Good morning Friend,
I trust you had an exciting weekend.
It has indeed been a mind-blowing expository of God’s Word. We have been on The Book of Daniel series for almost 6 months now, thanks to the benevolent release of God’s Grace. Today, we will be considering a profoundly important factor in Daniel’s life. A factor that caused God to give to Daniel what I call “Transgenerational Influence”.
Daniel 6:28 (KJV) So, this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian
When we look at the Man Daniel, we see a man who carried an unusual dimension of God’s Grace, Power and Wisdom. In Daniel, we find a man who even the secular system could not do without, so much so that he was relevant across 4 different dispensations; Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. His relevance was not because he was handed over or recommended by the preceding dispensations to the successive ones. In each of the dispensations, he was sought out and then installed as a leader because The Anointing of God upon him was required. It was not based on political lobbying or godfatherism, he was too impactful and solution laden to be ignored by any of the regimes. What did they see in him that made them acknowledge the hand of God upon his life? And why did God make him into such a force of influence in his generation? We will get to that in a bit…
There is an interesting verse of scripture that aggregated some men, who did not live in the same dispensation but carried the same spirit;
Ezekiel 14: 19-20 (NKJV) “Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, 20. Even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would only save themselves by their righteousness.”
Isn’t it interesting the way God aggregates these men who one would think had no basis for collective selection? The three of them lived in very different dispensations, but there was something God saw in them that made him use them as the ultimate example of righteousness. God knew that even if no-one else could survive His Judgment, these men could, albeit they could only save themselves. Thank God for Jesus whose sacrifice could indeed save the world. But there is something very important I want us to see here, why did God pick out these men as examples of righteousness? Of all the men He could have picked?
If you observe these men, you will realise they had to live through very trying situations and had to be faced with contradictions. Contradictions that could have crippled others, but somehow they not only survived, they thrived right in the middle of the crisis. Character is built and expressed more in adversity than in prosperity.
Noah lived in perhaps the most perverse generation that ever lived under the sun, but in the middle of that perverseness, he stayed faithful and found grace in the sight of God. While everyone was wasting away, he was busy building God an ark. Even though he had never seen what rain looked like, neither could he have imagined a flood, all he had was a Word from God and he went about the instruction like his life depended on it. People mocked him, I’m sure he also questioned his own sanity, but he kept at God’s Word and obeyed. The Bible says he condemned the world and cared less what they thought about him. He was resolute! No wonder God could begin a new era with no-one else but Noah.
Job lived through the harshest affliction any human could endure. It couldn’t have been worse for anyone than it was for Job, but in the middle of all that trial and tribulation, he didn’t lose his faithfulness. He made some powerful declarations in the season of his affliction; that even if God slayed him, he would still trust Him (Job 13:15). He said God knew the path that he took and that when God is done with him, he will come out as gold (Job 23:10). He was a man who would judge God faithful despite the circumstances he found himself. He knew God is exactly what He says He is and not what his circumstances say He is. What a way to see God! Job was a man of conviction and resolute belief in God’s character. See how God restored his wealth and influence?
Then Daniel, whose life we have been examining in detail for quite some time now is the third man in the value-chain. Daniel and his company feared no man, they feared only God, no matter the threat placed before them, they had gone over from death to life and could not be threatened by any other force. What made these men (Daniel, Noah and Job) so highly rated in the courts of heaven that God could use them as examples of righteousness?
Daniel was a transgenerational leader, not because he was gifted. There are people with gifts who fade away in months or in a few years. Gifts abound and gifted people abound even more but what doesn’t abound as much are men of integrity. Men who have been able to integrate the two components of their lives; who they are before men and who they are before God in the chambers of their hearts. Once a man can become whole before God, that is integrated, he becomes a symbol of God’s righteousness, and God will by Himself begin to expand the scope of such a man’s influence. The reason is simple, He has found Himself a man, who will not break, bend or bow in the face of opposition, circumstances, rejection or pressure from men. He has found a man He will always be able to use to carry out His mandate upon the earth.
He knew that with Daniel in each of those dispensations, He had a seed through which at the appointed time, He could inject the vital force of Light capable of delivering Israel from the bondage of slavery in Babylon. God is ALWAYS in the lookout for such men.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…
Are you a man of integrity? Can God trust you with His Oracles? Are you two different people in one body suit? Can you be easily swayed by situations and circumstances? Have you dug your stakes into the earth of God’s Character such that you cannot be moved? Have you given over yourself completely to Him? Does His Word and Counsel count more in your life than those of your friends and family? Are you a man that He can make a great name of?
Think on these things friends, that indeed is the crux of this entire series. God wants to make your name great, He wants to give you a transgenerational influence, but first He must check your heart to see that it is indeed in the right place. Perfection is not what He seeks, but a heart that truly pants after Him to do His will, no matter the cost. Once He sees that heart, there is no limit to how far He can take you in executing His agenda upon the earth.
I hope this series blessed your heart.
We will be wrapping up the series here. The remaining 6 chapters of the Book of Daniel have very high Prophetic content which could be considered in your private study. Moreover, such apocalyptic prophetic details are subject to varying opinions from theologians and scholars due to the mystic narratives. The good thing is they are not doctrinal and have little to add to your spiritual development and growth.
I am glad you took this ride with me. Thank you for your continued following. God bless your heart.
Do well to share with friends as led.
Have a fruitful week.
10 comments
Thank you for taking us on this journey.
Bless God Vee. Thank you for coming along
wow!
though the series has been on for months, God’s revealed word and insight has been amazing. Thanks so much sir
Bless God for His matchless Grace. Thank you Isi
Thank you, God bless you abundantly..
Amen. Thank you bro.
Great was so bless sir
More insight !!!
Amen. Thank you Sir
Much Gratitude Sir!
Thanks so dearly for these teachings.
Really blessed Sir. More Grace!
Amen. Bless God for His Grace.
Thank you Sir