Daniel 10: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

It is a rare glimpse into the unseen, spiritual realm and the war that goes on between angels and demons; the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Darkness.

Many Christians have an unbiblical theology of Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare and, ironically, that unbiblical theology actually keeps them on the sidelines and prevents them from engaging in Spiritual Warfare in a meaningful and impactful way.

But a biblical theology of Spiritual Warfare gives us our orders and tells us how God says we can be most effective in carrying out the purposes of His Kingdom one trench, one fort, one battle at a time.

Here’s the Big Idea:

Christians are gospel soldiers who wage war against the Kingdom of Darkness with spiritual weapons that hold all the power of the gospel.

This is the key.

We need to stop thinking of spiritual warfare as demonic possession and temptation to sin.

It does include those things.

But we need the big picture.

We need a 30,000 foot view of the Battle Field God has placed us on and how we fit into the fight if we are ever going to be effective in tearing down the strongholds of Satan that enslave so many and keep them blind to the gospel.

But to get there, this sermon’s going to work a little bit different.

I can’t make it all nice and tidy just progressing through the passage...

So we are going to cover the entire story of Daniel chapter 10, and make some interesting comments along the way.

Then, after that, we are going to come back with three points that are heavy on application for what Daniels vision of the angel tells us and what it has to do with our lives today.

So let’s start in verse 1.

Story

Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

The third year of Cyrus puts this a few years after the last vision Daniel had, and this single vision goes from chapter 10, all the way through the end of the book in chapter 12.

Theres an introduction; that’s chapter 10.

The vision itself which runs from 11 through the first part of chapter 12.

And then a conclusion with instructions for Daniel.

And in the introduction Daniel says the word, the vision he received was true and a great conflict.

In other words, it was a hard word. It was difficult to accept.

It was a bitter vision, because as we’ll see in chapter 11, its all about the troubled times in store for God’s people.

About all the nations that would come to rule and abuse the people of God treating them as nothing more than a pawn and a whipping boy in their lust for power.

The reason God gave this vision, Calvin says, was to give His people hope in the days to come (Calvin, Daniel, Vol. 2, 255-256).

To keep them going when everything looked dark.

Soon after Daniel, there would be 400 long years of silence without a word from the Lord.

And this vision was meant to be a light to guide God’s people through all the persecution and hardship they were about to endure.

To tell them in all the years of silence, God had not forgotten them.

Everything was foretold, and God was working all things towards the Messiah and their salvation.

They need only be faithful.

Those can be comforting words for us today.

And at the end of the day, I think that’s why this vision gets such a substantial introduction with angels and demons and spiritual warfare.

To encourage God’s people that even in their darkest moments when they look like they are on the brink of being crushed, all of God’s heavenly host is still fighting, defending, and serving the people of God and God’s Kingdom.

Verse 2.

Daniel 10:2-3 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

So Daniel’s mourning. Praying. Fasting. And He’s been doing so for three weeks.

Why was he mourning?

In the first year of Cyrus, just a few years earlier, Cyrus had issued a decree for Israel to go back and restore and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple just as God had promised (Ez 1:1-4).

The Exile was over.

But before long, they faced opposition.

Ezra 4:4 The people of the land [the Samaritans: Half Jews who conformed to the pattern of the world and intermarried with pagan nations around them leading them to pervert the true worship of God and turn from Him to worship idols. The Samaritans...] discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build, and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia.

Where was God? What about all His promises.

Would the people of God lose heart? Forget their faith and turn from God to worship idols. I mean their gods don’t seem so bad. Ours can’t even build a house for His Name?

Would the opposition start the cycle of apostasy, sin, and judgment all over again?

That’s why Daniel was mourning.

But we are going to see, this wasn’t just the work of evil men.

It was also the work of demons who seduce and manipulate evil men to resist God and His Kingdom.

Verse 4, in his mourning, Daniel looks up and sees a great angel.

