Category Archives: Dreams and Spiritual Warfare

“Suffering, a Privilege?” Or: “It’s War!”

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Andrea Graham| Comments Off

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Phil 1:29-30)

The Apostle Paul tells the Philippians here that grace has not given them the privilege of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also to experience pain, punishment, and distress–for his sake. The privilege is to be engaged in the cosmic war, doing our divinely assigned part to advance the gospel. The more suffering we endure in our calling, as a direct result of obeying clear  instructions from the Lord, the greater of a position in the war effort we have.

Now, the riveter building warplanes has as vital a role as the soldier on the front lines, and the riveter may suffer sore muscles for his or her task to stop the forces of evil, but the soldier on the front lines has the greater glory for he (or she nowadays) bears the greatest risk.  The higher the price we pay in a godly war effort, in theory, the greater the glory.

Christianity today has become wishy-washy in some circles, all about the promises of comfort and peace and joy and forgiveness, prosperity and healing. Turning the other cheek, agreeing quickly with your adversary, avoiding conflict and being a peace-maker who is slow to judgment and quick to listen and respectful and loving to all.

That’s taking a cookie cutter to the Bible.  Our war is not against flesh and blood, but we are in a war, brothers and sisters.

Now, we should follow the rules of engagement, and the human lives around us are the territories being fought over, not the enemy, and we must stay alert. To the enemy, we are either combatants to neutralize or eliminate from the arena of war, or we are ourselves territory to seek to retake and oppress.

In this world, no suffering means we’ve either been neutralized by the enemy via deception like the cookie cutter approach to scripture, we’ve been taken captive by the enemy to do his will and haven’t manifested the bitter fruits of oppression yet,  or we’ve been given leave between battles so we can refresh and refill in preparation for a battle as great as the amount of rest we’ve been given.

Suffering means we are either hot or cold, actively doing what the Lord has called us to and facing the opposition, or a POW taken captive. It is vital we discern the source of our present suffering or its absence.

Lord, give me wisdom to discern the season I am in and ears that hear your call. Grant me a courageous heart willing to fight the good fight according to your principles, when and where you call me. Grant me eyes that see clearly who our enemy is and that perceive as you do the lives around me that are being fought over, used against what you have sent me to do, and who are fighting beside me or in other arenas of the cosmic war. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Posted in Bible and Theology, Dreams and Spiritual Warfare, Prayer and Devotions, Suffering

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Waiter, there’s a demon in my soup

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Andrea Graham| Comments Off

My friend is really caught up in spiritual warfare, attributing every bad thing that happens to the devil. I’m concerned she’s fallen into ungodly superstition, while she accuses me of ungodly disbelief ! Who’s right?

Needing an arbitrator,

Ima Googler*

Dear Ima,

I tend to side with C S Lewis, there are two errors people fall into, thinking the devil doesn’t exist (or has no power and isn’t out to get us), and attributing to him more power than he actually has (being overly scared of and focused on) and tend to think C S Lewis was right that the enemy himself has no preference which error we slip into.

That said, when times are hard, it can be more beneficial to look for God in the situation than to focus on the enemy’s movements. But do be cautious about sneering at demonic warfare. The devil may not be as powerful as many of us give him credit, but he does hate you and he is out to get you. We are most blessed to have one powerful God on our side, though. If he is for us, who can stand against us?

So many debate whether some bad thing that happened is the result of spiritual or physical causes. That’s usually a false dichotomy.

There is a law of sowing and reaping. Diabetes, for instance, isn’t caused by the demon of diabetes, it’s caused by genetics and an unhealthy lifestyle (eating the wrong foods and not getting enough exercise). The devil, however, does tempt us to eat too much and exercise too little so we’ll become obese and out of shape and hence less effective for Christ’s kingdom. The devil will attempt to exploit every spiritual and, yes, physical weakness we have to advance his agenda. So the relationship between the spirit and the physical is complex and rather codependent. The question, “is this a physical problem or a spiritual problem?” often is like asking, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

Incidentally, I am not fond of spiritual warfare novels that portray there as being any real contest in order to make it interesting.

In Christ’s Love,

Andrea Graham

http://www.povbootcamp.com

*Ima’s columns are based loosely on conversations with various people I know, or issues I happen to know people are asking Google for help with.

