Scripture Reading: John 6:23-40
“I am the Bread of Life” (Vs.35) is one of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus. Jesus used the phrase “I AM” in seven declarations about Himself. In all seven, He combines I AM with powerful metaphors that express His saving grace toward the world, all appear in the book of John. Tonight we are going to look at what Jesus meant by “I am the Bread of Life”.
The Bread:
Bread is considered a staple food. A person can survive a long time on only bread and water. We use the phrase “breaking bread” to indicate the sharing of a meal with others. Bread plays an important part of the Jewish Passover meal. The Jews were to eat unleavened bread during the Passover meal and then for seven days following as a celebration of the exodus from Egypt. When the Jews were wandering in the desert, God rained down “bread from heaven” to sustain them.
Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
Bread sustains Life. In John 6, Jesus was trying to get away from the crowds. He crossed the Sea of Galilee, and the crowd followed Him. After some time, Jesus asks Philip how they’re going to feed the crowd. Philip show’s his “little faith” when he says “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite” (Vs. 7). Andrew brings boy who had five small loaves of bread and two fish. With that small amount, Jesus fed the masses with much to spare.
Jesus Crosses The River:
Jesus and His disciples cross back to the other side of Galilee. When the crowd sees that Jesus has left, they follow Him again. Jesus accuses the crowd of ignoring his miraculous signs and only following Him for the “free meal.” (Vs. 26)
Jesus tells them in (Vs. 27) “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
They were so excited with the food, they were missing out on the fact that the Messiah had come. They asked Jesus for a sign that He was sent from God (Vs. 30). Jesus responds by telling them that they need to ask for the true bread from heaven that gives life (Vs. 33). They ask Jesus for this bread (Vs. 34). Jesus astonishes them by saying, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (Vs. 35)
What does “I am The Bread Of Life” Mean?:
There are five important aspects to this amazing statement:
1.) By comparing himself with bread, Jesus is saying he is essential for life.
2.) The life Jesus is referring to is not physical it’s eternal. Jesus was trying to get them in the spiritual realm. He is spiritual bread that brings eternal life unlike the physical bread He gave them the day before.
3.) Jesus is making another claim to deity, “I AM” is the covenant name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.”. The phrase speaks of self-sufficient existence, “aseity”, an attribute only God possesses. Those Jesus was speaking to would have automatically understood His claim to deity.
4.) The words “come” and “believe” are an invitation for those listening to place their faith in Him as the Son of God. Coming to Jesus involves making a choice, we must leave the world’s way’s and follow Him. Believing in Jesus means placing our faith in Him. He is who He says He is, He will do what He says He will do, and that He is the only one who can.
5.) The words “hunger and thirst” need to be noted. Jesus isn’t talking about physical hunger and thirst. The key is found in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”. When Jesus says those who come to Him will never hunger and thirst, He is saying He will satisfy our hunger and thirst to be made righteous in the sight of God.
People seek to earn their way to heaven. It’s a basic human desire, God created us with eternity in mind: Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Scripture tells us that there is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven because we’ve all sinned: Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
There is no one who is righteous in themselves: Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
Because we have eternity set in our hearts, our dilemma is, we have a desire we cannot fulfill. Jesus and Jesus alone can fulfill the desire of our hearts for righteousness: 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”
When Christ died on the cross, He took the sins of the world and made atonement for them. When we place our faith in Him, our sins are imputed to Jesus and His righteousness is imputed to us. Jesus satisfies our hunger and thirst for righteousness. He is our Bread of Life, when we break bread this evening remember that Jesus died for us so we may have eternal life with Him.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Betrayal From Within
Scripture Reading: Matthew 24: 9-14
Persecution, Death, Hatred by all. This all because of our faith in Jesus Christ. As we look further into scripture we see how, why and by whom. There is also a message of hope. Let’s take a closer look at what Jesus was telling His disciples.
Betrayal From Within:
Betrayal, also referred to as Back Stabbing: is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group, or it is a complete break from previously decided upon or presumed norms by one party from the others. Someone who betrays others is commonly called a traitor or betrayer. Betrayal is also a commonly used literary element and is often associated with or used as a plot twist. (Wikipedia)
What do we see from the definition? Betrayal comes from within. An individual or group who seek to disrupt the trust and confidence within that organization. Violating the trust of that group. Betrayal can have costly consequences, even to the point of death.
