Daniel’s Devotion (Part 6)

Hello Friends!

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

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 6)

As we continue our devotional readings in Daniel, today we read that Belshazzar was beginning the first year of his reign:

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts – Daniel 7:1

IMPORTANT NOTE: In chapter 8, Belshazzar was in the third year of his reign as the leader of the Babylonian Empire:

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first – Daniel 8:1

It is very difficult to have died and then reign for three years! The way to read through Daniel “chapter by chapter” is in the following order:

1-2-3-4-7-8-5-6-9-10-11-12

This is the proper chronological order for the book of Daniel!

Daniel had become a leader – most likely the third highest-ranking leader – in the Babylonian Empire. By this time he reached 70 years of age. For almost 50 years he had served as a counselor to King Nebuchadnezzar and now Daniel was serving the King’s grandson, Belshazzar in the first year of his reign.

As a young man, Daniel had been gifted by the Lord to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream as we read in chapter 2. This was a prophecy of the present and future Gentile world powers from Daniels' day until the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Now some 50 years later the Lord gives Daniel a "vision" of that same scenario for the Gentile world empires and what would happen at the Second Coming of Jesus. The overall big picture presented to Daniel in his "night vision" was of "four great beasts" that rise up out of the sea, each one diverse from the other:

And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other – Daniel 7:3

This is known as "apocalyptic literature" in which the author uses "symbols" to convey an "absolute truth." The symbol is not an allegory nor a fairy-tale, but an "absolute truth." The symbols represented here in chapter 7 are as follows:

The "lion with eagles wings" is the ancient Babylonian Empire:

The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it – Daniel 7:4

The "bear with three ribs in its mouth" is the ancient Medo-Persian Empire:

And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh! – Daniel 7:5

The "leopard with four wings and four heads" is the ancient Grecian Empire:

After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it – Daniel 7:6

The "fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong" is the future "Revived Roman Empire":

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns – Daniel 7:7

Notice the "ten horns" of the "dreadful and terrible" and the "little one" that comes out of the "ten horns" that represent the "Revived Roman Empire" and the "little one" is one of twenty-seven names for the "Antichrist":

I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words – Daniel 7:8

Here is the promise of a future "kingdom" that will be given to Jesus Christ, the "Son of Man" by the "Ancient of Days" – God the Father:

I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed – Daniel 7:13-14

This is a "kingdom" that comes after the "Revived Roman Empire" and the "Antichrist" are on the scene. That it is not a "Kingdom" which is in place now. This "Kingdom", referred to in this passage, will be given to Jesus Christ at the return of the Messiah by God the Father  – and it will be the "everlasting kingdom" of God!

By the way, the recent European Union Treaty accepted by all 27-member states of the EU calls for a "Supra-State" – the “United States of Europe.” This Treaty also provides for an EU that will be led by a "powerful, permanent president" and that person was selected and put in power. These both – if not the ultimate fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy – are at least a “prototype” of the characters to come on the scene as foretold in prophecy yet to be fulfilled…

This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart – Daniel 7:28

Seemingly in the near future…

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 <><

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made!

Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

    when I was made in the secret place,

    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be.

This time of year is a very special time for me.  It was right close to this date 3 years ago that I found out for the first time that I was pregnant.  What a special thing!  It was also this week, 2 years ago that I gave birth to my son.  Again a special thing!  Now you’re probably trying to figure out the math on those two and saying that they just don’t add up.  You’re right because they were not the same pregnancy.  However, both are very special to me because God knit together both babies in my womb.  My first baby’s frame may have been hidden from me, however it was never hidden from God.  God saw that baby’s unformed body and the days ordained for that baby were written in God’s book.  Now, they may not have been long, however right from the start, that life was special. 

Tomorrow is not promised for anyone.  God formed us and numbered our days while we were still in our mother’s womb.  Some have long years here on earth while others are limited. 

A few of my friends this past week experienced losing a loved one.  Some expected, some very unexpected. 

Friend, I want to encourage you today to praise God because you are fearfully and wonderfully made!  He loved you before your mother knew you were in her womb.  

Thurs Devo - Order or Chaos?

Do you prefer order or chaos? We often don’t like other people telling us what to do, when to do it, how to do it, etc. However, if there’s no structure and anything goes, then there’s chaos and nothing gets accomplished, people get hurt, property gets damaged, and time is wasted.

After God rescued the Israelites from Egypt and brought them into the desert, He setup an orderly way for them to travel and camp. It freed them to live in peace without chaos.

