Scary Bible III // Daniel and the Demon

A message by Pastor Mark Jordan

Last Week

  • Denying Jesus means getting to the source of temptation
  • Dedicating life to Jesus can cause divisions in life
  • We must be willing to take up our cross and be like cultural criminals to live with faith


Daniel 10:1-14, 18-19 (MSG)

1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was made plain to Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar. The message was true. It dealt with a big war. He understood the message, the understanding coming by revelation: 2-3 “During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up.

4-6 “On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris. I looked up and to my surprise saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was hard and glistening, as if sculpted from a precious stone, his face radiant, his eyes bright and penetrating like torches, his arms and feet glistening like polished bronze, and his voice, deep and resonant, sounded like a huge choir of voices.

7-8 “I, Daniel, was the only one to see this. The men who were with me, although they didn’t see it, were overcome with fear and ran off and hid, fearing the worst. Left alone after the appearance, abandoned by my friends, I went weak in the knees, the blood drained from my face. 9-11 “I heard his voice. At the sound of it I fainted, fell flat on the ground, face in the dirt. A hand touched me and pulled me to my hands and knees. ‘Daniel,’ he said, ‘man of quality, listen carefully to my message. And get up on your feet. Stand at attention. I’ve been sent to bring you news.’ “When he had said this, I stood up, but I was still shaking.

            12-14 “‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia. And now I’m here to help you understand what will eventually happen to your people. The vision has to do with what’s ahead.’

18-19 “Then this humanlike figure touched me again and gave me strength. He said, ‘Don’t be afraid, friend. Peace. Everything is going to be all right. Take courage. Be strong.’ “Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me. I said, ‘Go ahead, let my master speak. You’ve given me courage.’

What’s So Scary

  • Spiritual warfare is real
  • We must live accordingly (humble self, pray & fast)
  • The devil is powerful, but…
    • Not as powerful as God
    • And not as powerful as we often attribute to him

Daniel Prepared in Three Ways
1. Focusing on Spiritual Discipline
2. Praying for God’s understanding
3. By humbling himself 

  • Don’t Be Afraid (v.11-12)
    • Greatly loved
    • Greeted with message not to be afraid (like when the angels appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born)
  • God Hears and Answers (v.12)
    • Pray with confidence
    • Pray patiently until the answer comes
  • Satan Opposes God and Us (v.13)
    • Demon present to influence the culture
    • The demon could struggle, but not overcome
    • We get caught up in the struggle

5. God Wins, but Sometimes it Takes Time

  • God Strengthens Us for the Time Ahead (v.18-19).
  • We get to be part of the process
  • Recent surveys indicate 41M self-proclaimed Christians do not plan to vote;
  • 32M who attend church regularly.

Hope & Help

  • God hears our prayers when we humble self
  • God sends us help
  • God strengthens us in our weakness

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you think about spiritual warfare around you?

2. Does your fear of evil prevent you from engaging the battle?

3. Does it help you to know that God hears your prayers even when the answer seems so far from you?

4. What do you do when you sense Satan’s opposition?

5. Where can you find comfort in knowing that God wins?