Shifting Atmospheres

by Dawna DeSilva

  You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

  In Western society, we tend to think of good works as acts solely associated with benevolence or caregiving. While acts are extremely valuable, they are not the only ways we can displace the enemy’s kingdom.

  The phrase good works have several translations that include businesses, employments, enterprises, any products whatsoever, anything accomplished by hand, arts, industries, minds, acts, deeds, or things done. According to the Bible, when we build businesses, serve our employers, create products and works of art, and do good deeds, we are pointing people to our Father.

  As we accept our calling as stewards of this planet and we begin to shift atmospheres, we will see the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God (see Rev. 11:15).

  NOTE

  1. Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds (Cedar Rapids, IA: Arrow Publications, 2006) Kindle loc. 1273.

  ASSIGNMENTS

  December 19, 2010

  by Cory De Silva

  Death sat on the freeway’s side

  and watched me—impatient, anxious,

  and annoyed. Chewing his fingernails

  as I climbed from the shattered windshield

  of my car. Held his breath as I collapsed

  on concrete, hummingbird holes punched

  into my skin like art, leaking red

  onto a canvas of rain-stained

  pavement. Rose from his seat

  to collect me as firefighters crowded,

  ambulances arrived, and angels stood guard.

  He could not get close enough to take me.

  Repressed and dissatisfied, Death packed

  his scythe and left. A coffin-shaped hat

  tipping in the wind. Bony fingers

  pulling the edges of his cloak

  closer to the emptiness of his face.

  Six months had passed since Cory’s visit with the demonic spirit in our living room. While attending one of the late Sunday night services, my husband, Stephen, received a text message—Cory had been in a serious car accident on his way home from Southern California. His truck had hydroplaned in severe rain and careened into the interstate barrier at more than sixty miles an hour.

  By God’s grace, Cory had emerged from the crash relatively unscathed. The only mark from the accident was a light welt on his neck caused by the seat belt. The on-site police officer, having surveyed the wreck, shook his head and said, “I don’t know how you made it. I was out here two days ago with the same kind of accident and two people were decapitated.”

  Steve and I thanked the Lord for Cory’s protection. Days later, we drove down for a visit. Boasting a totaled car and a pronounced seat-belt burn, Cory recounted the story of his near-death experience.

  “One minute I was swerving. The next I was upside down begging God not to let me die.”

  Acknowledging God’s protection, we celebrated the obvious testimony and shared it with our friends. Cory even wrote a poem, which begins this chapter, and shared it with his university creative writing class.

  While we visited with Cory, we learned of several other instances when Cory had been miraculously saved in driving-related accidents. In another occurrence, Cory had stopped at a four-way intersection on his way to school. Out of nowhere, a rusty truck ran a red light and swerved psychotically toward him.

  Cory glanced up to see the oncoming vehicle. To his left stood a guard rail. To his right, a semi. In less than five seconds, he and the truck would collide—the other vehicle swerving at a speed of fifty miles per hour. At the last second, the truck veered into oncoming traffic and disappeared amidst an angry squawk of horns and squealing tires. Once again, God had intervened and spared the life of our son.

  THE ENEMY OFTEN KNOCKS ON MANY DOORS TO SEE WHICH ONES OPEN.

  It seemed to us a demonic assignment had been sent to halt or slow our son’s destiny. This assignment, starting with a tactic of fear, began with an evil spirit appearing to Cory in our living room. This attempt, made to create insecurity in Cory’s relationship with God, was cut short because of his confidence in Christ. The demon’s first tactic did not work. When Cory renounced its presence, the unclean spirit was forced to flee.

  This lack of fear gave Cory authority at that moment over the assigned spirit. Although it vanished, we later found out that the assignment was still in play. Instead of continuing to confront him openly (because that did not work), the demon resorted to a more covert form of warfare—continuous “I” messages in the form of suicidal thoughts.

  Having struggled with loneliness and insignificance throughout his life (which were lies), Cory was a susceptible target of these attacks. The demons tested these thoughts and, having seen them take root in Cory’s mind, moved forward to cut his life short. Notice that—while fear and intimidation did not work, hopelessness and self-hatred did. The enemy often knocks on many doors to see which ones open.

