Divine Deliverance

Daniel 6:22; Job 5:19; II Timothy 4:18

What a traumatic situation. Being faithful to God has put Daniel into a very dangerous situation. A question could be asked here, what can I do to avoid such a predicament. Looking at the alternatives, I see problems. If I simply ignore God that does not make God go away. If I were to aline myself with paganism, I have a blind belief in a lie and will suffer the results of my decision. If I stand with God against all odds, I have protection and deliverance by God. God gives his angels watch, care, protection and deliverance from circumstances if it is God’s will. A very striking statement is; “ . . . innocency was found in me. Who of us can say this truthfully? Then comes the reassurance to the king “ . . . also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” This was said to a pagan king. The angel shut the lions’ mouths.

Job tells us of many deliverance’s and that no evil will touch us. Paul said to Timothy; “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. II Tim. 4:18 KJB

How can anyone deny the deliverance of God through His Son who died to set us free. He died because of His love for the Father and the lost. That is true deliverance.

Hello Belshazzar

HELLO BELSHAZZAR
Parson to Person

William Andrew Dillard

Belshazzar was blessed to be king of the first great beast of empire. In prophecy, his kingdom (Babylon) was likened unto a lion in beast symbolism, and the golden head of the statue of empires seen in a kingly dream and interpreted by the prophet Daniel.
His story is a repetitive one both before and after him. It is the story of sinful, foolish pride being a downfall. A modern rendition of that is herewith given.
“Hello, Belshazzar! You are the son of the first great king, Nebuchadnezzar. Remember? He was the king from whom sanity was withdrawn so that he ran with the beast of the field, ate straw like an ox, and grew long nails as claws until he learned that El Elyon (the Most High God) rules in the governments of men and appoints whom He will over it. I say, remember? because you knew this.
Hello, Belshazzar! You are king, but you have not humbled your heart before God. Instead, you have elected to be exalted and praised by a thousand of your lords, and you have called for the sanctified vessels of the Temple of God in Jerusalem to pollute them as wine glasses in your sinful party.
Hello, Belshazzar! It is you to whom the writing hand has written on the wall in your presence. So, “keep your gifts O, King, and let your rewards go to another,” said God’s man, Daniel. “I will read the writing unto the king and make known to him the interpretation.
This is the writing: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of it. Mene; God has numbered your kingdom, and it is over. Tekel; You are weighed in the balances and have come up short. Peres; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
History reveals that Babylon was thought to be impenetrable. Its walls were some 80 high and wide enough at the top for chariots to pass. It was the ultimate in human security. . . or, was it?
For sometime, unknown to dwellers in Babylon, the Meads and Persians had worked upstream to dam the Euphrates river which ran through Babylon. In the night of Belshazzar’s final ball of self glory, the water had diminished below the bars that extended from the city wall into the river. The Meads and Persians used that entryway in mass, and took over the city state with ease. In that same night Belshazzar was slain and Darius took over the kingdom being about 62 year old.
It is said that those who forget history are doomed to relive it. Common observation of society shows no change for the better over time. Repetitious, prideful and disastrous falling from a myriad of modern Babylons and Belshazzars abound.
So, let the Daniels and their wisdom also abound. Jesus the only triumphant Savior is the singular stone of help. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Friend, what is your preference: Salvation or judgment? Hello . . . .!

Daniel’s Life and Example

By: Tony Hansen

This morning I began reading in the book of Daniel 1: 3-21
He was taken away from his home to live the rest of his life in a pagan, ungodly society. Among people who lived so different. Daniel did not protest, throw a fit, insist that they change for him. They were not going to change for him, yet he did not change for them either. He maintained his testimony, live a Godly life, influenced some people for good and served God and kings. God took care of him and blessed him in the midst of it all.
As I thought about we as children of God, we live in a sinful and ungodly society. Most are so because they are unsaved, some are saved but living according to the flesh and not the spirit.
Our society, world as a whole is not going to change for us. It is going to continue to be as it is and has been. No, I’m not being pessimistic but real. Yes, I do believe one should vote, speak up, stand for what is right and so on but not protest etc. and insist that the world change for us.
Instead, let us live Godly in the midst of it all. Be kind, caring, loving and compassionate Some will take notice, ask questions, doors will open to speak of our faith. Lives, people, famlies, will be changed, souls saved, The Lord will do the changing. And… let us be reminded …that He has us… in the midst of it all.
Have a great weekend! Happy Mother’s Day to all.

