SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

The Lord said to Satan: ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’ Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the Angel.

So the Angel of the Lord spoke to those standing before Him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes!’ Then He said to him, ‘See, I have removed your guilt from you, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.’

Then I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the Angel of the Lord was standing nearby.” (Zechariah 3:1-5 HCSB)

This is one of my favorite pictures of salvation portrayed in the Old Testament. It was how John Wesley described the preservation of his life and ultimately of his soul.

Wesley was a boy, almost six years old, when a fire broke out in his house, and he was stranded in an upper room of the burning building. Just after two neighbors rescued him, the roof fell in, and young John would have certainly perished. He would later refer to himself as, “a brand plucked out of the fire,” or as the HCSB renders it, “a burning stick snatched from the fire” (Zech.3:2).

John and his brother Charles would become great evangelists, and from their preaching and influence, millions have been saved through the Methodist church that rose from their Gospel work. John never forgot what God did in rescuing him and saw it as an illustration of the sinner’s rescue from the flames of hell.

Let’s examine this text that a grateful John Wesley loved so dearly. Then, it ought to be that gratitude to God will rise in us also, and though we may never have the impact Wesley had, we can be moved by God’s deliverance of us, to a desire to see others snatched from the fire.

This text paints a picture of REBUKING.

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

The Lord said to Satan: ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!” (Zech.3:1-2a)

Joshua as High Priest was a representative of the nation of Israel. Satan stands there, pointing an accusing finger and levels the charges against him.

But, God will not hear it! He rebukes Satan and makes provision for Joshua—and thus, by extension to all those whom God has chosen.

The Devil is like the prosecuting attorney who comes into the courtroom of eternity as we stand before God, the Great Judge. He begins to present the case against us, but there is a Defense Attorney who speaks up on our behalf—the Lord Jesus! He calls out, “Hearsay! There is no evidence of these crimes.” Satan cannot produce those exhibits to the Judge.

Why?

They have been removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps.103:12). They have been sent to the place of no return! The evidence of our crimes against heaven have been cast into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). Someone has added, “A sign is posted, ‘No Fishing’”! Our sins have been sent to the place of no retrieval! With no evidence to convict us, the Judge declares, “Not guilty! Case dismissed!”

Our sins are hidden under the blood of Christ! So, when Satan begins to try to dredge up the dirt of our past, and name our sins, just say, “What sins are you talking about? They are gone, old Devil! May the Lord rebuke you!” The Accuser has no answer to that.

Our text also provides a portrait of RESCUING.

“Isn't this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" (Zech.3:2b)

We are a dry limb that is engulfed in flames, about to be consumed, when it is rescued from the fire. Hell would have been our final destination—the Lake of Fire our everlasting place of torment—had not God reached out the hand of grace and saved us!

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Hell is a place of indescribable horror—an abyss, outer darkness, fire and brimstone, weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth—words which convey a sense of what an eternity without God and without hope would be, and yet words inadequate to tell the whole story of something immeasurably dreadful.

This is what God has saved us from, although we are undeserving of such mercy! How can we help but worship Him, love Him, serve Him and speak of Him to others—this one who has rescued us. Every child of God can take John Wesley’s self-description as his or her own. I am a burning stick snatched from the fire!

Then Zechariah also paints from his palette of truth a word about REMOVING.

“Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the Angel.

So the Angel of the Lord spoke to those standing before Him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes!’ Then He said to him, ‘See, I have removed your guilt from you.’” (Zech.3:3-4a)

Joshua stood there, dressed in filthy robes, defiled and disqualified from entering the presence of the Lord.

That was the spiritual condition of the nation—soiled by sin. It is also an accurate description of any who are outside of salvation.

I am born a dirty, rotten sinner. Then, as I act upon my filthy nature, I add more and more layers of nastiness to my life. I am covered with it. No one would invite me into their house—much less would a Holy God welcome us into the perfectly pure environment of His House in Heaven.

Yet, that is where I am going, because God has removed the filthy robe I was wearing. He has bathed me in Christ’s cleansing fountain—washed in the blood of the Lamb. Not even a speck of sin remains. I am sanitized. I am sanctified!

What we were, we are no longer. The Apostle Paul uses this terminology,

“Don't you know that the unjust will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or any kind of homosexual, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom.

And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor.6:9-11)

On the Biblical canvas, we also see a portrayal of ROBING.

“’I will clothe you with splendid robes.’

Then I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the Angel of the Lord was standing nearby.” (Zech.3:4b-5)

If our soiled attire was removed that is good, but not good enough! We would still be naked! But, God does not allow that. He provides a clean covering.

We are clothed in the righteous robe of Christ! On Heaven’s golden streets, we will stroll among those dressed in white linen.

“Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.

She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev.19:7-8)

The old hymn expresses it this way:

“When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.” (Edward Mote)

The final word picture is one of RESIDING.

“Then the Angel of the Lord charged Joshua: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, you will both rule My house and take care of My courts; I will also grant you access among these who are standing here.’” (Zec.3:6-7)

My teenage son is constantly losing the key to our house. We got down to one key the other day, and my wife was gone with it, all the way across town. I was on the outside of our house, wanting to enter, but with no means to do so. Since then we have made some more keys so we can get in—until all those are eventually lost.

That was an inconvenience.

Getting shut out of heaven is unthinkable.

God invites Joshua in. He is given access to God’s courts, and by implication to abide in the presence of the Almighty. Only those who have a key get in—and that key is faith in Jesus Christ. No other key will open the Pearly Gates.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

That way is open. The truth is clearly presented. The life is offered.

Satan’s mouth will be shut. You will be snatched from the fire. Soiled garments will be removed and a robe of white will clothe you. The door stands open, and Christ beckons, “Come!”

If you have already been snatched from the fire, then what does God want us to do?

The saved are called to “save others by snatching [them] from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 23)

THINK!

“The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Think carefully about your ways.’” (Haggai 1:7 HCSB)

The old fellow was often found sitting in a wooden chair on the porch of the general store. His skin was plowed with furrows as deep as the spring fields, his hands weathered as his bib overalls. Jim had been a sharecropper in Alabama and was now a fixture in town. One day, a boy who regularly came with his Mom, to help carry her purchases from the store, let his curiosity get the better of him. He asked, “Excuse me sir, but what do you do here every day?” Old Jim, leaned near the rail, let go a brown stream of tobacco juice, and turned to the lad with these words, “Well, sometimes I sits and thinks…and sometimes, I just sits.”

Can we plead guilty to the latter much more than the former? How much real thinking do we do? I am concerned that we don’t seriously think very often, for precisely that reason—it is serious business. Of that serious business, the most deliberate and deepest thinking should be thinking about God.

