Spiritual Warfare - Daniel Part 10

The book of Daniel chapter 2. Behind-the-scenes everybody sorta like to know what's going on behind the scenes in which you live here in Washington DC are specially tuned into this partly because we see the inner workings of government and what goes on behind the away most of the rest of the country doesn't really get see. I'm amazed when I go to other parts of the country not turn on the news I watched with all the new you can you know if you're in Washington long enough to get used to the kind of newscast that we have with all the special, in-depth reports, and all the investigative reporting and all the things that are going on when you go to the rest of the world is really, not like that you know what we were traveling down south of my mom this week and we stopped in in a little at Emporia, Virginia to spend the night overnight in their you know big news is that you know Mrs. Smith cow out you know on route 3 got run over by a truck and you know that's headline news on on the 11 o'clock news and it's just amazing how the rest of the world live versus the way we live your Washington where Barry plugged in very sensitive to all the behind-the-scenes working of government here and to be frank with you, you can sorta begin the like that.

Knowing that you kinda got an inside track on what one even though sometimes the inner workings are real pretty. Nonetheless, we understand that behind the outward events that drive our nation. There are all kinds of inside events that really make it happen.

For verily deal and all the other stuff that goes on. Those of you men and women who go up on the hill and have to defend budgets and everything you know far better than I the way that game really work now in the same way many people in our world only see the outward workings of the universe and really don't understand that there is a lot that goes on behind there a lot of people who failed to appreciate forces that are really driving the events of our world. And that's because they're not Christians and they really don't see God's hand. The event of our world and yet even we as Christians want to stand that God controls all events in this world. All of the international political event. Even Stephen even we were Christians when when we really get down to it there so many of us don't understand and really don't believe that the little things that that are going on around the world and of the things that are going on around the world.

There are some behind the wall of this as well and our passage in Daniel this morning addresses this great theme that there is a complicated behind the scenes of events. Actually that's going on that we can't see but every once in a while in the Scripture you get a glimpse, and in Daniel chapter 10 God gives us a glimpse glimpse rather of how the forces in the universe operates under the sovereign control of Almighty God and when we see what's going on from Daniel. Chapter 10 I believe that God is going to shock us into a deeper and a more committed life of prayer than we've ever known before. So let's look at it together.

Daniel chapter 10 I Daniel 10 begin the last section of the book of Daniel is a section that consists of three chapters, chapters 10, 11 and 12, and these three chapters, all make up the last prophecy of the book of Daniel. Chapter 10 the whole chapter represents the introduction to this prophecy, and the prophecy takes up chapters 11 and 12. It will begin next week. Let's begin in verse one in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel, who was also called belt shout that was his Babylonian name. His message was true and it concerned a great war and the understanding of the message came to Daniel in a vision. At that time I Daniel Moore was morning for three weeks.

I know choice food, no meat nor wind touched my lip and I use no emotions at all until the three weeks were over.

The prophecy here that we are told about is dated fourth to the third year of high risk, the king of Persia, that is 536 BC and Daniel is now about 90 years old. He's an old man and he's been fasting.

The Bible says and praying and morning not for three weeks. Is that what the world was he morning over what was the problem.

Well, the Bible doesn't say, but I think very possibly it was his just press over the meager response of his people to the offer that Cyrus the king of Persia made that they could go back to their homeland. If you remember the thrill of the history here, the Jews had been carried away into Babylonian captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and through Jeremiah the prophet we talked about this last week God had made a promise that after 70 years he would make an opportunity available for his people to return to their land.

You can find that in Jeremiah 29 verse 10 there are my 29 verse 14 where God says after 70 years are accomplished, I will visit my people, and they will be able to go back to their homeland.this was accomplished when Cyrus the king of Persia conquered Babylon in one of his first official acts was to permit the Jews to go back to their homeland even finger, Daniel Tanner, let's turn back to the book of Ezra, the book of Ezra right after the book of second Chronicles Ezra chapter 1 and in Ezra were going to see God do this Ezra chapter 1. Look at verse one. I still your pages turning so I'm not sure we found that you never Bible hesitant it ever no notice looking up in the end Ezra chapter 1 in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord move the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and put it in writing. This is what Cyrus the king of Persia, said the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem.

Anyone of his people among you, may his God be with them letting go up and returned to Jerusalem and filled the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who was in Jerusalem and the people in any place where survivors may be now living or to provide him with silver and gold with goods and livestock to build the temple of God in Jerusalem known as the Bible says that the fulfill the word of Jeremiah, who said after 70 years let you go back.

