What’s So Special About Christmas? - 1

 

What’s So Special About Christmas? - 1

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT: 

WHERE & WHEN JESUS WAS BORN?

… based on Luke 2:1-7

To be honest, the only thing I like about the shorter daylight hours at this time of year is seeing all the decorative lights.  I’ve always liked them.  I did as a little kid; I do as a big kid.  In fact, I enjoy most of the decorations that are displayed during December.  I love seeing “Season’s Greetings” written in red & white candy cane letters.  The Christmas scenes in people’s yards give me a warm feeling.  I never tire of listening to & singing along with Christmas carols.  And as hectic as this time of year has become, I still look forward to the Christmas season.

But our society has changed a lot in the last generation or 2. 

We’re becoming much more secular in our observance.  And there’s the continual controversy over the public display of nativity scenes.  (Blake took it upon himself to make a positive statement in that regard here at the Brown County Courthouse last year.  Thank you.)

And along the lines of the ridiculous, there’s the debate on whether we can have

“Christmas” trees, or should they be “holiday” trees?

I confess, stuff like that makes me want to pull my hair!

Most of all, there are questions about the little Child for whom the day is named.  Christ Jesus was His name.  And I’m sure you’ve all read the simple story about Him which explains that He never traveled outside His own country, never held a public office, & never wrote a single book.  But it goes on to state that all the armies & navies, & kings in history never affected the world as much as that “one solitary life.”

So, the question before us today, & for the next 2 weeks is … why should we care?  What does Jesus mean to us?  What’s so special about Christmas?

So, listen now to Good News, as recorded by Luke, to us who have gathered here for worship.  Within our hearing comes the Word of the Lord …

At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire.  When the first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria.  Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown.

Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David.  Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David.  He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him.  She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.  She gave birth to her first born son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger – there was no room for them to stay in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

This is the Good News of the Gospel; thanks be to God.

May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification. Amen

This morning, I want to answer the question … what’s so special about where & when Jesus was born?  And let’s begin with “the where.”

A few moments ago, I read that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  

Our oldest daughter, Jennifer, was born in Columbus, GA.  The reason she was born down there was because I was in the Army at Fort Benning, training to be an infantry officer in Viet Nam.  (F.Y.I. in 1969, Thanksgiving was also on November 27th, & bright & early the next morning, 56 years ago, 

I entered the U.S. Army.  Let me say, 

I’m in a far better frame of mind right now than I was 56 years ago!)

Okay, where was Jesus born? … (Bethlehem) … Why Bethlehem?

Jesus was born in Bethlehem because of Augustus Caesar.  

Augustus was Julius Caesar’s nephew, & arguably the most powerful of the Ceasars.  His mark can still be seen in Rome with its’ buildings & aqueducts & bridges & sewer systems, etc.  Augustus transformed not only Rome, but the entire known world with his roads & armies.

Well, Augustus ordered a census throughout the Empire.

(Periodic censuses were taken about every 14 years for the purpose of assessing taxes & discovering those who were eligible for compulsory military service.  The Jews were exempt from the military, so, Joseph was registering himself for tax purposes.)

Joseph went to Bethlehem because he was a descendant of King David.  

(Interestingly, Mary was as well.)  Now the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles.  And I know that most paintings show Mary riding on a donkey.  She probably walked.

Now you women are going to have to help me here.  That’s like walking from Columbus to Louisville, (or Columbus to Kokomo), when you’re 8½ months pregnant.  You women who have been pregnant … an easy trip? … Be honest with me, would you be ready to do some physical harm to your husbands?

When we think of Bethlehem, 

our image of it comes mostly from the Christmas carols we sing, doesn’t it?

“O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!”

We imagine a silent night … but remember, the inns were full when Joseph & Mary arrived.  That tells us that there must have been lots & lots of people roaming around.  (It’s Nashville in October.)  And don’t picture these inns to be Holiday Inns or Comfort Suites.  They were extremely crude accommodations.  Most people slept in the same room, 

in open bay areas.  And since the rooms were only used for sleeping, 

it meant that everyone was outside roaming the streets.

