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經文：「但以理阿，不要懼怕，因為從你第一日專心求明白將來的事，又在你上帝面前刻苦己心，你的言語巳蒙應允，我是因你的言語而來。但波斯國的魔君，攔阻我二十一日。」（但10:12-13） 上述經文讓我們看見一則關於禱告的特殊狀況，那就是惡者直接的攔阻：但以理非常苦心地禁食禱告了二十一天，卻還沒有得到神的答應。從歷史上我們看見，並非是他因為罪與神隔絕，也並非因為他是妄求，乃是因為惡者特別的攻擊。 神的使者告訴但以理：從他一開始禱告，神就差遣使者去回應他；但是波斯國的魔君中途攔阻並和使者摔跤，以致延長但以理在地上受苦。「我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰，乃是與那些執政的，掌權的…天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。」（弗6:12） 撒但攔阻了神的答應有三星期之久，但以理差不多要悲傷死了（但10:2），這也正是撒但的目的；但是神不會讓祂的兒女背負過於他們所能承受的。 許多基督徒的禱告同樣也是被撒但攔阻，但是我們不用擔心這些禱告和信心的挑戰會愈積愈多；因為不久它們就要像洪水驟然歸來，不但帶著答應，還帶著新的祝福。 最屬靈的信徒，常會受到最嚴厲的試探，但是神必不遺棄他們。--華金生 W. L. Watkinson 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會 |
◇◇◇ Scripture: "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. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days" (Dan. 10:12, 13). We have wonderful teaching here on prayer, and we are shown the direct hindrance from Satan. Daniel had fasted and prayed twenty-one days, and had a very hard time in prayer. As far as we read the narrative, it was not because Daniel was not a good man, nor because his prayer was not right; but it was because of a special attack of Satan. The Lord started a messenger to tell Daniel that his prayer was answered the moment Daniel began to pray; but an evil angel met the good angel and wrestled with him, hindering him. There was a conflict in the heavens; and Daniel seemed to go through an agony on earth the same as that which was going on in the heavens. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers… against wicked spirits in high places" (Eph. 6:12, margin). Satan delayed the answer three full weeks. Daniel nearly succumbed, and Satan would have been glad to kill him; but God will not suffer anything to come above that we "are able to bear." Many a Christian's prayer is hindered by Satan; but you need not fear when your prayers and faith pile up; for after a while they will be like a flood, and will not only sweep the answer through, but will also bring some new accompanying blessing. --Sermon Hell does its worst with the saints. The rarest souls have been tested with high pressures and temperatures, but Heaven will not desert them. --W. L. Watkinson ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman |