Dancing in the Rain

Heavenly Citizenship (Part 1)

Often, we wonder how am I doing?   We are always looking for approval.  Lot of talk about Green card, Citizenship etc.,

Social Media & Approval:

• Over 70% of social media users say they post for validation, attention, or approval (Statista, 2023).
• "Likes" activate the brain’s reward center in the same way as food and money (Harvard University, 2018).
• Over 60% of Gen Z feel anxious if their post doesn’t get enough attention within the first hour (American Psychological Association, 2021).

 

Peer Influence & Conformity:

• Solomon Asch's classic conformity experiment showed that 75% of participants conformed to a wrong answer at least once to fit in with a group.
• Teens and young adults are especially susceptible, with up to 80% changing their behavior or opinion based on peer approval (Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 2017).

---  In order to have a healthy walk with the Lord – we need God’s approval and not Man’s approval… 

How do we get God’s approval?   Let’s look at Daniel’s life…

#1: Faithfulness Under Pressure

Insight:
True faith doesn't bend under pressure. Daniel didn’t compromise his commitment to God, even when his life was on the line.

Verse:

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room… Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
— Daniel 6:10

Deeper Insight:
Daniel didn’t start praying because he was in trouble — he prayed because it was his lifestyle. His faith wasn’t reactive, it was consistent. Faith that lasts must be practiced before the crisis arrives.

Example:
🔥 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. Like Daniel, they were already walking in devotion before the test. When the furnace came, their faith was ready.

Modern Application:
What you do when no one is watching prepares you for when everyone is watching. Our spiritual habits shape our spiritual resilience.

Reflection:
Faith is not proven in comfort but in conflict. Daniel didn’t change his routine to avoid detection. His loyalty to God was more important than his safety.

🙏 2. Prayer Is Power

Insight:
Daniel’s first response wasn’t panic — it was prayer. Prayer was his lifeline, not his last resort.

Verse:

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
— James 5:16

Deeper Insight:
Daniel wasn’t praying to be delivered — he was praying to stay connected. His posture shows humility, and his consistency shows dependence.

Example:
📖 Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41–44) also knelt and prayed before His greatest test — the cross. Prayer didn't remove the trial, but it prepared Him to endure it.

Modern Application:
Real power doesn’t come from position but from prayer. If you’re too busy to pray, you're too busy to stand when the lions come.

 

Reflection:
What you do consistently in private will sustain you in public trials. Daniel’s prayer life prepared him for the lions’ den long before it came.

 

 

👑 3. God Honors Those Who Honor Him

Insight:
Daniel’s integrity and devotion to God didn’t go unnoticed — either by the king or by God.

Verse:

“Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
— 1 Samuel 2:30 (KJV)

Deeper Insight:
Daniel’s loyalty to God meant he was willing to lose the king’s favor. Ironically, that loyalty earned him more favor than ever before.

Example:
🕊️ Joseph in Genesis 39 honored God by refusing Potiphar’s wife — and ended up in prison. But God elevated him to second-in-command over Egypt because of his integrity.

Modern Application:
You may lose friends, status, or opportunity by standing for truth — but God will give you influence that no man can take away.

 

Reflection:
Even in a foreign land, under a pagan king, God raised Daniel up. Those who walk uprightly will never lack God’s favor.

 

 

👼 4. God Sends Angels in Crisis

Insight:
When Daniel was in the den, God didn’t remove the trial — He entered it with him.

Verse:

“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”
— Daniel 6:22

Deeper Insight:
God didn’t prevent Daniel from entering the den — but He entered the den with him. God’s presence is better than God’s prevention.

Example:
🔥 In the fiery furnace, the king saw “a fourth man” walking with the three Hebrews — one “like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25).
✝️ Jesus on the cross also experienced abandonment by man, but angels ministered to Him after the resurrection.

Modern Application:
God may not always remove your suffering, but He will never abandon you in it. Expect angels in your adversity.

 

Reflection:
God may not always prevent the storm, but He will protect you in it. His presence is the greatest deliverance.

How can I Look above the Chaos?

Zechariah 4:2 – 3  (Vision):
So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.”

V6:  ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

V10: For who has despised the day of small things?

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Zechariah 4 is rich with symbolism, encouraging the Israelites to rely on God's Spirit in rebuilding the temple. Let’s examine each element in more detail, with supporting Bible verses and practical examples.

#1:  "Not by Might, Nor by Power, but by My Spirit"

God’s message to Zerubbabel underscores reliance on the Spirit rather than human strength or military power. This message applies to any endeavor where human resources are limited, but God’s power makes a way.

• Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God tells him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

At some point, “We have to stop talking to God about your mountain and start talking to the mountain about your God”

* Anxiety or addiction mountains of depression or fear or shame

* You can’t let that mountain intimidate you

At some point enough is enough

• Obstacle is the way that mountain is gonna make you a bigger person
• You’re gonna have a testimony on the other side too

Whatever you tolerate will eventually dominate that is robbing God of his glory pleasing and perfect will

What are you tolerating that is permissible but not beneficial

What are you tolerating that undermines the price Jesus paid on the cross

• For your salvation
• For your healing
• For your delivery

Start talking to that mountain and see what God does.

Zechariah 4:6 encourages you to trust that God’s Spirit can enable the project beyond what human power could accomplish.

