QUOTES FOR MAY 17, 2026

 

EXTRAORDINARY

 

Intro:  Today we are going to look at the last part of Daniel 11:32, where it says, “But they that know their God will do exploits.”  In the NIV, “they will firmly resist him.”

God is looking for people that know Him and this will give them ability to do extraordinary things. 

 

John Wesley said, “Give me 100 people who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God and I will shake the world.”

D.L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a fully consecrated men.  I want to be that man.”

 

1.  Last week we look a little at the life of Daniel.  Today we will look at his life and the

     Example he was to his time and what we can learn from his life for our time. 

 

     Daniel was extraordinary because he lived close to God.  I will now reveal a list of

     Things from Daniel’s life that made him as Dan 11:32 states make a person who does

     Exploits.

 

1.  Daniel knew God.   Dan 11:32  Talk about how the disciples had been with Jesus.    

2.  Daniel was a man of prayer.  Dan 2:17-18, 6:10 & 9:1-19  As a man of prayer, he

     Prayed three times a day and was so consistent even his enemies knew his schedule.

     As a man of prayer he interceded for his nation.  Daniel learned as we did that even

     Before the request was out of his mouth the answer was on the way. 

3.  Daniel was a man of scripture.  Dan 9:2 He knew that the scriptures were God`s

     Words to him.  Do you? 

4.  Daniel was a man of integrity and righteousness.  Ezek 14:14.  The prophet Ezekiel

     Considered Daniel equal to Job and Noah as the greatest men of righteousness.  He

     Was highly regarded by Ezekiel.  Ezek 28:3 as a man of integrity he was without

     Blame in his profession and conduct.  Dan 6:4  There is nothing wrong ever written

     About him.  Only Joseph and Jesus had this privilege.

5.  Daniel resolved to stay pure and undefiled in Babylon.  Dan 1:9-12  He practiced self

     Control and discipline in the midst of idolatry, slander, self indulgence and petty

     Politics.  He refused the gifts of Belshazzar when offered.

5.  Dedicated himself and his giftings to God.  Dan 5:12, 6:2  He was handsome and

     With out defect but he had a good attitude, was quick to learn, was understanding and

     Well informed.  He had a keen mind, was knowledgeable, could explain riddles and

     Solve problems.  He had exceptional abilities but they belong to God and were

     Reserved for His use.  Paul wrote there are many giftings but one spirit who gives all. 

     Are your time, talents and resources dedicated to God.

6.  He always acknowledged God.  Dan 2:27-28

     He acknowledged him before, Nebuchadnezzer, Belshazzar and Darius.  This won

     Him titles and positions of authority.  He was the Governor of Babylon and the Prime

     Minister of the Persian Empire.  He was also the Chief among the wise men.  It also

     Earn him enemies who try to destroy him.  Satanic powers hate people who

     Acknowledge God. God called him highly esteemed and regarded.  Dan 10:11

7.  A man of courage.  Daniel resolve to not be assimilated into Babylonian society.  He

     Stood up to Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.  Men of courage refuse to conform to

     The images and standards of the world.  But choose to be transformed by the renewing

     Of their minds.  Rom 12:2

8.  He won all moral conflicts.  Daniel knew that partial surrender, syncretism,

     Assimilation, compromise, apathy, procrastination, lethargy and neglect were his

     Enemies.  He was in it for the long haul and he was not about to give in.  His body,

     Mind, soul, strength and spirit were God’s.  He knew he had to give an account of his

     Life.  He knew that in the world he lived, moral stands were issues of life and death.

     Do you know that?  Right now there are people watching you.  Your resolve in

     This area could be keeping someone from Christ. 

9.  He was a man of humility.  He fasted, prayed humble himself.  Daniel could have got

     All proud because of his prophetic gifts, ability to see visions and interpret dreams. 

