Category Archives: Influence

God Made Moms??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #219

12 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Honor Your Father and Mother, Influence, Influenced by the world or Jesus?, JESUS, Motherly Wisdom, Mothers, My Grace Is Sufficient, My Help Cometh from THE LORD, Virtuous Women

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God Made Moms??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #219

Motherhood is a blessing from God, yet there are many kinds of mothers; there are mothers who give birth and care for their children; there are mothers who give birth and give their child into the care of another—some by circumstance, some by death, and some by sheer neglect;  there are mothers who never give birth physically but give themselves to care for someone else’s children as a step-mother, as a grandmother or aunt; others who were not gifted to bear physical children, but who made a difference in the the lives of children to whom they didn’t give birth, but life, hope, joy, healing, restoration, and the light of Jesus!  Where ever you fit in this gambit of women, may these passages comfort, encourage, warn, and lead you to be all that God called, equipped, and placed you where you are to be and to fulfill His purposes for you and the lives HE brings into your circle of service.  May you go forward with love, hope, and the joy of the Lord in your life, your smile, your beneficial gifts of service which God has imparted to you.

“Who can find a virtuous woman?

for her price is far above rubies.”  Proverbs 31:10

“The fear of the LORD

is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools

despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son,

hear the instruction of thy father,

and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament

of grace unto thy head,

and chains about thy neck.”   Proverbs 1:7-9

“Children,

obey your parents in the Lord:

for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother;

(which is the first commandment with promise;)

3 That it may be well with thee,

and thou mayest live long on the earth.”  Ephesians 6:1-3

“Rebuke not an elder,

but intreat him as a father;

and the younger men

as brethren;

2 The elder women

as mothers;

the younger

as sisters, with all purity.”  1 Timothy 5:1-2

“Greatly desiring to see thee,

being mindful of thy tears,

that I may be filled with joy;

5 When I call to remembrance

the unfeigned faith that is in thee,

which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois,

and thy mother Eunice;

and I am persuaded that in thee also.”  2 Timothy 1:4-5

Lois and Eunice lived their faith in front of young Timothy and Paul ascribes this in part to Timothy’s faith and his faithful service in following Jesus.  What are we living in front of our children and those children in our realm of influence?  Are we leading them to heaven or hell?

Remember, you can choose to be a blessing as you follow Jesus, or you can reject HIM and go the other way, taking others with you. (See Matthew 7:13-14.)  Here are a couple of biblical examples of the wrong kind of women.

“And the woman was arrayed

in purple and scarlet colour,

and decked with gold and precious stones

and pearls,

having a golden cup in her hand

 full of abominations

and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written,

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS

OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw the woman

drunken with the blood of the saints,

 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:

and when I saw her,

I wondered with great admiration.”   Revelation 17:4-6

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee,

because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel,

which calleth herself a prophetess,

to teach and to seduce my servants

to commit fornication,

and to eat things sacrificed

unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent

of her fornication;

and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed,

and them that commit adultery with her

into great tribulation,

except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death;

and all the churches shall know

that I am he which searcheth

 the reins and hearts:

and I will give unto every one of you

according to your works.

24 But unto you I say,

and unto the rest in Thyatira,

as many as have not this doctrine,

and which have not known the depths of Satan,

as they speak;

I will put upon you none other burden.

25 But that which ye have already

hold fast till I come.”  Revelation 2:20-25

You are free to choose, but choose wisely there is a test, and the choice you make will not only affect your future, but the lives of people that you may not realize are watching you until eternity.  May God direct your steps into His perfect will!  May we not be described by the old gospel song, “You Never Mentioned Him To Me” by James Rowe.  May Jesus be seen in we who claim His name, in grace and truth.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,

and to present you faultless

before the presence of his glory

with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour,

be glory and majesty,

dominion and power,

both now and ever. Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25

Amen and Amen!!! 

