Bible Session Notes from Guest Speaker Rob Wagy - 4-6-15

What Type of Character Will You Be?

Rob Wagy – Guest Speaker

Who are the Characters?

        Daniel AKA Beltshazzar (Beltis protect the king!,)

1. King Nebuchadnezzar (Grandpa) meaning (O god Nabu, preserve/defend my firstborn son". Nabu, He is also known as Bakhat Nasar, which means "winner of the fate", or literally, "fate winner".^{[citation needed])}) Son of Nebuchadnezzar

First Part means O god preserve/defend my firstborn son  Second Part means: winner of the fate

King Nabonidus  Not mentioned   Could mean (O god Nabu, preserve/defend my firstborn son".

2. King Belshazzar  (Grand Kid)  (Bel, protect the king", sometimes called Balthazar)

Hananiah he called Shadrach,

Mishael he called Meshach,

Azariah he called Abednego

The Story of two men with a similar name meaning protect the KING.   As we look into the lives of these two men, there are other characters that play into the story, let’s see how it all plays out.

The starting of the story we see that Daniel and his three friends who are so devoted to the Hebrew God.  That they won’t eat food that may have been prepared for Idols first.

Let’s read what the Bible says.

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. ⁹ Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. ¹⁰ The palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king." ¹¹ Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: ¹² "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe." ¹⁴ So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. ¹⁶ So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

So God provided a Miracle to prove a point.  That it was God will keep those that keep themselves for Him.

Then because he needed somebody to help guide the Kings… he allowed them to be smarter that the other diviners.

So we can see Daniel (Beltshazzar) put himself into a place he could live up to his name.  It too was a sacrifice to be there, but we see how God equips Daniel for the next steps coming in life.

Here is how Scripture puts it.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams. ¹⁸ At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, ¹⁹ and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king's court. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. ²¹ And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Daniel 2:25-30 Da’ DREAM

King Neby can’t sleep and is creeped out and is looking for help.  When nobody can he wants to kill ALL the “wise Men”

But one of the consultants to the King Arioch Reminds the King of Daniel.

Let’s see how Scripture places that out.

²⁵ Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can tell the king the interpretation." ²⁶ The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?" ²⁷ Daniel answered the king, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, ²⁸ but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these: ²⁹ To you, O king, as you lay in bed, came thoughts of what would be hereafter, and the revealer of mysteries disclosed to you what is to be. ³⁰ But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living being, but in order that the interpretation may be known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

Again in scripture we see Daniel say wait don’t kill anybody.   Let me see if God can tell me.

To give you the shortened version, he predicts King Neby spends time as an Animal cause of his hard heartedness.

What is going to happen after word?

For time we need to jump down to the person who is named to be the protector of the King.

We will see that he choose much different actions… and we see a very different outcome and the kingdom becomes compromised cause of his decisions.

All he wanted to do was have a little fun with his friends. Hey the stuff his dad took wasn’t being used let’s bring out the finest.

Would you, if you were trying to impress your friends?

Changing Characters

DA PARTY CHAPTER 5

King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

WARNING… when you hear somebody talk about being under the influence of wine or anything… let be a WARNING… most times nothing good comes from it.  Maybe some funny stories…but there was an expensive lesson to be learned from the story and happy nobody was seriously hurt.

Who wouldn’t want the BIGGEST and BEST New Year’s party EVER?

² Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver ₁ that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Before we get into the next part what does this tell us about his character?
What does it say about learning from the mistake of his elders?  That was one thing my mom tried to instill in me.  Let somebody else learn the hard way… and try to choose not to make the same mistake… I think she had some wised.  Too bad Belszer didn’t have someone speaking wisdom to him.

THE Hand Writing

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. ⁶ Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. ⁷ The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom." ⁸ Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation. ⁹ Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.

The Wrap up

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation.

Side Note:

So, again Daniel wouldn’t let himself be defiled with wrong gifts.

What does this tell us about Daniel??

