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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""Shalom" is comprised of four Hebrew letters: "Sheen", "Lamed", "Vav" and "Mem". The letter "Sheen", represented as teeth, illustrates destruction. "Lamed" portrays a staff and illustrates authority. "Vav", illustrated as a nail or a tent peg, carries the ideas of fastening, securing, or establishing. And finally, "Mem" is displayed as water, and illustrates chaos. So the Hebrew word picture for "shalom" communicates this message – "destroying the authority that establishes chaos"! Do you want "shalom" in your life? You will need to deal with the roots and causes of chaos. The one and only successful way to do that is through faith in and identity with Yeshua (Jesus) your Sar Shalom – your prince of Peace – because He has already disarmed the authorities which establish chaos and will soon destroy them completely. He said, These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." [John 16:33]" (Quoted from George Whitton, Worthy Briefs) You can find more of these great Worthy Briefs Devotionals at http://www.worthynetwork.com/sign-up I’ve always wondered exactly why Jesus cursed the fig tree when He could have just as easily spoke life and fruitfulness to it. (Matthew 21) Well today I felt led to delve into the different kinds of roots. What I found amazed me. You see there are certain types of fig trees that use other trees to grow. As the fig tree grows bigger it sends down more and more of these roots which form a network around the stem of the host tree. These roots will then take over the other tree growing downward until it squeezes the life out of the trunk of the other tree, which then dies and leaves only the fig tree growing over the dead trunk of the other tree. Another type can grow on rock faces and are able to send down long roots to the soil below the cliff and thus sustain themselves in the harsh exposed environment of the bare rock face, by obtaining nutrients and water from the soil below. Sounds pretty harsh but what I see is a tree that can thrive in almost any situation and yet it bore no fruit. Now here’s the thing. We as Christian are not supposed to be weak representatives of the kingdom. Our strength is in Christ Jesus! So when we continually give in to the enemy we are in fact being like that fig tree. Refusing to acknowledge the life, spirit and strength which is within us and being fruitless, when we should be as strong as the roots of the fig tree. This message is brought home to us in several different parables. The tale of the servants and the talents. The parable of the sower and the seed. The story of the bridesmaids who ran out of oil. All of these stories speak of a lack that we as Christians are not supposed to have. We must learn to constantly be under the Source. Everything we need flows down to us from the Father and we must always position ourselves to catch every drop of wisdom, knowledge, love and strength under this down-pouring. These four things are tree builders. They feed and nourish us so that we can make have enough fruit to share freely with others. This is also why it is so important for us to always examine the root of whatever we are eating. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. If the root is poisoned, then so be the fruit and there is nothing you can do to change it. Not everything in this world is from the Lord. Please begin to examine the root and stop embracing things just because they say it is part of your culture. You have a new culture now, a Jesus culture that is centered around kingdom living. Hallelujah! We must stay rooted in Christ and not in the world! Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (www.fearnotministries.com) Today Scripture Study: Luke 6:44,Matthew 25: 14-30, Matthew 25:1-12, Luke 8:5-15. |
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