PROPHETS AND POLITICS AND PLEASING GOD!

Political play vs. the sovereignty of God.

Daniel 1

Rather than asking 'What in the world is happening to Christianity today?', we ask instead, 'What in the United States is happening to Christianity today?' It is a historical fact  that basic Christianity shaped the founding of this country, and influenced its subsequent development. Christian thought and practice were the underlying principles and undergirding support of laws and rules of conduct. America grew and developed and prospered and soon became a world power.  

From being the single most influencing factor on the nation and its development, Christianity has  slowly but surely given place to rebellious outbreaks of ungodly influences, false and opposing philosophies, and outright defiance of God, church and the Bible! Evil men and women have waxed worse in each succeeding generation, seducing, deceiving and being deceived.

The population has sought to erase God from all aspects of public (and private) life, and elevated man on the throne from which they have displaced God. Instead of acknowledging the sovereignty of God and finality of His Word, the people have joined together in rebellion against Him!  And like at Babel of old, God has confounded the language of the country, so that we do not understand each other, and don't have time to listen to God. As man becomes more and more obsessed with himself, and his own grasp on power, and his own dubious achievements, even so he has slowly and gradually let go of God, and denied His sovereignty while slowly deifying himself!

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Psalms 2:1-5 KJV

The book of Daniel is an awesome demonstration of power of Almighty Yahweh over all nations, irrespective of the rulers and their policies. It was God who allowed Nebuchadnezzar to hold sway over the nations, as He demonstrated! And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.  Daniel 1:2 KJV

It was God who allowed Judah to be made captive, after they had ignored His continuous warnings. Jeremiah was a despised prophet, because of the warnings that he faithfully brought from God! He complained to God that God was making a fool out of him, but was told to continue faithfully, even though no one listened to him!  He was threatened, imprisoned and charged with treason for his message, and almost executed! No one wanted to listen to him! They preferred those that constantly told them good things about themselves! They wanted positive messages and words that made them feel good about themselves. Despite what the world and the masses may think however, God will have His way!

World history and politics may say it differently but the whole movement of Judah to Babylon was orchestrated by God. Judah's fall to Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar was a result of their continual disobedience and rejection of God, and their despising and persecution of His messengers. Man always tend to view world events in relation to physical events, political strategies, and social reforms etc. Practically all the time he fails to realize God is behind the scenes, in absolute control of all things.  

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

God usually gives people a leader they deserve! It's God who allows a ruler to be in position, despite the elections and popularity polls. God allows thing for a reason, and the subsequent actions of said leader allows God to be glorified in heaven and earth! Despite the fact that God allows these leaders to be in power, they are responsible for their actions, and will be brought into account. Zechariah the prophet gives some insight into this: And the LORD said to me, "Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd. "For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces. "Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And his right eye shall be totally blinded." Zechariah 11:15-17 NKJV

Imagining the chess pieces moving themselves does require a stretch of imagination. It's much more sensible to realize someone is moving the pieces. Many persons of some influence and power believe that they are the players on planet earth, and usually live without realizing that they are being played! God moves and allows movement and action as He sees fit. Because men have failed to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, and rejected His rule of law,  they have been allowed to fall prey to their own schemes, plots and devices.   

The character of Christians on display in a hostile environment.

The book of Daniel is both political and prophetic in nature. Also running right through from its first to its last chapter is the theme of what is pleasing to God! Right from the first chapter Daniel and his companions are tossed into a totally foreign fantasy of cultural shock, religious challenges and political intrigue! Brought under the shadow of the megalomaniac despot, Nebuchadnezzar, they are challenged in patriotism, faithfulness, and politics.

Remember these are just teenage boys probably 14 to 16 years old torn from all that they hold dear, from all that is familiar and in a sense tossed into the melting pot of paganism where anything goes. In a country and world that expects certain results in answer to prayer, there is much puzzlement and denial when it appears that God has not answered, or the answer received is unexpected and disappointing. Wouldn't you think that with all their loyalty to Yahweh, and devotion to his laws, they would have been spared? Would they have been justified if after the disaster that befell them, they yielded to the environment in which they found themselves? Yet we see that despite all that happened they resolved that regardless of the environment they will not let go of their convictions and beliefs.

God honors the faithful and steadfast!

When faced with the dilemma of dealing with new anti Yahweh policies and practices, Daniel and his friends did not take up placards and go on marches! There was no rudeness to those in charge nor display of fanatic behavior. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:3 NKJV.  There was no 'holier than thou' attitude. He insulted no one and despised no one! At the same time he does not disregard his devotion to principles and godly conviction. This teenager reasoned in a respectful and peaceful manner. He sought a solution that the other side was also satisfied with, and still maintained his principles and convictions.

Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.  Daniel 1:9 NKJV

God is in complete control! God honored Daniel! He and his friends were found to be superior in physical condition, knowledge and wisdom. They were found to be 10 times better than all the experts of those fields, in the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar.

As a very young man in a foreign land that was hostile to his way of belief and life, Daniel did not panic, and did not despair. His life was guided by the law of God and as we see later on he was very familiar with the prophecies of the prophet Jeremiah. He paid attention to the Word!

Submission to God is not in expectation of being bailed out of trouble. Submission does not lay down conditions. Submission accepts whatever God has decided and determined to do for His glory. For man to try glorifying himself in place of God is an unacceptable and detestable abomination before heaven's throne

PETER'S CHALLENGE TO FATHERHOOD AND THE SYMPHONY OF CHRISTIAN MANHOOD!

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 2 Peter 1:1-15 KJV

One day a little girl asked her mother, “Is it true that Santa Claus brings us our Christmas presents?” “Yes.”“And does the stork bring us babies?” “Yes.”“And the police department protects us?” “Yes.”“Then what do we need daddy for?”

FATHERHOOD IS A LIFETIME CALLING AND REQUIRES A MIND SET TO THE TASK!

Indeed! In a country where we have many absentee fathers, drive by fathers, missing in action fathers, part time fathers, weekend fathers and fathers of convenience, it is imperative that men of the faith recognize the full time ministry of fatherhood that they are called to. It's more than a job that one leaves at the end of the work day until the next. It's a fulltime calling, without repentance!  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.  Romans 11:29 NKJV

In your job you do what needs to be done, then you go home and forget, or ignore it all, until the next day. In your calling as a father, it remains with you, in your waking and sleeping moments. It takes precedence over other things.  A doctor will look after his patients, and then go home to his own children, generally forgetting his patients until the next work session. He'll probably go for a walk in the park, a dinner or a movie. If his child falls sick however, he will put everything else on hold. Movies, walks, and dinners fade into insignificance as he focuses on his child! That's the way of a father! Is our ministry a profession or a calling? How's our fatherhood shaping up? Remember you were designed by God to be a great father! Don't let this world and the devil blur that design and smear that blueprint! Follow His pattern faithfully! And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:2 NKJV

 Or as the Message puts it: Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  Romans 12:2 MSG

PROFESSION VS CALLING! 

Doing what God called you to do, is the greatest thing in this world, and cannot be reduced to a mere profession, for therein lies the discontent, frustration and failure of an unfulfilled life. 

In your job, you limit your responsibility to working hours. In your calling as a father, you are full time, and in it for the long haul, through thick or thin, fire or water, rain or snow, winter or summer, in season out of season!

We all know that a mother's job is never part time. Likewise with a father. Fathers are molders of destinies, in every little child brought into their realm of care, and responsibility. Too many times we have left the molding and training of our children, especially our sons, to the mothers, contributing to responsibility overload! Too often the TV and video games become the trainers. Too often our children pick up their "wisdom and learning" from godless friends, and strangers to God, in our institutions of indoctrination. Some fathers drool over a moving machine, shining, outfitting, decorating and servicing it faithfully and regularly. You would not give an crazy, idiot your vehicle to drive. Yet we leave our children in the hands of the ungodly, and unregenerate strangers, with an evil agenda, who fill our children's minds with the poisonous filth of this sin sick world, and the propaganda of the enemy of our souls! And we hardly bother to review or monitor what our children are being fed in their minds, yet wonder where it went wrong. We're too busy pretending to be doting, loving fathers buying our children exceedingly expensive gifts, yet totally ignoring their eternity, and failing to lead by example! Father, the greatest gift you can give to your child is the knowledge of Christ and love of the Bible and the greatest thing that you can is do is to lead that child to Christ!

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4 NKJV 

Amplified, this says: Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4 AMP

   

Father you owe it to your children to be men of integrity! You owe it to your children to be men who are honest in all deals, business or family! Father, you owe it to your children, grown up or not, to be faithful to your wife, their mother! Fathers are amply rewarded when their children grow up to excel in integrity, goodness and righteousness. In our society today however, it is a pleasant surprise, when children grow up to excel in goodness and righteousness, regardless of fathers.

SIMON PETER "THE ROCK" BARJONA MAKES JESUS THE CONSTANT PRIORITY!

In our Scripture reading today we are looking at a general letter from Peter. Who was Simon Peter? He describes himself here as a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter had several roles in the Bible, as a disciple, apostle, church father, and natural father.

Simon Peter was not noted for his finesse and tact.  He was portrayed as a large, impressive man, who had all the grace and qualities of a Galilean fisherman! Which of course means that he had none! Peter was a man's man, and a natural leader, who also wanted to be liked and respected, to the point of a little dissimulation once, that Paul had to rebuke. 

