Behind the scenes - We can’t see (God’s) backstage | Dr Daniel Kong

You're listening to a message to go from acts church. We hope this message

will light up your day. We have been going through the Book of Daniel

from chapter one all the way till we're trying to get to chapter twelve.

We are nearly there October month, so if you follow the month, this

is book ten or chapter ten rather. All right, So I'm trying to

do one some month, okay, now, but before we go there just

some questions to ponder. Last time we were here, we talked about a

prayer because Daniel Chapter nine was all about Daniel's prayer, right, So just

wondering how many have actually applied praying that way. That's one, okay,

And then the other question to ponder is that if if God answers your prayers

would actually make a difference when I say that, right, because last time

we are aligning ourselves to praying according to God's will, right, So I'm

just wondering whether people have shifted the way they pray, not just for the

personal stuff, but also you know, for His will to be done.

What wouldn't make a difference. Now, the second question is that what would

God be doing if you're not praying? So essentially I'm asking will things still

come to fruition if we do not pray going to God's will? So just

some two thoughts, some thoughts here before we begin, But let's just look

at what we have here. But before that, I put up with a

slide. This is the title behind the Scenes. And what this alludes to

is that I'm trying to illustrate here that even though sometimes we may not fully

see what happens in the back end, like many people don't look behind,

but a lot of the operational stuff happened in the back end, right.

But I'm not saying that this is meant to be, you know, the

back end, but just bear with me, okay for now. But some

of the things they're experiencing on Earth, to certain extent, can also be

changing based on what happens backstage, okay. Mean to say, whatever happens

in the physical realm can also be sometimes a mirror of what's happening in the

spiritual realm. Okay, But sometimes you just don't look backstage, or in

this context, look upwards, right, and we know that for a fact,

there is things that's happening, There are battles happening in the spiritual realm

and sometimes God's plan. Whatever takes place on Earth is also a reflection what's

happening on earth. Okay, that's how I'm going to start this. Uh,

this this sharing uh and and yeah, let's go with this for now.

Behind the curtain is what I call this, or behind the scenes rather

that it's why I called this. How many of you are actually watched or

had the privilege to go for a live show in the past, anybody concerts,

those live theaters and all that. Do you enjoy it? That's the

first thing I want to ask. Okay, you enjoyed fantastic. I'm one

that don't quite appreciate as much. Okay, so just to share. You

know, we lived abroad for quite some time, and then we also the

opportunity to go for some shows. But every time I get dragged along to

shows by my wife, when I say, I say, it's meant to

be funny. But yeah, she knows. She knows when or when to

invite me or when not to invite me, because generally I don't appreciate as

much, so it's very selective. She goes to more of these things than

myself. Okay, but yeah, the amount of things that happened the back

end is actually quite amazing. One of our trips, I think in this

preper that we went to the UK, and because we're in the UK or

I think in London, right, she had to go and see a show.

But as you know, shows are quite limited, and we landed and

then she wanted to see a show within underwent twelve hours. So imagine the

jet lag and all those kind of things. So I've got a photo of

that or what we what we watched. Honestly speaking, I fell asleep half

the show. You can ask her, Ah, no, because I was

just jet lag. You know, I blame the jet lag. Okay,

if you look closely at the photograph, as she'd ibags and all that kind

of thing. But you know what I'm trying to say is that this is

let's say, correctly miser rap Yeah, less miserablists. Okay, this is

what I was going through. But yeah, the amount of production that happens

in the back end is enormous. One of the other shows that we've also

gone to is that she she picks the ones that is a bit more appealing

to the to Mila. So I think it's one day we went to the

was King Kong, right, I can't aware, no pun intended? Where

was it a Melbourne? Okay Melbourne? You see that shows how much I

remember. I remember a big Kong came out. Feel the entire not me,

fill the entire back screen came out. It shocked me because I wasn't

anticipating that. And then of course there's an arm that moves around, et

cetera. So that's the mechanical engineering part which really intrigues me. And I

really loved it to the point. But one point say is that there's a

lot of things that I hiddn't in the back end that has to operate.

We're talking about preparation, We're talking about backstage crew. We were talking about

the meticulous lighting that goes into that. Sometimes you need to see the surface

stuff. But there's a lot more than goes into it. The production the

technicians, the managers, the costume guys, the makeup guys, et cetera,

et cetera. You get the idea, right, There's a lot of

preparation is involved, and at the end of the day, at the end

of the day, the flawlessness as we see it on the front stage is

what it is. Essentially but all those it is equally is important to to

to to have and I guess an end product in the front stage. So

this is what I meant by this immense work that happens in behind the curtain.

