The Writing Is on the Wall | Is Your Time Used Wisely?

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harvest.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith every morning God causes it to your bidding on 1040 minutes which will 24 two would you go to bed forever. Time got to do with pastor Greg Laurie says we need God's kingdom is given its use was thy kingdom come, thy will be done as we many live their lives. There might be God I got some plans and three really appreciated it on board and help make you a new beginning for Greg Laurie looks at the life of Belshazzar plans and dreams evolved as God sent a text message told the king what will the old chapter. Chapter 4 the title of my messages.

The writing is on the wall. Those jobs are was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.

He was the final ruler of Babylon. He was an evil young man that went out of his way to mock and attack God and he read the very heavy consequences of doing that you actually saw the very hand of God writing on the wall of as follows with a very specific warning. Let's read about what happened in chapter 5 reading verses 1 to 6. I read from the new living translation. Many years later, King Belshazzar gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles only drink wine with them while Belshazzar was drinking the wine to give orders to bring in the gold and silver dots that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, wives and concubines. He brought these gold cups taken from the temple. The house of God in Jerusalem, the king and his nobles and his wives and concubines drink from them element to stop for a moment. These are vessels instruments that are used for the worship of God.

So this guy goes out of his way to say all these are for God was filling with wine and let's worship the false gods of Babylon, verse four, while they drink from them. They praise their idols made of gold and silver and so forth. Suddenly they saw the fingers of a human again writing on the wall of the king's palace near the lampstand, the king himself sobbing and is a road. His face turned pale, with bright, his knees, knock together and fear in his legs gave way beneath him.

You probably heard it said when your knee start knocking Neil on them and something scares you pray call out to God that he call out to God, no, he call out to his astrologers and his fortunetellers and is soothsayers and all the rest of that said explain this to me. They said king. We cannot explain this to you, sir. The queen mother. The grand mother. Grandma's care. She walks into his boy. You need to talk to the prophet Daniel. He was a great help to your grandfather and it would be of great help to you right now.

Go talk to the man of God.

Now Daniel had pretty much been off the grid for 10 years. At this point, but he was ready for action and when he was called on and he immediately comes Eddie's ready to deliver the word of the Lord, and he reminded the boy king of his grandfather and his dramatic conversion and then Daniel says the Belshazzar is 22 Belshazzar you knew all of this but you will not humbled yourself to God is sent you a message or 25 here it is.

Many, many tackle Parson is really means many means number God is number the days of your rain and you brought it to an end tackle means way you been weighed in the balances and you fail the test. Parson means divided your kingdom is been divided and given to the Medes and Persians loose paraphrase body.

Your number is up you been weighed in God scales and you don't have what you need right now. So Belshazzar is blown away by Daniel's wisdom and his boldness that he wants to reward the prophet for his insides and let me give you a purple robe and a gold chain and a grill for your teeth. Come on, that nothing on any of her stuff. Did you hear what I just said the kingdom is done, the parties over yeah but I'll make you through roller third ruler over what this this is done for and I don't want your rewards.

I'm just telling you this truth because you need to know it in verse 29 says in a Belshazzar's command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was in around his neck was proclaimed the third-highest roller in the kingdom of that very night Belshazzar. The Babylonian king was killed. There's going to be out last night for every person still be a last meal last statement last breath. Then he turned and I was on a radio program this week.

Pastor's perspective with Brian brought her son toward the end of the program.

A lady called.

She was very distressed. Her mother Vicki was dying she was on her deathbed.

The family was gathered around Vicki and though Vicki was a believer.

She was a little bit afraid and she said the whole families listening to the radio right now. Can you say something to her. I just thought of what I would say if I walked into that room personally but it happened to be on the radio that I just said Vicki.

Here's what Jesus wants you to know.

He says let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions over my not so I would've told you.

