(Read Daniel 6:15-16)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. I had several good conversations with people about yesterday’s message. Today I feel led to continue to flow in the same vein. So let’s go back to yesterday’s passage and seek to glean a few more golden nuggets. The Bible says, “Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, King, that the law of the Medes and Persians says that no law or command signed by the king can ever be canceled or changed.” So King Darius gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May the God you serve save you!”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You don’t have to have a title at church to make an impact in the earth for the Kingdom of God.
a) Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not prophets or priests. They were not Levites. They were not what many consider to be “in ministry” today. But they surely performed ministry.
b) Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to have a title or wear a clergy collar in order to perform ministry or make an impact in the world for Jesus.
c) Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were simply good at their jobs — divinely good, ‘anointed by God’ good — and secular leaders were led to God because of it.
d) The excellence you display at work can draw people to Jesus just as much as any sermon in church.
e) While I am a preacher and I am called to Pastor, God has drawn countless people to Him through my performance in the United States Army, outside of church. People have come to know God by simply watching the way I perform my duties at work. The same can be said of you if you seek to do what you do with a spirit of excellence.
2. You don’t have to have a title at church to need God’s anointing.
a) Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not prophets or priests, but they were still anointed. They were not anointed to preach, but they were anointed to perform their duties in Babylon. The call on their life was so strong that it required God’s anointing, favor and grace. The same can be said of you.
b) Samuel held a ceremony to anoint David. So what was David’s calling, you might ask? Was David anointed to be a prophet? No. Was David anointed to be a priest? No. David was anointed to be a king. God used a prophet (Samuel) to hold a service to anoint David for a secular office. Why? Because positions at church are not the only positions that require God’s anointing.
c) Whatever you are called to do, God has anointed you for it. You will need God’s empowerment to do what He has called you to do and His grace is already on your life to succeed.
3. There are no second-class citizens in God’s Kingdom.
a) While I believe in giving honor where honor is due, and I unashamedly honor my Pastors and Spiritual Parents, I have seen some Christians make the mistake of worshipping people instead of God. Spiritual leaders are still people and they should never be worshipped. You honor their assignment, the anointing on their lives, and the impact God has made in your life through them, but you never worship a man.
b) The idolization of Pastors and spiritual leaders has led to the devaluation of those not called to ministry, and this was never God’s intent.
c) Every Born-Again Spirit-filled believer is a child of God and they are precious in God’s sight.
d) Every believer has a divine assignment and every divine assignment is both special to God and critical to the Body of Christ.
e) We don’t get to choose what God has called us to do, so we should never rank ourselves based on our callings.
f) Never look down on someone else because they are not called to do what you are called to do, and never look down on yourself because you are not called to do something someone else is called to do. Celebrate the diversities of giftings and callings without jealousy.
g) You only have the grace to run your race, so run it with all your might, and celebrate others as they are running theirs!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You have given me a specific assignment. This is an assignment You issued me before the world began. My success in life is tied to that assignment. I can never succeed outside of what You called me to do. Being successful at something You did not call me to do is not success. So I live my life in pursuit of my divine purpose. I am determined to FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH my assignment before I die. And there are no big or little assignments in Your Kingdom. I don’t get to look down on others because they are not called to do what I am called to do. And I don’t have to look down on myself because I am not called to do what others may be called to do. I don’t rank myself and I don’t allow others to rank me. I run my own race, with my own grace, at my own pace, for Your glory. When I stand before You, You will not judge me based on someone else’s assignment. You will measure my life against the assignment you made for me before the world began and I declare, by faith, that I will measure up. Not because I am so good, but only because of Your grace. So I appreciate who I am, what I am called to do, and where I sit in the Body of Christ. Knowing who I am and what I am called to do gives me peace, purpose, power and rest. I enter this day with a healthy opinion of me, You and others. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
