The Monday Memo from John Stanko

928: Rewarded in Babylon

As we continue to look at Daniel's life, we see that God put Daniel in some tough situations and never apologized for doing so. We never read of the Lord telling Daniel, David, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, or the Apostle Paul, "Sir, I am so sorry for what I am about to put you through. It is going to difficult and I considered many others, even interviewed a few, but I had no choice to select you for the suffering and pain ahead of you." No, it is a privilege to serve the Lord in New York City, Beijing, Jerusalem, or Babylon, and God knows what He must put us through to obtain the results He wants.

This week, let's begin to look at the insight continued to receive in Babylon. Early in the book, Daniel received interpretations to the king's dreams. In the last half of the book, Daniel receives special insight into the Lord's plan not for Babylon but beyond Babylon leading up to the time of Christ. Here are some things to consider as we begin in chapter 7:

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream. . . “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things . . ." (Daniel 7: 1, 15-16).

THE LESSONS FOR US

1. God began to show Daniel things in the first year of Belshazzar, the king made famous for the writing on the wall in Daniel 5. Daniel was demoted when this king rose to power, so God had put Daniel on the shelf, so to speak, so he would time to seek and hear. The application for inmates is clear in this instance, but the lesson is the same for all of us. Before we can begin something new, we often have to end something else and wait for the new season to begin. That is seldom easy.
2. Daniel did not trust his memory, so he recorded what he saw, which probably occurred at night. We must be ready for God to speak to us and take seriously what He says. Writing it down certainly helps. Do you journal? If not, you have experienced the problem with taking mental notes--the ink fades so quickly. I urged inmates and I urge you to keep a journal so you can go back and track the progress of your growth and insight into the things of God.
3. Daniel was troubled by what he saw, but didn't stop pressing into the Lord. He sought the Lord for the meaning and Lord was only too ready to fulfill Daniel's request. Knowledge is having the information on a particular subject; wisdom is knowing what to do with the knowledge. God gave Daniel wisdom so Daniel not only knew what the Lord was doing but also what Daniel was to do with what he saw: He was to write it down and publish it.
4. As we read through Daniel 7, we learn that Daniel saw four beasts representing four kingdoms starting with Babylon and leading up to the fourth, most ferocious beast, which symbolized the Roman Empire. Any kingdom or empire that does not serve the Lord becomes a beast, vicious and bloodthirsty. There is no hope for man in politics but Daniel did see the hope and breakthrough for mankind.
5. The hope Daniel saw was the "son of man":

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14, emphasis added).

THE REWARD FOR DANIEL

What was Daniel's reward for what he endured in Babylon? Daniel, like Abraham (see John 8:56-59), saw the day of the Lord! God pulled back the curtains of time and showed Daniel that many strong kingdoms would arise, similar to the one he experienced in Babylon, but God was in control and was going to send one, the "son of man," to strip those kingdoms of their power and authority. It is of note that Jesus' favorite label or name for Himself was the Son of Man, indicating that He (Jesus) was the one who was going to subdue the kingdoms as promised in Daniel's vision.

God did not reveal anything to Daniel about his personal situation or how long he would suffer. God took Daniel higher to see God's purpose in the centuries to come. I urged prisoners to use their time behind bars to seek the Lord, not for their own comfort or insight into their limited world, but for the purpose of God beyond them so they could pray, teach, and write about God's plan in the earth, not in their prison! One discipleship group I led actually write a book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Inmates. They were truly Daniel's brothers following his example, and they succeeded in their Babylon as Daniel did in his.

Now it's your turn not just to survive in your health, economic, career, ministry, prison, or relational Babylon but to thrive there. That will only happen when you move beyond the selfish, limited boundaries of your own world to the limitless expanse of God's purpose for His world. Are you up to the task? I hope you are, but remember, your reward is not personal comfort but God's presence in sumptuous portions. Have a blessed week!

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A THANKSGIVING OFFERING: I tell the Lord almost every day, "I owe You, Lord. I am grateful for your blessings and am committed to do Your will--no matter where or what it is." This is a picture of the recent graduation at the Dr. Stanko Academy in Nairobi where I have done work for many years, establishing a strong relationship.

In this season in the U.S. when we give thanks, someone has generously offered a $500 matching gift for the work of my ministry. Every dollar you give now becomes $2. Let's give thanks together as we remember my work among the poor. Thank you! Your gift this Thanksgiving season will help me continue my work In Kenya and in other places. If we are friends on Facebook, you can give to that fundraiser. Otherwise you can give on my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

927: Revelation in Babylon

Last week, we saw how God preserved Daniel in the lions' den. Lest anyone think that the lions were passive or uninterested in human visitors, we read, "At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones" (Daniel 6:24). God had truly intervened and protected Daniel and, if the book had ended there, we would have been satisfied with the many lessons we learned from some fascinating stories in Daniel's life.

Yet, we are only at the halfway point of the book when we reach the lions' den.

Daniel was and is considered not only a great administrator and leader but also a prophet. In the midst of the craziness of Babylon and its idolatrous ways, Daniel sought the Lord for wisdom and received insight not only into dreams and administration but also for the Lord's people and purpose in the coming centuries.

NO CEILING    

When I worked in the prisons, I would point out to the inmates that they were surrounded by walls, fences, barbed wire, alarm systems, and guards. There was little chance for anyone to escape and anyone coming to see them from the outside had to pass through multiple checkpoints. Yet, I reminded them that there was no ceiling—nothing between them and the God of heaven. That meant they had free and open access to God through prayer, and God could then shower them with blessings, wisdom, and revelation concerning His will and ways. I urged them not to wait until they got out to grow and learn to seek the Lord, but rather to do it while they were in.

This is important for all of us because the tendency is to wait until conditions are perfect (or at least better than they are now) before we look to thrive in the things of God. We will take the missions trip when we have more money, or go back to school when the kids are done with their education, or pursue purpose when we retire. No, the key to success and productivity in God is to learn how to make the most of what you have now, and use that as the foundation for fruitfulness.

Armed with that truth, I saw many inmates return to school, write books, learn a trade, pray for others, lead small group studies, or preach while they were incarcerated. They were often surprised at how much they could grown and how God could and would use them while they were in their own Babylon and not after they got out. They followed in the steps of Daniel who did the same thing.

REVELATION

God showed unusual things to Daniel in Babylon. There was no way to keep God out of the lions' den, the royal chambers, or Daniel's prayer room. What's more, Daniel kept close records of what he did and saw and received tremendous insight, as we will see in the next few weeks. Daniel undoubtedly suffered in Babylon, but that pain was the foundation for a ministry that has impacted God's people for many centuries since. Daniel learned the truth of what James, the brother of Jesus, wrote many centuries after Daniel:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:2-12).

Are you waiting for your circumstances to improve—till you have more money, or more time, or more favor with your supervisor, or until you feel better, more inspired, or more motivated—before you step out to do God's will? Can you see that your current circumstances are adequate for you to learn more about the Lord and thrive in HIs will? If Daniel could receive such insight and understanding in his Babylon, can you have the faith for the same in yours? The writer of Ecclesiastes summed it up when he wrote:

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap; As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well (Ecclesiastes 11:4-6).

In the next few weeks, we will examine Daniel's specific revelation in Babylon, but for now, let it sink it that your time to shine and be purposeful is not in some future idyllic scenario; it is now. If Daniel did it, you can too for you serve the same God Daniel did, and He will help you, like He did Daniel, be all you can be regardless of how oppressive or uncomfortable your Babylon is. Have a blessed week!

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BOOK DRIVE FOR KENYA: I am collecting books for my libraries in Kenya through January 15. Check out what I need and how to get them to me in this post.

926: Lions in Babylon

Last week, we looked at the conspiracy that took place to remove Daniel from his lofty position in Babylon, probably motivated by the jealousy of those who were less capable than Daniel but who wanted his position. The only way to do that in their mind was to manipulate a law forbidding anyone in the kingdom of praying to anyone but the king. Daniel prayed, he was caught in the act, and the king had no choice but to sentence Daniel to a night in the lions' den:

When the king heard this [that Daniel was praying], he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues 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!" (Daniel 6:14-16).

The king actually prayed for Daniel's protection, providing us a stunning summary of Daniel's life from the king's perspective, for he said that Daniel was continually serving his God. We all know how the story ends, for God heard the king's prayer and did just that: rescue him.

THREE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

We are told that the king could not sleep during the night of Daniel's imprisonment: "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 6:18). When is the last time that an unbeliever prayed for you or spent a night concerned for your well-being? It's probably been a while, if ever, but that gives you an idea of the impact Daniel made on those around him through his commitment to excellence and his God. 

I count three sleepless nights invested in Daniel's dilemma. One was the king's, the other was Daniel's (I assume), and the third was Daniel's protector: "Daniel answered, 'May the 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, Your Majesty" (Daniel 6:22-23). Now I know angels don't sleep, and neither does the Lord: "He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:3-4). We can rest because God doesn't and is mindful of our situations. The only way you will know that to be true is for God to put you in your own lions' den so He can prove His faithfulness.

TIMES OF TESTING    

When I was involved in prison ministry, I prepared the inmates (or tried to do so) for their own lions' den. I warned them that they would be tested and it was not because they had done anything wrong, but because God wanted to reveal to them the truth of His promises of protection, which are many:

• He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart (Psalm 91:4).
• The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8).
• The Lord protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes (Psalm 41:2).
• God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
• You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7).
• In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).
• The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9).

The times of testing provide us with great opportunities to live out the truths found in the verses above. Daniel discovered that truth and so did the king who prayed for his protection. 

How about you? Are you in the lions' den? if you are, then you have a wonderful opportunity to apply your faith to the promises above. I trust your den experience is not because of your own irresponsibility but is because of your stand for the Lord and His righteousness in your life. If it is, then stand strong. God has control of the lions and He will shut their mouths. If He does not, it's not because He does not care or cannot do so, it's because He has something better in mind for you. If you are not in the lions' den, then file this away some place where you can access it, for one day you will be there, and when you are, remember Daniel and God's promises to protect you just like He did him. Have a blessed week.

925: Conspiracy in Babylon

As we continue to look at the remarkable life and career of the prophet Daniel, this week we continue with the account in Daniel 6. We saw last week that Daniel did excellent work in Babylon where he was neither "negligent nor corrupt." We learned that God promotes people who have developed their potential and do good work. God's favor, however, does not preclude the jealousy and animosity of others and we will look at that reality in Daniel's life this week.

THE CONSPIRACY

We read that those who could not find fault with Daniel in regards to his work decided to contrive a trap concerning his faith:

So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing (Daniel 6:6-9).

Conspiracy and betrayal are not unheard of where the people of God are concerned, especially those who are anointed and chosen by God to lead. We know that Joseph's brothers conspired against him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. David's son Absalom conspired against his father to capture the throne. And of course six hundred years after Daniel, Judas and the Jewish leadership conspired against Jesus to capture, try, and crucify him, thus fulfilling the prediction in Psalm 2:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles" (Psalm 2:1-3).

The world and its followers are always trying to undermine or destroy God's people and purpose. When they oppose God's people, they are really opposing God. The opposition we receive should not surprise us, but it usually does because it can be difficult to fathom how hateful and underhanded people can be. 

IMPLICATIONS

I always warned my children not to expect Christian behavior from non-Christians. In fact, I taught them that sometimes we encounter non-Christian behavior from Christians! When I taught in a prison setting, I urged those listening not to expect people to celebrate their decisions to do the right things. People were watching them and sometimes those people wanted to cause them to stumble (or at least test how serious they were about following the Lord), but they could not base their behavior on what others did or did not do. They had to learn to do right because it was what God wanted and expected from them.

Let's read what Daniel did when he heard about the king's edict:

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

Daniel did not back down or compromise. He showed his usual courage by continuing to do what he did for the Lord for all to see. His enemies thought they had him where they wanted him, as we will read next week, but Daniel was right where God wanted him and was at home in his prayer chamber or in the lions' den because he could pray and commune with God in either venue equally well.

How about you? Are you carrying out your purpose and living your values in a public way? Or are you compromising? Are you surprised when others don't celebrate your ethics and perhaps plot against you? Do you put your trust in God to vindicate you? If you are going to thrive in a spiritually-hostile environment, you must learn to expect, well, to expect hostility and animosity. If you can face that and be true to who you claim to be, then the Lord will certainly work on your behalf and eventually, although perhaps not right away, sustain you in the midst of your enemies. Have a blessed week.