There's equally is important. Then what's happening in front of the curtain?

Okay, Now, so just now we're saying a little bit about no shit,

we didn't, but we we we we are talking about you know,

God is also moving all the time, not just in uh when we see

him moving essentially, but we have to understand that this is a continuous thing.

Just because you don't see what's behind the curtain, it doesn't mean nothing's

happening behind the curtain. All right, Sorry, okay, so far Okay,

So this time I'm gonna start and today down chapter ten I'm gonna be

going through and digging deeper to catch a glimpse of what's happening behind the curtain,

of course behind not really behind, but a birth right, what's happening

in the heavenly realm Okay. Using this as as a way of describing it

sometimes when things are out of control, unbearable here on the front stage may

also discourage us. But of course, you must understand that God may not

sometimes show you everything to the next tent all the time, just like how

the reveal the calm thing I just mentioned, right, it was the very

final in five minutes or so. The rest of thirty minutes, I'm be

like bored what's happening while you drag me into this kind of thing? But

you know there is something that's going to be exciting and happening. But sometimes

you need to catch little glimps, little perspectives, little things, and maybe

some interpretation of what's happening in the natural realm on earth. That is.

But the last book, the last few books of Daniel, right, the

last few chapters of Daniel with in book ten, chapter ten, now it

talks about the final vision. Okay, now, just to give you a

snapshot. Usually I encourage if you were to read this, read chapter ten,

eleven, and twelve together because they're all about the same storylines, broken

them to three sub chapters to the next tent. Okay, and today we're

really covering ten. But in the nutshell in summary, chapter ten talks about

the rise of kingdoms, of kings and kingdoms in the natural sense, and

then eleven talks about, you know, the conflicts and the interactions between some

of these different kingdoms, the Northern kingdoms and the Southern kingdoms. And then

twelve is pretty much talks about the troubles, the tribulation, very end times

kind of a thing, very revelational revelation, book of revelation kind of description.

Okay, and it talks about also the triumphs as well. Okay,

So that's ten, eleven, and twelve, But of course today we are

mainly going to be focused on just ten. So today this message is going

to be very simple, actually super super simple, okay, But I also

want to use this to sort of unpack it a little bit because there is

a lot of detailed prophecies in here. Of course more in eleven and twelve,

but there are What I want us to do is really look at how

there are this evidences of how having rules throughout even in chapter ten. Now,

just so that you can follow true if you have your Bibles, if

you digital or physical, turn to Daniel chapter ten. And that's all we're

going to be focusing on today. Cool, right, normal flipping around,

Okay, normal flipping around. Now worse one, let's look through it gives

us an opening historical overview. This we'll read from verse one. In the

third year of King Cyrus or Cyrus, king of Persia. This is the

fourth king, all right. A message was revealed to Daniel, whose name

was Bell Shazzar. That's his name before sorry, his his name that was

given to him, right, and then it says here the message was true,

but the appointed time was long, and he understood the message and had

understanding of the vision. Okay. Now I put up a slide there with

the four different kings that then you have served. True if you remember from

as early as chapter one, he started serving as early as fourteen years old.

Now he's about eighty five eighty plus years old, so a pretty old

man. But he's gone through four administrations. I put in the years of

administrations as well, forty three years, fourteen years. The second king,

Darius the meat is about three years, and then the last king is Cyrus,

is six years. Okay, but this junction here is the third year

of the final king. Okay, So midway through to give you a bit

of a historical overview or what's happening. Okay, Now you remember also the

context he's adopted at aducted or taken from his homeland and being placed in a

foreign land to serve. Right, And he was fourteen years old back then,

but now he is very much older. And there's also some the reason

why he's going to be he prayed the way he prayed in chapter nine and

also in this in this book, in this chapter. Rather, it is

because there is something that's happening in his homeland, all right. King Cyrus,

during his reign, he decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland

during this period, Okay, it's documented, but not maybe it's not in

this section, but it's documented someone else. Okay. So, but Daniel

himself stayed in Babylon, all right, And while others have gone back to

Jerusalem to rebuild Jerusalem, he actually remained here in the foreign land with this

king. Okay, So there is some things that are happening back home as

well. Basically there there is very far away. The people were weary and

so discourage because the rebuilding was not the easiest thing. Okay, that's the

general context. Okay. Now, so verse one back to worse one.

It says the message was true by the appointed time, and in some transition

if you look at it, in NKJV. There's a there. You click

on the A or you refer to the A. It talks about the Great

Conflict, and this is the conflict that's talking about. But what's happening back

home? Okay, so look up if you can look up the conflict.

