►Wed/Feb5/2014|||Part Five of END TIME SERIES► Lessons We're To Learn From Daniel 5.
Lesson7: THE MAGICIANS SEEK MAN'S GLORY/GIFTS/REWARD; THE DANIELS SEEK GOD'S GLORY/GIFTS/REWARD. One of the Marks of a True Child of God is his Attitude Towards Gifts. He Tries as Much As Possible to Reject Gifts. If U are Not careful, Asking or Receiving Gifts Can land U in serious Problem.
Today, many people preach Giving, not with genuine intention; they preach it due to greed. They preach it in order to get more money. Many Christians also don' know how to say NO to Gifts. In vs 7b, we read that the King said he would reward anyone who interpreted the Writing on the Wall. The Gift/Reward were; Giving the Interpreter (i) a Purple Cloth (ii) gold Chain & (iii) the 3rd Ruler of Babylon.
The Magicians, soothsayers, enchanters, astrologers &diviners WERE MOTIVATED BY THE GIFT/REWARD, so they moved in to interpret the Writing; which they failed. Daniel also went there when he was finally called in by the King (1st Ruler), requested by the Queen (2nd Ruler). But DANIEL WASN'T MOTIVATED BY THE GIFT/REWARD. The v17 reads ''Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.''
2Kings 5:16, says ''The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I'll not accept a thing.” Even though Naaman urged him, he refused.'' That was when Prophet Elisha rejected gifts given him by Commander Naaman when God used the Prophet to cure the leprosy of the Commander.
Thus, in 2Kings 5:16, Prophet Elisha rejected Commander Naaman's gift. In Daniel 5:17, Prophet Daniel also rejected King Belshazzar's gift & though the King forcefully put the cloth on Daniel, I believe Daniel threw it away after departing from the King because it meant nothing to him (Daniel). Also, being a 3rd Ruler meant nothing to him (Daniel) because he knew that, that night, the king & his kingdom of Babylon were goin' to be conquered by Medo-Persian Army, led by Cyrus & his uncle Darius.
Let's learn TO SAY NO TO ENTICING GIFTS. IF A GIFT/REWARD GIVEN TO US BY MEN HAVE THE PROPENSITY OF INFLUENCING OUR SENSE OF JUDGEMENT, WE MUST QUICKLY REJECT IT.People say Gifts can be accepted after rendering a service. That's good. But if it has the power to influence our future sense of judgement, we must still reject that Gift, even if the gifts are given us after rendering the service. Thus, the gift should be rejected IF IT VIOLATES GOD'S LAW & HAS THE POWER TO INFLUENCE US-WHETHER IT'S BEFORE OR AFTER RENDERING A SERVICE. Gifts are not bad per se, but let's be people of discernment. If God tells us to receive it, fine. If not, then Let's Say No to such gifts.
DO U KNOW THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS (PASTORS, PREACHERS, ETC) WHOSE MOUTH HAVE BEEN SHUT & WHOSE SENSE OF JUDGEMENT HAVE BEEN THWARTED BY GIFTS FROM SINNERS WHAT DO U THINK MANY PREACHERS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PREACH AGAINST SIN? WHAT DO U THINK HAVE SILENCED MANY PREACHERS REGARDING HOMOSEXUALITY? WHAT DO U THINK HAVE BLINDED PASTORS SO MUCH SO THAT THEY CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH SIN?
THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE; GIFTS. ENTICING GIFTS, WHICH QUALIFY TO BE BRIBE. MANY OF THESE PREACHERS HAVE BEEN BRIBED & CORRUPTED BY GIFTS GIVEN THEM BY SHREWD PEOPLE. NOW THEIR MOUTHS HAVE BEEN SHUT. THEY DARE SPEAK AGAINST SIN AND IN FEW MINUTES, THEY WILL LOSE THEIR FORTUNES. IT SADDENS MY HEART THAT SOME CHURCHES HAVE ALLOWED HOMOSEXUALS TO FINANCE THEIR ACTIVITIES. HOW COULD SUCH CHURCHES SPEAK AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY?
Let's be careful. Let's seek God's Approval, Gifts & Rewards rather than that of Men. That of God Do Not Perish; but that of Men, Do.
AMEN. God willing, we shall look at Lesson 8 tomorrow.
---Samuel Kwasi Forkuo
ALL GLORY TO GOD
http://goo.gl/cLcssc
No comments:
Post a Comment