Daniel’s Training in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-- 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. Footnotes:
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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A Cry for Help To the Pure and Shining One David’s poetic lament to always remember 1 Please, Lord! Come quickly and rescue me! God, show me your favor and restore me. 2 Let all who seek my life be humiliated, confused, and ashamed. God, send them sprawling, all who wish me evil; they just want me dead. 3 Scoff at every scoffer and cause them all to be utter failures! Let them be ashamed and horrified over their complete defeat. 4 But let all who passionately seek you erupt with excitement and joy over what you’ve done! Let all your lovers, who continually rejoice in the Savior,[a] say aloud, “How great and glorious is our God!” 5 Lord, in my place of weakness and need, won’t you turn your heart toward me and hurry to help me? For you are my Savior and I’m always in your thoughts. So don’t delay to deliver me now, for you are my God. Footnotes:
The Passion Translation (TPT)The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com I heard the Lord say, "Trust Me and then watch what I will do with your trust."
I then saw a hand which was filled with a substance that looked similar to molding clay or putty. The clay/putty seemed to have life within it's own existence. I knew this substance was our "trust", in the hand of the Lord. I watched as the hand placed the clay into a amber-tinted glass bottle and upon entering the bottle it began to multiply as if cloning itself. No longer was it one entity but rather many different entities, transforming into various shapes and forms. Our trust in the Lord was alive and became whatever it needed to become, to transform into the answers to our prayers. *** Amber colored bottles are used to protect the contents within the bottle. The amber color lessens the opportunity for the bottle's contents to be accessed from other outside sources such as harmful rays which can compromise the integrity, strength and effectiveness of the contents within. www.thethreefoldcord.org by Michael King
The past day and a half since Billy Graham’s passing, I have been asking the Lord what He wanted to say about the event, as I felt there was prophetic significance to it. I had something else planned for my weekly blog post, but held off on posting it as I wanted to hear clearly what God wanted to say, and to make sure that I wasn’t simply creating something out of my own mind. From the time I heard about his death, a scripture verse has been rolling around in my mind. “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24). Mark Chironna prophesied years ago that God was getting ready to release a multitude of people to do the work of the Kingdom (link to clip at the end of the article), and Benny Hinn stated that the sign this would be so would be Billy Graham’s death. Personally I don’t like the idea of using one person’s death as a sign of something, because God is anti-death. Nevertheless, the contents of John 12:24 matches with the word Mark Chironna/Benny Hinn gave—that ultimately this event would bear much fruit, multiplying into many seeds from the one. The Lord impressed a second verse upon me as I was pondering and meditating on this matter: “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins. (Mark 2:21-22)” I believe this verse signifies that Reverend Graham’s death is the sign that an old wineskin has ended and a new one is being established. To be clear, it could sound dishonoring to Billy Graham to call him an “old wineskin”, but that isn’t where I am coming from, and is NOT what I am saying. Usually, wine gets better as it ages, so old wine isn’t bad—just different. Every year the same vine will produce different grapes, and those different grapes will be similar, but invariably have different flavor from the year prior. A new wineskin is designed for new wine not because it is better than the wine in years prior, but in order that the two would be compatible. Reverend Graham was born almost a full century ago, having died yesterday at age 99. It is a fact that God used him mightily to bring many people into the Kingdom. My parents took me to one of his crusades at the Phillies Stadium in Philadelphia when I was a kid, and while I don’t remember much of the event, I do recall that hundreds of people streamed onto the field when he gave an altar call for people to come and get born again. We honor him for what he has done and for the legacy he has left with us, but we also look forward into the new that God has for us. What I found most fascinating about the verses in Mark 2 is that I didn’t know the address of the verses when I first began to meditate on them, but when I looked them up I realized this section of verses began on 2:21—the same as the date of Billy Graham’s death, February 21! This, to me, is a clear prophetic confirmation that this is what the Lord is saying: Billy Graham’s passing is the sign of a new era.. We ought to spend some time praying for the Grahams as a family, as this must be a hard time for them, and even more so because it is so highly publicized. Let us pray that they would have grace and peace. We ought to pray and ask the Lord to help us step into the NEW that He has for us. As one era is drawn to a close and another era opens up, God is releasing new revelation to us as the Body of Christ. Finally, I encourage everyone to take some time to ask the Lord what new things He is releasing into our lives, and what this spiritual transition will look like for us personally. Clips of other prophetic words on Billy Graham’s passing: Mark Chironna and Benny Hinn Kim Clement Kat Kerr http://www.thekingsofeden.com/2018/02/prophetic-bulletin-billy-grahams-passing-sign-new-era/ God’s Splendor
For the Pure and Shining One Set to the melody of “For the Feast of Harvest,”[a] by King David 1 Lord, your name is so great and powerful! People everywhere see your splendor. Your glorious majesty streams from the heavens, filling the earth with the fame of your name! 2 You have built a stronghold by the songs of babies. Strength rises up with the chorus of singing children. This kind of praise has the power to shut Satan’s mouth. Childlike worship will silence[b] the madness of those who oppose you. 3 Look at the splendor of your skies, your creative genius glowing in the heavens. When I gaze at your moon and your stars, mounted like jewels in their settings, I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all! But when I look up and see such wonder and workmanship above, I have to ask you this question: 4 Compared to all this cosmic glory,[c] why would you bother with puny, mortal man or be infatuated with Adam’s sons? 5 Yet what honor you have given to men, created only a little lower than Elohim,[d] crowned like kings and queens[e] with glory and magnificence. 6 You have delegated to them mastery over all you have made, making everything subservient to their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers.[f] 7–8 All the created order and every living thing of the earth, sky, and sea-- the wildest beasts and all the sea creatures-- everything is in submission to Adam’s sons. 9 Lord, your name is so great and powerful. People everywhere see your majesty! What glory streams from the heavens, filling the earth with the fame of your name! Footnotes:
The Passion Translation (TPT)The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com James 1 The Passion Translation (TPT)Faith and Wisdom1 Greetings! My name is Jacob,[a] and I’m a love-slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m writing to all the twelve tribes of Israel who have been sown as seeds[b] among the nations.
