A Stand And A Spirit

A Spirit And A Stand Daniel 5:1-17

Opening Remarks: Have so enjoyed our time here.

Hospitality Some churches just feel like home to us and VABC is at the top of the list. Bro. Steve took us to the power plant for a tour today. Then took us to the Six Mile Cafe for lunch. I had the tenderloin sandwich and I may not eat again until May. It was delicious. We’ve been spoiled this week. Thank you to all those that have prepared meals. I’ve enjoyed watching you fellowship with each other. I’m also thankful to everyone who has given gifts to our family. You’ve made us feel loved like we’re part of the family. To everyone who made blackberry cobbler, you have a special crown in Heaven waiting for you.

Staff I’ll say one more time, you are blessed to have Pastor Berry and Bro. Mike and Bro. Tim here. The spirit of this staff is amazing. The way they work together and are on the same team. Their desire to serve is inspiring. The teaching and preaching you’re getting is second to none. And let me commend the staff wives too. Mrs. Chelsea and Mrs. Lauren and Mrs. Rita, y’all are awesome. The meals and fellowship has been so good. It’s been special. And to little Nora. I’ve been inspired to become a professional eater after watching her passion for food this week. She’s the youngest foodie I’ve ever met.

But most of all, I’ve appreciated your appetite for God’s Word. And He’s not done yet.

Please turn to Daniel 5. One of the craziest accounts in all the Scripture. It’s a text most of us are probably familiar with, but there’s something about Daniel in this account that I want to learn from tonight. You’ve been focusing on “Working The Field” this year, and there’s a principle here that I believe is essential to the core of that theme.

READ Daniel 5:1-17

Our title tonight is this: A Stand And A Spirit. Daniel had both, and it allowed him to have influence he may not have had otherwise. PRAY

I. Our Account Tonight Begins With A Defiant King

A. The Medes and the Persians have the city surrounded.

1. And Belshazzar decides to throw a party for thousands.

2. You talk about a man full of pride. He’s so confident in the strength of Babylon’s defenses that he parties with the enemy at the gate.

3. Babylon was certainly a strong city with multiple sets of seemingly impenetrable walls protecting it.

4. The Euphrates river flowed right through the middle of the city, so they had resources.

5. But their trust was in the things of men, which always gives a false sense of confidence.

B. Vs. 4 – Instead of seeking the Lord, Belshazzar is defiant.

1. They bring in the holy Temple vessels from Jerusalem and start drinking out of them.

2. Then they propose a toast to the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone.

3. This was an act of defiance. They were mocking Jehovah. They were saying, “Their God wasn’t strong enough to keep us from taking these vessels. So let’s salute other gods with them.”

4. Vs. 23 says that Belshazzar lifted himself above God. He was shaking his finger in God’s face.

5. And others joined the ridicule. This Babylon Bash became a Jehovah Bash. And God noticed.

6. Vs. 5 – The room that had been filled with laughter and revelry suddenly went completely silent as a giant finger began writing on the wall!

7. It wrote on part of the wall that was illuminated by a candle. It was in clear view of everyone.

C. The king is scared to death! (v. 6)

1. His countenance changes – The color leaves his face. He immediately goes from red-faced with alcohol to white as a ghost.

2. The joints of his loins are loosed – Have you ever seen someone so scared or startled that their legs give out?

3. Illustration: Fainting Goats

4. That’s what happens to Belshazzar. His hips and legs give way. He loses control of himself.

5. His knees smite one against another. I know it sounds funny, but his knees were knocking against each other uncontrollably.

6. Vs. 7 – He’s so shaken by the experience that he cries out for his servants to bring in the wise men so they can decipher the message that the giant finger wrote on the wall.

7. He’s so serious about finding out what it means that he promises to make whoever is able to interpret the message third in command.

D. So he calls all of his pagan wise men to give it their best shot (vs. 8-9)

1. Of course, the wise men can’t give the answer.

2. When I read the book of Daniel, I find it hilarious how inept the Babylonian “wise men” are. They can’t get anything right. They can’t interpret dreams. They can’t tell the king what anything means.

3. Is there any group of people in Scripture worse at their jobs than the Babylonian wise men? They couldn’t help Nebuchadnezzar. Now they can’t help Belshazzar.

4. We say only weathermen have such job security that they can be wrong half the time and still be employed. Or baseball players - In what other job can you fail 70% of the time and still get into the Hall of Fame?

5. The ineptitude of the wise men would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.

E. After the wise men fail, the Queen makes a recommendation. (Vs. 10-12)

1. When the queen hears that none of the Babylonians can help, she tells Belshazzar about this old Jewish man named Daniel.

