Month: June 2024

¹⁰ The astrologers answered the king, ‘THERE IS NO ONE ON EARTH who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. ¹¹ What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.’ Daniel 2

We said yesterday that ALL WORLDLY WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS LIMITED! Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of a vast empire and he had the best people of this empire on his staff, but they couldn’t meet his demands. They did however point to a higher realm in the spirit where the knowledge he needed was available. Unfortunately many today people today still seek to tap into this knowledge illegitimately, by the occult. (Like Saul with the witch of Endor, but it did him no good.)

¹² This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. ¹³ So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. Daniel 2

The failure of the of the King’s advisors to meet his demands led to a crisis, (SOMETIMES A CRISIS CAN BE GOD’S CRISIS!) but Daniel came forth as the man of the hour. He went before the King to ask for time ‘so that he might interpret his dream for him’. Daniel and his friends were facing a death sentence but he knew that God could rescue them. They had already come out as the best ‘graduates’ after three years of training. God had been preparing them for a place of service and leadership, not for sudden death. Daniel may have taken some comfort from this.

Daniel explained the situation to his friends, it’s GOOD TO HAVE LIKEMINDED FRIENDS TO SHARE WITH IN A CRISIS. All of them prayed but Daniel was the one pressing into God for the answer they needed so badly.

¹⁹ During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said:

 

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. Daniel 1

We actually know someone who is graduating from university this very day after a period of intense study. God gave increased knowledge and understanding to the young Hebrew exiles and they came out top of their year.

¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, HE FOUND THEM TEN TIMES BETTER than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Daniel 1

These young Hebrew men had to undergo and pass a period of intense training before they could serve in an earthly administration. They had to prove themselves able for their chosen field, but unlike their peers they would also serve the heavenly King. Though they were outstanding in their field, it was the special gift of God to Daniel that would really cause him and them to excel.

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.

While King Nebuchadnezzar slept God spoke to him through his dreams and he needed someone to interpret them for him. However, he introduced a condition which completely dumbfounded his wise men.

⁴ Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”

⁵ But the king said to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut in pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. ⁶ But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive gifts and rewards and great honour. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me” Daniel 2

God arranged a situation which only those connected with Him could resolve. The worldly wisdom of those in the King’s court was useless. The wisdom of this world will only take us so far and is often at odds with God’s solutions to the problems we face. For example, ministries facing a shortfall in their funding have been told by the Spirit to give resources to leaders who can’t afford to buy it. When they were obedient, their income increased and their needs were met. Hallelujah

It’s good to get knowledge and understanding, but like Daniel we need the Lord to give us His solutions to the situations we face.

⁸ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,’
declares the Lord.
⁹ ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55

May the Lord bless and keep us today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way. Daniel 1

Daniel saw his circumstances very differently from those around him who were happy to indulge in the royal food and wine of the king’s palace. After all what could be wrong with consuming the same fare as everyone else – but not Daniel and his three friends, they asked to be fed only vegetables and drink water.

The Hebrew word for “Holy” literally means “SEPARATE” or “SET APART”.

Daniel and his fellow exiles were slaves within the Babylonian system but at least in part they decided not to comply with its rules and regulations. They didn’t eat the food, nor drink the wine supplied by its rulers, they kept apart. Everything else in the Book of Daniel followed from this decision to be separated onto the God of Israel by keeping His Kosher laws. Though they lived under the Babylonian system they determined to honour the God of Israel within it. This is very similar to the position of the Church today, we must live and function in this Babylonian world system but yet be set apart for our Lord who has delivered us from its control. We are the only people on earth who have the freedom not to bow down to this system and live now for God’s Kingdom.

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² ‘Please test your servants for ten days: give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. Daniel 1

Daniel was able to use wisdom in approaching the guard in charge of them and God had already ‘GIVEN HIM FAVOUR AND SYMPATHY’ with him. The external system was not favourable towards the Jewish exiles, but just like Joseph in Egypt, God gave favour to His own people living within it. Their first test was a short test of appearance after ten days on a plain diet and they looked better than all their peers. Nothing is too difficult for God.

Then they had three years of intense learning in a different culture, with foreign tutors, in an alien language, yet God brought them out above all their peers.

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.

