WHERE LOVE LEADS? (REVELATION 19:7-8)

 

WHERE LOVE LEADS?

(revised)

BIBLE PASSAGE: REVELATION 19:7-8

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

 

MEMORY VERSE

 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

MARK 12:30

 

INTRODUCTION:

Being in love changes everything. For instance, a woman is not a fan of basketball but when she met a man who caught her attention which is a player of a certain team in basketball, changes her likes. She will try everything even watching basketball just to catch the man’s attention and let him know that they have common interest. What changes her perspective? Love did but the question is where does love to lead her?

Sometimes love leads us to the wrong direction and gives us bad perspective in life. One example is a woman who loves a drug-addict- person. Remember the one-line lyric in a song Somewhere Down the Road which says, “We have the right love at the wrong time” and another popular love quote, “Love is blind.” These one-lyric song and quote explain that a person in love can’t see what is wrong and bad. This love categorizes the wrong kind of love but how about what TRUE LOVE leads us? And what our love to the Lord leads us?

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  LOVE LEADS YOU TO BE FAITHFUL (HOSEA 3:1-3)

Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

 

In Hosea 3:1-3 shows the love of God to the people of Israel. God directed Hosea to go back to his wife, even though she was committing adultery. It wasn’t in the past; it was in the present; yet he was commanded to go back to her and to love her. This also shows us an important principle about love: Hosea is directed to love, even when it must have been hard to love. Just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel: Why did God command Hosea to go back to his still-unfaithful wife? Not only for the sake of Hosea and his wife Gomer, but also so that they would become a living lesson of the LORD’s relationship with His people. They were still steeped in spiritual adultery, yet the LORD still loved them. When we think of the greatness of God’s love and compassion towards us, it should make us much more loving, compassionate, and forgiving towards others.

 

In human speaking, if you are in love, you give less time to other people; you focus to the person you are in love with. You’ll give your best to please the man or woman you love, and you’ll stay faithful not unless you fall out of love.

 

How about our love to God? Just like the love we show to our loved ones; God deserves our love. If we love God, we should be faithful too. Our love to Him must be the foremost in our hearts, exceeding the bond of any other relationship. Jesus identified the greatest of all commandments “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy souls, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). We should return to God the love He bestows upon us.

 

2.  LOVE LEADS YOU TO BE OBEDIENT (1 JOHN 2:3-6)

 ⁵ But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

 

There’s an instance wherein a young lady was once told by her boyfriend to stop wearing short skirts especially in church event and the next Sunday, all young people were surprised to see this young lady wearing long skirts and nice blouse. This is just a minor example of what love results; a person can do everything to please her love of her life.

How about our love to our God? The evidence of someone knowing God, and fellowship with Him is that he does keep His commandments. A simple, loving obedience is a natural result of fellowship with God.

Love is not primarily an emotion. We may feel lovingly towards someone or experience the emotional warmth of another's love, but love is much deeper and more active than the way we feel. True love is always expressed in action; like God's love was shown by giving His Son to be our substitutionary sacrifice. The believers who John was addressing were being caught up by Gnostic teaching which claimed that if you have a special religious formula and mental attitude you can know God: but John said you do not need a formula – you need love and obedience.

How do we know if we have a relationship with God? We will listen to what He says and obey. The people who claim to know God through a religious formula but do not obey Him are not listening to His word; they have no relationship with Him. Worse than that, they are liars and frauds because they are claiming to have a relationship with God which does not exist.

When the people who know God hear His Word and choose to obey Him, they demonstrate that they really do love Him. As they grow in their relationship with Him, they grow to be like Him: His character comes out in their behavior and lifestyle. It is not that they slavishly adopt the way Jesus lived, but that in knowing Him they love what He loves and hate what He hates. Our lifestyles become more like Jesus as we want to let His Word inform our desires and choices.

Alas, we do not always live consistently like that. But the personal test is: do we want to? Does it matter to us that we please Him? Indeed, even the act of confessing our sins demonstrates that we want to be made clean again so that we can be restored to a loving relationship in which we obey Him. If you love Him, seek out a new opportunity to obey His Word today. If you are ridiculed for being like Jesus, give thanks that your love for Him is shining through. https://www.wordatwork.org.uk/1-john/love-leads-obedience

3.  LOVE LEADS YOU TO COMMITMENT (PSALMS 37:4-6)

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

TAGALOG: Maging tunay ang inyong pagmamahalan. Kasuklaman ninyo ang masama at pakaibigin ang mabuti.

