All The Counsel of God

“If my people, which arc called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7: 14).

In these words we have what may he called God’s prescription for a blessing. The reference is primarily, of course, to Israel, but the truths are applicable to us as Christians. As Christians, we need the blessing of God. No church can prosper without it. People may come in crowds; they may bring their substance in abundance; we may bear a testimony, and it may he orthodox; but this is not enough. We must have beside all, the blessing of God. And what is the blessing? I answer, the felt presence of God in our midst, moving in our hearts, molding our lives, and operating with a successful influence for good upon others. We need the· supernatural or, rather, the Divine character as the supreme element in our living.

WE ARE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES

Humility was the one great moral quality of the Son of God. He never exalted himself. His way to exaltation was in the dust. If we are called by His is name, we ought to possess His character. Yet there is a great deal or vain boasting among us as Christians; we have much confidence in self and too little in God.

One of the first steps to attain a true humility is to own our failures. This is so hard and few are willing to say they have failed. They are willing to speak of it in private conversation or in testimony, but if some one else should accuse them of the very evil they have confessed, how angry they would be. It is not so much that we are to own failure in outward confession as to recognize it honestly in the soul as a sad fact. If we will only be real in doing this, God will set before us, with no sparing hand, our very sinfulness, until we are prone to cry out in loathing at the revelation of self. But to this point we must come if we would know anything of God. Only when we are thoroughly demoralized does God come to us. Only in our weakness is His strength made perfect.

PRAYER

There is nothing a child of God so needs to be engaged in as praying. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. Prayer tells how near we live to God. A man who is living near to God is in a constant attitude of prayer. A man who is not walking in a state of prayerfulness is always blundering and falling by the way. How little real praying there is among Christians. Prayers are made, and prayers are said, and public prayer is observed; but in many cases it is only an oration to God, or a wailing confession before others, of our secret troubles, or a covert complaint against the providence of God, or an “eloquent” appeal to some listening ear in the audience. How rarely there is any praying in the home circle. Many families have no altar at all; others have suffered theirs to fall into actual neglect. There was a time when faith was new and love was fresh, that the members gathered around an open Bible in the name of the Lord and felt the power of such holy meetings all through the battle of the day. But now the husband has to hurry out to business, the wife is not up, or it is late. One thing after another hinders. The truth is, there is no prayer in the heart, and words of prayer on the lips of a prayerless heart is a crime too terrible to talk about. Many never think of returning even silent thanks above their daily food.

In prayer two things are required: 1) A hungering after God Himself. Many pray for temporal blessings; pray when they get into trouble. How few yearn and thirst in prayer for the felt presence of God. There can be no true prayer until we have this desire for only ” … they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness … shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6); 2) There must be an absolute, real dependence upon God, not a mere abstract belief, but the same familiar confidence in Him as in an earthly parent. Only so can answers come- only when we are abiding in Christ, and His Word in us, is the communication complete between us and God.

We ought not to take a step without prayer, and as frequently and freely as we consult our mortal friends, we should consult our heavenly and eternal Friend. Consult Him in the most trivial matters. Oh, if we only took everything to God in prayer before we stepped out into action, what needless pain we should avoid.

WE MUST SEEK HIS FACE

Jesus Christ is the face of God. Seeking to make Christ the aim and object of our daily living, seeking to incorporate His character into ours is seeking the face of God. Too often as Christians, we take the best we have or can get and use it for ourselves, the rest we give to God. This course is evil- can only end in evil. We must make the honor and glory and service of the Lord first. Consider what He has done, is doing now, and will yet do for us. By all these considerations, our hearts ought to be so fully taken up with Him that we should have room for nothing else.