#2:  Don’t despise the small beginnings

We overestimate what we can do in a year or two instead of seeing what God can do in 10 or 20

In building the temple:  The Lord says, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings” Why?

God will do big things like they are little things

• When we get our knees in prayer
• When we obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit

God sets divine appointments for the Lord rejoices

God is great because nothing is too small he rejoices plum line

• was an ancient architectural device
• God is already rejoicing

All you have to do the little things like big things, then God will do the big things like small things

Don’t despise the day of small beginnings.

This vision, then, teaches that God’s work relies on His Spirit, not human might. The temple in Jerusalem was ultimately completed by Zerubbabel and Joshua’s guidance, fulfilling this prophecy and illustrating that God’s Spirit works powerfully through those who trust in Him.

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We cannot go down without a fight in our faith

Nothing is done, unless the father says – it is done.

• When God decides to do something through your life – There is nothing, the enemy can do.
• No Season, No mistake, No Mess, No Argument nor any Human limitation can stop Him.
• When Jesus said, Lazarus, come out of the grave… then grave had no choice but to let Lazarus go…
• There is a break through, waiting to happen in your life and mine.

What do you want Me to do for you?

Luke wrote:  Luke 18: 35 - 38

35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

38So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

50Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.

51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

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When Bartimaeus realized Jesus had stopped and called for him, he threw off his cloak. (Mark 10:50) 

The cloak Bartimaeus was wearing would’ve been heavy. Perhaps this is the reason he threw it off. He didn’t want anything slowing him down on his way to Jesus.  

But perhaps there was something more going on . . .  

What is the significance of Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak?

At first glance, Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak seems like a minor detail.  

But this is why it’s so important to slow down and pay attention to the little things as we study Scripture. To dig into the context of a verse. And learn about the cultural and historical backgrounds.  

Because throwing off the cloak was actually a big deal.  

• The cloak was an outer garment that was not only used like a long coat but was also used as a blanket at night for protection against the cold.

This garment was so important to the ancient Israelites that they were forbidden to keep it as security on loans (Exodus 22:26-27, Deuteronomy 24:12-13). 

• This cloak would have also served as Bartimaeus’s means of acquiring money. 

Scholars believe he would have sat down and spread his cloak over his lap. This way people could drop money onto the cloak so he could easily collect it.  

Which means this cloak would have symbolized his means to protect himself and acquire what he needed to survive.  

• But it also meant one more thing . . . it was a symbol of his old way of life. And he chose to cast it aside.  

He had complete and total faith that after he met Jesus . . . he would no longer need it.  

Fruit 1 - Love

It is no coincidence that Paul puts “love” first in the fruit of the Spirit. The Greek word for love in this instance is agape.

It is the highest form of the different kinds of love expressed by distinct Greek words, including eros (romantic love), philia (friendship love) and storge (familial love).

• Agape is the kind of love God has for his creation. It is pure, selfless and self-sacrificing. It seeks the best for others — even enemies — at all times, at all costs. A beautiful description of agape love is found in the Bible verses of

1 Corinthians 13, a well-known passage of Scripture.

God showed his agape love for us in sacrificing his only Son to save us from our sinful nature.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Fruit 2 - Joy.

The joy, Paul refers to in Galatians 5 is much deeper than a sense of happiness or gladness from life’s circumstances. It is a profound delight and rejoicing that comes from knowing and serving God.

 

The Bible describes the importance of this divine joy to the Christian’s life:

Nehemiah 8:10,

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Fruit 3 - Peace

Peace is an unshakeable inner calm that can be a rare quality in turbulent times.

We, in the walk with the Lord,  can call on God’s Holy Spirit to impart a sense of peace when things seem to be spinning out of control.

And the peace that comes from the Spirit is not just a small comfort.

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In Philippians 4:6 – 7,  Paul describes it as beyond human understanding in one of Scripture’s most reassuring passages:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Fruit 4 - Patience

Galatians 5:22 – 23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
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Forbearance is the characteristic or quality of greatness of spirit, a person who faces adversity with courage, in the Bible we see that this is a virtue of those who are good and generous and have faith in God to help solve their problems.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4: 1-2 (NIV)

We may seem weak in the eyes of the world or even foolish in maintaining this conduct, but in truth this fruit of the Spirit, helps us to have discernment and wisdom to resolve adversities with the wisdom that comes from above.

• Mercy, patience, tolerance and self-control, are words that relate directly to this fruit and are essential characteristics for those who have been saved.
• In Christ – we are a new creature, because our Heavenly Father is long-suffering, has patience with us even with people making so many mistakes .
• God has so much mercy on us that he gave his only son to die on the cross for you and me.

The idea of forbearance arises in the Bible under different words.

• Forbearance could be explained as showing patience, even though a thing is owed to us.
• It is holding back or restraining the self from doing something that is normal to do. It is controlling oneself when provoked or offended.

Fruit 5 - Kindness

Today, we will focus on kindness!

In a world often fraught with negativity and strife, the call to embody kindness is ever more vital. So, let us explore together what it means to cultivate the fruit of kindness in our lives.

• Kindness is not merely superficial nicety or a random act of goodwill. It goes deeper.
  
  
• Kindness is the deliberate choice to extend grace, compassion, and generosity to others, regardless of their deservingness or circumstances.

It springs from a heart that is attuned to the needs of others and seeks to alleviate their burdens.

 

Fruit 6: Goodness

Galatians 5: 22 - 23

 

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.