The war we fight is not of this world. It is a war against the "principalities, ...powers, ...rulers of the darkness of this world, ...spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places." (v. 12)
As the angel Gabriel told Daniel, "God has heard your prayers... I have come in answer to your prayers. The [evil] angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me..." (Daniel 10:12-13)
As Daniel fasted and prayed for forgiveness for himself and Israel, Gabriel was at war with, what was most likely, an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia. The resistance was so great that Gabriel had to call on the powerful archangel Michael for help. This is the same archangel Michael that, in the New Testament, leads God's armies against Satan's forces in the Book of Revelation, where during the war in heaven he defeats Satan.
There is an invisible, on-going war between good and evil. Countless numbers of angels fight for God's honor and glory. When we petition God with our prayers, He orders His angels into battle, just as we read in the Book of Daniel, Gabriel said: "God has heard your prayers... I [Gabriel] have come in answer to your prayers." The fight is "not against flesh and blood [but] against wickedness in high places."
To be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, we must "Put on..." and "take up... the whole armor of God." (v. 11, 13). We must put on truth [knowing the content of God's truth], righteousness [take sin seriously], and peace [be at peace with God and confident of His love for us] and take up faith [faith in God as One who never fails us], salvation [in the coming glorification], and the Holy Spirit (Word of God) [the rhema - uttered, spoken, and used Word of God].
During His three temptations in the desert, Jesus resisted Satan with the rhema--spoken Word of God. Three times He rebuked Satan by saying, "It is written..." We must do the same when temptation comes.
"All men naturally hunger and thirst after happiness." (J.C. Ryle)
During this series, we will explore many practical and Biblical applications that will pull back the curtain on happiness. It is a hot topic that has been aggressively researched and written about during the last 10 years. Interestingly, the science of happiness was well documented in the Bible long before secular psychologists began to "discover" the wonderful results of positive psychology.
In our introduction to Happiness, we looked at the 5 Laws of Happiness and the 4 Relational Habits of Happiness. I pointed out that happiness is found by being, not by doing, and happiness starts with relationships.
This series promises to be very satisfying and encouraging! Next week I will show you how, in only 2 minutes per day for 21 days, you can "rewire" your brain (and your children) for happiness.
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