But it says it the point of time, all the great conflict was going

to be long. Okay, So this is his burden. He understood the

message and had understanding of the vision. Now some of us when you look

at this way like straight away, like are you support thing? You know,

like there's so much there's going through, there's so much burden, And

just like in previous chapters that we've read, sometimes he understand it very quickly.

Sometimes he doesn't quite understand. He has to seek the Lord. And

you know this guy, he prays three times a day, as accustomed to

him every day, and he does that even when the previous kings decreed that

you can't pray and you get executed. He still did it. Okay,

he did that. I think we understand his character by now. He's not

doing it because of a problem. He's doing it because it's custom to him.

Okay. And when he actually prayed it's a different kind of posture because

he said he will always say things like help me understand how I can serve

you faithfully to the extent he's not too worried about the problems. He of

course he's word about problem soor he's not praying for a solution the problem,

but he's praying to the extent, give me or review to me what's happening

backstage, okay, to what I required during this period or time. That's

how he normally prays. Okay, this is akin to if those of you

who have been a student before or have gone through student, what's come for

exam? Kind of a question that means only tell me what is necessary for

me to do what I needed to do or pass the exam I needed to

do past. That's it. Don't give me additional stuff because it may not

be necessary for me right now to the next ten okay, okay, all

right, so yeah, so this is uh, this is this is then

of course the message uh it says reviewed to Daniel was true. But there

was a great conflict, and of course the scriptures doesn't gloss over the struggles.

If you look through it, there is a reality. It's it's we're

living in a very broken world, a sinful world. Uh. And definitely

there is a battle in the physical sense as well. Uh. And that's

a great conflict as we've read earlier. Okay, Now, remember I said

earlier that what's going on down here on earth is also a reflection to the

next what's going on up there? Okay, this time I'm going to go

through a little bit deeper, and hope you bear with me, all right.

So the hardships that they're going through, these are God's people on earth,

is a reflection of the unseen, the heavenly in realm. Okay.

Now, why do we say that. It's because all the things and we'll

see in the next few scriptures are it reflects a greater conflict that's actually happening

upper birth, the backstage, all right, the unseen, heavenly realm.

Okay. And sometimes there's a lot of mystery up there, okay, that

we don't quite fully understand and down here, while things are happening up there

and down then what we're expressing now here. Sometimes we always feel right,

how come were under loosing and have felt that way, that you're doing things

that are righteous, doing things according to the plan or calling God's will and

somehow we're not winning or not necessarily rewarded. Lets you say the word rewarded

as we should, right, and that's a very normal thing. But you

see, even for Daniel, right, he understood that. And the reason

why I say he understood is because the prophecy that was given to him,

by the way, spends beyond his lifetime. So even in his prayer he

recognizes that it's going to go beyond his lifetime. And in fact, if

you look true the scripture, it goes to the end times. End times

is a very long time, by the way, but that for them is

short term. Okay, Just like how why why is it concerted short term?

It's because eternity, as we know, eventually we will win, God

will win. Rather you know that there's an eternity we've got, right.

Eternity is how long infinity. Infinity over five hundred years is fi race is

to short term or it could be five minutes equivalent to compared it to our

kind of thing, because infinity is a long time, because our God is

a god of eternity, not just a god of five hundred years or short

term. Okay, So even when the screen perspective, even when they are

going through certain trials and tribulations in the earthly sense, at that point in

time, it's only going to be short term. Yes, human life is

long, but as far as God's concern is a very short correct, it's

very very short. And there is a triumphant victory at the end there,

which, of course we know at the end of all these verses that we

will be reading true. Now, I mean, just come back to scripture.

In those days, I Daniel was morning for three weeks. Okay,

I ate no pleasant food, no meat, no wine, or no wine

into my mouth. No, did I annoy myself? I mean you say,

didn't put any oil on his body for three whole weeks. Now,

what's he doing here? Anybody can figure out he's fasting, he's starving himself,

he's he's not enjoying himself. It's probably not the way to put it

so that he can focus. Now, of course, we know the the

not eating pleasant food, no meat, no wine. I think they can

understand that. The oil part. What is it signified? You know?

Okay in the ancient world, right, they use oil as a form of

a fragrance. Okay, that's one and also helps them in a very practical

way to protect them against things like the sun and all that kind of thing.

All right, So it's just like how we put moisturizer, that's what

oil actually does as well. So it's also denying his own body things that

would help him remain healthy in the physical sense. Okay, that's why he's

always doing So he was really more mourning because he's never putting in putting on

deodorant to the next end on his skin. This guy is really mourning.