God had a plan and purpose for these young exiles in Babylon, He brought them out above all the king’s wise men but their hearts were committed to Him. God blesses those who are His, Daniel and his friends prospered in Babylon.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
    but he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact. Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15 tells us that there are people whom the Lord opposes because of their pride, the sin He hates most. On the other hand He defends the weak, the widows who have no one to fight for them and protect them. Many times in the scriptures we read of God’s warnings not to take advantage of the widows and the weak ones in society.

²³ Your rulers are rebels,
     companions with thieves;
they all love bribes
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them. Isaiah 1

In the opening verses of Isaiah the Lord draws specific attention to the actions of the rulers of Israel and their failure to defend the orphans and widows. He is watching over the weakest members of society and how they’re being treated by those in power. This verse speaks powerfully to many leaders today who are living for their own selfish desires and failing to care for those in need. God saw it then and He sees it just as clearly now.

¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat –
    for he grants sleep to^[a] those he loves. Psalm 127

1. Psalm 127:2 Or eat – / for while they sleep he provides for 

Men’s best efforts without God will not last. Many think their building will not be pulled down, they’ve put their best efforts into it and it will endure, but when we build without the Lord we build in vain. It’s interesting that God’s promises often include future generations.

¹¹ The Lord swore an oath to David,
    a sure oath he will not revoke:
‘One of your own descendants
    I will place on your throne.
¹² If your sons keep my covenant
    and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons shall sit
    on your throne for ever and ever.’ Psalm 132

God wants to prosper the work of our hands and He wants Godly offspring who know Him and will walk with Him. There are mighty generational blessings for families who continue to walk with the Lord, e.g. the faithful Recabites in Jeremiah 35. God saw they remained obedient to their ancestor’s commands and rewarded their faithfulness far into the future.

When we build with the Lord’s help, He blesses us now and on into the future. The message is simple, invite God into everything we do and He will sustain it.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a DISCIPLE NAMED TIMOTHY LIVED, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. ² The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Acts 16

On our way along life’s journey we will meet people whom God has placed on our path, to become a significant part of His Plan for our lives. We need to be alert to such encounters, because they will help us fulfill God’s plan for our lives.

Even the great apostle Paul had such encounters. The world calls them coincidences and believers often refer to them as God-incidences, but people whom God brings into our lives are very important!

Timothy was a disciple, someone under discipline, before he met Paul. We might look at this relationship and think the younger man received all the benefits and the apostle was constantly giving into Timothy to build him up. There is truth in that, but later on Paul was to acknowledge how valuable Timothy was to him and Paul had a deep love for his young protege.

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus (PAUL WAS SURRENDERED TO THE LEADING OF THE LORD) to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I HAVE NO ONE ELSE LIKE HIM, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2

In Acts 16:6-10, Paul was refused permission to preach the Gospel in Asia and had his dream of the man from Macedonia calling him to ‘come over to them’. So they eventually ended up in Philippi and went out of the city gate to find a place of prayer, where they met Lydia, a dealer in purple. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message and she and her household were baptised (household salvation), makes life so much better.

¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us. Acts 16

Paul and his companions led people to the Lord and immediately received material help from those people. Lydia is often called the first believer or convert to the Gospel in Europe. God had Paul speak to a woman first, but she was in a position to help him and his companions. Another Divine appointment.

We received a prophetic word yesterday from a visiting minister which centred a lot on relationships. The Lord was keeping some people away from us, others we would have to have a heart to heart talk with. Still others had a different vision, TWO VISIONS EQUALS DIVISION and some just wanted to use and then discard us. We need discernment to know the people God wants IN OUR LIFE FOR THE PRESENT TIME and those who should not be with us. Paul and even the Lord had to make similar decisions.

May the Lord bless and keep us today. Immanuel, God is with us.

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they WERE GLAD AND HONOURED THE WORD OF THE LORD (Whatever steals your joy is not of God); Acts 13

We said yesterday that anything which STEALS OUR JOY OR BRINGS A HEAVINESS TO OUR HEART may not be from the Lord, after all there is no sadness in heaven. We listed many negative actions and experiences engaged in by the religious people who opposed Paul’s teaching about the new dispensation introduced by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

On the other hand the Bible does often speak about the JOY BELIEVERS SHOULD HAVE IN THE LORD. In one chapter in Proverbs (15) four statements are made regarding the blessings of JOY AND CHEERFULNESS.

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply –
    and how good is a timely word!

³⁰ A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15

On a completely different occasion we see great REJOICING in Jerusalem when Solomon dedicated the Temple of the Lord.