The Cost Of Betrayal:
One of the most commonly know betrayal’s is the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. One of Jesus’ own disciples. A man within Jesus’ inner circle. Why did Judas betray Jesus?
We can’t be absolutely sure, but some things are certain.
Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), all scriptural evidence points to the fact that he never believed Jesus to be God. Unlike the other disciples that called Jesus “Lord,” Judas called him “Rabbi,” which acknowledged Jesus as nothing more than a teacher.
The other disciples made great professions of faith and loyalty (John 6:68; 11:16), Judas never did, he had a lack of faith in Jesus. The same is true for us, if we fail to recognize Jesus as God, the only one who can provide forgiveness for our sins and eternal salvation, we will be subject to numerous problems that come from a wrong view of God.
Not only did he lack in faith, but he also had little or no personal relationship with Jesus. When the gospels list the Twelve, they are always listed in the same general order with slight variations (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16).
The order is believed to indicate the relative closeness of their personal relationship with Jesus. Despite the variations, Peter and the brothers James and John are always listed first, which is consistent with their relationships with Jesus. Judas is always listed last, which may indicate his relative lack of a personal relationship with Christ.
The only documented dialogue between Jesus and Judas involves Judas being rebuked by Jesus after his greed-motivated remark to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of his betrayal (Matthew 26:25), and the betrayal itself (Luke 22:48).
Judas was consumed with greed to the point of betraying the trust of not only Jesus, but also his fellow disciples (John 12:5-6). Judas may have desired to follow Jesus because he saw the large following and thought he could profit from the group. The fact that Judas was in charge of the moneybag would indicate his interest in money (John 13:29).
Judas believed the Messiah was going to overthrow Roman’s and take a position of power. Judas may have followed Jesus hoping to benefit from association with Him. He expected to be part of the ruling elite after the revolution. By the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it clear that He planned to die, not start a rebellion against Rome. Judas may have assumed that since He would not overthrow the Romans, He must not be the Messiah.
Old Testament Prophesy:
“Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9).
“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they priced me!' So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter” (Zechariah 11:12-13).
These Old Testament prophecies indicate that Judas’ betrayal was known to God and that it was in His plan as the means by which Jesus would be killed.
The Cost Of Betrayal:
Judas had the full capacity of making his choice, at least up to the point where “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27). Judas would choose eventually. Jesus made it clear that Judas was responsible for his choice and would be held accountable for it. “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me” (Mark 14:18). Jesus characterizes Judas’ participation as a betrayal.
As accountability for this betrayal Jesus said, “Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Mark 14:21). Satan, also had a part in this, (John 13:26-27), he will be held accountable for his deeds.
Betrayal In The Church:
In our scripture reading we are warned by Jesus that “Many will fall away from the faith”, “Many will betray and hate each other”, “False prophets will appear”, “Wickedness will increase”, and “The love of most will grow cold”. This betrayal Jesus speaks of comes from within the body of Christ. Not from the outside but from within. We need to be vigilant, we need to put our complete faith in Christ Jesus. There are those within God’s church that are “Sheep in wolves clothing” seeking to destroy what God has put together.
God, in His wisdom, is able to manipulate even Satan’s rebellion for the benefit of mankind. Satan helped send Jesus to the cross, and on the cross sin and death were defeated. Now God’s provision of salvation is freely available to all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Keep your faith in Christ and He will deliver us from the betrayal that comes from within.
Persecution, Death, Hatred by all. This all because of our faith in Jesus Christ. As we look further into scripture we see how, why and by whom. There is also a message of hope. Let’s take a closer look at what Jesus was telling His disciples.
Betrayal From Within:
Betrayal, also referred to as Back Stabbing: is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group, or it is a complete break from previously decided upon or presumed norms by one party from the others. Someone who betrays others is commonly called a traitor or betrayer. Betrayal is also a commonly used literary element and is often associated with or used as a plot twist. (Wikipedia)
What do we see from the definition? Betrayal comes from within. An individual or group who seek to disrupt the trust and confidence within that organization. Violating the trust of that group. Betrayal can have costly consequences, even to the point of death.
The Cost Of Betrayal:
One of the most commonly know betrayal’s is the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. One of Jesus’ own disciples. A man within Jesus’ inner circle. Why did Judas betray Jesus?