 

Nowadays, we can see how a man prepares to be engaged. In the social media, there are lot of preparations and ideas men do. They are very creative and try their best to make it memorable so that their girlfriends would say “I DO.” What if a woman is waiting to be engaged but waiting for nothing? Just imagine a woman waiting for a man to say, “I’m committed to you” and at the end he would not see you as the woman he would commit. It’s hard to swallow and move on because you waited for years for nothing.  It’s best to find someone who would commit his life to you because LOVE LEADS YOU TO COMMITMENT.

 

In spiritual aspect, it’s questionable if a person who says, “I love the Lord” but doesn’t commit to Him. Why does God want us to be committed to Him? GOD WANTS YOU TO BE COMMITTED TO HIM SO THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW HE IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. Our commitment to him is our witness. Our commitment to him shows others how important he is to us. The more commitment, the more we show the world how important he is to us. If something is important in our life, we commit ourselves to it.

 

If you like or love something, you commit to your time to it. If your job is important to you, you commit yourself to it. If your family is important, you commit yourself to it.  If a person is important to you, you commit time, to be spent with them. If your health is important to you, you commit yourself to working out.  Whatever it is important to you, you will commit yourself to it. We may say something is important but if we do not commit time to it obviously is not important.  If it is valuable to you, you make the effort to commit whatever resources you need to appreciate it. If serving God is important to us, we must commit ourselves to serving him. What we commit and how much we commit shows how much we value our relationship with him. Really, how much we really love him. When we are committed to coming to church, we show others that God is important to us. It is our witness to the world. https://www.guidinglight.org/being-fully-committed-to-god/

 

4.  LOVE LEADS YOU TO MARRIAGE (REV. 19:7; 21:2; GEN. 2:24)

-      .”

-      Any times the Judgement Seat of Christ is referred to by the biblical scholars as “The Bema Seat.” The reason for this is that the phrase, “Judgement Seat” is taken from one Greek word, “bema” which translated from Greek means “Judgement Seat.” During the time of Christ, this world could refer to the platform on which a ruler or judge decided to athletic competition in the New Testament, he was likely using the term as it applied to Greek sports. If the winner of a particular contest had followed the rules of competition and won, he has honored at the bema; there he was crowned. https;//www.arewelivinginthelastdays.com

-      In the city of Corinth, a stone platform was constructed to support the Bema Seat (Judgment Seat) of the local officials. The seat was used to give out awards to athletes for their competitive performances (usually a crown of wreath of leaves), but also to address legal charges brought against individuals. Apostle Paul was quite familiar with this seat. This is where he was brought before Gallio, who was the proconsul oF Achaia at the Bema Seat (Acts 18:12), “And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,” This seat was also what Paul referred to in 2Corinthians 5:9-10 as the “Judgement Seat of Christ.” In this context, Paul explains to us tha this is where the Christians will receive an evaluation for works done in the body, whether good or bad. https;//www.arewelivinginthelastdays.com

-      The participants in the Judgement Seat of Christ are members of the spiritual church. These are people who have trusted Christ as Savior from the Day of Pentecost, until the coming of Christ for His church. The Bible said that God will reward the actions of believers.

“Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.” – Psalms 62:12

For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what He has done (Matthew 16:27).

-      The Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge (John 5:22-27). It is for Christians only (2 Corinthians 5:8-10).

-      The rewards we receive on earth are all temporal and perish. The rewards in the Judgement Seat of Christ are eternal and will never perish.

-      By consistently focusing on the Judgment Seat of Christ, you will naturally develop a desire to please God rather than men. Developing this attitude is the surest way to handle criticism and opposition.

