The Orphan Spirit—A Dream
One afternoon my wife and I watched a Bethel video featuring Bill Johnson, who spoke on the subject of the orphan spirit. It was a good message, but apparently, the Holy Spirit wasn’t done speaking when I turned the video off. The message continued into my dreams. That night I had a dream in which Bill Johnson and his wife Beni were present, along with one of their sons. (I don’t know which one.) Their presence in the dream was mysterious. I didn’t see their physical bodies. They seemed to be there in the spirit. They had discerned that the orphan spirit was the greatest problem for the body of Christ at the present time. In the dream, I knew their son was in an area that was “locked down.” When I heard this term in the dream, I wasn’t sure what it meant, exactly.
My EMT partner was with me in the dream. We went to the area that was “locked down.” We were met by a young man who looked like a friend from work named Chris Maehren. He had a young woman with him. They were both very pleasant and dressed very nicely—but they were both wearing black clothing, which struck me as strange.
They accompanied me and my EMT partner as we went through a very large cavern. It seemed to be about 1/2 mile in length and it was very well-lit, for a cave. At the far end of the cave, we climbed up a sloping rock wall that led to a door. We went through the door and into a hallway that led to what looked like a mental hospital. Once we were inside, I saw patients walking the hallways.
The man who led us there was going to let us into a room to see a patient. There was no conversation between us during the dream. He simply led us to a room and opened the door.
At this point, I became aware that there were other people with me, besides my EMT partner. Again, it was an awareness I had that other people were with us, more than actually seeing or talking to them. I had a sense that I was leading a group on a mission.
As I thought about going through the open door, I became aware that what we were doing was against the rules of the facility. I felt we were going to get in trouble when we got caught, which seemed certain because the process took longer than it should have taken. It seemed as though we should have been able to get the person (or people) out of their room and leave quickly, but everything took longer than it should have. I decided not to go into the room. I felt like I didn’t need to. So when the door was opened, I just sat on a table in the hallway and waited.
Everyone in the room came out into the hallway. One person, in particular, seemed very happy that we came there. We talked for a few minutes until an employee showed up and began scolding us for being there. It came as no surprise to me that the employee seemed mentally ill himself, just like the patients. And his sour demeanor let me know that the party was now over.
I don’t recall how I got to the cave, but I had to drive my car home. As I drove, I became concerned that my wife would be mad because I was going to be home late. I looked at a map and determined it would take two to three hours to drive home. As I drove, I suddenly took a mysterious shortcut, which I saw as my car driving quickly across a map. I arrived at home sooner than I expected and found my wife curled up on the couch, watching TV with a group of children that were not my biological children. That was the end of the dream.
There is too much revelation in this dream to adequately cover in a blog post, but I’d like to share a couple of observations:
One of the main messages of the dream is that many of us have taken on a wrong sense of identity. The orphan spirit speaks of a mindset that does not truly believe God is our Father—at least not in the way He wants us to understand this reality. I know many people who say that God is their father, but they live as if He is not. I lived this way for many years, but I’m finally beginning to accept the full implications of what it means to be His son.
A second message is that we’re on a rescue mission to find those who have been held captive by this lie and set them free. When we arrived at the holding room, it wasn’t necessary for me to go into the room they were in. It wasn’t necessary for me to join them in their reality. They had to exercise their free will and leave their place of captivity—they had to believe in a different reality. For those who are being held captive by the orphan spirit, their freedom will come as they begin to understand who they truly are and what it means to be a son of God. They will join us and we will lead them out of darkness.
In the last scene, I was concerned that my wife would be left waiting for me, but God altered time so that I arrived home sooner than I should have. I spend an enormous amount of time writing about healing, the identity of the believer, and getting free from religion. I also spend a lot of time praying with and encouraging people through social networks. I sometimes worry that I’m short-changing my wife by spending so much time doing these things. It seems God may be working behind the scenes to provide enough time for us to stay connected as husband and wife. And the fruit of our ministry is a small tribe of people who are learning with us as we take them along on our adventures.
If you have any observations on this dream, you’re welcome to share them in a comment below.
