Blessings of a True Servant
Daniel Speaks to Us Today
By Greg Johnson
January 3, 2007
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Daniel 10
Daniel was a true servant of God. He prayed and he fasted. He labored to receive and understand God’s Word. He was hungry for the spiritual food that God’s Word supplied. The result of his hunger, labor and self-denial was blessings from above.
ESTEEM IS AWARDED
In Daniel chapter 10, Daniel has been praying and fasting for 21 days. He is praying for an understanding of God’s Word. An angel appears to Daniel and says (Daniel 10:11 NIV) "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” Daniel was “highly esteemed” by God. What a blessing of a servant of God!
Many in Daniel’s day were looking for prestige in man’s eyes, but not Daniel. Daniel focused his attention on God. He served God in total obedience to His Word. Obedience produced character in Daniel and he walked in humility and integrity before God and man. Man recognized God’s hand on Daniel and promoted Daniel to high places within the heathen establishment of his day. But Daniel was not in it for man’s recognition. Man’s recognition was a result of His faithfulness to God, but Daniel did not go looking for it. Instead, he focused on God and His Word. He prayed and he fasted. He labored for understanding of God’s Word. God looked at Daniel and was well pleased. Daniel was “highly esteemed” by God and that meant more to Daniel than wealth and prestige. Esteem is awarded. What a blessing of a servant of God!
PRAYER IS HEARD AND ANSWERED
(Daniel 10:12-14 NIV) "Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. {13} But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. {14} Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.""
First of all notice that God heard Daniels prayer from the first day of the fast. Daniel had God’s ear. When Daniel prayed, it moved the heart of God. What a blessing of a servant of God!
Secondly notice that Daniel’s prayer was answered. He was praying for a deeper revelation of God’s Word and God granted his request by sending a special messenger to personally explain God’s Word. It took 21 days for the answer to arrive, but it was sent on day one. The key is that Daniel never stopped praying and asking God for revelation. Daniel interceded and because of his prayers, a great victory in the heavenly realm was won and the answer to prayer came in the face of great opposition from Satan. Daniel never gave up and the answer to prayer arrived. What a blessing of a servant of God!
SUPERNATURAL PEACE AND STRENGTH IS GIVEN
(Daniel 10:18-19 NIV) "Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. {19} "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.""
Daniel would need supernatural peace and strength to complete his journey from earth to glory. It was poured out to him and he was able to successfully complete his journey in the face of much difficulty. What a blessing of a servant of God!
God blesses His servants; those that will labor to receive and understand God’s Word; those of upright character that walk in humility and integrity; those that pray until the answer comes and they never give up. God blesses them and calls them “highly esteemed”; He hears and answers their prayers; He gives them supernatural peace and strength for the journey. Beloved, continue to be a servant of God and be blessed!
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