Written October 14 in the Portugal airport
This is hard for me to talk about. I haven’t let many people in just because I don’t know what the reactions will be. But after my recent encounter, I’ve decided to share.
Father, I pray for the one who reads this. That they are protected by you, and that nothing will touch them. In Jesus name.
Here it goes.
Background:
I tend to be an evidence based person. Before I became a believer, I was like okay God, if you exist, I need to see it. I bluntly asked to see into the spiritual realm, totally underestimating what I was actually asking for.
Looking back, I’m like what was I thinking?
Well… My prayers got answered. I saw things that maybe everyone doesn’t see.
I saw spiritual warfare. How much?
How do you measure that? But it was enough.
I witnessed spiritual warfare over my paralyzed body.
As I lay in bed at night, I felt darkness around me. So I would pray for Jesus to overcome the darkness.
Then it progressed. I saw demons in my room. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
But they couldn’t get to me. I layed in bed with a dome over my body. The angels were fighting the demons. They were fighting for my body. I could feel the tension inside me.
In Jesus name leave this place.
And the attacks grew stronger. A fight for my soul. They lasted longer.
But the demons could never get in because of the dome and the angels.
Finally I had to say Jesus’ name out loud for them to leave.
In the name of Jesus, leave.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
I had to cling so tightly to God in those moments, constantly praying.
It became almost an every night thing for what I’d consider a season of my life.
Eventually the attacks stopped, but I would have them every now and then.
Spiritual warfare is real, but Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth.
…….
So we are at debrief… We are in month 3 of 11.
We were about to order food when I noticed this guy come and stand near us. He just stood there and looked at the ocean and the sky.
We got our food and payed and I noticed he was no longer there.
To get back to the apartment, I had to walk across a dirt parking lot and a paved road.
I was walking by myself when I noticed the same guy standing in the middle of the parking lot.
As I walked by, I tried to make eye contact and smile.
But my smile was deeply rejected.
I could immediately see through his eyes that there was a demon inside of him.
I can’t explain how I knew. I just knew.
Jesus help.
As if that wasn’t strange enough, he puffed at me like a dragon puffs after blowing smoke.
There was no smile from his mouth, just smoke.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
I felt like I was going to get attacked from behind. I’ve seen things before, but never in a physical person, and definitely not this close to my body.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
I felt a shield of protection, but at the same time I was scared.
My heart was beating so fast.
I’ve never seen anything like that before.
This guy was possessed by a demon.
I got back, and Soloman and Gina Marie prayed for me. While I felt a peace, it still kept running through my mind. He rejected my smile.
There’s light in my smile.
…….
It’s a new day. Almost time to leave debrief. You know what that means? Snacks for travel days!
So I started to walk and get snacks by myself.
As I was walking I saw the guy again. He was standing on the side of the road facing outward.
I came to pass and walk by him on the other side of the road and he turned and stared at me while I walked passed him.
It was intense.
How did he know I was walking by?
It’s like he smelled me.
Jesus.
I tried to continue walking, but my heart was racing so fast. It wasn’t fear, but a very strong force or tension.
I didn’t really know what to do.
I turned around and started walking back.
I had to pass him again. I didn’t make eye contact and I walked as far away as I could on the other side of the small road.
I met up with AJ, Jenn, and Tamara who were walking on the road.
They could tell by the way I approached them that something was wrong.
I told them the guy had a demon inside.
Jenn grabbed me as I almost fainted. My head felt so light headed. My chest was heavy. My heart was beating fast. My whole body was tingling. I was almost hyperventilating. I felt like my head could drop at any moment and I’d pass out.
AJ walked over to the guy and put his hand on his shoulder.
I think he said Jesus or in Jesus name get out.
The man put his hand to his own head and pretended to shoot himself in the temple.
While this was going on, groanings we’re coming out of me, and the side of my face and ears were on fire. They burned intensely.
AJ walked back to us, and the guy started to walk towards our apartment.
Turns out he didn’t go there, but wow. That was an experience.
Soloman just happened to be outside so I was able to talk to him and calm down.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
Then I heard something no one has told me before…
Maybe what you have been able to see is just the beginning of a gift God has given you.
What gift? Okay. This is a little weird. Time to go to scripture.
1 Corinthians 12. Spiritual gifts.
Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else THE ABILITY TO DISCERN WHETHER A MESSAGE IS FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD OR FROM ANOTHER SPIRIT. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
Another version says, “ability to distinguish between spirits”.
I’m still working through what all of this means. I don’t know how God will use me in the future, but I know that if this is a gift, it is not something to take lightly.
Carla encouraged me and reminded me that by myself the demons are much more powerful than me. But I’m not alone. I walk in and with Jesus who has all authority over Satan and the demons.
Scriptures I’ve been reading:
Mark 1:21-28 and Mark 5:1-13
The book of Daniel
Something else that has been on my mind: the great commission.
I’ve always heard Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
[Jesus has been given ALL AUTHORITY and He is with us to the end]
But what about the great commission in Mark? Mark 16:15-20
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
October 17, 2018.
I had a dream.
I don’t know if it was the same guy from debrief, but it had the same intense look in the eyes; like I knew it. I saw it, turned away, but then turned back. Go away. Get out. In Jesus’ name. You don’t belong here. You have no place here. In Jesus’ name. Leave in Jesus’ name. It was almost like I was chasing it. It ran away. Then it came back. Repeat. It ran away again. This time SHE came back, running in, excited to talk to us, sipping tea. The look in her eyes was not demonic. It was normal, friendly, and inviting. She looked refreshed. She looked loving and so happy to be my friend.
I don’t know what any of this means.
Scriptures and encouraging words are comforting to me.
