Daniel's Persistent And Triumphant Prayer Series

This is not just Old testament happenings. Paul spoke of this same battle being fought when he wrote in Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens."

Before the angel could leave Daniel, he first had to tell him why he had come. He had to reveal to Daniel the events in the book of truth. Evidently this is a book that covers God's plan for world history, part of which was to be revealed in chapters 11 through 12. In closing the revelation, the angel again stated that he and Michael had been opposing the demonic forces since the first year of King Darius's reign over Persia. This assures me that demonic forces are in battle right now with the Ukrainian/Russian controversy. That's why it's extremely important for each of us to fervently pray over this conflict.

We will stop there for tonight. But there are a couple of things that we can learn from this chapter. Number one, there's always been people who have scoffed at the idea of a personal devil or demonic angels who actually exist in a so-called spiritual world. These individuals feel that they are too educated and intelligent to believe such nonsense. They proclaim that these ideas are outdated and belong to the dark ages, when people were too ignorant and superstitious to know better. But God, because He is God, tells us the truth. God reveals to us the fact that there is an evil force that has access to the spirit of man and that can influence people to do evil. He is called Satan, and he rules over the darkness and spiritual wickedness of this world.

Another thing that we can learn from this passage is that it teaches us the supreme importance of prayer. God answers prayers. If we are sincere and fervent, genuinely craving for God to move and act, He will. He moves the events and affairs of society as well as the citizens and leaders, all in answer to prayer. Because of prayer:

--God will strengthen and help us,

--Save us and our families,

--Free us from the bondages and enslaving habits of life.

--He will rescue our marriages and friendships,

--give us understanding and wisdom,

--help us financially, educationally, professionally.

--He will give us and our loved ones the hope of heaven and life everlasting and He will deliver us either from or through whatever trial or temptation confronts us, even through the crisis of death.

There is nothing that God will not do for the person who truly believes and seeks Him.

But in our seeking God and because of the power of prayer, the demonic forces of hell will oppose us. Satan will do everything he can to keep us from praying or continuing in prayer. He will do his best to keep us from receiving the answers to our prayers. He will try to keep us from living righteously and following the Lord.

Satan will do all he can to cut the heart of God, which he does by tripping us up and causing us to sin. If we are true prayer warriors, every temptation imaginable will be thrown across our path. We will be seduced to give in to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. For this reason, we need to prepare ourselves to stand against Satan as we pray. We must put on the whole armor of God.