Revelation Chapter 1

​“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8, NASB
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
Grant my child understanding of what is to come so that she may testify of Your Word and of Jesus. Bless her, oh God, through the reading of Your prophecy so that she may take to heart what she has heard. Thank You, Jesus, for freeing my daughter from all sin through Your blood and for making her into a kingdom and priest for Your service. Open her eyes so that she may see You coming with the clouds. I pray that my little girl may know You as the Alpha and Omega, the One who was, who is, and who is to come.
 
Our God Is Stronger
 
     My eyes popped open. Panic made my breath catch. Sweat covered my entire body. I listened intently as darkness stilled the room. Only the deep breaths of my husband’s chest rising and falling met my ears. I had just woken up from a nightmare. I had woken up from a battle.

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     I stood in a small, rectangular room. A window was cut into the wall. Light streamed through the opening, casting long shadows into the space. Suddenly, hot streaks of electricity pierced the air. Like lightning bolts, whiteish-blue claws reached out to grab. I was surrounded.
     I huddled in the corner with nowhere to go. Fear gripped me. Panic oozed from every pore. No escape. No one to intercede. Just me. Alone.
     With startling clarity, I realized that the entity before me was spiritual and not of this world. Although frightened and still trembling, I squared my shoulders to face my Enemy. I knew what I needed to do. I knew on whose Name I needed to call. Jesus.
     Fortunately or unfortunately, this is not the first time I encountered spiritual warfare in my dreams. In the first of these battles, my feet always froze, rendering me immobilized. Even my voice died in my throat. It took all my strength to force my lips open. Even then, only one word could I scream.
     “Jesus!”
     As the years unfolded, my courage grew. Though my feet still froze, more than one word could I now utter in the heat of battle.
     “In the Name of Jesus, I command you to go!”
    But in the last few years, though still frightened and afraid, God strengthened me further.
     “I am not yours!” I roared, “I am Jesus’s!”
     However, this dream was different. Something had changed. I advanced against the Enemy.
     For the first time, I intentionally stepped forward. Hands fisted to balls, I met the Enemy head on. Small and timid, my first step may have been, but it still qualified as a step. Indignant fury blazed from the enemy. It struck and tore. Yet, despite the vicious intensity, the fire did not hurt me. It did not burn.
     A new battle cry filled my lungs. Words I never uttered during a fight emerged from my lips.
     “My God is stronger than you.” My voice trembled to the clawing, twisting bolts of lightning. A disconcerting metamorphosis unfolded before my eyes. An evil face emerged from the streaks of electricity. It stared back at me with hateful venom. But, even though electrical currents still charged the night air, it did not strike me. It could not touch me.
     Encouraged, my advance persisted. I took a second step. This time, I spoke with greater boldness.
     “My God is STRONGER than you.” My voice intensified. New strength coursed through my blood. Then, in the light of the ricocheting fire, something caught my eye. Something so slight that I almost missed it. The creature stepped back.
     The movement was barely discernible but an advance it was not. Never in the years of all my spiritual dreams had the enemy retreated before I awoke sweating and terrified. But here, on this fateful day, ground was being won. Ground was reclaimed.
     “My God IS STRONGER than you.” I declared with new purpose and intentionality. Resonance and authority now rang through my voice. I took another step.
     “MY God IS STRONGER than YOU!” I proclaimed in the face of evil. Its face contorted in pure malevolence. A silent shriek of rage ripped from its mouth. But it was helpless to fight. Once more it retreated a step, this time noticeable and distinct.
     New boldness flowed through me, propelling me forward.
     “MY GOD IS STRONGER THAN YOU!” I proclaimed. My feet continued advancing. Each time I stepped forward, I repeated my mantra. Stronger than before and louder, I pressed on. The baleful face shrank smaller. Its footprint in the tiny room dwindled by the second.
     “My God is stronger than you!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.” The creature redoubled its’ efforts to attack. But it was rendered ineffective. And it was in this moment of hard-fought victory, I awoke from the battle.
     You may wonder why I am sharing this nightmare. As scared as I felt, I awoke with strength and triumph. How? Because I was encouraged by two core truths that became etched on my mind and burned on my soul. It is with this hope to encourage which I share this vision.
     I came away reminded that with God on our side, no one can come against us. We are not powerless. Though we may be surrounded, God is stronger than any earthly or spiritual enemy. As Michael W. Smith sings, “When it looks like I’m surrounded, I’m surrounded by You.” Hallelujah, praise the Lord! For though it appears we are surrounded, the truth is that God is the one surrounding us and our enemies. For we serve the God of all Creation who is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere.
      In addition, when we call upon the Name of the Lord, the Enemy must flee. Why? Evil cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God. Therefore, with the undergirding of the Lord God Almighty, we can advance against the Enemy. Maintaining ground when attacked is critical. However, sometimes to make progress against the Enemy, we need to move beyond defensive measures and fight offensively. Why? We can take back lost ground. We can reclaim souls for Christ. When broken lives are made new, we advance the Kingdom of God. It is in this way, through the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we can advance offensively against the Enemy.
     Finally, I am reminded that though the fire may surround us, God will protect us. Isaiah 43:2 speaks clearly to this truth. “…when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the fire will not set you ablaze…” We are constantly under the Enemy’s attack. Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded, taking blows at every turn. But, God in His infinite power and love, shelters us from the storm, provides refuge from the battle, and will not allow the fire to burn us. Though the battle may wage thick, we can be assured that our God is with us, our God is stronger, and Our God will never fail.
 
Chris Tomlin - Our God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJpt1hSYf2o
Michael W. Smith – Surrounded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBl84oZxnJ4
 
A Parent’s Prayer
Dear God, when the walls of my house enclose around me, when the clamor of my children never cease, and when obstacles and enemies encompass me about, may You be my refuge and strength. When I pass through the waters and when the fire surrounds, keep them from burning and overtaking me. Give me the courage to press onward. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit that You may use me to advance against the Enemy. Thank You Lord, that You have already won the victory. Amen.
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