Early one morning, Smith Wigglesworth (1859 – 1947), the evangelist, was awakened in his Yorkshire, England, home by a rustling sound in his bedroom. He rolled over and saw someone sitting in the chair at the foot of his bed. He squinted his near-sighted eyes and then recognized who it was.
“Oh, it’s just you, Satan,” said Wigglesworth as he rolled over and went back to sleep.
Wigglesworth told this story about his bedroom meeting with Satan at an evangelistic/healing crusade which was described in one of the many books written about his life and ministry.
Okay, what do you think? Do you believe the story?
The reason I asked whether you believe this particular story is that I want you to realize where you are right now, at this moment. If your first thoughts border on deep skepticism, it will take a little more work for you to understand spiritual warfare.
But no problem, that’s okay with me. I am ready for a long journey on this subject. So, feel free to ask questions.
If your first thoughts concerning the story included at least an openness or even an excitement, then hang on. I think you will enjoy yourself and learn how to better fight the good fight of faith.
Each of us are unique. Thus we fellowship in the streams of Christianity which are comfortable or convenient for us right now. Our particular streams have their own individual personalities which stress certain teachings. Some emphasize grace. Others faith. Or worship music. Or holy communion. Or relationships. Or home fellowship. Or whatever.
But the odds of your particular stream of Christianity giving teachings on spiritual warfare for your life and home are probably less than one in ten, and more likely, less than one in twenty.
Sad, isn’t it?
Because Jesus and the Bible has much to say about spiritual warfare and how we should conduct ourselves.
So that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
(Continued in Part 2)
so smith wigglesworth had the old demon in his bedroom chair…..I wrote the blog months ago about getting stranded with a flat tire….he got in the car with me. so yes, it is possible.
Naphtali,
Thanks for your input. Whether Wigglesworth had an open vision or had an actual visit from Satan, his story lines up with scripture, which is our plum line when it comes to spiritual warfare. Satan visited Jesus after His forty day fast and tempted Him three times (Matthew 4:3 – 11). And don’t forget: all of the angel sightings throughout the Bible because demons and Satan were once angelic beings.
Larry, I love Wigglesworth’s attitude.
After some heavy ministry with a drug addict, I was lying in bed going off to sleep when I felt hands around my throat about to strangle. My approach was similar, “That’s you Satan. In Jesus name get out of here and get out of this house too!” He did. I prayed over my family, rolled over and went off to sleep like a baby. Only in Jesus is that possible. Thanks for the post.
rogerw,
Thanks for your powerful testimony. I have shivers from it. Praise God!
Growing up in a home where my mother practiced witchcraft, it was very common to hear footsteps at night and seeing nothing, only hearing them and feeling cold.. and many other “strange” things were experienced by me and my siblings. (too many to mention) Praise God for His grace and mercy, and my mother accepted the Lord just before passing away 18 years ago.
Yvette,
Wow! What a great testimony about how God delivered you and saved your mom. God bless you.
Excited about this series, Mr. Larry. Something I need to learn more about, for my family and others! God bless you!
Debbie,
Thanks. We all need to learn more.
“Each of us are unique and we fellowship in the streams of Christianity which are comfortable or convenient for us right now.”
I think we both agree we are on the front end of change. Exciting times. I hope we can rise to the occasion.
More specifically related to the subject matter of your entire post, I too had an encounter many years ago. I woke up and felt pressed to my bed. I couldn’t move. Things on the wall were sticking straight out and were fiery red. I had the immediate sense that it was Satan and all I could do was squeeze out the name Jesus over and over. It went away but it did take a few minutes. I was worn out when it was over.
Admittedly this is the extreme. Since, and lately, as I have become more aware of just how active he is in misleading and hindering us, it is more of a daily battle – recognizing and not giving him the space he is trying to take.
I believe he, just like God, is after our faith. The question is whether or not we will believe truth or the lies that he tries to convince us is truth.
This will be good. Looking forward to more.
Mike,
Thanks for your testimony.
Your experience was extreme, but especially because it happened in America. In Africa and many other nations, these types of experiences are common. Maybe God is readying us for bigger things in the near future.
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I have had a handful of times during my life when I FELT evil hovering over me, touching me, holding me down during the night when I felt completely frozen & unable to move or speak/scream. Because screaming was what I wanted to do! Many years when I was not walking with God and was living with someone I wasn’t married to, I had this sensation & sat straight up screaming, waking the man who definitely was not a believer. He said “I just had the strangest dream that I was fighting the devil for you.” No kidding.
And I am a little blown away that you’ve written this because it actually happened to me again this past week!! This wasn’t part of a dream. I could just feel EVIL over me all of a sudden. I screamed in my mind “Jesus, help me! Jesus, help me!” and it left. I feel that I have dropped my guard recently due to busyness (BUSY=Being Under Satan’s Yoke) and have left myself open to attack (in a couple of ways, unfortunately) because I have not been sitting at His feet…yes, I know it’s time to put back on the FULL Armor of God…..
Chrystal,
Thanks for your input. Spiritual warfare is happening to us and around us whether we sit on the sidelines or actively join the battle.
I’ve had demons attack me while I ‘slept’. Sleeping, but not sleeping. I was able to hover above my bed and watch entire battles . . . many so scary that I would be afraid of falling asleep for days. The spiritual realm is as real as the physical realm. The demonic live among us even though we don’t see them with our eyes. I have actually seen them in my room, all the while being attacked spiritually. It’s not a pretty sight–to say the least.
gshow,
Thanks. The comments here are better than my original article. I so enjoy hearing about other people’s experiences.