We’ve been taught that Bethlehem was a tiny, insignificant village.

But in truth, it had rich legacy, especially in Israel’s history.  Now certainly, the names of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, (the patriarchs), are familiar to us.  Jacob’s wife, Rachel, whom he loved very much, was buried in Bethlehem. (Genesis 35:19) She died giving birth to their son, Benjamin. (Genesis 35:18)

Another important person in Israel’s history was Ruth.  She was a Moabite woman, & after her husband died, she went with mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Naomi’s hometown, Bethlehem. (Ruth 1:19) And there Ruth remarried, & had a son, Obed, who was the grandfather of King David. 

(Ruth 4:17)

And speaking of David, Bethlehem provided ancient Israel with its’ most enduring hero.  The prophet Samuel came to town in search of a future king … just as other magi would do some 1,000 years later. (Matthew 2:2)

And God led Samuel to the house of Jesse, where he eventually was introduced to David, the shepherd, & the “least likely to succeed” in his family. (1 Samuel 16:11) But that’s who God chose; & David became Israel’s greatest king.  Scripture describes him as “the kind of man God likes.” 

(The Acts 13:22)

The family tree of Jesus includes all 3: Rachel, Ruth, & David.  And they all point to the wonderful legacy that would one day belong to Bethlehem.

The greatest clue of all, however, was in plain sight for any Hebrew who read the Scriptures.  In the scrolls of the prophets was written this prediction: “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, 

whose family line goes back to ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)

Bethlehem Ephrathah … 2 names, 2 meanings.  Bethlehem means, 

“the house of bread.”  Jesus would one day identify Himself as,

“the Bread of life.” (John 6:35) He said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:51) What could be a more fitting place for “the Bread of life” to be born than “the house of bread”?

The 2nd name, Ephrathah, the original name of Bethlehem, means “fruitfulness.”  Once again, Jesus would remind us of His birthplace when He said, “My Father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit, & in this way you become my disciples.” (John 15:8)

So, the clues were there for all who read the ancient writings & thought about the eternal workings of God.  And, as the years went by, the rabbis remembered & the scholars kept an eye on that little town. (Matthew 2:5)  Everyone else passed it by without much notice.  And so that amazing night when a poor carpenter & his betrothed wife came wearily into town, 

no one could have anticipated that the world would be changed forever.

One Bible scholar wrote this … “in some forgotten corner of a forgotten town in a forgotten country, the most unforgettable news arrived.”

What’s so special about where Jesus was born?

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, “the house of bread.”  Bread, from the earliest times, has been one of the world’s most common foods.  Jesus wasn’t born in the house of royalty, or a house of riches, or a house of celebrity.  

He wasn’t born in Jerusalem, or in Rome, or in Athens, or in any political, commercial, cultural, educational, or socially significant city of that day.

When Micah prophesized about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, he emphasized its’ lack of significance.  Bread is one of life’s most common necessities.  

God wanted to be available to all. (Mark 12:37)

Okay, what’s so special about when Jesus was born?

A little over 2,000 years ago God looked down on humanity & saw how human beings were at “war” with themselves & with one another.  Scripture records, “When the right time

finally came, God sent his own Son.  He came as the son of a human mother.” (Galatians 4:4) This was in God’s timing.  

He was fulfilling His promises found in the O.T. (Luke 24:27) And now the conditions were optimal on the “battlefield” of earth.  So, what was it about the world 2,000 years ago that was so ideal for the coming of Christ?

The Romans themselves are part of the answer.  For the 1st time in history, 1 nation ruled the world.  The Mediterranean Sea was the hub of civilization & Rome had it surrounded.  They constructed elaborate highways … you’ve heard the expression, “all roads lead to Rome.”  They built those roads so their armies could travel quickly.  (Hitler did the same thing in WWII.  He constructed the autobahns for his army’s blitzkriegs.)

However, those highways also allowed messengers to travel safely with news & ideas.  And the Apostle Paul & other early missionaries took advantage of that to take the Gospel easily throughout the world.  