WE ARE TO TURN FROM OUR WICKEDNESS

We may be outwardly very meek and proper; we may assume humility as a garb; we may pray with a loud voice; we may talk of devotion and speak freely of a “precious” Saviour, but how do we act how are we living? That is the vital point. A man may be very orthodox in his tongue and a very devil in his feet. There is such a thing, too, as a Christian walking in wickedness. David did; Peter did – and they paid terribly for it. So will every Christian who does not repent and tum to the Lord. If the judgment does not come now and here, it will then and there, at the Judgment Seat of Christ in the loss of reward, in the loss of a crown -loss, surely of some sort. We are to tum from everything that has in it the appearance of evil.

If we observe these four rules: prayerfulness, humility, consecration, and godliness, the blessing of God will come to us as individuals and as churches. If we so lived as thus to become the dwelling place of God’s blessing, what a healing power we should be in the land.

CONSIDER THE PERSON

Who is this Person whose birth we celebrate on Christmas Day? Was He an ordinary baby? No. He was none other than God the Son coming down to earth in a human body.

Was His an ordinary birth? No. He had an earthly mother, but no earthly father. Jesus was not the son of Joseph, but He was the Son of God.

Was His birth the beginning of His life? No. Jesus had always been. From the very beginning He was with God the Father. In John 1:3, we read, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made”.

CONSIDER THE PRICE

A great price was paid for our sins. Jesus died and shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. During the Old Testament days (before the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth), the Jewish people shed the blood of animals to cover over their sins. This blood could not take away sins, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should

take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4), but ” … the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1 :7).

“There is none other good enough to pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate of Heaven and let us in.” Only the Lord Jesus Christ was without sin. He alone can save us.

CONSIDER THE PROMISE

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life … “ (John 3:36). The word believe means to put our trust in. It is not enough to believe about the Lord Jesus Christ; you must receive Him as your Saviour. God’s promise to those who receive Him, to those who really believe in Him, is everlasting life. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). Do you want to be sure of going to Heaven when you die? Do you want to become God’s child today? Consider the promise.

CONSIDER THE PENALTY

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). Although God loves each one in the world, He hates sin. God’s wrath, or anger, is upon those who do not believe in Jesus. Sin separates us from God. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). The penalty, or punishment, for not believing in Jesus is to be shut out of Heaven and separated from God forever- eternal punishment.

This Christmas many will see beyond the gay wrappings, the colored lights, the lavish entertainment, and the lovely gifts and will find the glory of Christmas in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is this possible?

Entering into the glory of Christmas is possible through a simple understanding, acceptance, and a resting by faith on what God has to say about the sending of His Son on that first Christmas.

GOD’S GOOD TIDINGS: “…behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born … a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). This message is personal- to you. It is vital-He came to be our Saviour.

GOD’S GREAT PURPOSE: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Wonder of wonders- God not only loved us, but He sent His Son to put away our sins by His death on the cross.

OUR ETERNAL BLESSING: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Receiving Jesus Christ, by faith, brings one into the sharing of His untold riches both now and forever. How glorious! Just now God is offering to you His gift. Take the Lord Jesus Christ and enter into the glory of Christmas!

My dear friend:

Will you not this day acknowledge before the Lord that you are a sinner? Will you not believe that Christ, Who died for you, is God’s free gift of salvation? Will you not turn from my sin and receive Christ as your own personal Saviour? The decision is yours.

1. Receive the Word of God with meekness.“Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21) receive it as servants, for it is the voice of the Master; receive it as saints, to cleanse from all defilement; receive it as subjects, to equip for the warfare of evil; receive it as sons, for it is the Father’s will; receive it as saved ones, as the direction of grace; and receive it as surrendered ones, as the rule for life.

2.  Let the Word of God Dwell Richly. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” (Colossians 3:16). Let it dwell in the heart, as preservative from evil; let it dwell in the soul, as the propeller in service; let in dwell in the mind, as the plan for direction; and let it dwell in the affection, as the power for conflict.

3. Keep the Word of God Tenaciously. “They have kept Thy Word” (John 17:6). Christ could say of His disciples, We should keep it as a treasure-securely; as our teacher for instruction, as a tower for protection, and as our trust, we should keep it faithfully and well.

