A Storm Approaches…

12/12/18

A few nights ago I had a short, but, very intense dream. After I share the dream I will share what the Lord has told me about it.

The dream:

The dream started with very thick clouds rolling in on the horizon at a location that is unknown to me. The clouds flashed with different colors and I knew immediately that it was a storm. I believe it was around sunset when it began as there were a lot of orange and pink hues to everything.

I remember having very little time to react before the storm fell upon me. I felt myself being pulled into it. The wind was very intense, however, I found myself in a circular area that was less intense than the rest of the storm. It was the eye of the storm. I could see the walls (clouds) of the storm. They were so thick and treacherous that I couldn’t see anything beyond them.

In the circular area I was in there were tornadoes moving around it. There was a layer of cloud above us and I could see where they connected from the bottom of the clouds to the earth. However, I was able to navigate around them and although I couldn’t let down my guard down I was able to avoid being destroyed by them if I didn’t stay still for too long.

I caught a glimpse of people that I recognized as family members enter the circle and then wander back out of it. I ran to where they had appeared, sticking my head into the clouds to look for them. I managed to grab some of them and pull them back inside the circular area. I remember shouting, “Get inside! It’s not safe out there! Come on!” and things like that.

When they came in they looked around and saw the tornadoes. They panicked and ran back out into the storm despite my cries of protest. I stuck my head back out, but, I couldn’t see them. The wind was so powerful I couldn’t look for too long. For some reason, I felt like the Holy Spirit was saying, “300mph winds” which I believe was to convey the intensity of this storm. Just to give you an idea the highest wind speed recorded for a cyclone is Hurricane Allan in 1980 at 190mph.

Anyway, I woke up shortly after returning to the relative safety of the eye of the storm.

End dream.

So, I sat on this for a few days and waited for confirmation from the Lord and to see if it stuck with me as sometimes dreams are just dreams. After receiving several confirmations and the urging of the Holy Spirit I am sharing this warning with you.

There is a storm coming to America. Not a literal storm although we will continue to experience those as well. No, this is a storm of judgment and the faith of the saints will be tested.

You’ve heard me speak about this already. There will be a financial collapse. Civil war. An EMP. Global war. Occupation by Russia and China. A time of revival and an underground church. Then the end times persecution. Many will be martyred.

So, the storm is judgment of America for her sins.

Chase them with your fierce storm; terrify them with your tempest. – Psalm 83:15

However, I believe the part of the dream the Father wants me to focus on is the testing of the saints. Everyone will be affected by these events. Even the remnant church. It was safer in the eye of the storm, however, there was a very real danger all around me.

I know this will upset a lot of people that think they will be raptured or spared from these events. This is not going to happen, saints. We have forgotten that God is Judge and King. Yes, He loves us, however, He does allow our faith to be tested for the fiery trials will refine us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can see this in the book of Job, when God tested Job’s faith and allowed him to be afflicted. Job did not have the Holy Spirit and he complained and protested his afflictions.

For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. – Job 9:17

You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm. – Job 30:22

God corrected Job for he could not see what we the readers know, that his faith was being tested. God also rebuked Job’s friends that told Job he must have done something wrong. He must have sinned. They tell him to stop complaining and cheer up.

You see, my friends, sometimes we must suffer even though we have done nothing wrong just as Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ suffered and He never sinned at all! There is joy in suffering for it draws us closer to the Father and forges into the likeness of Christ.

We can see this again in the Gospels.

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus wasn’t worried. He was taking a nap! You see, He knew they would make it through the storm. However, the disciples were afraid. Their faith failed and they cried out to Jesus for help! Jesus gently rebuked them and showed them mercy by calming the storm.

Faith will be required to survive the days ahead, my friends. Cling to Jesus Christ alone. Come out of Babylon, and leave your worldly vices and sins behind. They will only hinder you when the storm falls on our shores.