We can’t be absolutely sure, but some things are certain.
Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), all scriptural evidence points to the fact that he never believed Jesus to be God. Unlike the other disciples that called Jesus “Lord,” Judas called him “Rabbi,” which acknowledged Jesus as nothing more than a teacher.
The other disciples made great professions of faith and loyalty (John 6:68; 11:16), Judas never did, he had a lack of faith in Jesus. The same is true for us, if we fail to recognize Jesus as God, the only one who can provide forgiveness for our sins and eternal salvation, we will be subject to numerous problems that come from a wrong view of God.
Not only did he lack in faith, but he also had little or no personal relationship with Jesus. When the gospels list the Twelve, they are always listed in the same general order with slight variations (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16).
The order is believed to indicate the relative closeness of their personal relationship with Jesus. Despite the variations, Peter and the brothers James and John are always listed first, which is consistent with their relationships with Jesus. Judas is always listed last, which may indicate his relative lack of a personal relationship with Christ.
The only documented dialogue between Jesus and Judas involves Judas being rebuked by Jesus after his greed-motivated remark to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of his betrayal (Matthew 26:25), and the betrayal itself (Luke 22:48).
Judas was consumed with greed to the point of betraying the trust of not only Jesus, but also his fellow disciples (John 12:5-6). Judas may have desired to follow Jesus because he saw the large following and thought he could profit from the group. The fact that Judas was in charge of the moneybag would indicate his interest in money (John 13:29).
Judas believed the Messiah was going to overthrow Roman’s and take a position of power. Judas may have followed Jesus hoping to benefit from association with Him. He expected to be part of the ruling elite after the revolution. By the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it clear that He planned to die, not start a rebellion against Rome. Judas may have assumed that since He would not overthrow the Romans, He must not be the Messiah.
Old Testament Prophesy:
“Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9).
“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they priced me!' So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter” (Zechariah 11:12-13).
These Old Testament prophecies indicate that Judas’ betrayal was known to God and that it was in His plan as the means by which Jesus would be killed.
The Cost Of Betrayal:
Judas had the full capacity of making his choice, at least up to the point where “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27). Judas would choose eventually. Jesus made it clear that Judas was responsible for his choice and would be held accountable for it. “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me” (Mark 14:18). Jesus characterizes Judas’ participation as a betrayal.
As accountability for this betrayal Jesus said, “Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Mark 14:21). Satan, also had a part in this, (John 13:26-27), he will be held accountable for his deeds.
Betrayal In The Church:
In our scripture reading we are warned by Jesus that “Many will fall away from the faith”, “Many will betray and hate each other”, “False prophets will appear”, “Wickedness will increase”, and “The love of most will grow cold”. This betrayal Jesus speaks of comes from within the body of Christ. Not from the outside but from within. We need to be vigilant, we need to put our complete faith in Christ Jesus. There are those within God’s church that are “Sheep in wolves clothing” seeking to destroy what God has put together.
God, in His wisdom, is able to manipulate even Satan’s rebellion for the benefit of mankind. Satan helped send Jesus to the cross, and on the cross sin and death were defeated. Now God’s provision of salvation is freely available to all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Keep your faith in Christ and He will deliver us from the betrayal that comes from within.
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Split Tongue
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 6:12-19
No where in scripture is lying considered the right thing to do. The ninth commandment prohibits bearing false witness Exodus 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” There is no such thing a “little white lie”. A lie is wrong according to scripture. This evening we are going to look into scripture to see what it has to say about lying.
A Lying Tongue and False Witness:
Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
“A lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” are two of the seven abominations to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:6 “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Love “rejoices with the truth”
Other Scriptures that speak negatively of lying, are:
Psalm 119:29 “Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.”
Proverbs 12:22 “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful”
Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices”
Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Results of Lies in Scripture:
There are many examples of liars in Scripture, from Jacob’s deceit in Genesis 27 to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Each time, we see that falsehood leads to misery, loss, and judgment.
Pastor Matt, what about the lies the Hebrew midwives told Pharaoh in Exodus 1:15-21? It seems the result was the Lord’s blessing on them and it probably saved the lives of many Hebrew babies.
What about Rahab’s lie to protect the Israelite spies in Joshua 2:5?
