Understanding

The devotional below was birthed out of a very strong urging by the Spirit that it is time to really press in and pray and fast for the Middle East and North Africa as there is a breaking that God is wanting to do in the spiritual realm that He is calling us to participate in.

Understanding

In Daniel chapter nine, Daniel receives a revelation from God, and in chapter ten he sets himself to fast for twenty-one days to gain understanding of the revelation that God had given him. An angel, whom we assume to be the messenger Gabriel, appears to Daniel with a message, which we will pick up in verse twelve that gives us some insight into the spiritual realm.

Then he said to me, 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. 13 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. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.

From the first day Daniel prayed and set his heart to understand the Lord heard him and sent a reply, but the whole twenty-one days Daniel was fasting, there was war in the heavenlies with the prince of the kingdom of Persia to bring Daniel the message from God. This conflict took place in the midst of the kings of Persia. The kings of Persia refer to the principalities and powers that rule over the Middle East. The prince of Persia is a strong demon that resides within these principalities and powers that Michael had to do war with. The conflict in the heavenlies was aided by Daniel’s persistent prayer and fasting for the twenty-one days.

The conflicts we are seeing in the Middle East and North Africa with the kings of Persia are not new but are intensifying in these last days. There is a clash of two kingdoms that is reverberating into the natural realm, which is influencing the increasing anti-Christian posture in the region. This is the center of conflict that not only affects the Middle East but will engulf the world. It therefore behooves us like Daniel to set our hearts to understand and to humble ourselves before God. We must come into understanding how to pray and respond so that we are in agreement with what is happening in the spiritual realm.

Ephesians 1:20-21 says that Christ is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 2:6 goes on to say God raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The reason we have been placed in this position of authority is because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) No matter where you live, or the principalities or powers that are arrayed against you, God has empowered you to come into agreement with Him, dispatching His heavenly hosts to prevail against the enemy and to usher in His kingdom.

We can no longer afford to be complacent or carry on life and ministry as usual. It is time for the church, like Daniel, to rise up in the authority God has given us in Christ Jesus and to intensify our prayers for revelation and advancement of the kingdom.

Andy Clark