Angel or demon?

I came across some of my old diaries the other day.  I picked one up, written in 2009, and noticed a book mark in it.  When I opened to that specific page the writing there was about a dream I'd had, this is what was written:-

 

Tuesday 7th July

Had a dream this morning that I was in a church, I was praising the Lord with others.  I suddenly felt the Spirit on me and with a loud groan fell to the floor. I knew there were words going to come from my mouth, but I did not know what was going to be said.  Suddenly my mouth opened and I said very powerfully. 'The shutters have to come off this house, the light must come in.'  I spoke these words twice, and then I was aware of being filled with light on the inside.  I had my eyes closed. Then I felt this power leave me and I was just stood there in the church. Everyone had stopped praising and I was saying to people nearby ' I think they may want me to leave this church, that is what usually happens.' Penny, that I used to work with was there.  Someone came and asked to borrow my guitar and went off with it. Paula was close by and talking to a woman and saying to her ' There's nothing wrong with this church, everyone speaks nicely to one another.'  I felt as if Paula represented some Christians who are quite content with a church that does not want change and feels that things are ok if everyone appears happy on the surface.

I then went and asked someone if they wanted help with the dishes and tidied up a bit around the place

 

The dream spoke to me of how sometimes prophesy (the 'light' signifying that it is the word of God that has to come in) in a church gathering can sometimes 'shake the apple cart' a little when it speaks of correction, and be regarded sometimes as 'not from the Lord', however 'Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction.'  Proverbs ch. 29 v. 18 

We have recently purchased a new bed. We had a double one in the bedroom we used and decided we would put a king-size one in another bedroom and sleep in that room, which was warmer.  The first night we slept in it we realized how firm it was and found it difficult to sleep because my husband has a problem with his back and legs and for months I have had a problem with my hips and knees.  Then after about six weeks, although we were slowly getting used to it, we decided we would move back into the other room with the double bed in, which had a much softer mattress.  As soon as we lay on the bed  we thought how much nicer and more comfortable  this mattress was.  However, within about an hour, the pain in my hips grew stronger and eventually so bad that I could not sleep.  After a second night in the bed I told my husband I would have to go back to the firmer bed, and the next night we moved back to the other room.

                                                                                                                                                                          

 

As soon as I lay on the bed I realized that although it was a firm mattress the softness contained in the top special layer worked together with the firmness of the rest of the mattress to give both comfort and support.  We'd had to go back to what we thought was the better bed to realize that it was not. That night we both slept more than we had slept in a long time.

 

As I thought about it I realized that the experience with the beds was speaking spiritually to me.  We can think that our old fleshly way of life was far more comfortable than our new spiritual life until we try to return to it and realize that, just like the  comfort and support of the firmer bed, the love and guidance of the Lord will bring us more peace and support, and less pain in our lives as we persevere in our trials and put our trust in Him.  The manna from Heaven far exceeds the fish, cucumbers  and melons from Egypt (the world). 

The apostle Peter thought that he was doing the right thing when he tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross, he was concerned for the flesh and could not see the Spiritual benefit that would come from Jesus' suffering.  However, Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”Matthew ch. 16 v. 23.  Jesus recognized the spirit that was at work in the mind of Peter was not from God, but was from Satan.  So too, like Peter, can we be mindful of the things of the flesh instead of the things of God because it appears to be more comfortable.  We do not tempt God.  Jesus knew that going to the cross was what God had ordained Him to do, and if we know what the Lord is speaking to us then we must act on it.  Our carnal mind  will try to convince us not to obey if it looks uncomfortable to the flesh, but obeying the Word of God can only lead to good.

 

In my dream the friend that I had worked with and the friend called Paula metaphorically represented both the young and  the mature Christian, and we can all be fooled by Satan into thinking more of the welfare of the flesh than the welfare of the Spirit.

I was in a town where I meet up with my friend on Friday and there was a lady promoting perfumes who was asking us to dip into a bag and pick out two samples to try.  I drew out two of the same called 'ange ou demon'. 

I had a strong feeling that something spiritual was being referred to here.

When I got back home I looked up the meaning of the phrase on the internet and it was 'angel or demon'.   I believe the Lord is emphasising the necessity to test the spirits to see if they are from God.  Are the ones prophesying encouraging us to be mindful of the things of the flesh rather than the things of God?  

We are told that 'all may prophesy so that all may learn and all be encouraged' 1 Corinthians ch. 14 v. 31, and we should not judge those who prophesy by their age as even a young child may do so, as it states in Psalm ch.8 v.2a :- 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength,'

If  the word prophesied convinces and convicts us of sinful things in our lives and we know that we must turn from it then we must act on that word.  If that word prophesied encourages us to continue walking according to the flesh and not according to the way that we know God would want us to walk, then we have to ask

 

'Is this an angel (messenger of God)  speaking, or is this a demon(messenger of Satan) speaking.?'