He had a higher purpose.  He had others speaking words of life into him.  So, he had what it took to make right choices.

¹⁸ O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty. ¹⁹ And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed those he wanted to kill, kept alive those he wanted to keep alive, honored those he wanted to honor, and degraded those he wanted to degrade. ²⁰ But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was stripped from him. ²¹ He was driven from human society, and his mind was made like that of an animal. His dwelling was with the wild asses, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and sets over it whomever he will. ²² And you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this! ²³ You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honored. 

CHAP 5:26  THE JUDGEMENT

This is the interpretation of the matter: mene, God has numbered the days of ₅ your kingdom and brought it to an end; ²⁷ tekel, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; ²⁸ peres, ₆ your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 

Pretty harsh ending. While he was partying the enemy was infiltrating

the Palace. When the writing was on the wall.

Some Historians say

It was said that during the Party the Persia had tunneled under and throw the wall. Attacked at the end of the party.

That was how the kingdom was then given over to the Persians.

Sidenote about how we know.

Evidence that Belshazzar held the title of king, beyond the evidence given in the Book of Daniel, comes from a cuneiform tablet called “The Verse Account of Nabonidus,” where it is said that Nabonidus “entrusted the kingship” to his oldest son before leaving on his pilgrimage to Tema.^[3] Also, in Xenophon’s Cyropaedia (4.6.3), Xenophon refers to a son of the Babylonian king whom he also calls a king, and this son/king was reigning in Babylon when Cyrus was preparing his army to advance against the city. Xenophon, without giving his name, also repeatedly refers to the "king" that was slain when Babylon fell to the army of Cyrus. Xenophon, in agreement with Herodotus (I.292), says that the combined Median and Persian army entered the city via the channel of the Euphrates River, the river having been diverted into trenches that Cyrus had dug for the purpose, and that the city was unprepared because of a great festival that was being observed.^[4]

Bible Session 3-30-15 James Starlin

Here are my notes from our guest speaker - James Starlin.

James introduced his friends - Paul, Tim & Taylor and then opened in prayer.

He then shared a little about his life.

• He is 27 years old.
• He started chasing God in 2008 when he really gave his life to Christ.
• At 20, he had everything he wanted.  
• When he came to Christ, it was like a revelation - an epiphany.
• He grew up hearing God's word in church but he didn't actually have a relationship with God.
• God gave us a choice.

He talked about his "Crazy & Lazy" season.

• He became a Christian and really had a relationship with Christ.
• He felt like he knew something others did not know, but he wasn't sharing that information with anyone.

Then he decided to start showing people God's love and not just talking about it. He gave us a cool picture on canvas that he had done of our logo, and told us how it was a token of his love - an example of showing God's love to others by what we do, say, give, listen, etc.

"It's not always easy following God, but it's rewarding."  I thought this was a great quote.  He went on to say following God has given him the confidence to come and speak to us.

In Junior High he started asking, "What is my identity?"

James came tonight to express...

You are the light of the world.  You are a city on a hill. (Matthew 5:14)

God made you perfect.  Exactly the way He wanted you.  Like an artist putting every effort into making a work of art, God made you exactly the way you were meant to be.

Favorite Scripture:

Philippians 4:4-9 - Do not be anxious about anything. Pray about everything. EVERYTHING! And HE will give you peace.  His peace guards your heart.

Kids Are Cooking photos from last night

God's Mad Skills (Bible Session Notes from 3-23-15)

Last night Jeremy Drew spoke on "God's Mad Skills"

Omniscient - all knowing - Psalm 147:5, Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 1:5

Omnipresent - all seeing - Jeremiah 23:24, I John 3:20, Hebrews 4:13

Omnipotent - all powerful - Matthew 19:26, Psalm 147:5, Philippians 4:13

If God is all knowing, where does all knowledge come from?  Him.
If we have a question, he has the answer.

God is all seeing.  He sees everything. We cannot hide anything from God.