Daniel 10:4-6 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

This is a glorious angel.

Now some people think this is a preincarnate Christ.

That based on Revelation 1 and all the similarities there, this has to be Jesus before he took on human flesh.

But I don’t think that’s the case at all.

This is an angel. He is able to be resisted by a demonic power. He needs help from the archangel, Michael.

Christ, the Eternal Son of God, God Himself, could never be resisted and would never need help of a created being as He is Himself infinite and holds infinite strength and power.

But, angles were created to reflect and proclaim the glory of God.

So this angel, while not God, still gives us a picture of God in all His glory.

He’s clothed in linen and wears a belt of fine gold.

The idea here is holiness and purity.

His face was like lightening, shining with the glory of God. Brilliant white because nothing can match the brightness of God’s glory.

He had eyes of flaming torches and feet of burnished bronze to crush idols, false gods, and all of God’s enemies.

And his voice was like the sound of a multitude. Every word screams power and authority.

This angel is a picture of who God is and what He is like. And look what happens.

Verse 7...

Daniel 10:7-9 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.

Everyone that was with Daniel with fled in terror.

They didn’t even see the angel, but just his presence made them run to hide themselves.

As for Daniel, he was completely undone.

He said, I had no strength was left in me, and my radiant appearance was fearfully changed.

He was saying My splendor was turned to ruin. and I fell down as though dead in a deep sleep why my face to the ground.

That’s what happens when sinful man stands before the glory of a holy God.

We are utterly undone. We recognize His glory and just how far we’ve fallen short.

With Isaiah we say Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips (Is 6:5).

And this was just with an angel. A created being. How much more would Daniel be turned to ruin standing before the Creator Himself.

And then verse 10.

Daniel 10:10-12 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

This is a picture of God’s grace.

The angel takes Daniel, puts his hand on his shoulder and sets him on his own two feet, saying O Daniel, man greatly loved.

The only reason we can stand before God and all of His glory is only God’s grace.

Left in our sin, we are utterly undone.

But in God’s grace and ultimately in God’s grace through Christ we are made to stand, and called beloved.

Then he angel said “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

The angel said God heard him the very first day he started praying.

But this is three weeks later. What happened? What kept him? Why did the angel take so long?

Daniel 10:13...

Daniel 10:13-14 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.

This is where it get’s really interesting.

The angel says the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days.

The prince is not an earthly prince. Remember how Daniel fell on his face as though dead.

No human king could have withstood this glorious angel.

This was a demonic prince or principality over the Kingdom of Persia.

A demon who ruled behind the scenes pulling the strings in Persia’s affairs.

A principality and power who was spiritually working to resist God’s people, will, and Kingdom and having a real world effect while doing so.

Cultures, history, and world events correspond to real life spiritual realities beyond what we can see.

From Daniel’s perspective it looked like Samaritans, bribes, opposition, and pagan kings doing what Pagan kings do.

But spiritually it was the work of demons to resist the Kingdom of God and keep the world and Persia specifically blind and enslaved to their sin.

So what does that tell us?

Everything is not what it seems.

To us it might just look like politics and world events unfolding throughout history.

But there is a spiritual war being fought between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of darkness, angels and demons, that we can’t see but still has real world effects.

And that’s the war we are engaged in.

So when you see great wickedness and what can only be described as darkness taking over the culture, all the things that make the righteous groan in their souls, we need to think spiritually.

They are the spiritual fruit of a spiritual war and they cannot be fixed with better government, morals, or policy.

Spiritual problems need spiritual solutions.

There is real sin and there are real demons at work resisting the Kingdom of God and doing everything they can to keep enslaved to their sin and blind to the truth of God’s Word.

Remember Job. Satan unseen. Catastrophes seen.

And that’s exactly what’s going on here.

This demonic prince, this principality, was doing everything he could to stop God’s plan and purposes. To crush the people of God and rob God of His worship.

