The Growing Years
- ‘Heroes’ of the faith who have accomplished great feats all have one thing in common:
- Experience!
- Luke 14:28 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it
- God does not use unproven vessels to accomplish His greatest tasks
- Romans 5:2-5 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
- KJV: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
- We see Elijah as a hero who challenged false prophets at a ratio of 450:1 and prevailed with supernatural results (1 Kings 18)
- Do we see him a few years earlier being affected by the drought/famine that he prophesied would come while having to trust God for every meal and drink?
- Do we see him subjected to trusting God to provide for him through a widow who was ready to die?
- Do we see him crying out to the LORD in distress to raise a young man to life?
- Do we see the internal struggle of being viewed by an unknown number of people as the ‘troubler of Israel”?
- David was a young stripling who challenged a war veteran and defeated him in a glorious manner (1 Samuel 17)
- But do we see the young boy who was sent out to the fields to care for the sheep?
- Do we see the mental struggle when the bear cub snatches a ewe lamb? Or when a young lion attempts to run off with another one?
- Do we witness the pain of rejection from a family who did not think to call in the youngest when the prophet told his dad to bring his sons?
- What is the Daniel experience?
- Daniel 1:8 8 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.
- Daniel purposed [established, determined] in his heart that he would not defile himself
- Daniel 1:12 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
- The test led to the gift. God gave all four of them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. In addition, Daniel was given understanding in all visions and dreams. This was not an arbitrary gift without sacrifice.
- Just a few months later, Nebuchadnezzar made the decree to kill all the wise men of Babylon.
- Daniel 2:26-28 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days…
- Nebuchadnezzar receives another warning in his dream after years of rebellion. Daniel pleads with him to turn from evil and become righteous.
- In stark contrast, chapter 5 records a stern rebuke from Yahweh with imminent judgment pronounced. Again, Daniel reflected the heart of Yahweh in his response. Also note how Daniel was unmoved by gifts and promotion.
- Daniel 5:17 17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
- Daniel 5:22-23 22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
- Acts 4:13 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
- We will never make extraordinary moves with ordinary preparation
- Without experience we are Peter in Matthew 26:74 74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
- What are your trials this season? What are they meant to prepare you for?
- Pray: Lord, what can I do to bring You the most glory in this situation?