God never condones these lies, despite the “positive” outcome of these lies, nowhere does the Bible praise the lies themselves...
The Bible does not state that there are instances where lying is the right thing to do. It also does not declare that there is no possible instance in which lying is an acceptable option.
Is There Ever A Time When Lying Is The Right Thing To Do?:
Here is an example from the life of Corrie ten Boom. The time, Nazi-occupied Holland. Corrie ten Boom was hiding Jews in her home to protect them from the Nazis, soldiers come to her home and asked her if she knew where any Jews are hiding. What should she do? Tell the truth and allow the Nazis to capture the Jews she was trying to protect? Or, should she lie and deny that she knows anything about them?
In an instance such as this, where lying may be the only possible way to prevent a horrible evil, perhaps lying would be an acceptable thing to do.
This instance is somewhat similar to the lies of the Hebrew midwives and Rahab. In an evil world, and in a desperate situation, it may be the right thing to commit a lesser evil, lying, in order to prevent a much greater evil. However, such instances are extremely rare, it is highly likely that the vast majority of people have never faced a situation in which lying was the right thing to do.
What Does God Require Of Us?:
We are to reflect God’s character. He is a truthful God who does not and cannot lie. Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” When we name the name of Jesus we are to accurately reflect His character.
Christians are new creations in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We reflect His nature, we have been released from our “old self” and its evil practices such as lying and bearing false witness. Christians are to reflect to the world the character of Christ that identifies us as His own.
No where in scripture is lying considered the right thing to do. The ninth commandment prohibits bearing false witness Exodus 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” There is no such thing a “little white lie”. A lie is wrong according to scripture. This evening we are going to look into scripture to see what it has to say about lying.
A Lying Tongue and False Witness:
Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
“A lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” are two of the seven abominations to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:6 “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Love “rejoices with the truth”
Other Scriptures that speak negatively of lying, are:
Psalm 119:29 “Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.”
Proverbs 12:22 “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful”
Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices”
Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Results of Lies in Scripture:
There are many examples of liars in Scripture, from Jacob’s deceit in Genesis 27 to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Each time, we see that falsehood leads to misery, loss, and judgment.
Pastor Matt, what about the lies the Hebrew midwives told Pharaoh in Exodus 1:15-21? It seems the result was the Lord’s blessing on them and it probably saved the lives of many Hebrew babies.
What about Rahab’s lie to protect the Israelite spies in Joshua 2:5?
God never condones these lies, despite the “positive” outcome of these lies, nowhere does the Bible praise the lies themselves...
The Bible does not state that there are instances where lying is the right thing to do. It also does not declare that there is no possible instance in which lying is an acceptable option.
Is There Ever A Time When Lying Is The Right Thing To Do?:
Here is an example from the life of Corrie ten Boom. The time, Nazi-occupied Holland. Corrie ten Boom was hiding Jews in her home to protect them from the Nazis, soldiers come to her home and asked her if she knew where any Jews are hiding. What should she do? Tell the truth and allow the Nazis to capture the Jews she was trying to protect? Or, should she lie and deny that she knows anything about them?
In an instance such as this, where lying may be the only possible way to prevent a horrible evil, perhaps lying would be an acceptable thing to do.
This instance is somewhat similar to the lies of the Hebrew midwives and Rahab. In an evil world, and in a desperate situation, it may be the right thing to commit a lesser evil, lying, in order to prevent a much greater evil. However, such instances are extremely rare, it is highly likely that the vast majority of people have never faced a situation in which lying was the right thing to do.
What Does God Require Of Us?:
We are to reflect God’s character. He is a truthful God who does not and cannot lie. Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” When we name the name of Jesus we are to accurately reflect His character.
Christians are new creations in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We reflect His nature, we have been released from our “old self” and its evil practices such as lying and bearing false witness. Christians are to reflect to the world the character of Christ that identifies us as His own.
The Writing’s On The Wall
Scripture Reading: Daniel 5:5-8
God’s hand appeared and wrote on the wall. What was God’s message to King Belshazzar? Does God still communicate to us today the same way He has in the past? Messages from God are all around us, dreams, visions, in scripture, through others, and the list goes on. The question for tonight is what do you do when God “speaks” to you?
