We live both in a visible world and in an invisible world.

In chapter 10, we are invited to take a peak into this invisible world.

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. ² When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. ³ All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. “On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River” (Daniel 10:1-4 NLT)

• The year is 536 B.C and Daniel is 85 years old.
• The Persian King has signed a decree for the release of all the Jewish captives to return back home to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:2). King Cyrus himself has ensured that all the 5400 articles of silver and gold that were stolen from the temple to be returned to the exiles as they went back home.
• Things are going as planned just like Prophet Jeremiah has prophesied. Just like the vision Daniel had in Chapter 9.

So Why is Daniel mourning?

• He is mourning for the fact that many of the Jewish people are refusing to go back home. They have grown comfortable with their new lives in Babylon. Many of them have walked away from their faith and God.
• Comfort can be the greatest enemy of serving God!
• He realizes, he is way too old to make this 900 mile journey back home.
• But he knew there was a purpose for him staying behind, away from his home- Jerusalem.

Have you ever noticed that some of your spiritual markers in life happen away from home rather than in the usual places.

• Sometimes home can be way too comfortable for us to hear from God.
• It was not a coincidence that John received the Book of Revelation while he was in exile on the island of Patmos, far away from his homeland.
• Sometimes God’s voice is the loudest in a place of testing.
• Sometimes God’s vision is clearer in a place of opposition
• Daniel has been camping out on the banks of the Tigris River to seek God.
• After 20 days, nothing from God. He gets no wisdom. He gets no revelation. He gets no power. He gets nothing through this experience.
• Can anyone relate to this? When your prayers seems to go nowhere. Everything is delayed.

STATEMENT: A prayer delayed is not a prayer denied

• What do you do? You don’t quit! You keep pressing! You keep believing!
• It might be Day 20 but Day 21 is coming!

STATEMENT: Here’s what happened on Day 21: HE LOOKED UP– verse 5

⁵ I LOOKED UP and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. ⁶ His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. (Daniel 10:4-6 NLT)

• What if Daniel gave up on the 20^th day?
• Don’t just say a prayer, but be persistent in prayer.
• The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16 NKJ)
• LOOK UP! A new vision is coming. A fresh revelation is coming.

¹² Then he said, “DON’T BE AFRAID, Daniel. SINCE THE FIRST DAY YOU BEGAN TO PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING AND TO HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR GOD, YOUR REQUEST HAS BEEN HEARD IN HEAVEN. I have come in answer to your prayer.

• From the very first day you prayed, God heard you! Almost exactly what we found in Chapter 9. From the moment you prayed, a command was given.
• God is not holding back answers to your prayers.
• Now the answer might not be what we want to hear. It might be Yes. No. or Wait
• But: WHILE WE ARE STILL PRAYING AN ANSWER IS GIVEN.

¹³ But for twenty-one days the SPIRIT PRINCE OF THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” (Daniel 10:13-14 NLT)

Here’s the Truth from God’s Word: We live both in a visible world and also in an invisible world. There are constant battles between good and evil happening in a realm that we do not see. The “spirit prince of the Kingdom of Persia: is referring to a dark and evil angel that is ruling in the kingdom of Persia.

• My point is: There are forces of evil at work against: Our world, our nation, our community, our family, our homes, our marriages, our children.
• Whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not we are all involved in a spiritual warfare. The question is what are we going to do about it?

God has equipped us to face this spiritual battle! (Ephesians 6)

¹⁰ Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

• Strengthen yourself in God: through the reading of His Word, through worship, and through the assembly of believers
• The last one- the assembly of believers is being challenged these days. Because the enemy realizes the power of unity, the power in numbers. A soldier who stands on his own is weakened and is an easy prey for the enemy.

¹¹ PUT ON ALL OF GOD’S ARMOR so that you will be able TO STAND FIRM AGAINST ALL STRATEGIES of the devil.

Have you ever asked yourself this question: What is satan’s plan for humanity?

• It’s 2-fold: One for the unbeliever and one for the believer
• Unbeliever – Keep the unbeliever from trusting God.
  • How? By making the unbeliever trusting his/her own good works instead of the finished work of Jesus Christ
  • It’s called religion. That’s why satan is perfectly fine for the unbeliever to attend church. As long as it can make the unbeliever think that he/ or she is doing it to earn a good spot in heaven
• Believer – Keep the believer from serving God
  • How? By creating plenty of opportunities for the believer to be offended.
  • Offense will cause you believe that your enemy is your brothers and sisters.

¹² For we are NOT FIGHTING AGAINST FLESH-AND-BLOOD ENEMIES, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

• That’s exactly what Daniel was describing in Chapter 10 – Spiritual Warfare

¹³ Therefore, PUT ON EVERY PIECE OF GOD’S ARMOR so you will be able TO RESIST THE ENEMY in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

• By putting on every piece of the armor of God, you will be able to resist the devil.
• The key to win against evil in spiritual warfare is: not to go head to head and toe to toe with satan but TO RESIST HIM
• We are told in James 4:7 to humble or submit ourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from us.
• Our job as believers is not to fight the devil. That’s the job of angels.
• We are trying to the job, that God has assigned for angels while we neglect to put on the full armor of God and resist the devil.
• The word says put on the full armor of God: The Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of salvation, Sword of the Spirit
• And then of course the last piece of the armor: Perhaps one that we tend not to pay much attention to as we do not fully understand that unseen world of warfare.

¹⁸ PRAY IN THE SPIRIT AT ALL TIMES and on every occasion. STAY ALERT and BE PERSISTENT in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

• One thing we know about Daniel is that he prayed.
• He stayed alert even at the age of 80
• He remained persistent even in the face of strong opposition

CONCLUSION:

• The answer you are waiting for is on its way!
• A prayer delayed is not a prayer denied