ELEVATION IS CAUSED BY ZEAL

ELEVATION IS CAUSED BY ZEAL

life and ministy

sharing with Pastor Dapo Adeniyi

The book of Daniel tells the story of 4 zealous Hebrew boys.

They were boys at the beginning but older men in later chapters of the book.

The king of Babylon took several of them into his palace for special training but it was the zeal displayed by this 4 that stood them out.

Zealous people do not seek attention or limelight but their zeal always speaks out loud.

The scores of other Hebrew children in the same situation also had a name as Hebrews and worshippers of the living God.

The problem was that, the others were nominal or marginal Christians.

They ruffled no feathers, as such they hoped that theirs would not be ruffled.

They would soon discover how being a fence-sitter can put someone in the line of danger.

A dream soon came to the king which put all their heads in mortal danger.

Zealous Christians are agents of change but lukewarm Christians accept things as they are.

Daniel and his friends risked their comfort and security in the king’s house by following what their hearts told them.

They did not have to refuse the king’s food.

It was not unlawful, the food only grieved their spirits.

The king’s portion was expensive food and very nourishing.

The purse that they asked for was by contrast a bread of affliction.

Their action eventually increased their favour with God and with men.
Christians today try to work their ways into the hearts of those having power instead of being zealous for God.

What it takes to please men is what it costs to be their slaves.

No one who is a slave somewhere else can be a useful vessel in God’s hands.

No servant serves 2 masters.

The elevation of zealous Christians come from God.

Usually, it is the same tribulation that challenge their faith that provides the lader for them to rise.

One of many attributes of zealous people is that they are not afraid of hard work.

Now let’s examine some 4 additional attributes of zealous Christians:

Zeal is present when someone begins to do for God things that they don’t have to do.

God Himself probably would understand if they do not do those things.

By doing such things, gateways are opened for great increase.

Secondly, zealous people do not do just the minimum required, rather they exceed in the business and in the interest of God.

Thirdly, a zealous person is not troubled by the prospect of loss in the pathway of achieving their goal for God.

By risking loss, they often end up gaining all.

The same Hebrew boys did not mind going into the flame of roaring fire rather than bow to Babylon’s idol.

Zealous people are never alone.

They always find someone else to agree with them.

Even Jehu found Jonadab the son fo Rechab in 2 Kings 10.