And sometimes you wonder why you're doing all this, right, it's because when

you're really sad, when you're really troubled, you do things or you mourn

like you know, like like it doesn't make sense sometimes how the way we

mourn, right, And sometimes we do we moan even though there's a loss

of a don't say family member, just a pet. We go into like,

oh, you know that kind of a thing, right, And this

is what he's going through. He's burdened, and he's burdened to the point

that he goes to know this mode for three weeks, okay, just some

contacts three weeks, So what did he do in the three weeks? He

also prayed the fervent prayer. Okay, So again, when I was looking

through this, I was trying to see, you know, this guy's heart

must be really broken, not just for his people, but his his is

must it's something that goes beyond just the care for his people. But really

it's almost like, ah, you know, I'm really lost. I can't

do this. I really need you God. And it's so burdened that his

ordinary life lifestyle, et cetera, et cetera, has changed. He's no

longer partying, he's even denying himself of some of the more basic stuff.

And this thing, right, there's three weeks. Although sometimes we read through

it three weeks things not so significant, But you think about it, how

many of us actually pray through like this family for three weeks or something.

And the question is would be if we do not have this kind of like

three weeks kind of prayer, is it because the matter that we're going through

doesn't burden us as much? It's probably one way to put it. Or

is is it is small that if you say that you know, I really

want this or God make away from me kind of a thing, and you

need to pray for like three minutes and then you expect the miracle to come

true. Okay, So just painting some picture and again not saying that we

should we of course we should aspire to do this, But this guy is

superhuman because he's been doing it for four administrations and he's still been doing it

until now. And it's just a custom, a practice that he's been doing.

So this is of course a prelude to the greater vision that God has

in store for him. Right, and we know if you read through the

rest of the chapters, great power has come God woron uh, his plan

is executed. All right, Now, let's skip true to Worse four.

If you look at Worse four on the twenty fourth day of the first month,

this real shows, right, there's really gone to three weeks first before

anything, right, four, sorry, three whole weeks. And sometimes I

wonder if we were to pray with a similar passion, right, what sort

of world will we live in today? If everybody would be praying like just

like Daniel does, at least three weeks before you say, or before you

give up, or the other way you can look at it. What if

Daniel gave up on the second week or on the twentieth day, because his

thing. When he came on the twenty fourth day, will he see the

same glory that God has intended him to see. We don't know, really,

but we know that he went through this amount of time. Okay.

Now, as reader, as I was by his side, this is the

second half of four the great river, that is the Tigris. Okay,

I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen,

whose waist was girded with goal of us. Okay, hopefully impressing correctly.

His body was like like barrel, his face like the appearance of lightning,

his eyes like torches of fire, his arms, his feets like burnished

bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of multitude.

Now, this description, it may sometimes be familiar to some because if

you've ever gone to the Book of Revelation, it's something similar there as well.

Okay, And this is actually a small glimpse of Remember, Jesus hasn't

come to earth yet during Deniol's time, okay, so there is no concept

of Jesus coming to earth, the resurrection and all that kind of thing.

Okay, But this is a small glimpse of death that that is revealed to

Daniel during your time. Okay, Now, if you look at Revelation one

to twelve, I put up the side by side comparison next light. I've

also tried to highlight it in color by color so that you can see some

of the similarities. Okay, Now, this, of course is uh when

when John the apostle the apostle John, rather when he was in exile,

just as Daniel was, he was actually sharing given this. All right,

so you can see there in Revelation. I'll just read up quickly. Then

I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, and half turned I

saw seven gold golden lamb steps lambstand sorry, and I in the midst of

the seven lampstands, one like the man, clothed in a garment down to

the feet and girded about the chests with the golden band in His had and

hair were like whoa, as white as snow, and his eyes like a

flame of fire. His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in

the furnace, and his voice as a sound of many waters. He had

in his right hand seven stars. Out of his mouth were a sharp two

edged sword, and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Okay, so you can see a similarities. Okay, both were supernatural beings,

Wolse SuperNature beans were being described as men. Okay. They also had

long priestly garments. I've highlighted the garments in the in the blue or the

turquoise. And then they also girded. One is a sash around the chest

and one is a almost like a belt around the waists. Again, but

they also both go okay, and this signifies royalty. Okay. Their eyes

were also like flames of fire. The feet, all the legs were burnished

in bronze. Okay. You can see the similarities their faces. One was

like lightning, the other one was like the sun shining at full strength.