Demon in Disguise

I had this dream last night and it was one of the shortest I’ve ever had. Still, the Lord told me that I would have a dream before I fell asleep and that I was to share what I was shown. This is something that rarely happens and I want to be obedient. So! Here it is:

———

In the dream, I saw Barack Obama. I’m not sure if I was watching television or not. All I could see was his profile down to his shoulders. I think he was making a speech or something. I can’t recall his words at all.

He was speaking for only a few moments when he started to cough a bit. Then he started to convulse and his eyes rolled up into his head. His features started to contort and transform and I started to get this feeling of paralyzing fear. I was horrified and could hardly bear to look at him.

His skin started to turn grey, becoming heavily lined and his face seemed to expand quite a bit. Horns started to grow out of his skull similar to the picture I posted for this article. It was the closest I could find. His horns stuck out more horizontally rather than curving downward. I can’t remember his eyes at all. They might have been completely black. I could hardly bear to look at him as I said.

Then he began to speak and it was the most horrible, deep, dark sound I’d ever heard. I was completely stricken with fear. I have no idea what he said. I don’t think it was a human language.

Then he suddenly snapped back to his normal appearance. The entire transformation only lasted maybe… 10 seconds? I had this feeling of dread and understanding that most people did not even notice he had changed. Then the dream was over. That’s it.

———

Before I get into my thoughts on this dream I want to preface this by saying that I do not normally dream about politicians. I can only think of one other occasion and I do not believe I have shared it on this blog. It involved Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump speaking about betraying Donald Trump. There was a plan to overthrow him and I remember Jared was especially cruel and impatient. He was nothing like what we’ve seen of him. Ivanka was afraid of him. It was also very short.

Anyway, I also do not consider myself a Republican or a Democrat. I believe the Left-Right paradigm is a system of control used by the elites to keep us divided while they continue to push their Luciferian agenda forward.

I did not vote for Obama. I did not vote for Trump. I did not vote at all. I believe it is a waste of time and that our presidents are selected for a specific purpose. Obama was selected to empower the left and antagonize the right. Trump was selected to empower the right and antagonize the left.

I also believe Trump is going to bring about the destruction of America while carrying the banner of a White Nationalist Evangelical. I believe this is by design to convince people to embrace global unity, a one world government, and a one world religion as America will fall under the leadership of a White Nationalist Evangelical so clearly that doesn’t work. I also believe that Trump is completely aware of it.

I also want to say that until this dream while I believed Obama to be a part of the globalist/NWO/Luciferian agenda, something he never really tried to hide, I did not really deem him as anyone important. He was just another puppet being used to control the masses whether it be known or unknown to him. He is an excellent speaker and I understand why so many people adore him. Personally, I saw right through his act. I believe the Holy Spirit gave me the discernment for that. Everyone has a tell and Obama has a gleam in his eye when he is spinning something particularly clever. I’m sure many of you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I’ll admit that this has left me baffled by those that are enamored by Donald Trump as he is very easy to read and it is clear to me that he does little more than pay lip service to the right and antagonize the left. I have not heard him preach the gospel or call for repentance. He has not ended abortion, same-sex marriage, transgenderism, the murder of the innocent through war, idolatry or anything that we as followers of Jesus Christ should care about. I understand the desire to hope for a reprieve and to “Make America Great Again”. However, I have not seen a reprieve and America seems to fall deeper into sin and darkness every day.

So, back to Obama. I do not know the meaning of this dream. I know many to believe Obama is the antichrist. Is that what I saw? Is he demonically possessed? Is he from a Nephilim bloodline? Was this the indwelling of Satan? I am asking for answers, brothers, and sisters. I do not want to make assumptions as we are called not to judge the unbeliever. All I know is that there was something demonic in him and there is a reason I believe that.

This is an experience I had years ago:

———

Several years ago I was lying in bed and was unable to fall asleep. I tossed and turned until I began to feel a malevolent presence in my room. I looked to my right and there was a dark figure standing over me.