What’s Influencing You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #212

24 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Compromise, Influence, Influenced by the world or Jesus?, Iron Sharpening Iron, Payday???, Pleasure in sin for a season, Satan's lies., Saved FROM Sin, Stand Fast!, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Gospel, the Lamb of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS (Still) A Fountain, There IS a Test!, Today is the day of Salvation, Too Late To Call?, Transformation, Transformed life, Trendy Or Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Truth, Truth is True, Try yourselves, Wolves in sheep's clothing!, Worldliness

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What’s Influencing You???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #212

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

 by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

Paul called the believers in Rome to choose to live for Jesus by giving their lives to Him in every situation, circumstance, or trial, telling them and us that this “is your reasonable service”!  What have we chosen to make our ‘service’?  The world is in attack mode toward anything of God, toward anything based in or on The Word of God, especially the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Paul warned us of the danger of conforming to the world, and said we must continually keep guard over our heart and mind by seeking the mind of Jesus!  The main way we do that is by digging into His Word and keeping the lines of communication open with Him through prayer.

Speaking for myself, and maybe you too, it has become too easy to choose to ‘gel’ in the recliner and watch the deceit of the world from “Hellywood’s” perspective.  I recently watched a particular series purported to be “family friendly”, I even read a comment on the series as one that every family should “be like”.  Well, as I considered what was going on, let me share some of the things that we supposedly should mimic:  multiple couples sleeping together without benefit of marriage, a couple who shared ‘vows’ but did not want to marry—concluding it wasn’t necessary in their opinion, sexual perversion accepted and celebrated, staying home with children seen as missing personal and professional success, and I could go on.  There was never one reference to God in any situation much less a church; and this is just one example of how much we accept as tolerable to be entertained.  Consider some of the old TV shows, there were things that we wouldn’t have participated in as Christians, yet we invited those activities to be the center of attention in our living rooms.

Without sharing the entirety of Romans 1, I simply want to share a portion of the close of this chapter.  The enemy is alive and well, and desires to influence, entrap and mislead us into his evil schemes. Remember that he is the enemy—your enemy and mine.  We need to stop playing ‘footsie’ with him!

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over to a reprobate mind,

to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,

fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

 are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure in them that do them.”   Romans 1:28-32

Sin is contagious.  And while we are to love the lost, we must heed Paul’s advice from Romans 12 and “be not conformed to this world”!  Satan paints lovely pictures of sin, and it can be pleasurable for a time, but the cost will be more than expected.  As I’ve written before, “Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay!”  And my friends, there is a payday coming, and I believe it is already here, as we see our children and grandchildren being deceived, led astray, and destroyed by the lies of the enemy; and often partly because we failed to see the danger of compromising with the world, for whatever reasons we were deceived by!  There is pleasure in sin “for a season”, yet it seems that payday is here, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the taste.  Moses made a choice, and so must we!  What will you choose?  What have you already chosen that you might want to reconsider? What price tag?

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years,

refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Choosing rather

to suffer affliction with the people of God,

than to enjoy the pleasures of sin

for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ

greater riches

than the treasures in Egypt:

for he had respect

unto the recompence of the reward.”   Hebrews 11:24-26

The questions: “Whose child are you?”; “What will you choose?”; “Will you compromise by being desensitized to sin?”; or “Will you withstand in the evil day?”!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!  Peter says it better than I can.

“But ye are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises

of him who hath called you out of darkness

into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9

Darkness or light?  We must know God’s truth and that takes time, effort, and commitment to study The Word.  We can’t walk in His light without The Holy Spirit within—and He only indwells those who have been born again.  If you know Him, won’t you consider your ways?  If you don’t know Him, you can, by hearing the voice of His Spirit calling you to repentance of your sin and trusting to/believing in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary.  Then walk in the light.

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

 and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10.

Amen and Amen!!!

Paying Attention! Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #764

19 Friday Nov 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All Sufficient God!, Are You Ready, Comfort, Eyes that SEE HIM, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Influence, Opposition to Godliness, Paying attention, Rejoice IN The Lord, This IS The Day

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #764   Paying Attention!  Really???