Ships, too, had come of age, sailing the Mediterranean … 

which was another way the Gospel was spread.

There was also the Pax Romano, the “Roman peace,” which lasted from 27 B.C. until 180 A.D.  Jesus was born in the generation in which it began, 

& it meant a relatively calm environment throughout the lower regions of Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Egypt, & North Africa.

The Jews, along with every other country in the vast Roman Empire, 

were allowed to preserve their own faith & customs.  The Romans were permissive about religions as long as there wasn’t any trouble, & the people paid their taxes.  Stability & relative tolerance opened the world to the spread of new ideas.  And roads & shipping lanes made it happen quickly & efficiently.  But there was another major factor … language.

In 333 B.C., years before the Caesars came to power, a man by the name of Alexander the Great wanted to unite all the cultures of the world.  He wanted everyone to think like Greeks & speak like Greeks.  The old saying, “what’s good for General Motors is good for America.”  That was Alexander’s philosophy.  “What’s good for Greece is good for the world.”  

So, he made people everywhere speak Greek.

Providentially, Greek happens to be one of the most beautiful & articulate languages in the world.  It’s custom built for the ideas that distinguishes Christian life & thought.  And this shared language, Greek, would make it possible for Paul & Barnabas & Luke & the Apostles to travel everywhere telling people the Good News of the Gospel without cumbersome translation.  

Elaine Scherrer is a missionary that Kathy & I support.

She serves as a linguistic specialist with Wycliffe Bible Translators in the African nation of Chad.  She develops written languages for groups who don’t have any, which obviously aids the missionaries.  Because of Alexander the Great, language wasn’t an issue for the 1st Christian missionaries.

So, as we think about the world 2,000 years ago, the Roman roads & peace, 

& the Greek language … it seems that the time was right for an obscure Teacher from a small town in an occupied country to change the world … after His death.

On the Friday of His execution, His followers largely abandoned Him. 

(Matthew 26:56) Yet within a generation, He was worshipped in many countries.

Within 3 centuries, His faith was the official doctrine of the Empire.

And today, 2.4 billion men, women, & children, over 1/3 of the world’s population, follow that Teacher who was crucified as a criminal.

Jesus indeed came at the perfect time, but He also brought the perfect message.  He brought hope & light. (John 1:4) In a world ruled by the sword, He spoke of perfect peace. (John 14:27) In a world of violence & retribution, He spoke of loving one’s enemies. (Matthew 5:44) In a world of death, 

He offered hope of new life … both now, & beyond the grave. (John 11:25-26)

Jesus’ message captured the world.  In the fullness of time,

just when His truth & love could spread with the greatest impact, 

Jesus came to bring the most radical, 

the most wonderful message that has ever been presented … the Good News.

I’ve talked to you before about Chuck Colson.

He was Richard Nixon’s “hatchet man” who came to faith while in prison.

And from that moment until his passing in 2012, became,

I believe the strongest non-ordained spokesman for Jesus Christ in the last century.  He began “Prison Fellowship” which is an international organization committed to bringing the Gospel to prisoners.   

On one of the occasions that I got to hear him he told the story of going to Salem, OR, with his Prison Fellowship Ministry, & preaching to the inmates there.  The Lord gave Chuck a sincere concern for the prisoners, & they genuinely recognized it.  Kathy Troccoli, who’s a contemporary Christian singer, (actually one of my Kathy’s favorite singers), went with him & sang the song, “My Life Is In His Hands.”

After the service was over, one of the inmates came up to her & said, 

“I want to thank you for singing that song.  It ministered to me so much.  

My soul was dry.”  Kathy asked why.  He responded, “Well, I’m here in prison, & I have a lot of time left to serve.  I received a letter this past week from my wife asking for a divorce.  Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse … they did.  And I felt like there was nothing left for me.  But now I realize that my life is in the hands of God, & that somehow it will be okay.  

I really want to thank you for singing that song.”

5 days later, Chuck & Kathy were in Chicago, more than 2,000 miles from Salem, OR.  They were ministering in Statesville Correctional Center, & Kathy sang the same song, “My Life Is In Your Hands.”