THIS IS THE ARTICLE FROM BROTHER TONY HANSEN.

The Judgment of God

 

 

Daniel 7:9-10

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire,” Daniel7:10.

 

I cannot imagine what this vision of Daniel’s looked like. It was probably a wonderful and awe inspiring sight. Daniel was looking at the divine throne of God from which judgment will come. This event is also recorded in Revelation 20:11-15.

What a sight! As “the Ancient of days” takes His throne, we are told of His glory. Daniel speaks of the bright, white of his garments. This is a symbol of His purity and holiness. His hair was also white. This stands as a symbol of the great wisdom He possesses.

His throne includes flaming wheels and a river of fire that flowed out from before him. This shows His power and might. He is not there alone. We are also told of a great multitude numbering ten thousand times ten thousands that were present. This is an awesome sight! Yet, the most fearful part of this whole event may be the opening of His book of judgment. James 2:13 speaks of His judgment being without mercy. Judgment is coming. Daniel wants us to see the just side of God so that we will have a healthy respect, a fear of God that drives us to live our lives according to His will.

 

 

JUST A THOUGHT

Are you grateful for the gift of grace and mercy that has been extended to us? Are you prepared for His judgment?

Nathan Rogers

Parson to Person

 

By: William Andrew Dillard

Ancient Daniel was given much information relating to end-time events. Some of it was not to be published. In Daniel 12:4 it is written, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

There is no theological argument across the spectrum of “Christianity” but that the present time is the ending of the age, and a new age under the direct rulership of Christ Jesus is about to dawn. So, please give consideration to the prophecy that has become history.
Many shall run to and fro. This in the simplest of terms denotes men transporting themselves from one place to another often. For over 1900 years of the present age, men could not imagine the literal fulfillment of this prophecy as it has come to pass. With the advent of modern, luxury ocean liners; jet aircraft, high speed trains, etc. men are moved in mass internationally in the employment of increased knowledge as it affects lives globally from industrial, financial, political, medical, and technological aspects of day to day living. Truly, the running of men to and fro has practically shrunk the globe to little more than a giant country.
But, are men smarter? A good deal of term discrimination must be employed here. The Bible does not say that men will become smarter, but that knowledge shall increase. The vaunted progress of knowledge is being employed as an ecumenical movement to shrink the world. It is making a platform from which a world dictator whom the Bible describes as antichrist will bring mankind to its ultimate chaos and destruction in Armageddon. That is not so smart. But it is in full keeping with the prince and ruler of this world who is known as Abaddon, the destroyer.

True “smarts” are the knowledge and fear of the Lord from Whom all good things originate. By Divine inspiration, sages of old have recorded for all to know, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Psalm 111:10; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Proverbs 1:7; “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days….” Proverbs 10:27; “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life….” Prov. 14:27.

Yes, many do run to and fro, and certainly knowledge has greatly increased, but men are far from smarter in increasing numbers. A pertinent question for men to seriously consider is: “Are you following the world’s broad path of increased knowledge or are you walking the narrow path of life in evidence that you are smarter?

88 – March – 29 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

Abraham Marshall
Three generations of pastors
1832 – Jabez Marshall died and ended three generations of the Marshall’s family as the pastors of the Kiokee Baptist Church in Georgia.  His father Abraham and his grandfather Daniel had followed before him.  Jabez died of the complication of measles at the age of thirty-nine along with that of an overworked body.  This ended sixty years of the ministry of this one family.  Jabez was also the pastor of the Sharon Baptist Church and had founded the Salem Baptist Church.  Jabez had performed the marriage of Issachar J. Roberts in 1830 and his bride who pioneered a missions to lepers in China and finally died there of leprosy himself in 1866.  Jabez was a zealous advocate of all mission’s activities at that time.  At his own request he was buried at the church rather than in the family cemetery.  The Marshall family were Separate Baptists who ministered from 1772 to 1832.  Jabez was the oldest son of Abraham and Ann Marshall, but his early life didn’t hold much hope of spiritual fulfillment.  His father sent him off to college but he had little interest in an academic life.  When he returned home he was soon under great conviction of sin and was saved and baptized.  It wasn’t long until he was preaching and exhorting, and after proving the sincerity of his faith was ordained into the gospel ministry.  Abraham passed away in the summer of 1819 and Jabez served as the interim pastor of the church and then was called as full time pastor in Nov. 1821.  It wasn’t long that he proved himself to be the same caliber Shepherd that his father and grandfather had been for the flock.   He was persuasive in his preaching, and is messages never lacked doctrinal undergirding.  What a great reunion day that must have been when all three Marshall’s met again when home at last.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon, from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson /, pp. 127.
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Seek To Please God

 

Galatians 1:8-12

 

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ,” Galatians 1:10.

