12 Snakes

Twelve Snakes

Introduction

In this short story I am sharing with you one of my life's experiences and the wisdom the Lord Jesus has given me through it. My hope and prayer is you will be both blessed and encouraged by this little booklet.

This story is about the subtle, yet deadly, enemy of compromise. May we all learn to say “No!” to every compromise and follow the Holy Spirit's leading in each choice we make.

More importantly, this story is about the authority of the name of Jesus, and His amazing grace and power to set the captives free.

1

The Dream

In the early morning hours on August 26, 2008, I had a disturbing dream.

I dreamt I was in some kind of contest. In the contest they told me I had to allow someone to put twelve snakes into my car. I really did not want to do this, yet debated it in my mind. Finally, I decided to allow them to do it.

They started to put the snakes into my car. With each snake they put in I felt more and more uneasy. They had put ten snakes in and still needed to put in two more when finally I said, “NO! Stop! I don’t want to do this!”

They stopped, but I thought, “How am I going to get those ten snakes out?”

So I said: “In the name of Jesus I command you to come out of my car.” To my surprise, one by one, they all left. Then I thought, “No, I think there is still one more.”

This time I said, "If there are any more snakes in my car, In the name of Jesus, I command you to come out!” Then the last one came out and I knew my car was clean. It was free of snakes and safe for me to drive again.

Then I woke up.

2

Revelation One

When I woke up, I was disturbed I had allowed them to put the snakes in my car in the first place.

I asked God: “Why would I allow them to do that when everything in me was shouting No!”?

The Lord showed me I want to be accepted. I want to fit in and to belong. I sometimes compromise my integrity in order to please others. It is difficult for me to just say “No!"

3

Revelation Two

The second revelation I received from God concerning this dream was that there is POWER in the name of Jesus.

I had received the faulty teaching that the name of Jesus, the Word, is the authority and the Holy Spirit is the power. This is true, but it is a package deal. God gives us the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit backs up God's Word, Jesus.

I was feeling powerless and frustrated because I had not been baptized with the Holy Spirit as evidenced with speaking in tongues.

I had spent years asking God to baptize me with His Holy Spirit, and was starting to lose hope and faith.

I had been deceived into believing I had no power, therefore I was waiting around singing, “Oh, God, send the power right now.” God was saying: “I’ve already given you the power.”

The truth is God has given me the authority of the name of JESUS, God’s Word. God backs up His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit.

1st Scripture

The first scripture God gave me to back up this revelation was in Matthew, Chapter 10, verses 1 to 16.

In the scriptures, Jesus commanded His disciples to go out two by two, among the wolves, and preach the King and His Kingdom, heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons.

They came back and reported to Jesus that “even the demons were subject to them in Jesus Name”.

When the disciples did this they were not baptized in the Holy Spirit. In fact, they were not even born again because Jesus had not yet died and risen. Still, they had the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons. In Jesus’ Name. Hallelujah!

2nd Scripture

The second scripture God gave me was where the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. After Jesus was tempted by the devil, and resisted, He went out with power.

At first God giving me this scripture confused me because Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit before He was tempted in the wilderness by the devil, and then sent out to do His ministry.

Then I realized I was wandering around in the wilderness. I was murmuring and complaining that I didn’t have the power to fight off the devil effectively. I was feeling as though God had abandoned me.

In reality, God has equipped me with everything I need to resist the devil. If I submit to God and resist the devil he MUST flee from me. Then I too will come out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit.

4

Revelation Three

The third revelation I received from God concerning this dream was I had opened the door to my heart (car). I had allowed the deceptions, strongholds, and spirits (snakes) to come in.

However, I have repented and have turned away from my sins. I have received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, therefore, God has given me the victory.

This is so important. If I allow Satan to convince me I have no power, then I will be ineffective in resisting him. I will remain in the wilderness. If there is no power, then I do not want to pray, I do not want to praise, and I do not want to fight.

BUT . . . there is power. I can effectively ward off the attacks of the enemy and come out of the wilderness into the Promised Land. WoW! God is so good!

5

Abba Father

Abba Father, I thank you for this day.

Father, I repent for believing the lie that I do not have the power, or enough power, because I am not baptized with the Holy Spirit.

I am born again. You have deposited your Holy Spirit within me. The name of Jesus is the authority, and the Holy Spirit is the power. This does not mean I have to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit before I am effective or have any power. The Holy Spirit performs God’s Word.

All I have to do is pray and speak Your Word in the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit performs Your Word.

Likewise, when I rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus, he must flee, because Jesus is the name above all name, and the devil must bow to Jesus. Hallelujah!

Thank you Father, for the awesome revelation you gave me last night in my dreams and this morning after I woke up. Hallelujah!