by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Daniel 5-7
When you read these stories, I hope that they aren’t just good old stories. They are meant to be much more than that. They are meant to show us God’s principles, and they are meant to be examples of heroic faith for us to follow. As you read, prayerfully consider what your Lord is showing you.
We are living in times very similar to those in Daniel. You are probably wondering why I would say such a thing, so I’ll tell you.
Earlier in these studies, I shared how the Babylonian captivity in the natural, parallels a spiritual one which has gone on for centuries. The word “Babylon” signifies a state of confusion which will come from mixing the cultures of Israel and of heathens. You can easily see that the same thing has happened to the modern church.
For centuries now the church has succumbed to a state of confusion by mixing the ways of God with the ways of the world. When we allow that to happen to us in our own minds and hearts, we no longer are sure about what God wants. We look around us to see what is true and what is not. And, unfortunately, we can never find God’s truth just by looking around us to see what everyone else is saying and doing.
In the midst of that confusion, we see some truly remarkable young men, and we see God really showing Himself strong toward them. We also see our God showing Himself strong toward the arrogance of men who don’t honor Him.
So when the new king and his cohorts mock God by taking the vessels from God’s temple to use for their partying, they see a hand writing a message on the wall. A message which foretells the king’s demise. And instantly the kingdom is overthrown. God shows Himself as God Almighty, Creator of all things.
Then when Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den for his refusal to pray, again we see a miracle. The mouths of the lions are shut, and Daniel remains safe. Only an all-powerful God could accomplish such a thing.
My guess is that none of us will ever be thrown into a lion’s den. Yet in a mixed-up world, when we remain true to God, He does and will continue to intervene on our behalf. The more we trust Him, the more we see His hand.
There will come a day also when the Lord will arise to judge the arrogance of men. I want to be on the right side when that happens!
The wisdom for us in all of this is to be like Daniel and learn to trust Him more. When we get to know Him and trust Him, we see His hand working in many ways that only He could do.
II John
Babylonian thinking was already getting into the church in John’s time.
There were those who were trying to change the gospel. Some were even saying that Jesus Christ never came in the flesh. It’s amazing that such heresy was already starting so close to the time of Jesus.
That’s the way it is, however, because we do have an enemy out there – the devil. The one thing he tries to accomplish is to make us unbelievers. If he can discredit the gospel and the true message of Jesus, he has us. So our enemy is busy at it from the first.
Beware of deceivers. That’s John’s message to this lady who has a church meeting in her home. That’s also a message we need to keep in mind.
Beware of deceivers. They are dangerous.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Daniel 3-4
Our God is able!
If you ever are in a situation where those around you don’t believe in God and you feel your faith waning also, these chapters should help rev you up. Daniel and his buddies, in a foreign land, surrounded by unbelievers, are remarkable in their ability to continue to be faithful.
It would have been so easy for them to cave in to the influence of those around them. After all, they are there because most of their fellow countrymen had long ago stopped believing in their God. But not this crew. Nothing can stop their faith!
The jealousy aimed at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego by the Babylonians is obvious. Annoyed with the newly earned prestige of these foreigners, the locals quickly snap up the opportunity to point out their disobedience to the king. If the king had asked for most things, they would have complied. Yet there is no way these faithful ones are going to bow down to worship anyone but Jehovah God. So they get into trouble, but God turns the tide for them.
As they are obedient to Him, the fire in the furnace can’t even touch the young Jews. Even though the furnace is seven times as hot as usual and the men who throw them into the fire die instantly, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego come out without even the smell of smoke on them. Could it be because of the “fourth man” in the fire with them? I think so.
Hopefully you and I won’t be thrown into a furnace during our lifetimes. But every life has hardships, and every Christian suffers unfair treatment from those who don’t know the Lord. There are times when we feel like we are in a furnace. And it can be tough.
Yet our Father is there for us, just as He was in the early days of captivity. If we will believe in Him and stand tall, we will be amazed at the many ways our God can turn things around for us.
But we have to be faithful, and we have to believe.
If we do, we will see miracles – just like the Jews of old. And God will get the glory for His greatness.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Daniel 1-2
What does the favor of God look like? We have it right here.
Daniel and his three best friends were taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, along with other rich and noble people. These young men were singled out because they “had no defect, were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had the ability for serving in the king’s court.” (1:4)
All of these attributes, given by God, were lining Daniel up for great favor with the king. But there is one more thing to notice. Their favor also came because of their faithfulness to God. When the king wanted all of the “interns” to eat his rich, fat-laden food and drink his wine, they appealed to the commander of the officials to exempt them. Instead, they asked to eat vegetables and water instead – fare that would be healthier for them, and God’s favor secured their request.
So these young men prospered in the foreign kingdom because God’s hand was upon them.
Now comes the famous moment when Daniel gets to interpret the dream of the king. Not only does he know the interpretation, he also knows the dream itself, and can relate it to Nebuchadnezzar. As a result, the king declares, “surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.”(2:47) Then Daniel is promoted to the highest position in the land – the position right next to the king.