And so the angel fought this demon for 21 days, and the prince of Persia withstood him.

Now how does this happen? What does this spiritual war look like?

How do angels and demons fight a war when both sides are immortal and no one can kill each other? We don’t know!

Given that in Revelation 12 Michael defeats Satan by casting Him down to earth and Jesus talks about binding Satan in His life, death, and resurrection I think this spiritual war is less about life and death and more about power influence.

The more one side wins the more power and influence they have over people and the affairs of the world and vice versa.

So when an angel “kills” a demonic enemy what that means is that they bind them or restrain them.

They rob them of their power and influence over the world and limit them or remove them altogether from a position or authority.

So as this angel was fighting the prince of Persia, and trying to bind his work from stopping God’s plan to rebuild the Temple from being carried out, this demonic prince withstood him for 21 days until God eventually sent Michael to help.

Michael, we are told, is one of the chief princes. He’s an archangel.

A high ranking commander in God’s heavenly armies who leads the the legions of Heaven against Satan and his kingdom (Jude 9, Rev. 12:7-12).

And you might be wondering to yourself the same question I asked. Why did the angel need help?

I mean demons are created beings. Even Satan himself is no match for the power of God.

There’s not a cosmic tug of war to determine who is ultimately going to win.

God declares the end from the beginning (Is. 46:10). The war was over before it even started.

Why didn’t God just zap this demon out of existence or give the first angel the strength to bind the prince of Persia himself?

We know God can do that.

Samson, filled with the Holy Spirit killed a 1000 men all on his own with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:14-15).

And one of God’s covenant promises is that He would always fight on behalf of His people.

That 5 men of Israel would chase a 100, and 100 ten thousand (Lev. 26:8).

What is God’s trying to say with this passage?

God’s Sufficient Provision

Now this isn’t original to me. This is from Calvin, but I think he hits the nail on the head.

Remember. Daniel didn’t know any of this. He was just praying and seeking the Lord without any knowledge of the battles going on in the heavenly realm.

And God is Sovereign over all things, His victory, His plan, His purpose was never in doubt.

So I think all of this was for Daniel’s and the people of Israel’s benefit.

God ordained this struggle…this 21 day struggle between the angel, prince of Persia, and eventually Michael himself to show Daniel and all of God’s people that:

No matter how impossible something might look.

No matter how desperate everything might seem

No matter how much opposition you might face...

God will fulfill every single one of His promises, and not a single one of them will fall to the ground.

It might look impossible. But God has it all in His hands.

By sending Michael in what looked like an impossible and desperate situation, God was showing His people He would provide everything in His power to accomplish His will and give them everything they need to sustain them and bring them through to the end.

From God’s side this battle was nothing. But from the human side it was everything.

And God ordained all of it to show His people nothing was going to stop Him.

No opposition no matter how strong it might seem to us can keep God from accomplishing His purposes.

And this ultimately points us to the purpose of spiritual warfare and why God continues to let Satan and demons exist and run amuck in the first place.

Have you ever wondered that? Why doesn’t God just obliterate and destroy them? Why does He allow them to do the things they do?

To reveal His glory!

Spiritual Warfare, Satan and Demons, ultimately will show all creation the Almighty power, Divine Wisdom, and Perfect Sovereignty of God.

Nothing, not height depths, length breadth, sword, sickness, principalities or powers can stop God’s power to save.

So for us, when we are looking around and wondering what in the world is going on?

When it looks like the Kingdom of Darkness is winning the day and everything is chaos...

God is still accomplishing His purposes.

It might look hopeless. That its going to take a miracle of God’s grace to turn our nation to repentance and stop us from running headlong into Hell.

And God is saying That’s exactly right!

Don’t lose heart. The battle is never in doubt.

God is working all things to the praise of His glorious grace.

He’s ordained the struggle we currently find ourselves in precisely to show us the impossible.