Okay. So a lot of things are radiating from the face. And of

course they both had a mighty voice, so you look through it. They

saw similarities, and it's very clear, at least in revelation, this talks

about Jesus, but in Daniel's time when it was revealed to him, it's

almost a preincarnation version of Jesus that he doesn't know about by this revealed to

him, So it's quite significant. Noticing. And that's why we say that

this last few chapters is very similar to Revelation. Everbreak is so far okay,

now let's move on. I tried to skip through the heavy stuff,

but I think we will have this. Can't skip to some Okay, now

verse seven and I Daniel alone saw the vision. For the men who were

with me did not see the vision. But the great terror fell upon them,

so they fled to hide themselves. Okay, So as godly as a

man that Daniel was in the presence of some of this glory, right,

you see at the end of the scripture verse nine, there he actually well

on his face, okay, or it says here, I was in deep

sleep on my face and my face was to the ground. Now, just

in case you think he fell asleep during the period, no, actually not.

He actually fainted. That's what some commentaries will tell you. He actually

fainted because of the glory. So it's overwhelmed. Just how sometimes when you're

in the presence of God in his full glory, you feel very unworthy,

all right. There is a smallness in when you are surrounded by the great

God, the God that is great. So in this example, it talks

about the humility side of things. In front of God, we are often

humbled that we had to be faced out. And you can see a lot

of encounters where every time there's a there's an encounter, even an angel.

This is the case, right, So he actually fell fell face down,

okay, because that is the proper face, the proper place. Rather,

he can't in the perfect holiness. We sat about holiness just now. Actually,

right, if the holiness, if God appears right now, I think

we're all just fall flat down on the face, bing son. It was

the next tend Okay, So now let's move on to tenor verse ten.

Suddenly a hand touched me. Now, as I put all these passages together,

it seems that you know this gay this angel. Although a name,

we think it's Gaybro because in the last chapter nine it was gabro So and

his pattern of conversation is similar. So we just put one and two together

and assume that it's gabrol Okay, So okay, back to this one.

Not suddenly he touched me and then which made me tremble on my knees and

my palms, on my face, sorry, on my hands, and he

said to me, oh, Daniel man greatly beloved. And last time in

chapter nine we talk about what beloved actually means. Beloved actually means treasured as

well in some other translations. Right, so we are all treasured. Now

understand these words, because they talk about now what this treasure actually means.

We cover a little bit about that. It talks about identity, right right,

And this is exactly what is important. Because even when we are shaking,

we're trembling, we're falling on our face, we're fainting, and all

that we are reminded in this passage that we are still favored. Mean to

say, God still values you even though we are unworthy, even though we

are insufficient, even though there is we lack or we're sinful, so of

course it strikes terror. Whenever we sin, we often shy away from God.

Okay, just as in the case of Daniel as well, he feels

it's unworthy. So that's why he falls face first. But in the presence

of God, you know, he reminds us true, true, the Angel

here that you know we are treasured, we areal and some other transition will

say a man greatly loved by God. Okay, that's what you see there.

Now, let me just think so sometimes in the earthly realm we may

be devalued by peers or different ones in this realm. But does that actually

is that really something that is true? The truth that is? Or should

we be more I guess more more focused on what how God values you?

Is probably the question here? Okay, something to ponder, Okay, because

more often than not on Earth, God's people will be devalued, will be

rejected. But for God, he definitely is clearly said to here, He

definitely treasures you and is greatly loved. He loves you, right and if

you I put an additional reference there, first, Peter, as you come

to him the living Stone, rejected by humans again, rejected by humans on

earth, but chosen by God and precious to him. So not just that

you're valued, you are chosen and you are precious to him. Okay.

Now why it is important is because you've got to tell yourself this every day.

It's like waiting. You gotta tell yourself you are a woman chosen by

God, chosen and treasured by God every day, right, Charles, You're

valued by God every day Because people will tell you different things at school nowadays

there's things even ruling happening in school. They'll tell you different things at what

places they will say, you know, good for nothing, et cetera,

et cetera. I wouldn't say those words, but is it really true?

Who do you want to listen to? So Daniel again, just as he's

done in all the previous chapters, he realizes or is reminded again that he's

chosen and treasured. Okay, now twelve. Then he said to me,

do not fear, Daniel for the first from the first day, that 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. Now I've

highlighted something there in Turchoise. It says that I've come because of your words.

Okay, just put that down there for a while. Two observation in

this entire verse that we just read over here in just thirteen. Firstly,

it's the fact that you know, sometimes we feel that God is a far

read God by she No God is red person. In fact, if you

look through this, he's not detached. He's actually caring. Right. Although

his sovereign is mighty and all that glorious, he hears every prayer and sometimes

we forget that because why answer too slow or we do not get an immediate

response. But you know, this guy is at least three weeks not getting

a response. Sometimes we after three days or three minutes, we're like,

oh God, God, can't don't hear me? Okay, perspective perspective,

So how amazing is that? Because if you think about it, some of

us say, are parents right? And if you are a parent right or

a mother to be more specific, you when you hear your child cry,

the natural thing to do is you respond to that child's cry. You would

either pick him up, suit the baby, et cetera, et cetera.

