God will give you strength
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Christian service takes away your strength. Serving God and God’s people, whether it be in pastoral ministry or lay ministry, evaporates your strength. If you are not careful, It can lead you to a spiritual desert. Even Jesus was aware of this. the Bible says, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” He recognized the need to get away from it all so his father could renew his strength and spirit.
When you are serving in a ministry, you have to divide your time from your personal life, you work, your family and the church. There are not enough hours in the day. There is always a crisis to address, a brushfire to extinguish, a problem to solve, a need to address and someone who needs some of your time. All these things are virtuous, but they can also be draining and discouraging.
I believe if we do ministry differently, by the end of the year, we can be renewed, we can learn more about God, Christ Jesus and ourselves, we can grow closer to one another and build up treasure in heaven. The story of Daniel’s encounter with the man in fine linen describes what it means to go from no strength to divine strength. If we apply it to our own Christian service, we can experience the best year of God we have ever had.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING AND PRAYER.
“I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.”
Fasting is denying yourself of food and somethings liquids to awaken the spirit. The discipline of fasting and prayer gives you the heart of Christ. The fast God honors will lead you to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free.”
Daniel’s fast led to a revelation and a vision, one where he was too weak to receive it. An angel came and touched him and gave him strength. The one who touched him was similar to the description of Jesus Christ in .
His body shimmered in gold; his face was like bolts of lightning; his body radiated with the glory of God and his voice was a loud as a multitude at a patriot’s game.
The appearance of the angel terrified Daniel. Like Paul, people were effected by the glory, but they did not see it themselves only the one for which the revelation came. God has a word for you and only you. You need a word to do your job. God will encourage you to serve him. You must learn to see and listen to receive that encouragement.
The vision was so overwhelming, Daniel said, “I had no strength.” The Holy Spirit is sometimes a great weight. It can be very intense upon the body. The closer we are to Jesus Christ, the weaker we are in the flesh. This weakness that lead Daniel fell prostrate before the angel. He fell into sleep with his face on the ground.
Ministry begins when we are at our lowest place.
Daniel was in the lowest place. This was a two-fold message. Israel is in the lowest place for they were in Babylon, in captivity. By the end of the book of Daniel, God’s people are no longer slaves to Babylon; they are servants to the Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian Empire.
The beginning of a ministry is the lowest place. Jesus said, “And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” We rely on our own strength. This year abandon your strength so you can be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
This is not a place of darkness was sent or shame; It’s where we all have to start. We had to start from a totally helpless place. Daniel, Paul fell to the ground and was blinded by the vision. John on the Island of Patmos said, “When I saw him, I fell down at his feet as dead. Daniel had no strength for the vision of the man was overwhelming. The ministry can be overwhelming.
A touch from the angel enabled Daniel to go from his face to the ground to trembling on his knees.
God wants you to be efficient, zealous, full of integrity and loving. Look for a touch from God. ( says we must all work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” This means we should reverence the Lord. You are not just working for the congregation; you are working for God. You and I will give an account to God. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Daniel’s commissioning
The Man clothed in fine Linen confirms to Daniel God loves him. Daniel, you are greatly loved; understand what I the words that I speak to you and stand up straight, for I have now been sent to you.”
God loves you, this is why he appointed you for service.
You are instrumental in God’s plan of salvation
Your commissioning is not just for your particular office; it is for the expansion of this church, advancement of the kingdom, the salvation of the community and empowering the body of Christ
You cannot work effectively without a touch from God.
The man in white linen tells Daniel
Pay attention… Be observant. says, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.
Understand… be discerning: () says, “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”
GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS. The moment you humbled yourself before God, your words were heard and I have come because of your prayers. You will get tired and lonely, frustrated and sometimes elated. God is listening to you.
WE ARE FIGHTING A SPIRITUAL WAR.
During this exchange, Daniel found courage, he moved from his silent paralysis to his expression of fear, to his willingness to listen. Once Daniel states that he will listen, the angel confirms that his are words of truth.
Daniel fell a second time under the weight of the vision: (10:15). This time the angel touches his mouth so he can speak.
May God confirm his calling on your life and ministry….
Daniel speaks, but he is in pain and doubts his ability
“My lord, because of the vision such pains [literally, “my pains”] have come upon me that I retain no strength. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For I am shaking, no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me”
Daniel is trembling: You will be successful if you remember, only by God’s grace can you do this job.
The man in Linen told Daniel, “Peace!d The Lord loves you. Be strong now; be strong.”
Daniel’s response was ,”Speak because you have given me strength…”
You have the strength to do the job because God will gives you strength.
When it comes down to serving God, there are no excuses. God will take care of everything.
Moses made excuses and God had an answer for every one of them.
God told Moses, “Come now and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people Israel out of Egypt.” Moses looked for excuses,
“Who I am that I should go to Pharaoh? God answered, “Surely I will be with you.”
When I tell them, “The God of your fathers has sent me,” they will ask me, “what is his name?” God answered, “I AM’
Moses said, “what if they don’t believe me?” God answered again, “What is in your hand?
Moses said, “I am not eloquent; I am slow of speech.” God answered, “Who made man’s mouth, or the deaf or the blind? I will be your mouth.”
My point is, Whatever you have to do, God can do it through you. Just be strong in faith. Be strong in Jesus Christ. Christ is the answer to all our excuses.