Welcome!
Thursday, December 10, 2010
Today: Certified by God
Passage: Daniel 10, Prov 10
18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” (Daniel 10:18-19, NIV)
Daniel was a man of integrity; so, when he was weak, God himself spoke to Daniel
God’s words strengthened Daniel
When man’s words weaken you, God’s word strengthen you
If there is fact in what people say, we need to examine ourselves; if not, just ignore it
When Daniel prayed, Lord listened to him, because Daniel was righteous
He was “certified by God” as “Highly esteemed”
Even though satan tried to block the answer to his prayer, it finally came to him
If we have a good conscience with God, His words will work for us big time
We can see some “qualifications” in Daniel’s life:
- He was a man of integrity (Daniel 1, Daniel 10:10)
(He was a man of his word; what he spoke was what he lived. These days, the biggest complaint on professing Christians is that we speak good, but don’t live up to that)
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.(Daniel 10:10, NIV)
2. He was a man of humility and fear for God
(These two things are very much missing today; pride and fearlessness for God is very clearly visible in today’s church and leadership)
3. He listened to God’s word and acted in obedience
(Both are lacking today, among the people of God. We listen to what the Doctor/Lawyer or people on the TV has to say, but not that much what God has says)
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. (Daniel 10:12, NIV)
4. He was a man of prayer. He would bow down before God, and no body else
(If you bow down to God, you don’t need to bow down before “Baal”. Today, many people bow down before “wall street” or Gold, than God)
15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(Dan 10:13, NIV)
5. He was a man of sacrificial living; he wouldn’t touch king’s royal food which would affect his commitment to God. He had no “gluttony” in him
(We boast about “not drinking” in parties, but “gluttony” is a sin as well)
6. He was “certified by God” as “Highly esteemed”
(We are more concerned about man’s certification, than God’s!)
7. He was a man whom God touched on his lips and anointed them to speak for God (We don’t care about our words often, until they come back and hurt us; same with what we write on the various networks including face book and e-mails)
6 Then one who looked like a man[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.
If you speak to people who have not received that “touch on their lips/tongue” from God, you can know that very quickly. They speak lot of “garbage”
18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.[a (Prov 10:18-21, NKJV-emphasis added)
Have a blessed weekend!
BG
Prayer: Lord, thanks for speaking to me; help me speak to you and speak for you. Amen