When The Lion Roars...

 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 because he understood man's limit.  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.

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Like David, he'd seen Goliath. But he'd also seen God.  He knew that God was able to do far more than any man on this earth could.  After all, God created man.

Isaiah 55:9 

"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 a true relationship with God.  There's no way around it. Faith is about jumping in and knowing your Father God will catch you.  You have to become like a child when it comes to The Almighty God. You have to step out of your boat into the water and walk towards Jesus like Peter. You have to keep your eyes on Jesus all the way, or you will sink. Are you innocent in God's eyes? Are your eyes focused on Jesus?  Are you committed to 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. Goliath was just a pea brain in comparison to God. David understood that God made Goliath as well. He understood that God was in charge. God is always in charge! 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.  The disciples didn't ask God to show them how to do miracles.  They asked HIM to teach them how to pray. They observed the source of HIS strength. Prayer is the work. 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.  Like a shower, you need prayer every day.  It is what it is. 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.  Like a lion, we should be fierce and fearless in our communities knowing that God has given us power to overpower any and every adversary. Know that when we feel weak, that's when we are most strong, because then HE fights for us.  God is our posse. HE is our pride. Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world.  The same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead 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 from prior people. Imagine the awful 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 with 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 oppressive gates and give HIMSELF the glory.

Daniel is the only prophet who lived through four different regimes (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus). God did that! HE is sovereign over all. Daniel's enemies and their families were crushed in the lions den.  God caused that. All wisdom and power come from God. Daniel was a 'big deal' in a foreign government. He had seen man's power in comparison to God's.  Proverbs 21.  Inspite of his position, he remained humble and faithful to God. He understood that God could handle any terrorizing situation, by HIMSELF anytime. He understood that God could shut the mouths of any and every enemy power. He understood that all the glory belongs to God. Therefore, God revealed many things to him in dreams and visions.  Ask. Talk to God. Pray continually. Jeremiah 33. If you seek revelation, stay humble.  If you seek justice, turn to God. Draw near to God and HE will draw near to you. At exactly the right time, God will work it out.  God is forever sovereign.  HE will ALWAYS be the last one standing. Nothing and no one is as powerful!  Do not compromise your faith. Never trade obedience to God! It's not worth it!

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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!

The Lord's Prayer is a TEMPLATE....

The Lord's Prayer is a TEMPLATE....

Matthew 6: 9-13 

We are supposed to use this prayer i.e. petition as a skeleton, to insert our situations into its precepts.  Our language needs to be personally applicable to our daily lives and realities.  The Almighty God is interested in a relationship with a person, not a robot.  Jesus teaches us believers how to interact with The Father.  Prayer isn't normal, it is taught.  It is a Kingdom principle that Jesus taught to a bunch of 'religious people' - HIS disciples.  It's the only thing recorded in the gospels that they asked HIM to teach them.  They realized that this thing that HE did for several hours by himself every morning was the source of HIS power and authority. HE didn't leave it up to their opinion.  HE showed them how to get HIS same results.  HE gave them this template to insert their details. Be unique.  HE created you for that!

 

Our Father 

• God does not belong to you alone.  We all have the same rights and privileges as children of God.  God has no step children nor grand children. All humans have the same access to God once you accept HIM as your God.
  
• God expects you to pray for others, be inclusive; not just pray for you and your needs.  You are a part of a community which HE created. 
• God has 'a body' of people which HE'S building in the earth.  As a believer you are a part of that body and YOU should pray that HIS work be accomplished successfully as a whole.  Pray for other believers and their struggles.
  
• A Father is a source.  God is your provider.   HE has unlimited resources for your success in life.
• A Father is a sustainer.  HE is responsible for maintaining progress and productivity. HE's an overseer.
  
• A Father is a point of origin.  HE has more experience, knowledge and understanding of the nature of a thing.  Hence better skills of how to relate to it and produce harmony.

Who art in heaven

• The Almighty God doesn't live on earth. HE lives in heaven.
  
• The Almighty God is far above you.  HE'S in charge - HIS ways and thoughts are higher than yours.  
• Fear HIM - acknowledge and obey HIS laws because of HIS authority!
  
• The Almighty God is Supreme.  HE sees and understands far more than you do.
  

Hallowed be THY NAME

• YOUR NAME is Sovereign. 
• YOU are worthy of praise.
• YOU are to be revered and feared.
• YOU are of high ranking.
• YOUR NAME is YOUR reputation.  Whatever YOU say YOU"LL do.
• YOU'RE capable and honest and I believe YOU are that for me and my situation.  I claim it!
  

THY Kingdom come, THY Will be done on earth as it is in heaven

• Let the colony of YOUR domain be transferred to the earth.  We want the culture, nature and rulership of YOUR government system in heaven to be the same here on earth. i.e. its principles, regulations and privileges.  We want YOUR plans to take presidence over ours here in the earth in our nations, communities, careers, affairs, families and lives.  We trust YOUR Will for our lives. We submit to your authority and dominion.
  

Give us this day our daily bread

• Please supply whatever we need to be productive today given the challenges that will confront us. 
• Help us to focus on accomplishing the tasks YOU have assigned for us for today.
• What are YOUR assignments for my/ our lives today?  I'm available to do them. 
  

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

• Teach us not to judge.  First of all, we need YOUR forgiveness. Secondly, YOU will forgive us according to our willingness to forgive others simultaneously.  Our trespasses means that we need to stay out of other people's affairs and let you dictate to them.  As well as we need to focus on YOU for solutions to our affairs/ obstacles/ problems/ challenges/ situations.  We need to 'stay in our lane', and stay away from trying to dominate and dictate to other people and their circumstances.  That's YOUR job God!
• Teach us to extend YOUR grace to others the same way YOU'VE extended it to us.
  

Lead us not into temptation

• We are aware that there's an enemy and one of his primary roles is to deceive us.  he exists to mislead us away from YOUR plans and purposes for our lives.  We need YOUR help to not get fooled or trapped by his distractions from YOUR best intentions for our lives.  Please guide us into YOUR truths, knowledge and understanding of YOUR precepts.
• Keep us away from our own will.  We submit to yours.
  

But deliver us from all evil

• We need YOUR help in escaping, overthrowing and navigating our lives away from the entrapment of the devil and his dominion. 
• Deliver us from our own misgivings and sinful appetites.
  

For YOURS is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory

• YOU are Almighty.  YOUR word is law. YOU are in control of this domain and all territories.  YOU set the standards.
• YOU have Supreme authority.
• Everything reflects YOUR nature, character, wealth and pleasures. 
• YOU deserve the glory.  
• WE glorify YOUR NAME. 
  

Forever and ever AMEN!

• YOU exists outside of time.  YOU and YOUR dominion have no beginning nor end.  That's just the way it is.
• I agree and submit to this truth. 

TESTIMONY: Jewish Israeli Psychologist finds Jesus

 

 

WORSHIP: The Lord's Prayer

 

 

The Lord is after your heart, not a robot!