Tag: Dreams

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

Positioned by God

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based on the LGG Study, Living by Faith in a Faithless Land / w2d5

Scripture: Our Road Map for the Journey / Daniel 2:36-49 (SOAP verse 44)

In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. Daniel 2:44

Observation and Application of the Journey

Daniel’s godly disposition, one of faith, faithfulness, and dependence on God, positioned him in the center of God’s will—the place of God’s purpose —to give Daniel and the others with him hope and a future. 🦋

Both the king’s dream and its interpretation were revealed as he had demanded. The interpretation did not entirely favor the king and his kingdom. While King Nebuchadnezzar could feel good about the fact that he was the head of all the earthly kingdoms represented in his dream, he was also delivered the news that “the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed… It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever.” Yet, even at this news, rather than becoming angry, the king showed his gratefulness to Daniel – he gave credit to Daniel’s God – elevating Him above all gods and kings

Not only did the king elevate Daniel’s God above all gods and kings, but because Daniel had courageously used the gift of vision and insight that God had given him, he allowed Daniel and his friends to live,  “and he elevated Daniel to a high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king’s court.1

All earthly kings and kingdoms will be brought down by God’s kingdom, which will stand forever!

While the King showed his gratefulness to Daniel – he gave credit to Daniel’s God – elevating Him above all gods and kings.

God had given Daniel and his friends gifts2, and because they used them well,3 the King saw God for who He was, and the four young men were positioned where God wanted them to be. Friends, when we choose to obey God rather than men and when we use the gifts He has given us, we, too, will find ourselves in the center of His will.

When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!”  But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 5:27-32. NET / KJV
Reflection on the Journey

When I look back over the course of my life, I can see so many ways God protected me because of where He had positioned me. One example that quickly comes to mind is when, for a myriad of reasons, at 29 years of age, I left the Baptist church I had grown up in, literally from the cradle, and began attending a Reformed Presbyterian Church. Through a series of events that included my parent’s Pastor, the death of my grandfather, the birth of my first daughter, and other underlying issues, God led me away from where I was comfortable to the place where He wanted me to be. Ten years later, nearly to the day, my daughter became sick, and because I had followed God out of one door and into another very unfamiliar door, not only was my life transformed by the teaching of God’s grace, but I had been positioned over the ten years in friendships and a school and a community of believers that God alone could have orchestrated and used to save my daughter’s life. He has continued to lead me through the 35 years that have followed, positioning and repositioning me through the years – some harder than others, but I can look and see and say through it all, my God has been in control.

Friends, this is only one of the ways that God used that one move of agonizing obedience to not only redirect my life but literally save and protect myself and my children in life and from death and other horrible outcomes. It is rarely easy to “follow” where God leads when we can’t see or even imagine the why or the outcome, but when we choose faithful obedience over our comfort or pleasing others, we will find (even when things don’t always have a happy or miraculous ending) that God positions us just where we are meant to be.

Prayer of response to the Journey

Father, how very great and loving You are. Thank You for the reminder of how You have worked in and throughout my life. Thank You for Your hand of mercy and of all-sufficient grace that I have seen through the years of my life. Thank You for being the God above all other gods and for the reminder of how what we choose to do and say can lead others to see Your greatness. Thank You for leading and guiding me and positioning me where You want me to be. Thank You for Your forgiveness when I have gone my own way. Thank You for working all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Thank You for equipping me with Your Spirit and gifts to serve You, and please help me use the gifts of teaching and encouragement for Your glory. Help those reading this post seek and follow You, know the gifts You have given them, and use them faithfully in this faithless land. Continually position us where You want us, where You can use us for Your glory and honor and praise. – In and for the name of Jesus, I pray – Amen! 💜

The More We Know about the Journey

Many scholars have contrasted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 with Daniel’s vision in chapter 7. Both passages reveal the coming world kingdoms, but the symbolism is strikingly different in each. The pagan king sees the kingdoms of this world as a towering work of art, impressive in size, value, and grandeur (albeit with feet of clay). God’s prophet sees the same kingdoms as bizarre, unnatural beasts, terrifying in aspect and behavior. It’s a difference of perspective: where man sees a stately, glittering tribute to himself, God sees a menagerie of aberrations. “Let us not be desirous of vain glory” (Galatians 5:26, KJV). gotquestions.org

For more insight, check out today’s blog post by the LGG team.

