SERMON TITLE: Strength in Exile
TEXT: Daniel 10:1-11:1 (NLT)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 8-11-24
Watch the sermon here
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As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — are joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
We’re continuing our series in the book of Daniel — looking at what it means to live in exile. And we’re in the last half of Daniel — a section full of dreams, visions, symbols, prophecies about the future, and so on. And — in our verses — we’ll begin the final vision that Daniel is given — a vision that will take us through the end of the book and the end of this series. So let’s read our text for today. We’ll be in Daniel chapter ten — starting in verse one.
Daniel 10:1–11:1 (NLT)
1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future — times of war and great hardship. 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. 4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. 10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. 12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” 15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” 18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” 20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. 1 I have been standing beside Michael to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.)
Have you ever showed up to a party or an event and realized that you were not dressed appropriately? Once a year I travel to Orlando to meet with some pastors who all lead similar size churches. We always go out for dinner on our first night together. Well the first time I went to this meeting I had no idea that the restaurant was super fancy — like — “guys wear a sports coat” fancy. And I didn’t have a sports coat with me. Do you want to know what a group of about twenty pastors did to remedy the situation? As we walked in — they put me in the middle of the group so nobody could see that I wasn’t wearing a sports coat. We were in a private room and they knew if they got me to the room we’d be good to go — after all — they all took their coats off once we sat down anyway.
By the way — last year — I arrived in Florida and realized that we were going back to that same restaurant and I didn’t have a sports coat. So I stopped by a store and bought one for the dinner because I didn’t want to be that guy again. And would you believe that the restaurant changed its policy and guys no longer have to wear a sports coat? I wore it anyway.
What does this have to do with Daniel? Well our verses in Daniel remind us of a truth that’s found throughout the Bible. The truth that — behind all that our eyes can see — there’s a spiritual war going on. An unseen battle between good and evil — between light and darkness — between restaurants that require sports coats and ones that don’t — just kidding — a war between God’s angelic army and the devil and his demonic army. But this is not an even fight — these two forces are not equals. For Jesus has secured the victory of this war on our behalf — yet we experience the consequences of this spiritual war as we live in this land of exile. And — here’s the connection to my sports coat dilemma: are you dressed appropriately — are you dressed appropriately for this spiritual war?
Meaning — are we prepared — not necessarily to wage war ourselves against the devil and his army — but are we prepared for life in this land of exile which can be hard, challenging, exhausting, and trying? Do we know the tactics of our enemy and do we trust that God will provide all that we need as we live in this land of exile — for example his promise to clothe us in the strength we need to live faithfully — to endure — to not live in fear — but to live with peace and encouragement in knowing that we — because of what Christ has accomplished — are very precious to God. Are you dressed appropriately — clothed in God’s promises — as you live in this land of exile?
We find one of God’s promises in verse nineteen — where we read…
Daniel 10:19 (NLT)
19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
Are you dressed in — clothed in — trusting in — the promised strength from your God — strength that will keep you steadfast and faithful until you experience rescue from this land of exile? No other strength will do — the only strength that will lead us to eternal victory is the strength God provides as we clothe ourselves in his great promises to us.
Let’s return to verse one and remind ourselves of the strength God has promised to his people.
Daniel 10:1–11 (NLT)
1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future — times of war and great hardship. 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. 4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. 10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
So we understand where we are in history — the third year of King Cyrus’s reign is the year 536 BC. This is a couple of years — or so — after the vision Daniel had in chapter nine — when he prayed after reading from the book of Jeremiah. Now — a few years have passed since Cyrus issued the decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. And it’s important for us to remember what those returning exiles experienced upon arriving in Jerusalem and what they’ll continue to experience for years to come.
If you were here with us when we looked at the books of Ezra and Nehemiah — during our Finding Jesus series — you may remember the opposition and conflict the Jews experienced upon returning to Jerusalem. They experienced mocking and ridicule from those who’d been living in the area while they were in exile. The locals opposed the exiles and their attempt to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Eventually — because of the threats from the opposition — the Jews had to hold a sword in one hand while they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with their other hand.
