What wakes you up in the middle of the night? What leaves you so terrified you just want to tremble and wake up the person next to you? Well, the first night staying at the House of Timothy, our home while here in Malaysia, I had an awful dream about all these ghosts/spirits in the house and dreamt I was growling as I woke up. When I awoke, I just felt such a presence of evil and wanted so badly to shake Amy or Samantha and ask them to pray with me. I wanted to cry because I was quite scared. I started praying because that is all I knew how to do.
The next night, Pastor Francis, a man staying in the house with us, had an awful dream too where he went out in front of the house and saw a tall figure in the red cloak with horns walking down the street. When he woke up, all the dogs on the whole street were barking and continued to do so for some time. Taylor, who was also sleeping downstairs near the pastor, had several dreams as well, one including enormous spiders trying to get into the house. (Later, we found that Janet, our contact, had this very same dream before we came.) Taylor too awoke to the dog-barking insanity.
On the following night, Amy, Taylor, Samantha, and Christina all woke up at about 2:30 am to a strange growling. Amy said it sounded like it was coming from the middle of our room, where I was. According to her, she said it sounded similar to the growl of the Beast on the Disney movie, "Beauty and the Beast." Taylor, who was downstairs, said it sounded just as clear down there as if it were coming from the bottom level. They said it continued for like a half hour, and Taylor said he has never been more scared in his life. His dreams before waking up were also very scary, with shadowy hands and war type plots.
And then, last night, I just couldn't sleep for fear that I would have some awful dream or wake up to the ominous growling others had heard that previous night.
We all wondered why we were having such frightening dreams and hearing such creepy sounds, and Janet told us that the Chinese Taoists were celebrating the Sea King at this time. The celebration had started two days before we came and had culminated the night the growling was heard. Where we are staying, there is a lot of worship of different gods other than the one, true God, and that is evident in all these little temples set up (about the size of little dog houses). Janet said, at this time, when this particular false god is being celebrated, there is whole lot of spiritual warfare going on. And, being the only Christian home on the street, a home where the Spirit of truth lives, it is easy to see why our sleeping quarters would be of key focus to Satan and his forces.
We are in a battle, folks. AND, in a battle we can stand firm or we can retreat. This battle is NOT against men. It is a battle of the spiritual nature. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) My initial reaction is to get super scared and frozen when I feel surrounded by evil. I don't retreat from the truth, but my fear sometimes paralyzes me. I know Satan's minions cannot harm me, but the fear itself is nearly just as debilitating. I need to remember Paul's declaration, however, that "neither angels nor demons . . .nor any powers . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God." (Romans 8:38-39) I need to remember to "take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5b) I need to focus on "whatever is pure, whatever is lovely," not on what is evil. I need to "fix" my "eyes on Jesus" and call out to him when I do feel attacked. I know that evil is there, but I need to remember who is in control. Satan wants to break me and break all who follow Jesus, and he can do that by taking my thoughts captive to him and making me afraid. But, JESUS IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN SATAN WILL EVER BE!!! "Our God is greater, our God is stronger."
How then do we stand firm when being attacked? Well, just as in a physical war, we NEED to put on armor, to put on something that will protect us and help us fight. In this case, it needs to be the armor God gave to us, "the armor of light" (Romans 13:12), for "the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world." (2 Corinthians 10:4a)
"Finally, BE STRONG IN THE LORD and in his mighty power. PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD so that you can TAKE YOUR STAND against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spirtitual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you be be able to STAND YOUR GROUND, and after you have done everything, TO STAND. STAND FIRM then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, and with your FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, which which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God. And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. And with this in mind, be alert and always praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:10-18)
(Prayer may not be listed as an actual piece of armor, BUT, if Paul brings it up in the start and finish of every letter, if Jesus himself speaks a lot on the topic, and if it is included following the armor of God, it MUST be powerful and therefore important.)
If we are told EXACTLY what armor will protect us and help us fight, shouldn't we REALLY take heed to put it on? I wouldn't go to an actual physical battle without a gun and protective covering, so why should I enter this spiritual battle unprotected and unprepared?
ALL the armor is important to combat the attacks of the enemy, but do you notice how only one piece of the armor will help us take the offense and actually fight in this battle? Most of the armor gives us protection, but the ONLY part of the armor that we can fight with is our sword. Without a sword, how can we gain ground? How did Jesus go on the offense with Satan? With Scripture. Without the Bible, Satan can easily trick us, but with the Bible, we can fight with God's truth. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Remember, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16). When you are attacked, fight back with the word. Fight back with verses that speak of Jesus's power and Jesus's truth. Get to know the word. Read from it. Memorize it. You have to work hard and dig in deep if you want to reap the benefits. Don't just sit back and expect this fight to be easy. There is a war to be fought!!!
I would ask that you pray for my group as we find ourselves in the middle of this battle. Pray that we "fight the good fight of the faith." And don't forget, you are in the same battle, so I will keep you in my prayers as well. Don't deny the spiritual. Don't deny what you can't always see with your eyes. Don't be afraid, but BE PREPARED. "STAND FIRM" and "LET NOTHING MOVE YOU."
Keep shining for Jesus, my friends!!!