My mind was flooded with fear and I was completely paralyzed with it. I watched in horror as this figure reached out a hand toward my throat to strangle me. Just before it’s fingers wrapped around my throat, I managed to turn away from it and whimper, “Jesus… Save me…”

Immediately, there was an explosion of light almost like a burst of stars and the fear was gone. I felt an overwhelming peace and warmth envelop me. I found myself floating in the night sky, being cradled in the arms of an enormous being that I knew was Jesus. I could feel it.

So, I asked Him, rather stupidly in retrospect, “Is this really what you look like?” There was so much light coming from Him that I could hardly describe His features to you. The closest I’ve ever seen is that painting by Akiane, “Prince of Peace” which I had never seen at the time.

Anyway, He answered with, “Is that really important right now?” Which made me feel a bit silly so I fell silent and rested in His arms until I fell asleep. I slept through the night.

I am certain I was awake at the beginning of this experience. However, to this day I am unsure if what happened in the night sky was in the body or the spirit. It is an experience I will never forget. I love Jesus so much and His love for us is truly beyond description.

———

So, that feeling of fear when the demonic presence reached out for me was exactly the same as the one I had when Obama was changing into a demon. The same paralyzing fear and a dark, malevolent presence that you could physically feel. I had a few other encounters like this as a child although I did not know Jesus at the time so I could not send them away.

Alright, so that’s about it. I would appreciate any insight or interpretation of this dream from fellow believers.

Back to Basics

May 2017

I had this vision several weeks ago and while parts of it involve my personal walk I feel led to share a portion of it that might benefit others.

This vision began with Jesus leading me through a grassy plain. After awhile we came upon a series of large, malformed hilltops. Jesus led me to the base of one of these hills and began to climb toward the top. It was far steeper than it had appeared to be from a distance.

I did my best to keep up with him as I found myself distracted by the surface of the hill. There was a microwave on it and I paused for a moment to wonder why there was a microwave in this vision. “Come on, keep moving, Michael,” Jesus called down to me. I snapped out of my wandering thoughts and followed Jesus until we reached the top.

Jesus pointed to the horizon and in the distance, I could see a city that was engulfed in complete darkness. There was no light at all. “Look around.” He told me. I did as He instructed and took a closer look at the hills surrounding us. I suddenly understood why they were so malformed. They weren’t really hills at all. It was a dump.

The first thing I noticed is that there wasn’t any garbage. All I could see were electronics of various kinds. TVs, Computers, Phones, Microwaves, Refrigerators, Modern Cars, Gaming consoles, etc. That was strange enough, but, it seemed like none of them appeared to be smashed or broken.

“All of these devices will no longer function. They will be of no use to anyone.” Jesus told me. I was going to ask Him if there was going to be an EMP strike or something as there have been concerns circulating about such an attack for some time. But, before I could ask, He said, “Come. I have more to show you.”

We made our way down the other side of the hill and wandered out past the outskirts of the dark city. He led me into the wilderness and through a dense patch of woods. We came upon a clearing that held what appeared to be a small community. There was a large building in the center with a lot of people coming and going from within it. There were also some houses spread about in all directions with people dotting the streets.

“Go inside,” Jesus told me, gesturing to the large building at the center. I walked into the building and from that point on the vision became an out of body experience. I was no longer in control of my body and instead was watching scenes unfold.

The building was some sort of community center. I entered a long hallway with plain, white walls and wooden floors. There were people entering and exiting several doorways along it. It was very warm as there didn’t appear to be any electricity. No lights were on. No electronic devices to be seen at all

The first room, on my left, had been converted into a makeshift hospital. There were beds lined up in rows along the walls with iv bag stands and medical equipment on tray tables. There were a lot of people being treated. I peeked my head in and asked one of the medical staff, “Anyone new?” She shook her head. I left that room and entered another large room on the opposite side.

This room was filled with supplies. There were large tables pushed together into long rows. I saw food, water, medical supplies, Bibles, books, and a lot more being sorted into boxes by many people. Others would then take the boxes and leave the building to deliver them. It was a very busy room. I moved about the room, making small talk with people. Everyone seemed to know me and each other. It felt more like a large family than a community. The atmosphere was very joyful, purposeful, and alive.

