In a recent article I wrote titled “Marijuana, Salt & Light” I chronicled my experience attending a local city council meeting in which the subject of approving marijuana sale and grow facilities in our community was front and center. The majority of the council members were all for approval of these businesses, seeing nothing wrong with them since our state has given them a green light despite federal regulations to the contrary. A very small number of us from our church and a couple other Christians were able to push back and cause the council to at least think through some of the issues in a subsequent work session. My wife and I went to that work session, so I wanted to outline a few more thoughts and issues that came to the fore.
As I thought about the initial meeting we attended, I reflected on one particular person on the council. I’d seen her around previously and had a funny feeling about her. After that meeting, I came to believe that God was giving me a discerning sense about her. Something about her made me uncomfortable. There was something not right. Was it demonic—witchy, if you will? I believe so.
Alerted to this subsequent work session of the council, we planned to go. As the time drew near for the start of the meeting, I began getting nervous, and an agitated, very uncomfortable, feeling grew in me that was totally out of character. I didn’t like it, yet didn’t seem able to do anything about it.
The work session proceeded, and the determination of the majority of the members to move forward was evident. One of them, however, spoke out against approval. He had been thinking about this and said that he couldn’t in good conscience vote for it and in the same breath tell his grandson not to smoke pot. The hypocrisy was too much for him.
In the time for public comments, I asked why the council would even think this was a good idea, questioning the premise rather than the details of implementation. Prior to that, the agitation within me had grown considerably. When I spoke, I was pretty animated, perhaps even strident. I didn’t like how I came off, but whatever was negatively working in me was quite strong.
In reflection, trying to assess what I experienced, I’m convinced the demonic element I previously sensed was behind my discomfort, perhaps as a harassing spirit. Other members of the council were gung-ho for this resolution. They were enthusiastic to bring this scourge into the community that can do nothing but cause chaos and darkness. In my estimation, forces beyond them must be strongly at work. Are they aware of what’s pushing them? Maybe there’s more than just that one woman on the council who’s in league with powers beyond what we can see.
Am I paranoid about this? Am I seeing demons behind every tree? Am I attributing more to this effort to legalize marijuana sales in the community than what I should?
I don’t think so. We know Biblically in these end times that lawlessness will increase. At the point of the Rapture, it will increase exponentially. I believe I got a glimpse of this in the force that was coming against me. The Holy Spirit lives within me, and I certainly have that which is greater. However, as Jesus said when He came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, these spirits only come out by prayer and fasting.
All this tells me that I need to step up my game. I have a consistent morning time with the Lord and His Word. Without that, I don’t know where I’d be. What I see, though, is the need to better prepare for encounters such as these. I need to truly take the Words of Jesus to heart, particularly prior to a known encounter with Satanic elements.
A word to all reading this: If you haven’t run into a situation like this yet, the times are such that the likelihood is you will. We all need to be more diligent in our preparation. The Holy Spirit can use us as we are, but how much more could He do through us to attack the enemy if we’re better prepared through our time spent with the Lord?
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Gary W. Ritter is a lay pastor, Bible teacher, and serves as Missions Director at his church. He is also a prolific author. His Whirlwind Series is comprised of three books: Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, and There Is A Time. All these books are also contained in the collected volume of the just-released Whirlwind Omnibus. Gary has a standalone novel of supernatural suspense, The Tattooed Cat, and plans to release Alien Revelation – The Unveiling, the first novel in a new series The Sons of God Chronicles on September 4, 2019. You can reach him via his website at www.GaryRitter.com or at his Facebook Author page at https://www.facebook.com/gritter3390. You can also see his video Bible teachings on his Gary Ritter YouTube page – look for the fish symbol.