     Today we give people like him Christian shows and put them on pedestals.  Daniel

     Could have demanded respect, honour even worship because he was the chief of the

     Wise men, governor of Babylon and Prime Minister of Persia,  He didn’t.   He fasted,

     Prayed, interceded and humble himself before God,  He knew that titles, honors and

     Favors come and go but God’s approval is eternal.  He knew that self esteem,

     Approval and worth came from God.  Problem today is most of us don’t quite see it

     That way.  This was the problems of the 80’s and even today. 

 

2.  Daniel was an over comer.  He knew that with God all things were possible.  His

     fellow captives, Shadrah, Meshach and  Abednego knew this as well. 

 

a.  In Rev 2-3 it tells us over comers  are hard workers, persevere, test things for

     Validity, endured hardships and do not grow weary.  They are willing to suffer, are

     Faithful to the point of death.   They don not renounce their faith, they have love,

     Walk in faith  and serve in any way they can. 

b.  The over comer keeps His word, do not deny His name, endure with patience and

      Will be kept in the hour of temptation. 

 c.  In this same two chapters the rewards for the over comer are, being able to eat from

      The tree of life, crown of life, hidden manna, a white stone, a new name, , authority to

      Rule over the nations, the morning star, a new outfit, name in the book of life,

      Acknowledge of Christ before all the universe, they will be a pillar in the temple of

      God, which they will never have to leave, write on them the new of  New Jerusalem,

       The Lord’s new name, and lastly the right to sit with Him on His throne.

d.  I have just given the material to be a over comer and a person whose does exploits. 

     Now let us go and be like the three Hebrew children. 

 

  

 

    

 

CHRIST'S AMABASSADOR

 

Christ’s Ambassadors – 2 Cor 5:17 – March 16,2014

 

Paul shares five power truths or realities for us today.

 

1. If anyone is in Christ.  They are new creatures.  The old has passed away all things are new.  You have passed from death unto life.  We forget what has been in the past and press towards the high mark or calling of God.  The past is an anchor that keeps the ship of life from setting sail into a new and adventurous future.  Vs 17

 

2. All this is from God.  He has reconciled or brought back into relationship all those who were estranged from Him.  He has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  Love is the foundation in which grace and mercy flow from God’s throne to a lost world in desperate need of hope and a future.  Vs 18

 

3. God has reconciled the world to Himself through Jesus Christ.  Not counting mankind’s sins against them.  He taken them as far as the east is from the west and thrown them from Him.  He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.  Matt 28:19 and Mark 16:17.  Vs 19

 

4. We are Christ’s ambassadors.  We are His representatives.  He makes His appeal through us.  So we implore all to be reconciled to God.  Vs 20

 

5.  God made Jesus Christ who had no sin to be sin for us.  He took upon his body our sins and iniquities.  He shed His blood so our sins could be cleansed and forgiven.  So we might become the righteousness of God.  What an act of love and a promise.  Vs 21

CHRIST OUVER VICTOR

 

Christ Our Victor – Mark 11:: 23-25

 

Intro:  Today we are spending our time in the Book of Mark.  Last week I said I was deviating from my systematic study of the Bible and 1 John to spend some time teaching from the gospels and the book of Acts.

 

“Have Faith in God” Jesus answered

 

1.  In this account Jesus had cursed a fig tree in vs. 12-14, and used it as an example for

     Faith.  Jesus states here in vs. 22, Have faith in God.  Faith is an incredible gift from

     God.  It is a communicated attribute of God given to all men.  It is the ability to

     Believe in what you cannot see.  At this time of year children believe in Santa Claus.

     Though they have no actually proof he exists.

2.  Faith allows us to believe in God though we cannot see Him.  Faith is the avenue or

     Path to the unseen.  Heb 11:1, “says that faith is the substance of things hope for and

     The evidence of things not seen.”  Faith is simply trust  Jesus says faith helps

     To see and hear, that which is not able to be seen or heard through normal means.

 

I tell you the truth if anyone says to this mountain, “Go throw yourself into sea,” and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will done for him.

 

There are three aspects to this statement. 

