When The Lion Roars...
Daniel 6
When the lion roars, he can be heard from 5 miles away. He struts like a king who dominates the area. His roar is to claim territory and strike fear into all. Size is not a deterrent. His prowl is calculated. He is wise and selective. He is fierce and fearless. He can jump over 35 feet high and he's extremely strong. He has a posse, and he's out for blood. He's known as the king of the jungle. He hunts everything. No one dares to silence him, except God!
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”In the lion's den, Daniel was not afraid. He had seen God do too much for him, to doubt God's ability to do even more. He feared God more than man. He was innocent. He knew too well that obedience to God was better than sacrifice.
- He had been captured as a teenager and brought to a foreign land. Yet promoted.
- His gang remained healthy on just a leafy diet.
- His friends escaped the fiery furnace uncinched.
- He had seen a most powerful king eat grass.
- He ruled foreigners in their country, in their government.
- He was right when he interpreted the king's dream.
- He was right when he interpreted the writing on the wall.
- He walked in favor with God and with man.
- He had a real relationship with his God.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
If you are walking in the will of God for your life, you will have enemies. Ask Jesus, or Paul. The men decided to go without food until Paul was dead. Acts 23 The Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus because HE was too popular. John 11 Herod's wife asked for John's head on a charger. Matthew 14 Jesus told HIS disciples to take up their cross. It's a decision we all have to make. We have to be prepared for earthly "unfair" judgement when we decide to stand for God's laws. We make ourselves unpopular when we chose to declare our faith in the face of adversity. But faith can only come from a place of true relationship with God. You have to have your own story of what you've seen God do in your own life. David saw God rescue him from bears and other wild animals when he was with his sheep. He wasn't afraid of Goliath. Goliath was just another beast. He understood that God made Goliath as well. What have you seen God do? What have you trusted HIM to do? Only God is all powerful!
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God is supreme! There is no situation that you can ever encounter that is not subject to God's authority. It doesn't matter where you are. It doesn't matter who or what you are facing. God is always in control of everything. As long as you focus on God, HE will work it out. Just remember that your most powerful weapon is prayer. Jesus always resorted to prayer. Queen Esther told her people to pray. Esther 4. Daniel prayed three times daily. He went into his house, turned to the window facing Jerusalem and prayed when he realized that they had plotted for his death. You have to believe that God will work it out. HE is your help. When you're not sure what to do - remind HIM of HIS word. Psalm 121. The great news is - because of Jesus' finished work on the cross; every power in the earth is now subject to us as believers. Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world. The same spirit that rose Jesus from the cross is alive in us today.
Luke 10:19
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Faith in God's ability is the ingredient to overcome all fears. Just imagine the growls of the lions before Daniel was thrown into the den. Just imagine spending an entire night with multiple lions walking around you. Just imagine the sight of all the dead bones in the den. Imagine the smells. Plus, they shut him in with a stone. Yet he survived. What den have you been thrown into? Do you have others scheming and plotting, even lying or spreading rumors about you? Are you surrounded by lions, situations and or systems and people that seem more powerful than you? Remind HIM of HIS word. Psalm 91. Remember, it is always about HIS Glory. God works it out to draw men unto himself. In the end, not just Daniel, but a whole nation that needed 120 satraps to lead them, now bowed to the Almighty God. Daniel did not complain. Instead, he gave thanks. His relationship to God was more important than what others thought of him. We do not always understand God's agenda, but we ought always to give thanks. When you don't know what to do PRAISE GOD. Like Paul and Silas in prison, praise God. Your faith, your commitment and obedience to HIM is what matters. HE will open your gates and get the glory.
Daniel is the only prophet who lived through four different regimes (Nebuchadnezzar, Belthazar, Darius, and Cyrus). He was a 'big deal' in government. Inspite of his position, he remained humble and faithful to God. Therefore, God revealed many things to him in dreams and visions. Ask. Talk to God. Pray continually. If you seek revelation, stay humble. Draw near to God and HE will draw near to you. Never trade obedience to God!
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TESTIMONY: They Stabbed Me for My Faith but Yeshua Healed My Heart – Pod for Israel
WORSHIP: God Will Work It Out (feat. Naomi Raine & Israel Houghton) | Maverick City Music | TRIBL
When you don't know what to do ROAR GOD'S PRAISE!
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