Weekly message: Daniel’s prosecution and God's rescues By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: Daniel’s prosecution and God’s rescues                  Date: 9/17/2023

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Pastoral counseling.   

 

Ø  The plots against Daniel who are these people? Why?

        Daniel interpreted an unusual script, helped king Belshazzar to understand.(Daniel 5:26-28) Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.(Daniel 5:29) Daniel was one of the exiles from Judah, who prayed three times a day for God’s help.

           King Darius had appointed 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them one of whom was Daniel. (Daniel 6:1-2) Those 120 people set up a trap intentionally, 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. And they said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God. (vv.4-5)

  The administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue and edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty (30) days, except to king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(Daniel 6:7).  So they persuaded King Darius to put the decree in writing “ that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O King, shall be thrown into the lions’ den” so that it cannot be altered in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. (vv.7-8)

  After the decree had been published, Daniel went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (v.10) then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. (v.11)

Ø  The Prosecution of Daniel

            They went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree, and said to the king, “ Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. (vv.13-14).

          The men pressed on king to fulfill the decree and law by said, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” (v.15)

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually rescue you!” (v.16) A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. (v.17).

Ø  God’s protection to Daniel

            The king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions? (vv.18-19)

    Daniel answered,” O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” (v.21-22). The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den and when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (v.23).

Ø  The false accusers, alone with their wives, children, were punished and thrown into the lions’ den, crushed all their bones

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. (vv.24)

Ø  Daniel’s faith in his God, not only saved his own life, but also impact king Darius and people, and nations to respect, fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

            Then King Darius wrote to all the people, nations, and men of every language throughout the land:  “For he is the living God and he endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (vv.25-27). So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (v.28).

Ø  Implication/ Application

 When we keep our faith and practice faithfulness in Christ Jesus to serve the Lord God, we may face the same kind of prosecution as Daniel’s scenario in chapter 6. The people who prosecute our faith, so often, they are those who conduct of government affairs, in Daniel’s case, they are the administrators, the satraps, advisers, governors, the princes, the counselors, the captains, the presidents or the commissioners of the kingdoms according to the translation of the King James Version, New American Standard, New International Version.

The enemy may try to set a trap to hurt us, but it is God’s divine power to save and rescue us. When God executes His judgment, Satan cannot touch His children who are blameless, righteous, upright hearts and fear God as Job and Daniel. Daniel’s faith in God, and his faithfulness, trustworthy, innocence, and had committed no crime, nor had done any hurt. (v.21). He faithfully prayed to God for help three times a day, God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths, and rescued Daniel.

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world”. God is Light, darkness never overcomes the Light. Ultimately, those false accusers were punished by God, not only ruined their own life, but also resulted in harm to their wives and children, all of them were brought in and  thrown down to the lions’ den, crushing all their bones.

My friends do not let your jealousy blind the eye of your heart, and don’t do any harm to others, nor set the plot against anyone, falsely accuse, and prosecute innocent Christians. Leave a room for God to judge. God prospered Daniel during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian, simply because Daniel was a faithful servant, and prayed regularly for God’s help three time a day. Faith in God can turn around the circumstance; faithfulness can save your life and your nations.  

 

Bibliography,

      Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Weekly message: Life principle- Get wisdom, avoid surety, don’t trust men but Jesus By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: Life principle- Get wisdom, avoid surety, don’t trust men but Jesus

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts, Gospel music, Pastoral ministry & Counseling

Date: September 16,2023

 

Ø  Do not trust your friends and brothers

 Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother are a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge Me.” Declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9: 4-6) They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge Me. Declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9: 3)

Ø  They tongue speaks deceit, mouse speaks peace, but heart sets a trap

 Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people? Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him. Should I not punish them for this? Declares the Lord. Should I not avenge myself on such a nations as this?  (Jeremiah 9:7-9)

Ø  They followed the Baals –the idols no breath, cannot walk

 The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their fathers taught them.” Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God so Israel, says, “See, I will make this people eat bitter food, and drink poisoned water. I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will pursue them with the sword until I have destroyed them.” (Jer.9:13-16)

Ø  They cut a tree shapes it as an idol

 This is what the Lord says, “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fears them they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” (Jeremiah 10:2-5) Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. (Jer.10:14)

Ø  Lord is the true God, living God, the eternal King

 This is what the Lord says, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about his:  That he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” (Declares the Lord) (Jer.9:23-24).

