Living At A Higher Altitude

Greeting

Move the Mission Around the World Dinner - Bring your wallets!!!

I’m so thankful for my wife…

Text

Daniel 6:6–10 NKJV

6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

I’m going to preach what God has dealt with me about: “Living At A Higher Altitude”.

Somebody is about to get some help today…

Background

Captive in Babylon (Stolen)

We are living in digital Babylon today.

Stealing from the Stealer

Let me speak to someone: your promise is not dead - it’s only stolen!

Your ministry is not dead - it’s only stolen!

And there needs to be some righteous indignation come out of somebody who is sick and tired like I am of the Stealer having his way!

Living At A Higher Altitude

In Babylon, Peculiar Things Begin Happening

In this strange land, even stranger things were taking place.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had decided that they were not going to live like every one else in Babylon: “We are not going to eat the king’s meat.”

Daniel 1:8–9 NKJV

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

So they told the guy in charge of them, bring us grain or beans. We’ll eat that.

And the Prince of the Eunuchs was afraid that they would appear as though they were not eating the meat, and the king would kill them and the prince for doing this. So they said, “Give us a few days, and see if God doesn’t keep us healthy.”

And when the time was up, God had kept them physically, and not only that, they were healthier than anyone else there. And now the king started taking an interest in them and found them to be very wise.

We could talk about how Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image to be worshipped. And the the three young men said, “We’re not going to bow.”

And when they didn’t, King Neb’ said, “Guys, I’m about to slide you in the oven. Where is this God of yours when you’re thrown into the flame?”

Daniel 3:16–17 NKJV

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

And that Aramic wording puts an emphasis on “we”. In other words, they were implying that God Himself was going to deal with this prideful king. They didn’t have to speak for Him. And God delivered them, as there appeared a fourth one in the fire, and they weren’t harmed.

Separation

But in all of this, there were strong stances taken.

“We are not eating the king’s meat.”

“We are not bowing before the king’s golden image.”

They had separated themselves from the rest of Babylon! And it was through this separation that God was working miracles!

Daniel Was An Anomaly in Babylon

There was something special about this Daniel, too. It was almost as if he was living on a different plane than everyone else.

King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, he’s awakened, and he wants to understand it. He calls all his wise guys around him. “Tell me the meaning!”

They say, “Well, tell us the dream.”

He says, “I’ve lost it. I can’t remember. But I need to remember and get the meaning of it. So you are going to tell me the dream and the meaning, or I am going to cut you into pieces and make your houses into dunghills! And then when you do tell me, I will rain blessings on you.”

“We can’t!”

He says, “If you can’t, then I know all you were prepared to do is feed me lies to get by! You’re not wise at all! Tell me the dream now!”

And they responded:

Daniel 2:10–11 NKJV

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

You’re asking for the miraculous! Something only God can do! And God doesn’t dwell in the flesh!

But today, I’ve got some scripture that says otherwise:

John 1:1 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

There is a God whose dwelling is in the flesh! His name is Jesus!

But He also dwells in our flesh! The Word becomes flesh when I am full of the Holy Ghost!

And what those men were looking for that day is exactly what people are searching for THIS day! “We need somebody who God is dwelling in their flesh!!!”

And here came Daniel, empowered of the Lord. God revealed the answer to him. And he told the king. And he became blessed.

The Plot Against Daniel

But now, Daniel is a threat. And it’s time to deal with him. All the wise guys devise a plan. “If anyone prays to anyone but the king for 30 days, they’re going to be fed to the lions!”

Daniel 6:10 NKJV

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

He gave THANKS?!

1 Thessalonians 5:16–20 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies.

Colossians 4:2 NKJV

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

We are addicted to good preaching, but what we need is a good prayer meeting!

The Altitude Advantage

{USING A LADDER FOR ILLUSTRATION}

Coordinates are found using: longitude and latitude.

BUT, that does not account for the height at which you are at: the altitude.

My coordinates might say one thing, but my altitude tells another story!

Daniel Was Living At A Higher Altitude

The way Daniel lived kept him at a higher altitude - even in the worst of circumstances!

His prayer life lifted him above! He gave thanks when most could not be thankful!

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 94:18–19 NKJV

18 If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

From a few steps above everybody else, Daniel, at a higher altitude, could say:

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

And in every step up to a higher altitude, Daniel was SEPARATING himself from Babylon!

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus… look full in His wonderful face… and the things… of this world… will GROW STRANGELY DIM! … IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE!

GOD IS CALLING US HIGHER!!!

The Midnight Hour - Paul and Silas

Acts 16:16–26 NKJV

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Paul looked at Silas and said, “I’ll tell you what, brother… if you’ll lift your voice and sing a good old hymn, I’ll lead off in a word of prayer!”

And the Bible says in Acts 16:25 that AT MIDNIGHT, Paul and Silas prayed and sand hymns to God!

Let me ask you a question? What are you going to do in YOUR midnight hour?

What’s your midnight?!

Don’t push the panic button! Take it a step higher in your spirit! Give THANKS!

David’s fate was a lion’s den, but he prayed and thanked God - AND GOD SHUT THE MOUTH OF EVERY LION!

Paul and Silas’ fate was a dark and nasty prison, but in their midnight, they prayed and sang unto God - AND GOD SHOOK THEIR PRISON INTO SHAMBLES!

Romans 8:31 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Conclusion

And so, when everything’s going right, I’m gonna thank Him!

And when everything around me is on fire, I’m still gonna thank Him!

Because I know… if I can live at a higher altitude… it’s gonna put me in the receiving line of blessing… and when God comes looking for someone to receive the blessing… the people at a higher altitude are first in line!

For the next month, don’t beg God for NOTHING!

Tell somebody again - “Don’t push the panic button!” “Just put on the garment of praise!”

I am divinely sent today to let you know: it is time for you to move into the next glory in God!