In the middle of 2020, I had a very significant dream that has carried me through the rest of the year. There is a part of this dream that I believe carries a significant weapon for 2021. That weapon, I believe, is JOY.
In the dream, there were two tall mountains with a deep gulf between. On one mountain was a large gathering of the global Church; ministers, leaders, pastors from everywhere, and just everyday sons and daughters that are influencing their spheres of life. They were all standing shoulder-to-shoulder, covered in armor, looking intently at the mountain top on the other side of the gulf.
The other mountain, however, had a demon of darkness on it. It was taller and broader than any of us on the “Church” side, and it had the most intimidating demeanor that I have ever encountered. It was shooting arrows, hissing and trying to illicit fear in the Church.
There are several details that I will not share here, but the few details that I found most noteworthy would be, firstly, that the “Church” people – although feeling the emotions of fear, intimidation and, even for some, despair – did not run. They bravely stood their ground, and not one of them even flinched. It seemed that they were prepared for whatever launched at them from the other mountain, and they stayed together, without breaking rank or isolating.
Secondly, and probably most significantly, they began to throw their heads back and LAUGH. The Church wore their armor, were ready to swing swords and shields were indeed in place, yet they began to laugh and laugh and laugh. And with every roar of laughter from the “Church” side, the demon of darkness began to SHRINK. In fact, the darkness shrank until it was no more. When I woke up, I felt such an intense sense of urgency to learn to walk in this inherited fruit called JOY. The Lord showed me that joy is a language from Heaven, FOUND IN HIS PRESENCE, and it cannot be comprehended by the enemy. How can the devil understand joy when his heart is so filled with hate, rage and pride? Joy is a frequency that fills up the airways, meaning it blocks out all the noise and accusation of the enemy. Joy is louder than the attack, and therefore diminishes the attack’s power and its ability to intimidate.
We know that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and we know that we can have the fullness of it in His Presence (Psalm 16:11), but I feel that in the coming days JOY will be a great weapon to destroy the demons of darkness. Our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but used to tearing down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4), and what better way to tear down a dark stronghold than to operate from Kingdom joy in the face of evil! During worship recently, while again pondering JOY and this dream, the Holy Spirit asked me the question: “What happens with fruit?”
Fruit is sweet and meant to be consumed and enjoyed. But it also turns into wine. I feel like there is a new wine of joy and celebration coming to the Church in the coming days, as we become intoxicated by the fullness of the intimacy and Presence of our wonderful God. I am convinced that this is a new facet of Kingdom that the Lord wants to pour out afresh! I believe that in 2021, JOY is no longer going to be a buzz word or something that people feel the need to work toward or “feel.” JOY is a fruit, and our absolute inheritance as sons and daughters who can come boldly into the Presence of the King. Intimidation and darkness will shrink at the sound of our joy, and our laughter will become louder than the darkness. The Kingdom is advancing!
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. – Romans 14:17