  But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When He is angry the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure His wrath. Tell them this: “These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.”  When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.(Jer.10:10-13)

Ø  Jesus ’  Identity – I AM  

 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John8:12). If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John8:31). I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John8: 34,36) I tell you the truth; I am the gate for the sheep. ..I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John10:7,9) I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. (John15:1,5)

Ø  Acquire Wisdom

 Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor. (Proverbs4:4-9)

Ø  Avoid Bad Company

 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction; do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it, turn form it and go on your way, for they cannot sleep till they do evil. They are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what make them stumble. (Proverbs4:10-19).

Ø  Watch yourself

 My son, pay attention to what I say, listen closely to my words, Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs4:20-27)

Ø  Avoid Surety

 My Son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands; go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. (Proverbs6:1-5)

Bibliography,

     Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986 

 

 

 

Weekly message: Rivers of living water will flow over by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: Rivers of living water will flow over.

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling  

 

Scriptures reading:

Rivers of living water will flow from within him. (John 7:38)

The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water. (John4:14)

“…Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.” (2Samuel 23:16)

 

Ø  The sweetness of vital relationship to Jesus will flow out of the saint, out of you will flow rivers of living water

The picture our Lord gives is not that of a channel but a fountain. “Be being filled

” and the sweetness of vital relationship to Jesus will flow out of the saint as lavishly as it is imparted to him. If you find your life is not flowing out as it should, you are to blame, something has obstructed the flow. Keep right at the Source, and –you will be blessed personally? No, out of you will flow rivers of living water, irrepressible life.  We are to be center through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living water in blessing to everyone.

Some of us are like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive from Him, He will pour out through us, and in the measure He is not pouring out, there is a defect in our relationship to Him.

 Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything that hinders your belief in Him? If not Jesus says, out of you will flow rivers of living water. It is not a blessing passed on, not an experience stated, but a river continually flowing. Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him, and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness.

            Is it not too extravagant to say that out of an individual believer rivers are going to flow? “I do not see the rivers,” you say. Never look at yourself from the standpoint of –who am I? in the history of God’s work you will nearly always find that it has started from the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but the steadfastly true to Jesus Christ. 

Ø  What He pours through us that count, He squeezes the sweetness out of us. He that believeth in Me …out of him shall flow…(John7:38)

            Jesus did not say “he that believeth in Me shall realize the blessing of the fullness of God.” But “he that believeth in Me out of him shall escape everything he receives.” Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure.

          If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that count. It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.

           When Mary of Bethany broke the box of precious ointment and poured it on Jesus’ head, it was an act for which no one else saw any occasion; the disciples said it was a waste. But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion and said that whenever His gospel was preached “this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Our Lord is carried beyond Himself with joy when He sees any of us doing what Mary did, not being set on this or that economy, but being abandoned to Him.

 God spilt the life of His Son that the world might be saved; Are we prepared to spill out our lives for Him? “He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water” hundreds of others will be continually refreshed. It is time now to break of life, to cease craving for satisfaction, and to spill the thing out. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?

Ø  If you satisfy yourself with a blessing from God, it will corrupt you; you must sacrifice it, pour it out. Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.” (2Samuel 23:16)

   What has been like water from the well of Bethlehem to you recently – love, friendship, spiritual blessing? Then at the peril of your soul, you take it to satisfy yourself. If you do, you cannot pour it out before the Lord. You can never sanctify to God that with which you long to satisfy yourself. If you satisfy yourself with a blessing from God, it will corrupt you; you must sacrifice it, pour it out, do with it what common sense says is an absurd waste.

