Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 8 August 2021 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Leadership Lessons From Bible Characters (VIII)

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TOPIC: Leadership Lessons From Bible Characters (VIII) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Devotional 8 August 2021)

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 18-22

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Daniel 6:1-23

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

MEMORY VERSE: “And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.” – 2 Chronicles 18:27

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
Service to others leads to greatness and happiness.

PRAISE WORSHIP: Take a worship song as led by the Holy Spirit

PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY:
AS THE LORD LIVES, HEAVEN WILL REWARD YOUR UNCOMPROMISING STAND AND FAITH IN GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

The MESSAGE:

Nowadays, many people find it difficult to stand for something, make a resolve to identify with a cause and stick to it to a successful end. Such people do not possess the attribute of quintessential leaders. Great leaders make quality decision and maintain their resolve without regard for consequences.

Also Read: OPEN HEAVEN 8 AUGUST 2021 – BE THANKFUL

Many of us know the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel, in Daniel 6, was a highly esteemed government official whose colleagues became jealous. They sought to get rid of him and knowing that he was a religious man, they convinced the king to enact a decree saying that prayer could be made to no god except for the king. Once the decree was made, Daniel continued praying and giving thanks to his God just as he always did. When he was caught praying, Daniel’s colleagues told their king and he was forced to throw Daniel into the den of lions. The next morning, the king found Daniel alive. The lions had not harmed him. Daniel’s faith in his God is what made him great in the first place. Knowing this, he refused to deny his God regardless of what might happen to him. That is the leadership lesson we should learn from Daniel. Great leaders follow this example and remain steadfast in their convictions regardless of what happens.

In another instance, a prophet named Micaiah the son of Imla chose the unpopular stance and refused to follow the bandwagon. In 2 Chronicles 18, 450 prophets had prophesied to the King of Israel, encouraging him to go to war against. Ramothgilead and assuring that he would be victorious. However, King Jehoshaphat told the King of Israel that they should seek a second opinion from another prophet. Reluctantly, the king of Israel agreed. When Prophet Micaiah was brought before the Kings, he warned the King of Israel not to go as he would not return alive. As a result, Prophet Micaiah was jailed. In the end, the Kings went to the battle but the King of Israel died in the battle as the prophet had spoken.

Beloved, these are great leadership traits and lessons you should emulate. God will vindicate you as He did for Daniel, Micaiah, Meshack, Shedrach and Abednego for taking a stand for Him.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1. Father, give me the grace to be steadfast and consistent as a leader, in the name of Jesus.
2. Father, give me the grace to stand for You to the end, even in the face of persecution and intimidation, in the name of Jesus.
3. O God, arise and let every conspiracy against me scatter, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

4. I decree and declare that my faith and conviction in Christ will never fail, in the name of Jesus.
5. Powers opposing my divine elevation, your time is up, die, in the name of Jesus.
6. Internal enemies, treacherous enemies, masquerading enemies in the garden of my life, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.
7. The sun of my career, ministry and marriage, rise and never set, in the name of Jesus.

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)