Well — all of this news was making its way back to Babylon and Daniel’s hearing about it. And much of this conflict and opposition was coming from their distant relatives who were allowed to stay in the land — people who didn’t experience the seventy years of exile. Yet — after seventy years — those who stayed behind had intermarried with foreigners. They adopted and meshed other religions with their Jewish faith — creating a new religion — these folks become the Samaritans in the New Testament.
And all of this news troubles Daniel. In fact — commentaries mention that Daniel’s period of mourning, fasting, and prayer is his way of “identifying with the difficulties and trials that faced God’s people who had returned to their homeland.” (Duguid)
A reminder to us that — though we’re a local expression of God’s church — we’re a small piece of God’s global family. Which is why — as a church — we strive to make disciples of Jesus who are Kingdom-minded — who — like Daniel — have an awareness of what’s happening to our faith family around the world — in places like Lebanon and Bangladesh where we have partners living in great uncertainty right now. It’s impossible for any one of us to keep up with everything going on in the world — but it is possible for all of us to keep up with what’s going on somewhere in the world.
Some ways to do this would be signing up to receive newsletters from our ministry partners working all around the world. You can do so on our website’s ministry partners page — gatewayepc.org/ministry-partners. Or you can download the Operation World app and spend a few minutes each day praying for a nation in our world. Or the Unreached of the Day app to pray for a group of people who have little or no access to the gospel. Or sign up for a missions trip or commit to support those who are going financially and with prayer. There are many ways where — like Daniel — we can expand our awareness and connection to God’s family — our faith family — all around the world.
So all of this is on Daniel’s mind when he has this final vision — a vision which speaks of “times of war and great hardship.” Often — we want to know what war and what great hardship this is referring to — but — as one Bible commentator says — “the conflicts we experience here on earth are the counterpart of a great spiritual conflict that is presently ongoing in the heavenly realm.” (Duguid)
Meaning — what we normally focus on — worldly conflicts — like what’s been going on between Russia and Ukraine — or between Israel and Palestine — worldly conflicts grab our attention — but these are merely reflections of a spiritual war that our eyes don’t see. And these wars — especially in areas where there always seems to be conflict — like the Middle East — these wars can become exhausting to our ears, right? Which means — we can all relate to what Daniel must be experiencing when — as the seventy years of exile comes to an end — he receives another vision — this one of even greater hardships that are to come in the future. Daniel’s gotta be thinking, “When is this gonna end?”
For some of us — when we think of the great hardship that the book of Daniel has shown us time and time again — we’re unsettled — because we expect life to be easy. Others of us — though — aren’t surprised because we expect life to be hard. For both groups — we must remember that — what Daniel’s been teaching us is that life in this land of exile is hard — but it’s not hopeless. Hard and hopeless are very different — don’t ever forget that. Life in exile is hard — but — because of Christ — life in exile is also hopeful.
May hope be something you clothe yourself in as you go about life in this land of exile. For — if we don’t — we’ll go about life dressed with expectations that don’t prepare us for the reality of living in exile. We’ll either view this world as heaven — and what a poor substitute this world is compared to the vision of heaven we find in Scripture — or we’ll view this world has hell and — though I don’t want to down play either the joys or sorrows we experience in life — this world — as hellish as it can be — doesn’t compare to what awaits those who don’t know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Yet — even in knowing this — many people — Christian or not — put on clothes of expectation where every day is like the weekend with blue skies and a high in the mid-70s. While others — again Christian or not — put on clothes expecting it to be a day of gray skies, with an inbox full of demanding emails, an empty roll of TP at a very inconvenient time, and — to top the day off — your dog said hello to a skunk — again — just before bedtime.
What kind of clothes are you wearing in this land of exile?
Daniel — in response to this third vision of the future — of war and great hardship — spent three weeks in mourning, fasting, and prayer. He practiced spiritual disciplines — activities to help him increase his dependence upon God, to foster greater intimacy with God, and to strengthen his faith as he’s troubled by this vision of what’s to come.
What’s your response to his visions about the future — your future — your present even — as you live in exile? Daniel's story is meant to help us come to biblical grips with the truth that life is hard in exile. And our verses tell us why life is hard — while also reminding us of our reason to cling to hope — for we’re not left to defend ourselves — but have One — who is all powerful — fighting on our behalf.
