A Few MORE Lessons from Daniel...

So, Daniel gives the interpretation to the dream exactly as God gave it to him… telling the king in verse 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; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days…

Again, making sure God got the glory!

Lesson #11… He knows who to trust His words with…those with no hidden agenda.

I Corinthians 1:29 “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

We have no boasting rights… it’s all HIM! He reveals to those who keep it about Him!

After he is finished relaying the interpretation from God we get to 2:46 that I started with ““Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.”

Which leads me to Lesson #12… When you are only seeking favor with God and not man, God brings favor with man as it fits into His plan and purpose for you. When we give our best offering of ourselves to Him with pure motives, He can cause us to stand before kings… places of honor and power to make His name great. …but only for those who aren’t seeking glory, fortune and fame from their connection with HIM… it’s all about the motives of our heart.

The next place “oblation” was used was in chapter 9:20-22 “And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation."

Lesson #13… evening oblation… don’t think of prayer as a once a day thing. Make moments throughout the day to offer up sweet times of sacrifice unto Him.

In verse 3 we learn that he had been fasting… “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”

Lesson #14… living a life set apart… along with prayer & fasting can bring angelic visitations.

Chapter 10:2-3 “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

Verse 12 “And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia."

Lesson #15… Fasting brings results and causes angels to war for us in the supernatural! His words were heard from the 1st day… things were being fought in the spirit realm that He had no idea about. Everything we’ve sought God for on this fast will be answered. Even when we don’t see it before us… it is being taken care of in the unseen!

There are many more things to learn from Daniel. These are just a few. What an example to us of the power of not being entangled in the world we are living in! Daniel wrote a book of many visions that foretell the End of Days… things too deep for most of us to understand. He was the true example of a life sold out and poured out…

I think it is very note worthy that God showed me this vein of thought during the media fast. Daniel purposed in his heart not to be defiled with the kings meat. One form of the kings meat of our day is the media that we set before us. It is the world’s interpretation of how our world is… it’s so hard not to get “sucked in”. I know that we have made some permanent changes in our home. We are desperately trying to modify the amount of time we spend on entertainment… even things that are seemingly good… they are time suckers! There’s always a subtle underlying influence at work. We are crazy if we think the enemy is not continually looking for a way to infiltrate our thought processes. The greatest battle is within ourselves. We have to continually renew our minds in His Word and in His presence to keep ourselves unspotted from this world (James 1:27).

We are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We have to be aware of the enemy’s tactics. The Spirit of this World… recognize it and its pull on us and our families.

Galatians 5:16 “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

The Amplified says “walk and live habitually in the Holy Spirit responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit…”

We have to let Him be our guide… let’s try to have a slow fade away from the things of this world that so easily entangle us and move closer to Him.

More Lessons from Daniel

In Daniel chapter 2... verses 17 & 18: “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 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.”

Lesson #6… Surround yourself with godly people of like faith that can pray with you and believe with you.

Verse 19 “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”

Lesson #7… God does truly speak to us in dreams… I am NOT as crazy as you may think.

Lesson #8… God should ALWAYS get the glory!

And I LOVE these next 3 verses… I have read them and poured over them many times…

Verses 20-22 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 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: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Lesson #9… God is in complete control of our world. Whether we like our president, leaders, etc., we have to realize that He knows how the story ends… all things must align to accomplish His purpose.

Lesson #10… I can know His secrets… if I set my heart on Him… put away all that distracts me… he will bring hidden things to the light. He delights in me being complete in Him… not defiled by the Babylon I am living in.

MORE TO COME...

Lessons from Daniel

We made it! Yesterday ended our 21 Days of Sacrifice... 21 days for some, 40 days for others... we have been on a time of fasting. Most people chose to do the Daniel fast which is mostly vegetables and fruit and water. During the first week our Pastor asked that we have a media fast as well. That can be challenging to say the least. I will say though... it was during that phase that the Lord woke me up with the word "oblation" (I blogged about this earlier... that I would be posting later). I thought it must be a medical term because I have been having all kinds of medical issues during this fast. I’ve been to the doctor and thought this must be a term he mentioned to me. When I got into prayer that morning, I felt a little guilty for doing so (since we were on a media fast) but I took my phone and decided to google the word “oblation”. It said: “an offering ,a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God.”

I thought… wow! This is a Bible word… ok… maybe you are trying to tell me something, Lord! So I got out my concordance and began to try to find what He was saying. I first found

Leviticus 2:12 “As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD…”

I recognized this verse and He has already dealt with me about this before… giving Him the first, the best, of not only my resources but of my time and efforts. That didn’t seem like all He was saying though. I continued searching.

And lo and behold, I found Daniel! How fitting… we are on the Daniel fast so why wouldn’t God lead me right to the horses mouth!

So here we go… here are some lessons I learned from Daniel that started with a simple word, “oblation”…

The last few verses I found were in the book of Daniel. Daniel 2:46 says: “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.”

So here we have Daniel… offering himself first of all, interpreting the dream as God had commanded him… if you’ll remember the King had a disturbing dream and there was no one to interpret. He then wanted to kill all the wise men of Babylon. But in the midst of Babylon… in the midst of the worldliness… there was a man named Daniel who was not conformed to Babylon… he was not partaking of the things of the king and his worldly kingdom… let’s back up to

chapter 1:8 “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.”

Lesson #1… Don’t try to fit into the culture around you. You are who He has called you to be. You are not to be identified by this world and its way of thinking. Don’t compromise your convictions and consecrations when things get rough and pressure to fit in becomes great.

Daniel 1:12-13,15 "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 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. 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."

The “pulse” translates as “vegetables”… I’m no Bible scholar but I know that the Israelites had very strict dietary laws. Daniel didn’t even want the temptation to be in front of them that the meat might be one he wasn’t supposed to partake of. He wanted to stay as far away from sin as he could.

Lesson #2… Avoid even the appearance of sin or evil or the very temptation of such.
I Thessalonians 5:2 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Notice that this separation from Babylon had rewards… verse 17 of chapter 1 says that God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Lesson #3…God reveals himself to those who set themselves apart from this world and desire to be identified with Him. Why are we so afraid of being identified with Him?

Going back to chapter 2… the king had disturbing dreams and there was no one to interpret. They all wanted him to tell them the dream and they would interpret. The kings words were: “…The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.”

Not too much pressure! They weren’t able to do this… they told him that there was no man able to do that… it was then that the king desired to kill all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel found out and went to the king… presented himself… made himself available to be used by God… sometimes that’s the biggest hinderance.

Lesson #4…God wants to do so much in us and through us but we aren’t making ourselves available. We are sitting back waiting for some big thing to come knock us on the head. You have to DO!

In verse 16 “Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.”

Lesson #5… Be bold and confident that you WILL hear from God. Speak it. Believe it and wait for it to happen!

...MORE TO COME...

Angels All Around

This past Thursday as Bryan was getting ready to leave for work, he discovered that his laptop and briefcase had been stolen from the backseat of his car. He always locks his car and brings in his briefcase but for some reason, he didn't that night. He had gotten in late and didn't even think about it. He is in a different town every day and that laptop and briefcase are basically his office. It was quite devastating.

In prayer that morning God had reminded me of Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

I was then led to 2 Kings 6:17 where Elisha prayed that his servant's eyes would be opened to see those fighting on their behalf... how "they that be with us are more than they that be with them." He then saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

You have to understand... about 7 years ago God really brought us on a journey (which is a long story) that brought full revelation of the angels that we have at our disposal. Since that time we have prayed angels of protection over our home and over our kids every single day. Even when we're out of town, we will call home at bedtime and pray over the boys. Needless to say, this incident kind of caught us off guard. I asked God to please bring something good of this. I thanked him that our lives were spared and our home wasn't actually broken into. Lord, I don't know how, but surely you can turn this for the good.

It was a troublesome day for Bryan... realizing all the work he would have to do all over again. That afternoon when he got home he got a phone call and stepped outside to hear better. As he was walking around the back of the carport, there was his briefcase laying on the ground. Here's the deal... it was unzipped but the velcro strap that holds everything in place wasn't even touched. They never even went through it. What would make a thief just drop this valuable loot he just obtained? Our firm belief is that there was an angelic intervention by God... we don't know what He used or how He used it, but He truly spared us while we were sleeping so soundly.

Romans 8:31 "...if God be for us, who can be against us?"

