Abba Father knows exactly how to speak to us. It is no wonder that the dream I experienced earlier this month highlighted two passions of mine, the church and football. So when the dream switched scenes from a church service to a football field making the same point my spiritual senses were being stirred.

As I was walking across the field in my dream the head coach pulled me aside to tell me the team was facing a far superior opponent. The opponents were bigger, faster, more experienced, and far more athletic than our team. He told me to come up with a game plan and go into the locker room and tell the team to “fight.”

I stood on the field trying to rack my brain on ways to overcome what seemed like impossible odds. Yes, I could go into the locker room and pump them up and tell them to “fight” but how?  Shortly after that moment I woke up, went to my Bible and journal and started to write.

As I was unpacking Revelation 12:11, the text I was to preach in my dream church, I found the strategy on how to “fight” on the spiritual football field in order to overcome a far more talented team. Look at verse 11 again in the Passion translation:

“They conquered him completely through the blood of the Lamb and the powerful word of His testimony. They triumphed because they did not love and cling to their own lives, even when faced with death.”

Over the last several weeks the blog has focussed on the “the blood of the Lamb” as the foundation of victory. What I plan to unpack in the next blogs is found in the 2nd half of Revelation 12:11 and it is vital for conquering the enemy.

For years I have read this verse with these words, “…the word of their testimony.” But notice the Passion translation, which takes it from the Aramaic, the spoken language of the day, “the powerful word of His testimony.” 

In the wee hours of the morning this jumped out at me. “Wait! it is not my testimony that overcomes the enemy but Jesus’ testimony, His supernatural work.”  Or you could say, it is Christ in me! The victory comes when I acknowledges I’m is far too weak to overcome the beast within and without-I need the testimony of Jesus.

A few weeks ago I was talking and praying with a young man who spent some time in Africa recently. He was sharing how encountering the supernatural power of Christ has changed the whole course of his life. We talked about the time when we were in a preschool classroom praying over someone when a demonic spirit began to manifest. Just stepping foot into that area the heavy darkness and bondage was in the atmosphere, before we knew it we we were all on our knees crying out to Jesus for help. After what seemed like an eternity, Jesus showed up in His glorious power and set a captive free.

I’ll  never forget what he said right after the encounter, “I feel like I’m living in the book of Acts!” Each of us in the room felt humbled  and overwhelmed by the power of Christ Jesus. I know I felt weak going into the fight vastly outmatched. All we could do was call on the name of Jesus believing He had the power to intervene and heal.

Whether in the classroom, the church, work or on the field, the advice my football coaches taught holds true. The goal was to always tackle an opponent by going low. In the same way spiritually as believers we overcome the enemy by going low. Realizing our own weakness over our enemy we fall before King Jesus and ask for His supernatural help. Our secret weapon over a superior enemy is the powerful testimony of Jesus.

We claim His death and the power of His perfect blood to forgive us of all sin.

We claim His resurrection power living in us making us new.

And we claim His sovereign rule and authority to over come all attacks of the enemy,

When we line up against what looks like an overwhelming, unbeatable force of fear, habitual sin, unforgiveness, hate, demonic strongholds, or whatever is overwhelming you at the moment remember Fight – Supernaturally- Go Low-Bend the Knee-Claim HIS testimony.

 

 

After the dream, shared in last week’s blog, I have been dwelling on Revelation 12:11 each day. The Holy Spirit has captivated my attention and continues to reveal the importance of combatting the aggressive assaults of the Dragon.

As the text states, “They conquered him completely through the blood of the Lamb…” The word “Blood” is vital to the battle, and the significance of the blood will be unpacked next week, but notice where the blood flows from “the Lamb.”

 The first time the “Lamb” is mentioned in the book of Revelation is chapter 5:6. After this introduction He, The Lamb, becomes the central figure in the rest of Revelation. The victory over the enemy is in direct relationship to the Lamb. Those who overcome the Dragon have the blood mark of the Lamb upon their foreheads (7:4).

The conquers, who have been marked by Father God, demonstrate their saving trust in Him by Prayer and Praise. Those who have truly encountered the Lamb do battle on their knees in prayer and through continual worship of the Lamb.

I challenge you to read Revelation 5 and circle each time the word “Lamb” is mentioned. It is amazing to see all of heaven and His followers doing these two things, prayer and praise, repeated over and over again:

“…Each of them had a harp and golden bowls brimming full of sweet fragrant incense –which are the prayers of God’s holy lovers. And they were all singing this new song of praise to the Lamb:

‘Because You were slaughtered for us, You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. Your blood was the price paid to redeem us. You purchased us to bring us to God out of every tribe, language, people group, and nation. You have chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a kingdom of priests who reign on the earth.” (5:8-10).

Those who have truly encountered the Lamb and know His and the Father’s forgiveness and love will battle with the weapons of Prayer and Praise!

During our time in the states my wife Patty and I can give testimony to times we have witnessed believers gathering for Prayer and Praise! In June we joined a Sunday night prayer time at a former church we pastored. This prayer gathering came out of several teams who had served in Africa and visited a Monday prayer service we attend. This experience spurred them to start one. We were overwhelmed by the worship and heartfelt prayers brought before the Lamb being led by high school students. You could feel heaven come to earth as the praises and prayers went up and strongholds of the enemy being shattered. We left so encouraged to see hearts arrested by love for The Lamb.

Then in July we joined some of our family at a Prayer and Praise service at a local church. It was much needed as we both faced some follow up medical appointments and will soon be returning to South Africa. I estimated at least 1000 people of all ages worshiping and crying out to God in prayer. We went in with anxious but expectant hearts and left feeling hope and victory through the glorious Lamb who is bringing revival to the nations through prayer and praise.

Patty and I have sensed this powerful warfare swirling in our midst and these words of scripture and the Prayer and Praise times have been a source of strength and renewed our spirits as we keep looking at the Lamb in the midst of the battle.

Perhaps you have also sensed spiritual battles close at hand. As followers of Jesus together we can once again refocus our sight and look upon a blooded Lamb, who died in our place. I believe the Holy Spirit is pointing us back to the Lamb to find victory over this present darkness we are living in. Our response is to offer prayer and praise not only with words, but also by living a life filled with prayer and praise for His and our victory!