The Message To Belshazzar:
Dan 5:25-28 "This is the inscription that was written: [Mene], [Mene], [Tekel], [Parsin] "This is what these words mean: [Mene] : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. [Tekel] : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. [Peres] Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
This was a warning from the hand of God, written before their very eyes. Belshazzar was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. We all remember that King Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless King, a King who refused to submit to the authority of God. Instead he chose to worship false gods of silver, gold and bronze.
God had put Nebuchadnezzar into power: Vs. 18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.
Vs. 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.
The position of power went to King Nebuchadnezzar’s head. Something that power does to most people. Remember, with power comes responsibility, if we allow God to guide us and direct our decisions we will prevail. If we do not allow God’s will He will take action.
Vs. 20-21 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 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.
King Nebuchadnezzar was “given the mind of and animal” and “deposed from his thrown”, he was forced to roam in the wild like an animal until he “acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.”. It is not by our own actions that we become leaders or people of power, it is by the hand of God. We need to always keep that in the back of our minds, God is in control of everything. We need to rely on God’s grace.
Vs. 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.
King Nebuchadnezzar knew Daniel was a man of God. He called upon Daniel often to interrupt his dreams. Did he really believe in God or did he think Daniel had the “knowledge of gods”. Daniel was appointed “chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.”. King Nebuchadnezzar did not know our God, our Lord. His son Belshazzar followed in his foot steps as well.
Vs. 2-4 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, 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. So 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. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Belshazzar was just like his father, ruthless and cruel. He did not know God nor did he allow God to guide and direct him. Even after witnessing his fathers exile into the wilderness he still didn't get it.
Vs. 22 "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.
Vs. 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.
Belshazzar chose to live in this world and be part of this world. He chose to ignore the God of all creation and to defile what God had put in place. Even after what he had witnessed in his fathers life he still let power go to his head.
What was the writing on the wall? What did it mean? What is the message we should get from this chapter?
Vs. 26-31 "This is what these words mean: [Mene] : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel] : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. [Peres] : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 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. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
God is in control. When we get discouraged that evil men are getting their ways be assured that God is aware. I always go to Psalm 37: 7-11 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” Read the writing on the wall, God wishes for us to be at peace, keep your faith that He is in control and He will deliver you through any adversity that you may be going through.
God’s hand appeared and wrote on the wall. What was God’s message to King Belshazzar? Does God still communicate to us today the same way He has in the past? Messages from God are all around us, dreams, visions, in scripture, through others, and the list goes on. The question for tonight is what do you do when God “speaks” to you?
The Message To Belshazzar:
Dan 5:25-28 "This is the inscription that was written: [Mene], [Mene], [Tekel], [Parsin] "This is what these words mean: [Mene] : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. [Tekel] : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. [Peres] Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
This was a warning from the hand of God, written before their very eyes. Belshazzar was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. We all remember that King Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless King, a King who refused to submit to the authority of God. Instead he chose to worship false gods of silver, gold and bronze.
God had put Nebuchadnezzar into power: Vs. 18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.
Vs. 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.
The position of power went to King Nebuchadnezzar’s head. Something that power does to most people. Remember, with power comes responsibility, if we allow God to guide us and direct our decisions we will prevail. If we do not allow God’s will He will take action.
Vs. 20-21 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 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.
King Nebuchadnezzar was “given the mind of and animal” and “deposed from his thrown”, he was forced to roam in the wild like an animal until he “acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.”. It is not by our own actions that we become leaders or people of power, it is by the hand of God. We need to always keep that in the back of our minds, God is in control of everything. We need to rely on God’s grace.
Vs. 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.
King Nebuchadnezzar knew Daniel was a man of God. He called upon Daniel often to interrupt his dreams. Did he really believe in God or did he think Daniel had the “knowledge of gods”. Daniel was appointed “chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.”. King Nebuchadnezzar did not know our God, our Lord. His son Belshazzar followed in his foot steps as well.
Vs. 2-4 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, 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. So 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. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Belshazzar was just like his father, ruthless and cruel. He did not know God nor did he allow God to guide and direct him. Even after witnessing his fathers exile into the wilderness he still didn't get it.
Vs. 22 "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.
Vs. 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.
Belshazzar chose to live in this world and be part of this world. He chose to ignore the God of all creation and to defile what God had put in place. Even after what he had witnessed in his fathers life he still let power go to his head.