2. We don’t know exactly who this queen was. It may have been Belshazzar’s mother or grandmother. She had likely been around to witness Daniel’s dream-interpreting skills years before this. She clearly knows who Daniel is.

3. And perhaps Daniel is retired at this point, because it appears Belshazzar isn’t aware of him based on how the Queen describes him.

4. But what I want to focus on is how incredible it is that, even after years of time and being out of the limelight, Daniel still has a testimony being talked about. You talk about a lasting legacy. When you have a certain spirit about you, people remember.

I’d like to consider two traits Daniel had that allowed him to have influence .

II. #1 – Daniel Had A Consistent Spirit

A. This account takes place at least 20 years after Nebuchadnezzar had died.

1. It has been at least 30, maybe 40 years since the last time Daniel is recorded as interpreting a dream. But he’s still being talked about.

2. Daniel had a special combination – Ability and humility.

3. Most of the time, if someone has special ability in something, they’re full of pride. Humility is typically reserved for those without great ability.

4. Think about pro athletes or famous musicians. Most of them are very proud of whatever skill made them famous.

B. But Daniel wasn’t like that. He was incredibly skilled but equally humble.

1. He was found ten times better than his peers.

2. He was intelligent in all areas and knowledgeable in every subject.

3. He could interpret dreams. He’d already proven it multiple times.

4. He had tremendous discernment and insight.

5. He literally influenced kings with his counsel.

6. He was given great positions of authority.

7. Vs. 11 says Nebuchadnezzar made him master of all the astrologers, magicians and wise men.

C. Notice how the Queen talks about Daniel. (11-12)

1. He clearly had great ability. The Queen talks about his insight (light), understanding and wisdom, his ability to interpret dreams, his leadership among the wise men, and his willingness to say hard thing (shew hard sentences), and dissolve doubts (he helped alleviate fear).

2. But notice that the Queen begins both verses 11 and 12 with the same trait – Daniel’s spirit.

3. Here’s a man who lived among pagans for decades, and yet God’s Spirit was reflected in his life.

4. And it appears that of all the things that stood out about Daniel, his spirit was at the top.

5. In fact Daniel 6:3 states,

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

6. Of all the things that stood out about Daniel, his spirit set him apart the most.

7. He had allowed God to work in his life to the point that others noticed.

D. Christian, the most important thing about you as a child of God is not how much you know about the Bible, or how eloquent your speech is, but how much your spirit reflects Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus said in John 13 that our defining characteristic is love. He said John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Love is a product of the Holy Spirit working in us. It’s the first fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

When you allow God to work in you, those are the fruits that come out in your spirit.

2. The most unique thing about you is your spirit. That’s what sets you apart the most.

3. As you go about working the field, understand that people won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. If we don’t have a humble spirit that reflects Jesus Christ, our positions won’t be paid attention to.

4. That’s true as an individual. Your spirit in your job is your greatest asset. Your spirit as a church is your greatest testimony. Being biblical is important, but so is being like Jesus Christ.

E. How consistent is your spirit?

1. Don’t you appreciate people who are consistent? Some people, you never know what mood you’re going to catch them in.

2. The extremes give you whiplash. The ups are in the clouds and the downs are in Death Valley. It’s like watching a tennis match.

4.The most important thing you can strive for is consistency of spirit. Day in, day out.

5. Refuse to allow your emotions to dictate how you behave. Choose to operate based on truth. Emotions are inconsistent, but truth is not.

6. How consistent is your spirit at work? Do your fellow employees knows what kind of response they’ll get if they come talk to you?

7. How consistent is your spirit at home? Husbands and wives, does your spouse have to walk on eggshells around you? Do your kids wonder which mom or dad they’re going to get today?

8. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that a genuine walk with Christ produces consistency. Truth produces a consistent spirit.

9. For Daniel, it was decades of consistency. Which means it’s possible for us.

10. People ought to expect a consistent spirit of humility, love, and joy from God’s people. Your life ought to be overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit.

But that’s not the only thing that was consistent about Daniel.

III. #2 – Daniel Also Had A Consistent Stand

A. Notice that they had to call Daniel to come to the palace that night.

1. There was a massive party going on that night. Daniel had been important in the realm. Which means he probably could have been at the party. But the fact that he was called to the party means he wasn’t at the party.

2. Even with all his influence and positions, He wasn’t part of the cool crowd.

3. You talk about consistency. He stood alone instead of eating meat and drinking wine. He stood alone in prayer and ended up in a Lion’s Den. And he’s an old man at this point, but he’s still standing strong, whether or not anyone stands with him.