I was told that I was needed upstairs. I exited the room through a different door, back into the entrance hall further down toward the back of the building. There, I found a wooden staircase. I climbed up the stairs and entered what appeared to be an office. It also seemed to be functioning as a war room. There was a large desk in the center with all sorts of maps and documents upon it. There was one map in particular that appeared to be local and had marks on it in various places.

One of the men in the room approached me, “We found another FEMA camp.” He told me. I grimaced, “How many?” “We counted eighty-one working in the fields. There were most likely more inside. We couldn’t risk speaking to any of them in the daylight. It’s one of the Wal-mart locations.” He said curtly. I groaned, “Of course.”

Then he showed me the location on the local map. “That isn’t far. Get a party together. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning before dawn. The longer we wait the more of them will be executed.” I told him. “We?” He asked. I nodded, “I’m coming with you.” I said plainly. “You shouldn’t risk your life, sir.” He told me. “We risk our lives every day. Have faith, brother. God is with us.” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. Then I retreated downstairs.

There was more to the vision, however, it only relates to my personal life so we’ll end it here.

The beginning of the vision was further confirmation of words I’ve received from the Lord about the power grid being taken down. The community was wonderful. I can’t describe the feeling of fellowship in that place. It was the Church as the Lord intended. Everyone shared freely with each other. Everyone was connected face to face. No one was lost in their computer, television, and phone screens. It really felt like a family.

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. – Acts 4:32

I believe that the Lord is preparing a place for His remnant and that what He has for us may lack many worldly comforts, but, it will be Spirit-filled and alive. The times were difficult and dark, but, this community shined and was working to spread the love of Jesus Christ within it and beyond.

As the times continue to grow darker and propel us into a time of war and calamity, keep your eyes upon Jesus Christ. Dwell in the secret place with our Father. He is preparing a place for us to find true fellowship with each other again. A place to feed, clothe, and shelter the lost and the broken. To share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a nation that will desperately need Him. Hallelujah!

Beneath His Wings

May 2017

I’m not sure of the exact date of this vision. Normally, I record everything the Lord tells me or shows me in a journal. However, the Lord has led me into a season where He wants me to listen to Him without the aid of that tool. He has impressed upon me the importance of walking in the Spirit in the dangerous days ahead of us. I developed a habit of writing down whatever He tells me and then going about my day through my own effort and willpower. It doesn’t work. Even if you have a word from the Lord if you’re walking in the flesh and not the Spirit you’re not going to get anywhere.

Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. – Galatians 4:21-23

We cannot fulfill God’s promises to us through human effort. We cannot carry out His will without following the lead of His Holy Spirit. Only God can fulfill His promises. Only the Spirit of God can carry out His will. It is impossible through human effort. Trust me. I’ve tried.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

I love Jesus. He speaks so much truth with so few words. He is incredible.

Anyway, if you don’t know the story, God promises Abraham a son. However, He does not tell Abraham when this is going to happen until the appointed time. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, gets impatient and tells Abraham to sleep with her servant, Hagar so that she can have a child through her. This is what happens when we try to fulfill God’s promise on our own. I’m sure she thought it was a great idea and God did promise them a son, right? Don’t try to fulfill God’s promises for Him.

As soon as Hagar is pregnant Sarah regrets this decision and treats her with contempt. Sarah treats Hagar so badly that she runs away. She cries out to God and in His mercy, He encourages her to return home and blesses her with a son. However, this son was born out of a human effort to fulfill God’s promise. So, God declares that this son, Ishmael, will live in open hostility to the rest of his relatives.

When Abraham and Sarah are around 100 years old God tells them Sarah is going to have the son He promised to them. They thought this was impossible as Sarah was barren. But, nothing is impossible with God and sure enough, Sarah gave birth to Isaac just as God promised.

