Tips from Daniel ,the greatly beloved, the man with an excellent spirit
Few people have lives like Daniel. Out of the destruction of Judah and the subsequent captivity, springs a man who worked across four distinct political administrations.
A man who stared death several times but was left standing and we are left with outstanding testimonies, all in a league of their own.
A man who received messages from above interspersed with great love. Daniel 10:11, 10:19. “O Daniel , man, greatly beloved, understand the words I speak to you….”. “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes be strong!..”
A man who dutifully recorded what was shown to him in visions. His records are being used even now. Some of us ministers, we do not record anything or store for future generations anything. We are careless with what The MOST HIGH shows us. Careless with the visions and words spoken. We procrastinate until there is no more time left to write down what The MOST HIGH said to us, and so HE must look for another vessel.
Permit me to ask, is it carelessness or selfishness or both? There are cases where people have received words from heaven for others but have refused and or delayed to convey the messages. Could it be that they want the person to whom the message is due to perish? Are they genuinely fearful or concerned for their own safety? If so, can the message be delivered anonymously? Is the message so sugar coated or diluted it lacks meaning? Well, Beloved, check yourself.
Delivering messages of repent or be destroyed to people can be vey challenging. They may very well repent like Nineveh and if they do by all means do not do the Jonah . If they do not , do the Samuel, grieve, do not gloat and leave the matter in the Hands of The ALMIGHTY.
The famous damning Mene Mene message was delivered by Daniel together with a bone chilling prophecy that the king would die that night. Daniel did not fear, the king did die, was promptly replaced and the very same Daniel continued in service in this very earth leading to the Daniel in the lion’s den incident and service under Kings Darius and Cyrus. See, Beloved, what The LORD can do, if you remain firm, faithful and committed to him even in captivity and or other dire situations and circumstances. Daniel :2-31. Daniel 6: 1-28.
But you, you want wealth and earthly accolades, no problem, be faithful , ask The LORD for what you want and leave the decision of what HE gives to you to HIM . HE is a faithful KING and FATHER and HE is known to give exceedingly and abundantly.
Daniel , the greatly beloved, is further instructed to go his way for he will rest and not see these things but will arise to his inheritance. Daniel 12:13. Wow! In this era of endless debates among Christians of pre-rapture or post rapture tribulations, end time doom and all sorts of messages that confuse, terrify and disturb the children of GOD. It is a good idea to seek the face of The LORD on what your own portion is instead of scouring the internet for prophecies and delarations. Faithful GOD, HE will answer you and if you find favor like Daniel, HE will tell you what will happen to you and you will find rest for your mind and soul. Question is,” Can you handle what HE will say?” You perverse generation obsessed with calming drugs and other demonic meditation and relaxation techniques. Whatever happened to , “Be strong and Courageous, The LORD is with you.” Whatever happened to , “Do not fear, I AM with you till the end of time”
Anyway, back to Daniel, there are some things he did which you can copy. Someone once said , “imitation the sincerest form of flattery”.
1. Keep things simple. Eating simple food. Don’t just eat anything and everything. Be selective and we are not just talking about food food. Do not allow your body and spirit to be polluted with things and materials that come from the evil one. Daniel 1:8. Beloved, just because it comes from what is seemingly glamorous and shiny does not mean it is good for you.
2. Keep things simple. Straight and simple do your work. Do what you have been assigned to do and do it well.
3. Say your prayers no matter what. And I mean no matter what. Do not fear those who can only kill the body and after that there is nothing else they can do, fear HIM who can also throw into hell and damnation.
4. Be honest and incorruptible. No one may like you but you be honest, you may end up in the lions den, but The MOST HIGH will see you through.
5. Be truthful no matter the consequences.
6. Know GOD and may GOD know you and call you greatly beloved and send you messages calling you greatly beloved .
7. Be courageous. Stand for something that is eternally beneficial. You may end up in the fiery furnace. You may burn to crisp and ashes, but HE will have taken you out of the fire into HIS eternal presence. In the furnace, you may walk around in there with HIM and survive the flames but be sure to come and tell us what HE says when you are pulled out of the flames alive with your hair unsinged.
