Bible Ballistics: BBs #188   “As The World Turns”???

There used to be a “soap opera” called “As The World Turns”, in fact it enjoyed a 54-year run on television. While I don’t promote ‘soap operas’, and I certainly don’t think they are healthy fare for the soul (in fact I watched them in my youth until I was impressed to cease watching them because they were having such an adverse affect on my life and marriage), I do think the title can help us to consider the continuing nature of life—and that God is at work “As The World Turns”!!! Regardless of how it ‘looks’!

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.” Genesis 1:14-15

God created the earth with times and seasons—of nature and of life. And creation works on the same order today by God’s grace and longsuffering toward man. He gave us lights for day and night—but different. He gave us seasons for cycles of planting, growing and harvest, death and back to planting and new life! And generally speaking our lives work the same way. We have seasons of planting and working, growing up, growing out and growing our own families to start their own lives in the same cycle of life. But there is also a time to die, as Solomon so clearly stated in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

“To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born,                      and a time to die;

a time to plant,                             and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill,                             and a time to heal;

a time to break down,                    and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep,                          and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn,                            and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones,          and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace,                         and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get,                              and a time to lose;

a time to keep,                               and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend,                            and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence,                    and a time to speak;

8 A time to love,                            and a time to hate;

a time of war,                                and a time of peace.”

If we think about it, we have experienced most of these ‘times’ in our lives—the ups and downs, the good times and the bad, the easy and the difficult, the joys and the sorrows. But the key is to remember who set this world in place and who is our hope of life!!! And the only way we can do that, is to know and belong to Jesus—to repent of our sin, to trust to the blood of Jesus to save and transform life by being born again–Only one way—only one Savior. The plan set in place before the order of this world was created.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 13-4

Jesus was the solution before the problem existed. God knew we would sin, and need a redeemer before the world was set on it’s axis—He knew that HIS SON would pay the price of our redemption—yet He created us anyway. He loved us that much! I can’t fathom such love, but I am eternally grateful for it, and for God’s sovereign control over all things—YES, even now!!! Especially now! So what can we learn from all of this? We can grow our confidence in our God!! We can know that He is at work all around us, if we’ll but open our ‘spiritual’ eyes to see Him all around us, and open our ‘spiritual’ ears and hear His Spirit speaking to our hearts and minds, and then yield to His voice and obey!!! As Paul reminds us, we can not only know Him, but also be sure that God is working in all things to make us more like Jesus:

“That I may know him,

      and the power of his resurrection,

      and the fellowship of his sufferings,

      being made conformable unto his death;”    Philippians 3:10

Oh, to know Him more!! How? By trusting HIM more, even in our weakness, because it is HIS Spirit and His strength at work in us accomplishing HIS purposes!

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us, who can be against us?”     Romans 8:26-30

So??? Whatever is spinning in you world; whatever is going well, or not so well; whatever is going up or down; whatever is changing in your world—God knows and He cares. And even more importantly HE is using your circumstances and mine to help us be “conformed to the image of his Son!!! Just remember that no matter how your ‘world’ is turning—if you know Jesus– HE is standing fast for you, ever praying for you and working in all your circumstances! Trust HIM!!!

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

So, ‘As The World Turns’ around you, remember:

“And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”    Luke 21:26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: Attitude of Confidence & Grace??? Vol. 6#15

Daniel and his friends paint a beautiful picture of faith and grace, as we’ve seen over these last few weeks. We’ve seen these men of grace, humility and confidence in the God who they loved and served unashamedly. Yet, they were never men of arrogance toward others or presumption toward their God.

We saw that in the crises they turned to God in prayer and He delivered them in those crises. Daniel, you’ll remember, was granted the knowledge to know the king’s dream and it’s interpretation. And I believe it’s that dream that leads us into chapter 3.