What our God can do in a moment’s time is amazing, isn’t it? From somewhat of a slave to the highest position over night!
As we read these accounts of our Father’s dealings with the people of old, let’s remember that our God hasn’t changed. He still brings favor and honor to those who are faithful to Him. If our lives are totally His, we can count on that favor.
I’m not saying that each one of us will be second in a kingdom somewhere, but I am saying that God’s favor will help us fulfill His plan for our lives.
So let’s stay faithful and yield to His plans. We will see His hand upon our lives also, each in our own way.
I John 3-5
“For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” (5:4)
“And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”(5:14-15)
A man who has submerged himself in the love of our God, knows the goodness of our God. Our Father’s will is always for our good. So as we study God’s Word, we find His will, and we are able to boldly and confidently ask Him, knowing that He will accomplish it in our lives.
Our faith in His Word is key. Our faith in believing what He says will give us victory over the world. Our faith in His Word will also give us victory over our flesh and over desires which are not of Him.
John’s example is a great one for us to follow. Always loving God and others. Always believing. Always victorious.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 46-48
This is it! It’s like a dipstick to check your walk with God. And it certainly explains a lot concerning the many different doctrines we see on a regular basis.
Years ago, when I made my first forays into a deeper walk with the Lord, these passages were life-changing for me. So I’d like to share some personal insights.
After several chapters of describing God’s plan for the temple, we come to chapter 47, and see water coming from the altar of that temple. An angel takes Ezekiel on a short excursion, showing him how the water flows out onto the land. The angel takes Ezekiel out to water which reaches the ankles, then the knees, the loins, and finally over the head. “A river which could not be forded, but waters in which you swim.” (47:5)
Where the river goes, there is an abundance of healing, with trees on each side bearing fruit in every season. (Hang on. We are going to see this again when we get to Revelation 22. It’s the River of God). This anointed river is the river of the Holy Spirit pouring out onto God’s humanity. A beautiful picture, isn’t it?
Now this is where the dipstick comes in. The water flows out, but there are many different levels of it for us to choose. Do we want just a dab of God? Do we want to go about our busy lives and just throw up a “Thank you, Jesus” or “Help me, Jesus” every now and then? In that case, we will stay in ankle-deep water all of our lives.
Or do we want to wade out to our knees or our loins? Perhaps as we do, we think that we have performed some great service for our God. But not so. There is a place we can get to which is water over our heads. It’s not our own wills, but His. It’s water where you swim; you can’t stand on your own feet any more.
This is the thing. We get to decide how much of God we really want in our lives. We can’t fake it; He knows where we stand. But let’s just know that the more of ourselves we give to Him, the more of Himself he gives to us. It’s the Law of Measure, and we get to choose our measure. “By your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return.”(6:38)
And what does it mean to get out into the deepest water? More guidance, more understanding and revelation of Him, more ability to hear His voice, more favor, more abundance in our lives. Our Father wants us to have a relationship with Him which is without measure. And that’s what I want.
One more note. Several years ago we were having an extended revival in our church. It was really exciting to see so many saved and healed, as we had meetings several nights per week for a total of 13 weeks. One morning during that season, just as I awoke, I had a little vision. I was in the River up to my neck, treading water. But the amazing thing to me, was that I literally felt the current of the River – and it was very strong. In fact, it was so strong that it was carrying me in its power and I had no control.
Until that time, I had thought of the river as being placid and peaceful, but not so. The current was as strong as the ocean current, and I knew that God was in control, carrying me where he wanted me to go.
I don’t know about you, but I want the deepest relationship with God available. I want to truly know Him and walk with Him every day. I realize that you and I have a choice. We are not required to walk with Him that closely, but that’s where the blessings are. The shallow waters are not for the fulness of his promises, but if we will commit ourselves to the “water where we have to swim,” we will accomplish our purposes in the earth, and we will see His plans demonstrated in our lives.
And the best part: we will truly know Him as our Father.
I John 1-2
John was a remarkable disciple. When we read his gospel and then this book, we are aware that he knew the love of God better than any. He received that love as very personally his, just as God wants us to do.
So let’s take a look. John says that those who “walk in the light” and those who “keep His commandments” are truly His.
When a life is committed to the Lord, there is evidence. The tree should be bearing fruit, if it’s real. So as we walk with Him, there will be evidence of a life lived for Him. We will not be living sinful lives, and we will be walking in love toward others as well as ourselves.
Now when I mention “sinful lives,” I don’t mean we have to be perfect. In fact, right in the middle of this dissertation, John says that “if we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves.” (1:8)
So what then? We make mistakes, but we don’t choose to go another way. We don’t choose a sinful lifestyle, but choose to walk in His light. And if we do make a mistake, He is quick to forgive us and to help us do better next time.(1:9)
Walking in the light signifies walking a path toward His light. We grow in our ability to overcome the sins of the past, and we grow in our ability to demonstrate God’s love for us and others.
Light, life, and love. That’s the fruit we will show to the world – the fruit they need to see.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 37-39
Does your life seem dry? Well this one’s for you.