We might be in the valley of the shadow of death, but the deeper that valley goes, the more glorious His deliverance will be when He pours out His grace, tears down our idols and saves sinners in Jesus Christ.

After this, Daniel was still weak, and so the angel said to him...

Daniel 10:19-11:1 “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened...Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince. And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

The battle was going to continue. The angel tells Daniel he is going to go back to fight the prince of Persia.

To keep fighting for the Kingdom of God.

And then after him, another prince would come, this one from Greece.

Another demon to war against God and His people.

But the angel gives Daniel encouragement.

Michael still stands with him. They will fight together, and they will win.

Because in the first year of Darius the Mede, the angel stood with Michael and together they bound the prince which led to a pagan king issuing a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem and even supplying the supplies to do so.

Together those two angels brought a great victory to the Kingdom of God and just as they were successful then, they will be successful now even though the next few hundred years of the vision might not exactly look like it.

There will be dark and difficult days for the people of God people under the Greeks, Seleucids, Antiochus Ephiphanes, and eventually Rome.

But God’s purpose will stand and He will deliver His people. He will bring them through and He will send them the Messiah.

So with all that said, with this vision of these two angels fighting the prince of Persia, lets get into the application for what this passage has to do with us today.

There’s two big picture things I want you to see from the vision:

First: There is a spiritual war going on between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Darkness. Between Angels and Demons that has an effect on the physical world.

And two: We are right in the thick of it. We are on the battlefield and just like God’s holy angels, God has given us a part to play.

So what does it look like to engage in spiritual warfare and fight alongside God’s heavenly armies wherever he has placed us.

Three points:

Number 1: You need to Know Your Enemy.

Number 2: You need to take up Spiritual arms loaded with divine gospel power.

And number 3: You need to Fight Unto Victory!

Let’s start with number 1...

I. Know Your Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We do not wrestle against Flesh and blood. Our war is not against people.

Its against cosmic powers, rulers, authorities, demons. The spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Demons are fallen angels. Created beings.

They are not all powerful. They are not all knowing. And they cannot be everywhere at once.

Originally they were servants of God, but they followed Satan in his rebellion and fell into sin.

Now they exist to work against God and the purposes of His Kingdom everywhere and however they can.

But what does that mean? God can’t be resisted, so what are we saying?

Well demons now function in the mirror image of what they used to be.

Angles praise God day and night forever and ever and ever.

Demons curse God and do everything in their power to lead others to curse God.

Angels fight for God and serve Him faithfully.

Demons fight against God and the purpose of His will.

They do all that they can to destroy His work.

And that gives us a key for understanding what demons are actually trying to do in their war against God.

God’s work, God’s plan, God’s purpose is the glory of Jesus Christ and the Salvation of sinners, and so demons work against that purpose.

Now we know God will never lose one of His elect.

No one, not even Satan himself can pluck you out of Christ’s hand or stand in the way of God saving you.

This again to shows the glory and power of God because nothing can overcome His will.

But Satan and Demons don’t know who God’s elect actually are and so they do everything they can to steal, kill, and destroy anyone that does not believe in Christ and for Christians Satan’s work is focused on resisting them however he can to keep them from taking the gospel forth.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world [that’s Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:18, Paul says Satan hindered him from coming to Thessalonica, and in the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said when someone hears the word but doesn’t understand it the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart (Matthew 13:19).

All the powers of the Kingdom of Darkness are hellbent on keeping people blind to the light of Christ and the gospel.

They do everything in their power, all that they can, to hinder Christian missions and ministry in hopes that they can stop God’s saving purpose in Christ.

This is why one of the main tools of the enemy is shame and persecution. Because if he can get the church to shut up about the gospel of Jesus, ain’t nobody gettin’ saved.

Faith comes through hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).

Your Word is Truth. Sanctify them in your Truth (John 17:17).

So for the world, those unsaved, Satan’s work is to keep them blind.

For the Church, Satan’s work is to take you off the chess board.