And this leads us to the strength that Daniel is given. We’re in verse twelve.
Daniel 10:12–17 (NLT)
12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” 15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”
At first — Daniel was left all alone. Those who were with him — though they saw nothing — ran away in fear. And his aloneness left Daniel without strength. And what did God do for Daniel? What grace, right? God sent an angelic messenger to go to Daniel — to be present with him — and this angelic companion restored Daniel’s strength.
This reminds me of what we read in the book of Hebrews when the author writes…
Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)
14 Therefore, angels are only servants — spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Here’s a wonderful truth for you — if you believe in Jesus Christ — you will inherit salvation. And here’s another wonderful truth for you: God is still in the business of sending his angels to care for his people when they’re in need. Especially when — like Daniel — you’re alone. Abandoned. And weak.
I wasn’t sure if I should share what I’m about to — one — because — if you’re a guest or newer to Gateway Church— I don’t want you to think we’re a “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” kind of church and — two — because I hesitate to share stories where you might think “Well of course Josh experienced that…he’s a pastor” as if you and I are in two separate categories. I’m just like all of you — I’ve just been called to pastor and preach. But here goes.
Years ago I began to study the supernatural — the unseen world of angels and demons — spiritual powers of light and darkness and how God — at times — uses his people in the spiritual conflict going on. Well — a few folks knew that I was studying this topic which led to me getting a desperate phone call due to a young lady who was acting out of her mind and was out of control. Her friends — who’d never experienced anything like this before — wondered if what was going on was demonic. So I got a call asking if I’d come and help.
Though I’d never met the girl who was in trouble — I had a strong impression that she would try and attack me. So I called a couple of people and asked them to be in the room at the church where we were going to meet — I wanted some help in case things turned violent. And I also began to pray. I was desperate for God’s help. I’d only been studying the supernatural for a few months — I wasn’t an expert — I’d never experienced the demonic or anything close to it before — yet — here I was getting a call because I was the only person someone else knew who had any familiarity with the topic.
I felt weak. Incompetent. Powerless. So I prayed. Then I got in my car — a Ford Focus — and drove to the church. And — as I was driving — I had this vision of three, big, warrior-like angelic beings sitting in the car with me. The picture I saw was of what Roman soldiers looked like in biblical times — except these angels were like ten feet tall and had muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his bodybuilding days — and they were in my tiny Ford Focus! I remember thinking, “Well this is different.”
So I get to the church. And I tell two guys — who’d be in the room with me — “If she turns violent — stop her from attacking me.” I didn’t want to get wailed on by a twenty-something female who was out of her mind.
Well she got violent. At one point, she started to come at me from across the room and — time seemed to stand still as I evaluated the situation and realized that no one was going to stop her — they weren’t even moving. So here I am about to get attacked by this demonized girl — so I did something that — looking back — I have no idea where my response came from.
I quickly stood up. Lifted my hand towards her and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to stop.” And she stopped. But she didn’t just stop in place — she was still struggling to get to me — but she was being held back. Her arms were in a position where it looked like she was being held — being kept from getting to me — like she’d been grabbed by some very powerful beings — and was being held in place.
The situation was intense — so I did the next thing that came to mind: I commanded her — in the name of Jesus — to sit back down on the couch. And imagine someone who doesn’t want to sit down being forced to sit down — that’s what I — and everyone else in the room — saw. Our eyes could only see the physical — but there was a spiritual battle going on in the room that day as well.
Now — because I’ll probably get asked this — I wasn’t able to free her from the demonic. At that point in her life she wasn’t willing to give up whatever had been promised to her. But I share the story because it illustrates what one of my study Bibles says about our verses. It says, “Daniel’s world, and ours, is populated by more than meets the human eye. Daniel is shown the great events of history enacted against the background of a real spiritual world where spiritual beings support or hinder God’s people, where the conflicts of the ages are also carried out. Behind all of this, the Ancient One sovereignly guides all things and sits in judgment upon the process and its conclusion.” (NLT Study Bible, note for Daniel 10:13, 1506)
Behind the world that we see is a spiritual world where spiritual beings — angels and demons — are either supporting or hindering God’s people. And our Enemy delights in how — especially here in the US — God’s people are naive to this spiritual world — so often going about life as if there is no spiritual war going on behind the conflicts and hardships we experience.
