Victory Through A Life Of Separation
God brought Daniel into high favor with the king and the king gave him unprecedented power in the Empire. In the same way God is raising up a company of people called overcomers. They have to bear great trials, and painful burdens, but God is planning to bring them finally into great favor in his kingdom and to give them much more than any man can expect or imagine. He wants us all to be overcomers. It is very clear that the promise in Rev.21: 7, to inherit all things are meant for those who overcome. Notice that their God wants to give them not merely all things of the old creation, but also of the new creation.
Many people think of salvation in getting a place in some corner of heaven. Evidently they do not know what salvation really is, and they have no idea what God had planned for those who will get to heaven. What a great, eternal, spiritual and glorious inheritance is being prepared in heaven for those who overcome. Besides this, even upon the earth, they will be the instruments God will use to defeat the devil and put him to shame. It is a great privilege and honor to be such instruments in the Lord’s hand.
God has planned that we should be His partners and co-workers in fulfilling His eternal purposes. If He had merely to defeat the devil, He could have done that on the same day He created the world. Some people ask why God did not punish Satan in the very day of his rebellion. If He had done so, there would have been no sin in this world. The answer is, God’s love towards man is so great that he has planned for eternity to make man His partner and co-worker. But this entire can be understood and enjoyed by us only when we become spiritually mature. Now suppose you tell your baby son that you want him to be the heir of all your property, would he be able to understand? No, he would not understand. A baby can receive and enjoy only a few things at a time and how can he comprehend if you say if you want to give him everything? He cannot grasp such a great thought. He does not know the value of even a naya paisa, how then can he understand the value of the whole inheritance? That child has to grow to maturity. In the same way unless you are spiritually mature you also will not be able to understand that God desires you to be his partner and co-worker in fulfilling his great, eternal purposes.
We see in the book of Daniel how God chose a few young men and through them put high authorities to shame, and at the same time upheld the law and justice, which he had ordained.
The people of Israel were continually rebelling against God’s Word. They had been warned many times through the prophets of God; but they would not repent, finally God had to punish them by sending them away as captives into Babylon. The temple was destroyed and the walls of Jerusalem were broken down. In this way God showed that He would certainly punish sin. At the same time, His great purpose for His people remained unchanged. Although they were captives yet they remained God’s people. God still loved them. Nevertheless God could use only those who responded to his love. We find that only a small number of people responded to God’s word. The majority were carried away by worldly deceptions. Very few they were who had a longing to follow God’s word and keep his commandments. They were the remnant.
Quietly, according to His own perfect plan, God began to move on their behalf. The king gave a commandment that all the intelligent and promising young men should be brought together (Daniel 1:3,4). He knew that among these captives there were men of far greater intelligence than any of his own people; it is a well-known fact that God has given the Jews extraordinary intelligence and ability. Even today you will find in many parts of Europe famous scientists who are of Jewish decent. Many of these Jewish Scientists were taken as captives to Germany and Russia and they are responsible for the scientific advancements of those countries. The Jews have always been an outstandingly clever race.
The king of Babylon wanted to train these Jewish young men to hold high positions in his kingdom and to use them to bring a greater prosperity to Babylon.
These very same young men were used to defeat the purposes of the people of Babylon and instead bring deliverance to the captive Jews. That is how God works. He defeats the devil by using his own devices. I will give you an illustration. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were always finding faults with the Lord Jesus and his words. The very same traps, which they laid for the Lord, became their pitfall. Once these men brought before the Lord a woman caught in the very act of sin (John 8:4). They told him that this woman had been caught in adultery, in the very act, and according to the Law, she should be stoned. The Lord replied, “He that is without any sin among you let him first cast a stone at her”. They were all convicted to accept their own sins. That is how the Lord confounded them again and again, and made them to fall into their own traps.