 

“Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.”  Ephesians 6:13

We are called to take the armor of God, to put it on, to be gird about, having its parts in/on our heart, mind and soul for every day’s challenges.  The problem is that we often get so distracted that we forget, or get busy, or just plain don’t pay attention.  I pray on this armor most every morning, yet sometimes we have those emergencies that interrupt our regular set of tasks and dash off without “suiting up”—it happens to me and I’m sure it happens to you; and there are those times we simply are so accustomed to something that we truly don’t pay attention.  This happened to me just recently, when my son sent a text, and since he sends the same text most every day when we get to visit, I just read the first “good morning” and called him.  He answered and laughed and said, “You didn’t read the whole message, did you?”  And of course, I had to say no, so he advised me to read it for it said “don’t call” this morning……ha ha ha ha.

We both had a good laugh and talked later in the day, but the point I want to make is that we must pay attention to what’s going on, even when (in fact especially when) we think we know what is going on!  We need to be ready for whatever the day may bring by putting on “the whole armour of God”!  Don’t get caught as I did, by presuming you know what you may not know!  Be in God’s Word, praying “without ceasing”, and trusting to HIS care.  We can’t be obsessed with being in control when that, my friends, is GOD’s job, and HE always does it perfectly!  So here are some scriptures that I pray will encourage your heart and mind to “look up” rather than “around” at all the chaos surrounding us!

“Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man who bringeth wicked devices

to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise

to do evil.”  Psalm 37:7-8

“No man can serve

two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God

and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat,

or what ye shall drink;

nor yet for your body,

what ye shall put on.

Is not the life

more than meat,

and the body

than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father

feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?”   Matthew 6:24-26

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

So, what will you rejoice in?  Choose Jesus!  He truly is that friend who “sticketh closer than a brother” and speaking for myself—I sure am glad….!  Keep your eyes on JESUS!

Amen and Amen!!!

Not All Idols Are Statuary!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #760

21 Thursday Oct 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Fickle or Faithful, Idolatry, If not now? When?, IN Jesus!, Influence

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #760     Not All Idols Are Statuary!!!

 

I’m sure this seems like an odd title and subject and it probably is, but I think it worthy of our time to consider.  God had a powerful word to Ezekiel about this subject.

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

3 Son of man,

these men have set up their idols

in their heart,

and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity

before their face:

should I be enquired of at all

by them?

4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them,

Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Every man of the house of Israel

that setteth up his idols in his heart,                                    and putteth the stumblingblock

of his iniquity

before his face,

and cometh to the prophet;

I the LORD will answer him that cometh

according to the multitude of his idols;

5 That I may take the house of Israel

in their own heart,

because they are all estranged from me

through their idols.

6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel,

Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Repent,

and turn yourselves

from your idols;

and turn away your faces

from all your abominations.”   Ezekiel 14:2-6

Idols don’t have to be made of stone, wood, or precious metals and jewels; the most harmful and destructive are the idols we erect in our hearts.   This is what God told Ezekiel!  And when we erect idols in our heart, they can not only destroy our lives but the lives of those we influence—and we all influence someone, there are little eyes and ears that are watching us, as well as the eyes and ears of people who are our peers!  What are we teaching by our life choices—are our idols subtilty affecting others?  Are we causing others to take the road to hell instead of the way of the cross?  Small choices can make a big difference in our life and the life of those around us.  Do our actions lead us closer to the cross?  Do they lead others to the cross of Jesus, or the wide road of destruction?  Jesus made it clear that there are two roads and only one of them leads to God and His salvation through Jesus, the other to hell.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

Our eternal destiny and the destiny of those around us are often dependent on our choices, and when we fill our heart with the pleasures and glitter of the world it will affect our life!   Jesus also told us that the evil comes from our own heart, not statues—but our own heart full of evil that we allow to affect us!  What are we allowing into our hearts and minds?  How are you and I being affected by the choice we make in our daily activities, our daily pleasures, our daily media control, or our entertainment influences, and we could go on, but the point is we need to guard what goes into our eyes, our ears, our heart, and our mind—to keep our focus on Jesus, His Word and His way!  We can find some great advice from the Proverbs; will we heed it?

“Keep thy heart with all diligence;

for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee

a froward mouth,

and perverse lips

put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes

look right on,

and let thine eyelids

look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet,

and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand

nor to the left:

remove thy foot

from evil.”  Proverbs 4:23-27

And Jesus own advice:

“But those things

which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart

proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things

which defile a man…”. Matthew 15:18-20a

There is one passage of scripture which is most convicting, and I think maybe we all need the conviction of The Word and The Spirit of God. (And if you don’t know a word—look it up, you might be surprised!)