I go and I will come again and receive you want to myself that were I am, you may be also. And where I go you know and the way you know Thomas said we don't know the way. We don't know where you're going. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes of the father but by me. I said Vicki you are going to go now in the presence of God and you don't have to be afraid to leave all of your pain behind you all of your questions are going to be answered and you're going to see the Lord and he's going to say to you, well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord, I could say that to her. I could see that joy because she was a believer in I could not say that to a person who is not a believer in Jesus told to destroy before about father who had three sons and he was on his deathbed and he said to his first son. My son, I love you and I'll see you in the morning to his second son to me says son I love you and I'll see you in the morning he came to his third son, and he said son goodbye.

The sense of why did you say goodbye you said to my brothers.

I'll see you in the morning. He says that's because their believers in one day will be reunited in heaven.

That voice about father, I want to see you again. He says you must believe in Jesus Christ. For that to happen, and then the boy gave his life to the Lord and the father says I'll see you in the morning as well.

That's the hope of faith is nothing like it. So one day live will lead so need to do live our lives wisely. We don't know how much time we have in this lie before us.

Listen to this every morning God deposit into your bank of time 86,400 seconds. That's 1440 minutes, which equal 24 hours.

Now you have to choose how you will spend those minute nothing will be carried over to the next day on credit you have disbanded and what you don't spend is forfeited forever. Take that time that God is given him. Let's use it wisely to Greg Moore below the second half of this message just a moment. So many summers have commented on the help they received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and often gets them through some of her darkest hours dear Pastor Greg, I wanted to let you know how much your daily radio ministry is meant to my wife and I at the beginning of the pandemic. My wife started chemotherapy for breast cancer. It was a difficult time for us both, but I was thankful that I was able to be home during this time to help many mornings I would make breakfast and we listen to a new beginning on the radio while we ate your messages and especially your kindness that you always express while preaching was so important to us to give us hope to face this difficult challenge.

Looking back, with my wife now healed of her cancer. Both have such happy memories of those morning spent listening to you. We will always be in your debt for your messages and your kindness. Thank you. These daily studies minister to you and your family and you let us know tell us your story by calling 1-866-871-1144 special number 866-871-1144. What were studying the remarkable encounter King Belshazzar had with a hand writing on the wall in Pastor Greg's message the writing is on the wall caters for take away points as we come to a close number one we learn this the last message no one is beyond the reach of God. Belshazzar could've been reached but because his heart was hardened.

He was not given another chance folks listen to me. There is a point of no return.

I don't know when it actually happens in a person's life, but I'm telling you it's out there somewhere. There is the unpardonable sin we you can blaspheme the Holy Spirit. We don't know what it is. So we always want to keep reaching out the message of the gospel and never give up on anyone. No one is beyond the reach of God. Number two, having been reached. We need to pass it on to others. Nebuchadnezzar did not reach his son evil or his grandson Belshazzar and so these Jews need to be passed on.

Listen here Lena legacy right now for your kids and grandkids. Let me take a quick bowl. How many of you have children, raise your hand if your children want to how many of you have grandchildren.

While lots of you. How many of you have great grandchildren. Okay, first of all, God bless you for being at church and being a great example.

You made the right decision today right you did because there's a lot of things that people would rather doing Sunday sometimes and go to church and some me letters and I to go to church as much as I used to go to the game on TV or it's a beautiful day and really go to the beach or I want to go golfing or stay home and watch online. That's what I want to do all watch online you're really missing out. You need to be here as an active part of the church and you know and listen people watch us around the country and so I would say to those post you need to be an active part of your church. Okay, I'm sure the stats of you before, listen, if both mom and dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children will be faithful to do the same if only dad attend church regularly 55% of the children will remain faithful. If only mom attends regularly 15% of the children will remain faithful. If neither attends regularly, only 6% will remain faithful. Your kids are watching you your modeling it for them. What priorities are you showing them that they see you read the Bible did they see you, pray for they see you seeking to live a life that honors God.

Your setting an example for the be very aware of that.

I don't think Nebuchadnezzar did a very good job of this. In this grandson rebelled against God.

Point number three were almost done were placed here on this earth to glorify God. One of the things that Daniel said to Belshazzar as he said you've been weighed in the balances you been found lacking and you have God glorified God. That's why I'm here. Is that why my here you here to glorify God is and what is that even mean it means that you recognize that your life is a gift from God. And whatever you do you want to do it for the glory of God. The Bible says in Isaiah 43 seven everyone who is called by my name, the Lord speaking, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed in me. You are required to worship your design to bring honor to the Lord's.