Posted in Dreams and Spiritual Warfare

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Terror by night

Posted on November 17, 2008 by Andrea Graham| 2 Comments

I’ve been attacked in my dreams for the last two nights. I wake up but can’t move, I see the room and there are dark shadowy figures moving around me. There are flashes of lights swirling around the room. Last night I kept  feeling a hand on my shoulder and I realized it was not my husbands, the first thought that jumped in my head was that it was my father’s. He had a very strange suicide almost two years ago which has effected me in ways unimaginable. But  I’ve grown and felt like I was letting it go. I recently sent off a package to the Department of Homeland Security to work with ICE and had asked God to bless the package and job opportunity. That was Sat morning and these dreams started right after. I woke up this morning fearful of everything. My children, my mother, my husband. The last thing I need to do right now is lose my mind. What does it mean? and what can I do?

–Julie

I believe doctors call this sleep paralysis. When we dream, we’re supposed to be paralyzed (when we’re not we call this sleep walking). According to webmd, when you’re still conscious as you enter REM, or regain consciousness before it ends, “hallucinations” and terror are the frequent result. I put that in quotes because physical explanations don’t eliminate the spiritual. It’s altogether possible the state opens a door into the spiritual realm. Given your situation, it could be due to stress, the enemy, or both.

Either way, scripture is the best medicine. Reciting scriptures has gotten me through night attacks. For when you’re falling asleep, “I will lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only make me dwell in safety” (Psalms 4:8) Otherwise, assuming you know the Lord, inform the enemy, “greater is He who is in me than He who is in the World.” Psalm 91 is also a balm to the soul in such times.

Was the hand comforting and protective, or malevolent? It could have been the Comforter (in other words, your Heavenly Father) if you didn’t sense malevolence in the touch. One can encounter the Lord in such states as well as the enemy of our souls.

Of course, if the devil is fighting you, that usually means you’re on the right track–but sometimes we fight ourselves, too, so keep alert.

In Christ’s Peace,

Andrea Graham

::Laser & Sword Magazine:: Reviving episodic fiction with a new generation of pulp heroes with the super-powered heroes of the Order of the Sword series and the supernatural and the action heroes of the Rise of the Judge series, featuring the origins of Adam Graham favorite A. L. Snyder

Posted in Dreams and Spiritual Warfare

Sword Under Pillow Only Helpful if Used

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Andrea Graham| Comments Off

Dear Andrea,
I lost my sweet momma this last December. Since then I have had dreams of momma decomposing and her looking at me from her coffin and walking around with bluish skin because she is dead. Then twice a evil being I believe to be Satan is always after me in the end of the dreams. I sleep with my bible under my pillow, but still have nightmares. Please please help. I am so tormented over this. I can’t even function the next day.

God bless you,

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

The bible is a sword, not a dreamcatcher. Placing a sword under your pillow is only useful as far as it places it in easy reach. To get any benefit, you have to open it up and read it. The words of the bible, that is what brings peace and victory.

The scripture that helped me get victory over my own nightmares was Ps 4:8 “I will lay me down in peace and sleep, for you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety.” I’d recommend memorizing it; posting it on my wall helped to that end, for me. Posted on the wall is also easier to get to in the meantime than having to look it up when you’re scared silly. If you like to do embroidery, you can sew it as well.

If your fear is of your own death, another good one is, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

Assuming your mother is a Christian, when the devil is taunting you about her death, remind him of God’s promise of everlasting life. Your mother is not dead, not if she is a Christian. She’s alive in Heaven with our resurrected Lord. John 3:16 will be your easiest retort there, you probably already have it memorized. John 3:15 is more to the point, but says much the same, “whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Also from when Lazarus was raised: “[Jesus said]I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me shall never die.”

All else fails, plead the blood of the lamb. Inform the devil you’re bought and paid for by the Blood of the Lamb and he has no right over you. Say it like you mean it. Remind him you’ve been granted in Christ’s name authority over all the forces of the evil one. Then command him to leave in Jesus’ name. I have found this works while you are dreaming (if you can remember to). Just about every time I stop running from the monster or whatever in such a nightmare and rebuke the devil, the dream abruptly ends–I also often wake up briefly-sometimes while the words were still on my lips (I have found these shouts mid-dream are occasionally spoken out-loud)

Lastly, I will pray with you: Lord, we come before you today on the behalf of Sarah, asking for sweet peace as she sleeps. Comfort her spirit in the loss of her mother and may she find rest for her soul in you. We ask that the enemy be bound from tormenting her and any authority the devil has been granted over her life be broken. We plead the blood over her and command the devil to torment your child no more. In the name of Jesus we pray all these things, Amen.

