Unseen Battles
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Seth life group at Fredonia. Edge of Eternity.
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.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.
3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris)
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 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.
12 Then he said to me, “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.
13 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,
14 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.”
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute.
16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.
17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 And he said, “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 and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
20 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.
21 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.
1 “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
2 “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.
Daniel - bumping 90 at this vision. Stayed in Babylon when the first Jews were returning to Jerusalem beginning 2 years earlier.
The Battle - we’ll look at the spiritual nature of the conflict. The spiritual players in the conflict. Our role in the spiritual realm.
Why is there a battle?
v. 11 ‘and he said to me, o Daniel, man greatly loved’. To understand why there is a battle being fought, we must acknowledge we are, as Daniel, greatly loved.
We must understand God has an enemy, the devil. Originally he was Lucifer, a created angel in heaven. But he rebelled, wanting to be God. Now he is the accuser. The father of lies. He who desires to steal, kill and destroy. What does he desire to SKAD? Anything God loves.
When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, taking a third of the angels with him, he set himself against God and all his creation - especially man.
Who is in the battle?
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.
So we are called to be in the battle. To fight alongside our KING. To contend for the faith of our community. For the eternity of our children.
We are in a battle between those who have lived long before the creation we know of. We see part of this battle is vv. 13&20. This angel and the prince of persia were in conflict. This information to be delivered was important. Important enough to fight through the conflict.
There is significance to what Daniel was doing while they were locked in battle. Remember, three weeks mourning and fasting. It makes me ask the questions: Does what I do in everyday life affect the spiritual realm? Does my sin affect the spiritual realm? Does my fasting or prayer?
Our armor is described in Eph 6, but the sword is not our only weapon.
How do I fight this battle?
Some of you will be familiar with the Chinese general Sun Tzu. Principles from ‘The Art of War’ have been applied to business, sports and of course the military. He was general in China at the same time of Daniel’s final years of service in Babylon. A statement attributed to Sun Tzu says ‘if you know your enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles’.
2 Corinthians 2 mentions our awareness of the devil’s schemes in relation to forgiveness of each other. So one of the ways to battle the enemy is in our horizontal relationships. Our interaction with one another. Making sure forgiveness is readily available. Even loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Remember, Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God to ‘stand against the devil’s schemes’. And in addition to the armor, PRAYER! Pray in the confidence God hears you just like v.12 tells us He heard Daniel. Pray knowing prayer is both the gate to the battle AND the power behind each of our weapons. Weapons like wisdom and knowledge. Like self-control and patience. Wielded in the moment of the battle, defeating the best efforts of the enemy.
The fasting described in the first few verses of our text tell us it was 3 weeks long, giving up the ‘delicious foods’. It looks like Daniel existed on what was necessary so that he could devote time to prayer, scripture and meditation toward God. Re-arranging our schedule to focus on God’s will for this world is entering the battle. Praying and fasting and meditation like Daniel did is entering the battle.
Will you fight in the battle?