4. Continue in the Word of God Untiringly. “If you continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed”  (John 8:31). Continuance in the Word is the mark of true discipleship, the manifest evidence that we are true followers of Christ.

5. Live Out the Word of God Faithfully. “Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ” ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Christian is the world’s Bible, a living object-lesson. If we are not walking Bibles, then we are walking libels.

6. Hold Forth the Word of God Boldly. “Holding forth the Word of Life” (Philippians 2:16). As the man holds the lighted torch above his head in the dark night, to show himself and others the path in which to tread, so the Christian is to hold up the Word by his life, and its testimony with his lips, that others may be enlightened and benefited.

7. Muse on the Word of God Prayerfully. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:2-3) As the well-watered tree by the river’s side, grows and is fruitful, so the Christian who muses on and meditates in, the truth of God, is prosperous in life, and profitable to others.

His will Is for believers

1. To be sanctified in Christ work – Hebrews 10:10

2. To be chosen and in His grace – Ephesians 1:5

3. To be separated from the world – Galatians 1:4

4. To be holy in life – I Thessalonians 4:3

5. To suffer in silence – I Peter 2:15

6. To be thankful in everything – I Thessalonians 5:18

7. To recognize Him in all things – I John chapter 5:14

Reference Paul’s Warnings study. My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6) Amos 8:11-12 Famine of hearing the words of the LORD, that is they don’t understand it

I want you to be able to discern truth from error, and that which is of God and that which is of Satan. (1 John 4:1

You need to be sound in doctrine 1st application of Scripture is doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16) Take heed unto the doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16)

Men and Young Men ought to have sound doctrine (Titus 2:1-8)

The Last Days – The Church of the Laodiceans

In the last days a departure from the faith and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-6) Last days perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

People will forsake the truth and get for themselves preachers and teachers that tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

If they speak not according to the Bible (Isaiah 8:19-20) See also 1 Peter 4:11 If you pervert, the words of the living God and do not repent he will forsake you (Jeremiah 23:33-36)

Things you need to know about false prophets:

There are many of them (1 John 4:1)

Many follow them (2 Peter 2:2)

Beware of false prophets that look like Christians (Matthew 7:15) and declare that Jesus is the Christ (Luke 21:8, Matthew 24:5)

They speak in the name of the LORD (Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:6)

But out of their own heart (Jeremiah 23:16)

They seduce the people by saying peace when there is no peace (Ezekiel 13:10)

They are liars (Ezekiel 13:19, 22-23) Lamentations 2:14

They don’t deal with your sin to turn your captivity away

They believe Jesus is the Christ (Luke 21:8) and look like Christians (Matthew 7:15)

False prophets teach false doctrine (2 Peter 2:1) speak evil of the truth and MANY follow their ways (2 Peter 2:2)

They make merchandise of you through your own lusts (2 Peter 2:3)

They speak great words of vanity and allure through the lusts of the flesh (2 Peter 2:18)

They promise liberty, but bring you into bondage (2 Peter 2:19)

Preached peace always (Jeremiah 6:13-14) even to those that despise the Lord (Jeremiah 23:17)

They steal the word of God from you (Jeremiah 23:30)

God’s prophets:

True prophets turn people from their sin (Jeremiah 23:21-22) and they mainly preach that the people need to turn from their sin (Jeremiah 25:4-5) and they spoke out against things (Jeremiah 28:7-9)

The Fingerprints of the devil:

2 Corinthians 2:11 Not ignorant of his devices

Revelation 2:24 Not knowing the depths of Satan

General things about the devil:

He wants to be like God, he is religious, he is a musical being, he desires worship, power, and authority, and he is full of pride.

The devil is the great counterfeiter of God.