 

CONCLUSION:

Most people don’t want to be held accountable. Whether we like it or not we are all accountable. We feel and act like we’re not accountable but in reality, we cannot escape from the accountable to the Lord. If we act unaccountable in the work we do, we will be unable to do our best, it wasteful time and it hinders our spiritual growth. God’s Word motivates us to do our best in our commitment to God,

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

PROOF OF YOUR LOVE (2 CORINTHIANS 8:24; JOHN 14:15)

 

PROOF OF YOUR LOVE

2 CORINTHIANS 8:24; JOHN 14:15

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Lesson updated: February 05, 2023

Scheduled Teacher: Sis. Roxan Velena

 

 MEMORY VERSE:

2 Corinthians 8:24 (KJV)

Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

 INTRODUCTION:

People are not fully aware how God’s love is shown to the world. If we see how the world rotates around the sun and how the balance is done every day to make the people experience comfortable in the place, they were put in to live, we would fully have amazed not just the wonderful creations God had done but His love all throughout the humanity. Bible says in Matthew 5:45 “… he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” So, you see, whatever your treatment to God, even you love God, or you don’t love God, He sends rain for everyone. How about us? What are the proofs of our love?

Humanly speaking, do we need proofs that we are loved by our loved ones? (Ask few people for response)

What is your feeling if your girlfriend or boyfriend says he/she loves you, but he hides it to other people? It seems like He doesn’t know you. This is painful, isn’t it? Another thing, if a man is in love to a woman, he’ll reach the point to ask her to marry him, right? He wants to spend their whole life together and build a family. That is one of the proofs of human love.

 

Do you love God? If you truly love God, what is the proof of your love? True love cannot be hidden; it is expressed in words and actions. It is not enough to sing and say that you love God; you must also put action to it. Maybe there are times we meet people who claim to love God but their words and especially their actions say otherwise. True love is not self-seeking, it desires to please whom it loves. If we love God, we will long do what pleases Him all the time.

 

If you’ve watched the movie the “Passion of Christ.” That was 2004 if I’m not mistaken. If we would just see and feel the agony of Christ that time, we were deeply touched of His sacrifice for every one of us.  That was a great proof of Christ’s love to God, the Father and most especially to us. Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 (use any testimony or illustration to this part)

 

You can’t love someone, and the person will not know it because if you truly do so, you will show it. God too knows when you really love Him, because your words and especially your actions will express it.  God is the God of knowledge; by Him actions are weighed – 1 Samuel 2:3. So how will God know that you truly love Him?

(most words are taken from http://stepswithgod.com/proof-love-god/)

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1)  OBEDIENCE (JOHN 14: 15)

-        Your obedience to God and His words is the number one evidence of your love for Him. Christ Himself said, “If you love me, keep my commandments”. You can’t love God and be disobedient to His commands. God cannot be mocked; He who made ears and eyes can certainly hear and see the things that you do.

-        Jesus proved His love for the father by obeying all His instructions, even to death on the cross: the most shameful death of His time, (Philippians 2:8, Galatians 3:13).  He judged as He heard from His father because He was seeking the will of His father who sent Him – John 5:30. His primary assignment on earth was to carry out the plan and purpose of God for man, which He completed successfully. At the end, He said, “It is finished”. –John 19:30

-        God demands that you obey Him absolutely, not as convenient. He showed an example for us by sacrificing His only son. And on the cross for the first time, He forsook His son because of your sin and mine – Matthew 27:46. It certainly was not convenient for God, but He did it for the love He has for you and me.

-        Therefore, your obedience must be total. God will not accept half commitment from you, which is why He said He prefers you being cold or hot and not lukewarm. Christ will not condone a lukewarm service; He will spew you out of His mouth if you are lukewarm – Revelation 3:15-16

(say a testimony on this part if needed)

 

2)  SOULWINNING (JOHN 21: 15-17)

-        Another important proof of your love for God is your love for lost souls. If you love God, you will love what He loves and hate what He hates. Soul winning is God’s heartbeat and passion. Whatever God does is geared towards reconciling people back to Himself.

-        God the father sent Jesus to earth and allowed Him to be crucified in order to reconcile man to Himself – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. His target was to win as many people as possible, that whosoever believes in Christ will not perish but have eternal life.

-        And Christ’s great commission to His disciples, including you if you love Him is to go and teach all nations to observe all things that He had commanded, Matthew 28:19-20. Also, that you should bear fruit that will remain in the Lord – John 15:16.

-        Christ demanded that Peter proved his love for Him by preaching the word of God – John 21:15-17. “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”

It is not God’s desire that anybody should perish but that all should come to repentance – 2 Peter 3:9 and so He has committed the ministry of reconciliation to the disciples – 2 Corinthians 5:18.

-        Christ emphasized the importance of soul winning in the whole 15^th chapter of Luke, through the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son.

-        God is interested in bringing back lost souls and He has chosen you to work with Him in accomplishing this task. If you love Him, you will partner with Him in this ministry of reconciliation.

