Continuing today with the Book of Daniel we witness Daniel continually defeating all the distractions that tried to remove his focus off of God. While the Book of Daniel is filled with distractions I want to bring the key distractions to your attention. · Daniel had to be enduring jealously from some of the children of Judah. (This is not written in the Word but I can imagine this scenario.) There is always someone that becomes jealous of another receiving favor. I can see all the gossiping going on behind David’s by his own people. “He thinks he’s better than us. Won’t eat the King’s food. Who does he think he is?” Can you see that? · Daniel had enemies that were scheming behind his back that were not of the tribe of Judah. (Daniel 6:7) “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” · Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel 6:10-14, " Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” My God! I see nothing but distractions. But Daniel kept his eyes on God. He refused to look at everything that was going on around him. Once again he refused to compromise! Oh that we would have a spirit like Daniel. Tossed into the lion’s den and still held his focus. No screaming for help from Daniel. He kept his focus and trusted God to save him. Today if you are in the midst of the lion’s den, stay focus and keep all your trust in God, for as He did with Daniel, so shall He do for you. Keep your eyes on God! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) (www.fearnotministries.com)
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Distractions are something that every believer must contend with and learn how to defeat so that they will keep their focus on the Lord. We can learn a lot from Daniel if we pay close attention. He faced many distractions just as we do, but He knew that to give in would change his life. He belonged to God and wanted to keep it that way.
Daniel 1:4-17 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were so focused on God that they did not allow themselves to partake of the defiled food that the king offered them. Can you imagine what kind of distractions surrounded them? They were not the only children of Judah in the household, BUT they were the only ones that did not give in to the distractions. Now let’s think about this. • The Bible did not say that they were on a fast. • The smell of a lot of meat and other tempting aromas were assaulting them every day and almost all day. • and if the others were eating, don’t you think they were pressuring them to eat too. • The eunuchs were also pressuring them to eat of the meat. They were pressuring them to eat because they were afraid that if these boys began to lose weight or get sick then their life would be in danger because they were the Kings property. (vs. 10) Lose their heads. • The 4 decided that they would not eat the food because it had been offered to false gods and therefore it was defiled. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah made a choice and stuck by it. They made a choice not to give in to all the distractions they faced daily. They decided not to compromise what they knew to be true. No matter what the cost. Even if it meant their lives. "12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 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. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 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.”" For the 4 boys this was a true test of their faith. A test of where their focus laid. And because they did not give into all the distractions around them God blessed them with many gifts. "17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." We must keep our focus on God at all times to keep us from making unnecessary detours in our walk. Eyes on Jesus! So stop looking at the situation like it's going to pull you down. Keeping your eyes and thoughts on Jesus will bring you favor and bring you through. Tell yourselves that it is just a distraction and then begin to adjust your vision. We must stay focused on God and His plan for our lives. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies You know it sometimes seem like so many things in this life has the power to frighten us, but this is what it means to be deceived. It seems like. It seems like I won't have enough to pay the rent. It seems like they will be cutting my lights off. It seems like no one will hire me. It seems like I can't get through this. It seems like we've been having bad vision. Taken our eyes off of the one thing that has power over everything on this earth. Jesus. That has been the goal of the enemy from the start. To distract you and to get you to believe the lie. He can't do that without showing you the wrong picture. The wrong vision. 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 says, "5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Being at home in the body will distort your vision, but walking in the spirit will keep us in the presence of the Lord which will give us the clear and truthful vision that we desire. The vision that dispels all fear. The vision that we all need in order to be able to move forward in God. If you have a true heart for the Father then you desire nothing but the truth so don't allow the enemy to cloud your mind with false visions. Tell yourself today, "No more false visions. I will begin to see what God sees and I WILL walk by faith and NOT by sight." Let's go beyond the fake by taking a true walk of faith because things are really never what they seem. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Your failings and your trials were your life lessons. If you forget the past you forget the lesson and you can very well end up back where you started from.
