Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Text: Ephesians 6:12
EXAMPLES OF HOW SATAN WAGES WAR II
Let us look at how the devil sends his demonic officers into spiritual battle. Even in the matter of comprehending the will of God, or the Scriptures, the evil one will send powerful spirits to oppose us.
1. Context: Daniel seeking to understand a prophetic vision
Daniel did not take for granted that prophetic knowledge is easy to obtain and comprehend. He must have encountered great difficulty in understanding God’s word, and hence entered into fasting (Cf. Daniel 10:2)
2. Challenge of powerful spiritual beings
For three full weeks Daniel struggled with comprehending God’s vision given to him. At last, an angel of the Lord was sent to him, to assist him in understanding the vision. What he said to Daniel reveals a vital truth.
Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day
that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself
before your God, your words were heard; and I have come
because of your words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one
days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to
help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
DANIEL 10:12-13
a) The prince of the kingdom of Persia
This evil spiritual being obviously had great power. He was able to resist the angel of the Lord sent to help Daniel to understand his prophetic vision.
b) Resistance to understand God’s word
This evil spiritual being withstood an angel of the Lord for a full twenty-one days! (Many such spiritual battles are probably being waged every day, but we do not know much about this).
c) Help from the archangel Michael
The angel of the Lord acknowledged that he received much help from one of his seniors, Michael, called “one of the chief princes”.
d) Victory is possible
What an experience! What a revelation we have concerning the spiritual battles up in the heavenlies. Let us not allow ourselves to take for granted even the matter of understanding God’s word!