God worked in the heart of Cyrus Cyrus probably didn't realize it was God and what differences that make the Bible says that the hand that part of the king is in the hand of the Lord and the Lord turns it in any direction he wants to. And for whatever reason, Cyrus decided to let the Jews from Babylon and anywhere else they had been scattered returned to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple exactly as gone from notice how few Jews, however, actually went back Ezra chapter 2. Look at verse 64. If there is a whole company that returned to Jerusalem numbered 42,306 and also there were 7300 menservants and maidservants of 200 men and women singers, and so when you add it all up.

There was about 50,000 people who returned under survivable city of Jerusalem. Now this is out of a Jewish population in Babylon that probably ran into million by now and so out of a million, or maybe 2 million Jews, 50,000. That's all.

With that, the rest were content to remain in Babylon because they had become accustomed to the affluent. There they had opened up shop there. They become doctors and lawyers analogies are and they had all found professions and they were well situated in Babylonian society, and it was hard to go back member, Jerusalem was in a shambles.

There's no public water. There's no sewer there is no public transportation is nothing in Jerusalem the walls torn down. The temple torn down. There's no crops.

I need to pick up and go back to Jerusalem was going to be a very arduous thing and so only 50,000 out of potentially one or 2 million agreed to go back.

Perhaps this is what Saddam Daniel because he's writing in the third year of Cyrus. It's only been a year or so.

Cyrus made his degree.

Maybe this is what Saddam Daniel and maybe this why is morning and bring over the ear ritual backslidden condition of his people that they would be more concerned about paying in Babylon, where it was affluent and comfortable and going back to Jerusalem where they belong and rebuilding the temple in the land of God. Well, I don't know for sure but anyway that's a possibility let's go on in Daniel 10 and on the 24th day of the first month as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen notice. Daniel did not go back to Jerusalem stated Babylon is their will on that.

I mean, some of the year me. Why would he stay and mourn about all the other people that stay because he was behind the years old. I will begin 90 years old got expected him to go very far from the stated babble one day when he was out on the Tigris River. The Bible doesn't say what he was doing what he was out there.

It says he looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.

His body was like chrysolite, which is a bright white sparkling mineral. His face was like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze in his voice like the sound of a multitude here was this unusual man that was glorious in his appearance. He was human in form but he was clothed in pure white linen yet gold around his waist. He he was a lovely white color eyes were like torches, his arms and his legs like bronze. He had a mighty voice because of the similarities of this person to the to the vision that John saw in Revelation chapter 1 of the risen Christ. Many commentators have suggested that the man that Daniel Sawyer was actually Jesus Christ, a theophany of the often a mean not appearing to man in human form. However, I don't think that that's indeed right because it says in verse 13 and will talk about it when we get there that this messenger had been sent from God, but had been hindered from coming to Daniel and for three weeks have been in a battle and it not been able to get there, which is not seem to be the kind of a statement you would make about the Annie says the only reason he was able to get there at all. Is Michael the Archangel came and helped him and that's how he was able to make and I don't think Jesus would be likely helping with anything and so I don't think were really talking here about God at all. I think were talking about an angel but nevertheless an angel who was so glorious in his appearance. They look very similar to what the risen Christ look like when John saw him.

Verse seven and I Daniel was the only one who saw the vision of the men with me did not see it, but such fear overwhelmed them that they all ran away and hid a little bit like Paul on the road to Damascus, where he says I was the only one saw Jesus the other people heard the voice speaking but they didn't see anybody hear those people didn't even see anything but they sensed something was wrong. There was beer there was terror didn't know why they were afraid, but they ran away anyone they sensed something was unusual for safe and so I was left alone gazing at this rate, vision, and I had no strength in me. My face turned deathly pale and I was helpless that I heard them speaking and as I listened to myself into a deep sleep. My face on the ground in the presence of this angel. All of Daniel strength left. He collapsed to the ground.

He was weak he was helpless.

He could hear the angels words, but he could respond he is. If I keep suddenly been sapped of all his energy and all of his very interesting to me that this is the common response of man when he goes into the presence of holiness. You know, this is exactly what happened to John when he saw the risen Lord on the island of Patmos. Revelation chapter 1 and and it happened to Daniel once before were all of his strength left him in the presence of holiness, and I believe that if the godly prophet Daniel felt so corrupt and so we give all of his strength left him and he was totally prostrate in the presence of just an angel. Just think how the average person is going to react when they stand in the presence of an all holy God. I'm always amused say well you just wave equipment when I stand before God when I stand before God, I'll give them a piece of my mind now telling what I think of what he did at this that when you send in the presence of God arise in the presence of God.

