During the early morning hours of July 24, 2020, I had another vivid dream and immediately wrote it down when I awoke so as not to forget, believing it to be important.
I was standing in an ancient stone fortress, the kind that have the narrow slit windows for the archers to stand in front of to take aim at the enemy, narrow enough to prevent the enemy's arrows coming into the window to hit the archer. There was an ancient dressed archer in front of each window. [should be able to find pictures of similar fortresses online]
I was standing close enough to one archer, facing his left profile/body side, able to view his whole body countenance and stance. He wore a cream/tan colored muslim type dress which stopped short above the knees, a round neck opening and sleeveless, with a seamless brown waist belt. His hair was wavy, light blondish brown, and short enough not to get in his way. Out of my peripheral, I saw another archer to my left moving into their place in front of the window, just as the rest were. (which inferred that there are prodigal sons/daughters and late comers taking their place in the war)
The archer I was facing had such alertness, complete confidence, and absolutely no fear in his expression. He reminded me of the archer Legolas in the Lord of the Ring; fearless, confident, calm in the face of the enemy, totally prepared, experienced, skilled, brave. Calm, alert, focused, prepared, skilled, ready. Complete courage and
confidence, never taking his eyesight from looking forward out of the window.
His bowstring was stretched into position ready to fire but instead of the usual one arrow, there were three arrows pulled back on his bowstring, aimed like a wide 'W'. An online search revealed when using multiple arrows at once, it's called 'speed-shooting'. The photo online showed a speed-shooter with the arrows taped together at the end to the draw string, but this archer was so skilled that he had the three arrows pulled back at the drawstring held together by just his fingers, as though one arrow. He never took his focus from looking forward out of the window even as he spoke in response to my words to him. I don't know what we said to each other, just that he never turned his head from facing forward to reply.
[added this part 3/1/2021 ~ I'd originally thought the dream was comparing us to be as the Archer, but could it be that the Archers are actually the angels that protect us while we're hidden in the safety of the fortress of the Lord? Either way, wouldn't we want to be just like the Archers in our focus and skill?!]
There will be multiple attacks coming against believers, the Body of Christ, at one time and that we will be prepared in spiritual warfare. The Word says He's coming back for a church "That He might present to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27)
The Enemy/Lucifer/Fallen Angels/and any other demonic/deceptive creature, and all that entails, will come from multiple directions at once; he has never played fair. Do not expect the usual linear attack: these will come in ways that will try to create fear & astonishment, but remember: the Archer was calm & unafraid as he was in the fortress with his weapon ready. The
archer's clothing reminded me of sackcloth, which was worn in ancient
times to humble themselves before God, and some still do, during fasting
and prayer. Sackcloth are said to be rough, itchy and uncomfortable to the body. Meaning, I suppose, that getting right before God and putting down the flesh is very "uncomfortable".
So how do we become as courageous, calm, and focused in the face of the enemy as the Archer in the tower? Turning to the word...
The Word tells us that as we are obedient to the Holy Spirit's work in us, He is working in us both to will and to do of the Father's good pleasure, through Jesus Christ, right. When we have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to send us, our Comforter that will never leave us orphan, and teaches us all things to come. We must live a life of repentance and forgiveness, holiness, and purity, and this aint easy, don't I know it! Temptations are coming at us from ALL angles (hmm, attacks from multiple angles.)
But we are to mortify/destroy the works of the flesh, and as He shows us, we need to be obedient, with the help of Holy Spirit, and in the power of His might, we can and will do this, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness, but we must use the Word of God as our weapon, the written word, the scriptures which is sharper than any twoedged sword.
We need each other, why else is the Enemy wanting to isolate and separate people? For one thing, where two or more are gathered together in HIS NAME, He is in the midst of us. Muzzling the mouth is like trying to keep mosquitoes from passing through a chain link fence. In other words, microbes as tiny as a bioweapon cannot be prevented by a simple mask.
Are we gettin' it yet??
The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God! (2 Corinthians 10) We must spend plenty of time in the Word and prayer, IN YOUR PRAYER CLOSET where it is PRIVATE, and phones and TV technology isn't able to hear you, WHILE IT IS STILL TIME. (I'm aware there are those that don't care who hears them praying out loud, but remember why Christians worldwide that are actually GOING THROUGH HORRIFIC PERSECUTIONS have gone underground. Yes, there is coming a day when we, too, will be persecuted for our faith, but let's be wise, people, praying to be at the right place at the right time, and not before; there has to be SOME of us left for the rest of the harvest, amen?)
We all must know what our authority is in Christ Jesus, that's what the Archer knew: his authority in Christ. (I'm obviously encouraging myself, as well; lots still to overcome.)
The Word says "and they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11) "and to them that endure till the end shall be saved." (Matt 10:22)
Now let me share a bit of an aside:
There are obviously those that are far better speaker/teachers/writers, etc. I'm no Derek Prince or Watchman Nee nor any of the others, nor am I the most knowledgeable or the most eloquent writer/speaker/teacher, etc., and I'm fairly certain I've never claimed to be. Hmm, that ought to encourage the rest of those that felt they first had to become "action heroes" before God could ever use them. God chooses who HE wants despite what others think we should/shouldn't/haven't done properly. Or maybe someone a whole lot wiser, but who does He decide to choose to confound the wise: ordinary folk. Folks that people would say, "Now that HAS to be God in that person, because I know their flaws and imperfections!" Therefore, who then receives the glory: God does.
Here we go ~ Many years ago, I had a dream (what can I say; the Lord speaks to His kids the way He chooses and what He knows will sink in, *shrug*). And in that particular dream, which I still remember pretty well, I was chosen for a part in a play. Three times I told the cast director he'd made a mistake in choosing me, giving him three different reasons why I was simply not the right person; either I wasn't smart enough, good enough, couldn't sing well (my family would say "at all" lol), excuses along those lines.
But with each reason/excuse I gave, the director would reassure me that I was the exact person they wanted for the part, and three times he told me why I was, that they already knew all of that, and still chose me. I was the gal for the part, that it was me they had chosen, and that was that. They felt I was the right choice, without question, despite what I or anyone else thought. After that tete-a-tete, I began to learn and practice my part with gusto and assurance.
The enemy has tried for centuries to keep us from talking, from sharing, to shut us up by using unresolved insecurities, or whatever buttons he pushes. Time and time again, we must each remind ourselves: "Who chose me, who called me: God or man?" We must do what the Lord has called us to do, as we're each made unique in personalities, which is for His purposes and His glory.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11
"The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face: they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways." Deuteronomy 28:7
"The Lord
is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in
whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high
tower." Psalm 18:2
"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And
it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of
my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:...And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:16-18,21
