Tag Archives: The many or the few?

Examples Of Godly Character!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #215

01 Wednesday May 2024

Posted by in Blood of Jesus cleanses us, Boldness without arrogance., Broad road or the Straight Gate?, Changed Lives, Dignity, Diligence, Discernment, Discipline, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Fearlessness, Godly Character, Godly Wisdom, Many or Few?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Examples Of Godly Character??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #215

One of my favorite characters in the scripture is Daniel, who not only came out of the lion’s den unscathed, but he also served God and man with honor, wisdom, discretion, and dignity; so I’d like to consider some of the evidence of his character from the book which bears his name.  Character which I think we can pursue to emulate!

“Now among these were of the children of Judah,

Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael,

and Azariah:

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs

gave names:

for he gave

unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar;

and to Hananiah, of Shadrach;

and to Mishael, of Meshach;

and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8 But 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.

9 Now God had brought Daniel

 into favour and tender love

with the prince of the eunuchs.”  Daniel 1:6-9

Here we find this amazing teenager who has been taken captive, brought to a faraway land to serve a pagan king, behaving with a genuine devotion to God Almighty and willing to take a stand—but not a fit-throwing stand—but a stand with respect for those in authority over him, he “requested” permission to be excused from the King’s ordered diet to honor his God.  Oh, that we could learn from Daniel to be respectful, honorable, and humbly submitted to those in authority, even when we disagree.  We have obviously created a culture of what I think is responding to misbehavior, just to have peace and quiet (so to speak), and it makes me sad.  Daniel shows us how to be faithful to our God without acting like a spoiled child.  Daniel stood with dignity, respect and I believe humility as he asked to be allowed to have a special diet—a simple one not something extravagant or unreasonable.

God was already working on behalf of Daniel and his friends and had given them favor with the one directly over them, and yet when this official was fearful to give Daniel an exemption of different food than the king had commanded, Daniel went respectfully to the next higher official and offered him an alternative to endangering their lives in changing the king’s order.

“Then said Daniel to Melzar,

whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee,

ten days;

and let them give us pulse to eat,

and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon

before thee,

and the countenance of the children that eat

of the portion of the king’s meat:

and as thou seest,

deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter,

and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days

their countenances

appeared fairer and fatter in flesh

than all the children which did eat

the portion of the king’s meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink;

and gave them pulse.

17 As for these four children,

God gave them

knowledge and skill

in all learning and wisdom:

and Daniel had understanding

in all visions and dreams.”  Daniel 1:11-17

How sad that we don’t have people in our government with this kind of skill in diplomacy!  It breaks my heart that we seem to have only extremists (on both sides) and very few, if any, real diplomats—diplomacy is a skill that is so needed in our culture and our world—prayer and personal obedience is the only key that I can find to resolve the needs in our world!  May we be faithful “pray-ers”!

Yet consider Daniel, he offers himself and his friends to be tested and let God’s power, provision and work be made manifest.  We are often so busy promoting our own agenda, that we don’t give God the opportunity to shine through our humble obedience with Daniel-like diplomacy and faith!  It saddens me when I hear songs, and messages calling for real spiritual revival with “shouting, handclapping, and other physically obvious indicators” while leaving unmentioned the fact that real heaven-sent, Holy Ghost revival starts on our knees, in personal repentance, tears of regret and a heart that is willing to let God “show me” what I need to repent of as I seek to yield to HIM!  Oh, my friend, let’s seek our God on our knees with an open heart to HIS revelation of our own needs before we can meet other’s needs!

Read this passage again and notice all that God did for these faithful, bold yet humble young men!  They said (in Blanche’s paraphrase), test us for ten days, and give us just plain food and water to drink, and then judge with your own eyes how we fair compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food and drink.  Oh, my friends, this isn’t giving us a “Daniel Diet”, but revealing four young men of faith, stepping out in faith, trusting to their God to use their faithfulness to display His power.  And remember they were among a group of young Jewish captives of maybe 50-100 young men, yet we only see these four stand up for God’s ways!  We won’t be in the majority when we follow God.  Jesus makes that clear in Matthew 7.

“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

We must dig into God’s Word to be able to recognize the “strait gate”, for there are many today that are painting signs that “say” “strait gate”, but if you look around and compare what they are teaching to God’s Word, you’ll find that you are on the wrong road.  We need to be consciously choosing the way that leads to life, not the road that the “many” are taking that leads to destruction.  If you find that something draws a great crowd of “many”, you may need to investigate what they are purporting!  Don’t be misled by the size of the crowd.  Daniel and his three friends are the only ones that God records for us who were faithful in the midst of overwhelming temptation.  What are you standing on?  God’s Word or sinking sand?  Are you running with the many or the truthful few?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  And Daniel and his friends passed their test.  Look how God showed up and showed Himself faithful and able!  Is your God able?  If you want to see “able” read these first six chapters of Daniel.  But for now ponder the results of the faithfulness of these four young men!  WOW!  Our God is able and faithful.  Then at the end of their three-year training program did God ever show Himself faithful—and if you take the time to read these first six chapters I think you will be amazed, humbled as well as finding yourself desiring to draw near to this God!

“And at the end of ten days

their countenances appeared

fairer and fatter in flesh

than all the children

which did eat the portion

of the king’s meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat,

and the wine that they should drink;

and gave them pulse.

