Daily devotion – The real battle in the skies over Ukraine
Daniel 10:1 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.
We gathered as a praying Church last night here in Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour. It was wonderful to see many out to pray for the people of Ukraine.
In the book of Daniel chapter 10, God laid a burden on Daniel’s heart causing Daniel to fast and pray. A second reason why Daniel was praying and fasting at this time was that he wanted to understand more about the visions and prophecies God had already revealed to him.
We too have had God lay upon our hearts a burden for the plight of the people if Ukraine.
We too, like Daniel have been given God’s precious word filled with prophecies concerning these Last Day we are now living. Like Daniel we want to fully understand in greater detail the current world events and their Biblical alignment.
As Daniel was praying, all of a sudden a figure of what looked like a man appears before Daniel – 4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 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.
10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
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. 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.”
Who was this man that appeared to Daniel? Was it Gabriel, or a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ? We are not sure but what I really want to examine today is what this visitor said to Daniel.
1. Since the first day of Daniel’s prayer Heaven has had its ear to every word Daniel uttered in his prayer.
2. God sent this messenger to Daniel in response to Daniel’s heart felt prayer.
3. But this messenger from Heaven had been locked in a very real spiritual battle with the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” – a fallen angel of power that was over and influencing the kingdom of Persia.
From this detail, we can understand what Paul means when he is teaching us about spiritual conflict, spiritual armour and spiritual weapons of warfare. – Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13 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.
Right now over Ukraine there is a very real spiritual battle that is beyond tanks and missiles. It is the prayers of Christ’s Church, the prayers of the people of Ukraine, coming against the evil entity that at this moment, like the ‘prince of the kingdom of Persia’ in Daniel’s time, is bringing destruction to Ukraine.
When we pray for the situation in Ukraine, just like Daniel, Heaven hears and answers our prayers, and commits to the spiritual battle, powerful entities like the one that revealed himself in visiting Daniel.
Let us know that in Christ we have the victory, that God’s will, will be done! Therefore let us be like Daniel and continue to pray until that battle over the ruling of Ukraine is won to God’s glory.
He who visited Daniel in his praying said these words to him….. Dan 10:18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. Dan 10:19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
Let us be strong in the Lord, let us not be afraid, and know that in God’s eyes we too are precious. Let us also be encouraged and continue to be strong in Him!