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Breakthrough from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

When two armies meet in battle, it can sometimes lead to a standoff. Perhaps one side is dug into defensive positions and hard to dislodge. Eventually, one side may perform a powerful offensive thrust that penetrates their enemy's line and carries them far beyond. This is called a breakthrough. After the breakthrough, instead of being locked in a stalemate with a hardened enemy, it's free sailing with nothing to hold you back from advancing.

Though it can't be seen with the human eye, there is a spiritual battle raging in the heavens above us. What is happening there directly affects what is happening here. There is a great picture of this in the Bible. Daniel tended to fast and pray until God answered him, and this time he had been fasting for twenty-one days.

(Daniel 10:2–3 NKJV)  In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

He was walking along the bank of the Tigris river when a mysterious man appeared to him:

(Daniel 10:4–6 NKJV)  Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Compare that description to the Man the Apostle John saw in the book of Revelation:

(Revelation 1:12–15 NKJV)  Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

Both Men had a gold band around them, eyes like fire, arms and feet like brass or bronze, and a powerful voice. When Daniel and John saw Him hundreds of years apart, all their strength left, and they collapsed at His feet.

(Daniel 10:8–10 NKJV)  ...no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.

(Revelation 1:17 NKJV)  And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid;

I am convinced this is the same Man. It was the Lord Jesus Christ. He appeared to Joshua at the battle of Jericho and said that He was the Commander of the Army of the Lord (Joshua 5:14). So why would we be surprised that He was in a difficult battle? Jesus is more than a baby in a manger.

Though you don't have to agree with that, the meaning of the message is the same. In this case, Daniel had been praying for an answer, and the Lord brought it, but something interesting happened along the way.

(Daniel 10:11–13 NKJV)  And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

Notice the phrase "to humble yourself," this always means fasting. From the first day that Daniel began fasting and praying, his words were heard, and this Man came in response to them. He continues:

(Daniel 10:13 NKJV) But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

There was a battle going on in the heavenlies, and the enemy didn't want that message to get through to Daniel. The "kings of Persia" are spiritual beings attempting to control the air above the country (Ephesians 2:2).

The enemy loves us to pray and get no answer. To try it once, get discouraged, and give up. It's so important to know that you have to keep trying. Your persistent prayers and fasting demonstrate your faith in God:

(Luke 18:1–7 NKJV)  Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

We are to keep praying until we get an answer. Now that answer might be "No," If it is, you can stop, but don't take silence as your answer. Daniel didn't. Jesus told us not to. We fast and pray until the breakthrough comes. Once we have broken through the enemy's line, we can have open heaven above us when we pray and immediately get answers because the resistance over our area has been destroyed.

Too many of us are struggling in the trenches, on the verge of giving up hope. We have prayed until we were out of breath and received no answer. Yet, Daniel continued praying until his reply came. It's time for a breakthrough. To relentlessly attack the enemy in prayer and fasting together until we blow a hole through their lines and open the heavens above us.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for putting me here for such a time as this! I want to be a part of what You are doing on Earth today. Please guide me and help me get in tune with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!