Someone has said that we are “amusing ourselves to death.” That seems on target. Our time is spent on thoughts that are trivial, absorbed with the vacuous nature of the temporal to the exclusion of the eternal. Our faces take on the demeanor of Alfred E. Neuman, the icon of Mad Magazine, “What, me worry?”

Yet, the quality of our thinking in terms of the subjects we contemplate and the quantity of our thoughts about such profound considerations shape us. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Think on things that are worth thinking about. Sit and think…don’t just sit.

It is the challenge issued to the Jews by the Lord through His prophet Haggai. Twice in the span of a few verses of chapter one, we hear God underscore the need to, “think carefully” (1:5, 7) and then twice in chapter two He calls His people to, “Consider carefully” (2:18). In this brief book, the Lord lets loose a barrage of nine questions to stimulate their thoughts.

What were they to carefully contemplate? These are subjects for us to consider also.

THINK ABOUT YOUR WAYS.

“In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:

‘The Lord of Hosts says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.’

The word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?’ Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Think carefully about your ways:

You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner [puts his] wages into a bag with a hole in it.’ The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Think carefully about your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house. Then I will be pleased with it and be glorified,’ says the Lord.

‘You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought [the harvest] to your house, I ruined it. Why?’ [This is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. ‘Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.

So on your account, the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops.

I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills, on the grain, new wine, olive oil,
and whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all that your hands produce.’” (1:1-11)

Carefully consider your priorities.

There is nothing wrong with making a living, but it should not be interpreted as the same thing as making a life. Providing for our household is commendable, but to do so while neglecting the house of God is condemnable. Jesus set the priorities of the eternal and material in their proper order, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33) When we concentrate on the material then our minds will be gripped with anxiety and insecurity. Those were the misplaced priorities in the skewed thinking of the Israelis of Haggai’s congregation.

THINK ABOUT YOUR WORK.

“Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord.

Haggai, the Lord's messenger, delivered the Lord's message to the people, ‘I am with you’--[this is] the Lord's declaration.

The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They began work on the house of Yahweh of Hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.” (1:12-15)

Carefully consider your purpose.

God has placed us here to glorify Him (1:8). This is our great purpose. The Westminster Catechism puts it this way, “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” This is to be our consuming passion.

How do we do that? Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8). It is about producing fruitful works that are of eternal quality—and not doing it grudgingly but gladly. It is in the context of abiding in a love relationship with Christ and His joy abiding in us that this is done.

“As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.

If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11)

This understanding stirred the souls of the Jews and stimulated their activity. The proper attitude of reverence toward God led to the proper action of service to God. They were abiding in Him. God says, “I am with you.” (Haggai 1:13)

THINK ABOUT YOUR WELFARE.

“On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people: Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you? Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel’-[this is] the Lord's declaration. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land’--[this is] the Lord's declaration. ‘Work! For I am with you’--the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

‘[This is] the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and My Spirit is present among you; don't be afraid.’ For the Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘The silver and gold belong to Me’--[this is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

‘The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘I will provide peace in this place’--[this is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” (2:1-9)

Carefully consider your promises.

God never asks us to do something without providing the resources to accomplish our task. His aim is not to use us up like something expendable and then throw us away, but to use us to exchange what we do in the temporal sphere for that which is of eternal worth. We can exchange the coin of earth for the currency of eternity!

Let this world be shaken! The people of God are promised an unshakable kingdom! God shakes the things of this world—sifts out the dirt so only the valuable remains. It is the promise of stability.

Not only is there the promise of stability, there is the promise of strength. Three times God exhorts believers in these verses to, “be strong.” (2:4). Whatever the circumstances, we have the indwelling presence of God that drives out all our fear (2:4-5).

THINK ABOUT YOUR WITNESS.

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth [month], in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Ask the priests for a ruling.

If a man is carrying consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does it become holy?’ The priests answered, ‘No.’

Then Haggai asked, ‘If someone defiled by [contact with] a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?’ The priests answered, ‘It becomes defiled.’

Then Haggai replied, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me’--[this is] the Lord's declaration. ‘And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled.

Now, reflect back from this day: Before one stone was placed on another in the Lord's temple, what state were you in? When someone came to a [grain] heap of 20 measures, it [only] amounted to 10; when one came to the winepress to dip 50 measures from the vat, it [only] amounted to 20. I struck you--all the work of your hands-with blight, mildew, and hail, but you didn't turn to Me’--[this is] the Lord's declaration. ‘Consider carefully from this day forward; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid; consider it carefully.

Is there still seed left in the granary? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced. But from this day on I will bless you.’

The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: ‘Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother's sword. On that day’--[this is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—‘I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant’--[this is] the Lord's declaration—‘and make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you.’ [This is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” (Haggai 2:10-23)

Carefully consider your position.

God chose Israel to be His holy people. They were to be a witness to the nations. Impurity would damage the credibility of their claims. Hands defiled by sin could not offer a pure sacrifice—they contaminated what they touched.

Yet, God’s intent was to bless them. When He sifted everything, all that would remain would be that which was of eternal value.

Think about it! What a difference it will make!

PROBLEMS IN THE PATH OF PROGRESS

“When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.’

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel's families answered them, ‘You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build [it] for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’ Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.

They also bribed officials [to act] against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.” (Ezra 4:1-5 HCSB)

When the people of God decide to go, you can depend on the enemy saying, “Whoa!”

There is no spiritual progress without problems in the pathway—the Devil will see to it. The path we must take is rocky and steep, and winds straight through enemy territory. Our flesh will want to retreat because of the difficulty as we naturally tend to seek the path of least resistance. The world is headed in the opposite direction, so we are going against the crowd. It is far easier to just march in step with the multitude, or at the very least just sit down on the side of the road so as not to be run over. Then, there is the matter of the Dragon. He watches over this path from his lair and will threaten us and seek to terrorize us into abandoning our quest.

This we observe in Ezra when the people of God return to the city of God and seek to rebuild the house of God. We are given this ancient report of the antagonism toward those who seek to follow the Lord. The Holy Spirit has lessons for us today, as we will find that moving ahead in Kingdom work will meet with no less difficulty now as then.

These chapters describe the enemy OPPOSING: THE STRATEGY OF THE FOE.

“When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.’” (Ezra 4:1-2)

Right away we are told there is an enemy. We are introduced to the opposition and need to learn his strategy. The Devil and his crowd have several weapons in their arsenal.

The Devil uses DEFILEMENT. (Ezra 4:1-3)

His tactics are not always to overtly battle us, but may instead appear to befriend us. That was his strategic ploy:

“When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.’” (Ezra 4:1-2)

The enemy may seek to infiltrate our ranks. That is the conquest by compromise. It had gotten Israel in trouble before and would most certainly have done so again, had the people of God not resisted.

