(Read Daniel 1:9-16)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)” as we study the life of Daniel. I introduced you to Daniel yesterday and we saw how he had the courage to refuse the king’s diet or food and wine because it violated the Judaic Law. Daniel asked his master, Ashpenaz, if he could simply eat something else. Under normal circumstances this would not be a big deal, but these were no normal circumstances. Daniel was a slave, Babylon was in charge, Nebuchadnezzar was the king, and the king offered to share food from his personal diet. A refusal of the offer could be seen as disrespect and in those days it could lead to death.
The Bible says, “God caused Ashpenaz, the man in charge of the officials, to be kind and loyal to Daniel.” Another way of saying this is, “God gave Daniel favor with Ashpenaz.” The favor of the Lord will cause people to do things for you, even when they don’t know why they are doing it. Ashpenaz wanted to help Daniel, but he also knew the danger of going against the king. Ashpenaz said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my master, the king. He ordered me to give you this food and drink. If you don’t eat this food, you will begin to look weak and sick. You will look worse than other young men your age. The king will see this, and he will become angry with me. He might cut off my head. And it would be your fault.” Ashpenaz made it clear that king Nebuchadnezzar took his orders seriously. Disobedience against the throne could lead to a beheading.
Daniel was in a tough situation, but he did not give up. Sometimes the grace of God will keep you from a bad situation, other times it empower you to get through it. Daniel came up with a plan. Daniel asked Ashpenaz to allow him, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to undergo a 10-day test. For 10 days Daniel wanted his group to eat nothing but vegetables and to drink nothing but water. After ten days, Daniel asked for an honest comparison between the Hebrew boys and the other young men who were on the king’s diet. Daniel said, “See for yourself who looks healthier, and then decide how you want to treat us, your servants.” The test was agreed to and after 10 days Daniel and his friends looked healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s food. So the guards continued to take away the king’s special food and wine and to give only vegetables and water to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s get into it.
1. Living by faith will put you in situations where you are totally relying on God. Daniel put his faith on the line when he refused the king’s food and asked to be tested for 10 days.
2. Living by faith requires overcoming fear. Daniel was a slave in a foreign land, under the control of a man who could have him killed, but his confidence (faith) in God was stronger than his fear of Nebuchadnezzar. Fear moves satan, faith moves God. Which will you operate in today?
3. Living by faith is exciting. Daniel’s faith was not something he read or merely something he talked about. Daniel’s faith was how he lived. When you live by faith you get to experience the power of God and your life is exciting, because you get to see God work in ways that exceed human ability.
Note: I will drop in a personal testimony here. Two Fridays ago I was ministering in jail when one of the inmates pulled me to the side and asked if he could setup a time to meet with me one-on-one. I asked why and he said that he needed to talk to me, because he wanted to accept Jesus as Lord, but everytime he tried, he felt like something was holding him back. He said he was raised in witchcraft and spiritual forces were keeping him from accepting Jesus. He wanted to schedule a meeting with me to see if I could do anything about it. I told him that we did not need to schedule a meeting, because we were going to deal with the issue on the spot. When I was done preaching he came forward, I cursed ever curse over his life, by God’s grace I took authority over every evil spirit holding him back, and he was Born-Again. After he received Jesus I laid hands on him and prayed for him. He began to shake as the power of God flooded his body. He said to me, “I have been on a lot of things, but I have never felt power like this.” Last Friday, a week later, he was a completely different man. Never be afraid to exercise your faith.
4. Living by faith means your faith must impact your living. God made plans for you before the world began and He made those plans by His unearned and amazing grace. God has also given you the grace to accomplish everything He birthed you to do. But in order to actually DO IT, God requires you to access His grace with your faith. Faith is action word. Faith requires you to DO something. Daniel put his faith in action when he asked for the test. For Daniel, faith was not something he read or merely talked about, it was the way he lived and God expects the same of you. When is the last time you did something in faith? I mean truly in faith, to the point where if God did not step in, it would not get done? If you can’t remember, then there is something wrong. Faith is how God wants you to live, because living by faith is the only way you will actually accomplish all He called you to do!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. The Bible is not merely a textbook designed for me to study. The Bible is actually my LIFEBOOK designed to teach me how to live. I know You give me all You give me by grace. I know You have already provided everything I need to succeed in life by Your unearned grace. I know grace is how You deal with me. But Your Word does not command me to live by grace. Your Word commands me to live by faith. I need faith in order to access Your grace to become the person You birthed me to be. I need faith in order to attempt the things You lead me to attempt; things that can only happen by Your power. I need faith in order to access supernatural power and to get supernatural results. And You have already given me all the faith I need. You deposited FAITH in me and it is now my job to use it. I declare that I do. My faith is heard in the words I say. My faith is seen in the acts I do. I am not afraid of stepping out in faith. I am not afraid of attempting the impossible. I am not afraid of allowing Your Spirit to lead me in every area of my life. Faith is not just something I talk about. Faith is not just something I read about. Faith is how I live! I walk and live by faith every day, and in every way! By faith I do what You lead me to do. By faith I say what You lead me to say. By faith I become the person I was birthed to be. By faith I will leave a mark in this world that will never be erased! Your grace, my faith, this is how I live! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
