Spiritual Warfare

Daniel 10:12-14 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
 
SPIRITUAL warfare is real. For some reason, this is often denied, quickly dismissed or never discussed in the church today. Perhaps we think we know too much to believe in the unseen evil. In fact, we celebrate evil, don’t we? Our culture in the U.S. spends much money to highlight demonic images during this Halloween time.
    In my own faith journey, it was some time before my eyes opened to heavenly conflict. I am thankful for those who testified of their experiences with demonic attacks and God’s Spirit’s protection and deliverance. This passage is one way the Spirit has taught me. Another is Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 
    As the angel spoke to Daniel, he revealed how Satanic forces consistently fight to keep God’s Word from us. Here the conflict delays God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer. The “prince of the Persian kingdom” and the “King of Persia” are two terms for an evil spirit Satan assigned to influence people in Persia. Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help Gabriel to reach Daniel. We can picture this, can’t we? The King has a message, the Word for his people. The messenger goes. The enemy opposes him. Reinforcements enable the message to be heard and understood.
    Yes, it’s a bit confusing for the word “prince” to apply to both good and evil beings. The term, though, tells us higher authorities respectively assign the angel and the demon to their tasks. Each has a role as do earthly princes under a king. God had established a heavenly order. Satan has likewise set up a hellish order to attack God’s angels and his people.
    Be aware the battle against God’s truth rages in heaven. Join in the fight with a diligent effort to receive God’s holy Word.
 
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.