Whatever you do if your mom if your dad if your businessman if you're a schoolteacher. If you're an athlete. If you're a musician if you're a preacher if you're a missionary. If you are a fill in blank here. Do it for God's glory be the best you possibly can be. Work harder than anybody else and then when you succeed and I believe you will let people know you're doing it for God's glory and listen to this flipping around.

If you can't do it for God's glory. Don't do that thing anymore, but I can't say Lord blessed me as I go to this thing they don't do that thing. Lord blessed me as I go to church today.

Yes, Lord blessed me as I go to the bar and get drunk today. No, that I can write hallowed be thy name over the don't do it because your design to bring glory to God. Last point one day we will be weighed in God's divine scale. Don't be a spiritual lightweight what is.

I mean, did you think something of the believe, but there's no substance. There's no depth. There's just not much of anything like one day you're gonna reap what you sow and I know that usually used in the negative. What your reports are so well yes, but it can be positive or negative. Let's go back to verse I quoted earlier.

Don't be deceived, God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. If he so so the flesh shall reap corruption, but at least those of the spirit will reap life everlasting. Yes, somebody sort of the flagship sub I don't have time for God and I break his commandments all reap the repercussions, but also yes if I have time for the Lord and I do what he wants me to do all reap those blessings as well. What kind of spiritual weight does your life have right now some of your thinking and I don't like this message that match what I will maybe because you're not living as you want to live they be number one are not a Christian I will get that settled them in a moment or number two you're Christian but you're not really living for the glory of God. You know you can check in with God you check the little boxes you know my Bible. I know some recently and I'm here church so that sugar me a little favor with God. It would you're not really honoring him or seeking the live for his glory, you would sing. Honestly, you failed will God give second chances doesn't is another time the finger of God broke you wrote on the wall.

The palace of the sounds are you wrote on the tablets of stone and then there was a woman caught in the act of adultery. And remember, she was brought before Jesus and her accusers said this woman is been caught in the very act of adultery in the law says she should be stoned.

What do you say in Jesus began to write on the ground in the sand. We don't know what Jesus wrote what he wrote something and then he stood up and said let him that is without sin among you cast the first stone and they look at what he had written and he went down again and wrote a little bit more in this and in each of them dropped the rock they went back home and there was no this woman who'd been caught in the act, and Jesus turned to her and he said, woman, where are your accusers. She says Lord, I have none. He says neither do I condemn you go and sin no more powerful and that's what Jesus says to each of us when we have sin when we fallen short, he will forgive us know.

Here's the interesting question. When did this woman become a believer, causing Jesus the state go and sin no more.

Probably in the nano seconds. Probably about the time he said to her accusers. If your without sin cast the first stone and they all love and then he says were your accusers, she says, Lord, I have that you called him Lord right there.

She believed how long does it take to believe in Jesus Christ.

Does it take years or months or days. No, it doesn't even take hours. It can happen in a moment it can happen in a second or you just say I believe in Jesus and I choose to follow Jesus that can happen for you right now.

So really close in prayer and in a moment, I will extend an invitation for you to have the Lord say to you, you're forgiven go and sin no more will fall short will break God's commandments we all fail. But Jesus died for the sins on the cross. 2000 years ago and he rose again from the dead.

Now he sends at the door of our life and the nonsense is a fool hear his voice and open the door shall come in as Jesus ever come into your life. If not, would you like him to. So when that day comes when you're on your deathbed. If you have the luxury of a deathbed. By that I mean some people know the end is coming. They can say goodbye to people they care about, but for others that comes suddenly and unexpectedly, are you ready for that moment. If you are, you don't have to be afraid because you go right into God's presence want you but if you don't have Christ living inside of you. You should be scared your knees should be in Aachen just I go Belshazzar but God will forgive you he would've forgiven Belshazzar.

If you have repented, but that was not the intent of this young king's heart, but it could be the intent of your heart.