After the service a woman, who had never been to a Prison Fellowship meeting before, came up to Kathy & said, “I really want to thank you for singing that song.  My soul has been so dry.”  (Almost the same exact words.)

    Again, Kathy asked, “why?”  The woman replied, “well, my husband is in prison, & I felt like I couldn’t put up with it anymore.  So, I wrote to him last week & asked for a divorce.  But I’m not at peace about it.”

    Her husband was the man they’d met back in OR!  Kathy was able to minister to her, & God healed that marriage.  

Just a coincidence? … No, God is in control.

The Psalmist declared, “I am always in your care.” (The Psalms 31:15)

“When the right time finally came, God sent his own Son.”  

What began in a stable in little Bethlehem would redefine history … 

at the perfect time & place.

And so it will be when Jesus comes again.  

“This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven & on earth, with Christ as head.” 

(Ephesians 1:10)

Let us now wait, expectantly for His next Advent.

MARANA THA

HANDWRITING ON THE WALL ~ Daniel 2

 

Daniel - 2

HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

… based on Daniel 5:10-12

Many years ago, a man conned his way into the Imperial Orchestra of the Emperor of China … although he couldn’t play a note.  Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play … but careful not to make a sound.  This continued for several years & the man received a modest salary & enjoyed a comfortable living.

Then one day the Emperor requested a specific song which would require a solo from each musician.  The flutist panicked.  There wasn’t enough time even to attempt to learn the instrument.  So, he pretended to be sick … but the royal physician wasn’t fooled.  On the day of his solo performance, the impostor took poison & killed himself.  The explanation of his suicide led to a phrase that found its’ way into the English language … 

“it’s time to face the music.”

There are people who “pretend” to be a part of God’s “orchestra” … 

(the Church) … by just blending in with the crowd & going through the motions.  No one notices because they “appear” to say & do the correct things. (2 Timothy 4:5) But there’s coming a day when they “must face the music.”  On that day they will stand alone before God, & must give an account for their life, their decisions, & what they did with Jesus Christ.  

“Every one of us, then, will have to give an account to God.” (Romans 14:12)

This morning, as we did last week, we’re looking another common phrase … 

“The Handwriting On The Wall” … & we’re going to see how it applied to the people in Daniel’s day … & how it relates to us today.

So, listen now to Good News, as recorded in Daniel, to us who have gathered here for worship.  Within our hearing comes the Word of the Lord …

The queen mother heard the noise made by the king and his noblemen and entered the banquet hall.  She said, “May Your Majesty live forever!  Please do not be so disturbed and look so pale.  There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.  When your father was king, this man showed good sense, knowledge, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods.  And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, made him chief of the fortunetellers, magicians, wizards, and astrologers.  He has unusual ability and is wise and skillful in interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining mysteries; so send for this man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, and he will tell you what all this means.” (Daniel 5:10-12)

The grass withers & flowers fad, 

but the word of our God endures forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification.  Amen 

Sociologist & Pastor, Tony Campolo, wrote a book titled, “The Kingdom Of God Is A Party.”  In it he tells the story of a trip to Honolulu.  Having crossed far too many time zones from Philadelphia, he found himself wide awake & needing breakfast at 3:30 a.m. local time.  He ended up in a greasy spoon kind of place ordering a donut & a cup of coffee.  

While consuming this “wholesome” breakfast in walked 8 or 9 prostitutes.  The diner was small, & Campolo found himself surrounded … 

so he decided the best thing he could do was just get up & leave.

Just then he overheard one of them say … 

“Tomorrow’s my birthday; I’ll be 39.”

One of the other ladies sarcastically responded …

“So?  Wada you want me to do about it?  Throw you a party?  Bake you a cake?  Sing ‘happy birthday’?” The 1st lady shot back … “Come on!  Why do you have to be so mean?  I’m just telling you; you don’t have to put me down.  

I don’t want anything.  I’ve never had a birthday party in my whole life.

