Tag Archives: Daniel

Learn to Go Against the Flow, While Resting in God’s Flow

04 Thursday Oct 2012

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As you have probably gathered by now, I like Daniel. His life is not simply a “feel good” story. Daniel is an inspiration on how to continually live for God during difficult times. While other Jews apparently had given up and given in to living a compromised life in a wicked land… Daniel chose a difficult course. Where are the rest of Daniel’s kinsmen? Before I move on here, we need to understand Daniel and his friends were living under God’s judgment. For the next seventy years the whole nation would have to live in exile. How would you like to live under this type of bondage, knowing it was God’s hand which brought you to this place?

What is interesting is even though everyone else was experiencing bondage, Daniel and those who stood for righteousness did not. Daniel discovered the flow of God while living in an evil, demonic, and wicked empire. This is good news, if you can believe for it. Even under the judgment of God, even under a wicked regime, even under curses and even when the devil is trying to take you out… you can experience the flow of God and the Lord can move mightily in your life.

Jesus understood this principle. He lived under the bondage of the Roman empire. The spiritual conditions were deplorable when He preached in the country and cities of Israel. This was why He could say with absolute authority…

If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “we are Abraham’s offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You shall become free’?” (John 8:31-33).

Isn’t it amazing how everyone thinks they are free, when they are really in bondage? Only a free man can free a man. Only the free can see and discern that people are really in bondage. Only in Christ are we truly free. Outside of Jesus Christ all men are in bondage and cannot experience the deeper blessings of God.

Back several decades ago, when I was a mere teenager, Bob Dylan became a Christian. He would later renounce that decision. Whatever? While he was a believer he cut two albums. One of the songs he sang was “Your Gonna Have to Serve Somebody.” (You can check it out on YouTube)  I mention part of the lyrics below as an example of what I am sharing today.

“You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance.
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You might be a socialite with a long string of pearls.
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed,
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord;
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk.
You may be the head of some TV network.
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame.
You may be living in another country under another name.
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed,
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord,
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a construction worker working on a home.
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome.
You might own guns and you might even own tanks.
You might be somebody’s landlord, you might even own banks.
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed,
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord.
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Might like to wear cotton, you might like to wear silk.
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk.
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread.
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed.
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed,
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord,
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

It is true. You going to have to serve somebody. Better to serve the Lord, He loves you and the benefits are outstanding.

 

Blessings,

Pastor

 

… And They Didn’t Live Happily Ever-after.

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

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I have been blogging about Daniel and his friends making a commitment to follow the Lord during difficult and dark times. One of the things the Lord did for these young believers is bless them mightily for their obedience.

17 And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. 18 Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. 20 And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king. Daniel 1:17-21

 

Here is the question we have to ask ourselves… What God did for Daniel and his buddies, will he do for you and me? Does God still multiply wisdom and understanding, and is He still able to make people ten times “smarter/wiser” than the smartest people on the planet? Would God be willing to bless you with a ten fold blessing?

Some people have a difficult time believing God wants to bless them. They find it easier to believe in a “closed heaven” than an “open heaven.” Consequently, they have a negative view of God, not a positive.

Here is the truth: God is not trying to exclude you, He is seeking desperately to include you. If the story of Daniel ended at verse twenty-one, it would be a fairy-tale ending. We would have read… “And they lived happily ever-after .” This is not the ending of the book, but only the beginning  God has work to do and now He has some partners who wish to work with Him. God doesn’t simply bless us in order for us to have… He blesses us in order for Him to make His..story. This is why this story is not a fairy-tale,  but a divinely inspired historical account of God changing the destiny of a nation.

Here is my point and I will leave you alone today… Before we can gain the approval of a King or the world, we must first gain the approval of God. When we seek God’s approval first, out ranking the world will be easy. Seeking to preserve purity not only brought Daniel and his friends the commendation of God, it also resulted in the commendation of a heathen potentate. He didn’t care about the Lord, only results. The King’s lessons would come later. Understand, favor with God ultimately led to favor with men.

 

Put God first, and you’ll never be last.

 

I don’t believe God is finished looking for “a few good men and women.” He is still searching for some Daniels or Danielles which He can bless ten-fold. God still needs some men and women He can place in high positions. Are you one of these types of people who will be trustworthy when given such an opportunity  Being blessed is only the beginning.

 

Blessings,

Pastor

 

Living Without Compromise #2 Be Ready to be Tested

02 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Yesterday, I blogged about how Daniel took a stand on not defiling himself with the food off the King’s table. It is a good thing when believers develop convictions and standards. What most don’t realize is those same principled convictions will get tested and tried. Listen to what eventually happened to Daniel’s buddies.

12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

…. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:8-18

 

As I said, every principled conviction we possess will eventually get tested. These men purposed not to bow down and worship idols… even the King. The punishment in this case was to be thrown into an instant crematorium.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed nego were not even phased by this threat. They didn’t blame God and they didn’t blame others. They stood on their principles and left the results to the Lord.

Here is the point… We are only able to withstand the tests and temptations of life when we internally value our relationship to God more than what we potentially have to lose in the flesh. Effective service in God’s Kingdom means we are willing to surrender everything in order to faithfully promote the Lord’s work. Even though it appeared that Nebuchadnezzar and his officials were in charge, the Lord was actually calling all the shots… He was in control of everything. Someone once said:

  • He’s all the direction we ever needed: He is THE WAY.
  • He’s all the revelation we ever needed: He is THE TRUTH.
  • He’s all the fulfillment we ever needed: He is THE LIFE.

Character has been defined as “what you do when no one is looking.” When no one was looking these young men made a conviction not to defile themselves. When no one was looking these young boys made a principled conviction to follow God’s command not to worship any other gods except Jehovah.

So what would you have done when the test and temptation came to abandon your convictions in order to save your life? Surely God would have understood because your life was at stake. No, God doesn’t understand. He knows your character will grow as you take a stand on your convictions. The reality is you make these types of character decisions everyday in big and small ways. Every day you make choices that show whether you are courageous or cowardly. You choose between the right thing and the convenient thing. You stick to your convictions or you cave in for the sake of comfort, greed, or approval.

The big question we all need to ask and answer is… Is my faith for sale? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego proved they couldn’t be bought for any price. Most believers will stop having a quiet time for a few extra moments of “sleep”, much less a king ordering them to do so. It takes over 200 gallons of water to baptize a believer and just a few drops of water to keep that same believer from attending church on any given Sunday. What will cause you to forfeit your allegiance?

Somewhere in the “Believer’s Dictionary” is the definition for the phrase “sold out“. Being sold out means that no price in this world will buy or steal your affections from God. It takes real courage to be a Christian. You hear some people say that being a Christian is for weak people, cowards, old ladies, and sissy’s.  The truth is it takes courage to own up and confess to your sins. It’s not easy to repent and be honest before a Holy God. In reality, cowards are weeded out in the beginning. Our faith continues to be forged day-in and day-out when we stand on our convictions and principles.

A prophet once came to a city to convert its inhabitants. At first the people listened to his sermons, but they gradually drifted away until there was not a single soul to hear the prophet when he spoke. One day a traveler said to him, “Why do you go on preaching?” The prophet said, “In the beginning I hoped to change these people. If I still shout, it is only to prevent them from changing me.”

This is the question we all have to ask and answer… Is my faith changing my environment or is my environment changing my faith and altering my beliefs?

 

Blessings,

Pastor