Make Us One

Help us dear Lord to submit our will to the will of the Lord. That should be the desire for all of us in the Body of Christ.  That is, to not let our will be done, but to let Gods perfect will  have His way in our lives.  As you all know my friends, some times that is not always an easy journey.  You see many times God wants us to go right, but then we want to go left.  Then there are times when He says, choose life, but many of His children still are determined to choose death.  Oh I don’t know about you all, but I’m going to choose life. I’m going to choose the will of my Lord, even if my decision and my choices may not be clear to those that are around me.  Let’s go to the Word of God and look at some of the choices our dear brother Daniel was forced to make.  You see there may be times in our lives when there are people close to us . . . some of them may be friends, co-workers, or relatives who just may not understand our purpose or those things that God has birthed into our hearts to do for the Kingdom of God .  But in the midst of obstacles, and in the midst of opposition, when we press on . . . leaning and depending on Almighty God, He always causes us to triumph in Him.  Go with me now, House of Israel, to the book of Daniel, Chapter number six, and let’s look at some obstacles that our elder brother Daniel had to encounter while under King Darius’ leadership.  

IT PLEASED Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.  The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.  Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.  At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.  They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. (Daniel 6:1-4; NIV)  

Let’s just park it right here my friends. It appears the adversary is up to his same old tricks.  He always seems to plant a spirit of jealousy among the brethren.  It may be in your place of employment, among family members, and sadly to say this ugly spirit has raised his head up right in the house of God.  Just when you begin to display some exceptional qualities or skills, gifts or talents, here comes the enemy to try to bring you down.  However, as we have just read here, because Daniel was so trustworthy, and because he was neither corrupt nor negligent, they could not find grounds for any charges against him.  Hallelujah to Jesus!  Isn’t that a powerful testimony . . . to be called trustworthy, and to be neither corrupt nor negligent.  Selah! [pause and calmly think on that]  Well how many of you know that if the devil can’t come in the front door, then he’ll try to get in through the back door.  Check this out.  

Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”  So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever!  The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions den.  (Daniel 6:5-7; NIV)  

Wait a minute . . . wait a minute.  The bible says that the administrators and the satraps went as a group to make accusations concerning Daniel.  Saints of God I tell you, when you have a “group” of people trying to shut you down, you must be, without a shadow of a doubt, doing something right in the Kingdom of God .  When you choose not to dance to the drumbeat of this world, or get caught up in the religious dogma of the day, it always seems like they want to throw you to the lions.  Listen to the adversary,  

Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing.  (Daniel 6:8-9; NIV)  

Now let’s look at what Daniel did saints of God.  He wasn’t moved in the least.  He did not miss a beat.  He kept on doing what he knew to do by going to “his Father” in prayer.  Oh he didn’t try to hide it and muffle his voice, he opened his mouth loudly . . . with the windows wide open and talked to “his God” in prayer.  

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem .  Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.  (Daniel 6:10-11; NIV)  

Did yall see that?  Saints of God, “the group” showed up again, and found him praying, as they knew that was his custom to do.  Isn’t it good to live your life in such a way that people know that you have a prayer life, and that you know how to call on your God for help.  Let’s take a look at what they did next.

So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree:  “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”  The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”  Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah , pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing.  He still prays three times a day.”  When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.  Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” (Daniel 6:12-15; NIV)  

There goes that group again yall, ganging up on Darius the King.  

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.  The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”  (Daniel 6:16; NIV)  

Oh My God . . . My God . . . My God.  Trustworthy Daniel . . . The man that was neither corrupt nor negligent was cast into the lions den, with no one to depend on *but God*.  But all praises be to the Most High God.  He is able to deliver all of His children out of the mouths of the lions.  

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.  Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him.  And he could not sleep.  At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.  When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:17-20; NIV)  

Do yall see that?  The bible says that Daniel served his God continually . . . and his God wasn’t some dead old god void of power.  Daniel prayed to, and continually served the True and the Living God!  

Daniel answered, “O king, live forever!  My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.  Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”  (Daniel 6:21-22; NIV)  

Oh Bless the Mighty Name of Jesus!  God sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions.  Oh we ain’t talking about one lion yall.  We are talking about lions . . . more than one!  Honey it don’t matter how many obstacles may have come your way, our God is an Awesome God . . . He’s a Mighty God . . . He’s a Powerful God, and He always come to rescue His children who continually press in to serve Him faithfully.  

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den.  And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:23; NIV)  

Oh Glory to God . . . Glory to God . . . Glory to God in the Highest!  Daniel our brother trusted in his God.  I don’t know about you all, but I’m trusting in my God.  I’m standing on His promise, and I’m taking Him at His Word!  

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children.  And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. (Daniel 6:24; NIV)  

Body of Christ, we don’t have to worry about that “group” of accusers who try to come against us . . . we don’t even have to worry about those folks, saints of God, that don’t understand our purpose or destiny.  They don’t have a clue about those things that are impregnated on the inside of us . . . but when Zion travails, she shall bring forth her children . . . Selah [pause and calmly think about that]  

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:  May you prosper greatly!  “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.  “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.  He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.  He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”  So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.  (Daniel 6:25-28; NIV)  

And what God did for Daniel in the lions den . . . Just believe and know that He will do the very same thing for you.  If you believe it . . . You shall receive it.  But if you doubt . . . You’ll do without, and if Israel be lost . . . Jacob shall in no wise lose his reward.  More in our next edition.