Why should you give me one?  Why should I have one now?  I’m just saying.”

Now if you know anything about Tony Campolo, you could guess what happened next.  He hung around until they all left, then he asked the guy who ran the diner if those ladies came in every night. … They did.  So, Campolo asked if he could throw that prostitute a big birthday party the next night.  The guys in the kitchen got excited about the idea & began making arrangements.  Campolo decorated the diner, the chef baked a cake, 

& somebody else got the word out on the street.

This is how Campolo describes the scene …

“By 3:15 in the morning every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place.  It was wall-to-wall prostitutes … & me!  At 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open & in came Agnes & her friend.  I had everybody ready, (after all, I was kind of the M.C. of the affair), & when they came in, we all screamed, ‘Happy Birthday!’ 

“Never have I seen a person so flabbergasted …so stunned … so shaken.  

Her mouth fell open.  Her legs seemed to buckle a bit.  Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her.  As she was led to one of the stools along the counter, we all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.  As we came to end of our singing with … ‘happy birthday dear Agnes, happy birthday to you’ … her eyes moistened.  Then, when the cake was carried in with all the candles on it, 

she lost it & just openly cried.

“She couldn’t blow out the candles.  She couldn’t cut the cake.  

In fact, she was so overwhelmed that she asked if she could just keep the cake for a little while.  The gruff chef said … ‘It’s your cake.  Do whatever you want.’  And so, Agnes picked the cake up & carried it home as if it were the most precious thing imaginable.  The crowd was stunned into silence.” 

Not knowing what else to do, Campolo said … “what do you say we pray?”  

And he did.  He prayed for Agnes, for her salvation, for God to turn her life around.  At the end, the chef looked at him with a trace of hostility & said, 

“You never told me you were a preacher.

What kind of Church do you belong to?”  Campolo replied … “I belong to a Church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.”

Daniel 5 began with the story of a massive party 

that included over 1,000 guests.

It was held in the city of Babylon, 

& it lasted for a # of days.  The host was Belshazzar.

Our Scripture records that Nebuchadnezzar was his father.  

It’d be more accurate to say that Belshazzar was a “descendant” of Nebuchadnezzar.  His father was actually Nabonidus.  Bible scholars tell us that Nabonidus spent much of his reign off fighting battles.  And in his absence, Belshazzar was in charge of the home front.  And he decided to throw himself a party.  And as this huge party is going on inside the palace,

just outside the city walls, his enemies, the Medes & the Persians, 

had gathered.  But Belshazzar doesn’t want to face that.  He’s in denial.  

He thinks he’s completely safe.  

But regardless, in a few short hours … he’ll be dead.

That Belshazzar is only a “temporary” king is hinted to a few sentences earlier.  There it states that the person who can explain the “handwriting on the wall” will “be the 3rd in power in the kingdom.” (Daniel 5:7) The absent king, Nabonidus, would be #1; Belshazzar, himself, was #2; & Daniel would have the possibility of being #3.  So, here we have a man who is “subbing” on the throne.  He gives a party … which quickly turns into a drunken orgy.

There are a couple of other interesting things going on here … 

the presence of women.  In Babylonia at that time … 

women were not invited to parties.  The fact that they’re at this one suggests that the immorality of Belshazzar’s reign had sunk to a new low.

It simply was uncommon to have a gathering like this & bring women in to drink wine with the men. (Daniel 5:3) They didn’t do it, & the fact that they’re doing it here suggests that this was a party that was out of control.

Another concern was the use of “the gold & silver cups & bowls” (Daniel 5:2) 

that had been taken from the Temple in Jerusalem.  Nebuchadnezzar, 

who’d removed them, deeply respected the God of Israel. (Daniel 4:37) 

Nebuchadnezzar would have never dreamed of using them in this blasphemous manner.  

That Belshazzar does, is an indication of the kind of decadent man he is.

That’s the scenario that brings about … “the handwriting on the wall.”

Our Scripture introduces us to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother was an honored position.  Other women may have been at this party, but she chose not to be.  She, apparently, was a woman of dignity.  She also has history on her side.  She remembers the days of Nebuchadnezzar, & is no doubt shocked at the direction this party has gone.  