Israel had entered Canaan with the command to make no treaty with the pagans. Instead, they had settled down with them when the struggle became difficult. This led the Jews to adopt their idolatrous worship and immoral ways, resulting in God expelling His people from the Promised Land. This is why they had to return from exile to a city in rubble and a temple that was obliterated. It was an error the Jews were determined not to repeat.

“But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel's families answered them, ‘You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build [it] for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’" (Ezra 4:3)

Remember the story of the Trojan horse?

The Greek armies of Agamemnon were unable to breech the walls of Troy from the outside. Even the seemingly invincible Achilles has fallen in battle. You recall it was through subtlety that a massive wooden horse was given as an offering to the Trojans, while the Greek armies gave the appearance of withdrawing, having given up. What the Trojans did not know is that there were elite soldiers stationed inside their trophy which was displayed in pride inside the city walls. After nightfall they slipped out, opened the gates and the Greeks poured in and conquered.

If the enemy can defile us, he will defeat us. You can’t go along with the crowd and go forward with Christ—they are travelling in the opposite direction.

The Devil uses DISCOURAGEMENT.

“Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.” (Ezra 4:4)

Discouragement is one of the Devil’s most diabolical weapons. Fear supplants faith as courage yields to discouragement. You can be utterly paralyzed by fear.

When I was young, my friend Rick and I were camping out in his field. In the middle of the night, we heard the most blood-curdling sound we have ever known! Rick said, “Someone is getting their throat cut!” Murder! Oh my! I pulled my sleeping bag over my head, and did not move a muscle. I was almost afraid to breathe, but I know anyone slipping up on us with a knife would have located me from the drumbeat of my pounding heart! It was then that it got worse. Rick stirred and turned over a large battery powered lantern on me, and I knew the killer had kicked me! It was then that I stopped breathing entirely! After what seemed an eternity, I slowly pulled the sleeping bag from my face and looked into the eyes of…my friend “Run!” he yelled and off we sprinted to his house, pounding on the door in the middle of the night, waking his parents to let us escape the horror of dying so brutally.

It was a screech owl! We were petrified by a little bird in a tree.

Don’t give in to fear in the fight against the foe. He will try to discourage you and stop you in your tracks.

The Devil uses DEFAMATION.

“They also bribed officials [to act] against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who were already in the land wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.

During the time of [King] Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:

[From] Rehum the chief deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues-the judges and magistrates from Tripolis, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa (that is, the people of Elam), and the rest of the peoples whom the great and illustrious Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and the region west of the Euphrates River.

This is the text of the letter they sent to him:

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer. Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king that a search should be made in your fathers' record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.” (Ezra 4:5-16)

Through half-truths and innuendo, these sinister spiders spin a web of deception to stop the progress of God’s people in rebuilding the temple. They accuse the Jews of sedition, and know that will get the king’s attention.

“The king sent a reply to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River:

Greetings.

The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. I issued a decree and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has had uprisings against kings since ancient times, and there have been rebellions and revolts in it. Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them. Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a [further] decree has been pronounced by me.

See that you not neglect this matter. Otherwise, the damage will increase and the royal interests will suffer.

As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes' letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

Now the construction of God's house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.” (Ezra 4:17-24)

It is what the Pharisees did in accusing Jesus to Pilate. It was the “crime” for which Christ was crucified—making Himself out to be the king of the Jews and thus a rival to Caesar’s power.

The Devil is a deceiver and has perfected his craft through millennia of practice. The Serpent’s forked tongue is so crafty and venomous. You can count on being criticized and slandered if you purpose to do the will of God. If it was done our Master, and the servants can expect no better treatment.

So, what do we do? Give up?

No!

Here is what the sacred story shows:

OVERCOMING: THE SUCCESS OF THE FAITHFUL.

“But when the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began to rebuild God's house in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, helping them.” (Ezra 5:1-2)

The prophets prodded them to go forward!

The people of God responded with DETERMINATION.

“At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues came to the Jews and asked, ‘Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?’ They also asked them, ‘What are the names of the workers who are constructing this building?’

But God was watching over the Jewish elders. These men wouldn't stop them until a report was sent to Darius, so that they could receive written instructions about this [matter].” (Ezra 5:3-5)

Don’t think that the enemy will quit so quickly. But, what we must know is that the Lord is looking out for us! He was watching over the Jews and blessed their determined effort.

Early on in my ministry I discovered that if I was to lead the church forward I would have to go into the teeth of the enemy’s forces, and would have to press on in the heat of the fight. I wrote these words of an unknown poet inside my Bible and the current copy I use carries them still:

“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”

We must have determination.

The people of God also offered a DEFENSE.

“This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.

They sent him a report, written as follows:

To King Darius:

All greetings.

Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people's efforts. So we questioned the elders and asked, ‘Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?’

We also asked them for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

This is the reply they gave us:

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He handed them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God. He also took from the temple in Babylon the gold and silver articles of God's house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried [them] to the temple in Babylon. He released them from the temple in Babylon to a man named Sheshbazzar, the governor by the appointment of King Cyrus. Cyrus told him, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its [original] site.’

Then this same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of God's house in Jerusalem. It has been under construction from that time until now, yet it has not been completed.

So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted [to see] if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king's decision regarding [this matter] be sent to us.” (Ezra 5:6-17)

Sometimes we must assert our rights. Government has been given to that end. Remember when Paul was about to be torn to pieces by an angry mob, he relied on his Roman citizenship to be spared by the Roman soldiers who were stationed in Palestine to preserve the “Pax Romana”—the peace of Rome. Later, when the Apostle’s enemies conspired to kill him, the plot is uncovered and the missionary used his rights to appeal for a trial before Caesar. He was able to maintain his mission work for a while longer because of this.

We ought to use the freedoms we have, while we have them. They may one day be lost—and we must remain obedient to God, nevertheless—but, the cost will be much greater to do so.

The Jews completed the work due to a DECREE.

“King Darius gave the order, and they searched in the library of Babylon in the archives.

But it was in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found with this record written on it:

In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem:

Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its [original] foundations be retained. Its height is to be 90 feet and its width 90 feet, with three layers of cut stones and one of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal treasury. The gold and silver articles of God's house that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon must also be returned. They are to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem where they belong and put into the house of God.” (Ezra 6:1-5)

And build it, they did!

“So the Jewish elders continued successfully with the building under the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia.

This house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.” (Ezra 6:14-15)

The decree of these kings was inspired by the decree of the King of kings! Always remember that there is a throne in heaven, and God makes the ultimate decision about what happens on earth. The outcome is up to Him, but the obedience is up to us! Our part is faithfulness and the Lord’s part is to bring the fruitfulness.

“So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up.” (Gal.6:9)

REKINDLED

"These now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town." (Ezra 2:1 HCSB)

Dew lies heavy on the ground. The sun is still hidden behind the mountains, yet darkness is beginning to be overcome by the approaching dawn--the sky not blue, but no longer black. It is a shade of gray.