 

1.  You have to pray express it aloud.  Matt 18: 18-20, talks about how whatever you

     Bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth is loosed in heaven      

     And if two or three agree on anything on earth you ask for it shall be done for you by

     Your Father in heaven.  This creates for you the reality and the necessity of your

     prayer request. 

2.  Don’t doubt.  Mark knew the power of doubt and spoke from his own personal

      Experience.  He had left Paul and Barnabus on their first missionary journey.  He also

      Remembered his mentor Peter’ experience on the lake when Peter tried to walk on

      Water.  That is why he wanted to emphasize this.  He knew Jesus’ secret of success. 

      Doubt was removed from Jesus life because He believe God’s word.  He was in

      Constant communication with God and He wanted to do God’s will.  You must do the

     Same. 

3.  Believe.  Simply put, stand on God’s word and promise.  If He says He going to do

      Something He will.  Brian Ruud said, “Everyman may be a liar but the word of God

      Is True.”  Oral Roberts said, “If God said it, I believe and that settles it.”  I love the

      Fact that Mark was the first gospel written and its emphasis was faith in God. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours

 

1.  Mark is a gospel of Jesus Christ showing His power and glory.  The good news of

      Salvation through His atoning death.  Jesus through his sacrifice gave us access to

      The throne of God.  Heb 4:15  This gives us confidence in prayer.

2.  Jesus assures us here that whatever we ask in prayer, believe and you will receive.

     This gospel records 18 of Jesus’ miracles and in each situation Jesus’ answer was

     Immediate.  God only with holds His answer because something is hindering it, the

     Answer has a timing effect or the answer is no.

3.  Jesus says today in a simple and concrete manner.  “Believe and receive.”  Jesus is

     The greatest man who ever lived and He wants to help you.  As He ministered to

      Blind Bartimaeus on the road to Jericho, healed the man at the Pool of Siloam, raised,

      Jarius’ daughter and Lazarus so Jesus is here to help you.  In a few of moments we

      Will open our altars and Jesus will help you today.  There are 42 promises in this

      Book that show the Lord’s promise to help.  The theme of this book is, “The servant

      Will immediately meet your need.”

 

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you.

 

1.  Jesus makes it clear that unforgiveness will stop prayer and God’s resources.   So

     Simply put, Forgive and you will be forgiven.  God considers this matter of the

     Utmost importance.  Unforgiveness will hinder every area of your life.  It is like

     A spiritual cancer there is no value in it.  It stops everything and kills all good that

     Comes your way.

2.  There are 11 biblical hindrances or reasons why prayer fails.

 

a. Disobedience.  Dt 1:45, 1 Sam 14:37 & 28:6

b.  Secret sin.  Ps 66:18

c.  Indifference.  Pr 1:28

d.  No mercy for others.  Pr 21:13

e.  Despising the law.  Pr 28:9

f.   Shedding of innocent blood.  Is 1:15

g.  Iniquity.  Is 59:2 & Mic 3:4

h.  Stubbornness.  Zec 7:13

i.  Instability.  James 1:6-7

j.  Unforgiveness.  Mark 11:25

k.  Self indulgence.  James 4:3

 

3.  My counsel is to remove anything from your life that hinder God’s blessing and

     Start living in God’s best.  Jesus did and so can you.  The same Holy Spirit that

     Was upon Him is in you. 

4.  Mark presented Jesus as a moving, active, energetic Saviour.  His deity is constantly

     Shown.  He is the Son of Man, the Messiah and He gave His life as a ransom for   

     Many

5.  Mark is a story teller and gives considerable attention to Jesus’ looks and gestures.

     In the 16 chapters of this book, Jesus is shown as decisive, active as he moves from

     One situation to the next.  Jesus is the Conqueror.  He is the Conquering Servant and

     The Triumphant Servant in His resurrection

6.  This book was written to a Roman audience who thought might and power were the

      Most valuable assets of life.  Jesus is presented by Mark as Conqueror of anything.

