DOMINION OVER DARTS OF DELAY (2)

“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…” – Daniel 10:13a

Unquantifiable pain can be avoided when we learn to exercise DOMINION over DARTS of DELAY: “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” (Dan.10:13). DELAY is a favourite tool of the devil. The pain of delayed expectation can relate to marriage, childbearing, education, business, ministry, or career promotion. Disappointment is the difference between expectation and reality (Pro.13:12). Yesterday we meditated on Divine Delay, to which we can respond in two ways: Protocol and Preparation.

We should clarify and follow divine protocol and timing and comply with divine instruction. King Saul was neither a priest nor a prophet, but through impatience, violated God’s command and lost his throne (1Sam.13:12-14). We may not understand the reason for a delay, but God always has a purpose. Rats deliver after a few weeks of pregnancy, humans nine months, elephants after 20-22 months. No matter how anxious a woman is to have a baby she will not want to force the baby out until it is due. Next, is preparation: God will prepare us for what He has prepared for us (Gal. 4:1-2). He takes time to train, develop, and make us ready.

Today, we examine how to confront and reverse demonic delay and self-caused delay:

Demonic delay: Delay or lateness can be a spirit, driven by Satan and his demons. Angel Gabriel was sent to deliver a message to Daniel, but the Prince of Persia delayed him for twenty-one days. God had sent the answer; so the devil was the cause of the delay. Delay can be the operation of territorial spirits, forces of frustration, and witchcraft manipulations (Dan.10:12-13). This spirit may be transmissible as it appears to have been in the case of Abraham’s lineage of late starters. God promised him a child from his wife Sarah, but Isaac was not born until after twenty-five years. Isaac took twenty years to have his own children. Rachael, the one loved by Jacob took many years to conceive. Apostle Paul also revealed how they were hindered by Satan (1The.2:18). 

Self-driven delay: Satan is behind many cases of delay, but he cannot be blamed for everything. We also need to re-evaluate our lives to see what we’ve done to create delays. This could be due to ignorance, ignoring biblical principles, disobedience to divine instructions, prayerlessness, carelessness, procrastination, habitual lateness, unredeemed vows, negative thoughts and beliefs of delay and lateness, negative confessions, and disrespect to spiritual authority.  These can open the door for darts of delay.

The ability to reverse demonic delay is a major aspect of the Believer’s exercise of Dominion:

First, we analyse the past to detect any pattern of delay, as it may be generational down a family’s bloodline. The scenarios vary: late start, good finish; late start, poor finish; early start, good finish; early start, poor finish. Sadly, some never start or fulfil destiny!

Second, we must consciously confront and attack the paradigm of lateness and replace it with a new paradigm of punctuality. God’s hand on Elijah empowered him to run faster than the king who was riding on the fastest chariot (1Kgs.18:46).

Third, we must get more committed. Satan wants to get us offended at God, but we cannot get angry with God for a delay caused by the devil! We can provoke divine acceleration by deciding to obey divine instructions and live by biblical principles: giving, tithing, paying vows, praying, serving, and fellowshipping more, instead of being discouraged.

We may need to be ministered to, for evil covenants and curses to be broken, and our deliverance enforced.

We must pray, fast, and trust God for divine acceleration, speedy performance of His Word, and activation of angelic assistance to clear demonic obstacles (Psa.31:1-2; Isa.60:22; Jer.1:12). God who did a miracle of divine acceleration, to reverse delay in the lives of Abraham and Sarah despite their idolatry background, will do likewise in our lives, in the Name of Jesus!