THE DANIEL ASSIGNMENT
When disciples are under attack they may be thrown into desperate situations but even there God has assignments for them. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, but God gave them an assignment to lead the jailor and his family to Christ and to birth the Church in Philippi. Joseph was sold into slavery, he was falsely accused of immorality and thrown in prison, but God turned it around. He gave Joseph an assignment to become Prime Minister of Egypt and save the Jewish people from famine and starvation. Daniel was exiled and taken as a slave to Babylon. In the midst of great trauma, God had an eternal assignment for him. He would serve four different kings, leading all of them to honor and fear the God of Abraham. He would interpret prophetic dreams, release the Word of God for future generations, and prepare a legacy of spiritual life that would set the stage for the Magi to visit Christ 600 years later. This pattern of godly assignments in the midst of crisis is repeated throughout the Scriptures. You may be in the middle of such an assignment right now.
DANIEL IN BABYLON
Even though Daniel was forced to serve four heathen kings, he did some amazing things. First, he worshiped his God, putting Him first no matter what the cost. Secondly, he served the kings with integrity, diligence and responsibility. Daniel served with such excellence that he was continually promoted. Under King Darius he was promoted to be one of three administrators over 120 governors or satraps who were in charge of the kingdom. “The satraps were made accountable to [The administrators] so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:2-3).
Like some leaders in America, Daniel would oversee the bureaucrats so that the nation would not suffer financial loss. Not all of the new leaders in America are Christians but many are and they are making a difference. The king, in Daniel’s day, suspected corruption within his government and he wanted Daniel to stop it. Daniel was not just a prophet of the Lord, he was also a servant of the nation and the bureaucrats hated him and wanted to charge him with crimes in the courts of law, and do everything they could to remove him from office. The Scripture says, “At this, the administrators and satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4).
Daniel was neither corrupt nor negligent. He was honest, he had integrity, and he was responsible; he would not let the ball drop to the ground. Daniel had an extraordinary spirit and even in the worst of times, God gave him amazing assignments. Today, we serve the Lord with gladness and do everything we can to see righteousness prevail. We have been called to godly assignments.
There is always resistance when good people fight against corruption and injustice. The officials in Babylon could not find grounds for corruption or irresponsibility against Daniel so they came against his faith. They enticed the king to make an irreversible decree that no one would be allowed to worship any god but only the king for 30 days. If someone disobeyed they would be thrown into the lion’s den. The king agreed; the decree went out, and the trap was set for Daniel.
This happens today. Citizens can be pressured and even forced to tolerate and conform to ideologies that go against their faith. For example, many lose their jobs or will not be hired unless they agree with twisted gender teachings or a pro-abortion ideology. Those who disagree are often silenced, shunned and persecuted. In a sense, they are commanded to embrace anti-Bible and anti-Christ standards. When this wickedness takes hold in a nation our children are under threat and our faith and even God are boycotted from the public square. Then, when Christians resist and fight back, they come under threat. This has happened in our nation but we the Church have fought back and have dared to be like Daniel.
DANIEL STOOD HIS GROUND
Daniel would never worship anyone but the true God, so the officials watched to see what he would do. Three times a day he opened his window toward Jerusalem and prayed to the God of Abraham. The bureaucrats apprehended him, knowing that the king’s edict could not be reversed. The king loved Daniel but nothing could be done, and the king was forced to throw Daniel into the lion’s den. “The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you” (Daniel 6:16).
A stone was placed over the mouth of the lion’s den and the king sealed it with his own signet ring. That night he could not eat or sleep and he had no entertainment. At first light, he hurried to the lion’s den and called out to Daniel. “Daniel answered…My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions” (Daniel 6:21).
The lions were not permitted to eat Daniel. That was a miracle. I am sure that a miracle saved our president when a bullet sliced through his ear but he was not killed. After Daniel was removed from the lion’s den, the king threw the conspirators into the den and they were eaten. Then the king said, “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God”…“So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:26,28).
Since his life-saving miracle and his inauguration, our president has decreed a return to many biblical practices. He has stopped the promotion of gender-dysphoria in all departments of the federal government as well as in women’s sports competitions. He has renounced church persecution and Anti-Semitism. He has initiated strong oversight to counter financial loss and corruption with government spending and is restoring law and order to our borders and streets. These and other measures are underway to help inspire prosperity and peace in our nation and around the world. As Daniel prospered, so the Church in America will prosper and the forces of evil will be pushed back. We were in a dark time but God is rescuing our nation. He has given His people amazing new assignments.
We pray our monthly teaching
devotional empowers & inspires you
to live a supernatural Christian life.
DR. PETER WYNS
Founder & President
Christian for Messiah Ministries
Pastor at Antioch International Church
Instructions in Righteousness is produced by “Christians for Messiah Ministries” (CFM). Dr. Peter Wyns is the President of CFM and the Head Pastor of Antioch International Church. He has served as a pastor for 54 years and ministered in more than 45 nations.
Leave a Reply