He is all powerful.  Genesis 1:1.  God created the heaven and the earth.  None of us can do that, but He did.  If you need help, ask God.

Bible Session Notes from Last Monday Night - 3-16-2015

The Fourth Commandment

Adapted From: Ten to Grow On By Sandra Klaus

·        Review:

o   How many commandments are there? 10

o   The 10 Commandments are found in which part of the Bible? Old Testament and many are repeated in the New Testament. 

o   What is the First Commandment?

§  You shall have no other Gods before me. 

o   What is the Second Commandment?

§  You shall not make for Yourself an Idol

o   What is the Third Commandment?

§  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God

o   Who can remember where the 10 Commandments are first found in the Bible?  What book? Exodus

·        Read Exodus 20:8-11

·        Sabbath?

·        The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word meaning to stop, take a break, rest from your work.

·        Holy?

·        Holy means to separate or set apart.

·        When God gave this Commandment to Moses to share with His people, he was asking for a special day to be set aside each week for worship and rest. A day of worship. In a sense, a gift to God.  On that one day, people were to give their attention to God.

·        Ways in which we can worship God:

o   Go to church

o   Pray

o   Thinking about Him

o   Reading the Bible

o   Singing songs to Him or about Him

o   Doing good things for others

o   Encouraging other Christians

o   Telling unbelievers about Christ

·        Sabbath was also a gift from God.  A day of rest.  A day away from our ordinary work.  He knew we would need a break.

·        Most Christians use Sunday as their day of worship and rest.

·        God loves us and He wants us to take care of ourselves both spiritually and physically. 

·        God wants us to spend time with Him every day, but it’s important that set aside one day to be a special “God’s” day.  He doesn’t request this.  He commands it. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it Holy.”

·        Traditionally Jews celebrated the Sabbath on Saturday. From sunset Friday night to sunset Saturday night, the Jewish people were forbidden to do any work at all. 

·        Then Jesus came and changed that perspective a bit.  He said it was ok to do some things on the Sabbath.

o   Mark 2:27 – Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath

o   Matthew 12:12 – Jesus says it is right to do good things on the Sabbath

·        After Jesus came and died to save us all from our sins, people began celebrating the Sabbath on Sunday.  Not all churches consider Sunday the Sabbath. Some still use Saturday.

·        Some people look at the Sabbath as their day of rest, and they sleep in, skip church, and lounge around all day.  That’s fantastic except for one thing.  They’ve missed the “worship” part of the commandment!  Oh dear!

·        Other people do so much on the Sabbath attempting to get ready for church, get ready for big meals, going to a church meeting after church, that they’ve missed out on the “rest” part of the commandment.  Also, Oh dear!

·        Leaving out either part – rest or worship – is disobeying God’s Commandment.

 

·        God gave us the Sabbath so that we would be ready to face what would come at us during the week.

·        Remember to study God’s Word and worship him while making time to rest and relax. 

·     Bible Drill: Things to do to keep God’s day holy

Luke 18:1 (Pray)

Psalm 119:11 (Memorize)

Psalm 9:1 (Praise)

Ephesians 5:19 (Sing)

Psalm 1:1-2 (Meditate)

Acts 20:35 (Give)

Hebrews 13:16 (Do good)

I Thessalonians 5:18 (Give thanks)

Exodus 20:8-11

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work… for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Bible Session Notes 3-9-15

The Third Commandment

Adapted From: Ten to Grow On By Sandra Klaus

·        Review:

o   How many commandments are there? 10

o   The 10 Commandments are found in which part of the Bible? Old Testament and many are repeated in the New Testament. 

o   What is the First Commandment?

§  You shall have no other Gods before me. 

o   What is the Second Commandment?

§  You shall not make for Yourself an Idol

o   Who can remember where the 10 Commandments are first found in the Bible?  What book?

·        Read Exodus 20:7

·        The Third Commandment says, “You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord Your God.”

