Greetings to you all greatly beloved of God and welcome to another episode of our daily study of the Scriptures. We bless the name of the Lord God for the gift of life and for His benefits on us each new day. Praise be to God.
In our today’s episode 580, we shall be examining the book of Daniel Chapter 10 titled:
Daniel’s Vision Of A Mysterious Man By The River Tigris
Daniel saw this vision in the third year that Cyrus became the emperor of Persia.
During this period, Daniel was denying himself of rich food, meat, and wine. He did not even comb his hairs during this period. Many bible readers have interpreted this verse to mean Daniel was fasting. However, the truth is that Daniel was not engaging in the normal fasting where he did not eat anything at all. He was actually eating foods, but the difference was that he decided not to eat foods rich in nutrients. He did not drink wine. He also took away meat. In other words, he placed himself on distasteful foods. This is what is popularly known as “denying oneself.”
Those who cannot engage in the normal type of fasting can practice self-denial or abstinence as a form of fasting. Your prayers will still be answered. What’s important is connecting your heart with the Spirit of God taking residence in you to invoke what you want at that moment.
That’s exactly what Daniel did in this chapter and what was the result? He saw a vision.
What did he see? He saw a mysterious man clothed in linen.
The description of this man looks like that of Jesus that was described by John in Revelation 1:13-15.
However, reading verse 13 where the Angel said Arch Angel Michael came to help him when the prince of the Kingdom of Persia came to oppose him, then you will agree that he cannot be our Lord Jesus, because he does not need any help from any Angel to get things done by Himself.
Another school of thought is that, the strange man could be Jesus Christ truly and was possibly accompanied by an Angel, but the Bible was silent about this.
But for the fact that Daniel said it was an Angel that touched him when he fell face down and trembling, then the possibility of the man being Jesus Christ, was ruled out.
Whether he saw Jesus accompanied by an Angel or he saw only an Angel, what’s important is that his abstinence and prayers did not go in vain. He received answers – divine visitation.
Although the answer was delayed because of the hindrance the Angel encountered as he was coming to attend to Daniel. Nevertheless, Angel Michael came to intervene. Again, this is the proof that the man was not Jesus, because Jesus Christ cannot be hindered, by a mere Prince of Persia.
Even death and the grave could not stop Him from resurrecting, let alone a mere demonic personality, whose authority cannot match that of Christ.
Did you notice what happened in verse 7?
Daniel was the only one who saw the Angel. Those around him did not see anything but they were terrified, they ran and hid themselves.
This can be likened to what happened to Saul turned Paul on his way to Damascus in Acts Chapter 9. Those with him did not see the vision that Saul saw, but they heard the thunderous voice or noise and felt that something extraordinary had happened.
This explains why some people do not experience the power of God, even though they sleep inside church buildings, they wine and dine with men of God, yet they lack spiritual perception to receive from God divine revelations, because their hearts were never right with God. They are not ready yet. Even though heaven may be waiting for them to get their own share of divine revelations, yet they missed out.
So, the Angel told Daniel not to be afraid of what he saw that God has heard his prayers ever since the first day he decided to humble himself in order to gain understanding and have answers to his prayers.
Unfortunately, along the line, the angel bringing the answers was delayed by the prince of the kingdom of Persia – spiritual force of darkness operating through men.
In every territory, there are spiritual beings influencing people to do bad things. These are fallen angels that rebelled against God in the beginning and they are collaborating with men in order to foment troubles on earth.
According to Ephesians 1:21, the Bible talks about principality, power, might and dominion.
Ephesian 6:12 says we do not fight against human beings but against wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.
To have victory over these wicked powers and authorities, the Bible says we should put on the whole armour of God so that when the evil days come (just like Daniel experienced in this chapter), we will be able to resist the devil’s attack and put him where he belongs – under our feet.
Come to think of it, Daniel waged spiritual war for 21 days and also, the prince of the kingdom of Persia delayed the answers to Daniel prayers for 21 days, which was released the very first day that he started praying.
Assuming Daniel had stopped praying on the second or third day, he may not get the answers at all.
This means that Daniel’s persistent prayers activated the intervention of higher angelic rank to back up the carrier of Daniel’s answers.
Did you remember when Jesus said to His disciples that they should cross to the other side of the lake and they faced severe storm and strong wind on the sea?
It was territorial forces in action at that time trying to prevent them from entering the town on the other side of the lake. Assuming there was no Jesus in that boat, that was how those evil forces would have wasted the lives of those men. Immediately they called on Jesus, He stood up and commanded the wind to be quiet and also said to the wave to be still and the wind died down and there was a great calm.
As if that was not terrifying enough, when these evil forces discovered a lower rank in their hierarchy had been defeated on the sea, they sent another group of higher rank (called legions) through the man at the tomb (cemetery). As soon as he saw Jesus, he fell on his knees before Him – another battle won. Please read Mark 4:35-41 and 5:1-13.
If you always notice any stiff opposition to any good thing in your family, neighbourhood or even in a country, some spiritual wickedness in high places may be at work. All you need is the authority of the Word of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus. Speak it with boldness and you will see them bowing out for you. Read Philippians 2:10 (every knee bows at the mention of the name of Jesus Christ).
Remember, we are no longer in the dispensation of Daniel, so don’t be afraid. Why? Because Christ has died and resurrected and has made a public spectacle of all these powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his! Please, read Colossians 2:15
Now that we are in Christ, we can exercise the same authority as Christ’s and subdue all these evil forces. All you need do is speak the Word and let it agree with your subconscious mind (heart) through faith and you will see all these evil forces taking to their heel.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us Pray
Daniel prayed and an Angel was dispatched immediately to attend to his needs. I decree by the authority in the name of Jesus, God will attend to the need of someone reading this message right now, in Jesus name.
Every evil stronghold and territorial forces that wants to act like the prince of the kingdom of Persia to hinder the answers to your many prayers, they are ripped of their authority and powers right now and they are bound and rendered powerless over your life. Right now, begin to receive all the answers to your many prayers, in Jesus name.
Every territorial demon, evil strongholds etc inciting people against you or your family, they are silenced totally, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Reflection time on all the chapters you have read so far and covering of missed chapters.
I call you blessed now and always.
Thursday October 29, 2020 (DDMI)
