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Spiritual Warfare… (2 things)
Trials in life are like storms – they come and go – but in Jesus we know who wins!
1st – The 4th vision of Daniel… vs. 1-11
1st – The third year of Cyrus – 536 B.C. – the King of Persia… vs. 1
Daniel was now an old man – in his 80s – retired from the Persian court – Daniel 1:21
He even refers to himself by his ‘Babylonian name’ – Belteshazzar…
He had already received 3 visions from the Lord – Daniel 7/8/9…
And he will now receive his 4th and final vision – comprising Daniel 10-12
It was a message that was true…
But the ‘appointed time was long’ – more literally – the ‘war / warfare was great’…
As we are going to see – there was a lot of warfare in delivering this message to Daniel…
But unlike the first 2 visions he had – this time he understood what he heard and saw!
2nd – A three week fast… vs. 2-3
Daniel had been fasting and morning for three weeks – but why…
Babylon fell in 539 B.C. – and Cyrus commanded the Jews to return to Jerusalem – Ezra 1:1
3 years later – 536 B.C. – Zerubbabel leads the first wave back to the Holy City…
But that same year Samaritans manage to stop the work on the Temple – Ezra 4:6-7
It was now the month of Passover (first month) – and the Jews still had no Temple!
Upset over the lack of progress – Daniel began 3 weeks of fasting and prayer!
That did not mean he did not eat for 3 weeks – he just did not eat ‘desirable’ food / meat!
Fasting does not just mean we do not eat food – we can fast from Facebook / the gym…
Fasting is not required – Matthew 6:16 (if you fast) – but it is a powerful tool…
We take the time that we save by not eating / watching TV / etc. – and spend it with God…
Fasting can be a wonderful way to deny our flesh and focus on the things of the Spirit!
But if we fast – do not fast like the Hypocrites – let it be between us and God…
The Pharisees would paint their faces white and frown so you knew they were fasting…
Their motivation for fasting was not denying their flesh – it was to impress others!
3rd – The answer to the prayer – a vision from the Lord… vs. 4-6
The 24th day of the first month (Nisan) – Daniel was walking beside the Tigris River…
Tigris River is one of 2 main waterways (Euphrates) that flow through the Middle East…
1,150 miles long it runs from modern day Turkey to the Persian Gulf…
Likely Daniel was in the city of Babylon – which sits about ½ way down along the river
Daniel looked up and saw a vision…
A man clothed in linen / with a gold (Ophir – best quality) belt around his waist…
His skin was like Beryl (emerald?) – the word just means a precious stone…
His face was as bright as lightening / his eyes like torches of fire…
His arms and feet like polished brass (judgment) – and his voice like a multitude!
An almost identical description to Jesus Christ from Revelation 1:13-15
Some say this was just an Angel – because we will see he needs Michael to help him in battle!
But other say this was Jesus – and that the Angel who needs help shows up in vs. 10!
4th – The reaction of Daniel to seeing the Lord… vs. 7-11
Other men who were with Daniel could not see the vision…
But a great terror fell on them – so they ran and hid themselves…
Much like when Paul encountered Jesus along the road to Damascus – Acts 22:9
Or the servant of Elisha in II Kings 6 – when the King of Syria tried to arrest Elisha…
He sent a great army – and when the servant of Elisha saw them – he panicked!
Then Elisha prayed for the Lord to open they eyes of his servant…
The servant looked up – and the hillside around Elisha was filled…
Horses and chariots of fire – an army of angels surrounding the army of Syria!
It is easy in life to forget that what we can see – is only part of the world around us…
There is a Spiritual world that exists – full of both Angels and demons…
And that even when everything seems to be against us – we can think we are lost…
The reality is with j – no matter who is against us – they are the ones who need to fear!
Daniel was left alone when he saw this great (gadol) vision…
And his strength left him – and fell face down onto the ground (like a deep sleep)…
There is a common occurrence in some churches called ‘being slain in the Spirit’…
Where people lay hands on each other fall over backwards ‘in the presence of the Lord’…
The question has often been asked – is this really a ‘manifestation of the Spirit’
Interestingly only non believers ever fall backwards – John 18:6
Believers all fall face forward when they come into the presence of God…
God will never contradict His Word – I Corinthians 14:32…
If we want to know if a doctrine is from God – we only need to open the Bible and look!
In the light of the glorious presence of God… vs. 10
All of the vigor/goodness of Daniel – became no more than frailty / rottenness!
But an Angel appeared and touched him – so he could get up on his knees and hands…
And the Angel spoke to him – you are greatly loved – and I have been sent to you…
At which point Daniel was able to stand up – though still shaky on his knees!
We may think we look pretty good – but to God our goodness is filthy rags – Isaiah 64:6
We are REALLY bad people – we are all / every one of us – TOTAL sinners…
And the penalty for being a sinner – is eternal death – hell – Romans 6:23
Yet God loved us so much He reached down and gave His life for us – I John 4:10
And now He speaks to us – not as lost sinners – but as beloved friends – John 15:15
He opens up His throne room to us where we can find Grace and Mercy so we can stand!
Hebrews 4:16–“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
2nd – Battling with fallen angels… vs. 12-21
1st – God heard the prayer of Daniel… vs. 12
From the first day Daniel started praying – the Angel was sent with the answer…
Yet Daniel had been praying and fasting for three weeks…
I am sure there were moments when he might have wondered if the answer was coming!