Psalm 91:11 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

Holy Vessels

In Acts 9:15, Jesus spoke of Paul (formerly Saul)... the very one who had persecuted the saints... he described him this way:
"...for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"

What a lesson to us about the mercy of God. He visited him personally on the road to Damascus, revealing to him that He was the one he was persecuting. He knew what Paul would become with full revelation. He wrote so many books in the New Testament... words that we live by today. He gave his life for truth once he received revelation.

You can imagine Ananias' dilemna when the Lord visited him in a vision and instructed him to go visit this Saul of Tarsus, knowing how he had done evil to the saints at Jerusalem. But God had prepared the way. He had already given Saul a vision of a man named Ananias visiting him and laying hands on him that he may receive his sight. God uses the supernatural to get sinner's attention. His words were (in verse 16): "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Notice how suffering usually comes with being His chosen vessel. The benefits far outweight the suffering though.

Here are the words I feel Him speaking to me:

"Don't worry or fret over the details. I'm aligning every detail of your life, your time, into My plan. Come away with Me... into My Presence, my place of refreshing.

I long to speak to you and through you. I am ever present... even when you feel you've failed Me. Put those feelings aside. They have no place in My work, My will.

Just listen. Stop... and listen. Abide in Me and let Me transform you daily. Your life reads like a book. Each chapter I am writing. Be willing. Flow with the pen of My hand on your life. Don't compare yourself to others... your giftings, your strengths, weaknesses or even your prayers and how I speak to you. All of My children are so different. I view each as an individual. I formed you. I know the intricate workings of your whole being. I see what I want you to become. Every day is part of the journey. Each day is an important page. Don't miss a moment of what I have planned.

Be My vessel. You won't have to worry about what to say. Abiding takes care of that. I commune with you continually. I won't leave you when it counts most.

Flow in My Spirit. What I'm teaching you others must learn. How will they learn without a teacher? Just be willing and ready and allow Me to work out the details.

Be a vessel of holiness."

So, maybe this is for you too. Sometimes He speaks so clearly and the only thing I know to do is to share what I feel Him saying. Some days I will hear from someone that it was a direct word for them on that particular day. I don't discount the avenues He uses to speak to each of us. I just want to be a holy vessel unto Him... we never truly get there but there's joy in the journey.

Restoration

Joel 2:25-26 "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed."

Lately I have felt Him saying "when you pray for MY will, for things to be done MY way, I am going to restore to you some things you have sacrificed. I long for My children to have their heart's desires... all things in proper perspective.

Don't discount the dreams I will continue to give you. New giftings... without fear. I'm restoring every dream, every gift."

I had journaled this on 3/1/10 and now today, I am so elated! I woke up with a word ringing in my head... a word I didn't even know. After looking up the definition and finding it in the Word, I now realize a portion of what He is sharing with me. I can't post it yet, because I'm not done and because I will speak about it in our young married class in the next couple of weeks. I am overwhelmed at how clearly He speaks when we shut out the other stuff. We are on our Daniel fast and have added a media fast this week. Try it... His voice becomes so clear!

Deny Yourself

We're in a time of corporate prayer and fasting at our church right now, so of course this subject is heavy on my mind. This year our pastors have tried to push us to make it more personal... not what the church is doing as a whole but digging deeper into ourselves. Over the last week or so I have felt Him saying:

Deny yourself... that's where the line is drawn. My people don't want to deny themselves and yet that is crucial to hearing My voice.

Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

The Amplified version says "let him disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests... cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also."

I want to be pliable in His hands... like the clay in the potter's hands. Less of me, Lord... more of YOU!

Extraordinary Results

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

I felt Him whisper this the other day...

"Give me your weariness, your burdens, your efforts. All efforts laid upon Me are given extraordinary results.

Don't always feel you must have words. I hear your heart's cry. Just breathing in My Presence in the stillness restores, refreshes.

My Presence, My voice is not forced or rushed. So many try to force what I am saying. It's in the stillness, in the quiet where I dwell. Sometimes you have a stillness in your spirit though you are doing daily things... that is why you hear Me in those moments of doing the things you love, things that settle you, things I've called you to do. They are a part of your make-up."

I can't make it on my own. I need His help every moment, in every decision... I want His extraordinary results, so here it is, Lord... I don't take ownership over any of it... I give it to you. Work everything in my life according to Your plan!