We are not going to be in the position to give God a piece of our mind, or anything else.

I mean, Daniel wasn't even in the presence of God in all his strength left and this was just an angel was going to be like in the presence of Almighty, the holiness of God, even as reflected through an angel is so awesome set of humble interfaces.

Everything around that that is not only believe me.

No human being that does not know Christ is not covered with the blood of Christ will say one word to God face. He will be able to speak. He will be able to stand and praise God, thank God we can be in Christ. Thank God that we can be covered with the blood of Jesus Christ because otherwise we would have no hope of ever facing God his holiness, awesome man in his presence only sapped of all his energies awesome is the holiness of God.

But thank God, no Christ have to worry about that because we are covered by the righteousness.

Christ will be able to say now verse 10 and a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees and he said Daniel you are highly esteemed.

Consider carefully the words I'm about to stand out right been sent to you when he said this to me. I stood up trembling. The angel touches Daniel now and gives you the strength that he needs to stand up and face God is one commentators that only God can grant the strength needed to face God alike. Only God can grant people the strength needed to face God, and God did that for him. Verse 12 and then he continued, do not be afraid, Daniel the first day that you set your mind, gain understanding and to humble yourself before God. Your words were heard, and I have common response to them. That was weeks ago three weeks ago. So was a what held them up as it take three weeks to get from heaven to where Daniel was fun. The prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 day and then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to me and help me because I was detained with the king of Persia, so now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future for the vision I'm going to give you can earn a time yet to come. This is a fascinating statement that this angel makes the Daniel the understand what he said.

He says hey three weeks ago when you started to pray.

God called me and insists he Daniel down there I got a vision. I want you to go. I get down and give it says on the way down to the Prince of Persia met me resisted me and for three weeks I've been fighting with him, trying to get here and only because Michael came and help me was I able to finally fight my way through and make the who is this Prince of Persia. While many commentators suggest virus the human king of Persia, but I think that's impossible. How could a mere mortal and ungodly one at that excessively resist an angel for 21 days.

When Daniel the most righteous man on the face of Europe and even end up in his present not make any sense is a woman who is will I believe the only reasonable. The only biblical explanation is that the Prince of Persia is some kind of evil angel some kind of evil demonic force that is under the direction of Satan himself. And if that true, and I'm confident that the Prince of Persia is an evil angel that if that's true, look what we are being told by the passage of where being told that Persia had an evil angelic force behind the scene that was empowering Persia and directing Persia and it's interesting if you look down verse 20 that the angel says that there is also a prince of Greece son angelic force and evil angel that is also directing the kingdom of Greece, and in verse 21 it says that Michael the Archangel is Daniel print meaning that he is Israel special angelic defender. What this would lead to is a logical conclusion in the logical conclusion is that every world Empire. Every nation of the world has some angelic force behind it and that world history is more than it appears on the surface that world history is not just one nation taking on another nation that world history is not just the saga of one people taking on another people, but that behind-the-scenes world history is really the unseen struggle between holy Angels and fallen Angel between good angels and evil angels fighting it out for their own divine purposes with the nations merely being pawn this angelic game of chess one thank God and his angels, and buses will always end up touring but that's not to say that there is not a tremendous peerage will conflict that occurs in the process. Remember the Prince of Persia resisted God angel for three weeks and only by enlisting the help of Michael was an angel even able to get today told the commentators that this Michael Van angel without a doubt, referred to here, these demonic powers gained a very strong influence over certain nation and the government of these nation they became the controlling power of these nation and they use whatever resources they can they can muster to hamper God's work and work his purposes.

This passage gives us a rare glimpse behind the scenes of world history. There are spiritual forces at work that are far in excess of what man who disregard Revelation would suppose. These forces struggle behind the struggles that are written on the pages of his and restricting once again Daniels weakness overtakes him while he was saying this to me. I found with my face towards the ground.

It was the and then want to look like a man touched my lips and I open my mouth and began and I said to the one standing before me. I'm overcome with anguish because of the vision, my Lord and I'm helpless. How can I your servant. Talk with you. My strength is gone. I can hardly breathe again. The one who look like a man touched me and gave me strength and said don't be afraid old man highly strong strong when he spoke to me. I was strengthened and I said before that you've given me strength and so he said do you know why I've come to you soon. I will return to fight against the Prince of Persia again and when I go the principal Greece will come. But first, I will tell you what is written in the book of Ruth. No one supports me against these princes except Michael, your friend in the first year of Darius the Mead I took my chance. My stance toward and protect him.