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God cometh

on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked

some time,

when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also

put off all these;

anger,

wrath,

malice,

blasphemy,

filthy communication

out of your mouth.”   Colossians 3:5-8

In closing I want to share God’s Word rather than my own, may we heed it and pursue truth, righteousness, and cleanse our hearts of the idols we have allowed to affect us, which in turn affects those around us.  Let’s be faithful witnesses of Jesus saving grace at Calvary rather than the lies of the world!

“And what agreement

hath the temple of God

with idols?

for ye are the temple of the living God;

as God hath said,

I will dwell in them,

and walk in them;

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate,

saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons

and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.”    2 Corinthians 6:16-18

“A good man

out of the good treasure

of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.”   Matthew 12:35

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

“For a good tree

bringeth not forth

corrupt fruit;

neither doth a corrupt tree

bring forth

good fruit.

44 For every tree

is known by his own fruit.

For of thorns

men do not gather figs,

nor of a bramble bush

gather they grapes.

45 A good man

out of the good treasure

of his heart

bringeth forth that which is good;

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

of his heart

bringeth forth that which is evil:

for of the abundance of the heart

his mouth speaketh.”   Luke3 6:43-45

Where are your idols? What are your idols?  They’re not just statuary—but much more likely, wickedness in our hearts, which we often delude ourselves into thinking it’s acceptable.  So, choose wisely, there is a test; and remember, others are following your steps (even when you don’t know they are there!)—where are my/your steps leading?

Amen and Amen!!!

Faithful Pray-er Or Panic-er??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 23

28 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by in All Sufficient God!, Believe IN Jesus, Blessed by God, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Confidence or Presumption?, Consider Your ways, Daniel Prayed--Do You?, Daniel's choices, Daniel's Prayer, God's Faithfulness, Influence, Inspiring Others, Integrity, Liars, Lies, Light In The Dark, Prayer or Panic?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 23 Faithful Pray-er Or Panic-er??

 

As we finish up our look at Daniel and his friends, we look today at chapter 6, and we’ll see quite a contrast in kings and circumstances.  We looked last week at an arrogant king who had no regard for God or the lessons he had the opportunity to learn from; and saw that king meet his doom.  This week we’ll see the conquering king (although there were co-rulers in the empire, we will only consider one king) and even though a wise and discerning king, even the wise and discerning can be subject to ego, vanity and deceit.

“In that night was Belshazzar

the king of the Chaldeans

slain.

31 And Darius the Median

took the kingdom,

being about threescore and two years old.”  Daniel 5:30-31

Darius the Mede has taken control of Babylon after invading the city, as God prophesied through Daniel and the “hand-writing on the wall”!  Have you been paying heed to the “hand-writing” on your wall?  Or will you be taken unaware?  If we will pay attention to God’s voice and hand at work in our life, then we will find ourselves able to practice a faithful prayer life like Daniel.

“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom

an hundred and twenty princes,

which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these

three presidents;

of whom Daniel was first:

that the princes might give accounts

unto them,

and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel

was preferred

above the presidents

and princes,

because an excellent spirit

was in him;

and the king thought

to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then

the presidents

and princes

sought to find occasion

against Daniel

concerning the kingdom;

but they could find

none occasion

nor fault;

forasmuch as he was faithful,

neither was there any error

or fault

found in him.”  Daniel 6:1-4

Remember God’s blessing on Daniel and his three friends?