B. You don’t have to be at the party for people to seek your counsel when they’re confused.

1. Sometimes Christians think they have to relate and connect and get right in with the world in order to influence, but if you have a consistent spirit and stand, when the world needs truth, they’ll seek you out.

2. Daniel was called because of his consistent testimony, not because he knew how to party.

3. He wasn’t numbered with Belshazzar’s friends, but he was numbered among those that had truth.

C. If you’re trying your hardest to fit in with the crowd, don’t be surprised if you’re not the one being sought in a time of need.

1. The world needs truth. Where else are they going to find it these days?

2. The news? Social media? The government?

3. People need a source of truth. Someone that they know has some answers. When they have a need, they’re going to turn to Christians in churches like this one. People with consistent spirits and consistent stands.

4. Because Daniel was consistent from start to finish, he had influence when they didn’t know who else to turn to.

IV. CIT: Christians with the greatest influence will find the perfect balance between position and disposition.

A. Both Stand and Spirit matter.

1. You need both. You need to do right. Stand for right. Be resolved. Stand strong.

2. But you also need to have the spirit of Jesus Christ that others are drawn to.

3. It’s possible to do both. It’s possible to be right and do it right. And when you find the perfect balance, that’s when you have influence.

4. Illustration: Two guys standing up back to back. One can’t do it without the other. This represents the balance between a stand and a spirit. Between position and disposition.

B. The lost need to see in us a spirit they can’t explain. But they also need to hear from us truth they can’t explain away.

1. That’s what happened with Daniel. The Queen talks about Daniel in a way she can’t explain. “He has this spirit about him. It’s different than the other guys. I can’t explain it, but it’s real.”

2. A spirit like that can only be from God. It has a divine source that isn’t easily explained.

4. That’s what Falls City needs. A church full of people that have a spirit that can’t be explained and truth that can’t be explained away. The perfect balance between position and disposition.

5. That’s what Falls City needs. A church full of people that have a spirit that can’t be explained and truth that can’t be explained away. The perfect balance between position and disposition.

6. As you seek to make a difference in your Jerusalem, strike the balance between Stand and Spirit. Then watch God give you influence you never thought you’d have.

C. Pastor Ben Moore and Pastor Chad Berry

1. You’ve been blessed with these men.

2. But here’s what I’ve noticed - they strike a balance between position and disposition.

3. They both give you a spirit that draws you in. And they both stand on truth without compromise.

4. Church, if you will capture their balance, who knows what God might do in this little town of yours. Follow Christ through God’s man and watch Him do something incredible.

Conclusion:

The world needs truth. People define their own truth. Biblical truth has been discarded. Where is truth going to come from? This world needs people with an excellent spirit that have the courage to speak the truth and stand strong. People that can say, like Daniel in vs. 17, “Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing and make known the interpretation.” Daniel didn’t do it for glory or recognition, he did it because someone had to tell the truth. He wasn’t worried about fitting in or being cool. He just wanted someone to represent truth to people that needed to hear it.

Those with the most influence won’t be the ones at the party. They’ll be the ones with a Consistent Spirit and a Consistent Stand.

Have you compromised in one of these areas? 1. Your spirit hasn’t been reflective of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes this has to do with personality. You’re a prophet. Black and white. Right and wrong. Truth.

But you aren’t patient with people. At work. At home.

You struggle reflecting Christ’s love toward others.

You speak harshly to those closest to you.

Let me remind you that your spirit reflects time spent in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. Maybe your stand has been compromised.

You’re doing something you once said you’d never do.

You’ve allowed some little things into your life that you know God isn’t pleased with.

Maybe you’ve compromised and it’s affected your testimony.

Maybe a man needs to ask forgiveness from him wife or kids for letting something slip.

Maybe a Christian needs to go to a co-worker and say, “That’s not me. I’m sorry I did that.”

Maybe a teenager needs to lose a friend or two and get back to truth.

We’re all on the scale somewhere: Some of us have a great spirit but struggle standing. Some of us struggle with a humble spirit but we’re ready proclaimers of the truth.

Listen, Falls City needs to see a church family with a perfect balance of Consistent Spirit and a Consistent Stand. As you work the field, find the balance between stand and spirit. Between position and a disposition. A spirit people can’t explain, and truth they can’t explain away.

The question tonight is “How much influence do you want to have?” If the answer is “As much as possible,” then let’s do business with God and make sure our Spirit and our Stand are what they ought to be so we don’t miss the window of opportunity that’s open before us.