Genesis 3:1- 5

The very first words spoken by the devil reveal a great deal to the saint about what his tactics are: Yea, hath God said… In Genesis 2, God clearly and plainly told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in that day that he ate of it, he would surely die (Ge 2:16-17). Could God have been plainer with Adam? Did he not literally explain to him what God expected of him? God gave Adam the commandment not to eat of that tree: if he ate of it, he would die. God guaranteed that he would die.

So Satan comes along and asks a question, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

1. Questioning the word of the LORD – the serpent first gets you to question the word of the LORD. By doing so, the devil is able to plant a seed of doubt in your mind about what God had really said. The devil is subtle, and he tried to trick Eve by first getting her to question. LISTEN-there is no reason for us to question God’s word ever! God can be trusted, the devil cannot be. As Jesus said, he was a murderer and a liar from the beginning.

2. Lies about the word of the LORD – We see in the fourth verse that the devil flat out lies. He told Eve that she would not surely die. At some point the devil will flat out contradict the word of the LORD, but he will try to hide that by mixing it with some truth. The Scripture affirms that some of what the devil said would happen, happened. Their eyes were opened and they did become as gods knowing good and evil. BUT they did surely die.

1 Chronicles 21:1

Satan got David to question and wonder about whether the LORD was multiplying the seed of Israel as the stars of heaven.

This thing displeased the LORD.

Job 1:6-12

Satan questions God’s judgment

Job 2:1-6

Satan continues to question God’s word after seeing God’s word remaining true.

Zechariah 3:1-5

Satan argues and resists the angel of the LORD here because Joshua was about to have his filthy garments removed and receive forgiveness of sins and get a new garment!

Matthew 4:1-11

The devil tempts with the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life (see also 1 John 2:15- 17). Notice, Satan will quote scripture in trying to mess you up. The problem is the devil doesn’t rightly divide the Scripture, which shows he doesn’t have understanding of the Scripture.

Matthew 16:21-23

The devil contests the will of God and gets you to argue against the will of God for your life. The devil delights in the things of men, not the things of God.

Mark 4:14-15

The devil steals the seed of the word of God that was planted in the heart.

Acts 5:3

Satan can put thoughts into your heart even if you are saved.

2 Corinthians 11:13-14

Satan can appear as an angel of light, in other words a good thing. He also has MINISTSERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, some of which claim to be apostles, and they give themselves that title.

1 Thessalonians 2:18

Satan can hinder you from your service to God, your service to men, and your calling of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

Satan has the power to perform signs, wonders, and miracles that deceives you

Revelation 2:9-13, 3:9

Satan has a synagogue of people that claim to be Jews and are not (That is professing Christianity that claims to be Jewish in order to steal the promises from the Jew and apply them to the church, i.e. the kingdom of heaven) This church dwells where Satan’s seat is.

Revelation 2:24

Satan is very subtle and very wise

Revelation 12:9

Satan is a deceiver

Mark 13:39

The devil has his own followers in the world

Acts 13:7-12

The devil perverts the right ways of the LORD and is an enemy of all righteousness

2 Corinthians 11:3-4

The devil will try to get you to disbelieve the word of God and it’s authority and adopt another voice and it’s authority in its stead. He will try to corrupt your minds from the simplicity that is in Christ. Be careful of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9)

Judas Iscariot

John 6:70, 13:1-2, 13:21-30

Judas was possessed with a devil long before the last supper. Judas preached the word of God, performed signs, wonders, and miracles, and was in charge of the money. He appeared as one that could be trusted. The disciples had know clue who would betray the Lord because the devil inside of Judas wasn’t obvious, but eventually it became manifest.

Be Careful!

AS REVEALED IN JOHN 15

Every metaphor and simile of the Christian life illuminates some trait of the character of a Christian.

