Noticing then, that when these brethren were down there they were put to a test, a very beautiful example of what a true believer comes to when he really accepts the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. He's always put to the test. Satan's still in the testing business. And it only comes about to help you. It's for your good. "Every son that cometh to God must be tried, chastened, scourged;" and other words, give a little thrashing, straightening up. And if God gives us some chastisement and we can't stand it, then we become illegitimate children and not the children of God.

Now, man that's really got his faith set towards Heaven, no matter what takes place here on earth, he's still got his faith set towards Heaven. His friends may forsake him; his family may forsake him; his pastor may forsake him; but there's One that won't forsake him; that's God. And when your mind is made up, I like that.

Daniel had burnt all the bridges behind him. He wasn't planning on going back any more. He wasn't watching his back trail; he was looking... Forsaking those things which were in the past, he pressed on to the mark of the high calling. That's what we should be doing. That's what the Church should be doing.

And as I notice then, God permitted Satan to give him a test. And, oh, they tested them by the fire. They tested him also by the lions' den. And in every instance God brought them out more than victorious. "Many are the testings of the righteous: but God delivereth them out of them all." How marvelous that is. How we appreciate that, trials, tribulations, tests, all working for the good. After while God can see then, and He can put His trust in you, and then He will do great things for you.

Now, we find out then that Daniel became a instrument in the hand of God while he was away from his own people, out of his own city, away from his own church; in a strange land, God used him. Now, you can be away from whatever you may be; you can be away from all your loved ones, or you can be away from your church, but you can still be an instrument in the hands of God. God can use you for a testimony or for anything that He wishes to use you for.

Beautiful examples, the Bible's just so chugged full of those things everywhere you turn. Don't you love to read the Word? Oh, I just read it sometime and weep. Here a few days ago I was reading in the room there, and I just had to set down and cry like a baby. I got up and walked around my chair, put my hand on my chair, looked down at my Bible again, and I just broke down, went around the chair again, looked back at it again.

And I thought, "Oh God, in there is Eternal Life to every man or woman that'll dare to put their trust in it and believe it: Eternal Life." And He said, "Search the Scriptures; for in Them ye think ye have Eternal Life: and They are They which testify of Me." Search the Scripture. The Word of God is a Lamp unto our feet. That we should, if we should be guided then, it's the Light that follows the pathway that leads us from victory unto victory.

Now, before you can have a victory, there has to be a battle. And if there's no battles, there's no victories. So we ought to be thankful for the battles and the tryings. It's God giving us the opportunity to have victories. Oh, my, don't that make it a little bit better now? See, the battle come along, somebody saying something bad about you, sickness come on to you, maybe God give you those light afflictions that He might heal you and show His favor to you, let you see what He means by it. He loves you.

55-0109E Beginning And Ending Of The Gentile Dispensation