I mean, I remember when I when I had my first when we had

our first kid, Zach, I was super hyper sensitive right to every single

sound that's coming out from the second room, because we put our kids in

the second rooms. I'll get up the moment I hear something before she gets

up. After one week, it's a different story at together a lot.

But but one priend say is that we will definitely in the national sense,

we respond. So when we cry out to the Lord, it's a similar

kind of thing. Right, he will actually respond. He will leave you

crying there. But how how long he takes to come to you. It's

a different story all together. We're going to talk about that. But one

parent says that, yeah, there's definitely he hears you. He hears you,

all right, he heard your prayer because it says here I have come

because of your words. So literally he heard you and that's why he came.

Otherwise he won't come. Okay. Now, second, secondly, right,

we did we did talk about Daniel, right, he waited three weeks,

quite long, right in the vision and chapter nine, right, it

was quite quick. It's instant. Remember this is three weeks. So how

comes suddenly from one moment instant two minute maggie noodle kind of an instant,

and then the next one is like three weeks slow home cook kind of I

don't know, double triple ball kind of a prayer, requests or call or

cry right. And then of course if you read further you'll know why.

But as I mentioned to you earlier, now, just just some general general

understanding that they take that long, that three weeks. Maybe maybe heaven was

very far away, you know, takes three weeks to travel on the heavenly

donkey to come down. I don't know, shouldn't be A shouldn't be.

I don't think so, okay, shouldn't be. But sometimes people thinks like

that it's too far away. And I say to try to loo Is that

it's not distant. It's not distant thing, it's not distant God, and

what but why to the nextent? Sometimes our answer is still the late or

take some time. It's definitely not because he's not hearing it. Okay,

that's the first thing I'd established. But why is it not answering? Can

I look, let's look at thirteen now, the other half of the thirteen

it says, yeah, the angel says to Daniela, I've been sent to

you previously. I've come because of your prayers in twelve, but the Prince

of the Kingdom of Persia stood me for twenty one days. What does that

actually mean? Okay, So, so there's a little bit of an answer

to the mystery of why three weeks. Basically in Laymanster, the guys say,

I'm busy up there, I'm fighting some battles the Kingdom of the Persia

Persia. Right, this is actually if you read further, it's actually spiritual

stuff that's happening that has influenced over the earthly Persian Empire. Okay, and

we're talking about fallen angels, powerful demons, messengers of Satan, et cetera,

et cetera, that are connected to earthly rulers, earthly kings, earthly

kingdoms. And of course we already have a lot of those kind of connections.

Okay, So sometimes delays may be really caused by again things that happen

in spiritual backstage, but not we don't understand why there's the delay in the

front stage, right, But at least now we know why. So if

I can summarize it all, there's constant sabotagla. Essentially, evil forces is

their job to constantly sabotouche this. And these people are these demons, they

are sabotaging this is constantly also connected to the they of the earth. They

means, the influencing what's happening on Earth, even though they are overseas or

in this context, in heaven. Kay. And that's why if you look

at the scripture next next slide, please, we often read this right efficient

six I perceive highlighted two different colors, for we do not wrestle against flesh

and blood. I think that part is quite clear. That means in a

natural sense, right, the second part against principalities and against powers, against

rulers, darkness of these ages, against spiritual hosts, or weakness in the

heavenly places. So the whole thing is in blue because although yes, they

are in the heavenly remote location, they're affecting what's happening in the physical sense

as well, because yes, don't fight against flesh and blood, don't fight

against natural but understand that sometimes you uman presidents, human kings, human powers,

and all that evil bosses. Right, they might be under some influence

from other birth. Okay, okay, can be message kind of your bosses.

But you got yeah, the idea. But our battle really is not

against the humans, the humans to the next ten. Our battles really against

the puppets, sorry, the puppeteers to the next ten. All right,

their breakers so far, okay, so because they are under although they are

under control of these evil forces. But we also know that, as we've

established so many chapters already ultimately happens to rules, God is still uh in

control in authority, even against all these evil forces. Okay, but we

have to acknowledge the forces are powerful. That we cannot discount. One point

say, is that we cannot just say that, oh, let's just live

life or believe this to it. That's what I'm trying to say. Okay,

but do not fear, because yes, they are troublemakers. They create

hurdles, they create delays for God's people. Okay, but ultimately God's authority

is still there and they no matter how hard they try, right, they

cannot stop God's work from being accomplished. But of course our job is again

not fight against the earthly people. I understand there is a problem up there.

