April 7, 2021
Delay is Not Denial
“I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24 NLT)
My beloved, Daniel prayed and fasted for twenty-one days eating nothing pleasant thing, meat or drinking wine, and he didn’t anoint himself or use perfumed lotions. He sat in sackcloth and ashes repenting for his and his family’s sins, iniquities, and transgressions. (Daniel 10:2-3) On the twenty-fourth day, he and some other men were sitting beside the Tigris River, and he lifted his eyes and a certain man clothed in linen stood there with the voice of a multitude. The men with Daniel fled in fear and left him alone. (Daniel 10:4-6) You will always be alone when you have a divine encounter with God. Daniel began having the third vision, and no strength was left in him. Suddenly a hand touched him, and he began to tremble. (Daniel 10:7) The man said, “O’ Daniel man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak and stand up! I have been sent to you. Do not fear! Since the first day, you began to humble yourself in repentance of sins, iniquities, and transgressions praying God heard in Heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.
1. As a leader you are not just leading God’s family, you’re leading an army. (Daniel 10:21)
2. Prayer ignites spiritual warfare though it is invisible to you. (Daniel 10:12)
3. Both spiritual kingdoms appear to have princes. (Daniel 10:13)
4. Spiritual warfare can delay the answers to prayers and victories. (Daniel 10:13-14)
5. Do not fear spiritual warfare – pray in the Spirit. (Daniel 10:18-19)
6. Spiritual warfare empowers you to cooperate with God’s purposes. (Daniel 10:21:22)
Be encouraged to be more strategic in prayer and recognize that you will encounter struggles beyond human opposition and do spiritual warfare. We do not have authority to dispute or argue with Satan, even the archangel Michael recognized that and said, ‘The Lord rebuke you Satan!’ (Jude 1:9) So, you must do likewise! To wisely face an invisible spiritual world around you without fear, you need to pray persistently. However, Jesus said to His disciples, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:9) Perhaps, if you are not receiving an answer to your prayer, consider fasting. Daniel fasted, prayed, and repented for his sins, iniquities and transgressions, and his family’s. It is written, “I will answer them before they
