Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” (Daniel 2:46-47)
I have come to realize that when we choose to stand for God, He strengthens our will and resolve, enabling us to stand firm. Scripture says He strengthens us both to will and to do His good pleasure.
But I believe it starts with us making a choice—deciding who we will stand for. It begins with us, like Joshua, declaring, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” It starts with us, like Daniel, determining in our hearts that we will not defile ourselves with the compromises and offers of the world.
God honored their determination by giving them the strength to remain steadfast in their commitment. He also blessed them with uncommon wisdom, and to Daniel, He gave the extraordinary ability to interpret visions and dreams.
In a world where many are confused and without direction, wisdom alone is unlikely to set anyone apart. After all, it’s not uncommon among people of the world. However, the rare gift of being able to interpret visions and dreams is an exceptional ability. While the devil may manifest some talent in this area, he is severely limited in what he can see or understand.
If this weren’t true, the wise men of Babylon would have easily been able to reveal King Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dreams and their interpretation. But God had hidden it from them, and the devil couldn’t penetrate the mind of God. Only the Holy Spirit has access to God’s mind—this is why He is our ultimate advantage. (Daniel 2:10, 27-28; Daniel 4:18; Daniel 5:8-11)
One of the greatest advantages we have as believers is the ability to influence our world for God. The privilege of tapping into the mind of God through the help of the Holy Spirit makes us indispensable, even to the people of the world. This is why men and women who are yielded to God, vessels hosting His power—will always remain relevant in a world filled with darkness and confusion.
Those through whom God heals the sick, raises the dead, and brings clarity and direction will continually have influence. The world cannot help but seek out such gifted individuals for counsel, prayers, and guidance.
This is why men like Apostle Babalola and Bishop Benson Idahosa were relevant and influential in our nation.
Consider what happened with the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar when Daniel revealed his dream and its interpretation:
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshiped Daniel, and he commanded that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’”
By exercising his gift and ability for God’s glory, Daniel gained influence over the king and was made ruler over the province of Babylon. With this newfound position, he could ask for favors. He requested that his friends be put in charge of the province’s affairs while he remained in the king’s court—the very place where he could wield greater influence over both the king and the kingdom.
This means that the more you walk in the gifts, abilities, and calling of God, the more influence you come into. – the more you were able to influence people for God. You become light and salt—so much so that wherever you go, you can shift the culture and traditions of men in that city for God.
Even after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign ended, Daniel’s influence on the kingdom and its leaders remained. The gift of God in his life brought him before the succeeding King – Belshazzar.
The king said, “I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom” (Daniel 5:14).
Once again, during King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel’s influence placed him in a position of authority as he was made the third highest ruler in the kingdom (Daniel 5:29).
During the reign of King Darius the Mede, Daniel’s ability and unwavering devotion to the service of Yahweh brought him into a position of influence.
However, while Daniel’s ability earned him a place where he could influence the king, he did not yet have complete influence over him. With Nebuchadnezzar, we see that Daniel’s influence grew gradually, accumulating every time he proved himself or revealed God through his gifts and abilities.
In Chapter 2, we see that although Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel and acknowledged that his God was the greatest of all gods, he still hadn’t fully embraced worshiping God for himself. The very next account of Nebuchadnezzar shows him commanding the entire nation to bow before an idol.
This means that Nebuchadnezzar, like many leaders in our society today, honored God through Daniel, but God desires more than that. He wants the person, the soul. God isn’t satisfied with people simply receiving what He can give; He desires for their souls to truly know and have Him.
If a man like Nebuchadnezzar were to serve God, his conversion would have a ripple effect, leading to the potential conversion of many others under his influence.
