It was 1857. No embers from earlier church revivals . The churches in the United States were dying and the USA was declining rapidly with them. Conflicts over slavery saw a nation was violently divided. Spiritually, the people had walked away from God and as the time passed, all appeared to be heading for disaster. Furthermore, a huge influx of immigrants arrived while the United States was already heading toward financial hard times. Financial Panic set in and financial devastation was just around the corner. There was one church in New York, that as a last stitch effort hired a lay man to begin visiting people door to door. Having a compassion for people and a heart for Christ, Jeremy Lamphier was that one man. But how can one man, stand strong transforming a nation defying all odds?
His diligent attempts to grow the church failed. Then, he thought, prayer was needed. He posted fliers throughout the city announcing a prayer meeting during the lunch hour for all who wished to stop by, beginning September 23, 1857. When the day arrived, he placed 20 chairs in the 3rd floor room and waited. At first it appeared no one would come. So, he sat and prayed alone. Then, gradually one by one six men arrived.
The following week there were 20 and then forty. On October 10, 1857 the stock market crashed, banks closed, railroads went bankrupt, factories closed, and unemployment rose. However, the numbers in the prayer meetings climbed to over 10,000 and spread throughout the nation and later around the world. Revival came from one man who had the idea to simply meet to pray. The civil war still came, life was hard. Meanwhile, millions around the world came to know Christ as Savior, defying all odds.
One Man Standing Strong, Defying All Odds
In 605 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar made his first invasion into Jerusalem and took captive the “brightest and the smartest of the royal line” to train them, indoctrinate them and use them for his advantage. Among these were Daniel. To ascertain their willingness to bow down, he had them castrated, placed them among the eunuchs, and ordered their names be changed. The new names were ones attached to pagan worship and pagan Gods, removing their own names which signified their faith in God. Additionally, he commanded their food be that from his own table; knowing this would defy their religious practices. In everything, he wanted them to become his puppets for political gain.
Despite his youth, Daniel stood strong defying all odds and ultimately transforming a nation. But part of that we will see later. But what were the characteristics of this young man that we can learn from? How are we to stand strong defying all odds so that we too can transform our nation?
Daniel 1:
3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a] and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.
6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Daniel’s Faithfulness
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Defying All Odds by God’s Strength
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them. And among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
How to Stand Strong, Defying All Odds, Transforming a Nation
- Trust God. It begins with an unwavering faith; but that kind of faith comes as we ask for it. Sometimes that means we go through trials. As we see God work through our trials, our faith grows.
- Prayer
- Study to know more of Him
- Determine to Follow God, regardless of how hard it may look at times.
- Never forget, the victory already is ours
There have been no great revivals that were not started with at least one man praying fervently for this. As we continue the study in Daniel, we will find that his secret was spending time with God in prayer. He and his friends joined together in prayer as well and this was what gave them strength, faith, and hope.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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God’s Glory Revealed in Poetry
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.