EEEEW - no offense to Mr. Snake, but - this gives you the creeps just to look at it, doesn't it?
This snake was making a beeline for a birds' nest on our back porch. At first glance, it looked and sounded like a rattler. But on closer examination (yeah, we actually got closer), it was just a "wannabe." A rat or bull snake, about 6 feet long. He'd take in a big puff of air, and then constrict and twist and contort himself while blowing it all out. When he did, it made a rattling sound.
This snake turned out not to have a rattler, or the infamous diamond-shaped head. But it was threatening in its own way (if not to us, then to our cats and small dogs), and sure was something we'd rather have avoided stumbling across when going outside.
This incident so reminds me of a dream I had while attending a worship leading institute July 8-10, 2009, called Unveiled Worship, in Carrollton, Texas. This event blessed me deeply, as I am sure it did the many others who attended. The Spirit of God was so powerful that it absolutely unchained us - the junk that had been weighing us down was broken off, and sent us away with renewed energy and passion for serving as worship leaders.
On the second night of this three-day event, I dreamed all of the attendees were hanging out together, talking, visiting, and exploring the property around the place where we were gathered. In the dream, we were in rocky terrain, and gathered together outside as much as inside, climbing the rocks and taking in the view. But suddenly I noticed two large snakes entwined in a lethal wrestling match. I stopped in my tracks and warned the others around me to be careful, to get back.
But I became aware that the snakes weren't trying to attack us - they were too busy attacking each other. I was also curious about the fact that their mouths remained closed - they were not biting - just twisting and squeezing each other.
As others filtered outside to play on the rocks, I would warn them about the snakes, or pull them away from other snakes that were slithering out from cracks in the rocks. But again, with each snake I saw, I noticed the mouths remained closed. Also, the snakes did not pursue us -in fact, they would retreat back into the rocks if they did see us.
When I awoke, I pondered what the dream might mean. Snakes often represent evil forces, so their presence in the dream was clearly indicative of the evil around us. However, as we were caught up in worshipping and praising God in Spirit and Truth at our gathering, that evil had no power to attack or harm us. In fact, it had to flee, because the Spirit of the Lord was also present, and rendered the snakes not only harmless, but afraid.
I then remembered a Bible passage that well illlustrates this concept of how powerful our praise and worship to God can be against the spiritual forces of darkness. 2 Chronicles 20 tells of King Jehoshaphat's fear upon hearing that armies from three countries were advancing in a united front to attack his people.
Greatly distressed and afraid because he was badly outnumbered, the king declared a time of fasting and prayer. As he stood praying in the temple of the Lord, surrounded by the men, women and children of his land, the king reminded God of His promises to protect them and provide for them, and once again asked for favor. Then, the Lord responded through a prophet named Jahaziel:
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. ..17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. ...The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
(Highlights are mine.)
WOW! So the worship team went before the army, and as they praised, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn against each other - and finally upon themselves. Jehoshaphat's army NEVER HAD TO UNSHEATH A SWORD! It was all done through the power loosed by praising God.
I think my dream about the snakes was showing me how our praises at the Unveiled Worship event were riling the spiritual forces of darkness because we were winning a victory for the Lord! I was also aware that we needed to be careful not to taunt them or engage them, but also not fear them because God was causing them to destroy one another rather than attack us - just like the story of Jehoshaphat.
As a final cap on this story - the organizer of this event, Brian Ming, is the worship leader at the host church (North Church) where Unveiled Worship Institute was held. The day I arrived there, I made it a point to thank Brian for his effort to host this event, saying, "I know what a sacrifice it entails." I know, because Satan attacks regularly when we are doing a good work for the Lord. He's been pretty relentlessly after me since I started leading worship, trying to discourage me and make me stop. Also, I have seen that the wider our circle of influence, the more rigorous Satan's efforts to make us stand down (ever heard the adage, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall"?). In hosting this event, Brian had just widened his already considerable circle a great deal by pulling people together from all over the world to give God the glory and recalibrate our hearts and minds in service to Him.
The day after I had this dream, which was the last day of the event, I saw Brian in the lobby of the church. I greeted him and again thanked him for his transparency in sharing his heart and vulnerability with us in some of the sessions.
About an hour later, we got word that his parents had been in a terrible car accident, and had to be pulled out of the wreck using the "jaws of life". We were asked to pray. A few hours after that report, we learned that they were, miraculously, bumped and bruised and shaken up, but otherwise well. In fact, there was a woman in the car behind them who saw it all. She said the Lord had placed her there at that time, and had told her to intercede for them with prayer. She apparently prayed with them as they were waiting to be freed from the wreckage.
