1 Corinthians 3 :12-15 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has build survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. Only things that are eternal will last.
(D) EARTHLY THINGS OR ETERNAL THINGS? WHAT ARE WE SPENDING MORE TIME ON?
How do I know? Am I laying up treasure in heaven or on earth? Well, what are you doing? Are you doing things that give you a more comfortable life on earth? There is absolutely nothing wrong with living comfortable. God wants us to have the abundant life. But, are you spending more time on that than you are eternal things? When’s the last time you did something that helped another human being? You see, eternity is more than just going to church. It’s about the Fathers business. Church just helps us to be equipped and give us avenues to store up treasure. When we stand before God and He asks, “Well, what did you do with the time I gave you one earth?” I pray our answer won’t be, “I went to church. I thought that’s all there was to this thing.” Make it a priority to store up treasure in heaven.
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5. “LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF YOUR ELDERS.”
(v 18, 20-22)
(A) BELSHAZZAR IGNORED THE MISTAKES OF HIS FATHER
He was might have been young, but he knew the stories of the statue his father made for himself. He knew about throwing them boys into that furnace. He knew about his father standing on the roof of the palace that day bragging on all he had done to make Babylon all it was. He knew about his father living like a wild animal because God gave him a lesson in pride. He knew that his father ignored God only to get chastised and judged. WHY DIDN’T HE LEARN FROM HIS FATHER?
(B) WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OUR ELDERS
Oh how I wish I would have listened to the advise my parents gave me along the way! My dad told me, “you need to save some of that money. You’re gonna be getting married someday and you’ll need that for a house.” WHAT AN IDIOT! I’m talking about myself! He was so right. I do not understand why we ignore the counsel of people who have been there and done that. They’ve bore all the scars. Took all the pain. They want to help young people not to have to experience the same heart ache. We need to wake up and begin to listen to our elders’ experience. Does that mean that older people are always right? No, but they do have a perspective that we should pay attention to and that is experience. Listen to your parents. You don’t have to always agree with what they say, but they have a perspective you don’t.
(C) ELDERS REALIZE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING YOU
Parents, our children are watching us. They are learning from us. In our adoption of Eli we had to have a home study done. They not only visited our home several times and did background checks and finger printed us, but they made us answer these questionnaires. The state wanted to know how our parents disciplined us. How our parents did this or that. Why do you think they asked us that? Because we learn how to parent from our parents. Our children feel about church the way you act about church. Some parents would say, “My child doesn’t feel the way I do about church. I want to go every time the door is open, and I have to drag my child to church.” Well maybe you don’t reflect what the church is teaching!? At any rate, our children are learning from us.
CHURCH LEADERS - Realize people are watching you. They notice the way you attend church. They notice the things you say and how you react to certain situations. Don’t set a bad example for others.
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6. “WILL YOU NOTICE THE WRITING ON THE WALL?”
v 25-31)
(A) OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED
Life guarantees us only one thing. Unless Christ tarries, we will be dying soon. Belshazzar didn’t know on this day that when he got out of bed this would be his last day. None of us know! This could be our last day. Are days are few.
(B) WILL WE BE READY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME MAY COME
Are you ready? The writing could be on the wall for you today. If this was your last day on this earth, are there things that you need to get in order? Don’t leave those things out of order. Is there sin that needs to be dealt with? Are there people that you need to reconcile relationships with? If you were to stand before Christ today, are your affairs in order. YOU NEVER KNOW, TODAY COULD BE THE DAY. ARE YOU READY?
