Oppression

Wooohh... Deep, dark title... and rightly so...
See what is laying on my heart and mind right now is an overwhelming urge to be fighting, with constant prayer, for the saints.
Which leads me to a question: What do you know about spiritual warfare?
Okay, perhaps I should define what I mean by that term first, because it gets tossed around in Christian circles, but I think that very few people actually really think about it, or really, know what to think about it! When I say "spiritual warfare" I am referring to an alternate realm, existing within our world, but all too often unseen. (and now, you officially have my permission to label me as a radical and proceed to continue reading whatever I have to say with a conservatively cautious eye!) I firmly believe that there are forces, forces of good and evil, operating within our world. We are usually not aware of them in the U.S. but I think worldwide the spirit world is more easily recognized. I don't know if I can paint a clear, concrete picture of what I perceive the spirit world to consist of... but I do know this: when I encounter it, it very often leaves me unsettled.
Okay, now I'll have to go back and explain what I mean by unsettled... I mean to say that while I have very rarely felt directly attacked by the evil forces of the spirit world, (we'll call them demons), I can, at times very acutely feel their presence. I've been told that this is a gifting of the Holy Spirit, but I think that it also requires a mind that is open and willing to be vigilant at watching for the attacks of Satan over our lives. I don't mean by any means to say that I feel effected by the demons (see, I believe that I am protected by my relationship with Christ, where I am sealed by His blood), and while it is possible that I may give the devil a foothold in my life and allow him to effect an area of my life for a season... because of the seal of Christ's blood over my life, I am not to be controlled or ruled by these evil forces. (but how I often give him a foothold, i.e. fear!) My unsettling usually comes from looking about me at the masses of souls who are not sealed. They are sitting ducks; easy targets for the fiery arrows of the Devil.

Okay, all of that to say: My current burden is strong for my community of Christ followers. From talking to people and praying together... I am just sensing a huge oppression upon us all from evil forces. I can't explain it fully, it almost makes me excited, knowing God is about to do something, and the Devil wants nothing more than to stop His advance. But it also makes me concerned for those around me that either: A. can't see that this battle is spiritual, and are still fighting at an emotional level, or B. have handy footholds for Satan already set up in their lives or are already experiencing the Devil having "one leg up" in their lives, or C. those who are actively fighting, but are loosing faith in running headlong into this cloud of darkness, unable to see the lights on their right and left of others struggling in prayer for the same cause!
So, my charge for today is prayer!
The ironic thing is that I have not been able to sleep well at all the last couple nights, but didn't really know why. Last night was little better as far as restlessness, but this time I knew why! And its the battle of prayer until my eyes drift shut!!