Bible passages: Daniel 10 and Hebrews 11.

1) The liberating message

The angel with the gospel

In Daniel 10 we read of the angel who was sent to Daniel. The angel was like a prophet who had a liberating gospel [1] to deliver. This message was not meant to reach Daniel and the people, so that this people might not be set free.

Daniel 10:1–6, 9–14: „1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniye’l, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I Daniye’l was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; 5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished copper, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude (…) 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. 10 And behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, O Daniye’l, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright: for to you am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniye’l: for from the first day that you did set thine heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your Elohim, your words were heard, and I am come for your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make you understand what will befall your people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days (…)“ [2].

The Resistance

What the angel had to bring was the current, timely message. The word „angel“ is also „mal’Ach“ in Hebrew, which means „messenger“. The prince of Persia, that is, this spiritual power, did not want to let this highly topical gospel into the kingdom. For there were people imprisoned there who were in danger of gaining their freedom through the message. Since this prince knew this, he offered resistance.

Types of Captivity

People on earth have been bound since the Fall.

They are subject to different kinds of yoke/slavery/captivity:

• Sin,
• Tradition, customs
• People: Example: A woman who is beaten by her husband is under his yoke. Submission in a marriage must be mutual, not one-sided!
• Demons
• Religious, ceremonial laws

2) What is the battle of faith?

What the battle of faith is not

• Faith is not asking for a wedding, a Mercedes or a BMW, etc.
• There are people who are afraid of ghosts at night and pray all night long. They want to drive out evil using a method and have no real faith. Fighting for faith therefore does not mean fighting against demons all day long.
• The battle of faith has absolutely nothing to do with a physical battle with weapons, as Islam, for example, propagates [3].

Faith: What is it?

• Faith comes from the Spirit/from the Word

John 6:63: „It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life„.

Faith is spiritual, for it is born of the Word:

„14 How then will they call upon whom they have not believed in? And how will they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without preaching? 15 And how will they preach, if they are not sent? As it has been written: How beautiful the feet of those preaching the Gospel of peace, and those bringing the Gospel of good things!“ (Romans 10:14-15).

• To believe is not to see

We are spirits who are meant to speak with Elohim, the Spirit. If you believe in invisible things, it is because of your faith. If you believe in the existence of hell, even though you have never seen it, it is because of your faith.

Hebrews 11:1: „Now faith is the foundation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen“.

Faith is more than simply believing that Elohim grants us things. To believe means to trust Elohim blindly, that is, to close your eyes and carry on. The Christian way does not consist of looking first and then going there. Even if I pray and Elohim does not heal me, I believe; even if I die, I believe that Elohim has already healed me in the Spirit and that I will spend eternity with him. Abraham, for example, believed that Elohim could raise his son Yitzhak (Isaac) from the dead, even though he had never seen or heard of such a thing before.

• Faith is obedience

Faith is obedience to Elohim and doing what Elohim tells you, no matter what is happening around you. Iyov (Job), for example, obeyed Elohim even though many terrible things happened in his life.

• Living Faith

Faith is not dead. It is accompanied by actions. If you only listen to armchair sermons where nothing happens, that is dead faith. Faith means being in contact with the Father and carrying out His work. We are Elohim’s representatives on earth, here to reveal HIM.

• Crazy Faith

Anyone who has faith is, in a sense, crazy. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 1, that the cross is foolishness to the Gentiles.

Satan’s plan

Dream: A person entered someone’s room where there was a lot of light. The intruder wanted to switch off the light. Switching off the light means extinguishing faith. All Satan intends to do is to extinguish the faith of Christians. People with extinguished faith are the apostates, and they often even continue to attend church meetings.

To extinguish your faith, Satan may study you for perhaps 15 years. That way, he knows how to deal with you. Sometimes we have dreams in which someone is chasing us, but we escape. This is a symbol that your faith is to be stolen from you.

The enemy wants to kill us, our faith. That is why it says in Luke 18:8: „… But the Son of human having come, will he find faith on the Earth?“.

Satan is not interested in wrecking your car, but in your faith! For if your car is wrecked, you can buy a new one, but if your faith is destroyed, where will you get a new one? So everything that happens around you—resistance from family, neighbours, and so on—is pressure designed to make you lose your faith. The devil sends doubts and people who constantly tell you how impossible your faith is. May the Lord save us. Without faith, there is no Rapture, no Heaven.

Fighting Satan’s plan: keeping the faith

The real battle is to keep the faith. Before conversion, one has no battles over faith. And someone who is born from above [4] is already freed from demons. But they must now fight the battle of faith every day. It is a battle to keep one’s own faith. No one can preserve another person’s faith in their stead, not even a servant of Elohim. Everyone must fight this battle for themselves.