1.         A Branch for Fruitfulness – v.5. A branch in a vine is the outcome of the productive quality of the root and stem and is dependent for its fruitfulness from them. Through the branch the vine manifests itself in fruit. It needs to be cleansed, and pruned to bring its fruit to perfection. Being united to Christ, we bring forth fruit, and as we allow the Vine-dresser to develop us, we bring forth the “more fruit” yea, “much fruit,” and the fruit that remains – vs. 2, 8, 16. The fruit is “love” (Galatians 5:22)

2.         A Disciple for Fruitfulness – vs. 8-10. Discipleship is evidenced by fruitfulness. Being a disciple, we “learn” of Christ, we follow Him, and we are obedient to Him – Matthew 11:29; Luke 9:23; John 13:34.

3.         A Friend for Communion – v.15. Three things evidence friendship, namely, confidence, sympathy, and fellowship. We might call these love in exercise, like the love of Jonathan for David.

4.         A Chosen One for Holiness – v.16. When anyone or anything is set apart for a given purpose, and that purpose is achieved, the election is seen. We prove our election by selecting the things that faith adds to itself – 2 Peter 1:10

5.         An Ordained One for Benefit – v. 16. Fruit is produced for another’s benefit, is lasting in its blessing, and is forerunner of answered prayer. See the “that” in verse 16.

6.         A Servant for Employment – v.20. To serve such a Master is a privilege, even though we may have to suffer because of our association with Him. He has saved us to serve, and we save ourselves from many things in serving.

7.         A Witness for Testimony – v. 27. A witness is one who knows, and is able to tell out what he has seen and heard. The thing that gave power and brought conviction in the early days was what was evidenced in the disciples – Acts 1:8, 2:37, 4:13.

1.         “I have glorified thee” v. 4

2.         “I have finished the work” v. 4

3.         “I have manifested Thy Name” v. 6

4.         “I have kept” v. 12

5.         “I have given Thy Word” and “Words” vs. 8, 14

6.         “I have declared Thy Name” v. 26

7.         “I have known Thee” v. 25

8.         “I have sent” v. 18

9.         “I have given them Thy glory” v. 22

The problem with many so-called Christians today is that they only believe the Holy Bible as long as it does not infer with their lifestyle. Yes, they believe that you are saved by grace through faith not of works. They believe Christ died for theirs sins and only a person’s faith in Christ’s shed blood pays for all their sins and keeps them out hell.

When they come to such verses as ^“ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Corinthians 6:17, many will choose to ignore it because it interferes with some of their ungodly lifestyle activities. How about this one, ”Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

The problem is many Christians have so much of the world and the things of the world in them that they have become comfortable down here. You see believing every word of the Holy Bible would make you feel uncomfortable. Most will attend churches where you are never challenged to examine self and see how you match up with the Words of Almighty God. Most become offended very easily when you mention what the Holy Bible says about some of their lifestyle choices.

The words of God tells us, Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalm 119:165) So, when someone claims to be a Christian and are easily offended by what the scriptures say about their lifestyle then the problem is they do not love the words of God. However, they love the words of the feel-good preaching they listen to every Sunday. They love the words of their favorite so-called Christian personality they listen to on so-called Christian radio and television.

The words of God say, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Notice the verse says “…all things are become new.” This includes your lifestyle as well. Has your lifestyle previous to your salvation passed away and  are you truly a new creature in Christ or are you someone that claims to be a Christian but your lifestyle reflects the world and the things of world?

” …Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Daniel 5:27).

God weighed this man Belshazzar, king of Babylon, and found him wanting. Every man passes over God’s scales on his way to eternity, and God’s final decision is final. There can never be any appeal against that decision. I read, in Daniel 5:30, “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.”

This man had no intention of dying that night. He had planned this night to be the greatest night of his life, “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand” (Daniel 5:1).

Babylon, the pride of antiquity, never looked gayer than on that night. Babylon never felt more secure. In the midst of it, Belshazzar reigned supreme, but before that night would finish, this blasphemer would beg for a preacher and God would write his sins on the wall of the palace.