You wake and rub sleep from your eyes. Climbing out of the sleeping bag, you stretch, and slowly step out of the tent into the chill air. You need coffee. There is the pot, but all that remains of the previous night's roaring fire are ashes. Then, you take a stick and begin to poke around in the ashes. There it is--a few glowing coals, buried beneath, and after adding several twigs and with gentle breath, a small flame flickers to life, that will be fueled with more wood and the fire is rekindled.

A new day has dawned.

Jerusalem that once was had been reduced to ashes. The fire had gone out, as the exiles had gone to Babylon. Darkness fell. Yet, God would stir up those ashes and find a few hot coals that remained. He would blow on them with His Spirit and the nation would be rekindled. That is the story told in Ezra.

It is a story of THE PROMISE THAT WAS FULFILLED.

"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and [to put it] in writing:

This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.'

So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites-everyone God had motivated-prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord's house in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:1-5 HCSB)

Seventy years before, God had given His Word that He would rekindle the fire in Jerusalem. The hopes and dreams of the covenant people were buried under the charred remains and cold ashes of their disobedience. Despite repeated warnings and intensifying discipline, the Jews persisted to repent and so God's light was taken from Mount Zion. The glory departed, and so did the best and brightest of the population, their hands bound in cold iron chains, as they trudged down into the darkness of heathen Babylon.

Though the Jews had abandoned God, God would not abandon them. Israel, unfaithful to God's Word, would find God ever faithful to it. A promise was made, and the promise would be kept. The sacred fire that was Israel would be rekindled. God had named Cyrus as the stick He would use to stir up the ashes, decades before the Persian monarch came to his throne. The prophet Isaiah called him by name (Isa.44-45). The Lord kept His promise.

From the ashes of Jerusalem, God took the hot coals He uncovered and added some twigs to the rekindled fire. Ezra lists THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FAITHFUL.

"These now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town." (Ezra 2:1 HCSB)

God always has a people. They may be buried deep under the ashes, but they are there--still glowing and ready for the Divine breath to awaken them.

Cain stomps out the fire of his brother Abel and it seems the promise of a Seed to crush the Serpent's head has been extinguished. But a spark remains in Adam's loins, and Eve will give birth to another son, Seth, and then, "A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of Yahweh." (Genesis 4:26 HCSB) The fire was rekindled.

It would be doused by a deluge--the wicked world covered with water as God judged the exceeding sinfulness of earth's inhabitants. But, before the flood put the fire out, He placed a few coals--Noah's family--in the ark, and would rekindle life on earth from them and the animals they tended.

Eventually, the world grew cold again. The darkness of idolatry fell across the globe. Then God stirred up the ashes, and breathed on a man named Abraham--faith sparked--and from him a covenant people would bring light back into the world.

Even when those people chose to walk away from God, God sought them, and brought them back to Jerusalem. Ezra tells of a nation rekindled.

Then, the fire was fueled as we see THE PRIORITY THAT WAS FOLLOWED.

"By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people gathered together in Jerusalem. Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers began to build the altar of Israel's God in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples. They celebrated the Festival of Booths as prescribed, and [offered] burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day. After that, [they offered] the regular burnt offering and the offerings for the beginning of each month and for all the Lord's appointed holy occasions, as well as the freewill offerings brought to the Lord....

On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, even though the foundation of the Lord's temple had not [yet] been laid. When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord's temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: 'For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever.' Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord's house had been laid." (Ezra 3:1-6, 10, 11 HCSB)

The fire of worship is rekindled! The priority of seeking God is reignited with the fire on the altar consuming the burnt offering. For the first time, in a long time, the aroma of meat sizzling on the altar rose, and permeated Jerusalem, ascending up to heaven.

The foundation of the House of God to be reconstructed was put in place where there had only been the ashes of Solomon's once glorious Temple. Where a deathly silence had settled heavily over the city, now shouts of praise to God filled the air!

God is central in their thoughts and worship is central to their activity. The holy flame now rises, fueled by the praise of the people--a witness to the enduring goodness and faithful love of the Eternal God!

How is it with you?

Maybe you have grown cold in your relationship with the Lord. Your life is but ashes. Yet, these words seem like God's gentle breath on you, and deep inside there is a spark of desire. You recall how you once loved and served the Lord. You remember a time when worship was fueled by devotion. You were hot!

Today, you can be rekindled! The fire can be relit.

Churches that once were the light of Gospel witness in the community can become just an ash heap. Revival can happen! Where all seems to be dead, God can blow on the church and rekindle them.

It needs to happen. It can happen! Let us stir ourselves to pray:

"Holy Spirit breathe on me until my heart is clean
Let sunshine fill its inmost part with not a cloud between
Breathe on me, Breathe on me Holy Spirit breathe on me
Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.

Holy Spirit breathe on me my stubborn will subdue
Teach me in words what living flame what Christ would have me do.
Breathe on me, Breathe on me Holy Spirit breathe on me
Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.

Holy Spirit breathe on me fill me with pow'r divine
Kindle a flame of love and zeal in this heart of mine
Breathe on me, Breathe on me Holy Spirit breathe on me
Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.

Holy Spirit breathe on me till I am all thine own
Until my will is lost in Thine to  live for Thee alone.
Breathe on me, Breathe on me Holy Spirit breathe on me
Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit breathe on me." (B.B. McKinney)

FIGHTING ON YOUR KNEES

"'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, 'for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.'" (Daniel 10:12-14 HCSB)

I remember buying a set of boxing gloves for my son, Chris, when he was small. He wanted to use Dad as a punching bag. Being a pastor, I was accustomed to that! But, he soon learned that if he was going to punch me, I was going to hit back. I did have quite a height advantage, so to make it a bit more fair, I would fight him on my knees.

That ought to be a familiar position for the Christian. We are in a spiritual fight with the Devil and the victory must be won on our knees!

Prayer is worship. It is time spent in God's presence, expressing praise to Him for who He is and gratitude for what He has done.

Prayer is work. When we work, we do what man can do, but when we pray God does what He can do! I once heard the late Ron Dunn say, “Prayer doesn't just fit us for our work--it is the work!”

But, prayer is also warfare. It is the arena where spiritual combat is fought. Have you wondered why it is so difficult to pray--to find time to do it, and even if you do take the time to pray you struggle with distractions? It is in large measure because we are then on the battlefield, and war is not a picnic!

These are lessons Daniel learned that will help us to win the fight on our knees.

We learn THE MOTIVATIONS FOR WARFARE PRAYING.