God always keeps His promises. He is faithful and true. Sometimes, God sets conditions for His promises and covenants, however, He never breaks them. Only mankind breaks promises between us and the Lord. And even then, while He may discipline us, God is still for us. Abraham was very blessed because even though he tried to bring about God’s promise through human effort God still gave Abraham his promised son. He is so patient with us.

I wasn’t planning to write this before the vision. I’m just being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, clearly, someone needs to hear this message. To them, I would say, be patient, if the Lord has promised you something He will fulfill that promise. If He has not given you conditions then rejoice because there is nothing you can do to ruin it. Although, much like Abraham, do not try to bring it about through human effort as it will only bring you trouble. Be faithful and obedient. Be patient. God will do it. If He has given you conditions then be faithful and obedient to keep them, and still rejoice because God is for you and He always keeps His promises.

God is not a man, so he does not lie.
    He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
    Has he ever promised and not carried it through? – Numbers 23:19

Now, on to the vision.

In this dream I was on a narrow, dirt path in a very dense forest, walking along with a friend. The trees were so tall and their leaves were so thick that you could barely see the sky at all.

Within moments I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I sensed danger. I looked behind us and there were brown bears coming out from behind the trees and forming a line as far as the eye could see from the east to the west. My friend and I immediately bolted, running full speed away from these beasts. I could hear them roar in frustration and the earth seemed to shake as they pursued us.

I dared to glance behind me for a second and stopped in my tracks. Among the brown bears, there were panda bears chasing us too. “That’s impossible.” I thought to myself.

I want to pause here for a moment and say that I have received an increase in dreams and visions from the Lord in the past months. I’m not used to it. And they are so real that when something doesn’t make sense I have a hard time letting God lead me through it. I get caught up in the vision rather than the purpose of it. In this case, God didn’t give me time to think about it. His voice boomed in my head, “RUN!” Let me tell you when God tells you to move that clearly, you do it.

So, I ran full speed, catching up with my friend who had wisely not turned around to face a ravenous pack of bears. The bears were on our heels as what appeared to be a perfectly circular cave opening came into view ahead of us. I don’t know if God pulled us in or we dove in, but, just before we were run down we entered the cave.

Immediately, a barrier of light snapped into place over the opening and the bears collided with it. A blurred figure stood in front of this barrier with arms held out, holding it in place for us.

Within moments, I noticed there was a light inside the cave. It looked like a campfire. I moved closer to the fire and sat down in front of it. There was a man sitting opposite me, cooking some sort of stew. My friend sat down a little further from the fire, still shaken by what had just happened.

The man didn’t say anything at first and just continued to cook the stew. There was something familiar about Him. I just knew it was Jesus. He gave me a bowl of soup and we began to talk to each other. “Eat.” He instructed me. I did and it warmed me to my core. The tension from the chase was gone. I felt at peace. I asked Him, “Where are we?” “I have hidden you here. I have prepared a place for you and there is still work to be done.” He told me.

My friend seemed to recognize His voice and moved to the fire, receiving a bowl of soup from Jesus. Then Jesus moved out of sight into the darkness and I could hear the sound of various tools being used. I definitely heard Him sawing through a wooden plank or something at one point.

“What are you doing?” I asked Him. “As I said, I am preparing a place for you. I will reveal more to you in time.” The vision ended.

God revealed to me that the brown bears represented Russian soldiers and the panda bears represented Chinese soldiers. In hindsight, it wasn’t strange at all given the current state of US relations with these countries.

We need to pay close attention to the signs of the time. Dumitru Duduman’s prophecies of war have been weighing heavily on my mind as of late.

https://www.handofhelp.com/vision_36.php

https://www.handofhelp.com/vision_1.php

What are the countries involved in these prophecies? Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico.

War could break out at any moment with Russia through the Syrian conflict. North Korea is constantly threatening to destroy America and conflict with them will lead to conflict with China. Trump just ticked off the Castro regime in Cuba by repealing Obama’s Cuba policy with his own. Trump has been antagonizing Mexico with his insistence that they pay for the border wall. We have not heard much about Nicaragua. However, after a little research I found this:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1918/all-actions?overview=closed#tabs

Essentially, this bill would cut off Nicaragua from receiving money from us until they fulfill certain conditions related to election fraud. You can read more about it on Wikipedia under the NICA Act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua%E2%80%93United_States_relations

There is also mention of Russia wanting America out of Taiwan. And where are we on the brink of war with China right now? The South China Sea. Look at a map.

