Bible Study - Staying True (6) - Prepare for Battle - Daniel 10:1-3, 10-13, 16-19 - October 8, 2023

 

Staying True (6) – Prepare for Battle – October 8, 2023

This lesson the sixth and final study in our series entitled, “Staying True in a World Far From GOD.”

Our focus scripture is Daniel 10:1-3, 10-13, 16-19.

GOD strengthens and guides us as we pray and engage in spiritual battle as we pray.

People are in spiritual battle every day. The Good News is as Spirit-born Christians, we have special protection from the spirit world. One of my go-to verses is 1 John 4:1-4:

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

² This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not confess Jesus^[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

[The spirit of antichrist is identified as it.] [In our next verse, we learn that as Spirit-born people, we have conquered all of the “it’s”.]

⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you (JESUS) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan). ⁵ They are from the world. Therefore, what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

Satan’s Spirits and minions want to appear to all Christians as the real deal from GOD but they are deceivers. This lesson gives us a glimpse into the spirit world which Christians are to knowingly avoid. If a born-again Christian finds himself or herself under attack by Satan or his minions, he or she should claim, out loud, “I am covered by the shed blood of JESUS and protected against all evil. Satan and his minions will flee. Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. We read in Ephesians 6:11 Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. 12 We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. 13 Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. 14 So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, 15 and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. 16 Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

18 Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. 19 As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan[b] of the gospel known. 20 I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say.an, state must claim, out loud, “I claim the shed blood of JESUS.” It is the shed blood of JESUS that protects a born-again Christian from the spirits that obey Satan.

Keep in mind that Daniel lived about 500+ years before the passion of JESUS.

Since the passion of JESUS, the shed blood of JESUS protects the Spirit born Christian along with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even as Spirit-born Christians, we must never knowingly do things to test our protective relationship with JESUS. Yes, verse two tells us to test the spirits.

How do we do that? ² This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not confess Jesus^[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

An interesting read is Acts 19: ¹¹ God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, ¹² so that even facecloths or aprons^[b] that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.

¹³ Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem.

¹⁸ And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, ¹⁹ while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So, they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed.

When Spirit-born Christians get serious about the treasure they have through faith in JESUS, they are to use it responsibly as led and directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As we continue to build on our study, Spirit-born Christians must know how Satan uses his princes to influence human leaders who are in high places in  the world order. Satan places his evil princes over areas where vital decisions are made that influence humans – seats of power and decision making. That is why we must pray for our government and all religious leaders. Have you seen this evil influence in our government and religions? We know the source and we must pray accordingly for our leaders in governments – city, state, nations and business and for those who head the various religions.

Truth is vital.

Satan wants to keep that quiet. That is his dirty little secret. We especially must pray for our next President, congressional leaders and world leaders. Look around, who is Satan causing people to rail against. Do you think that is coincidence? NO! Be wise and pray GOD will reveal truth and who HE desires to be our President and the world leaders both political and religious.

Back to Daniel ---- GOD puts HIS chosen in high places. GOD’S Word gives us a peek over the barrier into the work going on in the Spirit world ---- Just know that CHRIST in you is your protection. DO NOT BE MISLED TO VENTURE INTO THE spirit world. The shed blood of JESUS is your protection along with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Notice there was a change in the ruler of Babylon. King Cyrus became the ruler of Persia. The third year of the reign of King Cyrus would be March/April 536 BC to March/April 535 BC. This vision came two years after Daniel’s vision in chapter 9. During those two years, King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Israel. But what would they return to? Jerusalem was in ruins. This was 539-538 BC.  

Daniel 10:1-9: In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.

It is believed that the vision Daniel saw and fully comprehended was such that he mourned for three weeks. It is thought that GOD allowed Daniel to see to the end of the world.

We may find ourselves in a situation, due to our vantage point, we see, unless there is a change in the direction of travel, there will be a collision between a train carrying highly flammable materials and a tanker also carrying flammable materials. The tanker is stuck on the railroad crossing near a school or city. We see what will happen unless there is an intervention but we cannot do anything about it except, to pray. So, we pray and trust GOD to alert those who can stop what is about to take place. Suddenly a switch was activated and routed the train to a by-pass track. When Daniel saw the vision of what would take place, what did he do? He fasted and prayed.

Fasting and praying is always an option for the issues we face in life.

² In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. ³ I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. ⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, ⁵ I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz^[b] around his waist. ⁶ His body was like beryl,^[c] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. ⁸ I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,^[d] and I was powerless. ⁹ I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,^[e] with my face to the ground.

