When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you. The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you do not. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? 'A servant is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you! The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they do not know God who sent me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 15:18-21 & 16:33.
Today we bring you the concluding part of last weeks article. Hope you were blessed! Banned From Praying Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a prince to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they could not find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion.”
So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to Your Majesty – will be thrown to the lions. And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked,” So King Darius signed the law.
Standing Firm for the Faith
“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to Your Majesty – will be thrown to the lions? “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law, He still prays to his God three times a day.” Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed”. So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God whom you worship continually rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, The king sealed the stone with his won royal seal and the seals of his nobles so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions, Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and could not sleep at all that night - Dan. 6:1-18.
God's Power Is Always Revealed
Very early the next morning the king hurried out to the lion's den. When he got there, he called out in anguish. Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually able to rescue you from the lions? Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God, Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den. Then the king Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:
Peace and prosperity to you! I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever, His kingdom will never be destroyed and his rule will never end, He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and one earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian - Dan. 6:19-28.
Suffering for Doing Good
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So do not be afraid and do not worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way, Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ also suffered when He died for our sins once for all time, He never sinned but He died for sinners that He might bring us safely home to God. He suffered physical death but He was raised to life in the Spirit. So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning. And you will not spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy – their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do. And they say evil things about you -1 Pet. 3:13-18; 4:1-6.
Suffering For Being a Christian
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trials your are going through, as if something strange were happening to you, Instead, be very glad – because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory when it is displayed to all the world. Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His wonderful name! For the time has come for judgement, and it must begin first among God's own children. And if even few Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who have never believed God's Good News? And if the righteous are barely saved what chance will the godless and sinners have. So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you - 1 Pet. 4:12-19.
What Shall We Do Now
Let us: - Be Holy - 1 Pet. 1:13-16 - Discern and redeem the time - Eph. 5:16; Rom. 13:11-14 - Repent - Eze. 18:30b-32; Act 3:19 - Pray - Lk. 6:28; Lk. 22:40;1 Thess. 5:17; Col. 4:3; Eph. 6:19 - Evangelize - Matt. 24:14; Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:2-5 - Live righteous lives - 1 Pet.1:23; 2:1-3; Titus 2:6-8; 11-13. - Remain Faithful - Jude 17-23. - Be peaceable - Matt. 5:9; Rom. 12:14-21 Conclusion
May God who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into His glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. All glory to Him, who alone is God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to Him, in the beginning, now and forever more. Amen – Rom. 15:5-6 & Jude 24-25. *All scriptures are from the New Living Translation.
STAY BLESSED! Remember to tune in to Sunny – Tuesdays 5:30am; Asempa – Sundays 5:30 & Unique – Saturdays 7:30 p.m. for our radio bible study.
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