She recalls Daniel’s role back then … & realizes he’s the one who can help.

She says, “There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.  When your father was king, this man showed good sense, 

knowledge, & wisdom like the wisdom of the gods.  And King Nebuchadnezzar … made him chief of the fortunetellers, magicians, wizards, & astrologers.

He has unusual ability & is wise & skillful in interpreting dreams, 

solving riddles, & explaining mysteries; so send for this man Daniel, 

whom the king named Belteshazzar, & he will tell you what all this means.”

This is the 1st of 3 points we’ll be looking at this morning.  

It’s about the search for a person who understands at the level of the soul.  

The Queen Mother has been around for years, 

& we have to assume that she knows Daniel.  She’s seen him work.

She knows his integrity.  She’s seen him act calmly in tough situations.

She knows of his faithfulness to Nebuchadnezzar.

She remembers all this.  It’s interesting that everybody else has forgotten.

I’d like to suggest this morning that Daniel represented in his day what the Church is supposed to represent in our day.  The Church should be made up of people, who like Daniel, can be called upon in times of trouble & confusion to bring words of good sense, knowledge, & wisdom.  The Church is supposed to be known as the representatives of God’s purposes in the world.  The Church is supposed to be the place that models the higher lifestyle that God meant for humanity to live.  Those who make up the Church should be able to understand … “the handwriting on the wall.”  The Church should look at life, not on the surface … but at the level of the soul. (1 Samuel 16:7)

The Queen Mother’s statement almost chastises Belshazzar.  

“If you’d been listening to Daniel, he could have warned you about 

the direction you’re headed.  He’s been around for years & is the obvious one 

to help you now … but you don’t even know his name.”

Now, the Queen Mother doesn’t speak with real good theology.  

She has a secular appreciation of religion, & she’s certainly not up on Daniel’s God.  But she does know Daniel.  And she’s observed that when he speaks … things change.  So, she refers to him with the deepest respect.

I wish the Church had that kind of reputation today.  I wish the world could look at the Church as an organization with integrity, which acts calmly in tough situations, that is faithful; that when the Church speaks … things change.  I wish the world would turn to us to interpret “the handwriting on the wall.”  I wish the Church was respected as much as Daniel was.

There’s a 2nd point to this story.

“Daniel was brought at once into the king’s presence, & the king said to him, ‘Are you Daniel, that Jewish exile whom Nebuchadnezzar brought here from Judah?  I have heard that the spirit of the holy gods is in you & that you are skillful & have knowledge & wisdom.  The advisers & magicians were brought in to read this writing & tell me what it means, but they could not discover the meaning.  Now I have heard that you can find hidden meanings & explain mysteries.  If you can read this writing & tell me what it means, you will be dressed in robes of royal purple, wear a gold chain of honor around your neck, & be the 3rd in power in the kingdom.’” (Daniel 5:13-16) Wow!

But listen to Daniel’s response.  

“Keep your gifts for yourself or give them to someone else.” (Daniel 5:17)

Why did Daniel refuse Belshazzar’s offer? … 

I believe there are a couple of reasons.  1st, it was important for Daniel to make it plain that spiritual gifts cannot be bought. (1 Corinthians 12:4)

We’re reminded about this truth again in the N.T.  Philip is preaching in Samaria.  People are coming to faith, they’re being baptized, & “great wonders & miracles are being performed.” (The Acts 8:13) Back in Jerusalem, Peter & John hear about all that’s happening.  So, they go there & place their hands on the people, & they receive The Holy Spirit. (The Acts 8:17) Well, 

a guy named Simon observed all this, & he wanted to have that power too.

In fact … he offered Peter & John a lot of money in order to get it.

Listen to Peter’s earthy response to that request.  “May you & your money 

go to hell, for thinking that you can buy God’s gift with money!” (The Acts 8:18-20)

2ndly, it was important for Daniel to make plain that God’s servants cannot be bought.  They don’t work harder, speak better, or give more pleasing messages for a price.  “Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, 

because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News.  