·        It can also be said, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”  Vain means without value. 

·        What does this mean?  It means that every time we say “God” or “Jesus Christ” we should remember how much we love God and how important He is to us.

·        One way to avoid misusing God’s name is to only use it when there is a good reason to use it.  We can use His name when talking to Him, when telling someone how wonderful He is, when thanking Him for something in your life or the world around you.

·        What are some of the wrong ways people use God’s name? (Discuss with students)

·        The most obvious way people misuse God’s name is to use it as a swear word.

·        Keep in mind that there are many names for God.  Using any name for God when we are angry or frustrated is a sin.

·        Sometimes people use the name of God to shock others or draw attention to themselves.  This is not honoring God.  This is a sin.

·        In some ways, we as Christians can misuse God’s name by the way we act.  If we are Christians, then people associate us with Christ.  We should act in ways that bring honor to Christ. 

·        How should we use God’s name? (Student Discussion)

o   We should speak His name in love.

o   We should honor and protect his name.

o   We should defend it when we hear someone else using it in wrong ways.

Bible Drill:

1Timothy 6:15

John 4:25

Titus 1:4

Additional Bible Reading: 

Isaiah 9:6

John 1:29

John 10:14

Matthew 1:23

Memory Verse:

Exodus 20:7

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name

Oops Forgot to Post! Bible Session Notes 3-2-15

The Second Commandment

Adapted From: Ten to Grow On By Sandra Klaus

·        Review:

o   How many commandments are there? 10

o   The 10 Commandments are found in which part of the Bible? Old Testament and many are repeated in the New Testament. 

o   What is the First Commandment?
You shall have no other Gods before me. 

·        Read Exodus 20:4-5

·        The First Commandment – Have no other God’s before me.

·        The Second Commandment - Do not make any idols.

o   Idols can be made from almost any material.

o   Idols can look like something God created, something random, or it may even represent God.  But God says that HE is the only one we should bow down to or worship.

·        God created the earth, the moon, the stars, people, wood, glass, stone, etc. 

·        What is the only thing not created by God? God.

·        God has always been and will always be.  He has no beginning or end. He is all powerful.  He is the only one we should worship. Although our human minds, struggle with the idea of something or someone not having a beginning, we have to accept that concept on faith.  We are not God and we do not understand eternity the way He does.

·        Some people say they believe in God and Buddha and worship both.  The Bible says you cannot worship two Gods.  You must choose between them.  The right answer is to choose the God who made you.

·        Some people say they worship God but they also carry this lucky statue.  They think the statue brings them good luck or magical powers.  The only god with power is the one true living God.

·        What is the difference between statue people worship and a statue in a park or museum?  (Discuss with students)

·        God is a jealous God and he does not like it when we worship anything except Him.

·        God has the right to be jealous.  He made us.  We are his.  He has every right to expect us to worship him.

·        If we play around with any other gods, God has a right to be angry with us.  And the right to judge us. God loves us and He wants us to know the truth and obey it. As we discussed in week one, we can be happier and safer trusting and obeying God.

·        What other religions and other gods have you heard of? (Discuss with students)

·        God says we are to have nothing to do with statues that are idols.  He wants us to show love and concern for people who do worship other gods and who bow down to idols.  We should help them to know that they do not need those gods; the God who made them is enough.  The Lord Jesus will be with them if they receive him as their Savior.  You can tell t hem about Jesus, but if they do not want to listen, politely leave them alone.  If you have questions, ask your parents, pastor, teacher at church or anyone else who is a Christian.  Remember to pray for those who do not know Jesus.

·        I have packets made up for those who want them.  There is a story, a crossword puzzle and the memory verse.  Please pick one up on your way out tonight.

Additional Bible Reading:

Genesis 1:1

Isaiah 42:5

Colossians 1:16

Amos 4:13

Genesis 1:27

Ephesians 3:9

Revelation 4:11

John 1:3

Memory Verse:

Exodus 20:4-5

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.