Patience is not a trait that has grown with the passing of time. In fact, the faster life goes, the more impatient people have become. The problem, is this same impatience has trickled into the hearts of Believers and our expectancy towards spiritual matters.
In Daniel 10, we get a glimpse into the spiritual warfare behind the scenes. The prophet Daniel had received a troubling vision of a great war. It shook him up so much that he went into a three-week period of intense mourning, fasting and prayer. In spite of his agonizing prayer, no answer came. Where is God in times like this? Believers plead in tears for God to just “show them a token for good.” But no answer comes… why is that?
After those three weeks, God sent an angel to minister to Daniel. The first thing he wanted Daniel to understand was that, “From the first day you humbled yourself before God in prayer, you were heard, but the Prince of Persia resisted me 21 days. Then Michael, one of the Chief Princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the King of Persia.” (Daniel 10:12, 13). We’re witnessing a spiritual war!
It helps us to understand that demonic entities are given a jurisdiction to rule over. This powerful demon was given hold over Persia. There was also a demonic ruler over Greece (spoken of in Daniel 10:20). Their purpose is the same… to destroy the nation of Israel so that the Messiah could not come, as was prophesied.
We know that their attempts to thwart God’s plans were completely unfruitful - He came! And He conquered death! So their strategy has shifted - now, their goal is to destroy Israel so He cannot fulfill prophecy by sitting on the throne of David upon His return (Luke 1:26-33). There is a convergence of evil that will rise up against Israel, and we are watching it form… “They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!’” (Psalm 83:4). But like before, they will not succeed…
Any nation that upholds Judeo-Christian values will feel the spiritual warfare of these times. We KNOW that our own countries have their own delegation of demonic spirits, influencing governments and leaders towards destruction. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
Friends, we must not allow ourselves to believe we are alone in battle - God is with us. This war is real! And we must not believe we are helpless onlookers. Nothing is further from the truth. These dark days require a committed spiritual defense. We need to recognize that through prayer, we actively participate in this spiritual war by bringing the power of God into it. Our prayers matter!
Revelation 12 tells us that when Jesus comes, this demonic realm will try to prevent His coming - in the sky! “And there was a war in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought back, but they prevailed not, and were cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world, and his angels (demons) were cast out with him.” (vs 7-9)
One day, this will all be over, and we will declare that our prayers were powerful - we overcame the Devil!
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