In Christ’s Victory,

Andrea Graham

::Laser & Sword Magazine:: Reviving episodic fiction
Featuring: The Order of the Sword and the Rise of the Judge action hero serials

Posted in Dreams and Spiritual Warfare

The Cat devil Came Back . . .

Posted on April 25, 2008 by Andrea Graham| Comments Off

Dear Andrea,

I was physically attacked by a demon at an early age and after being born again no longer had any fear at night… lately I’ve been attacked in my dreams. In my last dream, I was tattooed on my neck and physically held down in my dream by a spirit. The numbers 6, 2, 10 with symbols as well as a demonic face with horns and other tattoos were on my chest. I woke up very fearful and prayed the next night. Why do you think this is happening again?

I know in the dream my mother was there and I asked her what it meant and she said it was a message to her… my mother is a heroine addict and she has a disease that is making her lungs inoperable. I’m scared for her, but in my dream she didn’t seem worried about it and i was terrified in my dream.

–Mariah*

*not her real name

Dear Mariah,

Off the top of my head, I believe the symbol meanings are 6–image 2–division (or witness) 10–perfect, complete. Horns represent strength, power. You may associate tattoos with rebellion. There’s a general connection with oppression, too. Nazi concentration camps tattooed numbers onto their victims’ bodies, for instance.

Has anything significant happened in your waking life, good or ill? Demonic attacks are often “provoked,” in response either to a breach in our armor (i.e. sin of some kind has given them a stronghold) or because we’ve attacked them in some way, i.e., done something good for the Kingdom or otherwise overcome. In dealing with them successfully, the first step is to identify whether either is the case.

One is in a much better position when it’s the second rather than the first. In the second, stand firm and rebuke them–reminding them of who you are in Christ, invoking the blood, etc–and the bible promise that they flee is almost certain to be experienced. In the first case, one has to close the breech–i.e. repent of whatever gave the demon a foothold–before the attack can be overcome. And they will usually try again thereafter, but once that is done, it kicks us into the second category.

It’s confusing to me . . how was your mother involved? At first you spoke of an attack on you. Is it possible your mother represented an aspect of yourself or your own life? Afraid of generational curses?

Then again, it could be just a demon of fear on the prowl. I’m prone to fear-based dreams myself. There is often a lie at the root of fear; the best comeback is to respond with the truth–even if you don’t particularly feel it at the moment (that is the hard part). Identify the root lie and search the word for what God says is true. Every time the fear arises, respond with what the Word says. That’s the best method I know of to overcome that stronghold.

I’ve found posting scripture near my bed helps considerably with night attacks, in general. One I’ve used is Ps 4:8, “I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for You, Lord, only make me dwell in safety.”

In Christ’s Victory,

Andrea Graham

Posted in Dreams and Spiritual Warfare

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Andrea Graham| 2 Comments

To any brothers and sisters struggling against a spirit of Fear and other demonic manifestations. 

Gentle Reader,

The devil wants you to  have one of two responses to the presence of his forces: deny/ignore their existence or stark terror. Whatever you do, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

I know that’s easier said than done–I’ve had a few more encounters than I care to remember and even had a spirit of fear driven out. No matter how big, ugly, or mean the manifestation looks, the One who lives within you is still greater, as the Word says.

Resist the devil and he will flee, the bible promises it and it’s been my experience. He’s attacked me in my sleep, in dreams, and every time I recall, I recognized the monster for what it was, rebuked the devil, and he left (with the more stubborn ones, you have to do it two or four times, but they’ll still leave if you hold your ground.)

In the day light (IE, awake), he’s much more crafty, that’s when I struggle, that old fear spirit knows me and keeps coming back, it gets really tiresome.

Evidently he also doesn’t like the scripture I’ve posted over my bed, the bad dreams and panic attacks I was having trouble with before I posted it have all but vanished. I’ve only had a couple of the fear-attacks at night since. Just recited the verse I’d posted, Ps 4:8, until the fear went away.

Likewise, witchcraft is demonic, but you don’t have to be afraid of any spell anyone can cast on you. In Christ, we’re blessed beyond any curse, faith in God is a shield their darts cannot penetrate. They only have as much power over us as we let them have.

