Volume 67, Issue 2 ________________________________Bible Prophecy Ministry



From The Very First Day


From the Very First Day

by: Darrell G. Young

 

    Oftentimes it can seem that God is very far away, and that he does not even hear our petitions unto him. This can especially appear to be the case in these perilous last days when it seems that the unrighteous forces in the world are gaining so much momentum on every battlefront. But God’s word plainly reveals that prayer is one of the mightiest weapons in the arsenal of every Christian, when utilized properly. Every Christian needs to realize that the forces of Hell cringe at the mere thought of a persistent “praying with the spirit” Christian, humbly down on his knees beseeching his God, and reaching conformity in the spirit with the providential will of God. (I Thessalonians 1:17; I Corinthians 14:15; Romans 8:25-28)

 

   James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

   I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, (Jesus) that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

   The words “effectual fervent” as they are relative to prayer are significant in their meaning. They correspond to the Greek term, “energeo” which means to become actively efficient so that one can be mighty in a work. We utilize the word “energy” from this term. Thus, prayer basically produces the energizing force within a Christian that in turn empowers him to yoke himself in unison with the spirit of God, and thereupon to become a valued tool in the ongoing designs of the Lord for this world. This is the method behind Jesus teachings for us to pray, “thy will be done in earth as in Heaven,” and by example in his own prayer in the Garden, “nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” (see Luke 11:2 and Luke 22:42)

    By its very nature, prayer is foreign to the human nature and always involves a type of spiritual battle between the supernatural forces of good and evil. Thus the reason so many Christians are slothful in developing an effective weapon in the prayer domain. The dark forces of the “powers of the air” are always alert to try to confound the efforts of any Christian that strives to contend in the arena of his personal faith. Nevertheless, believers still play a central role in the ages-long drama of God’s restorative plans for our world. A grand example of the effectual fervent power of the prayer of a righteous man, and his role in effecting God’s will in the world is Daniel. Daniel prayed three times every single day unto God, even though it often was at the risk of death. (Daniel 6:10-13) Daniel played a very significant role in the transmittance of the prophetic record. We today owe Daniel a great debt for his faithfulness and his powerful prayer life. We also can learn from Daniel’s faith in prayer and be encouraged as we face the perilous times of our day.

 

    Daniel 10:1-21 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

 

    Daniel’s visions and recordings concerning the future of Israel and the course of events in world history established the foundation for the later (600 years apart) conveyance of the Revelation record by John. In Revelation 1:10 and 4:2; John imparts that he was “in-the-spirit” on the Lord’s day, (which denotes that he was a praying man) as he received the Revelations of Jesus Christ. Likewise, Daniel was a man greatly beloved by the Lord because of his steadfast faith and effective prayer life.

    In the record of Daniel chapter ten, we observe that Daniel was languishing in a state of great mourning and lamentation because of a vision he had received concerning his beloved nation of Israel. Daniel, who already knew that 70 years were decreed by God for Israel’s sins, (and soon would be expired) now was in great distress because of a “true prophetic vision” concerning a “long appointed time” before Israel would come to realize its grand kingdom. Daniel then embarked upon a mission of fasting and praying three times a day for three whole weeks. That means that he prayed over this single issue sixty-four (64) times during this brief period.

    I am struck not by the fact that Daniel prayed 64 times in 21 days, but by the fact that he kept on praying until his prayer was answered! He would have prayed for an even longer period of time on this matter had it been necessary for him to do so. Daniel knew his prayers would ultimately gain a response from the Lord. Being a fervently praying man, Daniel was probably also familiar with the array of supernatural forces that entangle in combat when people engage themselves in fervent effectual prayer. Undoubtedly, Daniel endured the same kind of fleshly and mental despairs that we today face when we attempt to pray. But Daniel never wavered and he never faltered, nor would he give into seducing spirits, but rather Daniel kept on praying!  It is very easy to imagine that Daniel might have become discouraged, and that the forces of Hell made numerous attempts to trick him into giving up on utilizing his prayer weapon.

    The dark and sinister forces from the dark world regularly penetrate the earth’s time/space continuum to carry out their evil work. In many ways and on many levels, they seek to defeat or obstruct the redemptive work of God, whether that involves people or nations. Like the angels, their natural domain is the dimensional realm just beyond our perspective. But as a matter of fact they routinely depart from that domain and enter into the natural physical world of human enterprise and geo-political intrigue. Paul’s famous declaration of this fact is more than a simple warning. It is, in fact, an explanation of the enemy’s function: "For 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). How can we be said to wrestle against something we cannot even see? Whether we as Christians realize it or not we wrestle in the realm of the Spirit world with both heavenly and hellish powers. The "principalities" mentioned by the apostle Paul are archons, from the Greek word, arche, meaning "ancient, primal powers." They are the remnant of the fallen angels (1/3 of hosts) that followed Luicifer in his rebellion, and they are still free to do battle with the angelic forces of God. In Romans 8, they are mentioned in the same context with the holy angels: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38,39).

    Next in rank below the archons are the "powers," called in the Greek, exousia, or "delegated authorities." Presumably, they are also angels, but perhaps lower in capability and rank than their superiors. Paul next mentions "rulers of the darkness." These are kosmokrators, or "world rulers." That is, they dominate the intricate bureaucracies of this world system, and plot international geo-political conspiracies. They are the hoards of demon spirits whose tasks are to tilt the minds of international leaders toward the conspiracy of Satan. They scheme an plot the "spiritual wickedness in high places," that is so much a part of the social, economic and political squalor that reigns upon this Earth.