By the same time, we just stay a lane, focus on what

it's called to do, right, pray to the three weeks or more.

Right, Okay, let's move on now. Okay, now now in the

second half of thirteen, right and behole. Michael, one of the chief

princes came to help me for I had I had been left alone there with

the king of Kings of Persia. So again, now this is backup,

Lah, additional backup because he's engaged. So again quote unquote Gabriel there probably

Gabriel also saying that he Michael is coming into this picture as well, the

chief of the angels of heaven is here to help us out. Fourteen.

Now I have come to make you understand that that what will come to your

people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to

come. So the angelic response here right is in response to Daniel's prayer,

because he's asking show me ma essentially revealed to me, right, And then

he said, okay, yeah, Actually I'm busy because I'm fighting fires up

there as well, you know, the evil presence up there, and then

on here I'm also sending we start backup. And that's why I can actually

finally come here and talk to you about this. I'm revealing to you why

I was delayed. But actually, you think about it, right, Daniel

right, didn't know all this, the details at least, But what was

he doing all this? Well, prayer, He just remains steadfast, remain

focused again the three days, three times a day kind of a thing.

He just keeps doing what he's doing, right, doing his thing, essentially,

not worried about what's happening in the natural even he had no ideas in

a way to put it, He's oblivious, okay, or what's going up

there. But of course now it's revealed to him that what's happening up there?

But sometimes you instead of focusing on what we're supposed to do, we

sometimes focus on why. Right, And this is again just trying to shift

sometimes our quote unquote priorities about this learning from Daniel. Okay, now worse

fourteen. Now I've come to you to help you understand. Okay, what

will happen to your people in the last days. Okay, so of course

we will know this in the last few chapters. But if you skip forward,

you know that ultimately they want they wanted powers of Heaven control God's people,

prevailed, et cetera. Okay, Now let's look at fifteen, and

I'm gonna dive true rey quickly and land, yeah, very fast. Okay.

When he has spoken such words to me, I turned my face to

the ground. I became speechless. Suddenly one of one having the likeness of

the suns of men, touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and

spoke, saying to him who stood be for me, my lord. Because

of the vision, my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I retain no strength.

So I'm powerless here. Okay. Seventeen, For how can this servant

of my Lord, talk with me, my Lord. As for me,

no strength remains in me now now is any breath left in me? So

again, this is Daniel. This guy has gone through this many, many

times. It's not his first gig, all right, but and yet there

is still that awe. Yes, there's some fear, but there's still some

and all because he understands who's Inplorian side. He's saying, I'm weak here,

right, hey, not just I'm powerless. He's speechless, this guy,

right, think about him, right, he's probably like the politician.

Politician, but you know a guy that is very learned eighty five years of

a law of wisdom, and yet he's speechless. You know, imagine that

why? Because we are often like this in the presence of God's awesome power,

we are definitely speechless. We can never we cannot say things because it

can never be greater than than that that moment itself. Okay, okay eighteen

now uh, the one having the likeness of man, this is the human

appearances again, the Angel touch me and strengthen me, so physically touch up

all man, greatly beloved again, treasured is mensioned here, fear not peace

to be with you be strong, Yes, be strong. So when he

spoke that to me, I was strengthened straight away. I promise that he

strengthened. Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me. Okay,

So again, just to come to a landing. Now, God in his

grace will always win in the end and will always give his morenes sufficient grace

even though we are unworthy. He will come and make sure that we are

fine. So any battle that you're fighting right now, as much as he

really feels like World War four, six, seven, eight, nine,

ten, it's really not that bad one. God is in control, okay.

But trust me and know that there's temporarily, temporarily some things that happening

up there that is still ongoing. So just waitler, just do what you're

called to do. Deal with it here for now, and you can see

here twenty Right then he said, do you know why I've come to you?

And now I must return to fight with the Prince of Persia again.

He's saying, Okay, now that I tell you, I d I reviewed

to you. I've got to go back and fight my war. The angels

go back, so see you later. Like you know, Terminator Astella Vista

will be back. I'll be back, but you're just here. You gotta

still better. It's not doesn't mean that I tell you then you it's hunky

dory. From then on, he still has to go back and do his

thing, all right. And we know this is going to be very long,

because you can see here talks about deal with the Prince of Greece.

This is many, many years later, you know, okay, But ultimately

at the end, which is where I'm going to end here in verse twenty

sorry, verse twenty one. But I will tell you what is noted in

the scripture truth or in some other transition, is recorded in the Book of

Truth. So really, what we are saying here is that how you are

to be on offense or defense? However, how are you and put it

as you fight your battles here, just be armed by the wordler essentially as

simple as that. In times of trouble, in times of conflict, God

will send his servants, God will send angels. You know you're not.