We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.”

(1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Let me explain something here.

“The Lord has ordered that those who preach the gospel should get their living from it.” (1 Corinthians 9:14) A congregation has a spiritual obligation to provide for those who labor in God’s Word. (1 Timothy 5:17-18) However, when Preachers or Teachers refuse to speak unless a certain honorarium is offered, or if a “Church” attempts to “buy” God’s blessing by offering a certain amount of money … then they run into “the error of Balaam.” (Jude 11)

Daniel’s not doing this for any “reward.”  He’s not looking for power or fame.  He’s a man who’s motivated by only 1 thing, & that’s God’s call & purpose.  

Belshazzar thought “things” would impress Daniel. … Boy, that’s the way of the world, isn’t it?  But that’s not the prime motivator for Daniel.

He only serves God. (Luke 4:8)

Listen to him address the king …

“The Supreme God made Nebuchadnezzar a great king & gave him dignity & majesty.  He was so great that people of all nations, races, & languages were afraid of him & trembled.  If he wanted to kill someone, he did; if he wanted to keep someone alive, he did.  He honored or disgraced anyone he wanted to.  But because he became proud, stubborn, & cruel, he was removed from his royal throne & lost his place of honor.  He was driven away from human society, & his mind became like that of an animal.  He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like an ox, & slept in the open air with nothing to protect him from the dew.  Finally he admitted that the Supreme God controls all human kingdoms & can give them to anyone he chooses.” (Daniel 5:18-21)

Daniel is teaching theology here.  He’s telling Belshazzar to look back in history to Nebuchadnezzar.  God put him on the throne. (Daniel 2:21) 

He served at God’s pleasure.  And as long as he was humble before God, 

he was allowed to continue.  But when his heart became hardened with pride … God reduced him to nothing. (Daniel 4:33)

And the difference between Nebuchadnezzar & Belshazzar is that Nebuchadnezzar repented. (Daniel 4:34) He acknowledged God.

Listen to Daniel’s words to Belshazzar.

“You … have not humbled yourself, even though you knew all this.  

You acted against the Lord of heaven. … You did not honor the God who determines whether you live or die.” (Daniel 5:22-23)

In this short section Daniel uses the words “you” & “your” 14 times in a rapid-fire description of Belshazzar’s foolishness. “You … you … you.”  

“In light of all you have known … you exalted yourself over God. (The Psalms 18:27)

Let me change the tempo for a moment.  This is just a story.

It’s simply a piece of history … unless we stop & face the potential that every one of us, me included, is Belshazzar.  The story loses its’ force unless we put ourselves into it.  All of us, in this room, like Belshazzar, 

have inherited many rich & wonderful privileges.  We have good minds.

We’ve been given the benefits of great education.  We live in a wonderful place where we have the freedom to make all sorts of choices.  

We have fine homes & drove here this morning in nice cars.

We have as much as Belshazzar ever had … & a lot more.

The question this morning is, while we have all this “stuff” on the surface, what’s the attitude of our soul?  What’s the condition of our heart?

Okay, here’s the scene.  Belshazzar & his 1,000 guests are involved in this blasphemous banquet, where they’re drinking wine to excess & using the holy cups & bowls that were taken from the Temple for the sole purpose of worshipping Almighty God.  And here they were praising “gods made of gold, 

silver, bronze, iron, wood, & stone.” (Daniel 5:4) Well, God had had enough.

“Suddenly a human hand appeared & began writing on the plaster wall” … MENE, MENE,TEKEL, PARSIN … (Number, Number, Weight, Division).

And Belshazzar “turned pale & was so frightened that his knees began to shake.” (Daniel 5:6) And with no other recourse, 

he takes the Queen Mother’s suggestion, & Daniel is called.

Daniel comes & reads the writing … there are only 3 words 

with the 1st being repeated … & gives his interpretation. (Daniel 5:26-28)

MENE … repeated to show its’ significance.  The days of Belshazzar’s kingdom have been numbered by God & will be brought to an end.