Dumitru also saw that the US would be busy with infighting while this happened. The government is in chaos right now and the left and right are being polarized by the media. We are closer to civil war than we have ever been. We have George Soros funding riots and violent civil rights groups. The elites are pushing us toward civil unrest. They want martial law in this country.

It also says that the Russians will learn of the locations of our nuclear storehouses. There have been a lot of suspicious Russian connections and meetings behind closed doors.

All the pieces are in place for Dumitru Duduman’s prophecy to come true. How will it start? Military strike? Financial collapse? Radical policy change? I have no idea. The Lord has not given me a specific word about it and I’m not sure that He ever will. I believe America is going to be caught by surprise and rather than trying to figure out how it will happen we should repent and spend our time in the Lord’s presence as He is our only safe refuge. He must depend on Him alone.

The Lord has brought me back to that cave many times since then and revealed a lot about what lies ahead in my personal walk. There was one moment I feel led to share with you. The cave became brighter with each visit and at one point He instructed me to look at the roof of the cave. The cave was not a cave at all. The walls and roof were made completely out of feathers. They rustled and swayed with the wind and the “cave” suddenly felt alive. It was a pair of wings.

Psalm 91

¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
³ For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
⁵ Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
⁶ Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
⁷ Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
⁸ Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

⁹ If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
¹⁰ no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
¹¹ For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
¹² They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
¹³ You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
¹⁶ I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

There are dark times ahead of us, my friends. Now is the time to repent and sit at the feet of Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Savior. Our only safe refuge is found beneath His wings. As always, if you don’t know Him I would encourage you to come to Him today. Time is running out.

 

The Rapture

4/28/17

I had a very intense dream on this night. It was quite unusual and I still haven’t received a full understanding of it from the Lord.

When the dream began I was no longer at home with my family. I was at a strange house with my parents. It was different than their current home so I wasn’t sure of our exact location. There was a real sense of danger in this dream. I approached my step-father and asked him if he had a gun because we needed to arm ourselves. He led me into the kitchen and pulled down two cereal boxes. Beneath the bags inside of them were two guns, a 9mm, and a revolver. He gave them to me and told me, “You’ll have to figure out how to use them. I want nothing to do with it.” Then he retreated upstairs where my mother was hiding out.

I found some ammo boxes and tried to figure out how to load the revolver when I heard someone break through one of the windows in the living room. I retreated down a hallway and slipped into a closet where I fumbled with the only bullet I managed to hold onto and tried to load the revolver. I know nothing about guns and it was a real struggle. I could hear two men talking in deep, low voices as they ransacked the kitchen.

I finally managed to get the bullet into the cylinder and slowly exited the closet. I crept into the kitchen and watched as two men dressed in tribal clothing were piling their spoils on the kitchen table. I had this strange sense that they were cannibals and were plotting to eat us. I couldn’t understand their words.

One of them was much larger and wore a headdress so I assumed he was the leader. I crept up behind them and pointed the barrel of the revolver at the leader’s head. I pulled the trigger and with a loud bang, he dropped to the floor. His partner panicked and ran into the living room and out the front door.

After taking a moment to calm down I ran to the front door and peeked outside. I could see the entire city engulfed in flames. Complete and total destruction. It looked like the entire world was on fire. There was a horde of these tribal people marching away from the city in the direction of our house. Thousands upon thousands of them.

I slammed the front door shut and ran back into the kitchen, searching for the ammo boxes. They were gone. In a panic, I scrambled around the house trying to find more bullets or some sort of weapon. Something. Anything. I could hear the chaos outside getting louder so I ran to the door to look again.

The army of tribals was getting closer, but, they weren’t marching toward us. They were fleeing the destruction. The city was completely decimated and it seemed like the destruction was moving toward us.