More importantly these life lessons were for more than just you. They are your testimonies. Golden Seeds. "Yes, I use to do drugs, but it brought me nothing but heartache and held me back from my purpose." "Yes, I use to steal to get the things I wanted and needed, but my God now provides all my needs." "Yes, I served time in jail, but when I gave my life to God, He saved me from ever going back." And your life stories help others to not have to take the long road to their destination. Let me explain what I mean. I think of my life lessons as my Golden Seeds. . And please don't misuse the scripture, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) KJV This just mean that in YOUR life those things are dead. It doesn't mean they never happened. They are just dead so you cannot return to them. Not only are they dead to you, but they become this new thing to you and to others. THEY BECOME JUST AS TRANSFORMED AS YOU HAVE BECOME. The truth is that for many it is pride that keeps them from admitting their past. Don't be bound in that. Get free from it by speaking it. Your past was always meant to be your testimony. They become YOUR testimonies, YOUR Golden Seeds. Seeds that are meant to be planted. To not plant them is to be disobedient to the Father. For His Word tells us, "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) KJV You have to stop trying to hide your past. Be the witness and begin to plant YOUR Golden Seeds. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Years back the Lord showed me a place that I would be entering into in the future. Now when He showed me this place I can remember my heart gripping in fear and a desire to run from it so terrifying the vision was. I've recently seen this vision again and the fear was gone. That's how our Father works. He prepares you for what is to come and once you are prepared, all fear will leave. I want to encourage you today if you are still bound in fear. Know that God is preparing you for your future. a future that contains no fear, but He has to show you it now so that He can deal with it now as part of your preparation. Hold on to your faith because I promise you, it is the one major thing that is going to see you through to the other side of that fear. Pay attention to what the Father is saying in these days. He is speaking words of strength to your spirit. Continue to meditate on His Scriptures telling you to 'fear not' and to be not afraid'. He wrote those words for you for this time. They are alive and will strengthen your spirit even as you are reading and speaking them. Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." God has only done a small percentage of what He is planning to do in you in this season of preparation. Be encourage and as always be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies This is so important! It is one of your keys toward walking into your purpose. If they are not going where you are going they will become a distraction and can possible send you towards detours. I love to be with people that look like me, and by me I mean they also are a reflection of Jesus. What kind of reflection do you see in your friends? Evangelist Cheryl Davies Fear Not Ministries When you are struggling it doesn't necessarily mean that sin is standing on the sideline waiting to devour you. The majority of the time our struggles are the hand of God trying to teach us something or take us to new territory that has not been conquered yet. I depend on the struggle because I refuse to stay the same. Stagnated. Rutted. God can't use that! Nothing can stop my flow! Allow God to take you to and through the struggles. And when they seem too hard, keep telling yourself, "I'm going somewhere and I'm not going to be the same when I come out of this struggle. I'm going up." This is why I rejoice when it's a struggle. I'm telling God that I know He can handle anything that I can't and I'm willing to submit myself to Him to teach me how to handle it myself. Hebrews 5:14, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." That's called "Meat Eating Maturity." No more milk for me! I've learned how to chew. Now, what about you? Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies Bondage has only two purposes and that is to make you sin and to keep you out of heaven. It's time to stamp an expiration date on your bondage. Set your date and work to be free when that day is reached. Tell the Devil, "Your time is short because my freedom is at hand. You better vacate the premises by ___________ or face your destruction." Hebrews 2:14-15, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (NKJV) Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Some of you will not want to read this posting, but if you are truly seeking after the truth, then seek it today and be enlightened. Throughout the Bible God has placed great emphasis on names. For example: Genesis 29:34-35, “She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.” (Levi and Judah were the beginning of two tribes, the Levities and the Tribe of Judah. Levi means “attached” and Judah means “praise”. ) Genesis 32:28, “And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”” (His blessing for his struggle. Israel means “God contended”) 2 Samuel 12:24-25, “Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. (His name was changed out of love. Jedidiah means “beloved by God”) Acts 13:9, “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.” (His name was changed because of his rebirth. Paul means “humble”.) Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Immanuel means “God is with you”.) Names are very important in the Kingdom of God. Now with that in mind we have to look at one of the most sacred events that is almost here. The resurrection of Jesus. Years back I request the Father to cut out of me everything that was not of Him and that meant I needed to know the truth in everything. All lies had to be revealed so that I could destroy them and they would no longer have dominion over my life. I pray this for you today as the truth is revealed to you. Many Christians have adopted the habits of the secular world and get excited when it is time to celebrate “Easter”. So what does this word “Easter” mean? It was ultimately named for the Germanic spring goddess Eostre. It was traditionally given to children born on Easter, though it is no longer done today. This goddess was the god of fertility, thus you have the egg and the rabbit. She was a sexual god that the pagans committed many sexual rituals to honor her in the belief that they would bear children with her blessing. It is these rituals that the early Christians attempted to remove the pagans from committing. These sexual