For further reading: Luke 1:31-33NET / KJV; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18NET / KJV

Posted in Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

The Reality of the Dream

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Choosing God Instead of the World – Recap of Week-5

A Love God Greatly Study

REFLECTIONS

We first heard about Joseph when God “enabled Rachel to become pregnant” and give birth to a son in chapter thirty. However, we didn’t really become acquainted with him until he was seventeen years old and dreaming dreams that seemed to imply that one day he would be in authority over his family and they would be bowing down to him. In our journey this week we have seen the reality of this dream not once but twice. We have seen the beauty of God’s sovereign control positioning Joseph just where he needed to be. We have witnessed Joseph’s raw emotions, we’ve watched battles with forgiveness, anger, sorrow, and fears, and we have seen bold steps of faith and surrender. Through it all we have seen God work in ways unimaginable to man as He positioned not just Joseph but his family and eventually the “nation of Israel” exactly where they were meant to be. Oh how I hope that you are enjoying this journey and the history of God’s people and our faith. I pray that you are finding hope for your battles – in seeing that God is in control, working everything completely and perfectly together for His people and purpose.

*I invite you to message me if you do not know know Jesus as your Savior, or if you have questions concerning faith

PREVIEW: Week-6

During our final week we will continue to explore the reasons, ways, and benefits of Choosing God Instead Of The World . We will travel the rest of the way through Genesis forty-six and complete the journey in chapter fifty with a few detours through other Old and New Testament passages. May He open our hearts and minds to see Him all along the way.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE POSTS or LGG Blogs YOU’LL FIND THE LINKS BELOW.

The Brothers Go Down to Egypt: https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2022/08/14/7563/

Affection for His Betrayers: https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2022/08/15/7580/

Love One Another: https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2022/08/16/7598/

For God Sent Me: https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2022/08/17/7607/

Here I Am: https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2022/08/18/7620/

Posted in Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study
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A Faithful Servant

Week 3, Day 4 of Choosing God Instead of the World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:2-11 (SOAP – Luke 16:10)

10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  NLT
Observation:
A glimpse of Joseph

Today’s passage from Genesis gives us a sneak peak at Joseph, whom we will continue to learn from in the coming weeks. Some of the things from today’s reading may be helpful to remember in future passages. While some speculate that Joseph was more loved than his brothers because he was the son of Rachel, the truth is that Joseph was loved more than all of his brothers because he born to Jacob in his old age, Genesis 37:3. As you can imagine, this caused problems with the brothers, as jealousy and hatred arose, fueled not only by the obvious display of Jacob’s love for Joseph, Genesis 37:3, but made worse by the dreams Joseph shared with them that seemed to be prophecies that he would one day rule over them. It also didn’t help that he gave a bad report to his father on how the brothers were caring for the sheep, Genesis 37:2. Scripture makes it clear that the brothers hated Joseph, leaves no doubt that the hate was fueled by jealousy, and clearly reveals that the hate destroyed relationships, Genesis 37:4, 8, 11.

Today’s Focus Verse

Today’s verse, Luke 16:10, is short and to the point. Basically it can be a stand-alone statement, “if you are faithful in a little you will be faithful in much and if you are dishonest in a little you will be dishonest in much”. However, there is much to be learned from it and the verses that surround it that make it much more than a general statement.

Application: How then should we Live?

We should be a faithful steward, not unfaithful. Being faithful with our ‘earthly’ wealth or things entrusted to us here will bear witness to what kind of stewards we will be with the responsibilities and treasures that God will entrust to us in His Kingdom.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, help us to be faithful stewards here so that we may be found even better stewards with the responsibilities and treasures of Your Kingdom. This to Your glory both on earth and in heaven. – Amen!

Your Turn:
  • Over what areas has God given you responsibility?
  • How can you be faithful in the small things in you life?
  • How can you be faithful in the big thing God has given you?
Want More?

Check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout
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Read Matthew 2:13-23

If we were to “soap” only one of these verses it most likely would be verse 16, where we read of Herod’s anger at being duped by the wise men. If we were to ‘soap’ the passage – we most likely would list the subsequent murder of all the little boys and note how the angel’s message and Joseph’s obedience were used to spare the life of Jesus. We might even note the similarities of this passage to that of a similar edict in Exodus from which Moses was spared, Exodus 1:15-22.

Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.

Matthew 2:16

However, as I read through this passage what caught my attention this time were several sets of repeated phrases; so I went back to highlight the unfolding story of these early days/years following Jesus’ birth. Notice with me there are two times where we read that “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream”, and once where he was “warned in a dream”, (13, 19, and 22). It is apparent in each instance that the angel brought instructions/warnings in order to protect but also to position them where God wanted them to be. This was another of the highlighted similarities. In verses 14 and 23 we read how the angel’s appearance and Joseph’s obedience fulfilled the prophecies that had been spoken. These same verses, 14 and 23, reveal Joseph’s obedient response to the angel’s instructions – which is the third set of highlighted similarities.

I believe we can learn much from these observations. We may not have an angel of the Lord appear to us in a dream but we do know that God has placed His Spirit in us to teach us and to remind us of all that He has said. We would be wise to be alert to His teaching and reminders as well as to live yielded and obedient as Joseph did. Another application comes in the form of comfort and peace knowing that God makes a habit of protecting and positioning His children according to His perfect plan – knowledge that leads us to a deeper trust.

 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:26