FIGHTING ON YOUR KNEES

"'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, 'for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.'" (Daniel 10:12-14 HCSB)

I remember buying a set of boxing gloves for my son, Chris, when he was small. He wanted to use Dad as a punching bag. Being a pastor, I was accustomed to that! But, he soon learned that if he was going to punch me, I was going to hit back. I did have quite a height advantage, so to make it a bit more fair, I would fight him on my knees.

That ought to be a familiar position for the Christian. We are in a spiritual fight with the Devil and the victory must be won on our knees!

Prayer is worship. It is time spent in God's presence, expressing praise to Him for who He is and gratitude for what He has done.

Prayer is work. When we work, we do what man can do, but when we pray God does what He can do! I once heard the late Ron Dunn say, “Prayer doesn't just fit us for our work--it is the work!”

But, prayer is also warfare. It is the arena where spiritual combat is fought. Have you wondered why it is so difficult to pray--to find time to do it, and even if you do take the time to pray you struggle with distractions? It is in large measure because we are then on the battlefield, and war is not a picnic!

These are lessons Daniel learned that will help us to win the fight on our knees.

We learn THE MOTIVATIONS FOR WARFARE PRAYING.

"In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision." (Daniel 10:1 HCSB)

PRAYER MAY BE MOTIVATED BY THE INDIFFERENCE OF GOD'S PEOPLE. It had been three years since Cyrus had issued the decree granting the Jewish exiles opportunity to return to Israel, yet only a small number had returned. Most seemed to have no heart for the work of God.

Does that sound familiar? We shouldn't simply gripe about it to others, but groan to God with a burden that sets heaven to stir up God's people on earth.

PRAYER MAY BE MOTIVATED BY THE IMPOTENCE OF GOD'S CHILDREN. The Jews who did return were poor and puny when it came to accomplishing anything. Such reports of the sorry state of affairs moved a man like Nehemiah to pray (see Neh.1). We may assume that it also drove Daniel in desperation to seek God's power for His people.

The church today seems to know little of the power visited upon the church at Pentecost. You will recall that as the first Christians prayed, God came in power and sent them out in strength to change the world! We should settle for no less!

PRAYER MAY BE MOTIVATED BY THE INTERFERENCE OF GOD'S ENEMY. The returning exiles faced strong opposition in their efforts to rebuild Jerusalem. This caused them to carry a sword in one hand and trowel in the other! You can read about that in Nehemiah 4.

We are reminded in Ephesians 6, however, that the real battle is not with flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces that direct them. Did you see this phrase in Daniel 10:1, "a great conflict"? We have many foes in the twenty-first century--humanism, socialism, spiritism, materialism, hedonism, and such--but orchestrating it all is demonism! The only way to overcome is intercession!

A second lesson concerns THE MANNER OF WARFARE PRAYING.

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. I didn't eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn't put any oil [on my body] until the three weeks were over." (Daniel 10:2, 3 HCSB)

ITS MANNER IS INTERCESSORY. It is prayer for Kingdom people and Kingdom progress. This prayer of Daniel's had that purpose. There is a place for personal requests, but we should be inspired to pray to God for others--loving Him and loving our neighbor is the focus that pleases God and moves Him to answer. We need to pray like Abraham pleading for wicked society or Moses praying for wavering saints.

ITS MANNER IS INTENSE. See the strong passion that gripped Daniel! This was the manner in which Jesus prayed. "During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence." (Hebrews 5:7 HCSB) That intensity reached its pinnacle in Gethsemane where He prayed in agony, until His sweat became as drops of blood. Leonard Ravenhill correctly noted that in the church today we have many organizers, but few agonizers!

Yet, this is the Biblical manner called for:

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect." (James 5:16 HCSB)
This is praying with urgency and fervency--immediacy and intensity!

A third lesson shows THE MANIFESTATION IN WARFARE PRAYING.

"On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground." (Daniel 10:4-9 HCSB)

Observe THE REVELATION OF GOD'S SON in verses 4-6.

The Person depicted here can be none other than the pre-incarnate Christ.

