The Finger of God

Oh come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker for he is our God where the people of his pasture and the chief of his head. Before I say it let it stand to see me or him phrase. Let me see that my knees are got to where I can't and if I can't you don't have to either so it's up to you. But let's say your him a phrase.

What's gracious God we give thanks to you that we can come together in your name, very privately and publicly that we can Proclaim that truly Christ is Lord. We pray that your loving Spirit would be up on each one of us that we might serve and glorify you and together here. Is this together? We pray in the fashion that Jesus taught his followers. Say Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil that is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Welcome you in there. So beautiful or today. I'm sad there more and more people locally. And otherwise that are suffering from the Carters. Yes covid-19.

If your love's funeral services for Ruby Magee for Ronnie's wife Harry's brother is going to be tomorrow at 10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. So keep you keep all of that family in your prayers.

One day the same thing. I told you. My knees are problems. I'm not going to meet you outside today. I'll just going to sit till everybody leaves and then hobble out so.

Maybe maybe avoid any any mishaps. I don't need your drugs. You don't need my germs. So we'll just leave it at that. Are they in the other down since we need to make? Thank you.

Open YouTube.

pictures like we have in the past so Orville that this year and also the Christmas party Like everything else being cashed. Due to the risk, so sorry.

Today's scripture reading which is printed on the back of your vomiting taken from the 5th chapter of the Book of Daniel. Spell chess arcade by great face for a thousand of his notebooks and drink wine with them. While he was drinking he gave order to bring in the gold and silver taken from the temple in Jerusalem so that he and his Nobles his wives and his concubines I drink from them. So they brought these gold cup stacking from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and they all drink from them. They drink totes from them to honor their Idols made of gold silver bronze iron wood and Stone. I doubt that very moment. They saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster walls of the king's Palace near the lamp stand. The king himself saw the hand is it wrote and it sprays turn pale with fear. Set stair grip to him that his knees knock together and his legs gave way beneath him. May the Lord that is richest blessing to this reading of his word together. Let us reaffirm our faith and he who truly is the Lord of all life. I believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the Living God shall we pray?

our heavenly father

we pray for this nation. black community in for our congregation It seems as though we've all been touched in one way or other by this disease that has come upon us. Not only our nation but throughout the world. We pray that you would continue to impart wisdom to the researchers to the medical personnel. And even the politicians to guide their thoughts and actions to overcome the Dark Cloud which seems to hang over us all. We also pray for peace and understanding for all Americans. So that regardless of the outcome of the presidential vote. There will be accepted and call behavior on all parts. Father we pray for the world with which you entrusted mankind. Looking back over history. We can see many instances in which we have not treated this gift very well. We have all failed to be good stewards of the land. Good brothers and sisters who are neighbors. So help us to be more willing and able to extend the hand of friendship to all and strive to be not on the neighbors but Brothers and Sisters in Christ these things we ask in the most holy and precious name of your son and our savior. I'm in

Each Lord's day. It is our custom. Follow the practice of the early church.

That they were re-enacting what they had. The disciples had participated in in the upper room on the last night of Jesus life. They had gone through the ritual of remembering the Passover. Angie then Jesus said from now on. I want you to do two things. Every time you eat the unleavened bread. I want it to remind you of my body. Which is going to be broken for your sake. And read you drink the cup of wine. I wanted to represent my blood which is going to be shed for the sins of mankind. I'm not sure what they thought at the time. But following the horrible crucifixion and the resurrection. It's Sunday began to make sense to them what he had told them. And so it became their custom that every time they gather together. Maybe two or three times a day. I don't know but they would re-enact they would take the unleavened bread and the cup and they said every time they did it seemed as though he was right there with them. So it is that each Lord's day when we gather together. We invite all who claimed him as Lord and Savior to remember him by breaking the bread taking the cup as you leave today. Thank you.

British God bless you beyond measure and provide for all our needs. Should our minds on Paths of righteousness that we will fulfill your plans for us. Continue to be our guy and we worship you the sharing of Holy Communion remembering your gifts of Grace your only son given for the remission of our sin. bless our nation eradicate all virus return it to a nation whose God is the Lord.

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in Jesus name we pray amen.

I was reminded of a story this week of. Lady was having a birthday. and Get three sons and the sons had done very well. They wanted to show their appreciation to their mom. So the oldest son. sad. I bought mom a new house. And I hired a housekeeper for her. So she wouldn't have to do any of the actual work and the second son said well, I bought her a new car and also hired a chauffeur to drive her around. Third son said well. I knew how she loved animals so I bought her a parrot that talks.