It's not just exclusive to Daniel, okay, It's for everyone, okay.

But the word of God is actually very powerful. Why because the word of

God is truth. Truth would then definitely overcome the lies that you hear.

Essentially, so immerse yourself with the truth. There is power and truth,

and sometimes that's why we need to understand why. Uh, you know,

we are to also study the scripture. Immerse a certain scripture because that is

your your weapon of choice. There is power in it. How else can

you be strengthened. How else can you stay stand firm and supported? Right?

How else can you be sustained? Okay? And if you go back

to the very start, you see it says there even worse one the message

was true at the very start is saying, really it is true. The

word is true. Right, So as you know any story, it is

so important. At the beginning they emphasized it. At the end they emphasize

it as well. So the truth is really what is important. And of

course, last but not least, I will say that we're not battling here

on earth alone. Okay, God sent his backups, the Gabriels and the

Michaels will come. You can look at the scripture I left the scripture there

he Brews one fourteen will tell you that, you know, it's not just

exclusive for the you know, for Daniel is for everyone else. Okay,

So what are we to do. Just focus on a worker joined for twenty

four there's still work to be done, Okay, focus on it. And

that's why this year, right, it's not just heaven rules, No,

it's heaven rules. And that's why our eyes are on the finishing line.

What is your finish line? What is your finishing And it's different for everybody,

all right. God senses angels to support and strengthen him, just like

how he did for Daniel. He doesn't just leave him alone. So just

be reminded of that. Now. I know something you like the right notes,

So I just prep some simple notes to put together to summarize everything.

I know it doesn't do any justice, but hopefully it cost something from it

today. But as we covered Daniel ten, here are some of the main

points. Okay, firstly, really the humility part. I think it's something

that we have been a team that we've been talking about, you know,

every single time we work through this, right, take inspiration from his humility.

He's dedicated, he's stepfast. He is not just doing it because he

has to. It is part and part of his life, his culture,

and he approaches God with this sincere heart, right earnestly and so I say

three weeks. It's nothing to him because it's something that you know he you

know, he's really passionate about, and we know that he responds to prayers.

So keep on doing what you do, but do it with humility,

right, not just for you OWLD say number two spiritual warfare and sur in

realm. Like I said, whyever happens backstage, It may be chaotic backstage

even but we are to also know that or recognize that things are happening in

the heavenly realms as well, although it's not seen. Remember that whatever you

see in the earthly sense of struggles that you see sometimes can be a reflection

what's happening out there. So yeah, just do what you need to do,

pray powerfully, but recognize that there are forces that are greater than in

the earthly sense. Okay. Thirdly, heaven rules. I think if I

don't say much about this, despite all the chaos that we see here,

ultimately God will prevail. And this is the same from chapter one all the

way to the end. It's still the same. God is ultimately control.

So put your trustes. Here's my prayer to say here and before the impact

of prayer Emie started by saying, how powerful your prayer can be. Believe

in the power of your prayer, right, you have a direct channel.

Right, But you need to understand whatever happens on earth and in Heaven is

affected by how you pray and when you pray and how often do it.

Because God did come because of the prayer. We've highlighted that as well earlier.

So be intentional prayer earnestly, and we're going to see amazing things happen

here on earth because of our prayer. And lastly, yeah, it's about

timing right, as I said earlier, and not left here to better alone.

Right, But let's embrace it, or embrace God's timing with the hope

and assurance that it will come, trusting in his perfect timing. I know

it's not easy, but sometimes the delay might be because of traffic jam,

because of a spiritual warfare up there. Okay, but hanging there, it'll

be all right now if you let all flies over you. I've made it

very simple. I've used this prayer of pray. Really I would split it

up there. I can take a screenshot of it, but I think it's

self explanatory, okay, And I used the word pray intentionally so humility,

recognize as spiritual warfare, acknowledge that Heaven rules, and last but not least,

I use this word yield. Now you can sometimes be used as a

very negative thing, but in this case, no yielding patience. We encouraged

patience, take heart, trust in his timing and quote unquote delays. But

when the time is right, whatever is unseen in the back end, like

I said, the King Kong will just pop out and they will amaze you

was being done in the back end, and how God is still in control

very thing, and you know the victory is definitely there. So just hopefully

it's more than just perspective, because perspective is something that you need to be

experiencing. So I pray for everyone here to have this think the experience,

not just have a shipping perspective, but really experience it for yourself. Give

it a go and you'll see that things are different and it's not just exceus

with Dan. As I mentioned to you. We hope you've been blessed by

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