And — yet — despite all of this — we’re to have hope. Because our God is sovereign — in control of all things — including the hardships his people experience. And we know this to be true and trust that this is true because our God is the One who provides us with the strength we need to endure — and not only to endure — but to be victorious. We’re in verse eighteen.
Daniel 10:18–11:1 (NLT)
18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” 20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. 1 I have been standing beside Michael to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.)
Do you need some strength — some hope — some Good News today? Know that — like Daniel — if you believe in Jesus Christ — you are very precious to God. Don’t dismiss these words — for they are clothes meant to adorn you with strength and hope. You are loved by God. And he so loves you that he’s waging a war on behalf of his people — including you.
“But — Josh — what about the horrible things I’ve experienced? Where was God’s angelic protection then?” I have no idea why God didn’t protect you from whatever it is that you’ve experienced — but I do know how easy it is for me to focus on the bad things — horrible things — evil and wicked things — I and those I love have had to endure. And yet I wonder how many times God’s protected me — and those I love — without me even knowing.
Additionally, I have promises to clothe myself in — specifically about these moments in life when I don’t understand why God allowed something to happen. There’s the promise from God that…
Romans 8:28 (NET)
28 All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
And “all things” means “all things.” There are no exceptions — no matter how hellish or painful or “God I don’t know how this will work together for my good” it may seem. Either I clothe myself in this promise or I reject a beautiful gift from my Father in heaven. To be clear — not him — once he’s your Heavenly Father he’s always your Heavenly Father — but as his children we can either receive or reject his gifts. What gifts is your Heavenly Father offering you that you’ve yet to receive?
One final thought before we pray. Some of you may have noticed that I included the first verse of chapter eleven in this sermon. Why did I do that? The reason why verse one is included — is because it tells us that this spiritual battle had been going on for three years — for it was during the first year of Darius’s reign that the Jews began returning to Jerusalem — and that happened three years earlier in Daniel’s life.
Three years is a long time, isn’t it? Think of the conflict — the hardships experienced — the pain and sorrow and wondering how all of this is going to turn out for good. Think of what kind of strength you’d need in order to faithfully endure — with hope — if what you’re currently facing goes on for another three years — or ten years — or thirty years. Nearly all of Daniel’s life was lived in exile — a land where he experiences again and again the physical echoes of the spiritual conflict he’s caught up in. And what we’ve seen today — is that even Daniel wasn’t strong enough on his own. So an angel was sent to strengthen him and to clothe him in power from on high.
So we’ll end today’s sermon on…
Ephesians 6:10–18 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Let’s pray together.
Heavenly Father, your Word tells us that you are the Giver of every good gift — you offer wonderful gifts to us — your children — promises that are guaranteed. Hope. Joy. Strength. Courage. Angelic care. Unseen protection. Healing. Salvation — among many others. May your gifts be received by many today — some receiving a gift from you for the first time. And may we all clothe ourselves in your promises and gifts — especially the gift of your love for us.
Holy Spirit, thank you for the times you’ve protected us without our knowing. Comforted us unexpectedly. Led us away from a foolish decision. Revealed to us what is true and what is not. Your Word tells us that you live in all who believe in Jesus and that you are not a Spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control. Fill us with your power. Fill us with your love. Fill us with self-control as we live in this land of exile.
And — Jesus — to our powerful and loving Savior — you clothed yourself in flesh in order to be our representative. You clothed yourself in flesh so that you could be our substitute in your life, death, and resurrection. You clothed yourself — not only in flesh — but in our sins — as you hung on the cross — and you did so in love for us. And now we are clothed in your righteousness and have been given a hope-increasing gift: all of God’s promises are ours — not because we’ve earned or deserve them — but because you have. Help us — we ask — to receive more and more of the gifts that you’ve earned on our behalf — good gifts from your — and our — Heavenly Father. And we pray all of this in your name. Amen.
May you clothe yourselves in all of God’s promises — being strengthened by his power — as you live in this land of exile. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
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