And a week or so later. They went to visit her mom. And person said well, how did you like the new house? And she said well it was wonderful. But I didn't need all that room and I didn't really need a housekeeper. So I just gave it to her and she could she's living in it. Second Son will said about that new car I gave you and she said well, you know, I didn't really have any place to go. So I just gave it to the chauffeur. And 1/3 Cent son said what about the bird I gave you. She said I want you to know as the best checking chicken I ever had.

I guess we all show our appreciation in different ways.

Have you ever considered how important your fingers are? How many bones are in your fingers in your hand but net worth? I didn't know either had to look it up there 27 bones. and you hand and

I read volts of a lady. that tough at your church organist who played beautifully But she didn't have any fingers. She didn't have any hands. She's in heaven yards.

She'd been born if a little mad, baby. And had only feet but she learned to write. Feed herself and to play the organ with her feet and she did stream too. Well.

Someone once said the hand is one of the most complex and beautiful pieces of natural Engineering in the human body.

You think about it? The whole human body is is quite a piece of of God engineering would say human engineering but God he put us together in such a way. a rigid wallago scripture that talked about the hand of God the Finger of God

Let me tell you the story behind that.

I have to go back to 586 BC. That's kind of where the story Begins by this time the nation of Israel had split apart. the northern kingdom had been destroyed by the Assyrians and the southern part had changed the name to Judah because the northern part kept the name Israel. So there in Judah?

and a new nation had risen to power nation of Babylon they had the Can overtaking the Assyrians so they were now in control of the northern part of what used to be Israel? And they were beginning to invade the southern part, which was now Judah.

well these Southerners had to kind of turn their back on God just like the northerner said and because of that he kind of allowed them to be overcome by these Babylonians. It took a. Of about 10 to 12 years that they were constantly fighting. But the day the real critical ending, I guess to it was when they pretty well Tour Part the city of Jerusalem, they destroyed the outer wall enabling them to move in and capture the city and destroy the temple that was located inside the walls. Doubt in the very beginning they began to capture the young promising young men. Didn't say nothing about women. So young women were considered much back then but they are they trying to capture that the outstanding young men and began to deport them back to babbling. I did not know how far it was from Jerusalem to Babylon.

So looked it up.

How many of you have ever walked? from Henryetta America to New York City

I don't know of anyone, but that's your proximately how far it was from Jerusalem to Babylon. And they course didn't have any kind of conveyance other than to walk. How long it took them? I don't know. But among that first group. to go with the young man by the name of Daniel

Doubt the leader of the Babylonians at this time was a man by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. He was a outstanding Warrior. Play black Cadillac by think Napoleon. Maybe had great influence on his followers and seem to have skills as a warrior. So he was Victorious through nearly all the battles. They ever fought. So they destroyed the the walls around Jerusalem. They destroyed the temple. And while they were at it, they stole all the valuable things ever in the temple. Now if you remember in the temple or all kinds of gold and silver valuable stuff. And they stole them and carried them back to babbling. Now some have speculated that it was during that time that the Ark of the Covenant which remember had been got it a box that they had carried with them on their track from Mount Sinai to wherever they ended up in the Promised Land. And then supposedly in the temple at Jerusalem. And no proof of it, but many have speculated. That's that's what happened to it. But they loaded and took everything they could back. in the meantime

Daniel had been probably 15 or 16 years old when he was taken to Babylon. and because of his intelligence I told you last week about I think it's last week or week before about Daniel Shadrach Meshach and Abednego and they they were utilized as as some of the leaders of that new nation Daniel for instance was became an advisor to the king. How many advisers he had? I don't know but Daniel was one of them. Of course he'll off and you got to advise. the king You know when you win your leader has a great ego. Sometimes they don't take advice to casually so sometimes they didn't get to advise him very much but one night. what not Nebuchadnezzar had a dream

Factory could cause a nightmare I guess but it's a dream that was somewhat confusing. and fearful and when he awoke he was tried to figure it out. I mean have you ever had a dream and you wake up and you remember what it was you dreamed about?

Most time I don't occasionally I might remember something about it.

But apparently neberkenezer remembered. Most of what he dreamed about and it was a great concern to him. So if you're in the middle of the night He called his Butler and told the butler go get my suit Sayers and my advisors all my advice trauma shears all the smart people do called. I have a problem. I need to their help.

and so when they came he told him about this dream he had

They were all present. They had no earthly idea. What is dreams about?

one of them Remember that Daniel? Had to been able to interpret another dream. That they couldn't so he mentioned the fact that there is a young man one of your advisers by the name of Daniel, maybe he can help so they sent to get white Daniel up and brought him in. Anda He told him what his dream was. And he said well, oh King. What did the mouse do in Texas language is that? God is filled up to here with you and your ego and he's going to wait for you down to size.

indicated laughed Yo-yo your God can't do anything to me. I'm Olga.

