|
The Writing on the Wall
by Tina Leonard The Writing on the Wall -Six Idol Gods Many times when we hear the story of Daniel, the person will focus on how he refused to stop praying to God and was thrown into the den of lions. Upon morning we see that God had protected Daniel and he was brought up without a scratch. Rarely do we ever hear anything else taught out of the book of Daniel. I was unsure why that was and God recently burdened on me to begin to study the book of Daniel. Upon doing so a whole new revelation opened up to me and I would like to share it with you so that you too may revere Daniel in a new way. Daniel was a man of vision, when I say this I don't mean that Daniel himself saw visions even though he often times did, however he was exalted because he humbled himself before God in the midst of Idol worshippers. Daniel interpreted the dreams that came to the Kings, so his ability to interpret their visions and dreams took him to new places with God. Because what he spoke was the prophetic truth from God he began to be promoted in the service of unbelievers. In Daniel chapter five we see where King Belshazzar (meaning = master of treasure), who was the son of Nebuchadnezzar (meaning = tears of groans and judgment) has an experience that leaves him trembling with fear. In 5:5 the Bible says that suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lamp stand (which represents revelation of the truth) in the royal palace (which would be the House of God today). This incident took place after the King had taken the Gold goblets from the temple in Jerusalem so that he and his nobles, wives and concubines could drink from them as they praised idol gods. However, here the Bible names specifically six different gods instead of the usual mention of "idol worship" or "idol gods". Rarely do you see them mentioned specifically like this throughout the Bible. After researching this I found the Hebrew descriptions fascinating and though I don't want to spend a lot of time here I want to share some of the information with you. You can read the verse in Daniel 5:4 where it specifically names the names. 1. Gods of Gold Is a representation of a "fixed position" 2. Gods of Silver- Is a representation of "money" 3. Gods of Bronze (real meaning tin-copper)- Is what the vessels in the tabernacle were made of or "what's inside the church". 4. Gods of Iron- Represents materials or "materialism". 5. Gods of Wood-Represents trees or what we call "mother nature" or "mother earth". 6. Gods of Stone-Which is what Idol Gods were made of as well as "buildings" so this could very well mean "church buildings". It is the sad truth today that we see in "Christianity" many people worshipping these very same gods. How many preachers are being exalted in their "fixed positions"? How many people of God have "fixed" their eyes on the silver god of money? Allowing their families to be ripped apart because they are chasing after the "American Dream?" How many people are more concerned with what the church is decorated with (bronze/copper) then the lost souls that live next door to them? How many "Christians" have placed the gods of iron (materialistic nature) above His throne? Then we have those who are more concerned with taking care of the "earth" or "mother nature" then they are about tending to the needs of orphans, widows and reaching out to those in different realms of bondage and sin? Last but not least are the gods of stone, which would be the "church building". I question you, "what could we accomplish as (the church) if once a month every (tabernacle) closed their doors one Sunday and had all their congregations walk into all the hospitals and begin praying for people? What would happen if all congregations packed lunches and took hot coffee to all those in the inner cities with no home? What would happen if all congregations for Christ's sake had coffee with each other? American Christianity has gotten to the place where they can't even get their eyes off of their "denominational barrier" to focus on the most important part of our calling and that is to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. That would be the gods of stone, because you are not serving Christ you are worshipping your denomination! Let me continue. We must be careful as ambassadors of Christ. (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.") Have we gotten so caught up in the worship and importance of church that we have neglected the call? (Luke 14:23 "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.") Someone said, "A Church isn't a museum for saints, it's a gathering place for sinners." Unfortunately today this is the farthest thing from the truth. I challenge each of you today, if you know young adults who are into the gothic lifestyle who dress in all black and wear "weird" clothes. Take them to church with you and don't make them change. Watch and see how people respond at your church, you may quite possibly have a revelation. I am not saying that church isn't important but when it comes to your relationship with God, church is where you go to get fed so that you can go feed someone else. It's not a social club and it's not a place where you put all your work in at if you are a matured Christian. I do feel that if someone is new in Christ they should stick around the tabernacle assisting in ways that will aid the Pastor. But once you are equipped with the knowledge and strong in your faith you need to as Jabez prayed in II Chronicles 4:10 "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep [me] from evil." God's words says in Luke 10:2 "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." Yes, we as Christians need to be continually taught and to be in fellowship with other believers, but that is not the most important part of this commission. Now as we see in Daniel 5, the fingers that are writing on the plaster as you can see it does not say, "with what appeared to be a hand". Now, catch this cause this is of utmost importance with where I feel God is leading me. It specifically states, "came forth fingers of a man's hand" that wrote "next to the truth in the House of God". You see the five fingers are a representation of the five-fold ministry, which is what God sends to the Churches for edification of the body. These are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." God is calling His chosen people to stand up in the "palaces". The tabernacles and speak the oracles of God in spirit and in truth to those who have stolen God's glory and have taken the golden goblets out of God's house and are worshipping the idols of "positions" and "money" and "materials" and "church decorations and buildings". When we look at Belshazzars father Nebuchadnezzar we see that in chapter four he was praising God like he loved Him. However, his actions unto the Lord showed otherwise. There is a vast distinction in being a child of God through profession (saying you believe) and actually truly believing and allowing the spirit of God to overtake your flesh. Nebuchadnezzar was an example of profession, because we see in I John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people because of his idol worship. He also gave Daniel the name of Belteshazzar for interpreting the dreams he had. This name given unto Daniel means "one who lays up treasure in secret." Daniel was known for being able to seek the Lord in spirit and truth in a way no one else knew how. When Belshazzar wanted the writing on the wall to be interpreted no one could comprehend the message. The queen however notified him of Daniel and he requested him. When Daniel was brought to him he told him if he could interpret the writing that he would be clothed in purple and have a gold chain put around his neck and made third highest