Verse of the Day: V8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
1. The Man Of Purpose (V1-8)
V8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself...”
Daniel was a prisoner of the king of Babylon yet he purposed in his heart that he would not sin against God by following the ways of the Babylonians, even if it cost him his life. We may be in a situation where we are tempted to smoke and drink because our friends are smoking and drinking. However, we should purpose in our hearts that we refrain from smoking and drinking, because we are the temples of the Holy Ghost, and smoking and drinking are harmful to our health as well as our Christian testimony.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
2. The Man Of Persistence (V9-16)
V10 “And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.”
Daniel was a man of persistence as he persuaded the prince to let him and his fellow prisoners eat the pulse or beans instead of the king’s meat. The prince could have been beheaded if Daniel and his fellow prisoners became weak after ten days of eating pulse. However, Daniel was absolutely right, as after ten days, they were healthier and stronger.
V15 “And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.”
3. The Man Of Power (V17-21)
V17 “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
God gave Daniel the knowledge, skill, wisdom and power to understand and interpret visions and dreams. Indeed, the Almighty God shall give knowledge, skill, wisdom and power to whosoever that believes and receives Him, and even to become the sons of God.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be the man of purpose, persistence and power.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:41 am
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Verse of the Week: V35 “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.”
1. The Lord Supplies (V1-11)
V1 “Now these are the name of the tribes. From then north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.”
The Lord supplied and rewarded all the tribes of the nation of Israel. However, God only supplied and rewarded the priests of the sons of Zadok, one of the families of the Levites because they were on God’s side while the rest of them had departed from God.
V11 “It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.”
2. The Lord Sanctifies (V12-20)
V12 “And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.”
God sanctified the land on conditions that the land must not be sold or exchanged for anything, and they must live holy lives. However, they sinned against God, and God punished them by sending their enemies to defeat them and occupy their land. Today Israel is still fighting for their land, but it is in vain, unless they believe in the true God.
V14 “And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.”
3. The Lord Stays (V13-23)
V35 “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.”
The Lord stayed with prophet Ezekiel from the beginning to the end of his life and ministry, as he trusted the Lord. This was why Ezekiel inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the book of Ezekiel beginning with seeing the visions of God by the river of Chebar, and concluding with naming the holy city as “The LORD is there” or “The presence of God.”
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” (Ezekiel 1:1)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You that I am on Your side.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:02 am
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Verse of the Week: V23 “And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.”
1. He Gives (V1-5)
V1 “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.”
The waters flowing out of the house of the great God increased in volume until they flooded the entire place. Indeed, the waters represent the Word of God, and whosoever believes in the Word of God will never thirst, but will live forever with God in heaven.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)
2. He Heals (V6-12)
V9 “And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.”
Every living creature will be healed and multitude of fish will live as the waters flow through them from the house of the great God. Indeed, the Word of God shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish God’s purpose of healing broken hearts and wounded lives.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
3. He Blesses (V13-23)
V23 “And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.”
The great God not only blessed and gave His people His inheritance of the land, but also the strangers who had children among them. Indeed, let us love and bless strangers as they are angels sent by God to test our love, generosity and hospitality.
“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:1-2)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for being my great God who gives, heals and blesses.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:15 am
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Verse of the Week: V3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”
1. Daily (V1-8)
V2 “And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.”
The holy God through Prophet Ezekiel commanded His princes, priests and people to worship Him in the sabbaths and in the new moons. This weekly worship includes the people offering burnt and peace offerings to God for His great mercies that they were not consumed but were able to live for His glory and honour. Today we worship God not just weekly but daily thanking Him for His great mercies as well as His amazing grace.
V3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”
2. Decently (V9-15)
V9 “But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.”
Everyone who came in by the north gate to worship the Lord must go out by the south gate, and those who came in by the south gate must go out by the north gate. Indeed, the worship of the Lord must be done decently and in order, as God is a God of order.
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
3. Diligently (V16-24)
V18 “Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.”
God warned the princes not to take the people’s inheritance by oppression or force but that they must work diligently for their possession which would be given to their sons.
“He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.” (Proverbs 11:27)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to worship you daily, decently and diligently.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 09:47 pm
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