What was the writing on the wall? What did it mean? What is the message we should get from this chapter?
Vs. 26-31 "This is what these words mean: [Mene] : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel] : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. [Peres] : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 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. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
God is in control. When we get discouraged that evil men are getting their ways be assured that God is aware. I always go to Psalm 37: 7-11 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” Read the writing on the wall, God wishes for us to be at peace, keep your faith that He is in control and He will deliver you through any adversity that you may be going through.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Separation of Church and State
Scripture Reading: Romans 13:3-4
The separation of church and state has caused much debate. Our founding fathers did not seek to rid religion in America. An overwhelming majority of those who signed the Declaration of Independence were men of faith. Nowhere in the Constitution do the words “separation of church and state” appear. The idea of church/state separation came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s cause was to protect religious liberties from an intrusive government. In no way did Jefferson or any of the other authors of the U.S. Constitution seek to restrict Americans’ religious activities.
Why Separation From Government?:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Our Constitution guarantees the free observance of religion and prevents the government from ever establishing a state church. Thomas Jefferson called religious freedom “the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights.” Was Jefferson right? Is freedom of religion a divine right? Is it biblical?
We live in a democracy not a theocracy, state-sanctioned churches become puppets of the government. Under such circumstances, the laws of man take precedence over the inspired teachings of Scripture. When the state heads the church, the integrity of the gospel is too easily compromised. Under the Mosaic Law, Israel operated under a theocracy, the nation’s success or failure depended on their degree of obedience to God.
“Religious freedom” was not part of the Old Testament system, God ruled over Israel directly. Israel’s theocracy was not intended to be a government model for the rest of the world. Nations which have imposed a self-styled theocracy, such as medieval Spain, have produced totalitarian nightmares. The religious intolerance of the Inquisition was not a product of true theocracy; it was the result of power-hungry, sinful men.
Civil servants living on tax dollars are unfit for serving as pastors, their loyalties are divided between God who calls them and the other who feed them. This kind of compromise does not belong on the pulpit. Let the government build roads, and let Christ build His church.
In our scripture reading we have a clearer picture of the God-ordained role of government. The government’s responsibility is to punish evil deeds, reward good deeds, and render justice. God has given the government certain duties, but enforcing a particular system of worship is not one of them.
There is no conflict between biblical principles and the civic principle of religious freedom. The United States was founded on biblical principles that religious freedom exists. Only governments rooted in Judeo-Christian values allow such freedom. Nonsense being force-fed to the public is that men and women of faith have no business in politics. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were men of deep, unwavering Christian faith. Their writings, public statements, church involvement, and the testimony of their families reveal their lifelong commitment to Christianity. They were not alone in their faith; the majority of our nation’s founders were Christians.
Pakistan, India, and Tibet are intolerant of other religions. Atheistic governments, like the former Soviet Union, have also proved to be bias toward free religious expression.
The concept of the freedom of religion is biblical. God Himself extends a “freedom of religion” to people. Read Matthew 19:16-23, the rich young ruler comes to Jesus, after a brief conversation, the young man “went away sorrowful,” choosing not to follow Christ. The point here is that Jesus let him go, God does not “force” belief in Him. Faith is commanded but never forced.
Read Matthew 23:37, Jesus expresses His desire to gather the children of Jerusalem to Himself, but they “were not willing.” If God gives men the freedom to choose or to reject Him, then so should we.
The freedom of religion respects the image of God in man Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Part of God’s likeness is man’s volition (man’s has the ability to choose or our free will). God respects our choices in that He gives us freedom to make decisions regarding our future (Read Genesis 13:8-12; Joshua 24:15). Even if we make the wrong decisions, God allows us to choose, we should allow others to choose.
The freedom of religion acknowledges that it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts, not the government. John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Only Jesus saves, to take away the freedom of religion is to empower human government, with its fallible rulers, to determine the eternal destiny of every soul.
Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, John 18:36 “Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” no one becomes a Christian by government intervention. We are made Christians by the grace of God through faith in Christ, Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The freedom of religion acknowledges that, it’s not about religion; it’s about relationship. God does not desire an external form of worship but a personal relationship with His children, Matthew 15:7-8 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. No amount of government control can produce such a relationship.