    All of these ranks of fallen angels and demons follow their evil and iniquitous leader, Lucifer, in his ancient rebellion against Jesus Christ. (the mystery of iniquity) Whether we realize it or not, our present world and the worldly system is influenced and propitiated by a prince, (Satan-the prince of this world, (John 12:31, 14:30; 16:11) whose powerbase is situated in the "air." This word is translated from the Greek aer, the word used to describe the region of the atmosphere.  Satan can and does access the entire Earth, and from time to time he searches it to see what scheme he can develop to obstruct God’s plan for the ages. Satan presently exercises a kind of political domain and lordship over our present physical realm. (Thus the reason for the impending Armageddon when Jesus returns to claim his rightful throne) The Bible asserts that evil rulers are nothing more than pawns in the hands of Satan. The "prince of the kingdom of Persia" that Daniel mentions in chapter ten after he receives his answer to prayer, was likely one of this class of angels. The "powers under Lucifer" are the "rulers of the darkness of this world." They are the kosmokrators, or "the world rulers" of darkness. They are the conspirators behind the evil world system, represented in prophecy by the powers of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. They stalk and haunt the halls of world geo-religious-political power, planting their evil schemes in places, and seek today to bring the whole world under the authority of Satan, and his Antichrist. 

     Daniel was given a vision concerning the multi-polar Gentile world power structure that would dominate world history right on up until the time that Jesus Christ returns to this world to smash the world system and establish his righteous kingdom from atop his throne in Mount Zion. Satan sought to keep this highly sensitive information from reaching the prophet Daniel by sending one of his “rulers of darkness,”(a Kosmokratei)  to confront and obstruct God’s prayer answering messenger. The “prince” of the kingdom of Persia managed to “withstand” God’s personal messenger sent to Daniel for twenty long days. Satan and his subordinate prince surely hoped that Daniel would relent from his praying during this supernatural struggle, but alas Daniel kept on praying. It is hard to imagine, but Satan has actually assigned demons and fallen angel spies and agents that engage in covert geo-political intrigue and often exercise dominion and influence over every nation in the world. Such was the case with the kingdom of Persia! Satan actually considered Daniel’s prayers so dangerous that he commissioned a “special agent” to disrupt God’s plans. Satan’s scheme failed though because God sent Michael, (the prince who will stand up for Israel) an angel of utmost power, one of his Chief Princes to counter Satan’s strategy.  (Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.)

     Still Daniel persisted in his prayer concerning the great vision. His vision was of vital importance since it contained data regarding Israel’s Diaspora and its re-gathering. It was for a time long appointed, a true prophecy for Israeli-Gentile world history rather than the 70 year Babylonian captivity. It helped to lay the foundation for the future recording of the Revelation. Because of Daniel’s faithfulness in prayer, and because God assigned Michael to beat down the “strongholds” (ochuroma or fortifications) of the powers of Satan located between Daniel and Heaven, you and I are privileged to have knowledge about the latter days!

    Often today, we as Christians fail to understand the significance or our prayer life. Too often we become disillusioned and impatient when we pray. Sadly, many Christians end up doing just what our enemy wants to accomplish. We stop praying! Satan always wants to cause us to cease praying. He will try to convince you that it is fruitless, that it is pointless, and a waste of your time. He will tell you that God cannot even hear you. He utilizes his powers of the air to make it seem like our prayers are simply irrelevant, and that they do not penetrate the atmosphere and reach up to God’s throne. But in reality there is a supernatural war going on between the forces of evil and the angels of God in the invisible dimension that surrounds us. We need to always exercise faith, patience and rest in the assurance that God hears our every prayer when we pray, because we never know just how much we are empowering the angels who are fighting the enemy on our behalf. I rather imagine that Daniel was overcome with Heavenly glee when the angel arrived to convey to Daniel God’s mighty word, and to deliver the answer to his prayer.

     The words of the angel upon meeting Daniel were; Fear not Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

 

 

    The words of the angel to Daniel reverberate in my mind when I pray….for;

From the very First Day that I set to pray, I know the Lord hears my prayer. I will not cease to pray, because I know that He will win the blessed victory!

 

                                                I Know He Heard My Prayer

I know he heard my prayer,….

He knows my every care,….

He gives to me the blessed victory,

Oh yes,…. I can feel him now,

My loyalty I vow,…….

I know the Savior heard my earnest prayer!

 

(chorus)

The enemy (Satan) has said to me,

That my savior (Jesus) was not enough,

And when the way grows rough,

That my Savior does not care,

But thank God it is not true,

He fills me through and through,

And I know the Savior heard my earnest prayer!

 

When in these last days,

The fiery trials blaze,

When Satan comes to me,

To take away my victory,

I can point him to the time,

When Heaven’s light did shine,

I can say he heard my earnest prayer!

 

   And in these perilous Last Days, when the fiery trials blaze all around us, we need to remain steadfast in prayer and in the knowledge of the Lord. Satan has earmarked all Christians with a big spiritual bulls-eye, but he cannot overcome the effectual prayer of a righteous praying saint. Though all the hordes of Hell’s dominion shall be marshaled to confound us when we pray, we can know that the powers and principalities of Hell cannot withstand for long against the mighty fortress of our God.

 

From the Very First Day We Pray, He hears us,

Yes, I Know He Hears My Prayer!

 

    (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.)

 

Focus on Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry

by: Darrell G. Young

December, 2003

 

 



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