<TITLE>02. Par 7-11</TITLE>L-7 Daniel had three of those companions that were with him. You know, it's good when you're away from home to find somebody that's with you, somebody that will stand by you, a real good friend. Oh, my, in foreign lands when you find someone who wants to be your buddy and loves you and stands by you, that's worth so much, especially a stranger.
And these brethren were taken away from their city. And their city was burned, and all their vessels and the holy things of God had been taken down into Babylon and was put in the treasure house of King Nebuchadnezzar who had carried on... a great, gran--Gentile king...

L-8 Now, if--if God has permitted that, for their city to be burned, their church burned, and taken them down into the city, it was because that they'd got away from God. But He still had a believer that He could put His hands on and say, "This is my servant." God has always had a witness somewhere. He never leaves Hisself without a witness. No matter if it's got down sometime to just one, but He's always had somebody that He could put His hands on and say, "This is My servant and he will do as I tell him." Now, we like that.

L-9 Noticing then, that when these brethren were down there they were put to a test, a very beautiful example of what a true believer comes to when he really accepts the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. He's always put to the test. Satan's still in the testing business. And it only comes about to help you. It's for your good. "Every son that cometh to God must be tried, chastened, scourged;" and other words, give a little thrashing, straightening up. And if God gives us some chastisement and we can't stand it, then we become illegitimate children and not the children of God.
Now, man that's really got his faith set towards heaven, no matter what takes place here on earth, he's still got his faith set towards heaven. His friends may forsake him; his family may forsake him; his pastor may forsake him; but there's one that won't forsake him; that's God. And when your mind is made up, I like that.

L-10 Daniel had burnt all the bridges behind him. He wasn't planning on going back any more. He wasn't watching his back trail; he was looking... Forsaking those things which were in the past, he pressed on to the mark of the high calling. That's what we should be doing. That's what the Church should be doing.
And as I notice then, God permitted Satan to give him a test. And, oh, they tested them by the fire. They tested him also by the lion's den. And every instance God brought them out more than victorious. "Many are the testings of the righteous: but God delivereth them out of them all." How marvelous that is. How we appreciate that, trials, tribulations, tests, all working for the good. After while God can see then, and He can put His trust in you, and then He will do great things for you.

L-11 Now, we find out then that Daniel became a instrument in the hand of God while he was away from his own people, out of his own city, away from his own church; in a strange land, God used him. Now, you can be away from whatever you may be; you can be away from all your loved ones, or you can be away from your church, but you can still be an instrument in the hands of God. God can use you for a testimony or for anything that He wishes to use you for.


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