2. wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3. among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:– 4. but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ephesians 2:2-4 (ASV)
Many years ago I attended a large church in Phoenix. I was a member of the choir and church staff. Sunday mornings were delightful. We would begin choir practice at 8am and the anointing would always fall over the sanctuary. By the time service started there was such a thick and powerful anointing that people often said they could feel it when they walked through the doors of the foyer. The ministry teams would often be in the sanctuary as the choir practiced, to drink in the anointing before the congregation began arriving.
One Sunday, in particular, will forever stay in my memory. It was that Sunday that a young warlock priest was sent to the church to kill the worship leader. We were unaware of it during the service. We weren’t actually made aware until the following Wednesday night choir practice. What we were aware of was that many people made their way to the altar and left the elements they were bound by on the steps to the platform. It was a common thing to see every Sunday. We often saw cigarettes, drugs, needles, guns and knives, left by people in deep prayer, crying out to God to cleanse them of their addictions or behaviors. That Sunday a dagger was left at the platform and a young man laid at the platform sobbing for a very long time.
On Wednesday the young man told us that he had been sent there by his coven to kill our worship leader. When the call came to attend the altar for prayer, he walked swiftly to the altar, dagger in hand, fully intending to run up the steps to the platform and complete his assignment, but by the time he had reached the steps, God had broken his heart. God took away his desire to kill the worship leader and his desire to be a part of the coven any longer. God stopped his feet from going forward, he said it was like there was an invisible wall at the bottom of the steps that he could not push through. He dropped the dagger to the floor, fell to his knees, and began sobbing and crying out to God.
That young man began attending church every Sunday, and Bible Studies during the week. He and the worship leader became close as the worship leader mentored him. I won’t say it was an easy transition for this young man, the coven he had come from was very angry and went out of their way to bring him, and his family, great harm. Eventually he had to move away to protect his family and get the fresh faith start that he needed.
This young man was sent to destroy a church and the powerful anointing that filled it – “but God, being rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4) turned his heart and set a hedge of protection around the people in the service. God gave this young man another chance at true eternal life, in Heavenly places, taking away an eternity in the Lake of Fire. God, in His Mercy, changed the course of many of our lives, by the testimony that came forward, showing us that not only can God change an evil man to a godly man, but He can protect His servants from any evil that attempts to bring them harm, “for his great love wherewith He loved us” (Eph 2:4). What more could we possibly ask for.
Thank you, Lord, for not letting me forget your mercies and your love, spread out over the saint and sinner alike. Thank you for loving me when I was unloveable, and bringing me up to a level where I can share that love with others. Hallelujah!
** A Journey Through Ephesians – Chapter 2, Part 2
Written by Linda J. Humes
11-16-2014
Linda J. Humes 