Background
Daniel 6:3-5 NKJV “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
II Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
The Spirit of God freely given to us is not to remain dormant in our faith. The Spirit of God does not only prompt us into good works but helps us do exploits. In today’s study we learn from the life of Daniel how he cultivated the gifts of the Spirit in Him, and how Timothy is advised by Paul to cultivate such character …let’s get into the Word
The Life of Daniel
The story of Daniel we have studied from a young age taught many heroic moments in the life of this young man. His giftings were such to admire and desire, however, Daniel did not downplay these. He was so equipped that he was recommended to kings. The Spirit of the Lord makes a man, but it depends on man to cultivate the Spirit of God in him. In Daniel 5:11-12, we realize that the acts of Daniel were recognized and reminded of in a time needed. When there came according to the chapter, writings on the wall which could not be interpreted by anyone, people remembered Daniel’s services to King Nebuchadnezzar with His giftings. It was said of him, “there is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
The gifts in Daniel were so manifest that it was visible to all. In as much as the people did not believe in the God of Daniel, they saw his workings through him. They were able to pinpoint what they had seen, what are believers of today known for? Going to church every Sunday? Singing, dancing? Daniel showed in excellence what the Spirit of God upon a man can achieve, he proved indeed that they that know their God shall do exploits. Without diligence were these not possible, in chapter 6 the straps sought to find a charge against him. Notice there was no way for them to find anything against him, so they decided to use the law of God against him. They knew Daniel did not trivialize the principles of God in his life, many times people would advise using ungodly ways to gain access to things. Seen in the life of Daniel is how upholding Godly principles save and upholds a man. Disregarding Godly principles does not deliver results, but manifesting his excellencies through obedience makes a man known by his generation. Indeed as the bible said, “A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.”
Proverbs 18:16 NKJV
Stiring the Spirit
Seen in I Thessalonians 5:19, is the mandate; do not quench the Spirit, this does not only equate to grieving the Spirit by rebelliousness or disobedience, but also to stirring up the gifts of the Spirit in you. God immeasurably gives His Spirit but the man in whom the Spirit dwells ought to cultivate. As Paul told Timothy do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Paul here is implying impartation, in the days of old when God had ordained a man, he sent his prophet to anoint them. The anointing represented by oil signifies the Spirit of God being imparted upon a man, this is the real anointing. The Spirit of God, is the presence of God himself upon a man. The bible makes us understand of how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him(Acts 10:38). This reflects the reading of 2Timothy 1:6-7, the Spirit of God comes with power, but also love and a sound mind showcasing that power is bestowed but navigated through a pure heart of love and a balanced mind able to weigh out right from wrong because power can be abused without these.
Paul further commends Timothy;“till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.”(I Timothy 4:13-15NKJV). It is our duty to study with diligence and seriousness, knowledge is found in abundance in the word of God but also in books written by people as they were inspired by the Spirit of God. God does not give himself to lousy and ignorant people, but them that are zealous and eager to know Him, His ways and to do His works.