The authors of the Constitution were God-fearing men making a sincere attempt to establish a new nation on biblical principles, including equity, justice, and liberty. One of the liberties they recognized as “inalienable and sacred” was the freedom of religion. Praise the Lord for such wisdom. Today we see our government falling away from what our forefathers set in place.
The separation of church and state has caused much debate. Our founding fathers did not seek to rid religion in America. An overwhelming majority of those who signed the Declaration of Independence were men of faith. Nowhere in the Constitution do the words “separation of church and state” appear. The idea of church/state separation came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s cause was to protect religious liberties from an intrusive government. In no way did Jefferson or any of the other authors of the U.S. Constitution seek to restrict Americans’ religious activities.
Why Separation From Government?:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Our Constitution guarantees the free observance of religion and prevents the government from ever establishing a state church. Thomas Jefferson called religious freedom “the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights.” Was Jefferson right? Is freedom of religion a divine right? Is it biblical?
We live in a democracy not a theocracy, state-sanctioned churches become puppets of the government. Under such circumstances, the laws of man take precedence over the inspired teachings of Scripture. When the state heads the church, the integrity of the gospel is too easily compromised. Under the Mosaic Law, Israel operated under a theocracy, the nation’s success or failure depended on their degree of obedience to God.
“Religious freedom” was not part of the Old Testament system, God ruled over Israel directly. Israel’s theocracy was not intended to be a government model for the rest of the world. Nations which have imposed a self-styled theocracy, such as medieval Spain, have produced totalitarian nightmares. The religious intolerance of the Inquisition was not a product of true theocracy; it was the result of power-hungry, sinful men.
Civil servants living on tax dollars are unfit for serving as pastors, their loyalties are divided between God who calls them and the other who feed them. This kind of compromise does not belong on the pulpit. Let the government build roads, and let Christ build His church.
In our scripture reading we have a clearer picture of the God-ordained role of government. The government’s responsibility is to punish evil deeds, reward good deeds, and render justice. God has given the government certain duties, but enforcing a particular system of worship is not one of them.
There is no conflict between biblical principles and the civic principle of religious freedom. The United States was founded on biblical principles that religious freedom exists. Only governments rooted in Judeo-Christian values allow such freedom. Nonsense being force-fed to the public is that men and women of faith have no business in politics. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were men of deep, unwavering Christian faith. Their writings, public statements, church involvement, and the testimony of their families reveal their lifelong commitment to Christianity. They were not alone in their faith; the majority of our nation’s founders were Christians.
Pakistan, India, and Tibet are intolerant of other religions. Atheistic governments, like the former Soviet Union, have also proved to be bias toward free religious expression.
The concept of the freedom of religion is biblical. God Himself extends a “freedom of religion” to people. Read Matthew 19:16-23, the rich young ruler comes to Jesus, after a brief conversation, the young man “went away sorrowful,” choosing not to follow Christ. The point here is that Jesus let him go, God does not “force” belief in Him. Faith is commanded but never forced.
Read Matthew 23:37, Jesus expresses His desire to gather the children of Jerusalem to Himself, but they “were not willing.” If God gives men the freedom to choose or to reject Him, then so should we.
The freedom of religion respects the image of God in man Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Part of God’s likeness is man’s volition (man’s has the ability to choose or our free will). God respects our choices in that He gives us freedom to make decisions regarding our future (Read Genesis 13:8-12; Joshua 24:15). Even if we make the wrong decisions, God allows us to choose, we should allow others to choose.
The freedom of religion acknowledges that it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts, not the government. John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Only Jesus saves, to take away the freedom of religion is to empower human government, with its fallible rulers, to determine the eternal destiny of every soul.
Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, John 18:36 “Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” no one becomes a Christian by government intervention. We are made Christians by the grace of God through faith in Christ, Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The freedom of religion acknowledges that, it’s not about religion; it’s about relationship. God does not desire an external form of worship but a personal relationship with His children, Matthew 15:7-8 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. No amount of government control can produce such a relationship.
The authors of the Constitution were God-fearing men making a sincere attempt to establish a new nation on biblical principles, including equity, justice, and liberty. One of the liberties they recognized as “inalienable and sacred” was the freedom of religion. Praise the Lord for such wisdom. Today we see our government falling away from what our forefathers set in place.
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