Last night, I had a dream.
This dream was dark, yet so full of light.
I was in a dim lit room with a man who was in serious pain.
He was possessed.
Possessed with what?
I don’t know, but he was possessed with something – and it wasn’t Jesus.
I saw it in his eyes; he wanted out, but resisted.
To him, there was nothing to be but who he had become.
I saw him as possessed – filled with evil spirits.
But that’s not who he was.
I walked over, looked at him lying on the floor, picked him up as he lay and began to slam him on the ground, banging his head on the concrete. I kept on banging it over and over and over, screaming for it to come out of him.
All the while in my rage, a man discreetly walked over, bent down, put his hand on my shoulder, and I stopped. With love in his eyes and utmost compassion in his voice he said to me, “You’re doing it all wrong, son.”
A group of people gathered around as he lightly put his hand on the man’s chest that I had been beating.
He began to lovingly pray and speak to the man, commanding spirits to come out of him.
I stood back in breaking silence and watched.
The dream progressed on, but when I woke, what you just read is all I could think about.
After a few minutes, I thought it was interesting, so I decided to post a Facebook status:
Later, on my way home from working out, the Lord revealed to me the rest of the dream that I hadn’t been thinking on:
After a while of watching this man and his friends compassionately pray over, talk to, and command the spirits to come out of the man (by this time, I was no longer watching; I was right next to them), they began to prophesy over him, telling him who he is in Jesus, bringing him to life.
A convicted cry is all I had as I finally recognized God’s unfolded heart.
How many times have I seen someone trapped in their sin and tried to beat it out of them?
Entirely too many to count.
What if we’re going about it all wrong?
You want to see people change for good?
Lovingly pray for them, over them, speak to them like they are dearly beloved children. Command spirits to leave in Jesus name (this doesn’t have to be to their face). This is not some whacked out TV show. And after you do so, prophesy over their lives, telling them who they really are in Jesus (who He says they are, not what you see), and watch a patient and loving Father bring them to life.