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:1

I can’t help but think that King Nebuchadnezzar was so enamored of the dream, (particularly the head of gold) which Daniel had related to him, that it went right to his head!!! Here we see him building a great statue on the Plain of Dura, and I find it amazing that it’s not just a normal statue but one of “gold”, and it’s proportions are absolutely unreal! Approximately 90 feet high and 9 feet wide—go figure. Talk about a toothpick image—but I’m not the king! And whom do you think it might have resembled? I don’t think there’s much guessing to get the answer to that question. Nebuchadnezzar had a large does of ‘self’ esteem and we’ll see that arrogance displayed by the king, that our 4 Hebrew boys have tried to avoid. What about us? What do people see in us? Humility or arrogance? Pressing on:

“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Daniel 3:2-7

Wow? What a scene. This great king has gathered all the politicians, all the military leaders, all the legal officials, all the accountants, and all the underlings of the kingdom. This was a party-hearty gathering—but with a twist! All to not only admire the new statue, but to render allegiance and ‘WORSHIP’ to the kings “image”. I find it interesting that this call to ‘idolatry’ was accompanied by music. We fail to realize the power of music to drive people’s fleshly lusts, as well as to inspire (But I’ll leave that conversation for another day). So here’s the dilemma. Where are our four young men?

Scripture is silent on the whereabouts of Daniel during this episode, but it is likely that he was left “back at the palace” to take care of business, but not so for his 3 friends. Let’s see about our other three young men. First we find them at the event, but not alone—they have, in their devotion to God and their commitment to excellence in their service to the king—they apparently have acquired some adversaries on the political scene they work in.

“Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:8-12

Oh my, what a dilemma! Any familiar terms come to mind to describe these ‘eager’ public servants? Tattletale? Whistle-blower? Ladder-climbers? It seems that these men were acting with more than civic duty as their motive. It would seem that they have an agenda in using this opportunity to eliminate “the competition”, if you would. These are pretty serious charges they are bringing against our three young men. Do you see their emphasis?

“accused the Jews”—

“certain Jews”—

“whom thou hast set over the affairs”—

“these men”—

“not regarded thee”—

“they serve not thy gods”—

“nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up”—

Do you see the venom in their personal, direct and intense attack on these three men? They don’t like them because:

they are Jewish (slaves brought in from Judah)—

they were personally elevated by the King himself—

they were “THESE” men who don’t fit in with us—

they don’t ‘regard’ the king (they aren’t “YES” men)—

they worship differently—

they “won’t bow down”!

I can’t help but think about us today. Would we be caught standing when the rest of the world is bowing? Would we be so devoted to God that we’d stand out, and stand up for our God—the only TRUE God in the entire universe? My friends, only God knows, but time will tell as the “evil days” continue to spiral downward around us. Do we ‘stand’ out or ‘blend’ in? Is our focus on the one we humbly and graciously serve? Or is our focus so much on staying unnoticed, that we have betrayed our faith and our God?

Continuing on with Daniel 3:

“Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” Daniel 3:13-15

Ok, here we have an angry king—in a rage and fury!! Yet we often miss a subtle thing here, even in his anger and fury, the King can’t believe that these outstanding young men would deliberately defy him!!! He has such confidence in them that he—the king—offers them a second chance. Surely, he thinks, what we have here has been a ‘failure to communicate’!! Surely these faithful civil servants just failed to get the ‘memo’. So Nebuchadnezzar extends a second chance to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! But don’t miss the qualifier he adds to his offer. To paraphrase, “If you guys don’t bow, you WILL go into the burning furnace. AND “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” In other words, you may not worship “ME” but who do you think is big enough to deliver you out of “MY” hands. I AM KING! I EXPECT YOUR WORSHIP! Much like the early Christians who were put to death for not worshipping Caesar. And there are many calls today on our hearts to bow to other “gods”! Is your heart sure with God? Let’s continue in our diagramming mode.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God

whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not,

be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3: 16-18

These young men have already made up their minds to remain faithful to their God, regardless of their environment, the culture, their circumstances OR the cost. Yet they have and continue to display respect, integrity and humility beyond most of what we see today. We need to understand that when they say in verse 16 that they would not be “careful” to answer the king in this regard, they aren’t being arrogant, but simply stating (if you will allow me to paraphrase), that they don’t need to consider their answer because their lives have exhibited their answer and they have been, are now and will continue to be faithful to their GOD, regardless of the cost. In light of being given a second chance, they are telling the King that their choice IS their choice. No accident, no ‘failure to communicate’, no error in judgment, no social faux pas, but their lifelong commitment to the God they belong to. They simply and plainly advise the King that they “will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up”! Simply, respectfully and with total integrity and dependence on their God, these men stand firm for their GOD!!! What a standard to strive for?

And do you see how committed they are to trusting God? They declare to Nebuchadnezzar that their God CAN deliver, and ultimately HE will deliver them, but they won’t bow even if it means their death!!! May we be so confident in our God, and yet gracious to those in opposition to us? Lord, may I truly learn to behave in such a way! Remember the words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”?

And now—to the fire they go as a result of standing true before an angry king, and those who hate them.

“Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” v3:19-23

BUT, as Paul Harvey would say, there’s the ‘rest of the story’! And oh what a “rest” of this story. An angry king is changed into an amazed one, by what he sees in the fire! Perhaps we need to understand that sometimes our “fires” are showcases for our God to display his power and glory!

“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.” Daniel 3:24-26

Talk about a changed mind? This great and powerful King who only moments before declared, “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands”, now declares to our three faithful servants, “ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither”!!! Now Nebuchadnezzar knows “WHO” the God IS who can deliver!!! He knows that these three men stood faithful and sure in the truth. These men who were ‘thrown’ into the fire, NOW ‘walk’ out of that same fire under their own power to a waiting King, with a changed tune.

“And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw

these men,

upon whose bodies the fire had no power,

nor was an hair of their head singed,

neither were their coats changed,

nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said,

Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

who hath sent his angel,

and delivered his servants

that trusted in him,

and have changed the king’s word,

and yielded their bodies,

that they might not serve

nor worship any god,

except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.” V3:27-30

No singe, no smoke, no ashes—right out of the fire! So what can we take away today? We can learn that being men and women, boys and girls of integrity begins in the heart. We can see that if we will but trust ourselves to God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ, and follow Him with devotion and commitment, HE will meet us wherever we may be, where ever He has placed us. And He will not only meet us there but also go ‘before’ us, go ‘with’ us, and walk ‘beside’ us through every fire that may come. Who was in the fire? Most believe, and I’m one of them, that it was a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus. While three went in and three came out—they were in the fire, but they were never alone. And my friends YOU are never alone, when you belong to Jesus. He brought these young men out of the fire into recognition and promotion? Not the ending their enemies or the King expected. So, will we trust HIM, have confidence in HIM and be respectfully gracious to the opposition? Let’s pursue that goal!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #187   Walking??? In Love???

As we walk through this world of craziness, the question arises, “How do we walk”? As I was reading A.W. Tozer earlier this week, I was overwhelmed with a thought as he mentioned Ephesians 5:2 “walk in love”; what does that really mean to me? Let’s consider this passage:

“Be ye therefore followers of God,

as dear children;

2 And walk in love,

as Christ also hath loved us,

and hath given himself

for us

an offering

and a sacrifice to God

for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication,

and all uncleanness,

or covetousness,

let it not be once named among you,

as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness,

nor foolish talking,

nor jesting,

which are not convenient:

but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Paul is calling us to be “followers of God”, yet not just followers, but followers “as dear children”!!! Only those who have become “sons of God” by the new birth can really ‘follow’ God as dear children. And who would that be?

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:12-13

Born of God—becoming the ‘sons of God’(and daughters too)! Those brought into an intimate Father-Child relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ. And just as a little child who loves and is devoted to their “daddy”, we can have that kind of relationship with the God of the universe. He brings us into relationship with Himself when we repent of our sins, believe in Jesus and receive Him, in the person of the Holy Spirit, into our hearts. Oh, what a difference a relationship makes!!!

