Prayer and Standing

May 14, 2004

Personal Narrations

Joel Akin

Calgary, Alberta

 I asked God what exactly comes between taking authority and release of the answer in the natural realm? Its obvious to me that the answer has not come immediately into the natural realm so I wanted to know what was taking place.

This is where it gets interesting. In the previous dream of where I was surrounded by 7 men representing 7 legions of spirits I was carrying a camera. And in a more recent dream I was given a brass button to wear.(Brass signifies humanity) These things represent the badge and/or record of authority which I have been granted by Christ.

But, as God put it, here is the chaff. Up until this stage I have only been granted authority but I have never really taken authority. God showed me how to do that this week. That when you speak you don't speak "Oh would you please. Do you think. If only. I wish." He showed me how Christ spoke when he was dealing with weather or people or demons. With authority and with assurance. "Peace Be Still!"

There were no doubts no fears no uncertainties. That is critical and God indicated until now I was not ready for that. Yes I have some uncertainties but they are based on lack of knowledge rather then doubts and fears. So why is speaking with command so important. Here is the issue that I didn't understand and God helped me too. Pretty cool stuff. As you take authority, especially at first, as is my case now... Satan has three choices open to him. He can flee, he can fight or he can submit. If he flees he knows that if I have been given the authority he cannot run far and his humiliation will be great. If he fights and loses his humiliation will be great. And the same for submitting. So what he does is surround me with attacks where he still has some authority or influence. In most cases God indicated, its just a matter of surrounding me.

Why would he do this? I found Gods answer fascinating. It seems that Satan is watching to see, and that word see can also be interpreted 'to watch' what I will do. This is why I believe I'm in the process of that very dream where I was surrounded by those 7 legions. Why is Satan watching? Because he wants to see what I will do. Will I stand firm? Will I submit to him and the fear, doubt and other things he can send to my mind? What? And this is perhaps the one area, God indicated, that is part of the growing process for me. This will determine whether I continue on or basically lose out. So anyway Satan watches to see whether I will stand, stand with courage, stand with stamina but above all to stand.

I do not know what the waiting period on this is but in the dream as in real life God has indicated to me to stand and do nothing but wait and trust. Don't fight back. Don't argue, don't keep repeating myself over and over in endless prayers, just stand there and let them see the badge and record of authority.

On the repeat issue I prayed on Tuesday about finances. I asked God if I should keep praying about it and his answer surprised me. He told me that when I pray and take authority on a particular issue that afterwards I just need to stand, trust and wait. I can bring it up to God to check on the pace of the answer but the rest of the battle is Gods. All I need to do is stand.

So what happens next after I have stood firm? God indicated that this is when Satan recognizes the authority. I was curious what Satan does next and it seemed God indicated, in a tongue in cheek manner, "he rages." And following the recognition of this authority Satan must then submit and release. In several dreams the spirits bowed their head towards me. I didn't understand that fully but they recognized the authority I had in Christ.

So finally after all these things have taken place then the release comes. I asked God, "Do I have to do anything to go out and obtain it?" Though I don't have a full answer on that God did say that until He opens the doors all I have to do is stand. And as far as making the things happen? God indicated that is not my job at all. That these are not acts of the hands but actions of the Spirit.

Now I know there is a time when the work of the hands will be important but for me it seems prayer will always be the most potent weapon in my arsenal and I must not let that prayer fall by the wayside.

Last night God gave me an interesting illustration. Another tongue in cheek I think. He said the Bible can be thought of as a manual, a how to. There comes a time though when you have to go out and put the manual into practice by following the spirit of the idea and not the letter of the law.

He said the way the church practices it is similar to a farmer who has a manual on cows. He knows more about that manual then anyone else and he is preaching to the other farmers and they quote from it to each other. But when it comes to practical application when they go out they take the manual and start quoting from it to the cows. Of course the cows are confused. If we want to reach the cows we have to be able to take the ideas in the manual and put them into practical applications the cow can understand. Food, water and so on. Just as Jesus did with the crowds on the mount. Speak to them where they live. Now I'm sure God is not saying we are cows but who knows. The Bible says we are like sheep and he does own the cattle on a 1000 hills.