Prayer What Gets in the Way?

Prayer: What Gets in the Way Daniel 10

Daniel 10:1-9 sets the context for what we will see in Daniel 10-13.

Daniel 10:10 Presumably the angel that touches Daniel here is Gabriel as mentioned earlier in Dan 9:21

Verse 11 The angel starts by saying that Daniel is highly esteemed.

• We already saw this in 9:23. Twice an Angel tells Daniel he was highly esteemed.
• The Hebrew word used here means: “to take pleasure in” Some English translations translate it as, “greatly beloved”
• The NLT uses, “Daniel, you are very precious to God.” The NASB uses, “Daniel, you who are treasured,”
• This position is not unique to Daniel, this would be true of all of us.
• This is the base or the foundation for all our prayers. This is why we can pray with persistence and boldness.
  • We are praying from a position of being highly esteemed by God.
• We are praying from the place of God taking Pleasure in us. This should change the way we pray.

Verse 12 Then he says that from the first day you began to pray your prayers were heard.

• These are the same words Gabriel spoke to Daniel in 9:23
• The Hebrew word used here means, “from the beginning.”
• Even when it doesn’t feel like it, God hears our prayers right from the beginning.
• Then the angel goes on to say that he has come in response to Daniel’s prayers.
  • The implication is that the angel left right away to come and answer Daniel’s prayers.

Verse 13 The angel tells Daniel that his coming has been delayed for 21 days.

• The reason for the delay was the Prince of Persia.
• The moment Daniel prayed the prayer was heard and a word or answer went out.
• God did not delay in answering. He heard and answered right away.
  • The delivery of the answer was delayed.
• Then the angel tells Daniel why the delay. The prince of the Persian kingdom resisted him those 21 days.
• We see that not only can prayers be delayed; they can be delayed by other spirits. Spirits that are not of God.
  • Most bible scholars believe this is the “governing evil spirit for the Persian Empire”
    • A territorial spirit reigning over Persia.
  • Then the angel tells Daniel that Michael the chief angel came to his rescue.
    • It gives us a picture of the spiritual battle that rages around us, that we may not always be aware of.
      • The Hebrew word used here can mean “commander.” prince
      • Play on words with the names here. Same word or name used for both Micheal and the spirit.
    • The other point to note here is that this territorial Spirit is so powerful that an ordinary angel could not overcome it. It took Micheal the chief angel to overcome it.

What do we do?

1. We do not take on territorial spirits ourselves. (This spirit was so strong it required Michael the chief or first Angel)
2. We let the Lord fight those battles.
3. We continue to be consistent and faithful in prayer.
   1. We can ask the Lord to send angels if needed.

Summary

1. Our prayers begin and are rooted in the fact that God takes pleasure in us and we have favor with him.
   1. Application: we can pray boldly and confidently knowing this.
2. God respond to prayers quickly even if we don’t see the results right away.
   1. Application: This should keep us from getting discouraged when we don’t see results right away.
3. Sometimes the answer to our prayers is an angel. Though we won’t necessarily see that.
   1. Application: we shouldn’t seek to have encounters with angels. This is just a tool God will use some of the time.
4. Prayers can be delayed, super naturally, as the result of demonic and territorial spirits.
   1. Application: Remember there are spiritual forces out there trying to resist us and the kingdom of God.
   2. But God can and does overcome those other forces. Those delayed prayers can still be answered, because the Kingdom of God is always greater. Jesus is always greater.
5. Pray persistently and boldly.
   1. Application pray consistently and with faith