Several months ago a picture popped into my mind’s eye. I saw people linked arm-in-arm standing in one line next to each other and the line wrapped around the face of the earth. The people were the Bride, us. I saw a move of God get sprinkled onto one portion of the people but because everyone was “linked” the ripple effects spread and everyone everywhere received the benefits of God’s outpouring. It flowed through the people until all were impacted. There was no jealousy. There was no separation. There was joy and expectancy and trust. In this same vision I saw a black and white bumper sticker on cars everywhere that said ‘BRIDE’. No individual church names. Simply, ‘BRIDE’.
We all remember the story from the Bible of Daniel in the lion’s den and we are well acquainted with the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace. But, I’d like to dig a little deeper into the juicy details and glean from the wisdom and guidance that these times so long ago provide for us in this day and age, specifically these literal days.
As you know, Daniel came from royalty. He was counted among the “youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge…” (Daniel 1:3-4). Daniel did not have a choice in his royalty or his good-looks but because of his royalty, he was taught the best curriculum's and all things wise from an early age. Thus, Daniel was brought into training to serve the king when king Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. I love this next verse (Daniel 1:8) “…But, Daniel made up his mind…” he determined and purposed for himself that he would not partake in the king’s choice food and wine. This time he certainly had a choice in the matter and he exercised his will, and aligned it in accordance with righteousness “...that he might not defile himself”. Because of this act of faith “God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials” (Daniel 1:9). Daniel and his three friends were granted their request to eat only a “Daniel’s fast” diet and the Lord made them stronger than the boys who ate of the king’s choice food and wine. The greater blessing than royalty that these boys received was due to their faith and their will to not “go with the flow” but to remain righteous, despite their opportunities for lavishness. Physical, mental and spiritual blessings began to be poured upon these boys: “And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams…And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service…they were found ten times better in wisdom and understanding than all the king’s magicians and conjurers” (Daniel 1:17-20).
When the king later had a dream that he demanded an interpretation for, and none of his magicians, conjurers, sorcerers or Chaldeans could make known the dream nor its interpretation, the king entered a furious rage and “gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon” (Daniel 2: 12). When Daniel was informed of this he “went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah about the matter in order that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men…” (Daniel 2:16-18).
Daniel is the one who God used to reveal the dream to but in his bold humility he brought his friends into high standing and favor with the king! Here is just the beginning of the end result: (Daniel 2:46-49) Daniel gave all credit to God, before he even began the dream and its interpretation. After the king received the correct interpretation he "answered Daniel and said, 'surely your god is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery. Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief perfect over all the wise men of Babylon. AND DANIEL MADE A REQUEST OF THE KING: and he appointed HIS FRIENDS over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court".
Daniel used
his favor for the benefit of his friends, and did not preserve safety,
blessing, and promotion for him only. He
basically risked his life, in faith, to pull him and his friends into
right-standing with the king.
Daniel was
full of power, wisdom, boldness and understanding but because he chose humility
and because he gave honor and credit to God and because of his desire to not
take any credit for himself, and to bring his friends into the favor that was
intended for him, they all stepped into power and authority
and favor. And, don't you think this was a HUGE thrust in each of their faith
to "cement" their trust in God for what was to come: the furnace (and
walking and talking with Jesus face to face in a fire)?
In addition to Daniel's contending for his friends, I believe that there is
another message here that is crucial for right now. This past week, during a time of group prayer,
I sensed that there was this great and rushing "political river" that
was so strong and powerful. I felt like many Christians (including myself at
times) have the attitude of "whatever is going to happen will just
happen" and I feel like people just expect to be taken in this powerful
river. I'd like to compare this to the
edict that king Nebuchadnezzar decreed in Daniel 2:12-15 "because of this (lack of interpretation
from the kings 'wise men') the king
became indignant and very furious, and gave orders to destroy all the wise men
of Babylon. So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain....then Daniel
replied with discretion and discernment to the captain of the king's
bodyguard...so Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would
give him time...."
Daniel had discernment and did not just "go with the flow" of the political decree. He exercised the gift of discernment, with discretion (as to not make a "show") to save his life and his friends!!!
The beautiful
ending is that they all finished (more than) well! They were appointed as
rulers with provision, favor and abundance. They were gifted greater faith
because Daniel had boldness and humility to discern and obey The Lord. But, he
had to ask The Lord for the dream. Let
us take a stand today and choose to activate our will, the beautiful gift that
it is, to resist a “political river” and resist the overtaking of the current
to be sucked into dismal and hopeless situations and mindsets. Take your stand before the King in humility
and ask once again for your loved ones to have their hearts of stone transform
into hearts of flesh. Take advantage of
your ability to come into the King’s presence and link your spiritual arms with
the Body and pull each other into the Lord’s favor, provision and blessing. Our
God is not a God of disappointment.
Let’s resist
the pull of the “political river" and ask our King for favor as we discern
the time and pray acutely with great precision and discernment.
“If My people, who are called by My name,
shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now
My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place”
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (AMP)
