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The
Handwriting On a Sluggard's Wall
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Part IV
Practical
Application, Not Prophetical Assumptions
from
the Book of Daniel
So many preachers / pastors have their two cents on Daniel and Revelation;
and I suppose some are closer to the truth than others and there are those
who are further from the truth than others, as well.
It does bring in the crowds though, no doubt! As Modern Christianity
takes over true Christianity, we see folks becoming more and more interested
in prophecy than being aware of obvious and practical truth.
It seems that most people are concerned about TOMORROW
than they are with TODAY!
They are more interested in learning more about the
anti-Christ
than they are the real Christ!
People are so bent on what's coming
that they are not content with the "now!" This may be the hour of
temptation, but it is still the engagement time of being His bride - a
great time of joyous expectation and preparation - well, it is suppose
to be, anyway! We will look back, as we all do, and wish the time
hadn't gone by so fast. The sluggard will be begging for more...
See Part
I - for an introduction to the Book of Daniel and a
sermon on chapter five, see Handwriting
on the Wall
See Part
II - Chapter 11 - An Appointed
Time
See Part
III - Chapter 12 - Go Thou Thy Way
These sermons are also available
online in audio format and are availalable to purchase on a DVD.
Chapter One
It's All New!
A pattern is seen here:
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from when a person gets saved, he has a new home!
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and when we 'leave' from here either from death or the rapture,
we will have a new home!
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and another application is when we go from the Christian life to the
world, either by choice or forced, it becomes a 'new home' for our
kids!
A New Home
1: In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim
king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged
it.
2: And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king
of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which
he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought
the vessels into the treasure house of his god. (see
chapter
5)
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For a Christian now - we are ambassadors now as
a heavenly citizen. II Corinthians
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new. I Corinthians 3:16 Know
ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you? I Corinthians 6:19
What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are
no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints,
and of the household of God; II
Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
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For a Christian "tomorrow" - New Jerusalem - Revelation
21
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For a Christian today, in the world - I
Corinthians 5:9-13; I Timothy 6:1,2; John 17:9-23 -
as his children of light!
A New Knowledge
3: And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the
master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the
children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
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more and more eunuchs in the government and world
today - worthless men who have given their strength to women!
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The world knows who they want from the Christians
- it is the KJB Only folks! It used to be for good, but not today.
The modern world has mixed in with the worldly ways. They are no
different, they just 'have Jesus now!" Makes things easier for them!
Abundant living, etc.
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King's seed - King of Kings - children of God,
sons of God, etc.
4: Children in whom was no blemish,
but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning
in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had
ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might
teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
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Good goals for a homeschooling family!
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For a Christian - the Book!
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New Jerusalem - we will have the Book in our hearts
then!
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Sounds like "Christian Homeschoolers" heading
out to the world...
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They liked the product but still wanted to teach
them the learning and tongue of the world!
A New Diet
5: And the king appointed them a daily
provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing
them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the
king.
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worldly nourishment
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see John to see what Jesus ate when He returned
to see the apostles Luke 24:42
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For a Christian - Luke
4:4; John 6:31-51
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the food of the world - a warning... Mark
8:15
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the abundance of her delicacies -
Revelation 18:3
A New Name
6: Now among these were of the children
of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs
gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and
to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and
to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
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A new name today - Christian -
Acts 11:26
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A new name tomorrow ... Revelation
2:17; 3:12
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They have new names for us today - Heresy - Acts
24:14, and others!!!
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Why do we remember them by the name given to them
by the world? Named after their gods -Daniel - Belteshazzar - feminine
protector of the city; Shadrach - Aku's command; Meshach
- a common Chaldean god; Abednego - servant of Nego.
Purposed In
His Heart
8: But Daniel purposed in his heart
that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor
with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the
eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9: Now God had brought Daniel into favour
and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
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make it a point... determined... stick to the
Book? the church? The preaching and teaching here? Your
walk? Your testimony? Among your family and friends and at
work, etc. GOD WILL BLESS IT IF IT IS ACCORDING TO PAUL!!!!
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God had brought - as God departs from this
country in the pre-early trib days... things could get tough - are you
sure you want to purpose in your heart? You might not be so well
received by the world nor will you get the cooperation that Christians
used to get in days gone by in America... This is NOT the age of
the open door! We can't open it and we CAN shut it, etc. Revelation
3:8+
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See Proverbs 23:71
- as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he...
As a Christian,
Our Stand Affects Others
10: And the prince of the eunuchs said
unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and
your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children
which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head
to
the king.
11: Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the
prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12: Prove thy servants, I beseech thee,
ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13: Then let our countenances be looked
upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion
of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14: So he consented to them in this matter,
and proved them ten days.
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pulse - similiar to bean pods, etc.
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What is our countenance as Christians today?
Psalm 42:11: Why art thou cast down, O
my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in
God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and
my God. Psalm 43:5: Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within
me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of
my countenance, and my God. Psalm
11:7: For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness;
his countenance doth behold the upright. Psalm
42:5: Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall
yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Is It Proven
Today?
15: And at the end of ten days their countenances
appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat
the portion of the king's meat.
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Is that how we are these days? Do they want the
life that we have, do they want the Book that we have, do they want God
like we have? Romans
10:19; 11:11,14
An Example
16: Thus Melzar took away the portion of
their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
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Not happening that much today, eh! hmmm
- is it THEIR fault or OURS? Homeschool? This church?
This book only? Standards, etc.? Are they really following
the Book? Following the real Jesus Christ? Another Spirit?
you? Do lead others to righteousness or just tell them about it?
God Gave - He
is Still in Control...
17: As for these four children,
God
gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and
Daniel
had understanding in all visions and dreams.
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There it is again - GOD GAVE... see vs
9; 2
A Testimony
18: Now at the end of the days that the
king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought
them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19: And the king communed with them; and
among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
therefore stood they before the king.
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When brought to the boss, make sure you have done
it all right and MORESO!
20: And in all matters of wisdom and understanding,
that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all
the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21: And Daniel continued even unto the
first year of king Cyrus.
As a former homeschooler parent now
pastor... I am concerned!
The devil isn't letting God's kids
be this way anymore. The secular homechoolers are taking over...
Well, let em - we have stuff that
we would rather God teach our children...
...Unless You Want
Them To:
...have a new home!
...learn a new language!
...eat a new diet!
...receive a new name!
all from the world!!!
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