"In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision." (Daniel 10:1 HCSB)

PRAYER MAY BE MOTIVATED BY THE INDIFFERENCE OF GOD'S PEOPLE. It had been three years since Cyrus had issued the decree granting the Jewish exiles opportunity to return to Israel, yet only a small number had returned. Most seemed to have no heart for the work of God.

Does that sound familiar? We shouldn't simply gripe about it to others, but groan to God with a burden that sets heaven to stir up God's people on earth.

PRAYER MAY BE MOTIVATED BY THE IMPOTENCE OF GOD'S CHILDREN. The Jews who did return were poor and puny when it came to accomplishing anything. Such reports of the sorry state of affairs moved a man like Nehemiah to pray (see Neh.1). We may assume that it also drove Daniel in desperation to seek God's power for His people.

The church today seems to know little of the power visited upon the church at Pentecost. You will recall that as the first Christians prayed, God came in power and sent them out in strength to change the world! We should settle for no less!

PRAYER MAY BE MOTIVATED BY THE INTERFERENCE OF GOD'S ENEMY. The returning exiles faced strong opposition in their efforts to rebuild Jerusalem. This caused them to carry a sword in one hand and trowel in the other! You can read about that in Nehemiah 4.

We are reminded in Ephesians 6, however, that the real battle is not with flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces that direct them. Did you see this phrase in Daniel 10:1, "a great conflict"? We have many foes in the twenty-first century--humanism, socialism, spiritism, materialism, hedonism, and such--but orchestrating it all is demonism! The only way to overcome is intercession!

A second lesson concerns THE MANNER OF WARFARE PRAYING.

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. I didn't eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn't put any oil [on my body] until the three weeks were over." (Daniel 10:2, 3 HCSB)

ITS MANNER IS INTERCESSORY. It is prayer for Kingdom people and Kingdom progress. This prayer of Daniel's had that purpose. There is a place for personal requests, but we should be inspired to pray to God for others--loving Him and loving our neighbor is the focus that pleases God and moves Him to answer. We need to pray like Abraham pleading for wicked society or Moses praying for wavering saints.

ITS MANNER IS INTENSE. See the strong passion that gripped Daniel! This was the manner in which Jesus prayed. "During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence." (Hebrews 5:7 HCSB) That intensity reached its pinnacle in Gethsemane where He prayed in agony, until His sweat became as drops of blood. Leonard Ravenhill correctly noted that in the church today we have many organizers, but few agonizers!

Yet, this is the Biblical manner called for:

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect." (James 5:16 HCSB)
This is praying with urgency and fervency--immediacy and intensity!

A third lesson shows THE MANIFESTATION IN WARFARE PRAYING.

"On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground." (Daniel 10:4-9 HCSB)

Observe THE REVELATION OF GOD'S SON in verses 4-6.

The Person depicted here can be none other than the pre-incarnate Christ.

We see His Sanctity. He is dressed in linen. This is the clean, white garment of a priest. When we pray, remember the Great High Priest intercedes for us.

We see His Sovereignty. He wears a belt of gold. Gold symbolizes royalty. When we pray, we are in contact with the King of the kings who has all power to work His will.

We see His Scrutiny. Set in the midst of His radiant face, are flaming eyes. He sees and knows all. He knows what is best, so we can submit to His will in prayer rather than demanding that our will be done. He sees more than we can see.

We see His Supremacy. There is might in His arms, strength in His torso, stability in His feet and power in His voice. Daniel prayed and God showed up!

This led to THE REACTION OF GOD'S SERVANT witnessed in verses 7-9.

Daniel collapsed in a heap, withered before such glory! Such are sinful men when they encounter Holy God. The Bible is full of examples: Moses at the burning bush, Isaiah in the Temple, Peter after the miraculous catch of fish, Paul on the Damascus Road and John on Patmos, for instance.

Those who say little cliches and mouth pious phrases, yet are not shaken to the core of their being, demonstrate that their prayers have not risen any higher than the ceiling. Prayer that encounters eternity is transformational and revolutionary!

The fourth lesson taught concerns THE MIGHT OF WARFARE PRAYING.

"Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees. He said to me, 'Daniel, you are a man treasured [by God]. Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.' After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, 'for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.'" (Daniel 10:10-14 HCSB)

Note WHEN THE ANSWER WAS DISPATCHED.

“'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, 'for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.’” (Dan.10:12)

The moment Daniel’s prayer ascended to heaven, the angel Gabriel was sent down with the answer. This is the promise of prayer.

“Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.” (1 John 5:14-15)

But, then look at WHY THE ANSWER WAS DELAYED.

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” (Dan.10:13)

Gabriel met a roadblock. A demonic spirit resisted him. Though angels are powerful, they are not omnipotent. God’s messenger had to pass through the domain of Satan, “the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,” (Eph.2:2b). What we may deem to be prayer that is denied is actually only prayer that is delayed.

This is a call to persistence in prayer. Gabriel prevailed to get through this spiritual resistance because Daniel persisted in prayer.

It isn’t that God can’t get an answer through—He is all-powerful. But, He wants to build spiritual muscle in us, and that only occurs as we exercise our faith. One day, the saints will reign with Christ and God is at work preparing us to do so as overcomers.

So, we underscore WHY THE ANSWER WAS DELIVERED.

“Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” (Dan.10:13b)

Michael was dispatched to aid Gabriel as Daniel continued to pray. What got the answer through? Was it Gabriel’s obedience? Was it Michael’s assistance? That was true enough, but though the answer isn’t incorrect, it is incomplete. It was Daniel’s persistance, also! Who knows but that the prayer you have consistently prayed as heaven seemed silent, may bring a breakthrough on the very next request.

This is the power of prayer!

The fifth and final lesson shares THE MESSAGE FROM WARFARE PRAYING.

“While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, ‘My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.

How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.’

Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.

He said, ‘Don't be afraid, you who are treasured [by God]. Peace to you; be very strong!’
As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’

He said, ‘Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.’” (Daniel 10:15-21)

When the victory is won, there is peace! That is the message given.

We find THE SOURCE OF THIS PEACE.

“While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, ‘My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.

How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.’” (Dan.10:15-17)

The Son of Man comes to Daniel and touches Him. Of course, Daniel will find such an experience breath-taking. Fear will rise within him, but as Jesus so often speaks, He will convey a message of peace.

Then, there is THE STRENGTH OF THIS PEACE.

“Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.

He said, ‘Don't be afraid, you who are treasured [by God]. Peace to you; be very strong!’
As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’” (Dan.10:18-19)

He is strengthened and enabled to stand. God sustains us!

Also, we see THE SURETY OF THIS PEACE.

“He said, ‘Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.’” (Dan.10:20-21)

The struggle between light and darkness continues today, but will one day come to its conclusion with Satan overthrown. That is what is recorded in the Book of Truth!

Are you winning the battle against evil? Is there prevailing power in our prayers? The outcome is decided on our knees!

