FRESH WORD : Pastor Tochukwu Stephen

PASTOR TOCHUKWU STEPHEN SHARES THE WORD TODAY

MESSAGE TITLE: NO GUTS NO TROPHY

By: PASTOR TOCHUKWU STEPHEN

TEXT: Dan 1

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were young but not too young to remember what happened in Babylon. Some soldiers had come from Babylon with an order to carry away the Jews both old and young. These four children became victims of a cause they couldn’t understand nor explain. Indeed, nobody explained anything to them. And the captivity was to last seventy years. Seventy years of enslavement, torture and deprivation.

Do you know that many young people like you face similar situations in life? Problems come into your family, Daddy mummy do not offer explanation. The problem may move you from one place to the other in search of a dwelling place. This sometimes affects your education or career. Then you are perplexed. “It means I’m finished. We are leaving this place. I will not see my friends again. I don’t know what I’m going to do there, my education is ended”. No, If you understand the secret of success you will not think or talk like that.

Situations similar to that of the Hebrew children make many not to continue. There is a problem they cannot understand and nobody seems to give them explanation.

When you have unexplained problems do not spend all the time asking; “Why did that happen? Why this problem? Why are my parents like this? Why was I born by these people? Why was I rather not born by the president? Why are not my parents rich?”. Leave all those unexplained problems. You may not find an answer to the poverty in the family. You may not understand why your parents cannot buy you textbooks or pay your school fees. 

You may not understand why it is difficult to attend a good school. In Babylon, a challenge came. The four Hebrew children were selected to be a special people in a special school for a special training. It was an unexpected challenge for them. When they thought all was finished, God made them to be chosen. What a privilege, it was an uncommon privilege. The king appointed them a daily portion; they had guaranteed scholarship, provision, accommodation and the rest were available. The common privilege however did not make them to forget Bible principles for living. Some youths cease to pray, study the word or attend fellowship because of success. When success or scholarship come, don’t forget God.

In Babylon, things were done against the word of God. They dedicated their food to the idols before giving it to the people that have uncommon privilege. Although these four children had come to a new environment , they still kept everything they had been taught and were not given to compromise with idol. They were in school and enjoyed the scholarship but will not deny the faith. Theirs was an undiluted faith.

They refused to eat the kings meat and drink his wine. Their only portion was vegetables and water. Their confidence was not in the kings meat nor in the wine that has been sacrificed unto idol. They requested that they be examined at the end of ten days and were persuaded that they will appear plump, sturdy, strong, vigorous and well-fed. On the basis of compromising life and undiluted faith, they said, “test us in ten days, and you will see”. They sure had guts! The prince of the eunuchs agreed.

Their meals were not balanced as they were deficient in carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins and the rest.

At the end of the ten days, their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the kings meat” (Daniel 1:15).

They depended on God and because of their undiluted faith, they had the unusual blessing. When you refuse to mix Christianity with herbalist’s concoction or talisman, God will grant you success and uncommon promotion.

At the end of the training and education, “the king found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Misheal, and Azariah; therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the others including magicians and astrologers that were all in the king’s realm.

“ (Daniel 1:19-20).

When  examination was conducted and the result released, they were not in the same position with others. The four children were more knowledgeable than all the other student. They had unprecedented success, the situation was bad but God attracted God’s favour and promotion in a strange land.

Determine to live for God in all circumstances. Have guts and you’ll have trophies.

In other words, no guts, no trophy! But, no Christ, No guts either, for he said: “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Without repentance from sin and faith in Christ' atoning sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, without salvation and freedom form sin, you cannot have courage to face difficult situation- for that is what having guts in all about. To develop the courage needed to get your trophy, you need to;

First, Acknowledge your sins

Secondly, Repent of Them

Thirdly, Confess and Renounce them

Fourthly, As Jesus to come into your heart and be your lord and personal saviour

What did you gain from this sermon? 
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