Promise Seeds

Phillip, a middle-age African American man, talks with God. God grants Phillip spiritual sight. On the surface, all seems routine and natural in his first church, but as some members stand, he notices their spiritual bodies lag behind their physical ones. When they sit, the same lag occurs. He leaves that town for Riverhead, NY. On Long Island, Phillip ministers to strangers who need to hear a word from God. Through Phillip, God changes the trajectory of their lives. Phillip has an air of confidence about him. Acquaintances such as Doug and Karen are not sure how his gift works. They find him unnerving and spiritually arrogant. At a cookout, the host warns Phillip that a spiritual fight will take place in church. He will be in the middle of it. Phillip has never been in a battle with the unseen world in which he was at the center. Phillip rides to bible study with Karen and Doug. Spiritually, Phillip notices biblical promise seeds all over the car floor. These two are avid Bible readers who extract promises from the Word of God. Phillip notices two dark spirits, anxiety and fear, flank Karen's head restraint. They fight spiritually. The dark spirits regroup and attack Karen, but the Lord speaks to Karen through Phillip, breaking anxiety and fear's hold. The spirits flee from the car. The three, Karen, Doug, and Phillip, arrive at bible study. In bible study, Phillip notices promise seeds have sprouted and formed hedges of protection around some members. He notices demonic garments, similar to those when the gift first manifested itself, attempt to oppress members. He also sees armies of spirits gathering. All others are unaware of the darkness gathering. Phillip engages in silent, clandestine spiritual warfare. The spirits eventually identify him as the source warring against them and attack. Repelled, dark spirits call in reinforcements. The growing numbers overwhelm Phillip. He cries out to God for help. Angels descend, and strike the final blow expelling the legion of dark forces. A victory flag of white-hot fire appears above the church. A spiritually drained Phillip exits the church. He hopes members looking at the top of the church see the victory flag, but their comments reveal they don't. They assume the bright light shining on the church is moonlight. He's still alone. All hear what they think is thunder, but it's really the flag snapping in victory. Doug, Karen, and Phillip enter the car. Phillip sees a promise seed under Karen's seat crack open. The sapling splits into three vines and grows toward all three in the car, weaving itself into their individual spiritual hedges and connecting all three together. Another earth-shaking boom occurs. Pointing above the church, Karen says, "With the sound of victory, our Lord has put the flag out." Phillip is speechless. Someone else now sees what he sees, and he's no longer alone. Doug starts the car, and they drive on in silent victory.