⁶⁵ So Solomon OBSERVED THE FESTIVAL at that time, and all Israel with him – A VAST ASSEMBLY, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They CELEBRATED IT before the Lord our God FOR SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN DAYS MORE, fourteen days in all. (Perhaps this was a forerunner on earth of the wedding banquet in heaven) ⁶⁶ On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, JOYFUL AND GLAD IN HEART FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS THE LORD HAD DONE for his servant David and his people Israel. 1 Kings 8

Religion has devised a completely false picture of the God we serve, who wants people to be happy and enjoy serving Him. Even under the Old Covenant God blessed the people when they were devoted to Him. We should beware anything that comes to rob us of our JOY or bring a heaviness of spirit, it may well be a snare of the devil.

Remember the words of Nehemiah,

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.’

¹¹ The Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.’ Nehemiah 8

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a SIGN that will be SPOKEN AGAINST, ³⁵ SO THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS WILL BE REVEALED.’ Luke 2 (Simeon over baby Jesus in the Temple)

The mention of Jesus’ Name causes the thoughts of people’s hearts to be revealed to this very day! The enemies of the Cross cannot stand the mention of His name. Reasonable people who are respectful in many other ways, can become very upset with the mention of that name.

It’s interesting to look at some of the words used by the Bible to describe those who opposed the preaching of the Gospel by Paul and Barnabas.

⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with JEALOUSY. Acts 13

⁵⁰ But the Jewish leaders INCITED the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up PERSECUTION against Paul and Barnabas, and EXPELLED THEM from their region. Acts 13

² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and POISONED THEIR MINDS against the brothers. Acts 14

The enemy still uses the same tactics to oppose anything concerning God’s Kingdom. I believe that the minds of many believers at the present time have been poisoned against the work to advance the Kingdom. We have great need of more discernment to see and hear beyond the false agendas continually broadcast by much of the media. Those who want to maintain the status quo should beware of anything which stirs anger or bitterness, just like the religious Jews in the time of Acts. The coming church may be almost unrecognisable to the current structures.

⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who TALKED WITH THEM AND URGED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD. (God works by persuasion, not by force) Acts 13

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they WERE GLAD AND HONOURED THE WORD OF THE LORD (Whatever steals your joy is not of God); Acts 13

⁵² And the disciples were FILLED WITH JOY(as above) and with the Holy Spirit.

I find the most chilling part of the narrative at the end of Acts 13, is verse 46,

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and DO NOT CONSIDER YOURSELVES WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, we now turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13

Paul knew that he had to honour the Jews first, but once they finally rejected the Good News, he had no further obligation to continue speaking with them. Many religious people who reject the new day ushered in by God’s Spirit may find themselves bypassed. The future will be different and we must adapt to the change necessary to enter into God’s new day.

May the Lord bless and keep you. Immanuel, God is with us.

^{9 ‘}So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ 1 Kings 3

Solomon had gone to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord, a thousand burnt offerings by a king and during the night God spoke to him in a dream. I imagine Solomon was surrounded by people during the day, but God came to him while he slept.

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

What a question for God to ask. No matter what Solomon asked for, God was able to give it to him and it’s the same for everyone today. God’s arm is not too short to save. Numbers 11:2

King Solomon began by thanking God for all His kindness to his father David and for bringing him, David’s son, to reign after him. This had been strongly contested by two of his brothers and no doubt Solomon would have died if they’d been successful. Solomon firstly acknowledged how much he and his late father owed God before he said anything. We could learn much from His example. God may want to speak to us as our Father before He gives what we’re asking of Him.

⁷ ‘Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I AM ONLY A LITTLE CHILD AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CARRY OUT MY DUTIES. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a DISCERNING HEART TO GOVERN YOUR PEOPLE AND TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ 

Solomon was aware of his duties as a young and inexperienced King and his request centred on his responsibilities for GOD’S PEOPLE. By asking for wisdom to administer justice to those under his rule, he gained much more. We all have responsibilities before God, whether it be for a business, a church or our family and we need God’s guidance and support in our own lives.

God blessed Solomon like few other people in history and His blessings overflowed to all the people of God under his care. God often uses one person to bring blessings to many others and indeed He still blesses those who are good to His Covenant people the Jews. The city of Belfast, N.Ireland, near where we live was a centre for industry started by Jewish businessmen in the 1800s. (The Titanic was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard.)