Zeal For Purity
‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself’ (verse 8). This is the secret of leading a victorious life. We should refuse to allow any defilement in our life. Defilement will break our communion with God. We cannot overcome defilement by our own efforts. It can be done only by simple faith in the efficacy of the blood of Christ. Even though the enemy may to defile us a thousand times a day, we can be constantly cleansed by the blood and saved from defilement. By faith we must say: ‘I refuse to be defiled. I want to be cleansed. O Lord, I want your blood to cover me and cleanse me’. In this way we shall be able to conquer any temptation.
Daniel could not foresee all that was to happen in his own life, but he knew that God was preparing him for a great purpose. Remember that you too are being prepared by God for a great purpose and determine in you heart not to be defiled.
When Daniel took a strong stand, his three friends also took courage and followed him. If you become an over comer, three more may become overcomers through you. No doubt the other three young men saw the courage of Daniel, and how the chamberlain spoke to him. In the same way, as people see our determination and notice the way God is blessing us, they also will take courage and stand for the Lord.
We see also that Daniel was prepared to eat only pulse (v.12). He and his three friends did not demand anything else; no extra drinks, milk or other nourishing food. They were satisfied with pulse and water. And they knew, by faith that they would be healthier, brighter and stronger than the other young men.
We also should believe that whatever food God gives us has already been blessed by Him. Very often people pray God to bless their food, and even then they do not believe it has been blesses. They will thank God very fervently when they have chicken curry before them, but not when they have only pulse. We should learn to thank God even for ordinary food. An once we have asked God to bless the food we should believe it has been blessed and that they would receive from God more strength, intelligence and wisdom than all the other young men. Because we are lacking in faith we do not receive.
In the end days it will happen that only those who have the mark of the beast or the number of his name on their foreheads or upon their right hands will be allowed to buy or sell. In those days God will feed his people in a jungle, even as he fed Elijah (Rev 12:6). Elijah was kept strong because he ate food given by God. So whatever food God gives his people in the end days, whether it be roots or leaves from the trees, will be quiet sufficient to give them health and strength. They will refuse to bow down before the devil, to tell lies, and to give wrong statements, in spite of all constraint brought upon them. If you also want to be an over comer, then you must refuse to receive any benefit from the devil. All you benefits must come only from heaven (Daniel 1:13, 14, 15).
These young men asked the officer to test them for ten days. In the Bible the number ten represents testing. Just as children have to go through many tests and examinations in school, so also God takes us through many tests, and He wants us to pass in them all. After ten days the faces of Daniel and his friends were found to be fairer and fatter and shining with God’s glory. If you claim, faith, God’s blessing on all that you ear or drink, you will have more joy, energy and strength than other people. So if you are not able to buy milk or mutton for all in your family, do not go about with a sorrowful face. Believe that God is able to give you much more blessing through ordinary food, and you face will begin to shine!
Divine Wisdom
The King of Babylon planned that these young Jews should become clever engineers, scientists and doctors who could bring greater prosperity to his kingdom, but God’s purpose was something different. He gave them divine wisdom, which helped them to understand heavenly things. Nowadays, parents are proud if their children become doctors, scientists and engineers. Such appointments are held in high esteem, but God’s service is considered as of not much value. Some years ago a man came to me and said, ‘Can you take my boy into your party?’ ‘Why do you want him to go with me?’ I asked. He replied, ‘I have been trying for many years to give him some education, but he has failed in his class again and again. I have tried to train him as a carpenter, but he is not good for that either. He is very dull and stupid. Let him be used at least in God’s service.’
There are many people who think that way. It a son is stupid and foolish, they will gladly send him for the Lord’s service. But if he is clever and he wants to serve the Lord, they will not allow him. If he insists, then they will start weeping and wailing as if there was a funeral in their house. They cry so piteously, ‘what shall we do now? My son wants to serve God.’ They continue to weep like this for weeks together. They have such poor conception of God’s service. Let all such consider that these four young men Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were young men of no mean talent. They had far more wisdom than all the doctors and engineers in the kingdom of Babylon.
Worldly wise men will never understand the great honor, which rests upon the service of God. God’s servants are his Partners and coworkers in a very precious way. ‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealed his secrets unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). David says, ‘I understand more than all the ancients’ (Psalm 119:99, 100).