 

  

 

During the reign of Darius in ancient Persia, a godly man named Daniel was blessed by God and, because of his “excellent spirit” (Dan. 6:3), the king planned to promote him as governor over the entire kingdom. Because of their jealousy, the other satraps and high officials devised a plan to demote Daniel from his place of superiority: they tricked Darius into signing a decree that prohibited petitioning any other god or man in prayer except the king for thirty days. What do you think Daniel did? He continued to pray three times daily to Jehovah just as he had always done. Why did not Daniel concede to the law of the land? He was not interested in pleasing men, not even the most powerful ruler in the known world. He was interested in pleasing God. As a result, God preserved him while spending the night with hungry lions, and the men responsible for trying to deceive the king did not make it to the bottom of the pit before the lions consumed them.

 

Here is the question you need to answer today. Are you concerned about earning the approval of mere men or the approval of the God of the universe? Probably, on the surface, we would each immediately say that we want to make God happy. However, when it comes to our daily routines, activities, thoughts, finances, words and habits, we might be sending a different message. Much of what we spend, do, think and say is motivated by and tailored for the approval of other people, not God. In today’s text, Paul leaves no room for a Christian to seek anyone else’s approval except God’s.

 

 

JUST A THOUGHT

 

Will you live for God’s approval today?

 

 

Mark Clements

 

 

ARE YOU UPSET WITH ME?

“Daniel 5:27 – “TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances,
and art found wanting.

How often we find a friend or loved one is upset with us and we become concerned; what have I done to offend, what have I done to upset, what have I said, what did I neglect to do. We thrive upon being loved, and liked in this world. For what ever reason we desire that most people we meet like us. We look for approval and affirmation for who we are and what we do.

Upon finding that we have offended or made someone angry, we investigate. We want to make things right and re-establish that relationship that has been damaged. We go to great lengths to repair this damage. We will take a great deal of time to make things right.

What about our relationship with God. Are we diligent in making sure that our Godly relationship is as close as it should be? Our scripture relates two different relationships. Daniel who was in constant communication with God and Belshazzar who did not know God. A mysterious hand wrote on the wall – thou are weighed in the balances and found wanting. Now this revelation of a hand caused consternation with Belshazzar. I find it interesting where that consternation drove him to. That was Daniel, the man of God.

I find it most interesting that a person of God can live their life in such a way that people notice they are Godly people. These Godly people are ridiculed, laughed at and made fun of behind their back. These same people that disregard Godly people, disregard God in the same way. Let flash further back in the Old Testament to a man named Noah. I have a picture in my minds eye about what took place between Noah and the people of his day.[Noah, what ya doin there big boy. Oh! building an Ark huh? What is an Ark? Oh! a big boat that floats in water. How you goin ta get it to the water? Oh! the water will come to you!!! How? RAIN? what’s rain?] 80 years later. [ Noah, where is that rain????? HA, HA, HA, you my friend are a funny guy, you said that 80 years ago and it hasn’t happened yet. It ain’t never goin to happen. God? what God. Let us “eat, drink, and be merry.” Does that sound familiar? Just like today.

What is sad is, there will be those that call them selves Christians whose relationship with the Lord is severely lacking. Then when the hand of God comes against them, they run to those that have that stable, close relationship with God. They want intercession. Here is an admonition, you are more Godly than I am, intercede for me with God.

There are those like Belshazzar and those that have no relationship with God, even deny there is a God are unprepared for dramatic events. Noah, because of his  relationship with God was prepared for the flood. Daniel knew exactly where to turn to find the answer to the hand. Do you not find it amazing that a wicked, hard drinking king that would not even acknowledge the God of the Jews would turn to the one man in his kingdom that could give him answers. There will be those today, much in the same condition that will do the same thing when push comes to shove. When family tragedy strikes, they run to the one living the Godly life.

I guess the question I have is – Dear God – are you upset with me.

Whether you are saved or not maybe you need to ask that question – have I been weighed in the balances and found wanting?

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