THE WINDS OF WAR

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account. Daniel said, ‘In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.’” (Daniel 7:1-3 HCSB)

In 1971, Herman Wouk’s novel, “The Winds of War” was published. It is historical fiction, taking real events and people, along with some fictional characters, woven together masterfully to tell of the events leading up to World War II. Later, it was made into a highly acclaimed and hugely successful television mini-series.

It seems the winds of war are blowing again—and this time for World War III. These are the very winds which Daniel describes in chapter seven of his prophecy.

This all rises from THE DREAM he had.

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account.” (Dan.7:1)

It is a dream which gives us a view of heaven and earth—of kingdoms in conflict.

The dream gives us the eternal perspective of THE SOVEREIGNTY OF HEAVEN.

“Daniel said, ‘In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea.’” (Dan.7:2)

As the winds of war begin to blow, we need to be reminded that it is the Creator who unleashes them and directs them. To that point, consider this quote from Haddon Robinson:

“It was Napoleon Bonaparte who, early in his life, said, ‘God is on the side of the biggest artillery.’ Years later, when he was exiled on an island, he reversed his opinion, and conceded, ‘Man proposes, but God disposes.’”

In the maelstrom of human events, never forget that God is on the throne and moving things to the inexorable conclusion of His purposes. Rulers rise to power, kingdoms come—and those same kingdoms crumble into the dust of history. Conflict stirs and battles ebb and flow, but ultimately a sovereign God is on His eternal throne bending all things according to His will, overruling the human rulers.

Even the forces of hell when let loose are channeled to the fulfillment of God’s plan. That is what we see in this verse. The winds of war that blow are demonic powers. Consider Revelation 7:1-3,

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel, who had the seal of the living God rise up from the east. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were empowered to harm the earth and the sea: ‘Don't harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the slaves of our God on their foreheads.’”

Satan has been permitted to function as, “the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient.” (Eph.2:2b) But, the angels of the Lord are seen to restrain the winds and will only allow the Devil to work in accord with God’s time and will.

The dream also gives us the earthly perspective of THE SEA OF HUMANITY.

“Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.” (Dan.7:3)

The sea depicts the restless nature of sinful humanity, continually in turmoil as a storm-tossed ocean, waves whipped by the winds. The tides bring the ebb and flow of nations, rising in power and crashing down, only for another wave to roll in. It is a fitting picture of human history.

“’But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck. There is no peace for the wicked,’ says my God.” (Isa.57:20-21)

In Daniel’s prophecy, there are four world empires which are presented. The revelation this dream brought will be followed by the explanation that Daniel sought.

So from THE DREAM we move to examine THE DETAILS.

“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me, and the visions in my mind terrified me. I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things: 'These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.

But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.'” (Dan.7:15-18)

This corresponds to Nebuchadnezzar’s vision recorded in the second chapter of Daniel. You will recall it is of a great statue that is made of four different metals, diminishing in value from gold to silver, then bronze to iron and the feet of iron mixed with clay, even as the metals are increasing in strength until the feet which are smashed by a Rock hurtling from heaven, bringing down and supplanting all other kingdoms. These are four world empires and seen from man’s viewpoint are glorious and powerful. But, all will be brought down by the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ, when He brings in the Kingdom of Heaven to reign over the world.
Daniel’s dream presents the Divine viewpoint which sees beyond the external pomp and power to the nature of man’s rule—bestial and fierce in its wickedness.

There is THE FIRST WORLD EMPIRE: BABYLON.

“The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.” (Dan.7:4)

This image was well-known in the ancient world and has been unearthed by archaeologists—the lion with wings was the popular representation of Babylon. The great king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, is alluded to here. His experience of being judged for his arrogance is recalled, where for seven years he was like a beast, until God lifted him up and restored his sanity (see Daniel 4).

THE SECOND WORLD EMPIRE: MEDO-PERSIA replaced Babylon.

“Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.'” (Dan.7:5)

The bear—a large, lumbering brute—accurately depicts the battle tactics of Persian warfare. They used mass waves of soldiers to overwhelm their enemy. When Iran (the descendents of the Medes and Persians) waged war with Iraq in 1980-1988, they employed the same strategy—and sending their soldiers into the teeth of modern weaponry saw the sands soaked with blood. But, it was much more effective in ancient times.

Note that the bear had three ribs. That is, the Babylonians being conquered were assimilated into the kingdom of the Medes and Persians—three peoples blended together in this second empire. Each successive empire becomes an amalgamation of those preceding it.

THE THIRD WORLD EMPIRE: GREECE next came to dominance.

“While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads and was given authority to rule.” (Dan.7:6)

The leopard is known for its speed—and this is an accurate depiction of the “blitzkrieg” methods of military tactics which Alexander the Great employed. The scope of his conquest of the known world is only dwarfed by the speed with which it happened. Alexander died as a young man before being able to enjoy the spoils of his success. The four wings of the leopard symbolize his four generals who divided up his kingdom after Alexander’s death.

THE FOURTH WORLD EMPIRE: ROME would be the final human empire.

"While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.

While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man's, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.” (Dan.7:7-8)

Daniel is so overwhelmed by this image, that he seeks more understanding.

“Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. [I also wanted to know] about the 10 horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell-the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that was more visible than the others. As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

This is what he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. The 10 horns are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.” (Dan.7:19-26)

The legions of Rome trampled the nations under their iron-soled boots. Historians have documented the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. But, Rome was not destroyed—only divided. This empire will be reconstituted in the last days—a United States of Europe, if you will. Ten horns (symbols of power) represent ten nations that form an alliance. This kingdom is described in Revelation 13:1-2:

“And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”

The “little horn” is the Antichrist, the Beast, the Man of Sin—he is Satan’s surrogate and dictator of this regime. Following the rapture of the church, he will be revealed and will awe the world (see 2 Thess.2). For three and one-half years, he will portray himself as the messianic savior of Israel—pledging their protection and enforcing a peace in the Middle East. During this time, the Jews will have a rebuilt temple and reinstituted religious ritual. But, then the Antichrist goes into the temple and demands to be worshipped. He attacks Israel and initiates a holocaust where during the last three and one half years of his reign of terror, he seeks the genocide of the Jews. All this climaxes with Christ’s return to cast down the Beast into the bottomless pit and Jesus inaugurates 1,000 years of peace on earth.

This brings us to THE FINAL WORLD EMPIRE: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

“As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat.
His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands served Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.

I continued watching in the night visions,

and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him.