      You need to know that church.  The world, the flesh and the devil are no match for

      Jesus.  Come to Him and receive your victory today.  The strong theological truth

      From Mark’s perspective is Jesus is the winner and you will be as well.  You may

      Lose a few battles in life but you will win the war.  Amen. 

QUOTES FOR MAY 16, 20226

 

CHILDREN OF GOD

 

Children of God. – July 8, 2007

 

Intro:  Today we begin a two part message on being the Children of God found in

1 John 3:1-10.  A theme of great importance considering today there are so many wanting to belong and suffering from loneliness and rejection.

 

1. Recently a study was done in countries where abortion and homosexuality is tolerated.

    The rate of marriage has dropped dramatically, as well as people living alone.  In

     Sweden 60% of adults now live alone.  Denmark its 50%.  The Canadian mosaic for

     The family has changed, 20& of Canadian live in a single family home, 47% are

     blended families and 25% are traditional families.  Mankind does not have to live this

     way.  John says.

 

How great is the love of the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.  And that is what we are.  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

 

1. God has lavished on us His great love.  The word lavish means to extravagantly,   

    Excessively, freely or liberally give.  God’s agape love which is described in

    1 Cor 13:4-8 is lavishly given to us.  Church you don’t have to feel unloved.  He

    Wants you to excessively receive His love.  John uses the concept of Fatherhood when

     He talks about love.  Dad, did you know 85% of a children’s self esteem is developed

     Through the relationship with a father figure.  That is why there is so many self

     esteem problems in our society.  Men by and large have abdicated their    

     Responsibilities as Father’s.   Talk about James Dobson’s Dad.

2.  Church we are Children of God.  Paul talks about this concept in his writings. 

      Sonship comes through Jesus Christ.  We were strangers and slaves but now we are

      sons and daughters of God.  This bible has many titles for those who belong to Christ. 

      We are beside children of God, heirs of salvation and God, Children of the light,

      family of God, the body and bride of Christ, children of the day and the church.  Paul

      beautiful puts its this way in Gal 4:6, “because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of

      His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father,”  John closes this

      sentence by stating with an exclamation point.  And that is what we are.  The children

      Of God. 

3.  John then states that we should not be surprised by the world not knowing or

     understanding us.  The world scorns, hates and persecutes us.  They are doing this

     Because they did not know Christ.  They killed him.  His purity, lifestyle, teaching and

     Love was beyond them.  Talk about what the Pharisees said about the woman who

     Anointed Jesus.

 

Dear friends, now we are the children of God and what shall we be, has not yet been made known.  But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

 

 

 

1.  John first states that as children of God, what will we shall be has not yet been fully

     known.  Paul states in 1 Cor 15:51-58, that we shall be changed from mortal and

     corruptible, to immortal and incorruptible.  He also tell us in 1 Thess 4, it will happen

     in the twinkling of an eye.  This is what is called the blessed hope. 

2.   John states, that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him.  Jesus stated in Luke

       24:39, that His physical makeup was flesh and bones.  Talk about this. 

3.  John then says, we shall see Him as He is.  In Rev 1:12-16, we have a picture of what

     His features are now. Have someone read. In this verse we see Jesus as the Soon

     Coming King.  His immanent coming is a theme of all New Testament writers.

     In the O.T. there are 1835 references and 17 books that give it prominence.  In the

     N.T.  There are 318 references, 1 out every 30 verses, and 23 of the 27 books deal

     with directly.  For every prophecy on the first coming there are 8 on His second.

 

Everyone who has this hope in Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure.

 

1.  The second coming is design to be not only a promise or hope; it is design to move us

      To action.  In this case it is to keep oneself purified.  James states in James 1:27, that

      Pure religion, is to take care of widows and orphans and to keep oneself from being

      Polluted by the world.

 

2.  Purity is an act of the will and a deliberate choice.  Choosing to take what you have

     Inside which is the righteousness of Christ and applying to all areas of your life. 

     Talk about the feeding of the two animals inside.  

3.  Purity is understanding you have been bought with a price, so we are to glorify God

     With our bodies.  It is realizing you are a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Making a choice

     To live separate from the world.  Talk about James Robison’s transformation.

