We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood
The sermon teaches that Satan often hinders our prayers, but we can overcome this hindrance by persisting in prayer and faith, knowing that God will ultimately answer our prayers.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the power of prayer and the direct hindrance from Satan, using the example of Daniel's intense spiritual battle while fasting and praying for twenty-one days. Despite Daniel's righteousness and correct prayers, Satan hindered the answer to his prayer through a heavenly conflict. The sermon emphasizes the spiritual warfare Christians face against evil forces, as mentioned in Ephesians 6:12, and encourages believers not to fear when their prayers are delayed by Satan, as God will ultimately bring a flood of answers and blessings.
Text
"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" (Dan. 10:12, 13).
We have wonderful teaching here on prayer, and we are shown the direct hindrance from Satan.
Daniel had fasted and prayed twenty-one days, and had a very hard time in prayer. As far as we read the narrative, it was not because Daniel was not a good man, nor because his prayer was not right; but it was because of a special attack of Satan.
The Lord started a messenger to tell Daniel that his prayer was answered the moment Daniel began to pray; but an evil angel met the good angel and wrestled with him, hindering him. There was a conflict in the heavens; and Daniel seemed to go through an agony on earth the same as that which was going on in the heavens.
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers... against wicked spirits in high places" (Eph. 6:12, margin).
Satan delayed the answer three full weeks. Daniel nearly succumbed, and Satan would have been glad to kill him; but God will not suffer anything to come above that we "are able to bear."
Many a Christian's prayer is hindered by Satan; but you need not fear when your prayers and faith pile up; for after a while they will be like a flood, and will not only sweep the answer through, but will also bring some new accompanying blessing. --Sermon
Hell does its worst with the saints. The rarest souls have been tested with high pressures and temperatures, but Heaven will not desert them. --W. L. Watkinson
Sermon Outline
- The Hindrance of Satan in Prayer
- The Nature of the Conflict
- The Power of Prayer and Faith
- Piling Up Prayers and Faith
- The Flood of Prayer and Blessing
- The Victory of God and the Christian's Faith
Key Quotes
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers... against wicked spirits in high places” — Charles E. Cowman
“Hell does its worst with the saints. The rarest souls have been tested with high pressures and temperatures, but Heaven will not desert them.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We should persevere in prayer, even when Satan hinders us, knowing that God will ultimately answer our prayers.
- Our faith and prayer can overcome Satan's attacks and bring us spiritual victory.
- God will not suffer anything to come above what His people are able to bear, and He will deliver us from Satan's attacks.