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested[c] it stirs up power within you to endure all things. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. 5 And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.[d] 6 Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. 7–8 When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable.[e] Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition? 9 The believer who is poor still has reasons to boast, for he has been placed on high. 10 But those who are rich should boast in how God has brought them low and humbled them, for all their earthly glory will one day fade away like a wildflower in the meadow. 11 For as the scorching heat of the sun causes the petals of the wildflower to fall off and lose its appearance of beauty,[f] so the rich in the midst of their pursuit of wealth will wither away. 12 If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God! 13 When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation. 14 Instead it is each person’s own desires and thoughts that drag them into evil and lure[g] them away into darkness. 15 Evil desires give birth to evil actions. And when sin is fully mature it can murder you! 16 So my friends, don’t be fooled by your own desires! 17 Every gift[h] God freely gives us is good and perfect,[i] streaming down from the Father of lights,[j] who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness[k] and is never subject to change. 18 God was delighted[l] to give us birth by the truth of his infallible Word[m] so that we would fulfill his chosen destiny for us and become the favorite ones out of all his creation![n] 19 My dearest brothers and sisters, take this to heart: Be quick to listen,[o] but slow to speak. And be slow to become angry, 20 for human anger is never a legitimate tool to promote God’s righteous purpose.[p] 21 So this is why we abandon everything morally impure[q] and all forms of wicked conduct.[r] Instead, with a sensitive spirit[s] we absorb God’s Word, which has been implanted within our nature, for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us.[t] 22 Don’t just listen to the Word of Truth and not respond to it, for that is the essence of self-deception. So always let his Word become like poetry written and fulfilled by your life![u] 23 If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning.[v] 24 You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word,[w] but then you go out and forget[x] your divine origin. 25 But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty[y] are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do![z] 26 If someone believes they have a relationship with God but fails to guard his words then his heart is drifting away and his religion is shallow and empty.[aa] 27 True spirituality[ab] that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans,[ac] and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values. Footnotes:
The Passion Translation (TPT)The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com Ephesians 5 The Passion Translation (TPT)Living in God’s Love5 Be imitators of God in everything you do,[a] for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters. 2 And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us. His great love for us was pleasing to God, like an aroma of adoration—a sweet healing fragrance.[b]
3 And have nothing to do with sexual immorality, lust, or greed—for you are his holy ones and let no one be able to accuse you of them in any form. 4 Guard your speech. Forsake obscenities and worthless insults; these are nonsensical words that bring disgrace and are unnecessary. Instead, let worship fill your heart and spill out in your words. 5 For it has been made clear to you already that the kingdom of God cannot be accessed by anyone who is guilty of sexual sin, or who is impure or greedy—for greed is the essence of idolatry. How could they expect to have an inheritance in Christ’s kingdom while doing those things? Living in God’s Light6 Don’t be fooled by those who speak their empty words and deceptive teachings telling you otherwise. This is what brings God’s anger upon the rebellious! 7 Don’t listen to them or live like them at all. 8 Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light! 9 And the supernatural fruits of his light[c] will be seen in you—goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Then you will learn to choose what is beautiful to our Lord. 11 And don’t even associate with the servants of darkness because they have no fruit in them; instead, reveal truth to them. 12 The very things they do in secret are too vile and filthy to even mention. 13 Whatever the revelation-light exposes, it will also correct, and everything that reveals truth is light to the soul.[d] 14 This is why the Scripture says, “Arise, you sleeper! Rise up from the dead and the Anointed One will shine his light into you!”[e] |
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