Series: Resilience
Message: Safety
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 22:19-26.

Read: Daniel 10-12 - Read the Message paraphrase, and note 1-3 insights/questions that arise.

Reflect: As you read the book of Daniel, you are in awe of his constant prayer life, even when he knew it could mean death for him, he still kept on praying. Unique to Daniel is a glimpse of the reality that surrounds our daily walk and prayer life. The curtains are pulled back, like in no other story, and the great controversy, and the 12th dimension is introduced to us. I only suggest 12th, as that is the best known term for something beyond anything we could imagine. It is the supernatural dimension of the universe. Satan or one of the fallen angels, is influencing the prince of the Kingdom of Persia, Cyrus. This reality was developed with 2 Peter 2:4, 1 Corinthians 10:20, Ephesians 6:12 and Jesus who identified Satan as the prince or ruler of this present world, John 12:31; 14:30 and 16:11. It is probable that Satan wanted Cyrus to rescind his ruling and stop the temple reconstruction. His battle is directly with the messenger Gabriel. Gabriel, explains that he would have come earlier if it was not for this struggle until Michael intervenes and creates the freedom. Michael in Hebrew is Mika’el, which means “who [is] like God?”, is none other than Jesus himself. Jude 9 calls him the archangel 1 Thessalonians 4:16, shows the voice of the archangel raises the dead. Jesus shared in John 5:28, that he will will raise the dead. Michael is also linked to Daniel 7:13, Daniel 9:25,26, Revelation 12:7-9 and Daniel 12:1. All of this of course brings to our daily walk, that what happens here on earth is deeply connected to what happens in heaven. What happens in heaven is deeply connected to what happens on earth. We are not alone. The angels of God play a significant role in our lives Psalm 34:6,7, and we have need to know that we are safe in the hands of God.        

Recalibrate:

1. When was the last time you prayed and the answer was not immediate, yet the timing was perfect?
2. In a time when things seem deeply uncertain, how does this glimpse into the 12th dimension grow you resilience?

Respond: Pray for strength.

Research:  Re-read Ephesians 6 and explore how to grow your prayer life.