Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Opening Remarks
• Chapter 9 - Daniel in prayer
• A prayer of confession
• God sent the Angel Gabriel (9:23)
• Daniel's prayer had a staggering effect on world history
• Now the 3rd year of the reign of King Cyrus
• Daniel is discouraged
• Only a small remnant has returned
• The work has stopped - due to the effect of the Samaritans
• Daniel was in mourning - v2-3
• Not just praying 3 times a day
• Weeping in prayer 3 times a day
• He is seeking God with all his heart and might
• He has an awesome vision
• Only Daniel saw the vision
• He was trembling on his hands and knees
• He is touched 3 times - strengthened on the last touch

An Encounter with the Son of God

• This is an encouragement to pray
• What did Daniel need most?
• Reassurance that Israel would be restored
• A promise of revival/reformation
• He needed an encounter with the Son of God
• An encounter with Jesus Christ
• v5-6
• Rev 1:13-16
• Differences between the two passages but great similarities too
• Daniel fell down as if dead v9
• People's encounters with Deity are awesome
• We cannot cope with the presence of God's majesty
• What do we need most?
• Congregations...
• Favourable circumstances with the world...
• It is a real encounter with God
• Not in the same way as special revelation to the prophets and the apostles
• We need reassure from God and His touch upon our lives

An Experience

• Daniel is touched
• Is it the hand of the Saviour?
• cf 12:5-6
• v12-13
• The prince of Persia is a demon
• He needs help from Michael
• Why should the Son of God need help from Michael?
• Perhaps the Son of God was going to use Michael
• Could it be another angel that touched him - e.g. Gabriel (cf 9:21-23)
• v13 - speaking about spiritual warfare
• Would a man fight an angel?
• Cyrus and Darius were never called prince
• This is a prince of darkness
• These are not territorial spirits
• Daniel is comforted at this time
• There is a delay - but he has been heard right from the beginning
• Sometimes we have delays
• There may be battles going on that we do not know about
• Do you believe in spiritual warfare
• Behind the idol is a demon
• Are not lifestyles that are contrary to God demonic?
• The oppression of women
• State worship
• Satan can thwart but never overcome God's purposes
• Paul's plans in the New Testament are thwarted but God overrules
• There is a battle in the heavenlies but in time God's servant comes to Daniel - v14
• Daniel is experiencing a touch of the divine - v10
• He is speechless - v15
• Another touches his lips
• This reminds us of Isaiah
• v16-18 - Daniel was in a good position, because he was in the hand of God
• A third touch - v18
• v20-21
• The people of God have a prince, be encouraged

What does this say to us?

• Rev 12:7-9
• God is almighty
• The devil has power but is cast down
• There is spiritual warfare
• It is not equal
• God has the victory - but the devil continually seeks to upset God's plans
• He still has an influence over people and nations
• Example of victories
• Eph 6:10-13
• There could have been a temptation for Daniel to blame other parties
• Do we blame other parties?
• Do we recognise that the battle in the heavenlies?
• We fight against satan, but Christ has the victory

Closing Remarks

• Be encouraged
• Lets hope in God
• His purposes will prevail