“And the king communed with them;

and among them all

was found none

like Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael,

and Azariah:

therefore stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters

of wisdom

and understanding,

that the king enquired of them,

he found them ten times better

than all the magicians

and astrologers

that were in all his realm.” Daniel 1:19-20

Each of these men along with Daniel had “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself”, and God honored their faithfulness in this hard place, by blessing them with ability and success in all of their endeavors. How does your faithfulness and mine measure up against such integrity?  I hope well, but it doesn’t come without effort and devotion to God and His Word.  God displayed his faithfulness and revealed himself through his faithful servants in a pagan land; and I believe there is a parallel for our consideration today—we are finding ourselves living in a pagan land—a land that is defying the Lord God Almighty; redefining virtually everything that HE has established, for greed, gain and self-promotion.  How will we stand?  For how long?  Daniel has proven himself faithful for some 70 years in Babylon, and even the new Median King Darius sees the integrity and ability in “this Daniel” and promotes him to a place of honor and service; while he is considering an even greater promotion to chief in the land (under the king, of course)!  BUT—not everyone was excited about Daniel’s integrity or his success.  Why?  I think for the same greed, gain and self-promotion that pervades our culture today.  And I think, if you look closely, you’ll find the same tactics used these thousands of years ago, are being used today.  Satan’s tactics never change.  Let’s look?

“Then the presidents and princes

sought to find occasion against Daniel

concerning the kingdom;

but they could find none occasion

nor fault;

forasmuch as he was faithful,

neither was there any error

or fault

found in him.

5 Then said these men,

We shall not find any occasion

against this Daniel,

except we find it

against him

concerning the law of his God.”  Daniel 6:4-5

I find it interesting that even Daniel’s enemies couldn’t find any “occasion against” him in the affairs of state; and just like politicians today, I’m sure they left no stone unturned to find some.  Yet, these men in their eagerness to discredit Daniel, realized that they would have to be cunning and wily to discredit Daniel and could only trip him up with the “law of his God”.  The very thing that brought him into favor with Nebuchadnezzar, would now be used to try and bring him into disfavor with King Darius.  How hard would people have to look to find cause for discrediting us?  For most of us—including me—not very far.  We have all made bad choices, mistakes and just outright failures; but Daniel was a man of total honor, integrity and devotion to his God.  How about you/me?  These enemies went after Daniel in a way that brings me shame, for my faithfulness and consistency is often lacking in regard to my prayer and study of God’s Word.  Let’s see what they come up with.

“Then these presidents and princes

assembled together to the king,

and said thus unto him,

King Darius,

live for ever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom,

the governors,

and the princes,

the counsellors,

and the captains,

 have consulted together

to establish a royal statute,

and to make a firm decree,

that whosoever shall ask

a petition of any God

or man

for thirty days,

 save of thee,

O king,

he shall be cast

into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king,

establish the decree,

and sign the writing,

that it be not changed,

according to the law

of the Medes and Persians,

which altereth not.

9 Wherefore king Darius

signed the writing

and the decree.”  Daniel 6:6-9

We ought to learn something from these men, a lesson in current affairs; their plan of attack started with a consensus of flattery, lies and deceit—ring any bells?  They told the king that “all” of the “leaders” had agreed to this plan—“all” that is, but Daniel.  But they left that part out!  They included only the information they wanted others to know about, the truth was irrelevant!  Sound familiar?  Then they flattered the king and used his ego to trap Daniel.  Are we so faithful to God that we could be trapped by our faithfulness?   This king fell into the trap of ego and self-importance, and we need to be careful of the trap.  And we also need to understand that the enemy doesn’t play by the same rules that we do!

So, back to Daniel, what does he do?

“Now when Daniel knew

that the writing was signed,

he went into his house;

and his windows being open in his chamber

toward Jerusalem,

he kneeled upon his knees

three times a day,

and prayed,

and gave thanks before his God,

as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled,

and found Daniel praying

and making supplication

before his God.

12 Then they came near,

and spake before the king

concerning the king’s decree;

Hast thou not signed a decree,

that every man that shall ask a petition

of any God or man

within thirty days,

save of thee, O king,

shall be cast into the den of lions?

The king answered and said,

The thing is true,

according to the law

of the Medes and Persians,

which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king,

That Daniel,

which is of the children of the captivity

of Judah,

regardeth not thee, O king,

nor the decree

that thou hast signed,

but maketh his petition

three times a day.”  Daniel 6:10-13

Here we find Daniel’s enemies gathered—probably at the only “prayer meeting” they’ve ever attended—to catch Daniel being faithful to his God.  And just FYI, when they come to find us faithful to our God, what will they find.  Will we be found continuing to be faithful?  Will we have to scramble to even know how to pray?  Or will we just count it too much trouble and cave to the culture around us?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

If you’re not following Him today, when do you intend to start?  God already had a plan for Daniel, who, like Job, knew in Whom he trusted.