Peter was impulsive, impatient, and a take charge kind of guy, quick on the draw. When the disciples told The Lord that they had  two swords, we know who had one of those swords in Gethsemane, when Peter chopped off Malchus' ear!

He was very self confident and self assured. After all he was a fisherman, with workers under him. Brash, bold and brawling, he took affront from none. He was a leader amongst the disciples, and was always in the forefront of things. A Galilean native, he had a partnership in the fishing business, working with the sons of Zebedee.

He first met Jesus, when his brother Andrew introduced him to The Lord. Later Jesus made a lasting impression on Peter, by commanding a catch of fishes, where previously there had been none! Against all odds, in bright daylight, on the clear Galilean waters, Peter found himself dumfounded at the impossible catch! He, from that moment, followed Jesus, and even though he faltered and failed many times, he did not give up. He lived up to the name Peter given to him by Jesus, when he boldly declared the name of Jesus, from Pentecost onward! Now Simon  Peter "The Rock" BarJona, calls to men of like faith, to build on a substantial and solid foundation, and not waste their lives on transient substrate, that passes away, leaving one with no hope in eternity. 

What we're seeing here, is that Peter was a man of his times, just like men of these times. Similar characteristics, passions, qualities, failures, frustrations, you name it! Yet by the total surrender of this strong man to the Almighty, a precious vessel was formed and molded, to become a beacon to men of all ages!

Remember the Church of Jesus Christ started with a Man, who called 12 men! When Jesus started this movement, he handpicked men from all professions, and walks of life! He instilled in them a special calling, and empowered them to fulfill that calling! Jesus has not changed. He still calls men, (and women) from all walks of life. He sees potential and promise in every life, and He promises to empower anyone who becomes His disciple. So what is Peter telling the church and men of today?

PETER'S CHALLENGE TO FATHERHOOD AND THE SYMPHONY OF CHRISTIAN MANHOOD!

Peter guided, by the Holy Spirit, lists eight essentials, in progression to Christ-like manhood and fatherhood. These are in order: Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Love, Charity (Love).

Faith is the underlying foundation of belief and convictions, that determines our subsequent actions and behavior! With the strong base of faith, we are able to add virtue: the manliness, valor and excellence needed, in producing courage and character, as we progress in restructuring our lives. We can now add knowledge: a general intelligence and knowing, that is defined by our faith and valor. No longer weak and subject to vacillation, we are now able to exercise temperance or self control. We practice and exercise mastery over fleshly and sensual appetites. Our ongoing success in self-control, produces within us patience, a steadfastness, constancy and endurance, which, in combination with all the foregoing, enables us to manifest godliness or holiness and piety.

It is now easy for brotherly love, which is a kindly affection for the brethren, to appear and its obvious conclusion and pinnacle would be that which moved God to save man by giving His only begotten Son! Charity! Divine love that enables us to love the unlovable, despite the obstacles or rejection.

These are built up progressively, step by step until the pinnacle is achieved. Love is built upon the base and foundation of diligent addition, brick by brick of a solid framework of divine nature, undergirded by our faith. They are added in the way brick is added to brick, until the building takes shape and form.

But rather than just a building up of a structure, it is more like a symphony, with each succeeding instrument adding its particular note and music! Each element added, enhances each other, and support each other, and enrich each other, like notes in a symphony, they combine to make glorious music culminating with the high note of perfection in love! Remember King Curtis' Memphis Soul Stew?

Faith is like a steady beat, that sets the rhythm, tempo and timing of the music. Each succeeding addition becomes a complementary to the basic rhythm building the sound in stages to one gloriously rich chorus of discipleship, discipline and devotion to the Eternal Father! 

YES! That's what you life as a Christian man and father is all about! It becomes a heavenly symphony, with all the glorious instruments playing in harmony, in time with the rhythm of your faith!

Great fathers come in all shapes and sizes! In building a great dad God started with a man! He always starts with a man! The man can choose to participate and cooperate, submit or resist! The end product is determined by response to His molding! You can let your life become a song worth singing!

As Teddy Pendergrass sung back in the70's:

Life is a song worth singing

Why don't you sing it

Life is a song worth singing

Why don't you sing it

You hold the key in the palm of your hand use it

Don't blame your life on the master plan change it

Only you generate the power to decide what to do with your life

You're a fool if you think your helpless you control what you do with your life

Life is a song worth singing

Why don't you sing it

Life is a song worth singing

Why don't you sing it

You don't like the way your living to bad

You can't change your life because it's out of your hand so sad

So you sit on your pants and holler

'Cause the world ain't been treating you right

Don't you know you contain the power to control destiny with your mind

What are you looking for in your child? What is God the Father looking for in you? Let's look at our children the way God looks at them and then help them to be what God wants them to be! Don't promise yourself tomorrow, do it today!

I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.  1 John 2:13-17 NKJV