We can not only know our Father, and His Son Jesus–with whom we become “…… heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ;” (See Romans 8:17)– but we can have the relationship of “dear children”, and dear children love their Father! They follow Him everywhere he goes!!! And Paul goes on to describe the walk of “dear children”:

“And walk in love,

as Christ also hath loved us,

and hath given himself

for us”.

I am to walk “IN LOVE” because—

I am LOVED—

I have received the gift of life from a loving Savior–

So I am to walk “in” that same kind of love

In love with my Father God–

In love with Jesus, His Son–

In love with the Son who paid my debt—

In love with the Son who died in my place—

In love with and committed  to His Word!!!

But love also avoids some things (oops, now I’m meddling); there are some behaviors and habits I am to exclude from my life because I love my Father God, and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Just as a little child wants to do exactly what their ‘daddy’ does; our love should drive us to follow our Lord in word and deed. And that means there are some ‘words’ I don’t speak; there are some ‘deeds’ I don’t do!

I am to avoid:

“fornication”

“all uncleanness”

“covetousness”

“filthiness”

“foolish talking” or “jesting, which are not convenient”.

In fact it should “not be once named among you”, “but rather giving of thanks.” Grateful people not hateful!!

Whoa??? Our lives as believers and children of God, are not to be involved in sexual sin, uncleanness, nor any covetousness or inappropriate foolishness? Kind of ups the expectations doesn’t it? Our measuring stick should be God’s Word, not the world’s standard, and for sure not the crude and inappropriate standards of ‘social media’, where anything goes no matter who you claim to be!

Why must I behave differently? Because I am to walk in a way that “becometh saints”—because the ‘saints’ are those who belong to Jesus– those who ‘love’ God and walk ‘in love’ because: “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5b (the love “OF” God and “FROM” God). It’s supernatural love!!!

So? Are we walking “IN LOVE” with Jesus or the world? Good question, but what’s your answer? Ask God, He’ll show you the truth: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” Psalm 139:23

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #186   Safe In The Storm!!!

As I sit here watching the storms roll in—

I see the lightning—

I hear the thunder—

I see the rain!

And while those are almost always welcome sights and sounds here in Oklahoma, there are storms that aren’t welcome. Those that bring damage, harm and fear can send us into a panic, unless we’re prepared. But there are other non-weather storms that come into our lives:

The kind with pain–

The kind with grief—

The kind with sorrow—

The kind that we feel in our hearts—

The kind we fear!

So what do we do in those times? While we generally run for cover when we are caught outside in a heavy storm, or even a spring shower, what do we do when those personal, emotional storms of fear, grief or pain come? Where can we run for safety in the storms?

“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Matthew 8:24-27

Where can we run? We can run to our Lord Jesus Christ—the master of the storm. Yet we can run to Him before the fears take hold of us—run to Him immediately!!! Don’t wait till the fears, panic and stress have taken their disabling grip on our hearts and minds. Jesus questioned his disciples, “Why are ye fearful”? And then answered His own question! “O ye of little faith”—we are to live by faith NOT by sight. We may see, feel and fear the ‘storms’ that come into our lives, but we have a Savior and Lord who knows where we are all the time, and we are to live knowing that the same ‘faith’ that saves us and makes us HIS, is the very faith that we are to live by. Living with our eyes fixed on Jesus—is the solution. Always simple, seldom easy!!!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;      yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Where do we find courage over fear, and victory in the ‘storms’? Only and always in Jesus!!! But it requires death to self and a life of faith that only Jesus can enable and empower, by His life in us—His Holy Spirit within us!!! We can live victorious in the midst of the storms!!!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6

We have an eternal ally, a fear eliminator, always and ever interceding for us—we not only have prayer-warriors (for whom I am so grateful) supporting and lifting us up, we have a “Prayer-Savior” ever speaking for us, as well as to us.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

And how is He able to do this? Because He humbled Himself and took on flesh to pay for sins that He didn’t commit, that we might have life that we don’t and could never deserve or work to earn!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”  Hebrew 2:14-18

So?? Are ‘storms’ overwhelming you? Remember that God rules the storms and difficulties and HE IS HERE FOR YOU! NOW! He knows where you are! Call on HIM, He’s listening!!! Do you know Him? Do you ‘have’ Him?