Numbers 2:1-3a, 10a, 17-18a, 25a, 34     The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.” ³ On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard… ¹⁰ On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard…¹⁷ Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.¹⁸ On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard…²⁵ On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard… ³⁴ So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

The Israelites didn’t need to fight to get a front row spot. God had ordered it so that each group was camped equidistant from His tabernacle in the middle. They each had a set place to camp and a set order for travelling. I would guess that eliminated lots of chaos, confusion, worry, fights. etc.

God is orderly. God doesn’t micromanage, but He does give clear instructions on how to order our lives. If everyone lived by His instructions, there would always be order and no chaos!

How orderly is your and my life?

What logistical or organizational changes might God have us make in order to be better prepared for His service or to more fully enjoy the life He’s given us?

As you and I live according to God’s instructions, what peace and security have we experienced?

Alice

Let's Talk About Love

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Here is a subject that is going to make many of you very uncomfortable; love.  You see, I use to think I was this very loving person until I met my wife.  She is the most beautiful person I know inside and outside!  As much as I love her, she loves much better than me.  It inspires me to be a better lover of her, and together, we tend to love others even more.  I’m not saying this to be boastful and no, ours is not this all warm and fuzzy gooey thing all the time because we test each other in many ways.  But it is awe inspiring at times to see how loving my wife is.  Nothing makes me feel better than when she looks at me and says with the most sincere smile, “I love you.”  That’s as close to feeling God’s love as anything else I have ever known.

We should be comfortable talking about our love for others for we have the greatest love of all; God’s love.  My wife and me share this as our favorite verses (actually, it was hers first J).  The reason is it reminds us of the power that God’s love has not only over us but also those who we touch.  Think of a time in your life where things were really bad and nothing seemed to be going well.  But then the love of God came in, and it changed everything.  Maybe it was through some direct connection (mine was once through a song), and other times, it was someone who came into your life and showed the love that only God can inspire.  No matter the manner, the showing of God’s love to another person can be the genesis of something greater than that moment.  It can inspire them to a different path; one that leads to God and His will and purpose being revealed.

God’s love is perfect.  Paul in these verses captures each and every aspect of this love.  There are three key concepts that ring through loud and clear as we read it.  Love is.  Love always.  Love never fails.  Where do you fear loving another?  Who can you show more love toward?  My prayer is that when the time comes, we can willfully and fearlessly talk about love.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Backwards filters

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (NASB)

Hello,

Lately I have seen a number of conversations – often heated – about as a Christian, what choices you should make about clothing or drinking or language. As I watch (most are electronic, Facebook etc) these conversations unfold it has recently dawned on me that we have our filters backwards. We are proud Americans (I too am proud to be an American!), and we are privileged to live in a free country. We see some things going on right now in the middle-east that prove not all countries are free countries. The issue is that we have made our Free American the first filter, and our Christianity – relationship with Christ…don’t forget that definition is about relationship… - our secondary filter. We think about our rights first, and then if it is righteous. Now, if both filters are fully in place – you will get the same choice result no matter which is first and which is second.

The problems with having it in the wrong order:

• ·         Filtering that way takes longer, because the Free American filter doesn’t catch as much dirt as the Christian filter so it will take longer to sift through choices
• ·         We move fast – so we only filter once
• ·         We are comfortable defending our choices to others by the popular filter of a Free American, but we don’t want to verbally explain ourselves to others based on our relationship with Christ
• ·         When we are tired and under stress we look for the short cut, so we just filter once – and this builds habits.

 Check your filter today. Are you first passing your choices through being in a relationship with Jesus – our Savior who died for us – and then through that as a free American?

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 5)

Hello Friends!

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

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 5)

Daniel chapter 6 is one of the most practical chapters in the Bible. However, it is also prophetic. You may recognize the story from your days in Sunday School and maybe even have seen the drama played out in a church program. It is a wonderful story of the "steadfastness of Daniel":

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm – Daniel 6:1-3

Darius the king had published a decree that told his subjects they were not allowed to offer up a prayer to anyone other than the King himself:

So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree – Daniel 6:4-9

This decree was meant to bring harm to Daniel, but instead it brought praise to Daniel's God!

You know the story so well, so allow me to just bring to your attention some of the highlights of this portion of Daniel that we are using for our devotional reading for today. There are many blessings to be found in this passage. Here are just a few.

Daniel, as was his custom, went to his chambers and kneeled to pray towards Jerusalem, as he had been commanded. By the way… Daniel was not trying to hide as he prayed. He prayed with the windows open so that all the Kingdom could see the faithfulness of Daniel:

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God – Daniel 6:10-11

Daniel's enemies rushed to the King to report Daniel going against the King's decree. Daniel decided that it was more important to obey God than man. When we do that we must be ready to face the circumstances – no matter what the cost – as was the case with Daniel:

And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day – Daniel 6:12-13

The King, realizing what his decree meant to Daniel was very displeased with himself and wanted to change his decree but was reminded by his men that the "law of the Medes and Persians" would not allow the king to change that order which would send Daniel to the death as a punishment for simply praying.

