The Handwriting on the WallDaniel 5:1 according to the historians Xenophon and Herodotus this feast happened October 12 539 BC. 30 years had passed since the death of Nebuchadnezzar… a new king was on the throne… and Daniel the prophet was an old man [probably 80 years old].We know the date of the feast because it is also the night the Persian army broke into the city of Babylon and conquered the kingdom. As prophesied Babylon's days were ended [compare with verse 30].https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/09/belshazzars-feast-handwriting-on-wall.html Keep Reading »

A great and horrible lie taken root in our society... the lie is this: "human life has no purpose". We are not created beings with a great destiny to fulfill. We are a highly improbable accident that came about by a series of random events. We come from nothing and our end is nothing. In between the best we can do is grab a bit of pleasure and enjoyment until the day we die. God's message to you is that your life does have purpose... and knowing that purpose is the way to find great joy... no matter what your circumstances.https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/08/knowing-gods-purpose-for-your-life.htmlKeep Reading »

The 4th chapter of Daniel is unique... it is the personal testimony of one of the great Gentile kings about his personal encounter with the living God. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had an intense experience that changed his way of thinking and he wants you to know about it.https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/08/repentance-is-answer-for-nebuchadnezzar.html Keep Reading »

The Woman of Wisdom - the Proverbs 31 WomanAt the end of the book of Proverbs we find a character sketch of a woman… she’s a good woman, she’s a wife, she’s a mother. Through her we are given a short summary of the practical wisdom presented in the book of Proverbs interpreted in the setting of a happy home.In biblical thought, true wisdom is pictured by contentment with diligent work in a safe, peaceful, structured family setting…. We must actively teach this Godly wisdom to our children. We must do this in word and in deed. In a world that tells them “its not enough”, we must tell them, and show them “this is the way”.https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-proverbs-31-woman.html Keep Reading »

Daniel 3:1-3 Just before this section of the book Nebuchadnezzar had experienced a dream of a golden statue which Daniel, the man of the true God in heaven, interpreted for him. That dream foretold the sequence of worldly kingdoms that would dominate the earth from the time of Israel’s demise, until the return of the Messiah at the end of the age. In that vision Nebuchadnezzar had the flattering position of the head of gold while the subsequent kingdoms were of lesser value. Later we’ll see that he might have let this go to his head…https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/07/god-is-able-to-deliver-shadrach-meshach.htmlKeep Reading »

Seek First the Kingdom of GodJohn 3:1-2 Nicodemus “you are a great teacher sent from God”Verses 3-8 Jesus reply seems enigmatic… why wasn’t He more straightforward?Why not something like:“Nicodemus… actually I am God. Technically the Father and I together are God, we are one, we are a family. You are correct in that I was sent here, you see the Father sent me. You haven’t met the Father yet… I’m here to reveal Him to you, to show you what He’s like and what He’s all about. As I mentioned before… the Father and I are one. So, if you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father and I’m only going to say what He would have me say, so if you hear my words you’ve heard the Father’s words.”Jesus could have said all that to Nicodemus… https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/07/seek-first-kingdom-of-god.htmlKeep Reading »

Daniel the Interpreter of DreamsDaniel was placed, by God, into an important position within the court of the Babylonian King. He was put there to witness to God's sovereign power over all nations. The lesson for you and me is this: because God controls and directs the affairs of the earth kingdoms we should be mindful that He can and does control the events of your life. Daniel 1:17-21 God was working with Daniel and his companions through the power of His spirit. God gave Daniel spiritual and intellectual gifts. He understood the literature, culture and wisdom of Babylon... but it would be the interpreting of dreams that would cause Daniel to rise to power in the king's court... where he would serve as God's witness.Daniel  had proven his obedience through the simple test of not defiling himself with the royal food [either unclean or having been offered to idols]. This is why the book of Daniel begins with a test of obedience!  Acts 5:32 "God gives His spirit to those who obey Him"https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/06/daniel-and-magicians-of-babylon.html Keep Reading »

Christ [the second member of the God family] has a role to fulfill within that God family. He assumes the role of a Son while the first member of the God family assumes the role of Father. The Son is as much all powerful, all knowing, and eternal as the Father… yet he takes on the subordinate role. He is a servant, He is a Son, He is a messenger.The Son does not consider equality with God the Father a matter to be contested. They work together as one… yet they are unique.The Father and the Son have big plans for you… who are to be part of the first resurrection. When Christ returns He will give you a new role to fulfill: you will be His bride, you will wield authority [kings], you will teach on matters eternal and spiritual [Priest], and you will dispense mercy and punishment [judges].All of these are roles which have responsibilities… and boundaries.For now we are like school children. In the flesh we are given simple tasks intended to teach big lessons. Faithfulness in small matters indicates readiness to take on the weightier matters that will be given to us when Christ returns.One of these simple lessons is to accept, and operate within the roles God has given us based on gender… And to do so in a Christ like way. Today, I would like to discuss how marriage, family, and gender help us better understand God.Keep Reading »

The day of Pentecost focuses on the first-fruits of God's plan of salvation. Through the imagery of harvest the bible teaches us that God's plan is rolling out in waves. 1. There is a first harvest [the offering of a single wave sheaf of the early barley crop], that is Jesus Christ the first of the first born2. Then there is a small second harvest of the winter wheat [Pentecost] - the first fruits3. Then there is a large final harvest of all the various produce of the land [ the festival of in-gathering or Feast of Tabernacles]. When "the rest of the dead" are raised.What is important for now is that the first fruits of Pentecost have been given a job to do. Let's talk today about the purpose of the first fruits... what we have been given to do, and why.Keep Reading »

The Life & Times of Daniel the ProphetDaniel was a teenager who was taken captive by Babylonian army in the year 605 B.C.  He would be used by God to record important prophecies concerning the course of human history from the fall of Israel through to the end of age and the return of the Messiah.https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2022/05/life-and-times-of-daniel-prophet.htmlKeep Reading »