Paul said to Timothy: „It is because of this reason that I call you to remembrance to revive the gift of grace of Elohim that is in you through the laying on of my hands“ (2 Timothy 1:6).

When the church was born, it received fire (= zeal). The followers of Yehoshua (Jesus) were not afraid of death and eagerly proclaimed the Word. 

2 Timothy 4:7: „I have fought the good fight, I have finished the the course, I have kept the faith“.

When Paul was spat upon and beaten with a stick, he nevertheless kept his faith. Why do we have so many struggles and conflict upon conflict? Because our faith is being attacked and tested. You are placed in a bowl filled with snakes, and you hold a little mouse in your hand that they want to eat. Your struggle is to keep the mouse safe. When you are attacked, it shows that you have faith. Those who have faith are lifted above their difficulties by Elohim. They sit with Elohim in heaven. Therefore: Don’t be afraid any longer!

Elohim’s testimony for you

„For by it the elders obtained the testimony“ (Hebrews 11:2).

When Elohim testifies for you, Elohim will make you indispensable to others. You will be indispensable to those around you, regardless of your gender (women can also be missionaries; no one has the right to call you inferior!)

Therefore, do not live in dependence on what people say (for example, doctors). Live as though you had already died. The Bible says we have already died; we are to regard ourselves as dead to sin. Faith depends on what you have heard: He died for you on the cross.

Elohim testified about Job before Satan: „Have you considered my servant Job?“. Elohim will also give your enemies visions of you. Elohim’s testimony concerning you will cause your enemies to bow down before you. When Elohim testifies for you, signs and wonders will accompany you. The demons in your neighbourhood will know: there lives one who is a child of Elohim. There are criticisms and poisons which strengthen the children of Elohim and do not kill them. He will tell people in your family and community: „You must not lay a hand on them; they belong to me“.

He will show the authorities that you are untouchable, for He, Elohim Himself, has sent you or placed you in that position. Your person will – like the prophets of the Bible – be imposed upon this generation, even if others do not want you. The enemy’s aim is that you should no longer bear witness to Elohim. Then you will concern yourself with your own testimony rather than with what Elohim says about you.

Negative examples

• Where are the men and women of faith today? There are very few. Sometimes people come to a counsellor or preacher with difficult problems instead of praying for their own problems. That is a lack of faith.
• Of the 12 men who spied out Canaan, only 2 entered the Promised Land: Yehoshua (Joshua) and Kaleb. All the others had fallen away from the faith.
• If you are not being attacked, you are still a Catholic. A Christian who is applauded and not persecuted is a hybrid, not a true Christian.
• Without faith, you will seek financial partners and have wives who dictate to you. 
• When you no longer speak out of faith, but because you want to please others, it becomes dangerous. Language that is politically correct leads to hell.
• Our pastors are like state employees. They claim, for example, that we need rap in church to win over young people. Yet all we need is the Holy Spirit. Many will be left behind at the Rapture!

Positive examples

In the Bible we read of many people who fought the good fight of faith to the very end because they were not focused on the things of this world.

• Moshe (Moses) chose to give up the riches of Egypt and live as a shepherd.
• Yirmeyah (Jeremiah) ended up in a well.
• Yesha’yah (Isaiah) was cut to pieces because of his preaching.
• Paul was frequently imprisoned and mistreated.
• Peter was crucified upside down.

These and other men and women have set examples for us of what to expect from a life of faith in Elohim. We shall examine this in the following chapter.

3) The Struggle of Faith in Hebrews 11

If one reads Hebrews, chapter 11, carefully, one encounters a veritable wealth of statements and insights regarding faith: the consequences and accompanying phenomena of the struggle of faith.

a) Hope

Verse 1: „Now faith is the foundation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen“.

Faith is connected with hope: you see far, like an eagle. You see in the Spirit, and even if you have not yet received what you have asked for, you know that Elohim has heard your prayer. You see beyond the horizon.

b) Demonstration

These people who believed demonstrated Elohim’s power, glory and many of His attributes on earth. From this, those who are (still) unbelievers can recognise what Elohim is like and what He does.

c) Understanding

Verse 3: „Through faith we understand that the ages were put in order by the word of Elohim, so that things which are seen were made out of things not exposed to view“

You will understand the language of Elohim, even if everyone regards you as mad. You understand Elohim because you have faith. Yehoshua (Jesus) said to Petros:

„… go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a stater …“ (Matthew 17:27).

