Daniel’s Devotion (Part 8)

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our study of “Daniel’s Devotion” from God’s Word…

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 8)

Daniel is in his late 80's and under the leadership of the Medo-Persian Empire as he writes this prophetic passage:

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks – Daniel 10:1-2

Daniel, in an effort to have "understanding" of the times in which he was living and wanting to serve the Lord with more intensity, was waiting to hear from God about the future of his Jewish people so he started a three week fast:

I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled – Daniel 10:3

The Lord heard Daniel's cries and He dispatched an angel to the earth to meet with Daniel. A close look at the description of this "heavenly visitor" indicates that it was a "post-incarnate" appearance of Jesus Christ:

I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude – Daniel 10:5-6

As compared to the Apostle John’s vision of Jesus Christ:

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters – Revelation 1:12-15

When Daniel saw the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prophet fell on his face before the Lord. It is lovely what Jesus said about Daniel:

And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling – Daniel 10:11

Wow! “man greatly beloved,” What a wonderful commendation from the Lord Jesus Christ for a mere man!

Now we come to the two-fold purpose for studying Bible prophecy. The Lord said to Daniel that from the first day you "set your heart to understand " the Lord had started to come to meet with him:

Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words – Daniel 10:12

The student of Bible prophecy can indeed understand the times in which we are living today. We must understand our times so that we can make decisions today that effect tomorrow. The second purpose for studying Bible prophecy to “humble yourself before your God.” In other words, once we understand the times we are living in, we must get our hearts right with God!

Next we see that Satan will dispatch "evil angels" to take control of "world leaders" for his own purpose:

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.” Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come – Daniel 13:20

Notice that “Michael” the "archangel" is also described as one of the "chief princes" reported by Daniel. The phrase "prince of Persia" is referring to a Persian leader that was a demonically controlled "prince" – a word used to describe "angels" and in this case "evil angels" – demons. This "prince of Persia" is actually the villain – Haman – from  the book of Esther. This was the evil leader who wanted to eliminate all Jews from the earth. The "prince of Greece" is none other than Antiochus Epiphanes of whom we will address next week.

Satan will also dispatch "evil angels" to take control of world leaders to assist in his "Satanic game plan" for the last days:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places – Ephesians 6:12

With these Scriptures in mind, we can better understand our times and why world leaders do what they do in our world today. Some times in this wicked world we see many world leaders that are actually under Satanic control. This "demonic activity" will only intensify as we draw closer to the Lord's return…

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of Daniel’s Devotion…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

Your every thought

Who is that one person that knows you even better than you know yourself?  The Valentine’s card that I got from my husband said that I know him better than he knows himself.  Sometimes, that seems to be true.  Yet I am horrible at reading his mind. 

We serve a Lord that does know us better than we know ourselves. 

Psalm 139:1-4

You have searched me, Lord,

    and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

    you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

    you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

    you, Lord, know it completely.

The Lord knows our every thought.  Even before the words touch our tongues, he knows it completely.  We cannot hid from the Lord.  I encourage you today, to try to get to know yourself better.  See yourself the way God sees you.  Are your thoughts what you would want God to know?  

Thurs Devo - Giving commanded, but not forced

Exodus 35:4-9 & 20-24

⁴ Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ⁵ From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; ⁶ blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ⁷ ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; ⁸ olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁹ and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece…

²⁰ Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, ²¹ and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. ²² All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. ²³ Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. ²⁴ Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.

Even though the Israelites were transient desert wanderers at the time, God commanded them to give of what they had to make the tabernacle, all the tabernacle articles, and the priestly garments. He didn’t force them, though. He let them give out of a willing heart.

He does the same today. He commands us to give, but He doesn’t force us. What are you and I willingly giving to God’s work? Sometimes the easiest thing is to give money. We often give out of our excess or what we think we can live without. However, the Israelites gave up items from every part of their lives, not just money. They gave up valuable possessions and materials.

Will you and I ask God what He wants from us?

We can ask Him what our church or another ministry around us needs. Then, we can look for His direction.

When God shows us, will you and I willingly give to provide for His work through that ministry?   

Alice

Perfect Balance

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  Ephesians 5:22-27

My wife and I are a team.  We love each other, and I have to say that it is the closest relationship we have to ours with God.  We fight and argue.  She says I complain too much, and she’s probably right.  I will tell her to take more time out for herself, and she will try to remember that.  At the end of the day, we are a perfect balance for each other.  The reason is we do not focus on who is in control.  We focus on fulfilling our role as husband and wife.  The better we do so, the more love we feel for each other.

God’s word gives a perfect outline for how a healthy relationship should work.  Many couples struggle with the concept of who should be in charge.  For example, there is a saying that behind every good man is a good woman.  With the woman’s rights movement, the saying seemed to change to beside every good man is a good woman.  We hear conversations of guys being ‘whipped’ and women being abused.  It can be both depressing and frustrating.  Today’s verses are direct reminders that each role must fulfill their obligation to the relationship as Jesus Christ did on earth.  A godly woman would gladly submit to their husband who is loving of them as Jesus loved the church.  A godly man would gladly love their wife who gives into them first.  The verses in the proper context are about balance and not control.  You cannot have a great relationship without both submitting to and love for each other.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ gives us the best example of how to have long lasting and loving relationships.  Jesus was both submitting to God’s will and loving of all God’s people.  While society focuses on who is in control, we must look to love God as He loves us; unconditionally.  It is only then our relationships can be both fulfilling and satisfying for as Jesus said to Samaritan woman, “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” (John 4:13a)  Is your relationship balanced?  How can you focus more on your commitment to the relationship?  My prayer is that we are willing to both love and submit in order for our relationships to have the perfect balance.  Amen.

Tues Devo: God addresses snow and winter...

Philippians 4:10-12 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.“ (NASB)

So yeah, it has been a little cold outside lately. How is your attitude? I have certainly noticed that it is popular right now to not be a fan of the cold or of more snow – and truly not everyone enjoys these things. But has that circumstance and discussion around it impacted your attitude negatively? It doesn’t matter what everyone around us is saying – we are still accountable for our attitude in everything! Nope – you don’t have to like everything, but when there are things which may not be our favorite or our choice we must ensure it isn’t affecting our attitude in obedience to Jesus.

Have a great day – and stay warm!

Will Hill