Key Text: Daniel 5

Daniel 5:1-4 Belshazzar makes a great feast, drinking wine. In the midst of this revelry, he asks for the golden and silver vessels from the temple in Jerusalem and praised the Babylonian gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone.

Daniel 5:5 Suddenly a hand was writing on the wall.

Daniel 5:7-8 The king's wise men could not answer what the writing meant.

Daniel 5:9 The king was greatly toubled, his countenance was changed.

Daniel 5:10-12 The queen remembered Daniel. But, even the queen had forgotten about Dnaiel until a crisis occurred. This is how people are today. They forget about God until there is a crisis. But after the crisis, they forget again about God.

Daniel 5:13-14 The king had heard of Daniel The Pastor related a story about a young lady known to talk about God on every occasion. She went on a weekend stay and determined not to mention God. At the end of the weekend, another guest asked if she was this person she had heard of that always spoke about God, or if she was her sister. The youn lady said she was indeed the same person. The lady said she had come to the weekend event event for the express purpose to hear about the young lady's God. We often miss opportunities that God has given us.

Daniel 5:16-17 When Daniel is called, he is offered riches to interpret the writing, but turned down the gifts.

Daniel 5:18-21 Daniel reminds the king of his father's (Nebuchadnezzar's) fall at his greatest moment due to pride - hardening of his heart against God. (Reference 1Corinthians 10:12).

Daniel 5:22-23 Daniel told Belshazzar that he had lifted himself against the Lord. He did not recognize that he was placed in his position by God. Often we do not realize that it is God that has put into the positions that we have. We prefer to think that we have achieved things through our own efforts.

Pastor Roberts related the story of David Gates in Guyana. He was accused of doing the mission work to his own glory. Because of this he decided to withdraw from Guyana unless God gave him a clear sign to continue. The next day he was called in and given a radio station for mission work.

God gives us unlimited knowledge, power and ability to do His work, to meet His challenge.

Daniel 5:25-28 Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall. It found Belshazzar wanting, and announced his fall. God gives us many opportunities but his mercies have limits. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Now is the accepted time to turn to God. Do not linger in sin. Proverbs 1:24-32 Belshazzar had waited too long. Can it be that we also postpone putting the things of the future out of our minds? Will we be found wanting? Revelation 3:11 We should not let any man take our crown. Hold fast.

Daniel 5:30 The king gave Daniel gifts intending to reward him. However, in that very night Belshazzar was slain. Romans 6:23 The wages of sin are death. We are determining our own destiny.

Once again in Daniel we see that God is sovereign. He sets up kings and he takes down kings.

Pastor Roberts told the story of his own son. He had been offered a large bonus at work, but a doctor blocked it. Later the doctor resigned, and his son received the bonus.