8. Don’t like gifts and receiving them anyhow from anywhere. Gifts are known to corrupt and persuade children of GOD right out of the kingdom of GOD.
9. Know your spiritual stand even in your work place. Daniel did not mind being known as a spiritual man despite the fact that he was the right hand of great kings. He was not ashamed of his faith and YAHWEH his GOD and staked his life on it. Eventually, these very kings testified of the sovereignty of The ELOHIM of Daniel and wrote letters about HIM yet you won’t even testify on email of the wondrous works HE has done in your life and around you. See the sun has been rising and setting since time immemorial at least testify about that. Daniel 6:2-28. This king Darius was commanding his subjects to tremble and fear before the GOD of Daniel.
If it were some of us, we would still be carrying chips on our shoulders of:
i. Why did I have to leave Jerusalem and live in this heathen place? (Never mind that Jerusalem was being judged for being a heathen place.) When can I go back home? I am homesick. Note that it is likely Daniel died and was buried in captivity.
ii. My family died in the war, where was GOD? ( stupid question. Our GOD is in heaven and HE does what HE pleases, HE does not have to explain HIMSELF to you though HE may if HE chooses to.)
iii. See all I have gone through. See what they did to my body. Let me feel sorry for myself, even GOD understands my pain, let me sulk and spread my sob story online.
iv. After I have served this terrible nation for all these years , its just trouble after trouble. I think its about time I got into some of the action concerning business, might as well make top dollar or gold while in this horrible murderous place. Every man for himself.
Beloved, such attitudes and thoughts will sink you into an abyss so deep that coming out will be by the grace of GOD.
10. Daniel 2:49- Petition the authorities about your friends in faith. It is a sad state of affairs that Christians will rarely recommend fellow brethren to positions of honor. Let us make it a habit that when we are in positions of influence, we rise with our brethren as opportunity presents himself.
11. Daniel came from nobility Daniel 1:3 and he behaved nobly like royalty and his life revolved around service to kings. Our FATHER, YAHWEH is KING of kings. Sadly, our behavior does not reflect this at all. We behave like spiritual brats, whining and whining, all about me, me, me and I,I,I. Let us grow up.
12. Daniel 1:4 describes some attributes that Daniel had that played a role in getting him into the kings three year training school for service. Let us look at some of them and how they apply to us today
a. Youthful. First, let us love The LORD as we did the first day we knew HIM. Let our love for HIM remain youthful. Secondly, let us be concerned about our physical and spiritual health. This is not about vain youthfulness and the search for youthfulness. In scripture, old age can be used as a term to point to over familiarity with the things of GOD and the sacred things. For example, Eli was old, the old prophet and the young prophet, the old serpent. You get my point.
b. Without any physical defect. Good looking. Remember scripture tells us that we must be pure if we want to see GOD. We must be holy like our FATHER is holy. We want to appear blemish less on that final day. We must pursue perfection. Get my drift.
c. Showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, qualified to serve in king’s palace, teach language and literature . Just because we are children of GOD does not mean that we should be dunderheads, academic dwarfs and administrative failures. We have heads with brains, we can use them as Daniel did. Coupled with the fact that The HOLY SPIRIT is with us and the immense divine favor and goodwill assigned to us, we are the ones who should be doing exploits. We should embrace knowledge and service in the attitude and likeness of Daniel first with total unqualified submission to The MOST HIGH.
d. Did not defile himself. By now, you know this. All those things other children of GOD warn you not to do. Don’t do. Follow the guidelines in the scripture. JESUS CHRIST simplified it. Love The LORD your GOD with all you are and have. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. No covetousness, greed, malice, sexual immorality including homosexuality, no drunkenness, witchcraft. For starters read Galatians 5, Ephesians 5 and Exodus 20.
Daniel 1:17 To these four young men GOD gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds .
The testimony of Daniel is incredible and indestructible. Beloved, do the above. Who knows , we may all witness the lion in the den concerning you and who knows what reward The MOST HIGH will give you and what a tremendous blessing you will be to future generations.
Beloved, the scripture informs us, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