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12

Bible Ballistics: Attitude of Gratitude and Faith??? Vol. 6#14

Daniel was faithful to God in the crises, and also went on to be a faithful instrument of God’s grace and one of the most profound eschatological (a big word that just means end time events) prophets in all of scripture. He was given some of the most important prophecies in the Bible, yet it all began in his youth—the youth of a faithful servant. This faithful young man continued on to be a man of faith and devotion to God during his whole life. As we saw in our last study, he knew where to go when the crises was dropped right in his lap, he went to his God. But one of the things we often miss in this amazing story is Daniel’s response to God when the prayers of he and his friends were answered so powerfully.

“Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel 2:17-18

We often hear about Daniel and his friends praying in their time of crisis, but we seldom hear about Daniel’s prayer of gratitude in reply to God’s answer to their prayers, and that’s where we’ll springboard from today. Daniel’s prayer of thanksgiving is one of the most revealing prayers in all the Bible, and I love to read it over and over again to remind myself of the awesome character of the God we serve!!!

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

       Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

       for wisdom and might are his:

       21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:

       he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:

       he giveth wisdom unto the wise,

       and knowledge to them that know understanding:       

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things:

       he knoweth what is in the darkness,

       and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

       and praise thee,

              O thou God of my fathers,

       who hast given me wisdom and might,

       and hast made known unto me

              now

              what we desired of thee:

       for thou hast now made known unto us

              the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:19-23

Wow! What a prayer! Do you see it? This prayer was focused on the God who answered—not simply the answer. Daniel and his friends had power with God, because they knew that their only power was FROM God!!! “Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven”! Daniel never forgot who his God was, nor did he forget his dependence on the God he loved, or did he ever forget how devoted he was to his God. What about us?

How often do we ask and receive, and never even think to say ‘thank you’ to the God we claim to believe in, trust and follow. We can learn so much from this young man (probably a late teen) and I think we need to!

And just what did Daniel do after he received the answer to his prayer? Once again we see a young man filled with integrity and wisdom, give us a wonderful example. He goes through channels, if you would, to reveal the hidden dream and it’s meaning to the king. He goes in to the commander of the guard commissioned to destroy the wise men, and seeks an audience with the king.

“Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the    captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.” Daniel 2:24-25

Daniel wasn’t concerned about ‘credit’; he was concerned about being God’s servant. And that should our concern be—not recognition, or credit or getting that proverbial ‘pat on the back’, but following Jesus and leaving the results to HIM!!! While Arioch was working his way up the ladder of success, Daniel was simply trying to meet the needs of others, and be where God wanted him to be. Doing what God had placed him in Babylon to do—bear witness in all his ways.

Daniel had received the answer to the prayers of him and his friends—the dream and it’s interpretation to relieve the anxiety of a wicked, pagan king to whom they were in captive service! Captives and servants in a foreign land, to a pagan foreign king, and yet Daniel had compassion on this erratic king who wanted to kill all the “wise men”, a group which Daniel and friends belonged to. Now what? A praying man with a grateful heart, and a faithful life; what does God have in store? A servant brought before a king?

“The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said,

       The secret which the king hath demanded

              cannot the wise men,

              the astrologers,

              the magicians,

              the soothsayers,

       shew unto the king;

28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar

       what shall be in the latter days.

       Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter:

       and he that revealeth secrets

       maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

30 But as for me,

       this secret is not revealed to me

              for any wisdom that I have more than any living,        

but for their sakes

              that shall make known the interpretation

              to the king,

              and that thou mightest know

                      the thoughts of thy heart.” Daniel 2:26-30

Daniel stood before this pagan king and openly proclaimed that there is a God in heaven who knows all, and HE has chosen to reveal His will for the future to this Babylonian king! Why would God choose a pagan king to reveal these things to? Because He is God, and He can speak to whomever He pleases, whenever He pleases, for whatever purposes HE pleases. And God chose to reveal the future of human history to Nebuchadnezzar, through Daniel! And Daniel was available to God, for HIS purposes: and his testimony exalted the God of all creation, not self. Most of us today would be thinking about the credit, the fame, the fortune, or the power; Daniel was thinking about being a true reflection of God Almighty and bringing HIM glory! And he did.

While we recognize the gifts that God gave Daniel, I think we often miss the character of the precious young man that chose to serve his God and do His bidding even in his tender youth. He didn’t wait for a better day, for a convenient time, for a better job, for more education, or anything else! Why? Because:

“….. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he     requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8

Daniel had already made up his mind, before any of this had come to pass, that he would be faithful to God, NO MATTER WHAT! And now God is honoring his faithfulness and setting up a great and extensive ministry that is still affecting lives today. Are we willing to choose God, follow Jesus, do whatever He asks us to do, and leave the results to Him? Oh, if only we could remember to live this way. But back to Daniel, what was the result of this answered prayer? Great and mighty things came on this powerful young man, and he served God faithfully for some 70-plus years.

Without spending a great deal of time on the intricacies of the prophetic revelation, we will look at Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This        image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs   of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and        filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.”   Daniel 2:31-36

The dream was of a great statue—

Head of gold—

Arms and breast of silver—

Belly and thighs of brass/bronze—

Legs of iron–

Feet and toes of iron and clay.

And a stone—

Cut out without hands–

Which smote the statue upon its feet—

Broke all the elements to pieces.

Became a great mountain—

And filled the whole earth.

Then Daniel goes on to give the interpretation to the king:

“Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Daniel 2:37-45

To summarize, let’s work backwards and look at the end of the dream first. It sets the parameters of the rest.

“the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter”

God chose to reveal his plan for the ages to this mighty king and his servant Daniel.

“the dream is certain…. the interpretation thereof sure”!

The dream is from God, it is as sure and as certain as the God who revealed it. Remember the prayer we looked at in the beginning:

“Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

       for wisdom and might are his:

       21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:

       he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:

       he giveth wisdom unto the wise,

       and knowledge to them that know understanding:       

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things:

       he knoweth what is in the darkness,

       and the light dwelleth with him.” Daniel 2:20-22

The dream revealed that there would be four major world kingdoms, beginning with Babylon—Nebuchadnezzar being the head of gold, and that there would follow 3 subsequent kingdoms:

Arms/breast of silver–Medo-Persia

Belly and thighs-Greece

Legs of iron-Rome

Feet and toes of iron & clay-a latter day Rome.

The dream and the interpretation, while focused on the four kingdoms, zeros in on the “stone” that would be cut out of a great mountain without hands (by God’s design not man’s) and would destroy the 4 kingdoms in the days of the 10 kings (feet and 10 toes), and set up an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed or overcome–God’s kingdom, and Jesus the stone, which will destroy the kingdoms of this world.

And Daniel’s faithfulness was greatly rewarded and exalted by Nebuchadnezzar because of his faithful integrity and wisdom.

“The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” Daniel 2:47-49

So, what do we take away from all of this? Well, it’s not to argue and debate over obscure interpretations, or timelines, but rather to take confidence as Daniel did in the God who rules and gave the dream and its interpretation. Will we choose to be faithful to the God of the eternal kingdom, or will the kingdoms of this world distract us? The choice is yours. Will you learn from Daniel and make up your mind to follow God? Or will you miss the lesson and loose it all.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36

       “…..choose you this day whom ye will serve….” Joshua 24:15

And remember, not to “choose” is “choosing”!