There is no sin. He will not forgive, if you will ask him to forgive you. Let's pray father, thank you for sending Jesus to walk this planet of ours to live a perfect life then to die a perfect death then to rise again from the grave Lord, we know that Jesus is here with us right now standing at the door of our life and knocking interval. Hear his voice and open the door shall come in my brief for any that are here that don't know you yet Lord, help them become to you and believe in Jesus name I pray for Greg Lord important prayer and if you like to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg would like to help you with that will do so in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes then we want to mention Pastor Greg brand-new book called Lennon Dylan, Alice, and Jesus is a look at the life stories of so many famous music artists whose lives self-destructed and Patrick so my look at all the trouble that those people get into and say yeah that's why I don't even listen to the crowd anymore, but often their struggles are common struggles. That's right and there's some things we can learn from them is not right. Oh sure, these are just people. When the day is done, and they go behind the closed doors of where they live there just regular people like you and I are, they have the same struggles they have the same insecurities they have that they have the same questions and just because they have all these things doesn't mean that there Be a fact. That's why so many of them turned to drugs or other things because they're not finding the fulfillment in the things they may have thought they would find fulfillment in a lady wrote a book talking about keeping the high note and she referenced different people who had great success in their careers, like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. And she said the reason they turned to drugs is because they couldn't hit the high note anymore by that she was not speaking of literally kidding. I note, but they could maintain that level of excitement and euphoria that they may have experienced when it first started for them. You sort of adjuster that you become acclimated to that. So then you say what is the next high note.

What's the next accomplishment.

What is the next mountain to conquer.

Then you conquer that, then you say what's the next thing to do. What's the next car I should driver what's the next house I should live in houses I should buy or yacht. I should have then you accomplish that you think what's in and on and on it goes into just empty empty empty.

The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun was welcome Muggeridge once said, all news is old news happening to new people and you would think that rock stars would look at the lives of other rock stars who have crashed and burned and say I'm not going to do that. We get so many of them do so. It's a story of people were searching, but many of them have found the Lord. Tragically, many of them have not found the Lord so this book looks at both sides of that and what happens with the decisions you make in life. I think though ultimately you will be a very encouraging book for you to not give up praying for people you know that are not yet believers and listen. This would be an excellent book to give to anyone you know who is not a believer but the rev fan of rock music because I think this book will really speak to them. Yeah, that's right. And again. It's called Lennon Dylan, Alice, and Jesus is subtitled the spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll health that loved one.

Learn from the mistakes of these high profile music icons and avoid heart ache and tragedy. It's a book with some strong warnings, but it's also a book of strong hope as well and would like to send you Lennon Dylan Allison Jesus to thank you for your donation right now and time is running out. We can only mention this. A short time longer so call us today at 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg another seminar audience who felt God speaking to them today through your message and they want to make a change in the relationship with the Lord. Could you help them with that.

Yeah, you know, Dave. The Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved so I would lead you in a prayer we you will be doing just that.

Calling on the name of the Lord solicit if you want your sins forgiven. If you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life and take away your guilt and your shame. Then just stop what you're doing and pray this prayer with me right now pray this after me if you would, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

I have broken your commandments. I have fallen short of your standards but 2000 years ago you died on the cross for me, then you rose again from the dead. So Jesus come in the my life and be my Savior and my Lord and my God, my friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen man, and listen.

If you have just prayed those words with Pastor Greg and meant them sincerely the Lord is heard you and forgiven you of your sin.

Now we want to welcome you into the family of God and would like to send some follow-up materials your way to help you to begin to live this life of faith listen you are new believers growth packet just ask for it when you call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 seven phone number so doll right now. 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and click the words know God, you know, there's nothing lying here in the word of God and worshiping the Lord together. I will encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home every Saturday and Sunday harvest.org you join Christians literally from around the world as we worship and we study the word of God together.

So join us for Harvest at Home and harvest when next I pastor Greg brings us one of the most familiar stories regarding Daniel follow Daniel right into the lion's that join us here on a new beginning pastor vital feature Greg Laurie and with Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org