The passage concludes here in chapter 10. And remember, we have even gotten to the vision. Yet, this is just the introduction, the vision comes in chapter 11 of the chapter concludes by the angel, saying, look, I've come here to deliver a message and when I finished delivering it. I got some more fighting to do. I'm going back to fight the Prince of Persia some more, and we finally get to him with him without the prince agrees looking at us and would have to fight with him and the only one that stands with me in the fight is Michael your friend prince of the nation of his, and then as angel goes on to deliver the prophecy that we're going to find a Chapter 11 and chapters will and I think the implications here are pretty clear that if Persia had a friend in Greece had a cramp in at evil angels directing them that probably every Gentile nation and Empire that has come since probably has differences as well and there is this huge angelic conflict going on behind the Vikings. But God pulled back the curtain here for just a rare glimpse and shows us what's going on behind the scenes doubt that leads us to ask the question, so what. And I think that you all understand what we need to talk about. We need to talk about spiritual warfare because above everything else that's what this chapter reveals to us the warmest spiritual conflict that's going on in the world and we can see what is so real.

Ephesians chapter 6 if you turn there. Ephesians chapter 6 in the New Testament and it says in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12 for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly rail. I don't know about you but I read that lots of times and you probably read it. Lots of time and and I think what most of us tend to pass that over.

We really don't give a lot of thought, but God tells us that this is so, and in our passage from Daniel tonight. We have seen the reality that this really is true that behind-the-scenes. There is spiritual conflict. Spiritual warfare that is going on. Many times those of us who take these verses the heart take these verses the heart.

With regard to our own personal lives and we say yes I know that I'm fighting against all kinds of demonic forces would like to take me and destroy me and I need the armor of God that through the what Daniel tells us in Daniel 10 is that this is not only true of you and me on a personal level. It is also true of world events and international politics that we have a struggle going on tween evil and good forces between evil angels and the angels of God and I believe that the nations are merely the ponds in the struggle. They are not really the key to the struggle to achieve the struggle with what's going on behind the scene in the heavenly rail. We don't read from Revelation 13 that the antichrist will take over the world and create the greatest empire man has ever known. On the face of the earth. Revelation 13 tells us that he is energized and empowered and control by Satan himself. There is another case where it's obvious there's more going on than meets the eye.

On the face of thing, and this explains how the antichrist can capture the worship of the world, and the allegiance of man the way he does. And knowing this on the means to us how Hitler could have done what he did. He was just upon how not theism could have done what he did what not. Theism did. It was only upon and who knows how evil that Angel was the control those forces as well as the forces down to his we have to grasp that all of this is spiritual warfare that the things that we see happening around us in the world that the functions of these things are not based on what men think or what men want to do but behind the man behind the Empire.

There is virtual warfare going spiritual warfare going on over Supreme Court nomination spiritual warfare going on over Supreme Court decision is spiritual warfare going on over international politics and wars and the rise in the fall of empires behind it all.

There is a spiritual struggle that we only get a glimpse of the Daniel chapter.I'm not saying we should be afraid God doesn't want us to be afraid we as Christians have angels to protect us. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 14 says everyone of us has an angel to protect us, and Daniel did no doubt the Prince of Persia, whatever that evil evil Angel was. He was certainly out to get Daniel but whether the liens dinner everything else that happened to Daniel he could do it because God is in an angel that was mightier to protect Daniel. So there's no reason to fear but there is a reason to pray with you look all goes on to say verse 18 he said, and we should be praying in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be on the alert and always keep praying for the saints, and pray for me that whenever I open my mouth words might be given to me so that I could make known the gospel pray that I should declare fearlessly the way I will see I believe that Paul and telling us that we struggle against heavenly forces of evil. Paul is giving us weapons and many of us know the defense of weapon Of the breastplate of righteousness. We have the helmet of salvation, we have the shield of faith.

Overall defense of weapon were only given to offenses weapon one is in verse 17 the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Most of us don't realize it. The second offense of weapon's prayer. In fact, Paul says that we should pray at least four times. He tells us pray pray pray why because our struggle is not against us again. Evil forces in heavenly places. How can we have a role in seeing them defeated. How can we play a role in affecting world politics and international events, warranties, prayer, question I believe is a serious health prayer for our loved ones and ourselves. We also need to be serious about fighting on our knees for international and national events might of what's going on behind you to understand the real enemies of Saddam Hussein was just upon in the real enemy will be the antichrist will be upon the real enemy of the people behind the scene.