There in the middle of the Babylonian Square, stood the palace of Belshazzar. At the palace, this night was to be a night of revelry, unprecedented in the history of Babylon! The music, the food, the laughter was great, but it was during this night that Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, stands to blaspheme the God of Heaven. This is what the Bible says, “Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Daniel 5:2-5).

I want to repeat that last line, “… and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.” God was uninvited to that supper-party, but He came anyway. A thousand lords and their ladies had attended a feast of death that night! God had an account to settle with Babylon.

Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Galatians 6:7 says, “… God is not mocked …”  Herod will blaspheme and throw the apostles, James and Peter, in prison, and “… upon a set day … arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration …” (Acts 12:21). The crowd will shout and say, “… It is the voice of a god, and not of a man” (Acts 12:22), but God will enter that picture! Here is the record as the Bible writes it, “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms … But the word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:23-24).

Pharaoh will blaspheme and taunt the God of Israel and snear at Moses, and say, “… and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh … there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land…” (Exodus 14:27-29).

Jezebel will blaspheme and swear to destroy God’s prophet, Elijah, and say, “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window … And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot … And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite …” (2 Kings 9:30-36).

Time after time man, in his daring, raw confidence, will take his chances and oppose the living God, and always the record is the same, “… Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Daniel 5:27). Men will keep trying. The Hitlers and the Stalins will climb over the shambles of the Pharaohs and Belshazzars, and always history will record the same verdict, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Friend, let me speak to you! What celebration have you arranged? What security do you boast? With what company are you? How much have you left God out of the picture of your life?

I’m not so sure that a lot of professing Christians aren’t as guilty as Belshazzar when it comes to using the holy vessels of God for other than intended purposes. Take, for instance, that sacred vessel, your own body. That body is made after God’s likeness. The Bible says that it ” … is the temple of the Holy Ghost … “ (1 Corinthians 6:19). What are you doing with it? 1 Thessalonians 4:4 says, “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.” The Apostle Paul says that the body is ” … for the Lord … “ (1 Corinthians 6: 13). What about it friend? There’s a “pay-day” coming, and I’m going to have to give an account.

Now, my unsaved friend, let me speak to you personally! Do you know what this chapter tells me? Here is what it says. It says that when the mysterious writing appeared on the wall of the palace that night, ” … the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another” (Daniel 5:6).

Did you get that? ” … his thoughts troubled him … ” His conscience went to work, and when he got the preacher there that night to read the Word of God to him, Daniel didn’t mince any words. He said, ” … thou knewest…But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven … and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified” (Daniel 5:22-23).

You see, this man knew better! He knew about the deliverance of the three young men from the fiery furnace. He knew about God’s dealing with his father, Nebuchadnezzar, and how he had been driven into the field to eat and live like an animal for seven insane years. He knew! No wonder his knees knocked together that night. “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20).

In that night, now stark sober, with the handwriting on the wall, he had no one to blame but himself.

Neighbour, if that was true back there in the long ago, then how much more true will it be in this enlightened Gospel age? What excuse will you have?

I want to read you God’s offer, ” … He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5 :24). God is willing to settle this thing with you now.

God will settle for only one thing: He will accept your public confession that what His Son, Jesus Christ, did on the cross was done for you. When you make that confession it means that you are saying, “I am a sinner and worthy of God’s judgment against my sins as much as Belshazzar had it coming to him on that night of his drunken party, but I believe Jesus died for my sins and paid my penalty. My trust is in Him and His Presence to help me live as I ought to live.” Get down on your knees and mean it with all your heart and God will accept it, and judgment day will be over for you!

Friend, it’s up to you! I don’t know what may be the scale by which you may have been measuring yourself? You may be in the upper bracket in the social register of your community, but remember this, the day will come when God will do the measuring. You may feel secure in some little “Babylon” you have built- some bank account, reserves for a “rainy day” or “stormy weather.” But take the advice of a preacher, don’t count God out of the picture. Pay-day is ahead. A settlement must be made.

” … prepare to meet thy God … “ (Amos 4:12).