Battles in the Spiritual Realm
“ He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days. So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and have come to help you understand what is to happen to your people at the end of days. For there is a further vision for those days.”
While he was speaking these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one in human form touched my lips, and I opened my mouth to speak, and said to the one who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision such pains have come upon me that I retain no strength. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For I am shaking, no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
Again one in human form touched me and strengthened me. He said, “Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come. But I am to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one with me who contends against these princes except Michael, your prince. Daniel 10:12-21
As we enter the Lenten season, we strive with extra emphasis to grow in Christ Jesus. Many will fast as a means of growing spiritually, replacing physical pleasure with prayer, meditating on God’s holy word and seeking Christ Jesus with refreshed intention. Ideally, our efforts to grow in Christ during this season will become habits that continue long after Easter.
Earlier this week as I pondered renewal, reading Daniel, I saw Daniel fasting, praying and grieving, crying out to God. God heard his prayers and responded by sending an angelic messenger to him, and we know the angelic messenger was in direct response to prayer because the angel said,
“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” Daniel 10:12
God responded to Daniel’s prayers and He responds to ours. How do we know this? He promises that He will respond in His holy word (see 1 John 5:14-15). As we seek to grow in Christ Jesus, let’s briefly consider Daniel and the beginning of the angel’s message.
As you know, Daniel was taken captive in his youth and transported to Babylon, where he remained faithful to God and prospered. He fought to maintain the Jewish diet, he openly prayed to God, and he kept his Jewish identity. Through God he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and the writing on the wall, and he grew in prestige, but because he continued openly praying to God in defiance of the king, he landed in the lion’s den where an angel saved him.
Sometime after all that, King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. Residents endured war, post-war transition to a new governing body, and all the uncertainty, anxiety and fear associated with the transition. The events described in the passage above took place in the third year of King Cyrus’ rule (see Daniel 10:1).
Daniel had been fasting, praying and mourning for three weeks, apparently in response to the behavior of God’s people. They had been captive in Babylon for many years, surrounded by pagan influences, and as a result many were losing touch with God’s holy word, losing faith, forgetting God and adopting pagan ways. Through Moses, God urges His people to keep His words “in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Other prophets tell us that some were succumbing to the pressures of dissemination, adopting Babylonian ways, losing contact with God’s holy word, and losing the basis of their identity as God’s people. For weeks Daniel grieved and fasted and prayed asking God what would happen to His people.
One particular day during his time of mourning, God sent an angel to talk with Daniel. As Daniel stood on the bank of the Tigris River, he encountered the angel through a vision that no one else could see, but they must have sensed something odd was happening because they ran and hid (see Daniel 10:7).
The angel said he had been battling “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” over the same period as Daniel’s fasting, praying and mourning, and that he was unable to leave the battle until “one of the chief princes,” Michael, came to relieve him from the battle (Daniel 10:13). At the end of the chapter the angel says,
Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come. But I am to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one with me who contends against these princes except Michael, your prince. Daniel 10:20-21
The angelic messenger presents a system in which angels sent from God battle spiritual representatives of nations. As soon as he delivers the message to Daniel, the angel plans to return to the battle, and apparently, Michael is the angel who protects Israel because the angelic messenger, speaking to Daniel, referred to Michael as “your prince.” God’s holy word describes battles taking place in the spiritual realm on the national scale. Nations are influenced by the spiritual battles fought by angels.
God’s holy word also mentions spiritual battles with respect to individual people. Through the gospels we see Jesus casting demons out of people, and Peter and Paul discuss individual spiritual attack, explaining that individuals are involved in the battle. Peter explains that the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking people to devour, and in light of this threat he urges us to stay alert, disciplined and faithful (see 1 Peter 5:8-9). Paul explains that we are not merely pawns subjected to the whims of some celestial chess game; rather, we are responsible for donning our own armor of God, writing,
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18
God’s holy word explains that we are responsible to do our part in the battle. We must stay alert, disciplined and faithful. We must be strong, stand against the devil, and put on the whole armor of God. We must know the word of God, so we are able to employ it as the sword of the Spirit, and pray all the time as these are the primary means of God’s holy grace, our primary connections with Him, our primary means of growth in Christ, our primary supports of faith.
Battles are taking place in the spiritual realm. As we endeavor to exchange physical pleasure for spiritual growth, I suggest the following. First, recognize that the spiritual realm is real. Second, recognize that the spiritual realm is eternal while the physical realm is temporary (see 2 Corinthians 4:18). Third, recognize that battles truly are taking place in the spiritual realm influencing nations and individuals. Fourth, understand your role and responsibility in the battles and prepare yourself through God’s holy word, prayer, faith and righteousness. Fifth, meditate on God’s holy word. Sixth, pray. Through prayer we commune with God, grow in Christ Jesus, enhance our spiritual transformation and petition God’s holy healing touch. Breathe in the Holy Spirit, pray asking Christ Jesus to fill you, pray surrendering your life to Him, and pray for our cities, states, nations, and our leaders.
Daniel fasted, prayed and grieved for God’s people for a long time, and at the right time, God sent a messenger to Daniel in response to his prayers. Stay faithful, stay strong, stay in God’s holy word, pray continuously and seize the power of the Holy Spirit that is in you.
May you know Him with richness, fullness and clarity, may you step out in the world as His servant shining His light for everyone to see, Amen.