              How am I to pour out unto the Lord natural love or spiritual blessing?  In one way only in the determination of my mind. There are certain acts of other people which one could never accept if one did not know God, because it is not within human power to repay them. But immediately I say, This is too great and worthy for me, it is not meant for  a human being at all, I must pour it out unto the Lord, then these things pour out in rivers of living water all around. Until I do pour these things out before the Lord, they endanger those I love as well as myself because they will turn to lust. We can be lustful in things which are not sordid, dirty, filthy and vile. Love has to get to its transfiguration point of being poured out unto the Lord.

 If you have become bitter and sour, it is because when God gave you a blessing you clutched or hold on it for yourself; whereas if you had poured it out unto the Lord, you would have been the sweetest person out of heaven.  If you are always taking blessing to yourself and never learn to pour out anything unto the Lord, other people do not get their horizon enlarged through you.  “…Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.” (2Samuel 23:16)

Bibliography,

Barker, Kenneth L. NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1985.                   

Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His highest. N.Y. Dodd, Mead & Company, 1935.

King James, The Holy Bible (KJV), Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

 

Weekly message: Prayer by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: Prayer 

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce  

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &Counseling   

Ø  The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends (Job42:10)

             The plaintive, self-centered, morbid kind of prayer, a dad-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.” I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God is I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession.  There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it.

                If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God’s word, then start praying for your friends, enter into the ministry of the interior. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” (Job 42:10) The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now. 

Ø  But ye are…a royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9)

 By what right do we become “a royal priesthood?” by the right of the Atonement. Are we prepared to leave ourselves resolutely alone and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God. Until we get into a right relationship to God, it is a case of handing on by the skin of our teeth, and we say—what a wonderful victory I have got! There is nothing indicative of the miracle of Redemption in that. Launch out in reckless belief that the Redemption is complete, and then bother no more about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ said --- Pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints, pray for all men. Pray on the realization that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea –“O Lord, I have done my best, please hear me.” 

How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves? We must get sick unto death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves. We cannot touch the depths of meanness in ourselves. There is only one place where we are right, and that is in Christ Jesus.  When we are there, then we have to pour out for all we are worth in this ministry of the interior.

Ø  When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and …pray to thy Father which is in secret. (Matt.6:6) 

 Jesus did not say –Dream about thy Father in secret, but pray to thy Father in secret. Prayer is an effort of will. After we have entered our secret place and have shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray; we cannot get our minds into working order, and the first the first thing that conflicts is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is the overcoming of mental woolgathering. We have to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful prayer.

             We must have a selected place for prayer and when we get there the plague of flies begins—this must be done, and that. “Shut thy door.” A secret silence means to shut the door deliberately on emotions and remember God. God is in secret, and He sees us from the secret place; He does not see us as other people see us, or as we see ourselves. When we live in the secret place it becomes impossible for us to doubt God, we become more sure of Him than of anything else. Your Father, Jesus says, is in secret and nowhere else.    

             Enter the secret place, and right in the center of the common round you find God there all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything, unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling to the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God. 

Ø  Conditional term of “Everyone that asketh receiveth.”

 “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” (Matt.7:9)  The illustration of prayer that our Lord uses here is that of a good child asking for a good thing. We talk about prayer as if God heard us irrespective of the fact of our relationship to Him. (Matt.5:45).  Never say it is not God’s will to give you what you ask, don’t sit down and faint, but find out the reason, turn up the index. Are you rightly related to your wife, to your husband, to your children, to your fellow-students—are you a “good child” there? “O Lord, I have been irritable and cross, but I do want spiritual blessing.” You cannot have it, you will have to do without until you come into the attitude of a good child.

  We mistake defiance for devotion; arguing with God for abandonment. We will not look at the index. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want when there is something I have not paid for? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? I have not forgiven someone his trespasses; I have not been kind to him; I have not been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends.  I am a child of God only by regeneration, and as a child of God I am good only as I walk in the light. Prayer with most of us is turned into pious platitude; it is a matter of emotion, mystical communion with God. Spiritually we are all good at producing fogs. If we turn up the index, we will see very clearly what is wrong—that friendship, that debt, that temper of mind. It is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, “ Everyone that asketh receiveth.”

 

Bibliography,

Barker, Kenneth L. NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1985.                   

Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His highest. N.Y. Dodd, Mead & Company, 1935.

King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.