  The spirits of hopelessness and suicide devised a new strategy and tag-teamed to destroy him. Eventually, these thoughts broke through and wore down his confidence. After months of intense loneliness and suicidal thoughts (which would have been defeated if Cory renounced instead of partnering with them), Cory stood in the kitchen of his apartment and held a knife to his wrist and thought about ending it all. He thought (or the evil spirit disguising itself as Cory’s thoughts whispered), why don’t I just end it now and get rid of the pain?

  Thankfully, God’s voice was prompting Cory as well. Other thoughts entered his mind like, wait a second. That would be stupid. I have so many dreams to fulfill. Why the heck would I stop short of my dreams now? Renouncing ties with this suicidal spirit, Cory returned the knife to its drawer and renounced the enemy’s taunts.

  Now the enemy’s attempts had been thwarted twice. In a mixture of fear and desperation, the spirits decided to ratchet up their game and try to take Cory’s life another way. They could not get him to partner with their thoughts any longer, so they needed a more drastic plan to eliminate him. Thus began the bizarre near-encounters with death that accumulated over the next few months.

  After Cory’s severe crash, we prayed for this assignment to be broken and the spiritual attacks stopped. Although the spirits succeeded in wrecking his car, they failed to actually harm him. Though they had been assigned by higher forces to take his life, God had sent His angels for protection. If we had known about the earlier attacks, we could have intervened in corporate prayer before his car crash. Either way, Steve and I remain grateful to this day for our son’s protection.

  Assignments are not fun to talk about. Who, after all, wants to hear about demons targeting them? If we embrace a victorious mindset, we can stand up against this knowledge and rest in the comfort of the Lord’s protection. None of us truly knows how much God protects us on a daily basis, but Scripture reassures us that He does:

  But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

  Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

  If you find yourself in the midst of an attack or the target of an assignment, search Scripture and meditate on its promises of protection. Our pastor encourages us to read the promises and encouraging words we have received in the past because doing so takes our focus off of our trials and places it on God’s promises for us.

  WHEN WE STAND IN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, THE DEVIL IS FORCED TO LEAVE.

  The best way to defend against an assignment is to partner with the sacrificial blood of Jesus. The
shield that covers a multitude of sins, Christ’s sacrifice, is our greatest refuge. The worst thing we can do when under an attack is to be afraid and partner with it. Christ is far more powerful than any spirit that raises itself against us. As we gird our hearts in the promises of God, His blood protects us:

  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19,22).

  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death (Revelation 12:11).

  Intercession once again comes into bold relief as we apply the Lord’s sacrifice to our lives. As the eternal mediator who intercedes on our behalf, Jesus’s blood prevents destruction. A sign was given to us in Exodus when the obedient people of Israel were passed over by the destroyer, a spirit sent by God to execute judgment on Egypt:

  Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two door-posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you (Exodus 12:22-23).

  Protected under the authority of the lamb’s blood, the Hebrews were spared from destruction. This works with us today in our contemporary lives. As we cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus, the sacrificial love of God, the devil and his armies are forced to pass over. It is as though we wear an invisible cloak or impenetrable armor. When we stand in the confidence of the blood of Christ, the devil is forced to leave:

  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

  Several years ago, my family and I attended a wedding. Everyone looked happy and seemed to be enjoying themselves. That is, almost everyone. One of my family members, Dana (name changed), had suffered a brain aneurysm years before. Her body never fully recovered. As she limped past, I could not help but watch with sadness and think, I can’t believe this. I feel so bad for her. Right then, a demonic spirit manifested itself, left Dana, and came directly at me. It said, I’m coming for you! Shocked, I jumped back and said, “You will not, in Jesus’s name!”

  I made it through the rest of the wedding, a bit shaken, but continued to praise the Lord and remind myself that He was bigger. I knew God did not give me a spirit of fear, so I began to speak truth over myself about God’s protection and mercy.

  A week later, my nose began to bleed. I had only experienced a bloody nose once before in my life so I was alarmed to see the amount blood gushing out for no apparent reason. As I jammed tissue up my nose, I heard the enemy’s voice say, See? I told you I was coming.