This is the fourth and final vision of Daniel and it previewed from Daniel’s time to the end of times. It is revealed in Chapters 10-12 of Daniel.

A major future event was revealed to Daniel as he was looking at this great vision.

Daniel was physically located beside the Tigris River which was about 20 miles from Babylon when he saw and experienced this vision. In the vision Daniel saw what appeared to be a man wearing a white robe. Bible scholars think this was pre-incarnate JESUS.

Let’s read Daniel 10:10-17:

Angelic Conflict

¹⁰ Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. ¹¹ He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.^[f] Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

¹² “Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people (Israel) in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.” ¹⁵ While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. ¹⁶ Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, “My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless. ¹⁷ How can someone like me, your servant,^[g] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.”

Let’s Read Daniel 10:18-19:

¹⁸ Then the one with a human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. ¹⁹ He said, “Don’t be afraid, you who are^[h] treasured by God. Peace to you; be very strong!”

As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

²⁰ He said, “Do you know why I’ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. ²¹ However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth. (No one has the courage to support me against those princes except Michael, your prince.)

There are interesting things taking place in Heaven. It seems there is resistance between GOD’S Angels and Satan’s princes. It seems GOD’S Angels trade off with each other as needed to keep certain areas covered. When Christians pray, we need to focus our prayers on the issues we, our home, our family, our church, our state, our nation and world are facing. Ask our LORD how HE/Holy Spirit desires for us to pray. Then to listen and to discern what The Holy Spirit is revealing to us. If you are like some Christians who say, if I heard a voice, it would frighten me. Then you need to confess that to our LORD. The Prophet Elijah needed to know the presence of GOD in his life. We read in 1 Kings 19:9-13:

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (He was running away from Queen Jezebel.

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Folks, when you hear the still small voice or whisper of our LORD, it is not frightening but a calming presence of our LORD. But we have to listen for it. Once you know how GOD speaks to you, you will never forget it. The key is to not get caught up in the wonder that comes with GOD’S voice but to listen to what HE is revealing to us. HE speaks to us so that we can pray according to HIS will and purpose.

Do not get discouraged, wait upon the LORD. It is vital that you have asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and asked JESUS to come into your heart and that you have been Spiritually born-again into GOD’S Family. Being Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, through faith in JESUS, is eternal. Once saved always saved, repent and return home like the prodigal son. JESUS waits just for you but you must make the decision to return. DO NOT HESITATE!

We know, based upon the scripture we have been reading, that Satan has his princes strategically placed in earthly power centers where decisions impact the most people e.g., where national, state and local legislative bodies are located. The Good News is that GOD also has HIS angels stationed in these various power centers, as well. That is where we need to focus some of our prayers. Ask our LORD where do we need to focus our prayers.

Churches are spiritually weaker because most have eliminated Prayer Meetings, plus we tend to pray for the same mundane things. We need to go before our FATHER and ask HIM to show us what we need to pray for and how. Now that we know GOD has HIS Angels positioned around the world in strategic places, where decisions are made that impact certain areas of our world, ask GOD to show us how to pray.

Do you feel silly? GREAT! GOD’S Word tells us not to lean upon our own understanding but in all of our ways acknowledge GOD and HE will direct our paths.

I believe that we have turned the corner, so to speak, and are moving ever closer to the second coming of JESUS. Yes, this has been true ever since the resurrection of JESUS. As we wait, Spirit-born Christians are to become more engaged in obediently serving GOD.

Ephesians 6:10-17 reveals to Spirit-born Christians how we are to prepare for and fight Spiritual battles:

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. ¹¹ Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. ¹² We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. ¹³ Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. ¹⁴ So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, ¹⁵ and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. ¹⁶ Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

¹⁸ Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. ¹⁹ As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan^[b] of the gospel known. ²⁰ I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say.

The more we know what goes on in the Spirit World the better we know how to pray effectively. But Caution, do not dabble in the occult, it will enslave you. JESUS The Messiah and HIS passion (Shed Blood) protects all who have placed their faith in JESUS.

If you suspect a person, you are counseling or praying for is either possessed or dabbling in the occult, get a group of prayer warriors to pray in another area as you counsel with a person involved in the occult. If you feel uneasy or your hair stands on end, start claiming out loud the shed blood of JESUS for yourself.

The war cry has been sounded and it is time for Christians to suit up and report for duty, in the name of JESUS. AMEN!!!