Homesick: Put a fork in it...
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Looking through the book of Daniel
we have saw that God is a good God
merciful
gracious
blesses us beyond what we deserve
patient with us!
Who has experienced the patience of God?
1st Peter says God told Noah that he was going to destroy the world with a flood, but He didn’t destroy it the next day
drop ark down from sky and tell him to jump in but told him to build one
100 years of building
that is some patience
but God’s patience ran out
it began to rain
unbelievers were swept into judgement
I fear that today we live in a world where people presume on the patience of God
living in sin & doing some things wrong
but God understands
gracious
loving
forgiving
patient
I FEAR THIS BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS THING
because God’s patience doesn’t last forever
In we see a new king because remember King Neb was too proud and God humbled him
New king Belshazzar
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.
Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
Then look down in v. 30
That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.
In Daniel chapter 5 you have God’s account of the fall of Babylon, that great power.
They were in power and a great force from 625 BC until 539 BC.
They were destroyed and taken over by the Persian Empire led by Darius the Mede.
Or as he was also known, Cyrus the Great,
he took over in 539.
And so the kingdom lasted for 86 years.
And in this story in Daniel chapter 5, you have such a vivid picture of when God‟s patience runs out
and how you can try the patience of God and find out that the patience of God is not limitless.
And it happened to an individual, and it happened to a nation, the Babylonian Empire.
SO I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING BUT YOUR AFRAID TO ASK...
When does God’s patience run out?
3 things that will lead us to the end of God’s patience
1. When does God’s patience run out? When you continue to reject the light!
1. When does God’s patience run out? When you continue to reject the light!
Belshazzar was actually a co-ruler with his dad Nabonidus
Nabodinidus was the son of Neb
remember Neb
powerful man
great king
but prideful
God brought humility upon Neb in his final days and some would say that from Him recognizing God and God’s power in his final days that he was saved
but here we see Belshazzar ruling Babylon
having a great feast
which is kind of odd because just outside the walls of that city there is the enemy soldiers
surrounding the city
declaring war on them
But here is Belshazzar
not afraid because of the wall surrounding the city
some say wall was 56 miles long
350 feet high
86 feet wide
historians say that he had 20 years of food saved up
there was a river that ran through the city so that they had water
he has water
he has food
he has the wall
HE IS NOT AFRAID
He then gets the bright idea to take out some of the items that King Neb stole from Jerusalem in the Temple
and then he starts worshiping the gods of gold and silver
In that moment God said “THat’s it! I’ve had enough!
Then he saw the Lord’s hand as He wrote on the wall
5 words - talk on them later
It scared Belshazzar to death
His knees started knocking
shaking like a leaf
He calls in all of his guys (like g-pa used to do)
asks what does this mean?
Don’t know
can’t figure it out
So Belshazzar’s mom comes in
tells him not to be afraid
She knows the guy who his g-pa used to rely upon
he has an extraordinary spirit
spirit of the holy God in him
he can decipher things
so they call Daniel in
can you do this? figure it out?
IF SO, I’ll make things really sweet
give you things
purple robe
gold necklace
3rd in charge of Babylon
That would be kind of like being captain of the Titanic after it hits the iceberg
Daniel says
keep your gifts - I don’t want them - give to someone else
but I’ll tell you what this says
You remember your grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar.
He was a great king.
But he became so proud.
He was stuffed full of himself.
And God said, „That‟s it, Nebuchadnezzar. I‟ve had enough. Sovereignty is removed from you.‟
And he said, “You remember, Nebuchadnezzar spent 7 years living like a wild animal. His nails grew out like the nails of a bird. His hair grew out like the feathers of an eagle for 7 years until he looked up; until he acknowledged God.
Then, God returned his sanity to him.” He said in verse 22, “Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.
But you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of His house before you.
And your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have been drinking wine from them.
And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, hear, or understand.
But the God in whose hand are your life breath and your ways, you have not glorified.
Then the hand was sent from Him and the inscription was written out.”
sanity to him.” He said in verse 22, “Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. But you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of His house before you. And your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, hear, or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life breath and your ways, you have not glorified. Then the hand was sent from Him and the inscription was written out.”
Listen. When does God‟s patience run out? When, you continue to reject the light. Belshazzar rejected the light that God gave him.
Not responding to God is a serious sin
Daniel told Belshazzar - you knew about your g-pa Neb. All of this was known to you but you DID NOT HUMBLE YOUR HEART
When we disobey what God has told us, it is serious
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
When you hear that still small voice that tells you the way that God would have for you to go and you don’t go that way...
like at the end of the service when you listen to the invitation
you know that you need to get right with God but you just hold onto your seat and wait for it to pass
THAT IS A SIN
Now, did you know that it is a dangerous thing to come to church? It‟s very dangerous.
You say, “Dangerous? Why is it dangerous?”
Because Jesus said, “To whom much has been given shall much also be required.”
And when you come to church, you hear truth.
And when the Lord speaks to your heart, and you don‟t respond, that‟s dangerous.
And the devil works hard in a service when God begins to reveal His light to you.
He works hard. And he‟ll say to you, “Yeah, that‟s right. That‟s right.
What Pastor Tyler is preaching on, that‟s right. But listen.
You make your decision tomorrow. Do it tomorrow.”
And the only problem is tomorrow never comes. Tomorrow turns into the next day, the next day, the next day.
And you never decide. And you never get right.
And you never do what God says.
When the Lord calls, He says, “Today is the day of salvation.” He says, “Come now and let us reason together.”
Not tomorrow. Not responding to a revelation is serious. And God‟s judgment is based on light rejected.
Sometimes we think God‟s judgment is based on sin committed.
It‟s more based on light rejected. How much did you know of the will of God? How much did you know to do and didn‟t do it?
Look what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 11. He said, “And you, Capernaum...” Capernaum was His headquarters, His ministry headquarters when He had His 3 year ministry on earth. He said,
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11
More tolerable for Sodom, that wicked city that was filled with rampant sexual perversion.
did unthinkable things
And God said it‟s more tolerable for that land of Sodom than for Capernaum.
Why? Was Capernaum a sexually perverted city?
No! Capernaum had a lot of light.
They had the very Son of God in their midst, and they didn‟t respond, most of them. And, see, it‟s light rejected.
Jesus said this: “The one who knew his master‟s will and did not do it will receive many lashes. But the one who did not know his master‟s will and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, he shall receive but a few.” And then He said, “To whom much has been given shall much also be required.” Light rejected.
ARE YOU RESPONDING TO THE LIGHT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU?
OR ARE YOU RESISTING
The Scripture says, “See to it that you do not resist him who is speaking, for if they resisted on earth, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”
Oh, when you continue to reject the light, God‟s patience runs out.
2.When does God’s patience run out? It runs out when we continue to depend upon ourselves
2.When does God’s patience run out? It runs out when we continue to depend upon ourselves
He was so arrogant that while the enemy is outside planing to over take his kingdom
he has a drinking party
THEY CAN’T GET ME!
I’ve got a wall, food, & water
we do the same thing today
we don’t trust in a wall
but our wallets
resources
our ability
Don’t do that
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
like 350 tall and 86 wide imagination
A rich man thinks
my riches will save me
resources
abilities
my smarts
look what was written
“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.
“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.
Mene – God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
Tekel – You have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
Perez – Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians
Four words – Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin. That‟s all that it was the handwriting on the wall.
Now, if you saw a hand writing on the wall, it‟d scare you. You just see a man‟s hand. That scared Belshazzar to death. Didn‟t know what it was. Now he told him what it was
Mene, Mene - that means numbered
said it twice
your days are numbered and you can’t change it
Tekel: you are trusting in your own righteousness and power and you fall short
your thinking that maybe your better than your nieghbor but that won’t cut it
America is walking around thinking that we are too good to be damned
we forget how holy God is and how sinful we are
DON’T TRUST IN WHAT YOU HAVE
3. When does God’s patience run out? When you continue to dishonor God!
3. When does God’s patience run out? When you continue to dishonor God!
but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
God holds your very life in His hand and your ways in His hand, and you haven‟t glorified Him. When you continue to dishonor God, God says, “That‟s enough!”
See, you dishonor God with active rebellion. Some people are doing that right now. Some people, you might be in this room, and you have active rebellion in your heart toward God.
Belshazzar really called God out. He said, “What are You going to do about it, God?” He shook his puny little fist in the face of Almighty God. He said, “All right, I‟m drinking from Your goblets. What are You going to do about it?”
Bible says : it’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of a living God
consuming fire
we think of Jesus as the meek and lowly lamb who came to save the sins of the world
AND HE IS
He is also coming back riding on a white horse
declaring war
wiping out His enemies
He is a consuming fire
To stand against Him makes less sense than standing face to face with a tornado and saying that you can defeat it!
sometimes we are not in active rebelllion but in passive neglect
says All like sheep have gone astry, each one has turned his own way
sin doesn’t always mean that you are shaking your fist at God
but you can simply be neglecting God
blowing Him off
Closing thought
why did God make a fish? So it could swim through the sea.
Why did God made a bird? Well, He made a bird to fly through the air.
Now, if you take a fish and you put him up in a tree. ”Live your life, fish, up in that tree.” Well, needless to say, he‟s an unhappy fish. That‟s not what he was created to do.
You take a bird and you cram him down in the depths of the sea. “Swim around, bird.” Well, that‟s not what he was created to do. He‟s an unhappy bird.
You were made, and I was made to glorify God. And if you‟re not glorifying God, you‟re dishonoring God and you‟re a misfit. You‟re not doing what God intended you and created you to do, and so many are guilty of passive neglect.
Poem:
You call Me light and see Me not. You call Me way and walk Me not. You call Me wise and follow Me not. You call Me fair and love Me not. You call Me rich and ask Me not. You call Me eternal and seek Me not. You call Me gracious and trust Me not. You call Me God and you fear Me not. If I condemn you, blame Me not.
You call Me light and see Me not. You call Me way and walk Me not. You call Me wise and follow Me not. You call Me fair and love Me not. You call Me rich and ask Me not. You call Me eternal and seek Me not. You call Me gracious and trust Me not. You call Me God and you fear Me not. If I condemn you, blame Me not.
love Me not. You call Me rich and ask Me not. You call Me eternal and seek Me not. You call Me gracious and trust Me not. You call Me God and you fear Me not. If I condemn you, blame Me not.
I believe that there are some people in this room and you are trying the patience of God. And the sand in God‟s hourglass of patience is starting to run out on you. And this may be the last opportunity that you have to get your life right with God. You may be like Belshazzar, and you are running head on into a God that you refuse to acknowledge. And the Lord is calling out to you. He wants to bless you.
It’s time for you to do business with God