(Daniel 1:17 ERV) God gave these four young men the wisdom and ability to learn many different kinds of writing and science. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
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. Yesterday we saw how Daniel had the audacity, faith and courage to refuse the king’s food and to ask to be tested. Daniel wanted to prove to Ashpenaz, and the other Babylonians, that God’s diet was sufficient to keep him and his friends healthy. But let’s pause for a moment to think about Daniel’s situation. He was minding his own business when his nation was overtaken by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. He did nothing wrong and he wound up as a slave. Daniel then did nothing wrong as a slave when he was selected for a three year training program. This training program required a particular diet, the king’s diet, and this diet violated Daniel’s beliefs. That’s the situation Daniel found himself in.
No one would have blamed Daniel if he would have simply accepted the king’s food and wine. Most people would not hold that against Daniel because of the circumstances. After all, you could say that as a slave he was being forced to do it. Daniel had an ‘easy out’, but Daniel did not take it. Instead, Daniel chose to take a stand. Daniel stood for God and his Law. Daniel, even though he was a slave, refused to violate what he believed in. Daniel made no excuses, accepted no compromises, and offered no concessions. Daniel stood for God, period! And he stood in faith. He was willing to put his faith in action by offering to endure a test, just so he could prove His God could keep him and his friends healthy and strong while eating a diet that was pleasing in His sight.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah took a stand for God and God responded to their faith. Not only did God cause them to look and be healthier than all the men eating the king’s diet, but our text says that God “gave these four young men the wisdom and ability to learn many different kinds of writing and science.” Additionally, God gave Daniel the ability to “understand all kinds of visions and dreams.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You don’t have to compromise to get ahead.
a) Daniel could have easily compromised, accepted the king’s food and wine, violated God’s Law, and then given the excuse that he was a slave without an option. But Daniel refused to compromise. He had uncommon faith and it led to uncommon success.
b) When you make a stand for God, God will make a stand for you. In the New Testament, when the pressure was on new believers to deny Jesus, Stephen refused to buckle under the pressure and he stood for Jesus. Stephen was killed for it and he became the first Christian martyr. But since Stephen stood for Jesus, Jesus stood for him. The Bible says that Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of God the Father, in heaven, STOOD UP when Stephen took a stand for Him (see Acts 7:55).
c) Whatever you compromise to get, you will have to compromise to keep. But if you simply live for God and you stand in faith for what He leads you to do, then He will bless you and keep you through everything you face.
2. Your faith positions you to embrace and experience the grace of God.
a) Since Daniel and his friends were willing to stand in faith, they were able to access God’s grace to look and perform better than all the other men in their training program.
b) You don’t earn God’s blessings, they come to you by God’s unearned grace. But that does not mean you do nothing. God is looking for you to operate in faith. Your faith accesses God’s grace.
3. When you operate in faith and access God’s grace you gain access to the Supernatural.
a) Once Daniel and his friends were in-faith and they accessed God’s grace, God empowered them to do things they could have never done on their own – things that exceeded human ability.
b) By grace God can empower you to operate with supernatural wisdom, revelation and understanding.
c) God can give you wisdom by revelation that far exceeds anything you could have ever attained through education.
d) When God applies His Super to your natural you are able to say things you have never heard said, do things you have never seen done, and give God the glory for it all every step of the way!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. I live by faith every day, in every way. My faith accesses Your grace for supernatural success. Because I live by faith, and because I am pursuing Your will for my life and not my own, You grace me to do what I could never do on my own. By grace You give me access to supernatural wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding. By grace You download things from heaven, down into my heart and mind, so I am able to operate in the earth with uncommon wisdom. I have wisdom that exceeds my years. I have wisdom that exceeds my education. I wisdom that puts me far past my peers. And it is all because I am simply seeking to do what You birthed me to do. I live by faith, You bless me by grace, and I am able to become a conduit of Your light and love in the earth. So as I enter this day I say, Father, speak through my vocal chords, think through my mind, and operate through my limbs, so Your very power and nature can be seen and heard in the earth through me. None of me, all of You, use me for Your glory! And as You do, as You flow through me, I experience supernatural success! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