He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people,
nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (Dan.7:9-14)

“The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.'” (Dan.7:27)

Verses nine and ten correspond to John’s vision in Revelation four and five. Chapters six through nineteen unfold the seven years of tribulation during which the Antichrist will hold sway over the earth. At the end of chapter nineteen of Revelation, and the following chapters, is a description of the return of Christ, overthrow of Antichrist, the opening of the books and judgment, with the Millennial reign of Christ which gives way to the eternal state in the creation of new heavens and a new earth. This is what Daniel summarizes in 7:11-14, 27.

THE DREAM and ITS DETAILS lead to THE DISTRESS Daniel felt.

“This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself." (Dan.7:28)

He was doubtless distressed because of THE SINS OF THE PERISHING.

As a godly and compassionate man he would find no joy in this judgment. God finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and neither would Daniel. But, he was nonetheless disturbed over the rebellious nature of man and refusal to honor God. The brutality and bloodshed that have marked the march of armies was disheartening.

We anticipate the end with the same mix of emotions. While we are thankful that righteousness will be vindicated and Christ exalted, the horror of the judgments that accompany that should distress us.

Are we burdened for those who are lost? Are we warning them?

Daniel’s distress would have also been linked to THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE.

He understood that the Jews were going to face a slaughter. He had a vision of a man that would almost make Hitler seem an amateur compared to Antichrist’s assault on Israel.

We look today at the Middle East. A fire has been kindled. The winds of war may soon whip it into an inferno that will engulf the globe.

How should we respond?

“But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that [day] the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, [it is clear] what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat.

But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Be prepared!

AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

“Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6:3 HCSB)

Mediocrity is a plague upon Christianity. Many of us are content with confessing to believe in a God of supernatural power and yet conducting ourselves as to never expect anything beyond the natural realm. We read the miraculous accounts in Scripture and think, “That’s nice,” but have no anticipation that God might demonstrate such events in our day.

As to commitment, we do just good enough to get by. We feel too guilty to do nothing for God, but are too wrapped up in the world to do much. Perhaps we are mostly like the little girl who prayed, “God make me good, but not too good—just good enough not to get a spanking!”

A Biblical term for this is, “lukewarm.” Jesus said that the church at Laodecia was neither cold nor hot. It was nauseating to Him. Think of the incredible price He paid in His crucifixion and the infinite power He displayed in His resurrection—all to shape us into an extraordinary community of believers—like we see in the book of Acts.

The record of the first-century saints was not meant to be the exception, but the rule. The bar was set incredibly high in the standard which Luke documents in his sacred history, but, nevertheless, is the reason we have the Spirit of God indwelling us to empower us to rise above the ordinary and live extraordinarily!

This has always been the case with men and women that God has used for His glory. We might point to Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Deborah, Elijah, or as in our study today, Daniel, as shining examples.

These heroes and heroines were not any different than you and me in the sense of being flesh and blood, subject to the weakness of the flesh and waywardness of the heart. James put it this way, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.” (James 5:17-18) He put his robe on just like we do—one arm at a time!

So, what set them apart? They let God be God in them! It wasn’t that they were exceptional in their power, but by faith they tapped into the power of Almighty God. The Lord didn’t find people of great ability, but of great availability—ordinary men and women through whom He could work in extraordinary ways—all for His glory.

Daniel’s life beckons us to become extraordinary in our usefulness to God’s Kingdom purposes. His life looms large and inspires us.

His was A LIFE EXTRAORDINARY IN ITS INTEGRITY.

“Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.

Then these men said, ‘We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.’

So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, ‘May King Darius live forever. All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den. Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.’

So King Darius signed the document." (Dan.6:1-9)

The cream rises to the top. Daniel distinguished himself. He was a man of integrity. He meant what he said and said what he meant. There was no duplicity, no hypocrisy, only purity. His testimony and his activity were in harmony. That is extraordinary, but is the standard God expects for all those who belong to Him.

“But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

God has given us a new nature—the nature of Jesus implanted in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. We people of ordinary flesh and blood have the extraordinary power of God residing within to enable us to live with integrity.

That doesn’t mean everyone will like it. The mirror is avoided by the ugly. The light is shunned by the thief. The policeman is despised by the lawless. Daniel’s extraordinary integrity caused him as a Jew to be elevated to great responsibility beyond others in Persia. Here he was as a foreigner recognized for such an exemplary life and given preference and power—and envy grew in the hearts of his peers into a diabolical desire to destroy him—smash the mirror, extinguish the light, kill the cop.

His was also A LIFE EXTRAORDINARY IN ITS INTIMACY.

“When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

So they approached the king and asked about his edict: ‘Didn't you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den?’ The king answered, ‘As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.’ Then they replied to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.’ As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

Then these men went to the king and said to him, ‘You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.’ 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!’ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.” (Dan.6:10-18)

Daniel did not live to please men, but to please God. His heart was governed by God’s law. Insofar, as the Lord established human government, Daniel was faithful to follow the king’s command. But, if that earthly edict contradicted the eternal command, he would choose to follow God’s law.

The understanding of God’s truth and the strength to follow it was cultivated in Daniel’s intimacy with God. Everyday, three times a day, Daniel withdrew from the presence of men, to enter the presence of God. He was persistent in his prayer life and this brought him favor with God. Sadly, favor with God eventually results in disfavor with man. Intimacy with God births intolerance among sinners.

When the choice is thrust upon Daniel to obey God or man, he doesn’t need to debate it in his heart or discuss it with others—the decision has already been made. He is courageous in his conviction—a righteous man, bold as a lion.

Now, Daniel isn’t obnoxious about it. Forbidden to pray, he doesn’t go and shout a prayer on the street corner in front of the palace. He just does what he has customarily done. He isn’t looking for a confrontation. He doesn’t have a martyr complex. It was an extraordinarily ordinary practice to pray. It was as natural as breathing—prayer was the oxygen of his soul. Kneeling before God enabled him to stand before men. An ordinary person who becomes intimate with God becomes an extraordinary man or woman who reflects the glory to which they have been exposed.


Then, his was further A LIFE EXTRAORDINARY IN ITS INFLUENCE.

“At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.

When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. ‘Daniel, servant of the living God,’ the king said, "has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?"

Then Daniel spoke with the king: ‘May the king live forever.

My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths. They haven't hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.’

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God.

The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den-they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: ‘May your prosperity abound.

I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end.

He rescues and delivers; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for 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.” (Dan.6:19-28)

The extraordinary influence Daniel had was an influence that extended to heaven! It caused an angel to be dispatched to protect him. I picture the prophet, lying down in that pit with his head pillowed on a lion, other beasts snuggled up to him to keep his old bones warm, and their soft purring singing him a lullaby! Extraordinary!

Some liberal might try to explain this away by saying the lions were not hungry. Tell that to Daniel’s accusers! It didn’t go so well for them.

Influence with God has its roots in intimacy with God and its fruit will be influence with man. This extraordinary influence gripped the heart of Darius and we find a pagan king giving praise to the living God. He calls Him the living God because he has seen Him at work—in Daniel’s purity, prayer and preservation that made the prophet preeminent among his peers. As always, those who are extraordinary saints bring honor to the God who works in an extraordinary manner.

Would you exhibit extraordinary integrity and exude extraordinary influence as Daniel did? Then you must experience extraordinary intimacy with God. It is God who makes the difference, and the degree of difference is in proportion to the depth of the relationship cultivated daily.

“Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.” (William Longstaff)

This is the secret to an extraordinary life!

DETERMINED TO NOT BE DEFILED

“Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 HCSB)

They have been called, “The Greatest Generation.” Once they were young soldiers who marched off to war—crossing the Atlantic and the Pacific, these heroes fought, bled and died to roll back the evil tide that threatened to drown the world in darkness. They came back home and built an industrial powerhouse and helped America become that shining city on a hill. Most of them are gone. I have buried not a few—a weathered, withered old body inside a flag-draped coffin, family wiping away tears as the bugle plays “Taps.”

My generation—and subsequent ones—have not done so well. That which was purchased at such a great cost has come to be taken for granted. The investment made by “The Greatest Generation” looks as if it has been squandered.

The temptation is to look down our noses at teenagers today and think them to be so self-centered and godless. If many are, their fathers and grandfathers need to look in the mirror for the root of such rotten fruit. They walk in the path we have established.

But, not all! In fact, as the world grows darker, some will shine all the brighter. These will grow up to be champions for Christ, and perhaps blaze a new trail—back to God. Might it be that they will establish another great generation—and that the greatest generation is yet to be?

It is possible! We need look no further than four teenagers living in ancient Babylon. Daniel and his three friends were determined not to be defiled.

They faced A DILEMMA.

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it.

The Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him, along with some of the vessels from the house of God. Nebuchadnezzar carried them to the land of Babylon, to the house of his god, and put the vessels in the treasury of his god.

The king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility—young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king's palace-and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature.” (Dan.1:1-4)

Imagine what it was like to be seized by soldiers, made slaves in shackles, shuffled off to a strange land. These teenagers abruptly found themselves immersed in a pagan environment, intent on shaping them into its image.

The dilemma was how would they stay clean in a corrupt culture? There was nowhere to run. It would be a relentless pressure to conform.

It is the same choice facing our teens and young adults everyday as they rise from their beds. Christ has called His followers to be in the world, but not of the world. He has not yet removed us from this sinful society, but has left us as a witness to it.

But, therein is A DANGER.

“The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to serve in the king's court. Among them, from the descendants of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

The chief official gave them [other] names: he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.

Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself.” (Dan.1:5-8)

A little compromise can lead to a large collapse. It is so easy to cave under the pressure—to just do this one thing. How bad could it be? So, we rationalize the little sin that opens the door to more and more compromise. Once we cross that line, we do not know how far we will go.

So, the world says, “Don’t be a fanatic!” We are encouraged to go along and get along. Peer pressure from a pagan society is constantly pushing us toward compromise. Many are being indoctrinated and assimilated. They might profess to be “Christian” but you wouldn’t know it by the way they think, talk, what they live and long for.

There has to be A DETERMINATION.

“Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself.” (Dan.1:8)

Daniel and his three friends stood at a crossroad. One path was wide, easy, well-traveled, offering easy access and the promise of leading to pleasure. The other was narrow, hard, isolated, with a small gate to enter and warning of the probability of leading to pain.

But, to these four teens, the choice was obvious—because the interstate highway was all downhill and after some fun stops along the way, ended in Hell, while the rocky mountain path, though steep, kept rising higher and higher and ended in Heaven.

These four teenagers had the right values. They made a choice and were not turning back. They took their stand—and we must. As we have heard, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

Such a determination requires A DEATH.

“God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,

yet he said to Daniel, ‘My lord the king assigned your food and drink. I'm afraid [of what would happen] if he saw your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age. You would endanger my life with the king.’” (Dan.1:9-10)

The chief official knew that you didn’t resist the King. He had seen people tortured and executed for such defiance. Although he really liked these young men, he wasn’t willing to put his head on a chopping block for them.

Those four fellows were not excited about that prospect either! They were young and so much alive, expecting many years to stretch out before them. But, if the price they would have to pay would be to sell their soul, they decided it would be better to die. Jesus would say that it is no bargain to gain the whole world and lose your soul. He would beckon all who follow Him to come and die—to take up the cross—dying to sin, to self, to the world.

That is the choice made by Daniel and his companions. They knew that If you don’t have something worth dying for, you don’t have anything worth living for.

It was the choice that Moses made many years earlier.

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin.

For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward.” (Heb.11:24-26)

It is then that you discover A DYNAMIC.

“So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king's food, and deal with your servants based on what you see.’” (Dan.1:11-13)

You won’t know God is all you need, until He is all you have. When we take the step of faith, we tap into the dynamic power of God.

Notice how Daniel was steadfast, but not sanctimonious. He was obedient to God without being obnoxious to man. This is the dynamic of grace we need to discover. We can be winsome without being worldly. Saints aren’t marked by self-righteousness. Too often the world ignores Christians because we are no different than they are, or they are hostile toward us because we are harsh and abrasive. Neither displays grace.

In Christ’s day there were Sadducees who had basically sold out to Rome—they were liberals. Then, there were Pharisees who hated the Romans—they were legalists. Christ approved of neither. His way is the grace that enables us to be both loving to sinners and true to Scripture—with the balance of conviction and compassion that marked the Master’s model.

This is the balance we seek. It is the way of Christ.

It was then that these four teens experienced A DELIVERANCE.

“He agreed with them about this and tested them for 10 days. At the end of 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king's food.

So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.” (1:14-16)

Only those who need and expect a miracle see one. God blessed these young folks because they trusted in Him. They became a display for the world to see what can happen when we follow the Lord.

There are multitudes who doubt the existence of God today because they haven’t seen Him. But, how can someone see an invisible God? They ought to see Him in us!

There ought to be no rational explanation for who we are and what we do, save that God is alive and active in us. We are to be walking miracles—a breathing billboard advertising the activity of God!

This brings A DECLARATION.

“God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. At the end of the time that the king had said to present them, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve in the king's court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them 10 times better than all the diviner-priests and mediums in his entire kingdom.” (Dan.1:17-20)

This quartet of teens was declared to be the real deal! They stood up and that is how you come to stand out. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah excelled because of their impeccable integrity. They were recognized as exceptional because they did not conform to the culture. God rewarded their righteousness.

America is in a mess. It won’t get any better, if we do more of what we’ve been doing. But, perhaps there are a few Daniels out there. Maybe today God is stirring some young champions who will become a force for goodness in our world. There is still a sliver of hope. There is always hope in God!