(say a testimony on this part if needed)

 

3)  GIVING (2 Corinthian 8: 1-5, 8, 24)

-        Giving is an expression of love. You cannot have true love for someone and not give to the person. There’s a saying “You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.” So also, you cannot love God and not give to Him and for His kingdom work. It is a proof of your love for Him. If you love Him, you will give without being coerced to do so. It will be a thing of Joy to you to do so.

-        God first loved us (1 John 4:19) and gave His only son for us all. And He had promised that if He could give His only son then, there is nothing He cannot freely give us – Romans 8:32. Love is a giver and if you love God, you must be a giver too.

-        God expects you to give willingly, cheerfully and bountifully, but according to what you have and not to what you don’t have – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 2 Corinthians 8:12. It is a test of the sincerity of your love – 2 Corinthians 8:8.

(say a testimony on this part if needed)

(points are taken from http://stepswithgod.com/proof-love-god/)

CONCLUSION:

SACRIFICIAL LOVE ILLUSTRATION:

Maria Dyer was born in 1837 on the mission field in China where her parents were pioneer missionaries. Both her parents died when Maria was little girl, and she was sent back to England to be raised by an uncle. The loss of her parents, however, did not deter her young heart from the importance if sharing the gospel. At age sixteen she, along with her sister, returned to China to work in a girl’s school as a missionary herself. Five years later, she married Hudson Taylor, a man well-known today for his life of ministry, faith, and sacrifice.

Hudson and Maria’s work was often criticized – even by other Christians. At one point Maria wrote, “As to the harsh judging of the worlds, or the more painful misunderstandings of Christan brethren, I generally feel that the best plan is to go on with our work and leave God to vindicate our cause.” Of their nine children, only four survived to adulthood. Maria herself died of cholera when she was just forty-three. But she believed that the cause was worthy of sacrifice. On her grave marker these words were inscribed: “For her to live was Christ, and to die was gain.”

In a day when many are self-absorbed and care more about what they can get rather than what they can give, we need a renewal of sacrificial love. It was God’s love for us that sent Jesus into the world to die for our sins, and it is that kind of giving love that our world needs so greatly today.

In aspect of God’s love, sometimes we ask God for proofs most especially during dark hours of our lives. Though His love is so evident we still question Him when we face trials.  We easily ask for proofs, but we don’t see ourselves. What if God return our question to us: “Do you love Me? If you love Me, prove your love!”  We are blessed because though God hasn’t received love in return from us, He still loves us.

 

YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED (EPHESIANS 2:3-5,8; DANIEL CHAPTERS 1 & 2

 

YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 2:3-5, 8 ; Daniel chapters 1 & 2

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

MEMORY VERSE

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

EPHESIANS 2:4

 

INTRODUCTION:

When was the first time you had received or heard from someone “I love you”?

I’ll give you all few minutes to think about it; let’ go back to that later.

When I was a child, I thought I was not loved. (Give some situations why thinking this thing.)

To make it short, so when I first heard the gospel, the words “Someone loves you” struck me.

 

About the question, possibly, we first heard from our parents the words, “I love you”. In Daniel 9:23, Daniel heard the words “You are greatly loved” this is where our title came from. Let’s just give a brief explanation of the words, “You are greatly loved”. This is a passive voice which means the subject is not doer but receiver. Why I said this, the sentence “You are greatly loved” means you’re not the doer but rather the receiver – You are greatly loved and who’s the doer? It is GOD – “You are greatly loved by GOD”.  Amen! So when the angel said to Daniel, “You are greatly loved” means God greatly loves Daniel. 

 

When Daniel heard them from the words of an angel, it was not once but three times. Wouldn’t you love to hear from an angel saying, “You are greatly loved”? Before we read, let me explain that the word “beloved” which its Hebrew is “chumdah” is found 25 times in the Bible and it is translated “pleasant”, “desired,” “goodly,” and “precious”. The word seems to suggest what God’s love does rather that what it is. Daniel was “desired” by the Lord because the love of God made him “precious, pleasant, or goodly” in His sight.

It doesn’t matter whether we are cute, handsome, or ugly, God loves you. I remember the Psalm 139:14; this was always in my mind. I really memorized it because it helped me a lot every time I had problem in regard to my self-esteem. Other meaning of beloved is loved that’s why in other translations “beloved” translated to “Loved”.

