We have been studying Daniel the last few weeks and he is a fascinating study in purpose. Let's continue with that study this week, but please make sure you check out all my announcements and news at the very end.
As you already know, Daniel was taken from his home, sent to Babylon, promoted in Babylon, demoted in Babylon and then promoted again. As we read last week:
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God" (Daniel 6:3-5).
This set the stage for Daniel's most dangerous trial when he was thrown to the lions. He spent the night so close to those lions that he also could smell their breath and they his. Yet even though Daniel spent the night with those lions, he came out smelling like a rose.
THE KING
As it goes on in Daniel 6, those against Daniel had the king pass a law that outlawed any prayer to anyone except the king for a period of time. Of course, Daniel did not honor this law, but kept right on praying as was his custom. What's more, he did not hide the fact that he prayed, but rather did it publicly and openly.
When the king was confronted with this fact, he had no choice but to follow through with the punishment he had set. Daniel had to be thrown to the lions.
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, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep (Daniel 6:16-18).
Daniel was such a faithful and valuable employee and servant that the king could not eat or sleep, and actually prayed to Daniel's God for Daniel's protection. When is the last time your pagan boss lost any sleep over your well-being? When has someone you have served prayed for your safety and protection? Such was Daniel's value that his rivals hated him but the king loved and honored him.
THE MORNING AFTER
After a sleepless night, the king ran to Daniel's den:
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God (Daniel 6:19-23).
I want to be like Daniel when I grow up and come through every test like he did! I want to serve the king and be found innocent when charged with corruption! It is never a surprise or coincidence when someone like Daniel succeeds and your success won't be a surprise either. If you know your purpose, serve faithfully and maintain your integrity, there isn't a king or lion in this world who can stop God from promoting you. If you are in your own lions' den as you read this, don't panic. God will protect and rescue you and, when He does, you will be even more effective than you were before. Have a great week as you serve God and mankind with excellence and integrity, and don't be surprised when you come out smelling like a rose no matter how severely you are tested!
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KENYA: I have some exciting updates from Kenya on my blog, plus the great news that our container with 17,000 pounds of resources will be picked up this coming Wednesday and arrive in Nairobi on June 8. After you read the updates, please act to help Pastor Francis and his children with a special Easter offering. You can give using PayPal through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.
UPCOMING SEMINAR IN BEAVER COUNTY: I am hosting a purpose seminar from 2PM to 4PM this coming Saturday at New Hope Community Church, 492 Beaver Avenue in Ambridge here in western Pennsylvania. The seminar is free but I need to know if you plan on attending.
UPCOMING SEMINAR IN PITTSBURGH: I am hosting my quarterly purpose profiling seminar in Pittsburgh (at right is a picture from the last one held in October, 2013) at Allegheny Center Alliance Church on Saturday, May 3 from noon to 4:30 PM. Once again, the seminar is free but you need to register by writing to let me know you are coming. If you can't make this one, the next one is on June 7 at the same time.
MISSIONS EVENT: I am speaking at the African Christian Fellowship fundraising luncheon at noon on Saturday, April 26 here in Pittsburgh at the Wyndham Hotel in Oakland. I was invited by my good friend Emmanuel Ike from Nigeria. Admission is free but, as always, you need to let me know you would like to come.
PURPOSE ASSESSMENT: Don't forget that there is a free purpose assessment on the home page of my website. Once you take the assessment, you will hear from me with your score and with suggestions for the way forward.
ONLINE RADIO: I now have three weekly Internet radio shows, to which you can listen live or access all of the archived interviews and download them to listen to on your mobile device or on your computer. The three shows are:
- Leadership Talk: Friday at 4PM (U.S. Eastern Time Zone)
- Urban Heroes: Wednesday at 8AM
- Ministry Beat: Tuesday at 4PM
FACEBOOK: When you have a chance, please go to my Facebook ministry page and register a like so you can follow me there.
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