Petros understood the Master’s language. Although he had a great deal of experience in fishing and had never seen a fish with a coin in its mouth, he believed the carpenter, who, from a human perspective, knew nothing about fishing. That is probably why Petros said to the people he met on his way to the lake: „I’m going to the bank. It’s in the water!“ He did not let himself be discouraged by silly remarks and head-shaking. Do not listen to people either; keep your faith! Follow the language of Elohim.

Eliysha (Elisha) also understood this language: he retrieved the Ark of the Covenant from the water using pieces of wood.

Another example is Moshe, who understood Elohim’s voice telling him that he could defeat Pharaoh’s army with a staff. Surely people mocked him, saying: „With what army do you intend to defeat Pharaoh?“ Yet with Elohim, it is not merely a matter of words, but signs occur: the staff turned into a serpent. And at the Red Sea, where the Israelites were trapped with no way out – the sea ahead, Pharaoh’s army behind – the people of Israel were hemmed in like a sandwich. The Red Sea parted into two halves: On one side the fish, on the other the sharks. The Israelites were able to marvel at the beauty of creation whilst passing right through the danger.

d) Sacrifice/Cross

Verse 4: „By faith Abel offered to Elohim a more excellent sacrifice than Qayin, by which he obtained the testimony of being righteous, Elohim testifying of his gifts. And through it, he being dead, still speaks“

If you want to be mightily used by Elohim, you must surrender yourself completely to him. Sacrifice lies in faith. Sometimes Elohim might say: Give the remainder of your monthly salary to someone in need. If you have faith and sacrifice everything, Elohim will prove himself faithful. In our hearts, He must take the place of Elohim. Even after your death, other people will still benefit from your works, if, for example, you have built an orphanage.

Are you willing to give everything to Him?

e) Reward

Verses 5-6: „5 By faith Hanowk was transferred that he should not see death, and was not found, because Elohim had transferred him. For before his transferring he obtained this testimony, that he pleased Elohim. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to Elohim must believe that he is, and that he becomes a rewarder of those who seek him„.

Since Elohim gives us a reward, we must not compromise.

f) The fear of Elohim

Verse 7: „By faith Noah, having been divinely warned about things not yet seen, having feared, built an ark for the salvation of his family. By which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith“.

The fear of Elohim means hating evil. The fear of Elohim means trusting Elohim, because He died for me and therefore gives me the strength to keep myself pure.

g) Obedience

Verse 8: „By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed, to go out into the place which he was about to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going“.

Elohim wants us to be obedient children. The opposites of this are: unbelief, disobedience, pride.

h) Inheritance

Verse 8: „(…) which he was about to receive as an inheritance, and he went, not knowing where he was going“.

As obedient and faithful children of Elohim, we receive a heavenly inheritance.

i) Strangers and travellers

Verses 9, 13: „9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Yitzhak and Yaacov, the heirs with him of the same promise (…) 13 All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having been persuaded, and having saluted them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the Earth„.

Those who preach or strive for prosperity do not prepare for death and are taken by surprise. Faith speaks more of the things to come in the hereafter than of the present. A person who is aware of this no longer allows themselves to be unsettled by others, regardless of whether they have a house, a car or other forms of prosperity.

j) Our Elohim

Verses 14–16: „14 For those who say such things show that they seek their native country. 15 And indeed, if they had been remembering that from which they came out, they would have had time to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly. Therefore Elohim is not ashamed to be called their Elohim: for he has prepared a city for them“.

Elohim is not ashamed to be called the Elohim of someone who honours him. For example, he is called „the Elohim of Abraham“. Imagine that after your death, Elohim is called your Elohim. He even bears witness to you after your death.

k) Trials

Verses 17–18: „17 By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Yitzhak. And he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 to whom it was spoken: In Yitzhak your posterity will be called“.

Isaac was the descendant who was to carry on Abraham’s work. Elohim subjected Abraham to a great test by demanding that he kill his son. Yet Abraham held fast to his faith. He believed without having seen. We are to do the same.

l) Blessings

Verse 21: „By faith Yaacov, dying, blessed each of the sons of Yossef, and worshipped, upon the top of his staff“.

If you have faith, you are spiritually blessed, and they can curse you morning, noon and night. Are you a blessed mother or a blessed father? Who then can curse your children? They will grow up to serve Elohim! Whom did Yaakov (Jacob) bless? His grandchildren. Whom do you bless? No pastor or other person can do this in your place.