Now if you're recalled. babbling was famous in the ancient world because of basically one thing

there were seven. I gave seven wonders of the ancient world and one of them was the Hanging Gardens of the city of Babylon.

And Nebuchadnezzar was very proud of his Gardens. So one day he was walking through his Gardens and he got to thinking to himself. Is not this the greatest Kingdom.

That the world has ever had. And I have built it. I have built this Kingdom of my mighty power and the glory of my matches.

It almost say his ego ran away with him. It was at that very moment.

And he was struck down.

And he became insane. He became acting like a goat or sheep and it began to grazing on the grass.

Well, he was replaced his King by his son. Is 7 serve for about 9 years? And then one of his son-in-law's became king and he served for about 5 years. When he was murdered by a second son in law. Who in turn was murdered in less than a year by his son? So it would be in Nebuchadnezzar's grandson. And he only served about a year and he died. And then a great grandson by the name of belshazzar became the key. now

we don't know. How about Yasser was when he became king. But he was mighty proud of his accomplishment. If he had a had a new Corvette, I'm sure he has been racing up and down the streets and around the city of babbling roaring his types and digging out at all the Salt Flats he was eating up by eagle. How important he was he was the new key. sorry thought I don't have a party to celebrate me. So he invited a thousand of his closest Associates.

And they all came together for this great banquet. And I'm sure he gave a speech. We just don't know what it was. But they all had plenty of wine. And when he was about three sheets into the wind. He decided that he remembered those precious gold and silver objects that had been taken from the temple back in Jerusalem years and years ago. enneathought since I'm God ought to be able to use those to celebrate me. And so he sent some servants to go get these gold and goblets and they began to serve wine out of them.

And that's when he looked up and saw this Finger of God. Writing on the wall. I don't mention any of us have ever seen such a sight.

But the Finger of God wrote four letter words.

But it wasn't in language. They could understand.

And they were all confused course they were drunk.

And he told he said for his advisors. You'll get is wise me and then here and he said look look what's on the wall.

I doubt he told him how they got there. But he said what do those four words mean?

And none of them do he said he said I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you one of my Royal robes or give you a golden necklace. I'll even make you a king over part of my kingdom. If you're just tell me what those four words mean.

Weather India may just a better not I don't know the Bible doesn't tell us.

But it does tell us again that one of them thought. Ivo, Daniel and they said we know a young man who might be able to interpret it for you. So they said for Daniel Moore from up middle of the night again. And came and he said look at there somebody wrote graffiti on my wall. Tell me what it says.

Daniel looked at it a minute. He said says free things.

Said God has numbered your days.

He's brought your kingdom to an end.

and second you yourself have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.

And third your kingdom is about to be divided by the medes and the Persians.

now at the Dalton the hearing of the medes and the Persians reminded them that their city had been surrounded for some time. Buy Warriors known as the medes and the Persians there is no meat or Persian today at at that time was part of Northern Iran. But they had combined forces and they were surrounding the great city of Babylon to destroy it. however belshazzar and all of his advisors new and their minds that their world there a little city was Secure

their walls were built very impenetrable. In fact, they had some walls that were 300 fees hot.

300 feets pretty good-sized wall

And they knew they were safe. So they kind of laughed at that, too.

however that night belshazzar was killed in this bed.

By one of the major the persons had gotten into the city. How did they get into the city? They didn't have to Break Down the Walls? I didn't have to destroy the bronze Gates.

You say when they built the city of babbling they thought of everything.

They knew that some cities had been destroyed from without by shutting off the Food Supplies in the water.

So they built their city right on top of the Euphrates River. Euphrates River flowed through the city of Babylon so they would always have a wonderful water supply and they made sure they had plenty of food stop.

Well it so happened that that became their downfall because the soldiers of the enemies simply came in through the river.

And they took over the city of babbling without a battle ever being fought.

That may be the only Battle in History that ever. What's decided without a real battle? I don't know. But they overtook the land.

now if you were to call several years ago.

Russian leader that time and I don't remember who it was made the most. That we will destroy America without ever having to fight a war.

It can be done. Bible and was destroyed without a battle being fought

baby Maybe like today they simply allow us to destroy ourselves.

Our nation does have that threat. fish fry I'm not in gracious god father we pray for your help. Our nation needs your help in time of confusion.

We have no idea father what's going on? It seems as though. We've lost our security.

We can only depend on you. So we pray for our nation. We pray for your church. That in many circles are threatening to be closed. So father we pray that your will might be done in this world today. In Christ's name I meant. Set up. Going to see you at the back. I'll just say it's wonderful to see you today, and I hope you have a great week. Take care of yourself.

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be very gracious unto you may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace now and forever more.