I fear far too often we give up in prayer too quickly…
God says that we are to ask / seek / and knock – Luke 11:9 – and so we do – once…
But we are not to just go to Jesus once – we are to be constantly seeking Him…
I imagine we will be amazed at how much God wanted to do in our lives…
But it never happened simply because we gave up too quickly!
2nd – Spiritual warfare kept Daniel from getting the answer… vs. 13
The Prince of Kingdom of Persia withstood the Angel for 21 days…
There is a lot of speculation about who / or what – this ‘Prince of Persia’ was…
Some would argue that it was just Cyrus – but how could he ‘withstand’ an Angel…
It is more likely that this was the demonic power behind the Kingdom of Persia!
In fact satan is addressed in Ezekiel 28 – as the king of Tyre!
Who knows – there is likely even a prince of the United States of America (not Donald)
Until Michael the Archangel (chief captain) came to help him…
Michael appears to be the guardian Angel over Israel – ‘your prince’ in verse 21…
Michael is also the main rival to satan – he fought with him for the body of Moses – Jude 9
He was also the one who kicked satan out of heaven – Revelation 12:7
Too often people make the mistake of thinking satan is the equal of God…
If you are looking for an equal – it would be Michael – who always seems to beat him up!
What the Bible has to say about demonic powers…
Revelation 12:4 – 1/3 of the angels (stars) rebelled along with satan (dragon) against God…
As a result God cast them out of heaven – they were banished to the earth…
But there is a final judgment that awaits these fallen angels – Jude 1:6
When they will be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for them – Matthew 25:4
The NT only mentions satan/demons 83 times – but the name of Jesus – 941 times!
To often the people in the church focus on cults / satan / evil things…
The Bible focuses on Jesus – so that is where we should put our focus as well!
We do not have to worry about satan – we know the ultimate fate of him and his minions!
One day we will even judge the ‘fallen’ angels – I Corinthians 6:3
Already Jesus has given us complete power over fallen angels…
Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I give you the authority… over all the power of the enemy.”
But it appears one day we will also take part in helping judge the fallen angels!
We will look at satan in amazement – this is the guy who caused all that trouble!
Isaiah 14:16 – “Everyone there will stare at you and ask, ‘Can this be the one who shook the earth and the kingdoms of the world?”
But until that day we are in a Spiritual Battle…
So often in life we miss who the real enemy is – we look at the people…
But people are puppets – being told what to say – blinded by the God of this world…
Imagine the foolishness of trying to argue with a puppet – you do not get far!
Ephesians 6:12 – “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
The powers behind the people – principalities / powers / rulers of darkness / spiritual hosts
Some believe that these may even be rankings in the demonic world!
And we need to fight the war with spiritual weapons…
II Corinthians 10:4-5 – “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
In military battles – the hardest target to defeat is a fortress…
A high walled – well-defended city – was ready to repel any enemies attack…
If you come at them with sticks and stones – you are doomed to fail…
You needed specialized tools – siege ramps – catapults – to pull down the fortress!
If we come at satan in our own power/strength – we are doomed to fail…
The only way to take on our enemy is with in the power of God!
I John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Then our enemy does not stand a chance – Jesus has ultimate power and authority!
In Christ we have victory – no weapon can defeat us – Isaiah 54:17!
3rd – Daniel was speechless / unable to stand in the presence of the Angel… vs. 14-19
The Angel came to give understanding about what will happen to Israel in the later days…
It was too much for Daniel – and he again fell to the ground – speechless…
But then one like ‘the sons of men’ came and touched the lips of Daniel…
Presumably it is the Angel who again reaches out to strengthen the Prophet…
And Daniel tells him the visions have left him overwhelmed and full of sorrow!
Revelation 10:10 – “It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.”
Knowing the truth – what will happen in the future – is a two-edged sword…
One the one hand it is amazing to read prophecy and understand what is coming…
It brings the events of this crazy world around us into focus – sweet to the mouth…
But at the same time we also realize the horror that awaits those who reject Jesus…
Not just the tribulations that are coming – but the eternal separation at the end – bitter!
Daniel could not stand in the presence of the Lord – he had no breath to speak… vs. 17
So the angel touched him a 3rd time – do not fear / peace be to you / be strong…
With that Daniel was able to compose himself – and was ready to listen!
In Matthew 22:11-14 Jesus gave the parable of the wedding feast…
One man came in HIS clothes – HIS righteousness – HIS own good works…
The master asked him how he had come without the wedding clothes (white robes)…
The man was speechless – muzzled – and he was cast into outer darkness!
A lot of people think that they will be able to reason with God on Judgment day…
Plead their case – argue their merits – and try to weasel their way into heaven…
But in the presence of the Lord – we are speechless – silent before a Holy God!
4th – Battling the prince of Greece… vs. 20-21
The Angel was there to reveal what was written in the Scripture of truth…
In other words – the future events that had already been determined by God (Daniel 11-12)…
After which he would return to battle – but this time with the Prince of Greece…
With the fall of Medo-Persia – the new demonic power behind the Grecian world empire!
Just because we have victory over satan in one area – does not mean the war is over…
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