The angelic forces behind the Daniel 10 Salome after deceiving as your prayer life when it comes to this over the last time you were. I got on our knees and really great fervently and powerfully. In this regard. Both of us when we get our knees is the true many times we just drop to our knees and say all God, I need help with this all got any help with this. I got a flat tire. Please make the car run like Lord helping my job today. Oh Lord, help me win the publishers clearinghouse all Gothic. You know what we normally pray like I mean, our prayers are so narrow there so there's so there's so meager when you think about what we could do in prayer. We really understood what was at work in this world and how prayer and even those of us to go through action, no adoration, confession of the ACT Thanksgiving and supplication. Yeah, that's better.

When was the last time you got on your knees and said not God. I understand that would go what's going on in the Middle East right now is not a function of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel and Egypt is a function of the angelic forces behind those nations and I understand their agenda. Their agenda is the same estate agenda has always been, and that is to wipe out the people of God to wipe out the nation of Israel that's with her secret agenda is an Lord I'm on my knees and I'm going to beseech you to your power to deal with those system pray with multiple and for missionaries in countries around the world. We think of the enemy of these missionaries or departments of interiors and ministries of interiors who won't let them come in and won't give them visas and one allow him to preach the gospel submit those people in the Ministry of the Interior are just upon and not the real forces behind this. If angelic forces behind them trying to keep the spread of the gospel from going around the world there. The real enemy, and they simply use these people as pawns and we need to get on our knees and not pray for some ministry of the variable we need to pray that God by his own mighty angel with these evil angels that they and would give open doors to the preaching of the gospel around the world. We can affect the world needs.

We pray for God to be willing to pray in light of what God you'll events driving you and I see happening is what we see happening is not really withdrawing driving forces behind think we could do in prayer for our own nation.

Just think of the of the unbelievable struggle that must be going on behind the over the nation of America. Just think of how the fight must be going on. Even now over abortion and over the Supreme Court and over decisions that are being made in Congress and over gay rights issues, and all these other things.

Just think of struggle that must be going on in heavenly places where there are angels working today to rip down America because America has been the greatest light for the golf in the history of world. Just think victory. Satan would love to have bringing America down America, placing us on the judgment last time you got on your knees, pray for America.

Pray heavenly conflict that was going. I believe God has a lot door for us were willing to pray we can affect revision without pray right is a limit challenge in your prayer life. The next time you get on your knees tomorrow Tuesday tonight whenever it might be pray, pray, intelligent.

So pray for the wrong people. So pray for ministers of the interior face of the angelic forces behind. So pray for you. Supreme Court nominations with Ray for the movement spiritually behind those who would stop nominations stop decision.

Pray that they be put in for your friends.

I believe we can watch the world for prayer. If we pray, Intelligent Way, Gotshal spiritual warfare is a happening qubit happening in your life, you bet that the only place it's happening happening international. I believe God wants us praying for that they God help you do that they God make us people affect the world right on earning three heavenly father we thank you for this chapter from Daniel. We thank you Lord for pulling back the curtain and revealing to us a little bit about how the world really works for Jesus, thank you for teaching us that spiritual conflict is not limited to just us fighting with our own passion with our own temptation. Lord Jesus spiritual warfare affects geopolitical event. It affects empires effects, wars and treaties and politics all over the world. Lord Jesus teach us to pray in light of the truth of your word. Teach us to get on our knees and pray with power. Dear God for the spiritual warfare. The going on behind the scene and to pray Lord in such a way that it will enable you to have that much greater an effect upon our nation and our world. Lord Jesus makers warriors and prayer because we learned a little bit better how to pray. Lord Jesus, I want to pray that you would in our nation right here in America that you would fight and have victory over those evil angels that are working in the gay rights movement that are working and that is in the feminist movement that are working in the liberal political movement that are working through our media and many other ways to bring this nation down more to destroy it and turn it away from being the beacon for the gospel that you made this land in the this land to be more.

I want to pray that you would set those evil forces a day that you would demand that they must lose in the Lord, you would them in their attempt to take this nation down the judgment of God, Lord Jesus, whether it Clarence Thomas's nomination whether the overturning of Roe versus Wade. In the Supreme Court, Lord, whether it's it's of the movement of God to prevent homosexuality becoming accepted is owned in America for Jesus and all these and many of the other issues facing. I pray that you would send all the Angels nest. See those that would turn this nation away from God that you would allow America to return back to you with Stan as a Gospel lighthouse for Jesus makeup is your people faithful praying for our land and for praying for lands around the world that the enemy would be Saturday the gospel would have the freedom to spread makers, warriors and prayer Lord and honor our prayers by allowing the gospel to have free course and be glorified in our we pray these things in Jesus name