17 As for these four children,

God gave them knowledge and skill

in all learning

and wisdom:

and Daniel had understanding

in all visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said

he should bring them in,

then the prince of the eunuchs

brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 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 1:15-20

Oh, my what a mighty God we serve!  Do you know Him?  If not, you can, by repenting of your sin and trusting in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—yours and mine!  Then the blood of Jesus can and will transform you into His child.  He came to give us life!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

 and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

Amen and Amen!!!

What Will It Take??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #198

18 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Commitment Or Convenience, Consider Your ways, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Narrow way or The Broad way?, No man can serve two masters!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Will It Take??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #198

For what?  For you to decide to follow Jesus, no matter the cost?  Daniel made that choice, and God used him in a mighty way; there is no knowing what God would do through you and me if we but yield ourselves to His control and devote ourselves to being obedient to His call on our lives, no matter the cost or the circumstances that surround us.  And my friends, I truly see the horizon darkening with the clouds of persecution for those who stand for Jesus, but you have the choice to take up your cross and follow Jesus or go the “broad way”!  But choose wisely, there is a test.

Jesus makes it clear that we have a choice, but He also makes it just as clear that there is a consequence for each choice.  I want us to look at a passage that I use frequently (Some may say too often, but for me it’s the message that Jesus gave over and over again, and it’s the message that He has called me to share—if it can bring just one to the truth, I’ll share it until Jesus says “stop” or until He calls me to Himself.). And just a note, Matthew 7 is the conclusion of the sermon on the mount—not the end of Jesus’ preaching, but this introductory message at the beginning of His ministry; and if you look at the other gospels, it wasn’t the only time that He preached portions of this message.  We shouldn’t read it only once—it’s a gold mine of truth, challenge, and warning.  Make we take heed my friends.

So let’s break this passage into bite-sized pieces and I pray that you will see truth and apply it to your life, as I do the same.

“If ye then, being evil,

know how to give good gifts unto your children,

how much more shall your Father which is in heaven

give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever

ye would that men should do to you,

do ye even so to them:

for this is the law and the prophets.

13 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 7:11-14

Jesus proclaims that even sinful men can do good, but God is always good, and blesses all, especially His own, as Jesus said:

“But I say unto you,

Love your enemies,

bless them that curse you,

do good to them that hate you,

and pray for them which despitefully use you,

and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children

of your Father which is in heaven:

for he maketh his sun

to rise on the evil and on the good,

and sendeth rain

on the just and on the unjust.”  Matthew 5:44-45

God is merciful unto all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, which imparts forgiveness and eternal life with God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

“For thou, Lord,

art good,

and ready to forgive;

and plenteous in mercy

unto all them that call upon thee.”  Psalm 86:5

Paul reiterated this same principle.

“As it is written,

There is none righteous, no, not one:”   Romans 3:10

“But what saith it?

The word is nigh thee,

even in thy mouth,

and in thy heart:

that is,

the word of faith,

which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess

with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe in thine heart

that God hath raised him from the dead,

thou shalt be saved.

10 For

with the heart man believeth

unto righteousness;     (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

and with the mouth confession is made

unto salvation.              (See Matthew 10:31-33)

11 For the scripture saith,

Whosoever believeth on him

shall not be ashamed.”  Romans 10:8-11

We must understand that “confession” doesn’t mean simple words of “mental assent”, but a response reflecting a turning from sin to Jesus, and His blood sacrifice for “my sin”!  He paid a debt He didn’t owe, because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay apart from hell! (See Romans 3:23 and 6:23) Thank You, Jesus!  Let’s get back to His message in Matthew 7.

“Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes

of thorns,

or figs

of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot

bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.”  Matthew 7:15-20

As I’m often heard to say, “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!”  Jesus warns us to be careful of what we believe, we need to verify it by The Word of God, and a life that reflects that very truth; and see if they “practice what they preach”, so to speak.  As my mother used to say often, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time, and you can’t ever fool GOD!”  And if I may add, if we use The Word of God as our plumbline, we will be much more likely to discern the true from the false; even though we live in a culture that accepts any “feel good” idea and will run with it—often running right into hell with it!  In other words just because it says “Bah Bah” doesn’t make it a real sheep!  Beware my friends—it’s Jesus’ call to us to use godly wisdom and discernment, which will be proportionately increased as we study God’s Word.  But Jesus didn’t stop there, so let’s go on.

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth

the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23

There is a lot of false teaching all around us, and if your plumb line isn’t The Word, you’re likely to be caught off guard, and led astray.  One big red flag is where is the teaching focused?  If it leads you to “look insider yourself” run in the opposite direction!  Jesus said to follow Him, to seek Him first, to look up not inwardly.  Paul said it clearly when he said that we are to “study to shew yourselves approved unto God”, and the implication is to “study” God’s Word not man’s!  For as we we consider Jesus closing example—and as I’ve often said, don’t just excuse it as a cute little children’s song, but grasp it to your heart as total truth!  Where is your foundation laid?  Upon what are you depending?  Jesus, The Rock?  Or are you going for the world’s sand?  The storms will tell—and the storms will come—no maybe!

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended

these sayings,

the people were astonished

at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them

as one having authority,

and not as the scribes.”  Matthew 7:24-29

Notice that even though these principles are simple, the people noticed that “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”!  Jesus IS The authority.  When He claimed this truth of His authority as The Son of God openly, they attempted to stone Him for saying: “I and my Father are one” John 10:30.

Will you join the many or the few?  Choose whom you will believe, whom you will serve, whom you will follow.  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test—one road leads to “destruction” the other to “life”!

Amen and Amen!!!