KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, September 14, 2018
Chapters: Daniel 4-6
Message: The Power Of A Humble Spirit
Hello My Friend,
Not as though I am being boastful right now, but I have always had this thing about me that no matter what job I had my hard work would win the favor of the boss and I would end up in more authoritative roles, even if I was not trying to get promoted. What was my secret? My spirit, I did my job, was honest, trustworthy, and dependable. Let me tell you, I have also had a proud spirit, I quit jobs, lost out on clients, even let a good man go over a proud spirit. Most of us do take pride in our our accomplishments, but we must be careful not forget that God gave us the skills and put us in the positions we are to be able to to them in the first place. A proud spirit will send us packing, but a humble spirit will take us to places we never knew. “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:5-7,10.
The people of Babylon, including the king were well aware that the Almighty God was among them, yet that did not keep them from turning away from their false gods. Today, we learn of three kings who found out the hard way that God was in control, and regardless of how much power they had, it was nothing compared to the power of the only living God. Nebuchadnezzar loved being in power, and the fact that he was in control of practically every nation, made him pretty proud. He was well aware of God, even praised Him as being the God above all gods, what he failed to do was acknowledge that God gave him all that power and could take it away in an instant. To show him just how much his pride would be his fall, God gave him a strange dream, and he knew that there was only one person in the kingdom that could help him figure out what the dream meant.
“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” – Daniel 4:1-3,17-18,24-25.
“to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men,” God does and allows all sorts of things to happen in order to get people to realize that He rules. No matter what country we are in, and no matter who the leader is of that country, God rules. All Nebuchadnezzar had to do was turn away from his false gods and turn to the one true God, but he refused and as a result spent seven years in a field as an animal before He acknowledged that fact, in fact, things were never the same for him after that, even after he declared God as the only God. Now, his son, Belshazzar reigned as king, after all the humility that he saw his father go through you would think that he would have recognized God, but he did something even worse. He took the cups and other valuables that were taken from the Temple in Jerusalem and began using them, much worse he began worshiping other gods while doing so.
“Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” – Daniel 5:2-6.
“and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.” This time God did not use a dream to get the kings attention, He wrote a message on a wall, the king was devastated by this and desperately searched for someone who could read the writing, the queen remembered Daniel and he was brought to interpret it.
“Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.” – Daniel 5:10-12.
“There is a man in thy kingdom,” One of the best reasons for staying faithful to God and being a Godly example is that it brings others to Christ. Remember, we did not get where we are on just our own merits, God was there, which was why Daniel did not want to accept the promotion, but it was given to him anyway. When Christ shines through us, God rewards us with much more than we could ever imagine. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – I Peter 5:6-7.
Belshazzar was killed shortly after the interpretation was given, then the Medes took control of Babylon, a man named Darius reigned. Darius loved Daniel because he was faithful, he made him third in command of the country, and was even contemplating bringing him up higher than that. Of course, that did not go ever well with the Babylonians and they conspired to have him killed be getting the king to sign a decree that anyone who worshiped someone other than the king in the next thirty days would be thrown into the lions den.
“All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.” – Daniel 6:7-9,11-12,16,19-21.
“Then said Daniel unto the king,” Daniel survived the night, was released and the men that conspired against him were thrown into the den. When we have a humble spirit, knowing that God is the reason for our success, we are going to prosper, and that is going to create enemies. We must realize that as long as we belong to Christ we are always going to be enemies, and we cannot hide our faith because that only brings more problems. However, as long as we remain faithful to God and are not ashamed of our faith we are protected. God makes it easy for all to acknowledge and accept His Son, by putting us in the midst of them, but if they touch us they have to answer to God. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12”19-21.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” – Daniel 6:22.
Today’s Prayer: God, As You bring prosperity to Your people by our simple faithfulness to You, let us be reminded that all the things we go through, whether it is easy or difficult, are used to give You honor and glory. As long as our spirit is right and we are faithful to You we will continue to prosper, and even more than we imagine. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us a humble spirit, if we get too boastful remind us that You give and also take if we forget that You are the one who rules. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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