(Read Daniel 3:30)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. In our last message we saw how King Nebuchadnezzar had a total change of heart after he saw the Hand of God in operation. The same man who previously said, “No god can save you from my power”, wound up saying, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… No other god can save his people like this.” While that is great, the story actually gets better for the Hebrew Boys. Today we will only look at one verse.
The Bible says, “Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego more important jobs in the province of Babylon.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- The Hebrew Boys did nothing to earn or deserve slavery. They just woke up one day to learn their nation was under the subjection of Babylon. Sometimes things happen to us that we have no control over, but God is still God and He can grace us to get through it.
- The Hebrew Boys were selected for a special training program in Babylon. They did nothing to earn or work for the selection, it came to them by grace. God is able to put a spotlight on you, so you can be recognized and promoted.
- When the Hebrew Boys were in the training program the Babylonians gave them food that was against their beliefs. They wanted to honor their God, so they asked for permission to remain on a special diet. The Babylonians allowed the Hebrew Boys to try the diet for three weeks, as a test. At the end of the three weeks the Hebrew Boys were the strongest and brightest in all the land. So they were allowed to maintain their Godly diet. God used the Babylonians to fund the Hebrew’s organic diet. See, when your ways please the Lord, He can make even your enemies to be at peace with you (Prov 16:7).
- When the Hebrew Boys were scheduled to be killed for something that had nothing to do with them, God gave Daniel supernatural insight and he was able to provide the king what he wanted. In the end, instead of being executed, the Hebrew Boys were promoted.
- When the king issued a decree to bow down before the golden idol, he made it clear that whoever did not bow was going to burn. The Hebrew Boys refused to bow. God saw to it that they did not burn. In the end, they were promoted again!
- While God does not make bad things happen to you, He can surely use the bad things and turn them around for you good.
- The Apostle Paul said, “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). God may not have caused it, but He can make it work for your good.
- When you acknowledge the grace of God, you realize you cannot be stopped. The more satan messes with you, the more God graces you to overcome his attacks.
- God has a plan for your life. Satan is going to attempt to derail you from your destiny. As long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, and you open your heart to His grace, the power of God will flow through your life and nothing/no one will be able to stop you!
- When you allow God to flow through you and He becomes the one doing the work through your life, you are unstoppable! Because at that point stopping you would mean stopping God, and God cannot be stopped!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made plans for me before the world began. You tirelessly pursued me, sending people my way to speak to me about Your goodness. Although I rejected many of the people You sent, You kept sending them, because You love. I finally accepted Your Gospel, and I made Your Son Jesus the Lord of my life. I am now on the path to Your best. I know the enemy will attempt to derail me from my destiny, but I also know He can’t. I have more confidence in Your protection than satan’s attacks, therefore I live by faith and not fear. Even when satan does successfully put me in a bad situation, I know You can turn situation around for my good, and bless me so richly because of it, that satan will wish he had left me alone. The more satan attacked the Hebrew Boys, there more they were promoted, and the same shall be true for me. All things work together for my good, because I love God and I am called according to His purpose. My life is not about me, it’s all about Him. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