A mother who has carried her children for nine months is surely the first who can bless her children! Line your children up, take your Bible and bless them with words from the Bible! A mother can even bless her family if she is not a Christian at all, because she possesses natural authority.

m) Boldness

Verse 23: „By faith Moshe, having been born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the edict of the king“.

People who know Yehoshua (Jesus) will not allow themselves to be forbidden from speaking of him or doing his work. They become bold. People who are inspired by Yehoshua become, in a way, obsessed with him.

n) Greatness

Verses 24–26: „24 By faith Moshe, having become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 having chosen rather to be afflicted with the people of Elohim, than to have the enjoyment of sin for a time. 26 Having Esteemed the reproach of Mashiah greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he was looking toward the reward“

Faith leads you to greatness. Do not seek to be exalted by people. He, Elohim, lifts up the poor and the lowly and seats them with the great. Despite all obstacles, the gnats find their way into noble houses. He who becomes great is the servant of all. In the Kingdom of Elohim there are great women. You find yourself small and wretched, but when you take the underground, all the demons must flee. It is faith that makes you great.

o) Renunciation

Verses 24–25: „By faith, when he had grown up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (and) chose rather to be mistreated with the people of Elohim than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin“.

p) Leaving the old things

Verse 27: „By faith he left Egypt, not having feared the wrath of the king, for he remained firm, as seeing him who is invisible“.

Without faith, you cannot leave the world. If someone in the world is doing well and has not seen heaven in spirit, they cannot leave the world.

q) Firmness and constancy

Verse 27: „By faith he left Egypt, not having feared the wrath of the king, for he remained firm, as seeing him who is invisible„.

r) Prisons fall

Verse 30: „By faith the walls of Yeriycho fell down, having been encircled for seven days“.

A form of chains or prison can be an illness or other difficulty. As you praise Elohim, chains and walls fall.

s) Life

Verse 31: „By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish along with those who refused to believe, having received the spies with peace“.

t) Conquering kingdoms

Verses 32–33: „32 And what more do I say? For the time will fail me telling of Gid’on, and Barak, and Shimshon, and Yiphtah, David also, and Shemuel, and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, …“.

u) Becoming righteous

Verse 33: „… wrought righteousness, …“

v) Shutting mouths

Verse 33: „… shut the mouths of lions …“

w) Extinguishing fire

Verse 34: „quenched the power of fire, …“.

The foreign, dangerous fire is extinguished with the water of the Word.

x) Enemies will flee

Verse 34: „… put to flight the armies of the foreigners“

It will even go so far that those who were previously against you will fight against one another.

 

y) Resurrection

Verse 35: „Women received their dead by resurrection…“.

Dead organs can even come back to life physically!

 

z) Persecutions

Verses 35–40: „35… But others were tortured, not receiving the redemption so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 And others received trial of mockings and scourgings, and yet, of bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn apart, were tried. They died in the murder of the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, oppressed, mistreated, 38 of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in solitary places, and in mountains, and in caves and holes of the Earth. 39 And all, these having obtained a good testimony because of their faith, did not receive the promise. 40 Elohim having foreseen some better thing for us, so that without us they would not be made perfect“.

4) In the Arena: Summary and Encouragement

Believers in the struggle find themselves, as it were, in an arena, a stadium. The Greek word for this is ‘agon’. In this arena, we are being watched. The spectators are demons and people who want to know whether we will give up. We are like athletes, and before us others have already fought and made it to heaven. These witnesses surround us like a cloud:

„1 Therefore, we also having such a great cloud of witnesses, surrounding us having laid aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance in the arena that is set before us, 2 turning the eyes away from other things and fixing them to the Chief Leader and perfecter of faith, Yehoshua…“ Hebrews 12:1-2.

Therefore, let us not slacken our hands, whatever our age, gender or social status.

Have you acted wrongly, fought wrongly or not at all? Have you fallen? Get up! You need not end in sin, fail, lose your anointing and zeal, or die, but you must fight to the end! You will stand firm and honour your Father! Do the work that the Father has laid on your heart! You are a soldier of Yehoshua and you will keep your faith! If you remain faithful, you will receive your reward from Elohim and reach the goal. Trust in Elohim! Amen.

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[1] Gospel = good news/message.

[2] Unless otherwise stated, all Bible quotations are taken from the Bible of Yehoshua Mashiah (BYM). Available online at: https://bym.zurueckzumwort.org/bible

[3] Contribution from the translator

[4] ‘from above’ = correct translation of the Greek word “anothen”. (The expression does not mean – as is commonly used in Christian circles today – ‘born again’ or ‘reborn’).

(Summary of a teaching by Br. Shora Kuetu)