TEKEL … Belshazzar has been weighed in the balance,

& found to be wanting (too light).

PARSIN … his once great kingdom is about to be divided.  

That very night the Medes & the Persians would take control.

Okay, here’s our take-a-ways from today’s message.

1st, sin is not static.  That is, the path of sin always leads downhill.

In the case of Belshazzar, because he wouldn’t learn from the example of Nebuchadnezzar, who had been punished for his arrogance, (Daniel 4:30) … 

he was going to be punished for his blasphemy.

2nd, sin makes us immune to danger.  Belshazzar’s final “fling” is an example of this stupidity.  He partied with his enemy just outside his walls.

History tells us that the city was well fortified.  Conservative calculations have the walls around the city 22’ thick & 90’ high.  This was a fortress.

So, the Medes & Persian armies did a clever thing.  They diverted the Euphrates River, which ran through the city.  When the water got low enough, they simply marched in where the River entered & exited.  

Before the night was over, the city had fallen.  Belshazzar was dead.  

The soul of the city, like the soul of the acting King, 

was unable to detect that the enemy was upon them. (Judges 16:20)

And 3rd, God is not static.  There are times in history when sin abounds, & God doesn’t seem to intervene.  But we must never think that God is unaffected by sin or that He’ll ignore it forever. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

I think of words that Jesus Himself spoke …

“No one knows, however, when that day & hour will come – neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows.  The coming of the Son of Man will be like what happened in the time of Noah.  In the days before the flood people ate & drank.  Men & women married, up to the very day Noah went into the boat; yet they did not realize what was happening until the flood came & swept them all away.  

That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes. … So then, 

you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come 

at an hour when you are not expecting him.” (Matthew 24:36-39,44)

Okay, let’s personalize this story.  The day is coming … it may not be far off 

… when you & I & all persons are going to stand before the Judgment Seat of God. (Romans 14:10) And “the writing on the wall” for each of us is …

MENE, MENE,TEKEL, PARSIN

MENE … God has numbered our deeds to show 

that we have failed to achieve his standards. (Romans 3:12)

We read in The Revelation about a book in which the deeds of men 

& women are recorded. (The Revelation 20:12) his book will be opened on the Day of Judgment, & our sins will be placed on one side of God’s scales.

That’s what TEKEL signifies.  All the lies, all the self-seeking, all the hypocrisies, all the harm done to others … all this will be placed on the scale.  

We will be weighed … & the one side will go crashing down.

Then God is going to speak the word PARSIN.  God’s judgment is going to be the final dividing of the ways.  One way leads to life, (Matthew 7:13-14) 

the other way leads to the outer darkness of Hell, 

“where they will cry & gnash their teeth.” (Matthew 25:30)

What will we say on that day?  How will we respond when God measures our deeds, weighs our character, & declares us wanting?  You know, 

actually at this point, there’s nothing we can do & nothing we can say.

But God has done something at the point of our inability. (Romans 5:8)

God has taken those scales & brushed our evil deeds aside.  And we look again & find that the scales have swung back, & we are justified on the basis of Christ’s righteousness, (Romans 5:1), & are welcomed into Heaven.

Belshazzar gave a party.  1,000 noblemen had been invited.

It was an honor & privilege simply to be on the guest list.  

But no matter how “wonderful” that party may have appeared to be … 

it doesn’t even begin to compare with the “party” that Jesus is going to give.

Heaven is not about harps & wings & golden streets.  

Heaven is about celebration & praise & relationships with God!  

And what a glorious place it will be.

This “party” is known as “The Wedding Feast Of The Lamb.” (The Revelation 19:9) And what a party it is going to be!  

The guest list includes David, Moses, Noah, Elijah, Abraham, Daniel, the Apostles Peter, James & John, the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, the prodigal son, Mary Magdalene, Paul, Martha & Mary & Lazarus …

& guess what?  We have been invited too.

Jesus is waiting … with great anticipation.  All that is needed is to read 

“the handwriting on the wall” & come to faith in the One who wrote it.  

MARANA THA