The proving ground for King Solomon’s new gift came in a very unusual way. A dispute between two prostitutes over the life of a baby boy was brought to the King to settle. RELIGION WOULD NEVER HAVE TOUCHED THIS but God chose the situation to confirm the gift of wisdom He’d bestowed upon Solomon and restored the infant to his mother.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:31 to seek God for the greater gifts, an invitation to all His children.
Also Remember, ‘the gifts and callings of God are without repentance (He never takes them back)’. Romans 11:24

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
    BUT HE LOVES THOSE WHO PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS. Proverbs 15

WHAT WE BEHOLD WE BECOME! (The Late Neville Johnson)

I was talking to a young believer recently who was just a few weeks away from sitting his final school exams to hopefully gain a place in a prestigious college. His mother said he had even been studying on the journey in their car, he was so committed to achieving the grades he needed to move on with his career and the next phase of life. That’s the phase of life, he and many others are in at the present time, competing for the highest marks to get into the best colleges and universities. I certainly hope he is successful and though I only met him once, I’m praying that he gets his necessary grades.

The scripture above says that the Lord loves those WHO ‘PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS’. There is a danger for believers (of any Age) in just drifting along and going with the flow in the world around us. People who are studying must constantly fill their minds with the information on which they’re going to be tested. They can therefore become captivated by the knowledge and learning of this world! Many young people in other religions are trained to recite verses from their own writings over and over until they become ingrained in their minds. There is a battle for the minds of all people on the planet at this time and it is a crucial battle. Multitudes are in danger of perishing because their minds have been deeply infiltrated by a powerful enemy agenda.

¹³ ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.‘ Matthew 7

I cannot recall where I read about a Christian studying for a secular degree, but they made a vow/promise to take time with the Lord at the beginning of every day before starting their study. Several days it was only a few minutes but they still gave some time and God honoured them for it. They put God first and though it wasn’t always easy they kept on doing that.

A stranger example I recall was a man studying in seminary to become a missionary, (May have been Fraser of Lisuland). He told a tutor that despite the heavy workload of his studies, that he too gave time to the Lord. He described it as, ‘putting first things first’. He became a successful missionary.

Many people cram for exams and pass the grades, but don’t carry on after they qualify. The race for the believer is a lifelong journey with the Lord.

Finally just this past week we read a post by a mother whose daughter had asked to visit a Gaming Trade Show, which turned out to be predominantly demonic. So much so that the mother felt nauseous just being there.  The enemy is targeting the minds of impressionable young people in a field where the Church is hugely underrepresented. I do believe that the Lord is on the move, but the Church has to undergo massive transformation to reach next generation. A well known prophet said the Lord had spoken to him and said not to fear the technology. God has allowed it so He can use it for His Glory.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. IF ANYONE (Invitation to All) hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me. Revelation 3:20

²⁰ But OUR CITIZENSHIP IS (Not will be) IN HEAVEN. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

I was pondering Revelation 3:20 today and then I read the same reference in Paul’s words to the Philippian Church and saw they had some common trends.

Laodicea was the last of the seven churches the Lord addressed in John’s revelation and He kept His sternest words for them, BUT He still gave them an opportunity to listen to Him and repent. Truly we serve a patient and good God!

The Laodicean Church had a view of themselves that was totally at variance from how the Lord saw them, basically they valued the material things of this world more than the Lord. Yet they still tried to keep a foot in both camps and do enough to enjoy life here and at the same time avoid His judgement. Christ is still Lord of the Church, He is the Head and knows everything, including people’s hearts. The shocking thing was the magnitude of the difference between what they thought and their reality in the Lord’s sight.

¹⁷ You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Five major failings) ¹⁸ I counsel you TO BUY FROM ME gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. Revelation 3

The Lord went on to tell the Laodicean Church that, ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. SO BE EARNEST AND REPENT’.

The Lord expected change from their church and He told them that there would be times of discipline. He still expects the same willingness to receive His correction from believers in the present time. He extends this invitation to anyone, to come and share with them if they’ll open their hearts and listen to Him.

²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Christ offers fantastic promises to the churches and specifically to those who overcome the challenges of this world system, the flesh and the devil. May the Lord help us to love Him and live for Him during the short span of our lives on earth.

May the Lord bless and keep us today. Immanuel, God is with us.