June 28, 2026 - I Heard
Scripture Reading — Daniel 10:7–17 (KJV)
7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
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, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, 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.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, 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 thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Sermon Summary
A Vision That Drained His Strength
Evangelist Kinney began where Daniel began — on his knees. For twenty-one days Daniel had mourned and prayed, seeking understanding of a disturbing vision, when a glorious and terrifying figure appeared to him, described in gold and fire that mirrors the vision of Christ in Revelation chapter one. Daniel and Revelation, she reminded us, work hand in hand. The men with him never saw the vision, yet they felt the divine presence so strongly that they fled in terror, much like Paul’s companions on the Damascus road who heard a voice but saw no one. Daniel was left alone and drained of every ounce of his strength.
The Battle You Cannot See
While Daniel was fasting and praying, a spiritual battle was raging on his behalf. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood God’s messenger for twenty-one days, holding back the answer Daniel had been waiting for. Why? Because, the evangelist explained, that worldly power wanted to keep its influence and block the revelation of God — and isn’t that exactly how the enemy still works today? People want to hold on to what they have, and the devil works hard to hinder our prayers. But we are never fighting alone. God dispatched Michael, one of the chief princes, a warrior angel, to come and help. We have a higher power fighting our battles.
I Heard You the First Time
Here is the heart of the message. The angel told Daniel, “Fear not… from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand… thy words were heard.” From the very first day. God heard him the first time, even though the answer took twenty-one more days to arrive. So often we lose heart because we feel God doesn’t hear us, or that He is taking too long, or that maybe He hasn’t answered because we aren’t good enough. But God says in Second Chronicles 7:14 that if His people will humble themselves and pray and seek His face, He will hear from heaven and heal their land. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait a while — but He hears the first time.
Pray, and Don’t Faint
Because the answer can be delayed, we have to persevere anyhow. Jesus said in Luke 18 that men ought always to pray and not to faint. The Lord promised in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things.” Sister Kinney urged the church to call on God when days are going well and not only when trouble comes. Prayer, she said, is the greatest power we have — it equips us for every challenge and bridges the gap between where we are and where God is taking us.
A Test on the Table
Then the evangelist testified to a battle of her own. At a follow-up appointment, after a mammogram, the technicians asked her to stay for an ultrasound. As they kept probing and a doctor was called in, fear rose up in her. So she began to pray right there on the table. She remembered Matthew 7:7 — ask, seek, knock — and Proverbs 3:5, to trust in the Lord with all her heart and lean not to her own understanding. She thought of the woman with the issue of blood who pressed her way through the crowd, and she pressed her own way through everything they were saying, putting her mind on Jesus. She claimed Second Timothy 1:7 — God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind. And then she thought about Daniel, and heard the Lord say, “Audrey, I heard you the first time.” Strength and confidence came rushing back.
Whatever You’re Carrying, God Can Handle It
She turned the question to the congregation: what is holding you back this morning? Is it anxiety, unforgiveness, your children, financial trouble, problems in your marriage? Whatever it is, God can handle it. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, Second Corinthians 10 tells us, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and bringing every thought into captivity. He is Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals, and nothing is too hard for Him. Our real fight is not against flesh and blood — not the brother or sister who wronged us — but against spiritual wickedness in high places, so Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God and stand.
He’s Already Working It Out
So we lay aside every weight and run our race with patience, waiting on the Lord, who renews our strength so we mount up with wings as eagles. Our faith must accompany our request, for he that comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. While we try to figure it out, God has already worked it out. Evangelist Kinney closed by trusting God for grieving and hurting families, for wayward children, for everyone carrying a heavy heart — and by calling the church to stand together, love one another, and hold each other up. We need one another. To God be the glory.
Key Takeaways
• God hears the very first time we pray. A delayed answer is not a denied answer — from the first day Daniel set his heart, his words were heard.
• There is a spiritual battle behind our waiting. The enemy works to hinder our prayers, but God sends help — like Michael — to fight for us.
• Keep praying and do not faint. We are to call on God in the good days and the hard ones, because prayer is the greatest power we have.
• When fear rises, press through it with the Word. Trusting God and remembering His promises turns fear into strength and confidence.
• Whatever you carry, God can handle it. He is Jehovah-Rapha, nothing is too hard for Him, and He is already working it out for you.