Asking for signs?

May 7, 2004

Personal Narrations

Joel Akin

Calgary, Alberta

I've been having a lot of dreams and all of them seem to be showing the same things but in new ways, over and over again. But sometimes there are elements to these dreams I really do not understand and I have not been able to get a clear answer as yet.

 In several dreams I have been given authority over Satan. That part is clear to me. What is not clear is that the dreams seem to indicate that I personally have to take authority to obtain these promises. Yet as in other areas God seems to indicate that I obtain this authority by prayer. All this makes sense so far. Where I get a little confused is that I never, ever directly fight Satan.

For example the shoe dream where I take authority over Satan to have my shoes returned. The shoes represented all aspects of my life from travel to ministry to work and so forth. Satan had stolen all those shoes so I could not leave the prison where I was being kept. But I have never gone to Satan and said, "Give me these things back..."

And that is what left me puzzled. I asked God about this and he indicated it was similar to the authority I had taken on that had gotten Satan all hot and angry with me. But it is one of those things I still do not fully understand and it is definitely one of those things the average Christian does not have a clue in. I say that with love and respect.

I know I've been asking God how this is possible. How can my conversations with God become authority over Satan? How can my 'wishes' to do things be authority at all?

What we are dealing with is what I do in my spare time. I read about and study things I would like to do when God heals me. Its true I talk to God about it and say, "I would like this, I'd love to do this, or buy this..." And to be honest half the time I feel guilty because it seems selfish, at least to me. But somehow God is indicating that these dreams, wishes, hopes, desires and so forth that I chat about has become a spiritual force.

Here is what I believe God has shared about prayer. Prayer, when it is based on relationship, is more powerful then anything in the universe. There is no greater authority. God indicated that the reason I'm struggling is this. I've been trained and traditionalized. I have been told if I want something I have to fight for it, struggle for it and so on. But God says that He sees the very desires of my heart and thus is giving me those things.

But I know the thing I'm really struggling with is "How do I obtain?" For awhile I thought, "I need to start fighting Satan directly..." After all that's what the dream indicated I was doing. But God set me straight. He said the reason I was fighting Satan and winning was not because I was fighting him directly. No, that doesn't work to any huge degree. God showed me the reason I was fighting Satan and winning is because I continued to just 'chat' with God on a nightly basis.

I know that it sounds almost too simple but God is telling me that is the key. The reason we get off base and begin to lose ground, God indicated, is because somewhere along the line we forget and God begins to take second or third place. And though I know that is the case and the truth it is still something I struggle with because it seems too easy. God is indicating that as long as I put him first I am fighting Satan directly. Ask me if I understand this and I will tell you no.

So I've been asking God for even more understanding and here is what He is telling me. That if I want something, such as authority over Satan, all I have to do is just talk with God about it. But God is indicating there is coming a time soon when to achieve something all I have to do is think it or speak it. That is pretty incredible though I no longer doubt it.

Speaking of incredible things God spoke to me tonight for the first time in a very clear way that I was to start asking him for 'signs'. Now when people ask for signs in the past they often did so out of doubt. God indicated this is not the case with me, that I believe Him for the things He has showed me. But that now is the time for me to begin asking for God to bring some of these things He's promised to pass. In the last 8 months I've asked God to open doors, to show me something, and God has always seemed to indicate its according to His will and time not mine. I felt very strongly tonight and heard that now I needed to start praying for these things to come to pass.

Maybe it doesn't mean much to some but I am excited by this. Part of it came about because I asked God if I were off base somewhere. I have been having these dreams and they keep repeating themselves over and over for months now. And the dreams have grown more powerful and urgent and lately they show me taking power over Satan and all that is his. So I asked God if there is something I should be doing and I pointed out some things to Him. And low and behold I believe God said that it was okay to start asking for these things to come to pass. I was talking about 'signs' though God didn't use that phrase I did.

Now if I might digress a little. This all came about because I began to reason with God. Now I don't know if God would have answered me like He did tonight, 8 months ago. Somehow I doubt it. But I pointed out to Him that I could stay like this for several years to come, and I really did want to do His will. But eventually people will start asking, with reason, "Where are all these signs Joel talks about? What makes him any different then any of us?" I pointed out that there is nothing I can point to that will make any skeptic take notice. It is not that I doubt because I don't.

Now I am not perfect but I do believe in my heart God listened and seemed to agree. And gave me the go ahead to pray for such things to come to pass. And I believe with His blessings.

So starting tonight I began to pray for Satan to release and God to bless my steps, my family and friends. So, for the first time, I feel I have not only Gods blessing but direction to pray for these doors to open. That has to mean something after all these months of pain and suffering. I believe good things are coming.