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“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.” And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.””

The Lord loves His remnant. His Beloved. 


 

Jesus is the Hope of Israel, and the only resurrected Lord. He is the way, the Truth and the Life. Apart from Him there is no life or hope. There is only vanity, death and eternal destruction in the lake of fire. However, in Him is freedom from sin, and death which are the power of the law of Moses. All who believe in Him and abide in Him are granted an eternal inheritance in heaven. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you, I will be with you always even until the end of the age! All who confess Him as Lord and believe in His name will not be put to shame. Turn from your sin and call on His Name and He grant you eternal life. 

 

He died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again from the dead the third day. He appeared to over 40 witnesses, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. He testifies of Himself!

 

Read the gospels, they testify of Him! Peace and God bless. He’s my only Hope and He loves you.

Stone Steps
Writer's pictureStuart Goings

Study in Daniel - Chapter 1




1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.


1 Ch 3:15-16

And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.


2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God.

These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.


3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—


4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.


5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.


“Daniel was rich in faith and wisdom, because he obeyed God.”


Proverbs 23:1-4

23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.


Mathew 5:43-4543 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.’

44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you,

45 that ye may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven. For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.


“It’s beautiful that Daniel fulfilled these teachings, because His faith was in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel who declared Himself to be the Lord of lords and the Son of God with power.”


6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.


7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.


“The Babylonian chief officials named these wise and righteous men according to their own language and according to what they thought was wisdom, however they did not possess the faith of these wise and righteous men. Be reminded, their faith was in the Messiah of Israel. There is none more powerful, wise, righteous, holy or loving than Him.”


Here are some words spoken by John who prophesied about Jesus, our Great God and Savior.


4 John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”    and “every eye will see him,even those who pierced him”;    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”


“Grace is glorious and it’s favor that no one deserves that God bestows on those who believe in His only begotten Son. And He gives His beloved peace, His peace He gives not as the world gives. You know I cannot put any of this better than He puts it in His own glorious Word. You know on earth now all believers have stations given and granted by God, but one day those who love Him will be a kingdom of kings and priests. This is similar to how one day in glory there will be no male or female because we will be like the angels, His faithful servants. (Matthew 22:23-45)


John 14

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”


It’s beautiful that death has no power over those that believe because His precious blood freed us from our sin.


The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)


Those who don’t love Him will morn because of the judgement He will bring on those that have pleasure in unrighteousness.


8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.


“Daniel was obeying God’s law. He trusted God and He obeyed Him. He was faithful, and exceedingly wise. The royal food and wine in Babylon was defiled. Babylon is a literal place in Shinar, and it is a place of much wickedness. You can read about the Tower of Babel and Nimrod who was accursed by the Lord here (Genesis 10:8-12;11:1-8). All of God’s words are pure words. He is a shield to those who trust in Him.”


Here are some verses about the Lord Our Righteousness. He is the great God of Daniel and the One I desire to serve before eternally.


Hebrews 7:1-10

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.


“Here are beautiful words inspired by the Spirit of God, and testified by the prophet John about Jesus who is the Only Eternal King and God. He is enthroned at the Right Hand of God and His Spirit rests upon Him. God is Spirit and who ever worship’s Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. I would like you to be reminded of Him and His love for you.”


Matthew 11:13-22

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.


“The message is and always has been, if you are in sin repent and believe in the Name of Jesus, believe in His Word. The only means of having true wisdom is through God’s Spirit, the Spirit of grace and supplication. I really like those men that loved the king and priest David. One of them was named Hiram.


“Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.”

II Samuel 5:9-16 NKJV


“You know, I don’t quite understand all things in the Bible, but I am thankful for God’s mercy and kindness towards us. I know that marriage is sacred in God’s sight and it represents Christ and the church. Ideally, each believing man should have one wife and each believing woman should have one husband. You can read about these things in 1 Corinthians chapter 7. Sin causes a whole host of problems in life, it hurts other people, damages reputations, causes God to send famine, plague and pestilence. These things are spoken of throughout all His Word. There is much prophecy. David knew these things, and was far from perfect, but was beloved by God. I love that he never served any foreign gods or took part in many of the evil practices of the surrounding nations. Many people prophesied and will prophesy, but only those whom He loves and who love Him will be saved. His commandments are not burdensome. I would like you to love Him too. Grace reigns in the mortal bodies of those who love Him, but He has not provided His grace as a license to continue in sin or error. Thankfully, He is full of mercy. Trust in His Word and you won’t have to learn these things the hard way.”