Not to say none of what we normally associate with the devil can be done from a godly context. The devil can’t create anything, all he can do is counterfeit what he sees the Lord doing. There are spiritual gifts that correspond to a lot of the evil phenomena in the world. For instance, Word of Knowledge can be supernatural knowledge, like Peter knowing Ananias and Sapphira had lied to him, and sometimes God works his miraculous power through people. The main difference is the most important–the Christian’s source of information and power is trustworthy and incorruptible.

In short, the best way to discourage demonic manifestations is to not be afraid of them. If they don’t scare you, that takes away the devil’s purpose in doing it. It’s actually much easier to fight him when he shows up in all his nastiness than when he comes subtly, whispering in our own voice and speaking to our deepest fears and desires.

In Christ’s Spirit of Love, of Power, and of a Sound Mind,

Andrea Graham

Posted in Dreams and Spiritual Warfare

Mind Wars: Overcoming Shame and Thought-Attacks

Posted on November 5, 2007 by Andrea Graham| Comments Off

The letter you wanted to write, but didn’t:

Dear Andrea,

I’ve been saved/come back to the Lord, and turned away from a sinful past. I know He forgives me, so why do I still feel so ashamed? I’m trying to live right, and He’s helping me to. Why do I still have evil thoughts? Why do I feel condemned and like he will reject me?

Dear heart,

At times like this, it helps to understand the modus operandi of the enemy we’re up against. Where we’ve shown ourselves weak in the past, Satan will hit us again–and again. He’ll seem to have given up for a while, only for something to come flying at us and–wham–emotionally, we’re taken right back to the mire we left behind. It’s definitely emotionally disturbing even when we don’t actually stumble again.

The devil loves to grab us by the ears, turn us around, and rub our noses in the dung of our past sins and failures. Part of why is many of us let this sense of shame interfere with serving the Lord today.

When we resist, he will flee, I promise. Arm yourself with the scripture (ideally, by memorizing them so you can fire back these when the enemy comes roaring about):

Ps 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.
Heb 13:5 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Heb 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Mt 28:20b “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Phil 1:6 He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; [a reference to the Second Coming]
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

I’d recommend you read/study the whole chapter of Romans 8 until you’ve internalized what it says and can fire these truths back at the accuser on the spot. If you’re ever in a spot and can’t remember, go get your bible and open it up to this chapter, maybe leave it bookmarked. Also, you can write these out on note cards or print them up, and carry them with you, so you can take them out and read them (preferably out loud) when the enemy attacks. That way even the paralysis of fear can’t block the truth.

Lastly, force yourself past the condemnation and shame the devil’s heaping on you to prevent this, and talk to someone you can trust about these struggles. Accountability is an important tool to staying on the narrow road.

Does this person need to know all the details of every battle you fight? Probably not, but when you’re struggling, having someone you can talk to can mean the difference between life and death.

I realize this can be hard with the shame being flung at us along with the wicked thoughts the devil loves to plant. How do you know where the thought’s coming from? Is your gut reaction to it any where in the neighborhood of disgust, shock, or loathing? Then it’s likely the devil, and there’s no need to be ashamed of that thought. Rebuke him and move on.

If you’re attacked like I’ve described, do tell someone it’s happening–so they can pray for you. But it may not be necessary to share in detail; that can even be counter productive. The last thing you should do is what the devil wants: to take ownership over the evil seed he planted. Take every thought captive and examine it by the Word. If it’s not of God, rebuke the thought with the truth (whether you’re feeling it at the moment or not.)

Also, there’s no shame in fleeing temptation if you really just can’t handle a situation.

Along with rejecting/disowning the sinful thought, it helps to purposely turn our thoughts to what is good and right: turn on praise and worship and sing along (though many of the old hymns are better for this purpose). Pull out your bible and read, or maybe some other spiritually uplifting publication that stirs you to remember the truth. Think about the cross and all the blessings God had given you. You could post a picture of the crucifixion, or carry one with you, and look upon Him in the most literal sense when satan comes a calling with his lies, too.

And most of all, when the accuser comes throwing the past in your face, just say, “it’s under the blood.” Jesus has cleansed the filth of the past away. It’s gone. The devil can come slinging old mud, but it doesn’t change finished work of Christ. You don’t have to worry about past sin anymore. By his grace, it’s been removed far from you, as far as the east is from the west. Do like Paul in Philipians 3:13-14: forget those things which are behind and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ’s Victory,
Andrea Graham

Posted in Dreams and Spiritual Warfare, Sin and Holiness