Wow! There were so many pieces of this dream that looked familiar. Then I remembered my dream about “breaking” my twin brother out of a mental facility (I don’t really have a twin brother). http://faithlivingnow.com/2015/07/29/set-my-brother-free/ There’s some confirmation in it for you. Have an awesome day with Mrs. PM.
Thanks Faith!
Just some thoughts………
As I was reading this, it struck me that the ones who joined you on this mission but were unnamed, were those who are still hidden and yet very important in a covert way to this cause. They are ones who minister behind the scenes and play a supporting role but are very much a part of the actual mission. Being named isn’t necessary at this time. Also, I thought it was interesting that you (and your partner) were leading the way, like forerunners. Once the way is clear, many can and will follow and that’s true for much of what you do with your writing and your life in general. Many follow that are unnamed and unknown because a way has been made for them to do so. They will be ‘named’ in due time.
Good observation Ginny. I think you might be one of those people.
I was thinking of that too; after I wrote this. I do love covert operations 😉
This is very exciting as I work with people with mental illness and I relate so much to the need for people to see the father Heart of God for them before they can change from being in ‘lock down’.
long time ago, Leif Hetlund handed me a key, steve harmon had some pieces..orphans don’t have a lot of hope or confidence in love. sometime plenty of faith. it is very offsetting to those who walk in health. like, we don’t have anything to say to you really until you get un-skewed. then it is like walking into a room that you wanted to be in all along but couldn’t quite fit.
glad you told this one, pM
The part where you didn’t enter the room was powerful to me. Often I want to run in and rescue. People have to want to leave the locked in place. We can’t want it for them. We can show them.
Who was the person who was especially glad you were there? What happened to the group who left the room? I am wondering if Jesus was in there with this group. So when you left them with the mentally ill attendant they didn’t get locked back in.
Is more intercession prayer fasting needed to accelerate the process of freedom for the captives?
Good observations and questions Jeannie. There’s a lot to think about. Thanks for your thoughts!
I am at the point again where I hear myself saying “Wow.” so much to learn, but now I am going to say so much time (would have said so little time and have said that many times before reading this.) There is enough time to learn who we are in Christ!!! Bill Johnson wrote in my Bible when I saw him at The Mission, “Enjoy the adventure.” I sat there the whole day weeping, and was told his anointing sometimes has that effect on folks 🙂 Let’s enjoy the adventure together. I feel very blessed to have connected with you and enjoy what God is saying through you.
Thanks Jerri! <3
I noticed that your role was to go to the place of captivity where the people were and your wife was being present with those who were already out and in the home, a place of hospitality and nurturing. You two were addressing the issue from two different vantage points. There are multiple ways to bring healing, as you know. Each of you offer a different perspective and being good with your own role and the role of the other matters ?
Good observation Toni. Thanks! 🙂
I wonder who the children with your wife are. It feels like I almost know….
Are they reclaimed orphans? Is she your partner in this even more than you have been expecting? Is she ahead of you in caring for them in some ways, since they were already there and presumably being cred for. Are they being given a chanc e to grow up and better, now, with time not being an issue so healthy growth may occur faster than we might expect? It seems to me that such might possibly be.
If so, the I would expect growth to leap when she and they are recognized. As if somehow growth can leap and by-pass time when someone who was an orphan is recognized by partners, who may even for a while be like spiritual parents as they are recognized, heal and grow up in a prayer time that is unlike regular time that is faster.
The dream may even suggest asking you what will you do next? A bit of adventure with lots of grace may be possible, at such a time as this. If so, it would be something we would not want to miss.