When we receive divine wisdom, our knowledge will be far superior to that of the teachers, doctors, and engineers of this world; but this wisdom can only be given to us by God as a gift. You cannot get it by undergoing training in some university. God called and prepared these four young men so that through them He might put to shame all the princes of Babylon and the devil as well.
Many people do not realize the value of heavenly wisdom, but they attach great value to earthly wisdom. Parents borrow money in order to educate their children, and are willing even to tell lies to get free concessions. They will commit any sin or go through any shame to achieve their purpose, but they will not give five minutes a day to teach God’s word to their children.
Only God can give us wisdom. These young men did not even pray for it. They only determined that they would not defile themselves, and were quite satisfied with simple food consisting of pulse and water. So God gave them wisdom 9Dan. 1:17). True wisdom cannot be obtained in any school or college, it is good for us to note that these young men were just praising and thanking God for pulse and water, and God gave to them wonderful wisdom.
These four young men, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all came from the tribe of Judah. ‘Judah’ means ‘praise’. Consistent with that name these four young men kept praising and thanking God for the simple food given to them, while all the other young men were enjoying the rich food sent from the king’s table. Like these four young men, we also should learn to be content and thankful. We should thank God even for our trials and troubles. If we do this God will give us divine wisdom.
God made me learn this lesson, quite unconsciously, in the early days of my Christian life. Before my conversion, I had not known what it was to be without money. I had two bank accounts. But soon after my conversion my father got involved in a court case and for some time was unable to send me any money. Soon I became penniless. For several days I had to do without single meal. But my Savior, in whom I had out my trust, taught me to thank God for everything. One day I had just enough money to buy a tin of cocoa. This cocoa-drink became my meal three times a day. It was very tasty and I enjoyed it so much that I cannot forget its taste even now. During all the thirty years of my Christian life, I have never murmured in the matter of food. Whatever God gave me; I have always thankfully received and eaten.
Preparation For Future Ministry
Many people must have been wondering how these four young men would fare in the end. After the appointed time was over they were found so well trained that they were able to answer every question. God gave them skill and wisdom. Daniel received understanding concerning dreams and visions as well. That is how God will bless you also. He will give you gifts according to your calling and the ministry you have to fulfill. We ourselves have no right to ask God to make us like so-and-so. In my case, I never wanted to become a preacher, not even in my dreams. God pushed me into the ministry. People asked me to preach. I used to reply that I was not a speaker. But they could not believe me, and would press me to say something. When the time came for me to speak, I would sometimes get so excited and nervous that I would hold my Bible upside down. Whatever God has appointed for you, He will also fulfill, so do not dictate to Him.
God knew the future ministry that Daniel would have to fulfill; so He gave him the necessary wisdom. All of us are now being trained by God according to our future ministry. If we obey Him we shall afterwards know what our calling will be in the difficult days of the end time. It is important for us to understand and believe that God is preparing us for the coming days.
With real longing in your heart, ask God to make you an over comer like Daniel. Refuse to be defiled by any temptation, which the devil may bring upon you. In every circumstance in which the Lord places you believe that the situation is allowed by God to prepare you for your future ministry. This will help you to be ready and watchful, and will prepare you for the future ministry. Every step brought Daniel nearer to the fulfillment of his heart’s desire.
In the Holy Scripture we clearly see two things. Firstly there is the sensitive understanding heart of the Savior Jesus Christ. He understands the heart of a young man or woman, and He cares for them. He knows the way whereby the hungry heart can be rightly and fully satisfied.
He Himself is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” In God’s word it is written of Him, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” Then secondly, we see him with one arm placed lovingly around the shoulders of the young person to guide him in the right way. IN the next part of the story we will see that the other arm of the Lord Jesus Christ rests firmly upon the shoulder of the Father, the Eternal God.
We are studying the Book of Daniel in order to learn how we may become true overcomers. We see here how, through a small company God gave victory. Even though we are few, God can do great and mighty things through us. He wants us to be among those chosen few, and He is preparing us, perhaps unknown to ourselves, for a great task and calling. This work of preparing has several stages, designed to prepare us for all the responsibilities we will have to bear in the future.