He does that by tempting you. If he can disqualify you or in slave you with your sin he takes you out of any effective ministry for Christ.

And if that doesn’t work he pushes you. Resists you. Does anything he can to make you give up and tap out.

Whatever it takes, he wants you off the field.

Now what does all that mean?

We need to have a bigger picture of Spiritual Warfare than demonic possession.

Spiritual warfare surrounds everything we do when it comes to the work of the gospel.

Our war is against principalities and powers, major demons that are working in and influencing world in such a way that it keeps people blind to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Daniel it was the prince of Persia and later the prince of Greece.

The Bible clearly teaches that some nations can be ruled by demons.

There are some that think that this is every nation that does not acknowledge Christ which could be true, but I think its more likely demons are constantly at work to plunge whole nations into sin and rebellion and the more a nation participates in the worship of demons, which we are about to see, the more power and influence the give them over their lives until they are ultimately so committed to their demonic rebellion that the principalities and demons begin actually ruling over them in the judgment of God.

I think this is a lot of what we are seeing happen today as darkness grows more and more.

But ultimately Satanic Kingdoms truly manifest themselves when persecution of the church is open and flagrant whether by the sword of the state or the spirit of the culture in general.

Principalities and powers can also manifest themselves as false gods and culture enslaving sins.

In 1 Cor 10:20 Paul says What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

This is amazing. Paul says false gods are nothing. They are not gods.

But he also says there are principalities, powers and demons behind those gods to keep people blind from the truth.

And in our day of post modern enlightenment where we have move past the shackles of religion, this isn’t just limited to organized religions. It also includes every manner of cultural sin that holds sway over the people.

What we might call the spirit of the age.

So not only are Allah and Mormonism ruled by demonic forces but things like homosexuality, abortion, transgenderism, love of money, lies, school shootings, fatherlessness and broken families. Drug addiction.

Every cultural ill, every major philosophy, belief, or practice that destroys people and keeps them blind and enslaved to their sin can be traced back to a principality or power doing everything they can to resist the kingdom of God and keep people dead in their sins.

2 Timothy 2:26: They have been caught in the snare of the devil, captured by him to do his will.

So our enemies are not other people. They aren’t sinners. Every one of us was just like them.

Ephesians 2: We were all dead in our trespasses and sins following the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air.

No our enemies are the principalities and powers behind the Kingdom of Darkness that keeps people enslaved to their sin.

Our war is a war for the gospel and our weapons are spiritual weapons that have the power to storm the gates of hell and set the captives free.

And that’s point number 2. We must...

II. Take Up Spiritual Arms Loaded with Divine Gospel Power

Here’s the foolishness.

We are in a spiritual war for the salvation and redemption of sinners, and how often are we relying on carnal weapons to do what only the gospel can?

We think if we have better laws, a better government, better politicians and rulers, or better morals as a culture, all would be well.

But none of those things can do anything to fix man’s sinful heart or save their eternal souls.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

How can we fight demons we can’t even see?

Not with weapons of the flesh, but only those of the Spirit.

We are in a spiritual war, we need spiritual weapons.

Weapons that have the power to cut through the darkness and the lies and open people’s eyes to the gospel.

And Paul says we have them. We have weapons that have divine power to destroy strongholds.

The picture Paul gives us laying seige to every deep seated sinful fortress that opposes God’s and Jesus Christ and conquering it with the power of the gospel.

That the gospel and the ministry of the gospel is the only thing that has the power to destroy the stone-hard walls of peoples hearts and set them free from the prince of the power of the air to follow Jesus Christ.

And as we take the gospel forth and faithfully carry out the Great Commission we are waging war on the Kingdom of Darkness.

The armies of the church are preaching good news to the poor while the armies of heaven are restraining the demons enslaving them.

And together God’s Kingdom goes forth.

So what are our weapons?

Turn to Ephesians 6:10-20. Paul says...