Yes it sounds similar to a dream I had. Almost identical. That picture stood out to me because in my dream, I too was sitting on the side of the road with no parents as a child…and this older man reached down, grabbed my hand and adopted me. I remember that I always wanted to play but He was busy at work. I got frustrated until I looked out the windows of Hos workplace and saw the entire world. It was then I realized that was all His and everything He had worked for. He owned it all. It was at that point that I realized it was All His that I transitioned to my current age and He said “follow me”. I began walking up a steep and snowy (I say snowy but it was more like beautiful white flakes just falling) mountain following behind Him. The further I got up, the harder it was to see because it was so bright. I contemplated turning around for a moment thinking it was too hard and He was too far ahead of me. But as I thought to turn around…I saw His silhouette once more in front of me…and I pushed up the mountain. As I continued up the mountain, I saw people on the side of the mountain trying to work hard to get up the mountain…but the rocks kept making them slip because it was too much work and they were exhausted. As I got to the top of the mountain…I saw a huge mansion…I was so mesmerized by how many rooms there were that I didn’t see that He had gone into one of the rooms.I began walking through the doors one by one. Then I saw Him…He was in my room. In my room was all the stuff He had collected from my life. My accomplishments and what nots. There were certificates and trophies. I said “you saved all my stuff”. He said “yes, of course…but sit down now, I have to tell you something”. I sat down and He said “it is for a time that I have to die and leave…but I have a will…and in my will, I have everything to give you..only if you seek me”. I said “I don’t want you to leave” and at that He took His last breath and I woke up crying…
But I realized…God has adopted us…and all He has is ours…it’s not something we have to struggle working for…its just something we seek and ask for. We are His children.
That my friend, is just how wonderful He is.
“They had to exercise their free will to leave their place of captivity….”
This is the statement that really struck me. This is so true in so many areas of captivity, not only the orphan spirit. The problem is so many don’t know they are in captivity, as I didn’t know before I knew.
Mental illness in the dream represents those minds being blinded by the God of this world.
Wow…it never occurred to me to look at mental illness this way. What a good insight – thanks for sharing!
This is exactly what God has been speaking to me. Identity is our #1 issue. If we truly knew who we were then this world would be a much different place. As others said, the place where you had to sit and wait for them to come out struck me. I always want to help others and this is where God has been cautioning me. You just confirmed it. Just because I think I may have an answer doesn’t mean that they might want it. But He will bring those to us that are ready. There is a generation rising…
It seems to me that you have been thinking you need to start a church or ministry like Bill J and others. I believe this dream is showing you, you don’t have to “go into that room” to help people. Within those churches and ministries, things happen that “lock” people…You help people by being free…you write books, help people on the job, and apparently teach or will be teaching at home…
Churches and ministries may not intend to, but they take in people with the “orphan spirit” and they become the Father and Mother to that person.
Thank you!
Some very poignant issues in your dream relating to both what i am going through personally and what God has been teaching me.
Will be seeking the lord about more revelation!
I’d like to take a shot at interpreting your dream (God has the interpretation) but would like clarification: First, where in the dream are Bill and Beni and their son? Second what is the first name of your EMT partner?
Bill and Beni did not physically appear in the dream. I had a knowledge that they had discerned that the orphan spirit was a big problem. My EMT’s name was Brandon.
Dear Praying Medic,
(My wife and I are students of John Paul Jackson’s web courses on dream interpretation. We do not profess to any position, by any means, but I felt led to attempt to interpret your dream.
We prefer that should the interpretation fit your situation you feel liberty to post it, but…please find a way to dissociate my name from the interpretation because we prefer people not try to have us do dream interpretation. If the interpretation does not fit you, well…then we assume you won’t post this at all!)
Here is the interpretation of your dream:
The Holy Spirit is leading you in an undercover way to set people free, but the enemy has his plant accompanying this, and will try to mislead you. Father wants you to know He is pleased with your attention to staying under authority, and serving people with kindness, humility, and wisdom. The enemy would have you attempt to lead people to freedom a different way.
Father also wants you to know that He is guiding you and He knows the deepest desire of your wife’s heart is to seek similar vision. She, too, is concerned for your spiritual children, so do not be concerned with how much time this might require.
If you think it a good thing, please let us know how this lands,
your friends in Yeshua Christ
PS the mental hospital–institution–is the institutional Church!
Guess we should have been more careful in our wording (haven’t posted much).
“The enemy would have you attempt to lead people to freedom a different way,” might better be said ‘The enemy would have you attempt to lead people to freedom from the orphan spirit a different way, involving you going to them. God’s way is to wait while He brings them to you.
“He is guiding you,” should read ‘He is supernaturally guiding you.’
“Deepest desire of your wife’s heart” would better be said ‘a desire of your wife’s heart.’