Daniel and His Three Friends Who Made a Resolution (Daniel 1:8-17) 9/4/2022
24 Answer of the 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
Daniel and His Three Friends Who Made a Resolution (Daniel 1:8-17) 9/4/2022
During the most difficult age where the nation of Israel was crumbling down, the temples were trampled upon, and the children were taken as captives, God formed a team. That was Daniel and his three friends. They were called Daniel’s friends, but they were a Holy Team that God had put together. They later become the Holy Mason that reconstructs the crumbled church and temple, the Holy Leaders that pray for the age as important individuals, a nd the Holy Diaspora that relayed God’s answers and blessings for the age to the entire world.
They became God’s masterpiece; the witnesses of platform, watchtower, and antenna.
For the last three weeks, we held onto what these blessings were from the prophesized Word of God in Isaiah. Tens of years later, Daniel and his three friends arose. The covenant we hold onto and our devotions of today will shape the future.
- Why must God bless us and our remnants this way? We should hold onto at least three reasons.
1) That is God’s absolute plan. There are five identities that remnants mut hold onto.
God knows the pain and disasters that the world will face due to the corruption of mankind and Satan (3 ages). He has called us as the “remained ones” that will be used as witnesses. He has chosen us in his absolute time schedule and has planted a holy seed within us. He will use us as diasporas and evangelism disciples that will save the 237 nations as the spiritual summit. The ones who hold onto this covenant are the ones who remain, the ones who will remain, and the ones who will leave behind.
2) That is the absolute request of this age. This is the blessing and mission of this age that remnants will hold onto. Someone needs to stand as a witness (platform), a person who prays for the age (watchtower), and the one to relay God’s answers and blessings (antenna). This is why God has promised the blessing of the throne. The land of Sodom and Gomorrah perished because God could not find even 10 people he was looking for. Why could he not find anyone? It is the reason God chose us, the smallest ones of this age (Isaiah 60:21-22), who have nothing to boast about (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
3) That is God’s absolute time schedule. It is the eternal time schedule that remnants will hold onto. The gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth and the end will come (Matthew 24:14). There is something that comes next. For us, it is an eternal life and a new heaven and earth, but for unbelievers, it is eternal judgement and hell. Because the correct answers are not being shared, there are many false answers in the world (transcendental meditation movement, chi movement, dramas, movies).
- If so, what must we do?
Daniel made a resolution (8), and his three friends joined him. There are at least three meanings.
1) It is a choice. Within problems, it was their resolution to search for God’s answer and fulfill his desire. The nation crumbled, and they were taken as captives during a difficult time, but they were given a great opportunity. Opportunities can come from the world, Satan (Matthew 4:8-9), as well as from problems and hardships.
(1) The choice that we make in those moments determine everything (answers, blessings, future, posterity). We know the conclusion of Abraham who left his father’s household and chose the land of Canaan. We know the result of the choice that the twelve spies made. There is also the choice that prostitute Rahab made. We also know the result of Caleb’s choice when he choice Hebron over all other interests.
(2) There is a standard by which the people of God must make their decisions. The life that follows those standards is also called the 7 journeys. Simply put, there are three standards (God’s desire, the standard of faith in God, and the standard of the gospel that God has given us).
① Within problems and events, what does God desire (Romans 12:2)? Even if we ponder a little bit, we will come to an answer (problem of idolatry).
② Do everything in the standard of faith (Romans 13:23). All doubts, resentments, and complaints become unbelief and a channel for Satan. In whatever we do, we must do it in joy, prayer, and gratitude. It will fulfill God’s will (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).
③ Do everything in the standard of the gospel. We have been saved by the gospel, and we will save the world with this gospel. The gospel is enjoying the power and righteousness of God that was revealed through Christ (Romans 1:16-17), and that blessing will save others. We crumble because we strive to do it with our own strength. Our righteousness is equivalent to a dirty rag (Isaiah 64:6). We have no right to judge others or quarrel with others. Have the heart to save even your enemies. They will crumble on their own (Romans 12:20-21), or they will change into someone that God uses (Acts 9:15).
2) Concentration (limited concentration, selective concentration, oneness concentration).
We must make the right choice, but we do not have the strength to do so. Daniel and his three friends could not have rejected the food from the corrupted King that serves idols if they didn’t have strength.
① That is why we need the time of concentrating on God. It is not about just emptying ourselves (transcendental meditation). It says that if we just empty ourselves, seven demons will enter (Matthew 12:44-45). We must have a time in which the things of God fills our souls, heart, and mind, That is the filling of the Holy Spirit, and prayer 24. If we do not enjoy this blessing, we will continue to be busy, confused (2 Corinthians 4:4), distracted, obsessed, and addicted.
② It is when the power and answer of the throne is revealed in our lives (Revelation 8:3). They saw evidence in just 10 days. Their faces were glowing, and their servants acknowledged it (14-15). Someone who can enjoy God’s power is the one that is truly smart and wise. They can overcome themselves, the world, and the power of darkness.
3) Challenge (to save the world and stand as a summit that saves the age).
① The decision to choose God’s will within a crisis is a challenge. The resolution to pray at that time is a challenge. God gives all the intelligence and wisdom to those individuals. Daniel was able to realize God’s vision and his prophecy (17). Ultimately, they became the summit that saved Babylon and Persia. The King acknowledged their God (Daniel 3:28, 6:26).
② God desires to raise us as the summit in our respective places in this age. Hold onto God’s absolute reason for saving this age and the future and challenge toward the summit. Challenge toward the spiritual summit that you enjoy through prayer and the Word, and toward the skills and specialty summit that is acknowledged in the field. Challenge toward the language summit to save 237 nations and 5000 tribes, and the cultural summit (music, media, movies) that changes the flow of the culture.
Conclusion – God has chosen us and has prepared the blessing of the platform, watchtower, and antenna for the future. The choices we make every moment are what is important. Gain strength through the 3 concentrations. May you challenge toward the 3 summits and enjoy victory in your week.