  I had a choice then to either partner with fear or to hand the battle over to Jesus. Fortunately, I chose the latter. I took the enemy’s taunts captive and stewarded an internal atmosphere of peace.

  Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I heard myself say out loud, “Thank You, Jesus, that this blood is coming out of my nose and not leaking into my brain.” Over the next few days, my nose continued to randomly bleed. Every time, I thanked the Lord and said, “Thank You, Jesus, that the blood is draining out of my nose and not flooding into my brain.”

  A few weeks later, I learned that a friend of mine had been experiencing problems with her coordination and eyesight. The doctors finally diagnosed that she had been experiencing blood leaks in her brain. From then on, I acted as an intercessor. Whenever my nose began to bleed, I thanked God that it was not collecting in my brain and prayed that the bleeding would stop in hers.

  My nosebleeds continued and my friend got worse. Finally, they placed her in intensive care. I continued to intercede for her and told the enemy, You cannot have her. Her son spent several nights in the ICU room with her and prayed for God to work a miracle. In the spirit, he saw a very large, dark figure fighting angels over his mother’s body. I am sure that it was the same spirit that confronted me at the wedding.

  Hours into another very long night, my friend’s son felt a release in the spirit realm and his mom began to improve. The day she finally got her “all clear” sign from the doctor was the same day my nose bleeding stopped. Since then, I have not had another nose bleed. (That is until the day after I wrote about it in this book.)

  Since then, I have reminded myself and the enemy that he has no right to harass me even when my nose begins to bleed. Even though I spent the next few weeks inconvenienced by this attack, the enemy was unable to release fear into my life.

  WE MUST NOT ONLY REFUSE TO GIVE IN TO FEAR BUT ALSO STAND IN THE GAP FOR OTHERS THROUGH INTERCESSION SO THAT THE ENEMY HAS NO ONE TO ATTACK.

  In this example, my friend and I both experienced a demonic assignment. These are different from the normal spiritual attacks that target your mind or the broadcasts that the enemy releases into the atmosphere. Although you will need to fight the thoughts (lies) that attack your mind, should you become a target of an assignment you will need an additional strategy to fight against it. The Bible depicts an assignment as a lion wanting to devour you:

  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

  His first assault may be to roar at you and scare you into opening a door of fear. If that does not work, he may simply skip over you and seek someone else to devour. We must not only refuse to give in to fear but also stand in the gap for others through intercession so that the enemy has no one to attack.

  Jesus was the perfect example of how one navigates spiritual battle. Because Jesus had such confidence in His life calling and a strong relationship with His Father, there was literally no way the enemy could wage successful warfare against Him.

  If you find yourself or a loved one in the midst of a demonic assignment, partner with God to plead the blood of Jesus over your life. Repent for any fear you have allowed into your life and meditate on the Scriptures that reveal the power of God. Do not underestimate the power of Christ’s blood. A few verses that will encourage you when faced with an attack are listed below:

  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8).

  O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

  Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their face with your bows.

  Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power (Psalm 21).

  FINAL THOUGHTS

  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsear
chable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

  —ISAIAH 40:28-31

  The Bible promises those who wait on the Lord will be victorious. Like the man who builds his house on rocks, so we who build a strong relationship with God will remain steadfast in the midst of struggle and storms. There is truly only one weapon when it comes to standing above the spiritual realm and that is an intimate relationship with the Persons of the Trinity—Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus needed a relationship with the Father. If He needed it, how much more do we?

  Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner (John 5:19 NASB).

  All of Satan’s authority was crushed under the weight of Jesus’s blood. We have a fresh start—a summons. We are part of God’s army and are set by God on the front lines to charge forward and retake the world’s atmospheres. If you use the principles presented in this book, I am confident you will succeed. Begin small. Start by shifting your own atmospheres. Find your normal and get rid of any bad trees in your garden. Lean into the Holy Spirit to gain insight and strategies as you practice discernment of the spiritual world around you. Most of all, dive into the Word of God. You will find your peace and courage there:

  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:13-14).