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:15

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms

destroy this body,

yet in my flesh

shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see

for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed

within me.”  Job 19:25-27

God confirmed Daniel’s faith through this pagan king who had seen faithfulness in Daniel on more than one front.

“Then the king,

when he heard these words,

was sore displeased with himself,

and set his heart on Daniel

to deliver him:

and he laboured till the going down

of the sun

to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king,

and said unto the king,

Know, O king,

that the law of the Medes and Persians is,

That no decree nor statute

which the king establisheth

may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded,

and they brought Daniel,

and cast him into the den of lions.

Now the king spake and said unto Daniel,

Thy God

whom thou servest continually,

he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought,

and laid upon the mouth of the den;

and the king sealed it with his own signet,

and with the signet of his lords;

that the purpose might not be changed

concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace,

and passed the night fasting:

neither were instruments of musick

brought before him:

and his sleep went from him.”  Daniel 6:14-18

Darius knew by Daniel’s life of faithfulness and integrity that his God would deliver him.  What does our life tell others about our God?  Does our faithfulness cause even our enemies to look to our God?  Or do we look so much like the world that no one can see God in us?

As Peter tells us, our testimony in suffering can make a difference.

“Dearly beloved,

I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,

abstain from fleshly lusts,

which war against the soul;

12 Having your conversation honest

among the Gentiles:

that, whereas they speak against you

as evildoers,

they may by your good works,

which they shall behold,

glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance

of man

for the Lord’s sake:

whether it be to the king,

as supreme;

14 Or unto governors,

as unto them that are sent

by him

for the punishment

of evildoers,

and for the praise of them

that do well.

15 For so is the will of God,

that with well doing

ye may put to silence

the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free,

and not using your liberty

for a cloke of maliciousness,

but as the servants of God.

17 Honour all men.

Love the brotherhood.

Fear God.

Honour the king.”   1 Peter 2:11-17

So, what did Darius find in the morning?

“Then the king arose very early in the morning,

and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den,

he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel:

and the king spake and said to Daniel,

O Daniel, servant of the living God,

is thy God,

whom thou servest continually,

able to deliver thee

from the lions?  

21 Then said Daniel unto the king,

O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel,

and hath shut the lions’ mouths,

that they have not hurt me:

forasmuch as before him

innocency was found in me;

and also before thee, O king,

have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him,

and commanded that they should take Daniel

up out of the den.

So Daniel was taken up out of the den,

and no manner of hurt was found upon him,

because he believed in his God.”    Daniel 6:19-23

Daniel’s eyes were looking up to his GOD, not around at the lions; and his GOD delivered for Daniel’s good and HIS glory!  And, consequently, the destruction of the wicked, while God brought Daniel even greater honor.

“And the king commanded,

and they brought those men

which had accused Daniel,

and they cast them into the den of lions,

them, their children, and their wives;

and the lions

had the mastery of them,

and brake all their bones in pieces

or ever they came at the bottom

of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people,

nations, and languages,

that dwell in all the earth;

Peace be multiplied unto you.

26 I make a decree,

That in every dominion of my kingdom

men tremble and fear

before the God of Daniel:

for he is the living God,

and stedfast for ever,

and his kingdom

that which shall not

be destroyed,

and his dominion

shall be even unto the end.

27 He delivereth

and rescueth,

and he worketh signs

and wonders in heaven

and in earth,

who hath delivered Daniel

from the power of the lions.

28 So this Daniel prospered

in the reign of Darius,

and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”   Daniel 6:24-28

Who or what is YOUR GOD?  Are your eyes on the prize—Jesus—or the lions—or the liars?

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour

is not in vain in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 15:57-58

May God bless and grow us in in HIS Word and HIS ways.  Keep looking up not around!  God hears and answers “prayers” not “panic”!

Amen and Amen!!!