Daniel, A Highly Esteemed Servant of God

Holy Land Picture of the Day

Mount Hermon Today's picture is of the green hills of the Golan Heights, moving up to Mount Hermon in the background. It reminds us of Psalm 133; "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion;     “All this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth” Hey Gang:  If there was ever a time in the history of our nation when we need a Daniel to come forth, it is now.  What made Daniel so special in God’s eyes? God Made Daniel his oracle because Daniel never let up in prayer.  “While I was speaking in prayer…he informed me…and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding” (9:21-22).  How we need a leader with skill and understanding today. Daniel made a declaration of war that he would not leave God's presence until he discerned what God was doing. Daniel did not care what price he must pay.  Does that sound like a challenge for you and me? Something else happened to Daniel, he was brought to the end of his fleshly speaking.  God said, “I have sanctified your tongue”  Now I am going to speak through you!  Wow, would that not be awesome?  The Psalmist wrote, “I, the Lord, am your God, Open your mouth wide and I will fill it” (Psa. 81:10).  Jesus said, “Do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say”  (Matt10:19). Daniel had a deep sorrow over the condition of the people and the moral decline of the nation.   It was at the time when Daniel was receiving visions from the Lord and was spared from the Lion’s den.  It is sad to say, I see a similar scene in God’s house today;  Mministers and churches have closed their ears to prophetic warnings. Let me share with you a prophetic message that David Wilkerson, the author of The Cross and the Switchblade received from the Lord a short time before his death in an automobile accident. “While in prayer, I was impressed by the Holy Spirit with an extraordinary vision.  God has been at work in the heavenlies on a covert operation.  He’s raising up an army within an army, searching his regular troops to form an elite unit of volunteers.  This special force is made up of warriors he can touch and stir to do battle with the enemy.  We see a picture of this in Scripture, with Saul’s special militia.  The Bible tells us, “There went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched” (I Sam 10:26). Soooo, good buddies, yes, God is shaking everything that can be shaken but Jesus made it clear that when all these things happen, look up, your redemption draws near.  Hey, folks are you looking up this morning or are you locked into the woes of the past? You do know there is nothing you can do about the past, don't you?  That is why God says when I forgive you I forget your trespasses.  Try it.  It may make the sunshine brighter.    Blessings, Gramp's