#10 - “Faithful in the Midst of a Spiritual War”

Series: Living Faithfully in Babylon

I. Daniel was Motivated to Pray and Fast (10:1-3)

Mitabbel: A word often used in connection with lamenting the death of a loved one. This mourning and the partial fast marked a prolonged period of intense supplication and prayer.

A. His Concern for the Jewish People Remaining.

B. His Concern for the Jewish People Returning. Ezra 4:5, 24

Ezra 4:5,24 – “They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia. Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of King Darius of Persia.

C. His Concern for the Jewish People Remembering Their Purpose

Isaiah 42:6-8 “I, Yahweh, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will hold You by Your hand. I will keep You and appoint You to be covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.”

Isaiah 49:6 “He says, It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

D. His Concern for His Own Clarity of the Revelation.

II. Daniel was Mesmerized as A Divine Figure (10:4-9)

A. What Daniel Saw

Ezek. 1:25-28“ A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stood still, they lowered their winds. The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone was above the expanse. There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above. From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him.”

Ezek. 1:25-28 “The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.”

B. Who Daniel Saw.

Rev. 1:12-16 “I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long rob and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool-white as snow-and His eyes like a fiery flame.”

Rev. 1:12-16 “His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came fro His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday.”

III. Daniel was Messaged by an Angelic Figure (10:10-20)

Rev. 12:7-9 “Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven nay longer. So the great dragon was thrown out-the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth and his angels with him.

Rev. 12:10-11 “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out; the one who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.”

A. Daniel was Touched by an Angel.

B. Daniel’s Trembling was calmed by the Angel (vs. 12, 18-19)

C. Daniel is Told of the Invisible War (vs. 10-20)

Ephesians 6:12 “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

IV. Daniel Models Our Spiritual Warfare (v. 21)• We fight the spiritual

enemies of God• We fight for the Gospel• We fight to free people by

the Gospel• We fight the inward struggle

with the flesh

Col. 2:15 “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.”

Ephesians 4:7-8 “Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift. For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity, He gave gifts to people.”

Jude 4 “For some men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

“When we know Jesus is standing with us and fighting for us, we can accept any circumstance and accomplish any task He gives us.”

--Warren Wiersbe