RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-03-10	Daniel's Prayer Was Heard But There Were Forces (Da.10)
		The prophet Daniel receives a word from the Lord in a vision (v.1). In the vision it was of conflict that stunned him because of how great it was. Daniel set himself to prayer and fasting to seek the meaning of the vision (v.2-3). For three weeks Daniel wrestled in prayer over the vision seeking to know God's will. After three weeks he went out to the banks of the Tigris River (v.4) There he had another vision that was so awesome he could hardly bear it. Then some hand touched him so that he shook terribly on his hands and knees (v.10). The voice told him the following (v.11-12). Dan 10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Dan 10:12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. Notice in verse 11 the voice said, “I have now been sent to you”. That is, God sent him. God answered Daniel's prayer as soon as he began to pray three weeks ago (v.12). He told Daniel he was sent “the first day that you set your heart to understand” (v.12). That is, three weeks ago, when he first started to pray. So, this heavenly being has come because Daniel prayed and humbled himself before God. The three-week delay was not because God took three weeks to hear his prayer. What was it then? The answer is in verse 13. Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. The reason the messenger of God was delayed was because, “the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days” (v.13). And the reason this angelic messenger got free from this opposition was because the angel Michael came to help him. This is an example of what many call a 'territorial spirit.' In verse 20 it mentions another 'territorial spirit,' “the prince of Greece.” Among the supernatural beings opposed to God there are these 'territorial spirits' assigned to a region. The assignments would have come from satan. Presumably, his job is to darken the people of Persia to keep them from the truth. So we have the prince of Persia and of Greece who are evil beings. And we have Michael who is a good being. They are at war. Daniel was shocked when the angel appeared to him. He knew nothing about the conflict with the prince of Persia. Thus, when we pray, we should be aware that there are spiritual forces at work. Just like Daniel could not see the conflict going on around him, we may not see them, but they are there. We should wrestle in prayer for the things we know are God's will for our lives. There are forces working against us we cannot see, but “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1Jn.4:4). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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