In Daniel, chapter 1, we see how four young men were being prepared, unknown to themselves. First, one young man, Daniel, took a bold step and purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the King’s meat; not that Daniel had a prejudice against eating such food, but he knew that the meat prepared in the king’s palace was first offered of idols. As for the wine, Daniel knew that it would dull the senses. Seeing Daniel, his three friends took courage and joined him. After ten days of trail they were found to be fairer and fatter in the face than all the other young men.
In chapter 2 we see how God proved to the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers of Babylon, that divine wisdom is superior to earthly wisdom. At first these men thought so highly of their earthly wisdom, their science and philosophy, that they despised divine wisdom. But when the test came, not a single wise man, magician, astrologer or soothsayer could solve the problem before their king. This king was great, mighty and wealthy. He had a dream, which troubles him and filled him with fear. Although he forgot what he had actually dreamed the effect of that dream remained and made him tremble. All his wealth and comforts could not take away his fear.
All worldly people are tested by God in the same way. Men may win many battles and establish kingdoms. Yet one day, when death or some other terrible situation faces them, they are filled with fear and are tormented day and night.
King Nebuchadnezzar was tormented with fear. That is why he sought the help of all his wise men, astrologers, magicians and soothsayers. HE was willing to give any reward to anyone who could tell him the dream and its interpretation. This request was not form curiosity but fear. People often get dreams and forget all about them, and do not worry. But this dream was such an extraordinary one that the king could no longer be happy or take his usual food.
Men of all classes nave one fear or another; fear of men, fear of circumstances, fear of sickness or fear of death; often fear is brought into the hearts of men by things beyond their understanding. We read in Luke 21:26 that in the end days the powers of the heavens will be shaken, the stars will fall down, and many other signs will take place, which will create much fear in the hearts of men. It is only when you have true salvation that you will be free from fear; there is no other way.
For years king Nebuchadnezzar had kept many wise men in his court, supporting them from the king’s treasury. Now, in the time of the king’s need, they were unable to answer his question. They told him it was impossible for anyone to tell him both the dream and the interpretation. Certainly it was impossible for them to tell the king a dream, which he had forgotten, only God could do that. Thus far they were correct, but when they exclaimed, ‘How can God live among human beings?’ it showed how totally blind these men were to the great truth that the mighty and holy God can and does live among His people.
By the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as the Son of man, this truth has become very simple and easy to understand. We read in John’s Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word….and the Word was God….and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:1, 14. This we know that God has come to live among us. But this can be understood only by those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They can understand things that cannot be learned in any university, or from any teacher, scholar, or philosopher. There will be no need to have the answer prepared and learned beforehand. See Matthew 10:19 and 20. This is God’s promise. When the time comes, He will give you the right word and answer. God will dwell in you and speak through you. You may have read the Bible many times, and yet not have understood certain passages. One day when you are faced with a need, suddenly the light of God will shine into your heart and you will understand a hidden thought and use it to answer the question before you. Many things the Lord reveals to us even before the need arises to use them, but certain things are revealed to us only when the time comes, so we need have no doubt or fear, because God will give the answer just at the time we need it. When we have faith that God will give us the answer to every question and help us to meet every situation victoriously, we also become overcomers.
The king gave the decree that if the wise men of Babylon did not tell the dream and it’s meaning, they could be killed (vs. 12,13). All these years the wise men had been paid from the king’s treasury. Now that they could not help their lord in his need, the king felt that he had kept them in vain, so he gave the commandment that they all should be slain.
When this decree went forth it brought sorrow everywhere. In the families of every one of these wise men there was mourning and weeping, because they knew the king’s command irrevocable, certainly death was before them.
Fearlessness
However, there were four men in his kingdom who did not fear. As yet, they did not know the king’s dream or it’s meaning, but they had the faith that at the right time the Lord would surely help them. Consider the situation. The king’s decree had been published by a general proclamation. The executioners are looking for Daniel and his friends to be brought forth and slain, and yet these four young men showed no sign of fear. That is one mark of the overcomers; they will have no fear.