·       Daniel 9:23 –  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

·       Daniel 10:11 –  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

·       Daniel 10:19 – And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

From whom do we want to hear the word, “I love You”? In Young People maybe you want to hear it from your long-time crush. In couples, you want it to hear from your spouse. Is it more pleasant to hear “You are greatly loved” from God or from an angel? Of course, from God! In fact, we heard it too, God himself says to us in His word – which is surer than an angel speaking – “You are greatly loved.”

 

There it stands in Ephesians 2:3–5, 8: We “were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. . . . For by grace, you have been saved through faith.”

 This is the only place where Paul uses this wonderful phrase “great love.” And it is better than an angel’s voice. If you have seen Jesus as true and received him as your supreme treasure, that is, if you are “alive,” you are greatly loved. Greatly loved by the Creator of the universe. Just think of it! Greatly loved! It’s good to memorize this verse from Ephesians 2:4, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”

 

And now let’s study some of situations in the life of Daniel and what are the situations showing that He was greatly loved.

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  FROM HIS YOUTH, GOD’S GUIDANCE HAD BEEN THERE.

He was an Israelite, about 18 years of age when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah about the year 606 BC; he was captured and then deported to the fabulous city of Babylon, the most magnificent city in the world. He was of royal descent (relation) (verse 3), handsome, a man of culture and outstandingly intelligent (verse 4). Because of these qualities King Nebuchadnezzar chose him and gave orders that he should be trained in all the language and literature of the Chaldeans (verse 4); he was a Jew among Gentiles, living in an alien land, a believer among unbelievers –- and God had a great work to do through him over a period of 70-80 years. It was a terrible experience for him to be deported a thousand miles to Babylon.

 

The great love of God to Daniel appeared in his early and thorough nonconformity to the world. Everything was done that could be done to make the young Hebrew forget God of his fathers. Everywhere around them they saw idolatry, lust, and crime. There was nothing when they went abroad or when they stayed at home but what would suggest to them the abominations of the heathen.

 

Let’s try to put ourselves on Daniel’s shoes. You were kidnapped by an enemy then you are in the process of trainings. Part of the training is the food, and your belief contradicts to the food offered, possibly it was against Leviticus law or offered unto idols. Therefore, this was against his convictions.  It’s hard to live in a foreign land and stand up for your faith. Also, the emotions of being away from your home and away from your spiritual refuge is another struggle. Before the early YP of CBT had the thoughts like this, if Christians decided to work in Manila, the tendency is they adapted the worldly things. When they came back, there were changes in their lifestyles. Now, anywhere you go you can adapt many things (either good or bad) because SOCMED is there.

 

Sometimes if we have struggles and problems, questions begin to appear in our minds like why is this happening to me? Or why me? He had struggles and trials but at the same time, the trainings were in his favor. Don’t you think these favors were from their own? Let’s read Daniel 1: 9 and 20.

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

 

So, you see though there are struggles but God’s guidance is there. Have you remembered your struggles from your youth?  Or the YP at this present time has struggles? Remember God is always there, and you are greatly loved.

I remember Joseph, one of my favorite Bible characters. Let’s read Genesis 50:20.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.

We think it’s bad but actually it’s for our own good. Everything has a purpose. Another verse from Philippians 1:12

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Paul had many sufferings, but he said things happened for the furtherance of the Gospel.

Therefore, if we have struggles right now, let’s remember there’s a purpose and also a lesson we need to learn; we should have realization. Let’s pray for spiritual discernment.

2.  THE WISDOM OF INTERPRETING DREAMS

 

·       KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Remember no one could interpret the dream and even the astrologers said that no one on earth could tell the dream- only GOD (Dan.2:11). The king got furious and commanded them to be slain. To save their lives, Daniel asked God for wisdom and answered prayers followed. Everything he did, started through prayers.

After having the wisdom, the best thing is, he acknowledged and gave credit to God. Let’s read Daniel 2:27-28

²⁷ Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

 

Another dream of Nebuchadnezzar is about a very high tree and again no one could interpret the dream (Daniel 4) except Daniel. The second dream was particularly about the king himself. Because of pride, he fell and became like a beast in the field and ate grass. Daniel’s interpretation happened to the king but the later end, the king repented and already acknowledged God.

