You Are The Light

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King James Bible Study[Mark 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]

Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Chapters: Daniel 4-6
Message: You Are The Light

Hello My Friend,

I happened to look at the time, noticing it was still dark at six thirty in the morning, and said to myself, “This is the sign that fall is coming and shorter daylight hours. This reminded me of something that Jesus said, [John 11:9-10  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.  10  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.].

Did you ever walk down a road when it is pitch dark, but for some reason you could see where you were going? That was actually me a few days ago, my street is actually pretty lit up, but the road leading to it is very dark. I was walking in the middle of the night down that dark road, but I could see where I was going, and it was not the moon, and even though it was only for a few minutes. Jesus truly is the Light that watches over us, and protects us, and we will never stumble as long as we are walking in this world in His Light, [John 12:46-48  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.  47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.]

Now, as we continue reading through Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar loved being in power, and the fact that he was in control of practically every nation, made him even more proud. He was well aware of God, even praised Him as being the God above all gods, but he never acknowledged Him as his God. Well, God was about to show him just how much his pride would be his fall, God gave him another dream, and he knew that Daniel was only one person in the kingdom that could help him interpret the dream.

[Daniel 4:4-5,8-9  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:  5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.  8  But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,  9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.]

[because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee,] Do you see what the world’s biggest mistake is? They worship what they know not, [Acts 17:23-27  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.  24  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  25  Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:]

There is the key to seeing the Light in the first place, [That they should seek the Lord,]. Remember, it was God that used Nebuchadnezzar to judge Judah, not destroy them, and in fact, He sent judgment upon all the nations that had any connection with Israel, and Nebuchadnezzar was well aware of that as well. Unlike the first dream, Nebuchadnezzar actually remembered this one in great detail, and God revealed something to him that we really does reveal to every leader that He uses to judge His people.

[Daniel 4:13-17  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;  14  He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:  15  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:  16  Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.  17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.]

[the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will,] The world may think that they are in control, Satan may even think that he is in control, but there is not one thing going on that God does not know about or is not a part of. All will come to the knowledge that God is in control of every nation. We can wonder why God is allowing all this evil taking place right now in our own country, but the simple truth is that God is the one in control. Do you think that He actually wanted Joe Biden and his godless and corrupt government to rule this nation? No, He did not. However, He knows that this will either turn this nation back to Him or He will take His people out of it, and it will become as Sodom and Gomorrah, [2 Peter 2:9-10  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.]

None of what is going on in the world today is the will of God, in fact, it is the will of a bunch of privileged, proud, spoiled brats, who never got taught the value of life, what it means to work for something, nor the consequence of their reckless actions. God does not mess with ones ability to choose good or evil, that is a choice that we must make, any evil that befalls us by those choices will overtake us unless we as a nation return to Christ and repent. Nebuchadnezzar learned that the hard way as he turned into that animal in his dream.

[Daniel 4:30-31,33  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  31  While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.  33  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.]

[that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power,] Talk about a dream or rather nightmare come true, and what a way to humble someone. There was that pride, the one where he gave himself credit for being such a powerful leader by his own might. And let me tell you how fast God will knock you down from on top of that much pride, and it will be humiliating. Nebuchadnezzar spent seven years as an animal, but by the end of those seven years, he surely humbled himself, and became a great testimony.

[Daniel 4:34-37  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:  35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?  36  At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.  37  Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.]

[and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?] Yes, we have no just cause to question God’s methods on how He brings people to repentance. And if you think that this is some kind of fable, think again, people do turn into some ravaging beasts when they are full of pride and under Satan’s influence. And God does all these bizarre things for one reason only, so that the world can see things things and hopefully turn to Him as well. We, who are saved and born again, are the only Light of Christ in this dark world, we shine His Light upon them when God does these incredible things, [Matthew 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.]

Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony did not convince his son that he ought to repent, but he too will discover God is the only KING, and in control of all things. When Belshazzar reigned as king, after all the humility that he saw his father go through you would have thought that he would have recognized God, but he denied Him, he even took the cups from the temple in Jerusalem and began worshiping their gods with them.

[Daniel 5:26  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.  3  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.  4  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.  5  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. 6  Then 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.]

[and praised the gods of gold, and of silver,] Satan can influence people to do some really dumb things, but this takes the cake. Taking the holy vessels that were used for the temple and not only drinking from them, but doing so to honor their man made gods. And people wonder why God gets so angry? Let me tell you, you do not and cannot understand the power of God until you face a dangerous situation. That is when many do turn to God for answers, or I should say someone who knows God. They brought Daniel before the king.

[Daniel 5:7,13-14  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 13  Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?  14  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.]

[and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.] And there is from the mouth of someone who rejects God. Oh, and unlike, his father who saw the writing on the wall so to speak, there was no sign that this king repented. Daniel reminded him of what happened to his father, and that he was well aware of I, and even reminded him of the stupidest thing that he ever did.

[Daniel 5:18,20,22-23  O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:  20  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:  22  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;  23  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; 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:]

[though thou knewest all this;] And this is where God’s mercy runs out. These are people who are well aware of the testimonies of those who got saved, yet refuse to humble themselves and turn to Him. God gave His Word to His believers so that they could have something to show them how to worship Him His way, and what happens to those who do not. Now, Belshazzar was killed shortly after the interpretation was given, the Medes took control of Babylon, a Darius reigned. Darius loved Daniel because he was faithful, in fact, he honored Belshazzar’s decree that made when he made Daniel third in command of the country, and was even contemplating bringing him up higher than that. Of course, that did not go ever well with the locals.

[Daniel 6:1-5  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;  2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.  3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.  4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.  5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.]

[except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.] You see, they knew that Daniel would never compromise his faith, and that would be their ammunition to frame him. And this is exactly what they did.

[Daniel 6:7-11  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.  8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.  9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.  10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.  11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.]

[that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king,] Do you see how they manipulated the king? Let me tell you, the leaders of our messed up countries are not the cause of the mess, they are just puppets on strings, doing whatever the ones holding onto the strings are telling them.

[Daniel 6:14-18  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.  15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.  16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.  18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.]

[was sore displeased with himself,] Even the king, after he had found out what that decree was really all about, was displeased with himself for signing it. However, he knew just how powerful God is and that He would deliver him from those lions, and even fasted and prayed all night long. Well, the next morning, Darius ran to the lions den, and cried out to Daniel, hoping to hear his voice, which Daniel did answer him.

[Daniel 6:2124,26  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.  24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.  26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.]

[for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever,] Daniel survived the night, was released and the men that conspired against him were thrown into the den. When we have a humble spirit, knowing that God is the reason for our success, we are going to prosper, and that is going to create enemies. We must realize that as long as we belong to Christ we are always going to be enemies, and we cannot hide our faith because His Light in us is just too bright to keep it hidden, [1 Thessalonians 5:3-5  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.]

Jesus Christ Magnified: [Daniel 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; Daniel 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.]

Today’s Prayer: God, As You bring prosperity to Your people by our simple faithfulness to You, You are the Light that shines through us to let the world know that You exist and live through us. Let us be reminded that You are the source for everything good in our lives. All of the things we go through, whether it is easy or difficult, are used to give You honor and glory, and as long as our spirit is right with You, and we are faithful to You, we will continue to prosper, and receive even more than we eve imagined. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us a humble spirit, if we get too boastful remind us that You give and also take if we forget that You are the one who rules. Keep us shining in Your Light so that we may never be in the dark. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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