“Hey man! What’s going on?” I said to my friend as we walked into the church sanctuary.
“Not too much. Did you know this place is haunted?” He asked as we began checking out the surroundings.
Our makeshift beds were set up just below the stage at Unity Church. As we began praying I immediately had a demonic attack. I can’t really describe it. I saw two bright lights trying to attack me as we were both overcome with fear and panic. I tried to pray in tongues but it was as if the gift had disappeared from my lips (Usually when I pray in tongues during demonic attacks it helps clear my mind and gives me peace. Furthermore I’ve never come across a demon who liked it. Every demon I encounter usually begins filling my mind words saying, “Shut up! Stop it!”) So instead I began to pray in my head for the Lord’s protection. I was frightened so badly I ran out of the church and as I came to the bottom of the hill I had a revelation. I saw scattered words in my mind but somehow I knew what was happening was the result of a Wiccan curse over the church and the ministry at Unity.
I woke up frightened for my life as the dream came to an end. I had severe chills as the silence of the 4:00am morning had me paralyzed in my bed. I could think of nothing else but darkness and despair as I sought the Lord for protection. As I lay in my bed scared for my life, I began asking Jesus to shine light on the darkness. I repeated this prayer several times when it slowly began shining through.
The light came in through visions of my ministry at the church. Some of these visions were of the people I had helped as I saw their faces with gladness and freedom. Some of the visions came through friends I had met at the church. I don’t find it to be a coincidence that one of the tweets from @TozerAW today was, “When God brings all things to light, you will discover just how significant you’ve been in God’s plan.” The light shone through my mind and I was able to move and escape the fear. Quickly I remembered the passage in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear…” I also remembered Dr. Davis on the sea of Galilee say of Jesus, “I am aware of the storm before it occurs, and I am greater than the storm when it occurs…I am Lord of the storm.”
Some have said all dreams come from God. I’m not sure that I agree with that statement. However, I’m not looking to explore that in this post. I don’t have an “interpretation” for this dream. I don’t know if there actually is a curse over the church, though I will be praying and searching to find out. What I do want to share is how God uses nightmares; at least for me and maybe for you.
I am weak. There is no denying that. My faith has yet to be made perfect. But in my weakness God’s power is made perfect. To quote one of my favorite bands, Eloi Eloi, “I fail You time after time, in my darkness You shine!” Nightmares cause a deeper sense of reliance on Jesus. When the demonic spiritual world begins closing in on me, to whom shall I turn? Shall I turn to myself? Shall I turn to a weapon? The only weapon capable of battling the demonic is Jesus, the Word of God. Nothing can overcome darkness but Light. Why? “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
My question for me and for you is this: In what ways do we need to develop our faith so when the darkness closes in we respond with boldness and tenacity as children of the most High God? Whom shall we fear? (Psalm 27:1)