rituals were the most important thing to stop. It wasn’t so bad that they had idols, but it was really bad what they did for these idols. If they could just stop them from practicing the rituals and teach them to believe in Jesus, maybe, just maybe, they will be converted. In actuality, they still preformed their rituals but in secret. Why? Because they had not been fully changed. These early Christians made compromises not only with faith of the pagans, but also with their own faith. It was a case of give and take, but wait! Are we not taught to take nothing from the world? That everything we desire can be found in God? They placed more emphasis on the conversion than on the lifestyle and this resulted in a bad root. Now this is what the Word says on the root: Hosea 9:16, “Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes, were they to bear children, I would kill the darlings of their womb.” If the root is bad, then there will be no fruit or bad fruit. This made me see this second scripture in a whole new light. Jude 1:12, “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;” Easter is a love feast that is feasted on without fear. It does not serve God. It only serves man while implying that it is serving God. When we come to God the Bible tells us to leave behind the things of this world, something the early Christians failed to do or teach when they converted the pagans. It has no association with the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross so that you could have salvation. In fact, it is an attempt of the enemy to remove you from that salvation. It has become a generational curse to man. A curse that only you can break off of your bloodline. Pull it up now and destroy it. I appeal to your desire for the truth. Here is another question: What should you give to someone that gave up his life for you? An egg? Come on people! Time is short and this, like so many other things we need to get free of. Our desire has to be more for God than for man. I refuse to face the Father and have Him say to me, “I don’t know you.” But this choice is yours alone to make. Study and show yourselves approved by seeking out the truth on your own. Look for the root and when it is rotten, rip it out of the ground. Be blessed with the truth. Evangelist Cheryl Davies The pictures you see of the devil are fictional. It is a lie generated to keep you from knowing where your battle really lies. The Bibles says in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Many have read this scripture but when someone does evil against you, you immediately begin to go against the person. This is not how you handle it. I once moved into an apartment without seeing what was going on in the neighborhood before moving in. There turned out to be a lot of gang activity across the street from me. One day while a family member was visiting they threw a weight through the back window of her car and broke it. I called the police who told me about the things that had happening for years on my street. I knew they would try and retaliate against me for calling the police so I immediately went into warfare. I told God that since He did not tell me to move, then they had to go! That night they came to my house and threw batteries at my windows. I had very thin windows but not one of them broke. I went outside declaring the power of the Lord and they ran. Two days later I saw moving boxes outside of there house. They had to leave. These people had been there for years terrorizing the neighborhood. Every battle they had fought was in the flesh and they were winning until God came on the scene. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." I took the battle to a higher ground and was victorious. I may have been the one doing the speaking but God and His angels took over that battle and won. Stop fighting fleshly battles! If you want to be a winner, then you will have to go up!!!! Our battles are not fought on the earth. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Tonight I was surrounded by people that were burning! It is so important who you are surrounding yourself with. Distance yourselves from all liars. If they speak a lie then they will believe a lie. Reside with those who only speak truth. It's breakout time and the fire of God will be doing one of two things: 1) Purifying & Empowering 2) Striking Down & Destroying The shift isn't over yet, but if you don't get in alignment with the Lord God, you will miss it entirely and be left behind. God is moving swiftly and you must move with Him! Will you be found innocent? Daniel lived a righteous life despite the fact that he was a slave. Everything around him was wrong in the sight of the Lord, but he stayed submitted to God. Today, everything around you is wrong in the sight of our God but like David, we must strive to stay innocent before God so that when we are in the lion's den, we too will have nothing to fear. In the Old Testament bondage was more of a physical thing. You do evil against God then He would let your enemies capture you, imprison you, your family, and generations to come in your bloodline and this caused man to have a fear of the Lord. But there is a bondage that is far worse that physical imprisonment. Spiritual Bondage is more harmful than physical bondage because you sometimes cannot always see it and know that you are in bondage. We can see the results but not know, what, why or who is messing with our head. Did you ever wonder why God tells Isaiah to not have fear so many times? God was trying to strengthen Isaiah. The opposite of fear is boldness, strength. God was telling him that He would give Isaiah these things. He told him to not worry, He would strengthen him. Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” Fear can cause a person to sin: Exodus 20:20, "And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”" Fear can create stumbling blocks. Fear can cause you to lie. We always hear people saying that Rahab lied to justify their telling a lie, but God never condoned her lie. He never did tell her good job lying. Lying actually removed God from that situation because she trusted in herself more than God. Remember now, Rahab did not know God. She only knew fear because she had been paying attention to how the children of God have been defeating everyone. Joshua 2:4-6, "Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)" God rewarded her by the words spoken to her by the 2 children of Israel. Not by her lie. Fear will turn you into a liar. Fear can cause you to run away. When David entered into battle with any nation, the nation would flee from the power of God that David and his men moved under. 1 Chronicles 19:14, "So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him." To run away means that you are afraid and it also means that you have already been beaten. Fear will keep you out of the battle. We all know the story of David and Goliath. This story is even circulated around non Christians as a story of strength. 1 Samuel 17:4-11, "And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid." Fear will keep you from engaging the enemy. But God says we have nothing to fear. So today I pray Deuteronomy 28:7 for you. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. I plead Joshua 10:8, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies You know how we are always saying that Jesus resides inside of us and that gives us power? Well that power is being executed right now. As you read this post God is speaking to you personally. Not me, but Jesus. I don’t know what you need at this moment and unless you tell me I probably never will. Only one person can feel that need without you saying one word to Him or anyone else. That’s God. I’m just a person, no greater or better than you, that allows God to use me by giving Him access to my will. I have given Him totally access and that is how these words have found their way to you at the just the right time. This is why these words become a blessing to you. “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 These were the words of submission to the Father that Jesus spoke even while He was hanging on the cross for our sins. These are the words that I speak daily to the Father. “Nevertheless not my will, but Yours, be done.” It is in my allowing God to have His way in my life that He chooses to use me for you. Today God is asking you a question. “How will you allow me to use you?” Once you have the right answer to this question, God will begin to show you your purpose. Why? Purpose is so life changing that you must be prepared to make the transition. Changing everything about you, (your thoughts, heart, actions and how you speak) takes your total submission to God and God alone. You learn that it’s no longer about you. It becomes only about how God can use you for His glory. A puffed up person becomes that way because he has no knowledge of his purpose. In purpose the words “I” and God become complete opposites. If you are still concerned about “I” then there is no room for God. God is complete and needs the total you in order to complete you and transition you into purpose. I am trying to help you here. God wants you to get to a place where He can reveal much more than your purpose to you. However, there are some things that must go first. These words will keep you from your promotion into your purpose: worry, hate, jealousy, fear, lust, anger, hurt, pride, gluttony, revenge and envy. To reach your purpose you have to cultivate these words into your life: love, hope, humility, forgiveness, trust, peace, and faith. Do you really know yourself? Take a good look right now. If you don’t look now your purpose might slip right on pass you. You have to make a change. James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” What do you look like? Do you look like the things of this world or Christ? It really makes a big difference. I am talking about your spirit here. What does your spirit resemble? Do God need to cut some things out of you. Submit yourself to God and He will do it. Preparation leads to purpose. Be blessed! C. D. Be careful of how you label your blessings. God is so much higher than the mind of man. What do most people think of when they hear the words, “God is about to bless you”? At least eighty five percent of you instantly thought of money, but God is so much more than that. Anyone can bless you with money but when God blesses you it will not be in a way that you can measure. How do you measure all your needs being met? How do you measure God healing you or someone close to you? Keeping your focus on money and trying to attach God to it is not the answer that I am seeking. I want the blessing that contains substance. I want God’s spiritual blessing. I can survive without money but I cannot live without Holy Spirit being active in my life. God has shown me such miraculous things that when I shared them with others, they just could not imagine it. And He did these things just for me! He blessed me! I want you to exercise taking the labels off of your blessings. Allow God to decide what you need. If you really want to know what being blessed feels like, stop choosing what you thank you need and allow God to make the choice for you. Then you will be opening the door for some real supernatural blessings. Dear heavenly Father, I ask that you bless your people with supernatural blessings. Lord your Word says you will pour out a blessing that we will not be able to contain. We are ready God. We are ready for you to pour out. We stand here with open arms awaiting you. And Lord we are expecting blessings that we cannot measure in the natural. Only the supernatural will do for Your people. We thank You God and we wait on You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Be blessed! C. D. I just met a young lady by the name of Daisy who told me that she had just sold her car and was moving out of the room she rents to go backpacking around Mexico. When you told me what she was planning I was at first shocked and was concerned for her safety, but Daisy spoke with no fear. You see Daisy knows the Lord and this knowing gave her the confidence to follow her dream. While I will be lifting her up for the angels to continually protect her, I will also be lifting you up, that you may have this faith that conquers all fears. Be blessed and if you ever think about Daisy, say a little prayer for her. C. D. I've always been a Star Trek fan and there is an episode that always stuck with me. The episode where they meet the Borg. Now the Borg only had one statement that they would repeat with consistency. "Resistance is futile." They were adamant that they could not be defeated and did not think there was any reason to discuss it.
Does not the Lord say many times, "Fear Not"? Yet the minute something goes wrong we become afraid. Even when the Borg took a hit, they kept going and going after the enemy and kept on declaring that , "Resistance is futile." Sometimes we just need to tell the Devil, "Resistance is futile." Sometimes we won't even have to fight if we would just tell him, "Resistance is futile" before the fight even begins. If we embrace God's strength we have no weakness and the outcome is always victorious. So stop running. Turn around right now and tell the Devil, "Resistance is futile." Be blessed! C. D. |
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