We see His Sanctity. He is dressed in linen. This is the clean, white garment of a priest. When we pray, remember the Great High Priest intercedes for us.

We see His Sovereignty. He wears a belt of gold. Gold symbolizes royalty. When we pray, we are in contact with the King of the kings who has all power to work His will.

We see His Scrutiny. Set in the midst of His radiant face, are flaming eyes. He sees and knows all. He knows what is best, so we can submit to His will in prayer rather than demanding that our will be done. He sees more than we can see.

We see His Supremacy. There is might in His arms, strength in His torso, stability in His feet and power in His voice. Daniel prayed and God showed up!

This led to THE REACTION OF GOD'S SERVANT witnessed in verses 7-9.

Daniel collapsed in a heap, withered before such glory! Such are sinful men when they encounter Holy God. The Bible is full of examples: Moses at the burning bush, Isaiah in the Temple, Peter after the miraculous catch of fish, Paul on the Damascus Road and John on Patmos, for instance.

Those who say little cliches and mouth pious phrases, yet are not shaken to the core of their being, demonstrate that their prayers have not risen any higher than the ceiling. Prayer that encounters eternity is transformational and revolutionary!

The fourth lesson taught concerns THE MIGHT OF WARFARE PRAYING.

"Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees. He said to me, 'Daniel, you are a man treasured [by God]. Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.' After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, 'for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.'" (Daniel 10:10-14 HCSB)

Note WHEN THE ANSWER WAS DISPATCHED.

“'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, 'for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.’” (Dan.10:12)

The moment Daniel’s prayer ascended to heaven, the angel Gabriel was sent down with the answer. This is the promise of prayer.

“Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.” (1 John 5:14-15)

But, then look at WHY THE ANSWER WAS DELAYED.

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” (Dan.10:13)

Gabriel met a roadblock. A demonic spirit resisted him. Though angels are powerful, they are not omnipotent. God’s messenger had to pass through the domain of Satan, “the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,” (Eph.2:2b). What we may deem to be prayer that is denied is actually only prayer that is delayed.

This is a call to persistence in prayer. Gabriel prevailed to get through this spiritual resistance because Daniel persisted in prayer.

It isn’t that God can’t get an answer through—He is all-powerful. But, He wants to build spiritual muscle in us, and that only occurs as we exercise our faith. One day, the saints will reign with Christ and God is at work preparing us to do so as overcomers.

So, we underscore WHY THE ANSWER WAS DELIVERED.

“Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” (Dan.10:13b)

Michael was dispatched to aid Gabriel as Daniel continued to pray. What got the answer through? Was it Gabriel’s obedience? Was it Michael’s assistance? That was true enough, but though the answer isn’t incorrect, it is incomplete. It was Daniel’s persistance, also! Who knows but that the prayer you have consistently prayed as heaven seemed silent, may bring a breakthrough on the very next request.

This is the power of prayer!

The fifth and final lesson shares THE MESSAGE FROM WARFARE PRAYING.

“While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, ‘My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.

How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.’

Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.

He said, ‘Don't be afraid, you who are treasured [by God]. Peace to you; be very strong!’
As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’

He said, ‘Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.’” (Daniel 10:15-21)

When the victory is won, there is peace! That is the message given.

We find THE SOURCE OF THIS PEACE.

“While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, ‘My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.

How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.’” (Dan.10:15-17)

The Son of Man comes to Daniel and touches Him. Of course, Daniel will find such an experience breath-taking. Fear will rise within him, but as Jesus so often speaks, He will convey a message of peace.

Then, there is THE STRENGTH OF THIS PEACE.

“Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.

He said, ‘Don't be afraid, you who are treasured [by God]. Peace to you; be very strong!’
As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’” (Dan.10:18-19)

He is strengthened and enabled to stand. God sustains us!

Also, we see THE SURETY OF THIS PEACE.

“He said, ‘Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.’” (Dan.10:20-21)

The struggle between light and darkness continues today, but will one day come to its conclusion with Satan overthrown. That is what is recorded in the Book of Truth!

Are you winning the battle against evil? Is there prevailing power in our prayers? The outcome is decided on our knees!