ruler in the kingdom. Daniel did not want the gifts but offered his words of wisdom to the King through the gifts God had given him. The spirit of God revealed unto Daniel what the writing on the wall was. Daniel told Belshazzar that his father was placed in his position by God, he became controlling and arrogant and hardened his heart and started to do things his own way instead of God's way. Because of his actions he was excommunicated. Even though Belshazzer knew this, he did not humble himself and honor God therefore the writing on the wall was "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin". Which means "God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end, you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." I wonder what God is writing on our walls to open our eyes up to the truth. Many of us are reigning over our own kingdoms. Sometimes I look at the traditional Christian families and wonder why they are missing the writing on the wall. It is a sad day when the "body of Christ" professes to have the ability to offer "joy unspeakable and full of glory" to the world. Yet half of all Christians are using some form of anti-depressant. There are just as many divorces in the "body of Christ" as there is in the world. One third of abortions are by young "Christian" girls. One would think we would begin read the writing on the wall and discern, "God has numbered the days of "lack of obedience" in the church and brought it to an end. We have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Our kingdom of congregations are divided and given to the enemy." Christian marriages are not legalistic agreements made on paper. Christian marriage is a vow unto the Lord that you make to each other. I was listening to a minister the other day talk about this and how there are so many people looking for someone to make them complete, when they should make sure they are complete themselves in Christ before they enter into a relationship with someone else who isn't complete. He said that is how you wind up with a big mess, cause they are looking for completion in each other, and neither will be satisfied. He said a woman is a helpmate unto the man, so he told women to stop looking for a man that was uncertain of the call that God has placed on his life. Because if he cannot discern the voice of God pertaining to his own life, how is he going to be the headship over you? He told men to stop trying to create a woman to fit their ideal of a proverbs 31 woman. When a man and woman are in tune with the call of God on their life and hearing from the Lord they will know when they are supposed to be together to serve Him! Until then focus on becoming complete in Him! Read the writing on the wall of the message God is speaking to you! Married couples need to put God in the authority over their house. When both submit to the headship of Christ, their house will not be divided. Therefore, your "kingdom" will be ruled by divine headship instead of the husband or wife wearing the pants; God will be wearing the pants! This form of submission to God relates to any intimate relational setting. When I use the term intimate I am not referring to a "sexual relationship", but the intimacy that the Bible speaks of when it is talking about worship unto the Lord. You see many churches today are ruled by man, the headship of the church isn't God. When this happens God will begin to deal with that person's heart and they need to repent and give the authority of the house back to God, cause the Bible says in Proverbs 16:18 "Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." And Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" God places people in positions and God takes people out of positions if they are not being faithful to Him as we see as an example with Nebuchadnezzar. We see that after Daniel shared this with Belshazzar, he had him clothed in purple and a gold chain placed around his neck as he stated. Daniel was a humble man and the words says that if you humble yourself before God He will exalt you in due season (I Peter 5:6) That night Belshazzar was killed and Darius became King (whose name means "he that informs himself). Darius appointed 120 satraps (governers) with three administrators one in which was Daniel. Daniel however, showed exceptional qualities and the other 122 heard Darius was thinking about appointing him over the whole kingdom. So they all sought a way to discredit Daniel's integrity and credibility, but could not find anything. They took a suggestion to Darius that no man should pray to anyone but him for 30 days. As soon as Daniel heard about the decree he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem (meaning vision of peace). Three times a day he continued to prayer to God. The men reported this to Darius and he became distressed concerned for Daniel, but unable to stop the law he had initiated. So Daniel was placed in the den of lions. King Darius fasted and prayed all night long for Daniel's safety. Upon the rising of the sun, the King anxiously went to the den and called out for Daniel, when he replied the King was overjoyed. Many times this is the place we hear up to but what happened after this stakes claim on Romans 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." You see after Daniel was brought safely out of the den of lions all 122 accusers along with their wives and children were thrown into the den of lions. The word says that the lions overpowered them all and crushed their bones. Daniel humbled himself before God and through all his persecution which I just brushed the surface of, he endured all of it staying obedient to God. Because of Daniel's faithfulness and truth in spirit with "signs and wonders" following him, King Darius ordered the entire kingdom to worship Daniel's God. Daniel turned an entire kingdom back to reverencing God!!! What are you facing? What spiritual battle are you in where after all is said and done could your faithfulness to Christ turn others to His saving grace and transforming power? Who are those persecuting you who God is telling you to hold your peace with regardless of what they say or do so that in His season He will be the one to judge them? Or are you one of the 122 who is persecuting others? Be very careful who you stand with and who you support. Just because everyone else is doing something, doesn't make it right. Philippians 4:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." I Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Revelation 3:4-5 "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Remember Nebuchadnezzar was chosen and appointed by God. However, because of his actions he was removed and excommunicated. God gave him the opportunity to repent and turn back to Him. Unfortunately twelve months after God spoke to him, he stood above the kingdom and said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Never think you have arrived at a place where your name cannot be taken out of the lamb's books of life. We need to continually strive to keep ourselves humble before the Lord and strive to allow Him to lead, guide and direct each one of our footsteps! We hear many Pastors quote the infamous scripture in Ephesians chapter four that "we are sealed unto the day of redemption" however if you have a few moments read all of Ephesians chapter four which closes on that verse and see if you don't slack in any of those areas. Never get complacent!!!! My name is Tina Leonard. I have been writing my entire life, but it wasn't until I accepted Christ in 1998 that I began to write for the edification of the body and to bring the rightful Glory to His Kingdom. Feel free to visit my website at www.myspace.com/christisking2. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |