Daniel’s Hebrew name meant – God is judge, while Hananiah’s meant – the Lord is gracious. For Azariah his name meant – the Lord is my help, and Mishael’s was – who is like God? Their new names incorporated Babylonian foreign gods and thus contradicted and maligned who they really were. We all get labeled by the world…we’re fat, or old, ugly, or dumb. But that’s not who we are inside, and any negative label doesn’t have to define us. For the Lord has given you a special name…precious child of God. So anytime the world hits you with a cruel label…remember your name.
Tag: kingdom of god
Jeremiah 9:8 ” Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.”
A person who speaks out of both sides of their mouth can’t be trusted. You may think the two of you have a good relationship, when suddenly you hear false accusations coming from your so called friend. The deceitful tongue can shoot out lies just as well as compliments.
Luke 21:34 ” Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”
Dissipation…such an interesting word to be used here. It’s disgust and self-loathing, not to mention the hang-over from too much alcohol consumption. When our lives revolve around partying …it starts to take a toll on us physically and emotionally. We think we’re having fun…but are we? None us know the day we will die, and thinking that we’ll get right with God when we’re older and have sown our wild oats may never happen.
I Corinthians 1:10 ” I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
There is nothing sadder than a Church that is divided and then splits…it’s a no win situation for everyone. Family and friends are forced to take sides they don’t want to…words are taken out of context…feelings get hurt. The very first thing we must do when Church gossip and problems are getting out of hand is to recognize it as a ploy of the enemy. A divided Church is a weakened Church, is a dying Church. We need to agree in a Spirit of unity to work through conflicts and attitudes in an open, respectful fashion. The Church Body can become healthy again when it is united in mind and sentiment.
Daniel 6: 19-20 ” 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?’ “
King Darius had spent a sleepless night after being tricked by his administrators and satraps into throwing Daniel into the lions’ den. The King had tried to rescue Daniel, but his decree stood and couldn’t be repealed. So here he was at first light, yelling for a response from Daniel. Did the King really imagine that Daniel had survived the night…was he hoping beyond hope…or had Daniel’s trust in God been so very evident that King Darius actually believed it was possible?
Revelation 19:6 ” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.’ “
If you’ve ever been to a huge stadium cheering your team on you can recall the deafening roar of the crowd. Now imagine multiplying that noise by thousands upon thousands. That’s what it sounds like in Heaven. A tremendous throng of saints, all singing Hallelujah and praising God together…and all on the winning team!
Job 12:13 ” To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.”
Elsewhere in Job it says, “His wisdom is profound, His power is vast.” (Job 9:4) God is the very personification of wisdom…He is the source of all understanding and ability. In Him is all power, might and strength. Who is greater than our God?
I Corinthians 4:20 ” For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
You can tell someone about God. You can share what He’s done in your life, and how you’ve been changed. But words are empty until the Holy Spirit reveals to that person the true nature and reality of the might and authority of God .
Colossians 1:21 ” Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.”
The sinful nature, with all its evil desires and thoughts can not coincide with God…for sin keeps us separated from Him. The world views God with indifference…but He views it as an enemy.
Psalm 88: 1-2 “O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before You. My prayer comes before You; turn Your ear to my cry.”
When our prayers rise to heaven, the Lord hears. When He hears, He answers. When He answers, He always acts on our behalf…according to His perfect Will.