One of the most famous stories in the Bible is the “Valley of Dry Bones,” as we see here in Ezekiel. Songs have been written about it throughout the generations. Yet do we really get the full meaning of this story? Probably not.
Ezekiel sees the vision of these dry, dead bones scattered around. No life whatsoever. Yet God tells Ezekiel to speak to the bones and tell them to hear the Word of the Lord, and as he does, the bones come together and stand up on their feet. Then God’s breath is breathed into them.
First of all, the vision stands for prayer and more prayer. And prayer with faith. The bones are too dead to stand up on their own. They have to have help, so Ezekiel takes his stand as the intercessor for these people.
So how does this concept help us? We all have those around us who seem to be dead to the things of God. They may be alive physically, but they have a deaf ear turned to their Creator.
So we begin to speak to those bones – not in their presence, of course, but when we are alone. We speak God’s Word and we tell those bones to rise up and come together. Then we call for the Holy Spirit to blow His breath into them.
This life of intercession is incredibly powerful. There are those around us who don’t know thow to pray for themselves, but we can pray for them. We ask on their behalf for God’s good blessings to fall upon them and wake them up to a new life in Him.
Now God won’t cross their will, but He will bring them countless opportunities to know Him and to change their direction. Many will do just that.
Then we have the privilege of not only praying for our immediate family, but for others around us. Our communities, our nation, and the world are all in need of awakening – which comes in this way.
There’s an awakening on the horizon. In fact, it’s already started in some quadrants. If we will work with our Father, just as Ezekiel was instructed to do, we will be able to get in on His plan.
II Peter 1-2
Do you like checklists? Do you like to have a list of things to follow as you plan your finances or a more organized home? Well, Peter has one even better than that. He has a checklist for having a life which never stumbles.
It starts with appreciating the “precious and magnificent promises” which our God has brought to us through His Word. If we will partake of these we will partake of His divine nature. (1:4) So how do we partake? We believe the promises He has given us, and we believe that they are for us – not just for others.
So we start with faith in that Word, and then we add to it. We add moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If these things are increasing in our lives, we will never stumble.(1:5-10)
This is the thing. If we keep our focus on our Father, His Word, and on applying the principles to our lives, we will continue to grow. We won’t get distracted by the things of the world which try to pull us away from Him.
And we won’t stumble. We may have days which don’t seem so great, but the overall trend of our lives will be for the good.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 33-36
“There will be showers of blessing…” Do you remember that song? The words were taken from Ezekiel 34:26. Ah, restoration, sweet restoration.
We’ve been plowing through some not-so-fun passages concerning the rebellion and evil in Israel and the surrounding nations. Now we are entering some of the good parts of the prophecy.
The day will come when our God will restore Israel. He will bring back the people to their land, and He will shower them with blessings … because the day will come when they will return to Him.
But it gets even better. The day will come when the shepherds will no longer be selfishly lording over their charges. The day will come when the Lord will raise up a Chief Shepherd over the house of Israel. He will sprinkle the people clean, and turn the desolate land into the “Garden of Eden.” (36:35) The “desolate and ruined cities will be inhabited.” And the nations round about will know that the Lord God has done this.
What a promise! Good days are ahead.
And there’s even more! He will give His people “a new heart and a new spirit within them; and He will remove the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. And He will put His Spirit within them.” (36:26-27)
So here we have a prophecy concerning the new birth and the Holy Spirit coming to live in the heart of man. At the time this was prophesied, there is no way that the people could understand it, but in retrospect, we can understand exactly what He was saying.
The Chief Shepherd is Jesus: God Himself coming to be our Shepherd. And after He pays the price, God’s people can have his Spirit living within them – guiding, leading, comforting them so that they can live their best life.
Fast forward to today, and we have all of these benefits – indeed, showers of blessing which Ezekiel prophesied.
How do we repay him for all of His benefits toward us? “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116:12-13).
That’s what I am going to do. Our Savior paid a huge price for what He did for us. Now I am going to partake of every bit of it.
What about you?
I Peter 5
How many times do we hear this reiterated? “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (V.5).
There are those who misunderstand this and think that it’s better to be down-trodden, poor, sick, and weak. Yet that is not what Peter is saying.
We can be healthy, rich, and strong – and still be humble. In fact, that is what is God’s plan for us.
So where is the mixup? Humility involves a heart which doesn’t take credit for all of the benefits, but knows that God is the source. When there is true humility, then we don’t see ourselves as higher than others, because we know that God loves them too. Maybe they are not in a position to receive all that He has, but all is available for them, as it is for us.
Now there are those who are suffering persecution because of their faithfulness to God, and Peter is addressing those also. Even those will be perfected, confirmed, strengthened, and established by God Himself. He gives them great honor now and in the life to come.
For all of us, the cares which come our way are to be “cast upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for us.” (V.7)
When we do things our Father’s way, He will lift us up at the proper time.
Such peace ensues when we are in this mode of thinking. His love is always with us.
Amazing, isn’t it?
