This is a dream that I had in 2010. It has come to mind nearly every day over the last month. I sense that it is very relevant for this hour. The Church has been engaged in a strategic prayer initiative for over a decade now and I am aware that some have grown weary and wonder if it is worth it to keep praying when the darkness around us appears to be growing. The dream is encouragement from God that, although we may be frightened by what we see around us as we come under fire, we are not to lose heart. Now more than ever we need to believe that we are winning this war and that our prayer and intercession matters. Our enemies want us to believe that we are wasting our time or that they are prevailing against us. It is just not true. I remember in the dream that the demons on the other side of the lake were very broken and injured; we had inflicted great pain on them. They were black creatures but they wore white bandages. There was actually more white than black because they had been beaten so badly. The leader had a makeshift crutch he leaned on and his head had a bandage around it. He was very tired looking. Here is the dream:
The Battle Field
I was on a battle field with other soldiers. We came under heavy attack from missiles. There were explosions all around and it was frightening. There was a mound in front of me so I took cover behind it. I found myself sitting on cannon and firing missiles into a bank of smoke. I could not see where they were going. I looked to my left because I heard this awesome sound. I saw other soldiers from our side returning fire.
The cannon type of weapons we fired were large and made a sound that could only be described as majestic and powerful. The sound of the weapons gave me great hope. Some of the soldiers started to retreat, I did not understand why. Eventually everyone was retreating including the soldiers firing the weapons. I also joined in the retreat.
We retreated far enough to be out of the range of the incoming missiles. I was a little surprised that the enemy did not move closer but they did not. When the smoke cleared I could see why, there was a lake between us. The enemy troops all started to laugh at us. One of them began to holler across the lake, “Why did you guys run? You were wining.” I felt terrible and I could tell the rest of the troops felt ashamed for retreating. It was clear that we could have gone around the lake and attacked them from behind, but the commander of the army would not allow it. I really felt that we had missed our opportunity.
I believe the dream is and was an encouragement that we are having a bigger impact on the realm of darkness than we can see. Our adversaries are taking a beating from the praying Church. The battle has increased recently but that is because we are having such a great impact on the enemy. Now more than ever is the time for us to organized and strategic in our prayer.
It is also a warning to us. I believe that we are to stay in direct confrontation. In other words there is not an easy way out of the battle. As much as we long for the time of peace it is not yet. I got the feeling that if we had stayed engaged the Lord would have given us strategies to attack from behind( offensive covert strategies derived from wisdom) He would have put us on the offensive instead of always defending ourselves. I believe the hour is here that we are seeing offensive weapons and strategies being revealed such as the 1Church1Day App that we are using to not only defend ourselves but to quickly spread intel that we are receiving from the Commander of the Army.
Decree: We are not afraid or discouraged in the midst of the battle. We are confident that the Lord is on our side and He is leading the charge. Our mission is to pray and obey and not give evidence to our adversaries that we are wavering in our faith.
Philippians 1:27-28
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
Decree: We believe that we are inflicting great pain on our enemies. They are doubling down on their efforts but that is only because they see us beginning to wake up to the power we possess when we work together.
Psalm 133:1-3
A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Decree: Our adversaries are falling by the power of the sword and the Angel of the Lord is going before us.
2 Kings 19:32-36
"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,' Says the LORD. 'For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake.' "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.
This the month of March and I hear the Lord saying this is the month to March in ranks and lock our shields together in faith. To march forward into the battle as the attacking force. This is not the time to shrink back or to be on the defensive.