Encouragement

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Drunk Religion, Drunk In The Spirit, Drunk On The World?

King Nebuchadnezzar and those in the king’s palace knew there was something different about Daniel and his three companions; and Daniel different even from them. Daniel was known to interpret dreams—not out of his own divination or thoughts—but through the Holy Spirit in operation in him. Several times we are shown where the king had called for the magicians, sorcerers, astrologers and the like to come and interpret dreams. They openly told the king—we cannot and no man can. Then how come Daniel could? And not once—but repeatedly!

Most people are familiar with the three Israelites being thrown into the furnace only to walk out alive, after the spectators seeing four people in the furnace, not just the three who were thrown in there. Indeed, God was with them in the form of the Holy Spirit. After this, King Nebuchadnezzar instructed all to believe, as he now did, in the True God that these Israelites worshiped. If you’re in position of a secular nature and the rug gets pulled out from under you by God or any other reason—your first instinct is to rebel and get even or do away with the opposition.

Wisdom does not rebel, knowledge replaces arrant attitudes, and understanding produces a greater way of accomplishing the tasks necessary.

Chapter 4 of Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that he had called for all the wise men around him and in the last, (vs 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 …” The king has now had another vision, one in which he sees a mighty tree that is cut down .. and asks Daniel for the interpretation.

In this chapter, we are shown that the “watchers” are the angels and there are “holy ones” in heaven that make decrees upon the people of the earth. The king had become great but full of himself and forgotten the Holy One of Israel, whom he had come to acknowledge. God will give us the desires of our heart. He will lead us in the paths to greatness—but when we fail to acknowledge from where our help came—we too get humbled, or cut down.

Nebuchadnezzar becomes like a crazy person and does live in the wilds, eventually coming unto death, but before the final curtain he looks up into heaven and repents, (vs 34-35, 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 forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 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? … 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 so ends the life of King Nebuchadnezzar, praising the Lord. So how come his son comes right behind him, while knowing all that his father had gone through and hasn’t learned the lesson? Chapter 5 shows Belshazzar the king making a feast and drinking wine and the best of food. He serves his princes, his wives, and his concubines not just out of the best dishes in the kingdom—he had to have the golden vessels that his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. From the golden goblets he served the wine.

Vs 3-4, “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, or brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” BUT IN THAT SAME HOUR the Holy Spirit began to write upon the wall in front of the king—and again Daniel was called in to interpret the writing that was unable to be read by those with the king, including all the wise men—the sorcerers, astrologers, magicians … NONE of them could do it.

Daniel interprets the writing: “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it, Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Vs 30) “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” Darius is then made king.

The question today is this: Do you recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life? Do you acknowledge that it is the Hand of the Lord who has sway over every situation in this world? King Belshazzar became like many today, having a knowledge of God without true understanding. He was willing to desecrate the emblems of God, those things that were reserved for the holiest of places. The goblets of finest gold, handcrafted by man to adorn the temple and use in honor to God—now used for carnal pleasure. This is an image of our bodies reserved for the Lord’s use in building His kingdom, clothed in righteousness and filled to over flowing with His precious Spirit—the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” The literal meaning is to be continually filled, never ending flow of the Holy Spirit in us. When we are filled in this manner, no dark thing can enter; no thoughts of evil, hatred, and strife. Darkness cannot stay in light. Daniel after interpreting the handwriting asks Belshazzar how he could come to this position in life of eating and drinking for the merriment and a sinful nature, when he had seen what his father had gone through and the testimony at the end of his life.

We can become drunk in our attitude towards religion just as well. Belshazzar also is a description of what Christians can become when they think higher of their position and “knowledge” rather than the High Priest—Jesus Christ. Can you serve Him and yourself at the same time? Are the sanctuaries a place for programs and self described attainment rather than true worship—that’s a question each must ask honestly of self. God will judge our hearts not the program or sermon. He will and does judge our intent—make sure it is for His honor and glory—only.

Today, let us consider our ways—are we drunk on the world and all it can offer or are we filled to overflowing with the awesome, life saving gift of the Holy Spirit? If you would like to know more of this gift of God, write to us at [email protected]

Susan Storm Smith
Publisher/Editor
www.mudinternational.org
www.godsjihad-thebook.com
www.worldpodge.com (under construction)

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