 

·       KING BELSHAZZAR (Daniel 5:1-30):

In the time of reign of King Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, we have the story of the handwriting on the wall. Once again, the wise men of the land were unable to interpret what it meant. 

Why had the king seen vessels this handwriting?

The king used some of the utensils taken from the temple as common drinking while praising their idols. Daniel reminded the king about what happened to his father, Nebuchadnezzar, that in his life, he had everything, and pride rooted in his heart but at the end, he recognized God in his life. And yet, he didn’t learn lessons from his father’s mistakes.

Let’s see Daniel’s heart regarding rewards from King Belshazzar. When the king mentioned that he would be rewarded, his reply mentioned in verse 17.

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Daniel had no interest in doing the work of God for physical reward. Instead, he tells the king to give it to someone else.

Daniel warned the king that he would be killed because of the abominations and the interpretation had happened.

If we try to think back what was your life then, aren’t you thankful that you’re here today? Sometimes I have these thoughts “Oh this is the reason why this happened”. Do you have those kinds of thoughts too? I have a story to tell that this has really happened in true life. There was a couple entered in a certain church, and they got saved. This couple had no child for years and the pastor was started praying for their desire that they could have a child. After many months and years of kneeling God granted their request. They were so happy. The delivery came and sad to say, the mother died. At first, they got mad to the doctor, who is their church mate, but later on they accepted what happened. The husband said, “This is the reason why God hasn’t answered our prayers for years but because of our earnest prayers he answered our petition. If I could go back the time, I would rather have her.” We don’t know the reason of everything that’s why should lean on God. He is the source of wisdom. Whatever we have achieved and whatever courses we have finished still we don’t know everything. God knows everything.     

3.  IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS (DANIEL 6)

King Darius made a decree that everyone should bow down to the royal statue within 30 days. This is in favor of the enemies of Daniel who envied him. In his response, he prayed to the Lord three times a day (6:10). Daniel’s response is a good reminder that in the midst of trials the first thing we should do is PRAY. We all know how dangerous to be in the den of lions. They’re not tamed animals; they’re wild. God had a purpose why He kept Daniel alive. Answering his prayers makes God magnify.

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? (Dan.6:20)

If you’re still alive today, praise GOD! God has still purpose for you to fulfill.  Think of many times you supposed to be dead but through God’s grace you survive.

Today, do you have financial crisis? Maybe God wants you to learn something and be faithful to your financial obligations and be a wise spender, be dependent on Him or be prayerful. Do you have relationship problem? Possibly He wants you to consider something and check your heart. Do you have family problem? Maybe God wants us to check our spiritual life. Do you have work problem? Try to consider your priorities. Whatever situations we are in; always remember you are greatly loved!

CONLUSION:

There was a story about a lady. She owned and operated her own nursery. And she said that one day a 4-year-old girl was brought in for her to watch during the day, to take care of during the day, and this girl was different from other girls. She was born in a prison. Her mother was incarcerated for drugs and had taken drugs all throughout her pregnancy, and so this little baby was born, and she was a ''crack'' baby. And she had many, many problems and she had many fears. And she never spoke to any of the people at the nursery. And she would have fits of rage.

Well, they brought her in. And the proprietor of the nursery instantly took a liking to this girl, even though she was so unlovely and unlovable. And when the girl would have these tremendous fits, the, the owner would take her and take her up in her arms and take her into her office where there was a rocking chair. And she would rock her, and she would sooth her, and she would sing, ''Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.'' And she did that day after day and week after week and month after month and she started to notice some progress in girl. But every time they would take a step forward, they would take, seemingly, two or three steps backward.

Well, one day the girl was having an extremely bad day - fears and fits - and owner picked her up and took her into her office, and she began to rock her. And as she rocked her and soothed her, the little girl pulled away from the owner and with tears in her eyes, she spoke her first words. And she said to that owner, ''Sing to me about the man who loves me.'' The love of Jesus makes all the difference in the world.

The fact of the matter is that unless and until we feel
ourselves loved; we cannot love. That’s not only a principle of theology but
of psychology and sociology as well. Just as abused children grow up to
abuse their children, loved children grow up to love their children. Loved
persons are able to love. Unloved persons are not. Christianity says
something startling. It says that God loves and accepts us “just as we are.”
Therefore, we can love and accept ourselves and in so doing, love and accept
others.

The best key for depression and losing of hope is the LOVE OF GOD!