Romans 6:1-23

6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


“Here’s 1 Peter 1. These men were direct witnesses of His glory. You can be a witness of His glory too. You can be an eye witness like Peter, if not during this life then when you die or rather fall asleep, because when you believe in Jesus you never die. Death is like falling asleep. You die and then you are with Him, or He can preserve you until His second coming. That’s up to Him. He is coming back quickly. Be zealous with knowledge.”


1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,  14because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.(Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:28–36)

16For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”18And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


I like to be reminded of these heroes of the faith. Remember that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and our faith has conquered the world. He is the only door and the only resurrected Lord. He will protect those who believe from thieves and robbers and false christs.


Hebrews 11:32-3832 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.


Here’s a good reminder below:

“For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

II Corinthians 5:12-21 NKJV


I need to be reminded of these things. I am thankful for those that are greater than me in the kingdom of heaven and do not need that.


John 15:17-24

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.


Remember, the adversary of all believers is Satan, who is the deceiver of old. He came to steal kill and destroy. Thankfully he was defeated at the cross, as were those who serve him. One of the kings of Tyre was a fool, he thought he was wise like Daniel, he was compared to Satan. Here is some information about Tyre and Sidon below.


“There are other kings of Tyre and Sidon that were evil. Here’s an interesting study on these places. Pay special attention to the verses in the Bible, because His Word is Truth and Life.”



Daniel 1:9

9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”


“Daniel did not walk in fear. There is no fear in love. Let’s thank the Lord Jesus Christ for Daniel and men like him. He did not shrink back when the powerful King that was given much power by God could have taken his life. Neither did many others that were faithful.”


“No lawless person will be granted eternal life, neither will a thief, a covetous or unclean person enter into the New Jerusalem. His Word is beautiful. He is wonderful."

John 6:48-71

48 I am that Bread of Life.

49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.

51 I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever; and the Bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the Last Day.

55 For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.

58 This is that Bread which came down from Heaven, not as your fathers ate manna and are dead; he that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever.”

59 These things said He in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

60 Many of His disciples therefore, when they had heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can hear it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, “Doth this offend you?

62 What if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?

63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who believed not and who should betray Him.

65 And He said, “Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto Me, unless it were given unto him by My Father.”


"I love these words of Simon Peter, because this is my heart. I have seen His beauty and I want to use everything He's given me to honor Him. It's all His anyway. Gold, human effort, etc. cannot grant a person eternal life. Jesus is the Yes and Amen. He is the giver of all Life. He causes people to be born again, and He conforms people He loves and those who love Him into His image. Thank you Jesus for your mercy!! He knows I am in need of it. He has suffered very long for my sake, as has His body. Let's live godly lives filled with the Spirit and hasten His return together."


66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.

67 Then Jesus said unto the twelve, “Will ye also go away?”

68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life,

69 and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for he it was who should betray Him, being one of the twelve.


"There are people that forsake faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word for money, for fame, or for what they think will grant them long life. This is all vanity! The law of Moses never saved anyone. Remember Jesus is the chief apostle of our faith similar to Moses, in a like fashion. This is for Christ. He is the only begotten Son of the Living God. Jesus is Lord. He is the only Lord. He is the Prince of peace, Almighty Father, the First Born of the Dead. The Alpha and the Omega. He has many names, but He is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. It was God's Word in the book of Acts of the apostles that caused the Bereans to believe. They believed and they became, blameless, harmless Sons of the Light, children of the Day!" Why would you ever turn back to the things of the world? The world does not love you, if you love God. The world hates you. If the world loves you then you have a problem. Faith is passed down through the generations. Remember His love.


All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one! While we were sinners Christ died for us. He pleaded beforehand if possible take this cup from me. He sweat blood, that blood is precious! He lovingly took the wrath of God upon Himself for the joy that was set before Him, despising the shame and He sat down at the right hand of God the Father in heaven! All these things are testified of Him in the gospels. First hand accounts of His glory! Repent and believe.

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Greetings, thank you for stopping by! Grace and peace be multiplied.
1st Peter 1:1-5

If you would like to turn from your sin, and draw nearer to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the Life, call out to Him. He is the Hope of Israel, and the Hope of all who love Him.

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