And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed – Daniel 6:14-15

How important is our prayer time? Would we be willing to face a death sentence to be faithful to the dictates of God for our spiritual lives? Daniel is a perfect example for us to follow! What a promise that Daniel was reminded of by the King as he was being thrown into the lion's den:

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you” – Daniel 6:17

As we "continually serve Him" He takes care of all our needs – even physically. There is so much more in this passage that we could share. Let me draw your attention to the prophetic portion of our reading for today:

 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian – Daniel 6:26-28

The King put out another decree that in all of the kingdom men should "tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.” The entire kingdom would recognize the God of Daniel as the "living God” who was “steadfast forever” and that “His dominion shall endure to the end."

The kingdom that will "endure to the end" is the one that Jesus Christ will set up after the seven year Tribulation, yet in the future…

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 <><

Terrible Twos

Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

This verse was a great one for me this week as my son, who will be 2 next week, has really been really testing us, especially me lately.  I realize this is part of the age but it really is a time that as parents, we have to learn to be patient and loving. 

This made me think about how much do I test God?  Am I like a 2 year old at times?  God is beyond patient with us, more so than we ever deserve.  Let’s work today on being as patient with others as God is with us and trying not to test God as much as a 2 year old.

Thursday Devotional - A True Sister

The apostle Paul was quite an amazing follower of Christ. I’m sure some doubted the sincerity of his conversion at first, but I don’t think there’s any room for doubt now. His life was full of evidence that He loved God with His whole heart. He was a true father to many.

I Timothy 1:1-2          Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, ² To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Well, today is my niece’s spiritual birthday! Maria asked Jesus to forgive her of her sins and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior three years ago today. I wrote a devotional about it three years ago and how evident it was in just the first 24 hours after her conversion that the Holy Spirit was actively working in her life. She had become my true sister in Christ!

Well, three years later, there’s even more evidence. She continues to have a concern for the lost and remembers to take things to God. She will take big and small victories or trials to God through praise and petition. One such example, a few weeks ago we were all eating dinner together and discussing all the various trials going on in our own lives and the lives of others around us. Maria chimed in and said we could pray to God about it all. So, we did just that, we all stopped in the middle of dinner and lifted up various concerns to God.

Maria is not only my niece, but most importantly she’s my true sister in Christ! We’re celebrating that today!

Who are your true brothers and sisters in the faith?

How evident is it that you and I are true brothers and sisters to others?

When was the last time you and I shared our faith?

Or when was the last time we wrote an encouraging letter to a fellow believer?

Who will you and I encourage today?

Paul, as a true spiritual father to Timothy, showed his love to him by continuing to encourage and instruct him. We have two of his letters to Timothy for our own encouragement and instruction!

Alice

Certainty over Luck

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.  `Hebrews 11:32-34, 39-40

There are many things in life that people will say is left up to chance.  “Hopefully, we will get lucky,” one would say.  “There’s risk in everything,” another might say.  With so much uncertainty in the world, why should we ever feel certain that things will turn out in our favor?  After all, what goes up must come down, right?

Faith in God gives us certainty that all things happen with good intention.  Last week, I mentioned faith as, “Assurance about what we do not see.”  (Hebrews 11:1b)  Years ago, I remember getting into an accident and totaling the car I was just about to finish paying off.  This was just after my wife and I had just purchased a new home which we knew would tighten our budget.  Then, my wife was laid off from work just prior to our move.  Did I mention that this was the year of the Great Recession?  I still remember vividly where we had nothing left in our bank account, and I just looked to God crying, “I don’t know what else you want me to do.  I can’t do this on my own.”  Now some would believe that we were victims of bad luck or unfortunate circumstances.  Yet when we had nothing, we still had God.  The very next day, a check came in the mail covering all the upcoming expenses for the next week.  That’s what faith will do.  And what did God’s intention teach me?  First, I learned dependency on God and surrendering all to Him.  Second, I learned contentment appreciating what God has blessed me with.   When we have faith in God, there is no luck or coincidence.  There is God’s righteous intention and the chance to gain wisdom and clarity of His purpose for our lives from it.

Acceptance of God’s will gives clarity in all situations.  Things cease to affect us adversely, and become opportunities to gain understanding of God’s plan for our lives.  What circumstances have you been given that need a God-centered perspective?  How can we have certainty of God’s goodness in uncertain times?  My prayer is that we don’t buy into luck but instead have certainty in Jesus Christ.  Amen.