Behind the Veil
The Sovereignty of God | A Study Through the Book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 8 viewsThere is a war behind the scenes that we do not see between the forces of God and Satan, but this does not hinder God's plan or will.
Notes
Transcript
Focus Passage: Daniel 10:10-11:1
Opening Passage: Daniel 10:10-14
10 Then behold, a hand touched me and shook me on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “Daniel, you who are treasured, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, because the vision pertains to the days still future.”
Finding Encouragement When There is None (vv. 10-11)
It is good to know someone cares for you- ‘…a hand touched me and shook me on my hands and knees…’
It is good to know someone sees you - ‘…Daniel, you are treasured…’
It is good to know someone has your back - ‘…understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you…’
It is good to know you can stand, even in the midst anxiety - ‘…I stood up trembling…’
Behind the Veil (vv. 12-14)
12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, because the vision pertains to the days still future.”
God hears our prayers. God responds to our prayers. God uses His angels to deliver messages and fight a battle that you and I do not see. Truly, their is a dimension within this world that you and I cannot even begin to conceive. It is hid behind a veil. As stated by Abraham Kuyper,
If once the curtain were pulled back, and the spiritual world behind it came to view, it would expose to our spiritual vision a struggle so intense, so convulsive, sweeping everything within its range, that the fiercest battle ever fought on earth would seem, by comparison, a mere game. Not here, but up there—that is where the real conflict is waged. Our earthly struggle drones in its backlash.
Sinclair B. Ferguson and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Daniel, vol. 21, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1988), 198–199.
As stated in the Preacher’s Commentary on Daniel, He was about to learn of the ultimate power struggle, fought out in a realm that most knowing nothing of. This was the intent of the angel coming to Daniel. This was the answer to his question posed to Daniel in (v.20).
20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.
So, what do we learn as we lift this veil and look in the spiritual dimension that lies just outside of our physical dimension?
A Few Lessons We Can Learn from Behind the Veil
Behind the veil we learn that true war is with the unseen
The angel tells Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response response to your words. The battle ground that Daniel was fighting on were spiritual grounds. He purposed in his heart (spiritual grounds) to honor God and be humble before Him. He purposed in his heart (spiritual grounds) to understand what God was telling him. He was committed to this. For twenty-one days, Daniel had prayed, fasted, and toiled with this vision and what it meant.
As we look at our text and read, for from the first day…your words were heard, and I have come in response, was he lagging in the process? Was he just taking his time? Why did it take twenty-one days for the angel to get to Daniel? It took twenty-one days because of a war that was taking place. There was a battle behind the veil, behind the scenes that no one knew about. As we read, But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days. There was a war taking place over Daniel and the people of God between good and evil, between God and satan. Paul writes of this war:
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
May we understand as we face this spiritual war day in and day out within our own lives, it cannot be fought with physical weapons. It is a war that must be fought in a different way.
Behind the veil we learn that the true war must be fought with spiritual weapons
This war was not being fought with tanks, grenades, and bullets. It was being fought with angelic power, God’s angel army, then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. As we look at our text and also look at the New Testament, find great comfort in two truths. One, the weapons we fight this war with are not physical. We find victory in the spiritual weapons of salvation, righteous, truth, faith, and the gospel, all of which are followed up with the Word of Truth and prayer.
As Paul continues to write in his epistle to believers at Ephesus:
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
He again writes in his epistle to the believers at Corinth
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Behind the veil we find that in the true war we are not alone
And the great encouragement and truth is that we are not alone in this battle. As we see in our text, God is with us. He has also sent His angel army to help us win this fight.
The author of Hebrews writes:
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
So, as we pray and seek answers and guidance from God, and we do not get an answer in the time that we think we should receive one, let us not loose hope. Let us realize that there is a war behind the veil taking place. Let us realize that we can and will be victorious through weapons that God has already provided. Let us find hope in the fact that we are not fighting this war alone. God has sent His angel army to stand by our side. As the song goes by Chris Tomlin…
You hear me when I call
You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light
Whom shall I fear?
You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my sword and shield
Though troubles linger still
Whom shall I fear?
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
Spiritual Truths to Take to Heart (vv. 15-11:1)
The history of this world cannot be found in books alone (vv. 20-21)
As we are on this side of eternity and in this physical dimension, there is a war that is being fought in spiritual dimension that is parallel to ours that effects time and history more than any other source. As we find written within our text:
20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.
We, as Christians, are surrounded and very much a part of a spiritual war (vv. 15-17)
This war causes us to fight. This war causes us to feel physically, mentally, and spiritual exhausted. This war will bring us to our knees and leave us without strength. This was the case for Daniel, as saw this vision of the future.
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one who resembled a human was touching my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “My lord, due to the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”
Within this war, the Christian finds supernatural strength through the Word of God and prayer ushered in by God’s angel army (vv. 18-19)
18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “You who are treasured, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
As we pray let us be reminded of two truths about prayer
the power of prayer is not in the prayer but in the One answering the prayer
Genuine prayer reveals a humility before God and a true dependency upon God. This is the anchor and point of prayer. Once again, the power of prayer is not found in the prayer, but in the One answering the prayer, the One that we are being dependent upon, God Almighty!
the only prayer with power is the prayer of a righteous person
As the Preacher’s Commentary states…
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 21: Daniel Conflict for the Kingdom of God
Prayer is not a piece of magic, a secret trick that we can use because we have a secret knowledge irrespective of our manner of life. The only prayer that is powerful in its lasting effect is the expression of the life and desires of a righteous individual who walks in covenant fellowship with God.
James writes:
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.
Finally, through Daniel’s prayer, we find we are never alone (v. 19)
19 And he said, “You who are treasured, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
As we are not alone in this war, let us not leave others alone in this war. Daniel received strength, received his answer, and in the end, Daniel went became a shield of prayerful protection for Persian king that over Israel at the time, Darius.
1 “In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be of assistance and a protection for him.
In closing,
let us remember that although our prayers are not answered immediately, that does not mean that God has not heard our prayers nor does that mean that an answer is not on the way. Remember, their is a spiritual war fare for your soul and the souls of others that is taking place in a realm that you and I cannot see. If that veil was pulled back, we would be speechless and overwhelmed. However, God and His angel armies are fight on our behalf and leading the church for today and tomorrow. He is on our side and here to strengthen us, protect us, and lead us. As Daniel was told, we are told today…
19 And he said, “You who are treasured, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