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Ephesians 6:18-20 To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Notice the weapons of our warfare are the Preaching of the Word, Prayer, and the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The whole point of the armor of God is what? Stand therefore. Persevere. Endure.

Put on the shoes of the gospel. Take the Sword of the Spirit in your hand and preach the Word.

Tell everyone the good news that they can be saved. They can be freed and forgiven of their sin through faith in Jesus Christ.

That’s what Paul prayed for. Pray for all the saints and also for me…for what?…that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel as I ought to speak.

He also tells them praying at all times in the Spirit.

Daniel prayed for 21 days and the whole time the angel was fighting on His behalf in answer to his prayers.

Our prayers are like the artillery of God that weaken the enemies defenses so that we can go in with the ministry of the Word and clean up what’s left.

Finally, the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be strong in the Lord in the strength of His might.

We can’t fight demons on our own. If we see one we would be utterly undone.

It is only the Holy Spirit who can ultimately open blind eyes and change sinful hearts.

To engage in spiritual warfare, we just do what Jesus told us to do.

We carry out the Great Commission.

We preach the Word.

Pray that God would go before us and tear down the strongholds of the enemy.

And we go out in the power of the Holy Spirit enduring all things for the sake of the elect (1 Tim. 2:10).

And I’ll tell you where this is convicting for me. I hate the direction our culture is going.

I’m sure like many of you, the godlessness and wickedness that we see is grieving.

But how often am I taking up the weapons God has given us?

Taking up the only things that can change things and actually make a difference, versus just complaining about it.

Lamenting it.

Wishing it were different.

And I’m saying this to myself first and foremost. Its time to stop complaining about it and get into the fight.

The least we can do is pray. Pray for the Kingdom of God and for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

If Daniel shows us anything, that’s a good place to start.

Every time we take up the cause of the gospel no matter where that is, we are doing battle with Satan and charging the gates of His kingdom.

So to engage in spiritual warfare:.

We need to know our enemy and the aim of his work.

We need to take up spiritual arms that have divine power to destroy every stronghold raised against Christ.

Finally number 3 we need to...

III. Continue to Fight Unto Victory!

The war is already won.

Satan’s been defeated and God will save His elect.

Look at ...

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Through the cross, God disarmed the rulers and authorities.

He triumphed over them and and put them to open shame.

The image Paul gives here is a picture Roman general parading his conquered enemies behind his chariot in open humiliation to show their complete and utter defeat and His unquestionable power (Reformation Study Bible, Col. 2:15).

And that’s what Christ did on the cross.

He conquered Satan and threw him down once and for all.

Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God crushed the head of the serpent.

Remember how Jesus was crucified on Golgotha which means the place of the skull (Mt. 27:33).

A place representing death and the serpent’s head.

And God used His cross to drive a stake through the skull of the serpent and save His people once and for all.

As Jesus said...

John 12:31-32 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

That is what He is doing now.

He has sent us, the church to go into all the world with weapons that have divine power to destroy every spiritual stronghold and save God’s elect and draw them to himself.

And what did Christ promise?

Matthew 16:18 On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Conclusion

Christians are gospel soldiers who war against the Kingdom of Darkness with the spiritual weapons of the gospel.

Just as the angel told Daniel, O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage...

Paul tell us Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the full armor of God…so that you may be able stand your ground in the evil day.

No temptation is too great, no opposition is to strong because God will supply all that we need and will perfectly accomplish His will by His almighty power.

We need only to stand firm.

Preach the gospel. Pray. And carry out the mission by the power of the Holy Spirit.

That’s how God will save the world and draw all people to Himself.

As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 Jesus must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Cor. 15:25).

Everywhere in every church God is mustering his people for the battle? Will we answer the call and take our place on the battle field?

I pray that is true of our church. And God’s promise to us is Romans 16:20: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Let’s Pray

Scripture Reading

Luke 10:1-3 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Luke 10:17-20 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

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