Welcome!
Date: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Today: Living and praying, in the real world
Passage: Daniel 5: 16-17 NIV
16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. (Emphasis added)
Daniel lived in Babylon during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar
Why is it that we don’t see that many Daniels these days?
We see so many people with problems and needs
In many cases, people continue to live/die with their problems
Daniel was a man of integrity, approved by God. He had a great prayer life
A good number of Christians are still in “kindergarten”, after years of being a Christian
Instead of being able to provide spiritual nourishment to others, they (we) are still living on the receiving end. We are chasing prophets and ………
Why didn’t we grow?
We wanted to grow in many other areas and we did
We prayed for better job, and many other blessings. We got answers
But we did not pray enough, about growing spiritually
God has been waiting all this time to hear such a prayer from us
Sometimes, God lets us hit some icebergs. That is when we look at God
Enoch walked with God, and the generation of that time was living in sin, just like it is today
Joseph, Daniel…. all lived in a very hostile atmosphere
Their life was hard. People considered them foolish
But they were not willing to compromise, come what may
Living for Christ is a victorious life
But whenever one person wins, someone else fails
The victory in the life of Christian is a failure to the devil
So, someone is getting mad, when you rejoice
Satan’s only desire is to see the discouragement of the child of God
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:16, NIV-emphasis added) (Ref: Habakkuk 3: 17-19)
Look carefully at each word in the verse above and connect it with your life
If that is God’s will for you, how can we be not doing that?
Can you praise and thank God, even as the enemy sends the worst against you?
When we have the right perspective in life, we will be living with a prophetic mind
Instead of looking at “today” only, we will also be seeing tomorrow
Such a person will have some idea of what is going to happen tomorrow
So they will not forget themselves and rejoice in the material and physical things that much
What do you think, will happen to the place you are living, tomorrow? (Future)
Everybody wants to think only good things about tomorrow
That is good, but the reality may be far different from that
Whether you are living in the US, Middle East, India or anywhere,
Ask God to give you a picture of the future of your city
Start praying for it so that God will make things bearable, even if the worst happens
Let us not live in a utopia, but live in the reality of things
Let others live in the utopia of “good things only”
God bless
BG
Prayer: Lord, help me to live Christ, through my life. I know that the devil does not like it, but I want you to be with me, more than the devil. So help me God. Amen