LEVIATHAN AGAIN

by Marsha Burns

There has been a sense of danger in the spiritual atmosphere, something dreadfully wrong, and the temptation to entertain condemnation and fear.

Another snake dream: Bill and I entered a house, not our own or one that is familiar, and when I rounded a corner there was a rattle snake coiled and ready to strike. As soon as I made eye contact, it flew at me. But, instead of getting me, I was surprised to see that it struck someone standing at my left shoulder and slightly behind me. As the dream progressed there were snakes everywhere – under things, between the cushions in the furniture, peaking out from their hiding places. It was my job to locate them and Bill would kill them by crushing them in his right hand.

I believe that this dream is symbolic of a current threat of Satan against God’s people. Just before I woke up a few mornings ago after having the dream of the snakes in the house, in yet another dream, I heard the Lord say that this attack was Leviathan, again.

We know that Leviathan’s access to us has been through victimization, through self-pity, through being overwhelmed (like Job).

Job 3:
3 "May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’
4 May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it.
5 May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it!
8 May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.

Again, he’s going to find access through condemnation, fear or dread, discouragement, disappointment, discontentment and desperation.

We will be tempted in these areas, and if we yield to the temptation, we will open a door for the enemy to attack.

The sense that I’ve had of danger is real:

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

2 Timothy 3:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves …

The first sign of the attack will be that we get self-focused and lose our peace. Condemnation is something that comes from introspection that quickly turns us from walking in the Spirit to being in the flesh.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

There will be a temptation to dread or fear of failure – even a fear of failing God.
Watch also for a general sense of discouragement or disappointment with life’s conditions and circumstances, and perhaps even desperation (state of hopelessness leading to rash decisions).

My particular fears were for the spiritual conditions of those around me. These were not overt fears, but rather were hidden deep down in me not surfacing so that they even manifested in my thoughts. I had to search to see what was causing this sense of dread.

I get afraid for people that could be making wrong choices that will cause them to suffer spiritually, financially, emotionally, or physically. Their choices are out of my control, and I find that what I fear the most is what I have no control over!

We cannot make people be different. We can reason with them when God gives us opportunity to do so, but they often can’t hear what’s being said if they are trying to satisfy their flesh desires and what we say is in opposition to what they want.

In that case what we can do is pray:
Ephesians 1:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

This may or may not be the temptation you are facing, but nonetheless fear and dread will rise up for consideration on some level of your experience to be entertained as an open door for the devil’s attack. It could be fear of failing God, of wrong choices, of missing your destiny, of failing health, financial ruin, rejection, and the list goes on…

Not long ago in a conversation about the attacks of the devil against God’s people, someone said to us that they have to believe that there is a place where we are completely protected from the devil’s influence where curses can’t come. And, that’s true.

Proverbs 26:2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

The problem comes when we come out from God’s protection through sin. Sin is defined as transgression against the law or the Word of God.
So, when the Word says “fear not” and we fear, that’s sin. Or, “judge not” and we judge. Or, “forgive” and we don’t forgive. Or … fill in the blank.

Ultimately, we are safe as long as we walk in the Spirit 24/7. Never receiving rejection, never judging, never afraid, never self-absorbed … never in the flesh!

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

What now? Once we’ve opened a door we need to get back to God. We need to repent or turn from the thoughts that are not producing spiritual life. We need to get back to walking in the Spirit by focusing on Him and not on ourselves. We need to pursue peace.

Psalms 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.

Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Peace comes when we trust God. This whole attack comes because we lose perspective and forget to trust the Lord and take matters into our own hands.

Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Small Straws: Beloved, bolster your faith by making a clear and concise connection to the truth of My Word. Refuse to allow the devil to gain any advantage over you. You have nothing in him and he has nothing in you because you belong to Me. You are My beloved, and I am yours. I will cause you to triumph over the work of the enemy. Put your complete trust in Me, says the Lord. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Father, we ask that You forgive us for entertaining temptations to fear, dread, self-condemnation, discouragement, disappointment, discontentment and for walking in the flesh. Cleanse us and create in us a clean heart. We repent and rise up in Spirit and seek Your face and to be clean vessels of Your purposes and destiny. We receive your peace in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

Faith Tabernacle

http://ft111.com