—Have you ever experienced a dream so vivid, so real, that it must have had a deeper spiritual meaning and application? Have you ever been lost in prayer while visions pass through your mind, illuminating what the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart? Have you heard the call of Jesus through the utterance of a good word, which is then confirmed by the Voice of Truth? Have you ever stepped onto a path, either literally or figuratively, and the Spirit of Truth prevents you from stepping out further? Have you entered a room, either a literal or figurative room, sensing the spirit of darkness, and so you withdraw from that place to pray? Have you ever entered a place, either a literal or figurative place, sensing the authority of the Holy Spirit, and are compelled to stay? This is the spiritual insight God gives each one who is born again and walks by the Spirit. That which was unseen is now seen by the eyes of the Spirit in you. The more I see Jesus, who is the Word of Truth, I am convinced all are given eyes to see when we walk by the Holy Spirit.
As I consider the resurrection power our Abba gives each one through the Holy Spirit, I am reminded that we are empowered to courageously preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of Truth within us, to resist the devil and his evil schemes, to love one another and obey His Word and we are given every tool necessary for the advancement of the Gospel. I am also reminded that He empowers us to have spiritual ears to hear the mystery of God and spiritual eyes to see all that He sets before us.
I know this also to be true: His resurrection power is limitless to do His good and pleasing work among every nation, tribe, people and language, and yet we are but imperfect beings in our current state. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Church of Corinth: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 COR. 13:12 NIV)
I was recently tormented by the enemy, who is the devil, throughout the night. All night long, I wrestled with the tormentor and I could not break away from his restraints. I did not recognize the one with whom I wrestled, as he did not show his face to me. At first, I thought he was a friend. He presented himself as beautiful and lovely to behold. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, warning me that this tormentor was no friend of mine. When I woke from the torment, like a dream, I asked the LORD to help me resist the tormentor so I could find rest in the shadow of His wing.
When I again let my guard down, I fell asleep to my tormentor and he began to taunt me once more as the night unfolded. This time, I was made aware of the tormentor who wrestled with my spirit all night long. He held tightly to my spine, arms, legs, hands and feet. At the center of my soul, he tormented me all night long. He covered my eyes with one hand and sealed up my mouth with the other. His claws curled up tightly around my neck. I could not see him, but I knew he was there.
When I recognized the enemy with whom I wrestled, my spirit cried out to God. The LORD crushed the chains that held me down and gave me insight to see him clearly. I could now see the enemy who covered my eyes with one hand and sealed up my mouth with the other. At first, he seemed beautiful and lovely to behold, but as the Holy Spirit opened my eyes, I saw clearly the wretched being with whom I wrestled. His eyes were dark and empty. He had no soul, and a cloak covered the lie upon his forehead. His claws were like shards of glass and his teeth were sharp, like the fangs of a viper. His breath was repulsive and the smell of death and darkness was upon him. Like rotting flesh, it hung from his bones. The enemy released me, shrieking away as he left me. I quickly pulled away. I woke up in the presence of my God.
I share this with you, because the LORD recently gave me insight that I did not see before now. Man was created in the image of God and could see both physical and spiritual reality. When the enemy deceived us and the fall of man came, we were cursed. By the curse, we were limited to seeing only the reality of the flesh, that is, sin and death and the world around us. But God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, sent Jesus into the world. For all who believe in Him and call upon His name in faith for salvation, He is faithful and just to hear our cry, forgive our sins and save us from all unrighteousness.
When we are restored to new life and born of the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ, He is faithful to restore the full sight we once lost at the fall of mankind. He gives us new eyes to see. Just as one cannot see certain colors when he or she is colorblind, so we are “spirit” blind before we come to Jesus, who heals our blindness and restores the fullness of sight. Just as man has created glasses that allow those who are color blind to see color once more, we are given spiritual glasses through the Holy Spirit to see those things that are spiritual among us. Ask the LORD of vision to give you insight and understanding.
I am convinced that the spiritual realm is even more real and spiritually tangible than the world of flesh we see before us now. The earth is God's footstool, and heaven is His throne. Ask the LORD of vision to restore the fullness of your sight and give you insight into the spiritual truth around you. For the time is near, and will come quickly, when we will be taken up to meet him in the clouds, where what once was a reflection, we will soon see face to face in perfection and glory. The things we see now take wisdom and understanding that only come from God, but the things seen then will be completely perfect and without end.
“As it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (2 COR. 2:9-10 NIV)
I was recently tormented by the enemy, who is the devil, throughout the night. All night long, I wrestled with the tormentor and I could not break away from his restraints. I did not recognize the one with whom I wrestled, as he did not show his face to me. At first, I thought he was a friend. He presented himself as beautiful and lovely to behold. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, warning me that this tormentor was no friend of mine. When I woke from the torment, like a dream, I asked the LORD to help me resist the tormentor so I could find rest in the shadow of His wing.
When I again let my guard down, I fell asleep to my tormentor and he began to taunt me once more as the night unfolded. This time, I was made aware of the tormentor who wrestled with my spirit all night long. He held tightly to my spine, arms, legs, hands and feet. At the center of my soul, he tormented me all night long. He covered my eyes with one hand and sealed up my mouth with the other. His claws curled up tightly around my neck. I could not see him, but I knew he was there.
When I recognized the enemy with whom I wrestled, my spirit cried out to God. The LORD crushed the chains that held me down and gave me insight to see him clearly. I could now see the enemy who covered my eyes with one hand and sealed up my mouth with the other. At first, he seemed beautiful and lovely to behold, but as the Holy Spirit opened my eyes, I saw clearly the wretched being with whom I wrestled. His eyes were dark and empty. He had no soul, and a cloak covered the lie upon his forehead. His claws were like shards of glass and his teeth were sharp, like the fangs of a viper. His breath was repulsive and the smell of death and darkness was upon him. Like rotting flesh, it hung from his bones. The enemy released me, shrieking away as he left me. I quickly pulled away. I woke up in the presence of my God.
I share this with you, because the LORD recently gave me insight that I did not see before now. Man was created in the image of God and could see both physical and spiritual reality. When the enemy deceived us and the fall of man came, we were cursed. By the curse, we were limited to seeing only the reality of the flesh, that is, sin and death and the world around us. But God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, sent Jesus into the world. For all who believe in Him and call upon His name in faith for salvation, He is faithful and just to hear our cry, forgive our sins and save us from all unrighteousness.
When we are restored to new life and born of the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ, He is faithful to restore the full sight we once lost at the fall of mankind. He gives us new eyes to see. Just as one cannot see certain colors when he or she is colorblind, so we are “spirit” blind before we come to Jesus, who heals our blindness and restores the fullness of sight. Just as man has created glasses that allow those who are color blind to see color once more, we are given spiritual glasses through the Holy Spirit to see those things that are spiritual among us. Ask the LORD of vision to give you insight and understanding.
I am convinced that the spiritual realm is even more real and spiritually tangible than the world of flesh we see before us now. The earth is God's footstool, and heaven is His throne. Ask the LORD of vision to restore the fullness of your sight and give you insight into the spiritual truth around you. For the time is near, and will come quickly, when we will be taken up to meet him in the clouds, where what once was a reflection, we will soon see face to face in perfection and glory. The things we see now take wisdom and understanding that only come from God, but the things seen then will be completely perfect and without end.
“As it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (2 COR. 2:9-10 NIV)
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