No matter what may happen, we should always remember that the Lord is faithful. He will protect and take care of His own .He knows how to deliver the godly (2 Peter 2:9). Humanly speaking, they might have doubted how God could show them the forgotten dream and meaning, but they did not doubt, neither did they fear. With faith in their hearts they began to pray (vs. 16-18).
Togetherness
Daniel was the instrument chosen by God through whom the dream should be revealed, but all the four young men had to pray. They all had a share in it. Daniel had a special gift to understand visions and dreams ( ch. 1:17). But when all four prayed with one mind, God gave the revelation to Daniel.. To be an over comer you have to learn to be together with your fellow believers, and not to live aloof and stand-alone.
This is a matter in which many are deceived. They become independent in their life, habits and ministry. They think that they are more spiritual than others because they live alone and work alone. On the other hand, God’s plan is that we should live together and bear one another’s burdens. We read in Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another‘s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ ”. “ For every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal 6:5). If God has given you a wife and children it is your responsibility to look after them and even though you are poor and have many children, you have to bear yourself. Friends may help you, but you cannot demand their help. You have to bear your own burden.
But in spiritual matters our burdens must be borne together. We should share our burdens and lay hold upon the Lord together. Many workers have lost their ministry and blessing by becoming independent - minded.
That is why we see Daniel seeking the help of his friends. He knew that God had given him the gift of understanding visions and dreams and their interpretations (ch 1:17). Presumably, he would have gad occasions before this to interpret dreams and tell their meaning. Perhaps many may have approached Daniel to find from him the meaning of their dreams. In spite of all that, in this case Daniel felt he should seek the prayer fellowship of his three friends. They all prayed together and were partners in this ministry. Their gifts were different, but they remained equal partners in the work of God.
If you desire to be an over comer, do not hesitate to seek the prayer fellowship of fellow believers. Tell them your difficulties and ask them to pray for you and pray with you. Then you will discover how very helpful it is. For this reason we have to come together frequently to pray as a church.
Faith
We have already noted the strong faith these young men had. The whole kingdom was mourning and weeping, but they had the faith in the living God that he would not allow them to perish. We also should have such faith that even though many calamities may take place in our lives, the Lord knows how to watch over us and take care of` us.
Thanksgiving
God honored the faith of the young men and the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision (vs. 19). Now Daniel was ready to go before the king and tell him the dream and its interpretation, but he was in no excited hurry to do so. He was full of praise and thanksgiving to God, as we can see from his prayer in verses 20 to 23.
We often err in this matter. We fail to thank God sufficiently when He reveals anything to us. We think that perhaps because of our cleverness we have found out these things. For example, suppose during your time of devotion God shows you some new thoughts from the Bible which brings edification and instruction, you should not boast that now you know more than so-and-so, and have better understanding of these passages. Rather, should you not thank God for the favor He has shown to you? If you take pride in your knowledge, and present some truth just to show others how much you know, you will incur spiritual loss.
Notice how Daniel, in his prayer, utters these words, “ What we desired of thee” (vs.23). Thus he recognizes that because of their joint prayer, God had revealed to him the dream and its meaning. He repudiates the thought that it was through his wisdom, cleverness or worthiness, that God had given the revelation to him. He refuses to take any honor to himself.
Again before the king, Daniel refused to take any honor to himself. He said: “ This secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living ” (vs. 30). The king has asked, “ Art thou able to make known unto me the dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?” Daniel replied, “ There is a God in heaven that revealed secrets” (vs. 26,28). If you want to be an over comer you should never rob God of His glory.
We must do our best to see that all men honor, not us, but God. If God has revealed anything to us, it is all because of His grace. The apostle Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1Cor 15:10). He received much revelation from God, but he never took any honor to himself. Again and again he testified that it was only by His grace he was able to do all things. When you find any preacher or teacher or so called servant of God magnifying himself or some other person, you can be sure that there is something wrong in him, and you should take warning. If you want to be an over comer you should always hide yourself and say: ’ It is not I, but God.’