 

Everyone who sins breaks the law, in fact sin is lawlessness.

 

1.  John was raised under Jewish law which believed as we do that that breaking God’s

     Law brings punishment.  In John’s day, until Christ came it was 614 laws.  Christ

     Reduced it to two.  Love, God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to

     Love our neighbour as ourselves.  Today if you don’t do this you are breaking the

     Law of God.  Jesus said in John 17, that this how people will know that we are His

     Disciples.

2.  Sin has three consequences,  It brings eternal, physical and spiritual separation from

     Him.

3.  John states that sin is lawlessness.  Sin has no truth, morals, standards or values.

     Everything goes. 

 

But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins and in Him is no sin.

DANIEL BACKGROUND

 

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes,  (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

 

     These first three verses are the background for the prayer of Daniel.  These three verses establish the time, place and reason why Daniel prayed.   It was the first year of Darius son of Xerxes.  Darius was crown prince of the Persian Empire. He was the eldest son of the Persian king Xerxes I and his wife Amestris, the daughter of Onophas. His younger brothers were Hystaspes and Artaxerxes, and his younger sisters were Rhodogyne and Amytis.  He was a Mede by descent.  So this is the time of the Medo Persian empire.  He was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom.  The Medo Persian empire at the time was the largest empire at the time.  It ran from the Mediterranean to India and 127 provinces.  Daniel was in charge of the Babylonian portion. 

 

     So here is Daniel in the first year of Darius’ reign, looking over the scriptures and the word of God.  He is reading the scroll and writings of Jeremiah.  He was reading Jeremiah 25:11, where God tells Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be empty, uninhabited and desolate for 70 years.  You see God had Spent 400 years telling Israel and Judah to repent, turn from idols, being immoral and unjust.  He sent prophet after prophet and in time they refused and judgment came.  Daniel had been part of that judgment.  Nebuchadnezzer was that hand of judgment.  Daniel was among the Jewish nobles who had been transported to Babylon with Jehoiakim,  Scholars put Daniel at 15-18 when he was taken the Babylon.  In Daniel 9, he is in his late eighties or nineties. 

 

     Daniel was pouring over the Jeremiah 25:11, meditating, seeking the meaning, wanting to understand how  and why it could happen.  Daniel does 6 things which are at characteristics of intercessory prayer. 

 

1.            He turned or sought the Lord. 

2.            Pleaded with him

3.            Daniel was in prayer

4.            He petition God

 

5.            Daniel fasted.  There are four types of fasting. 

 

a.            The Normal Fast which is a short fast for one or two day.  Going without food

b.            The Absolute Fast which can be from 3 days to 40.  Usually just water or liquids

c.            The Partial Fast.  Going without some type of food for a period of time.

d.            The Rotational Fast.  Skipping meals one or two a day for a period of time to prayer.

 

We do not know which one Daniel did.  But here are ten benefits to fasting

 

Benefits of Fasting and Prayer

2.1 1 – Deeper Intimacy with God

2.2 2 – Answers to Fervent Prayer

2.3 3 – Develop Humility before God

2.4 4 – Gain Wisdom and Understanding

2.5 5 – Authority over Demonic Strongholds

2.6 6 – Repentance and Salvation

2.7 7 – Personal Victories in Your Life

2.8 8 – Gaining Heaven’s Perspective

2.9 9 – God’s Protection and Help

2.10 10 – Commissioned to Ministry

 

6.    He put on sackcloth and ashes. 

 

      We need to have that same experience.  Our nation is turning from God.  We are seeing this right now.  This is urgent church.  We are on a knife edge.  Our nation is on a rapid descent to destruction.  If we do nothing God will hold us accountable.  This is our moment.  I know I cannot stand idly by.  We must pray.  God revive the church, bring revival heal and restore our land.  Next, week we will start looking at the first of five part of the prayer of Daniel.   I encourage you to join me over the next five weeks to pray for ourselves, family, church, city, province and nation.