INTRODUCTION
• We are in the 8th part of series on the life of Daniel.
• Daniel Chapter 10
• Accounts in the first half of Daniel are historical stories, chapters 7 through 12 contain visions and prophecies.
• Daniel was in Persia when he had this vision.
• He had as a young boy been taken captive from Jerusalem into Babylon or modern day Iraq as we know it. Now the Persians have conquered Babylon and Daniel is in what we would know as Iran.
• Daniel is a leading voice in the government and has for 70 years been a leader in the land. He is both a leader and a spiritual man.
• Though he has deep encounters with the Lord, Daniel is also very pragmatic.
• Cyrus the king has set the Jews free to go home to Jerusalem, but it is not going well.
• Chapter 10 is the clearest account in the Bible of what goes on in the spiritual realm; in the battle for human lives and destiny.
• And what prayer and intercession can do to impact lives.
• How a practical person can be spiritual as well. That is Daniel, practical and spiritual.
• Can only be done by having a strong foundation in your life, in the Word and Daniel did.
• He read the Word and wasn’t swept away be either his circumstances, his culture or the spiritual realm. He was grounded on the Word and prayer.
• This took place in Cyrus’s third year, would have been 536/535 B.C., about two years after Gabriel’s appearance to Daniel in Chapter 9 and a short while after the first return of the Jewish exiles to Palestine.
I. CONFLICT, WARFARE AND PRAYER
• Chapter 9-12 ongoing flow of climactic prophecies.
• Three types of prophecy in Daniel:
o Specific prophecy for people,
o Historic prophecy and
o Climactic end of time prophecy.
• Chapters 9-12 climactic end times prophecies.
• Daniel 10:1-10, “…the message was true but the appointed time was long…or full of conflict…” Warfare was great. The Hebrew word means war, battle, heavenly hosts, army, waiting.
• We all hate conflicts, especially when they drag on.
• Galatians 6:9, “Do not grow weary of doing good in due season will reap!”
• Vss. 2-3 - “I am mourning and I did not eat for three weeks” fasting after the Lord.
• “I am stuck but I am going to make you Lord the focus, not focus on the conflict.”
• If you choose to wait on the circumstances to change you will struggle, but if you wait on God there is a peace that will come.
• Daniel had the promise of God.
o But he also had the conflict and
o The conflict had nothing to do with failure on Daniel’s part.
• The promise was clear, his people would go home to Israel, but the battle began when they returned. Ezra and Nehemiah tell us that story.
• If I am waiting for things without God, I will struggle with unrest. But with God there is rest.
• Vss. 3-4-5 - Fasting and prayer 3 weeks.
• Often, if the Lord wants to show you something in a dream you will know it, but it often isn’t for you to tell anybody. It is for prayer, for warfare.
• Fasting has far less to do with influencing God’s opinion about something than it has to do with fighting and confronting powers of evil.
• II Corinthians 4:4, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the good news. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
• Do you ever wonder if your prayers even matter?
• Look at Europe and ask yourself why that coldness to spiritual things isn’t happening in the USA, intercessory prayer, fighting the battle with darkness in the spirit realm.
• Three things that matter:
o 1st - Fasting puts my attention on God. I am dependent on God.
o 2nd - Fasting is a means that God has ordained – Isaiah 58
o 3rd - Fasting is a spiritual weapon, to do battle
II. A GLIMPSE INTO THE BATTLE
• Daniel 10:11-13, And the man said to me, "Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.”
• When Lucifer rebelled against God and was judged,
• Some angels fell with him and became demonic angels.
• They oppose the work of God and obey Satan (Isaiah 14:12–15; Revelation 12:7–12).
• It is clear here that there are specific evil angels assigned to various nations or territorial spirits.
• Story of Etiwanda prayer meeting - January of 1883 – 131 years ago a prayer meeting gathered at the Chaffey hotel located on the northwest corner of Miller and East Avenue. There were 13 people there. This became the Etiwanda Community Church.
• We decided to pray 1995 -1997 for our area, we went to Prayer Mountain.
• Intentionally interceded.
• Ultimately, Water of Life Community Church, our church, now meets on this corner.
• But this can also work with those who partner with darkness, greed, injustice, hatred. Inviting spiritual bondage.
• Ephesians 6:10–18 - Satan has a well-organized army of evil spirits that obey his every command.
“A final word: be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
• Through the cross, Christ defeated Satan and his army and we can claim that victory by faith.
• Colossians 2:15, “He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
• II Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…”
• The battle is with evil, hell, through prayer. You have to use spiritual weapons to defeat spiritual strategies.
• Vss. 18-21 - “spirit prince of Greece”
• Vs. 21 – “Michael your prince” - covers Israel
III. PRINCIPLES FOR PRAYER
• Vss. 14-18 - Insight for intercession. Often what the Lord will do is give you a word or supernatural insight. You need to ask, is it for now? Is it for latter? Is it for public or is it for private?
• We can enter into the political arena to participate in our countries wellbeing, but we would be foolish to believe without prayer and entering into the spiritual realm on behalf of our cities and nation that we can make a huge permanent difference. Pray and fast.
• Daniel was in the government, but he fasted, prayed and did spiritual battle in fasting and prayer for three weeks.
• Ephesians 6:12, “…for we wrestle not against flesh and blood…”
• Vss. 10-12 - You are greatly loved (beloved, esteemed) (Vs. 11), I have heard your prayer, I am here in answer to your prayer.
• But it was three weeks before you got a response. Just because nothing has happened doesn’t mean it wasn’t heard. An angel showed up because of Daniel’s prayer. Every struggle involves more than we understand.
• God is saying to some of you. I am at work on your situation, but there is much more here than you understand.
• Entering into the battle with prayer. What we did during Easter week - Thursday night 40 of us gathered to pray over every room and every ministry and every seat. The outcome on Easter weekend - 1700 people came forward for salvation, rededication and prayer. 700 on one service.
CLOSE
• Vs. 14 - The vision is for latter days. Future things that won’t happen quickly.
• Daniel 12:1-3, "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