I think Satan tried to frighten Brian and steal away his focus and effectiveness as we were wrapping up the conference. But the Lord kept the snake's mouth shut so it couldn't harm the Ming family. Brian stayed and finished the event, and a victory was won by and for all of us.
To God be the glory, forever and ever, and may we as worship leaders proclaim His favor all the days of our lives.
On the second night of this three-day event, I dreamed all of the attendees were hanging out together, talking, visiting, and exploring the property around the place where we were gathered. In the dream, we were in rocky terrain, and gathered together outside as much as inside, climbing the rocks and taking in the view. But suddenly I noticed two large snakes entwined in a lethal wrestling match. I stopped in my tracks and warned the others around me to be careful, to get back.
But I became aware that the snakes weren't trying to attack us - they were too busy attacking each other. I was also curious about the fact that their mouths remained closed - they were not biting - just twisting and squeezing each other.
As others filtered outside to play on the rocks, I would warn them about the snakes, or pull them away from other snakes that were slithering out from cracks in the rocks. But again, with each snake I saw, I noticed the mouths remained closed. Also, the snakes did not pursue us -in fact, they would retreat back into the rocks if they did see us.
When I awoke, I pondered what the dream might mean. Snakes often represent evil forces, so their presence in the dream was clearly indicative of the evil around us. However, as we were caught up in worshipping and praising God in Spirit and Truth at our gathering, that evil had no power to attack or harm us. In fact, it had to flee, because the Spirit of the Lord was also present, and rendered the snakes not only harmless, but afraid.
I then remembered a Bible passage that well illlustrates this concept of how powerful our praise and worship to God can be against the spiritual forces of darkness. 2 Chronicles 20 tells of King Jehoshaphat's fear upon hearing that armies from three countries were advancing in a united front to attack his people.
Greatly distressed and afraid because he was badly outnumbered, the king declared a time of fasting and prayer. As he stood praying in the temple of the Lord, surrounded by the men, women and children of his land, the king reminded God of His promises to protect them and provide for them, and once again asked for favor. Then, the Lord responded through a prophet named Jahaziel:
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. ..17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. ...The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
(Highlights are mine.)
WOW! So the worship team went before the army, and as they praised, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn against each other - and finally upon themselves. Jehoshaphat's army NEVER HAD TO UNSHEATH A SWORD! It was all done through the power loosed by praising God.
I think my dream about the snakes was showing me how our praises at the Unveiled Worship event were riling the spiritual forces of darkness because we were winning a victory for the Lord! I was also aware that we needed to be careful not to taunt them or engage them, but also not fear them because God was causing them to destroy one another rather than attack us - just like the story of Jehoshaphat.
As a final cap on this story - the organizer of this event, Brian Ming, is the worship leader at the host church (North Church) where Unveiled Worship Institute was held. The day I arrived there, I made it a point to thank Brian for his effort to host this event, saying, "I know what a sacrifice it entails." I know, because Satan attacks regularly when we are doing a good work for the Lord. He's been pretty relentlessly after me since I started leading worship, trying to discourage me and make me stop. Also, I have seen that the wider our circle of influence, the more rigorous Satan's efforts to make us stand down (ever heard the adage, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall"?). In hosting this event, Brian had just widened his already considerable circle a great deal by pulling people together from all over the world to give God the glory and recalibrate our hearts and minds in service to Him.
The day after I had this dream, which was the last day of the event, I saw Brian in the lobby of the church. I greeted him and again thanked him for his transparency in sharing his heart and vulnerability with us in some of the sessions.
About an hour later, we got word that his parents had been in a terrible car accident, and had to be pulled out of the wreck using the "jaws of life". We were asked to pray. A few hours after that report, we learned that they were, miraculously, bumped and bruised and shaken up, but otherwise well. In fact, there was a woman in the car behind them who saw it all. She said the Lord had placed her there at that time, and had told her to intercede for them with prayer. She apparently prayed with them as they were waiting to be freed from the wreckage.
I think Satan tried to frighten Brian and steal away his focus and effectiveness as we were wrapping up the conference. But the Lord kept the snake's mouth shut so it couldn't harm the Ming family. Brian stayed and finished the event, and a victory was won by and for all of us.
To God be the glory, forever and ever, and may we as worship leaders proclaim His favor all the days of our lives.
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