Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Daniel 1:1-9
1-2 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3-4 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5-6 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. Now from among those of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8-9 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine, which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
In this season where the church is being unconstitutionally prohibited from gathering and where tyrannical state political leaders are releasing and freeing criminals from prison and imprisoning and removing freedom law abiding citizens, I have been led to study the times past, where people of God were taken captive, suppressed and treated unfairly.
In the 7th century BC, Jerusalem and Judah were besieged, defeated and taken captive, the temple was destroyed and robbed and the people of God were enslaved. They lost everything, including their freedom to gather in their temple and worship.
Many of the best, smartest, most talented young men were taken and made eunuchs… for those who do not know, eunuchs were castrated men who served the king. Daniel, among many other amazing young men were taken captive, castrated and trained to be the personal salves of the king. These young men had every reason to be angry, bitter and defeated. Daniel however did not fall pray to his atrocious circumstances and the abuse that he endured… the bible says that Daniel PURPOSED IN HIS HEART THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF – Daniel made a decision that he would not defile himself with anything, whether it was food, behavior, or culture.
In the midst of these horrendous circumstances, Daniel continued to worship, to pray, to meditate upon the Word and to honor God in all things – he recognized that the only power that the devil had, was to tempt Daniel to defile himself and to destroy himself from the inside out – Daniel would not bow to the devil’s temptation and was raised up by God in favor and goodwill.
Daniel was raised up by God and used mightily as a prophet of God in a time of captivity. When Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself and that he would honor God, regardless of circumstances, he denied the devil access into his life and gave the Lord access to raise him up and use him.
In this unprecedented season in history that we are now living in, we need to be assured of this… the Lord wants to raise us up as believers and He wants to uses us mightily! The devil cannot block our promotion… all he can do is attempt to lure us into self destruction, inner pollution and self defilement.
In the New Covenant, self-defilement has less to do with what we eat and drink and more to do with our thoughts, our attitudes, our words and our actions. No matter how unfair, no matter how grievous, no matter how suppressive our environment becomes, purpose in your heart that you will not defile yourself! Purpose in your heart that you will stay full of the Word, full of the Spirit and full of faith and power – purpose in your heart that you will speak life and that you will release the power and the anointing of God continually, in Jesus Name!
As in the time of Daniel, this is our season to be raised up. Daniel and the other young eunuchs were all castrated with the intent that they would never be fruitful, however God raised them up as spiritual fathers to many… to this day they remain fathers in the faith with billions of spiritual children. Preventing the gathering of believers is the devil’s attempt to castrate the church, but as with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the other eunuchs… the devil’s attempt to castrate the church will backfire! God will raise us up stronger than ever and we will do more in captivity than we ever did when we were free!
As Daniel did, I am praying that this season of captivity will end soon, and it is ending a little at a time in many parts of the world as I write this… but until our season of captivity totally ends, determine in your heart that you will not defile yourself, and determine in you heart that you will burn for Jesus and be used of Him like never before, in Jesus Name!
Blessings on you, Nick