Then I saw two old men with long, flowing beards in sackcloth calling out warnings to the people, “You cannot escape the wrath of God! Even if you flee you will not escape judgment!” A spout of flame erupted from their mouths when they spoke these words. Oddly, I did not feel threatened by them. I had the sense they were on our side. So, I retreated inside again to tell my parents what was going on.

I ran upstairs and found them in one of the bedrooms. I told my step-father, “The city has been destroyed. I think we should leave. There’s nothing left for us here.” He nodded and started to voice his agreement when suddenly our backs arched and these blue, glowing spheres shot up out of our bodies and straight through the ceiling into the sky. It was the strangest sensation I’ve ever felt. It was like an unseen hand had grabbed me and pulled me straight up at an incredible speed. As I rose higher and higher I had the realization that I was one of those blue spheres and that my body had been left behind or destroyed.

Eventually, I stopped and found myself in a strange place. It looked like a giant arcade of some kind. I was sitting on a stool with an arcade machine in front of me. I looked around and noticed that there were rows and rows of these machines with a person assigned to each one of them. I looked behind me and saw a young woman sitting at a machine of her own.

“Where am I?” I asked her. “I’m not sure.” She responded. “Well, what are we doing here?” I asked. “I have no idea.” She told me. Something didn’t feel right about that place. I knew that I should be in heaven and this didn’t feel like heaven to me. “How do I get out of here? I need to get to heaven.” I asked the woman. She shrugged, “I don’t know. Some believe that if you play enough games you can earn a place in heaven. I’ve never seen it done as long as I’ve been here. Still, you might as well play, there’s nothing else to do here.” She returned to her game, clearly finished with the conversation.

I turned to my own machine and frowned. I started to play a game and while I did I was very confused. I thought to myself, “This isn’t right. Playing games won’t get me to heaven. There’s only one way to heaven and that’s believing in Jesus.” As soon as I had that revelation I shot up out of my body again as a blue sphere and continued on my way.

I continued up until I was in space and it was there that I stopped again. It was strange, I had something like a body, but, it felt very floaty and ethereal. That’s the best I can explain it. My parents were there and I was so happy to see them. I knew I was in the right place. I felt an immense relief. There were three other people there with us. Morgan Freeman, whom I could feel was the Father. Judi Dench, whom I could sense was the Holy Spirit. And Jesus, who looked like Himself, although I could not see His face.

It was very weird. I found myself drawn to Jesus. I wanted to see His face. But, He was completely occupied. I followed His gaze and He was staring at the Earth and it was on fire in many areas. There was chaos all over the entire planet. The tone became very serious and I knew something very important was about to happen.

There was a flash of light and I had another short dream that was personal and encouraged me to reach out to a family member of mine. I’m not sure if I woke up in between these two dreams because they didn’t seem to be related at all.

End of dream.

So, yeah, a very unusual dream. I’ve asked the Lord for an interpretation and He has explained parts of it to me. I’ve largely left it on the shelf until He gives me greater clarity about it.

He did tell me about the tribal people representing the sort of lawless men that will be on the streets in the end times. He also told me about how I had given into fear and that I was to trust Him for provision and protection during attacks.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

My mother purchased a revolver shortly after this dream. I told her about the dream and as it turns out, the revolver she bought is the same one from my dream. Same design. Same color. I even held it to make sure and it had the same weight and everything. It actually felt familiar. That was very strange indeed.

The destruction was very straightforward. He didn’t tell me much about the two old men. I don’t know if they have anything to do with the two witnesses in Revelation.

The Rapture itself was incredible and the main reason I wanted to share this dream. Shortly after I had this dream the Lord led me to this video. I literally stumbled upon it seemingly by accident. I think someone had posted it in a random article I was reading or something, I can’t remember, I just know I wasn’t looking for it.

 

This is exactly what happened in my dream. I have no idea where this clip comes from and I have never seen it before, but, I was in tears watching it. Even the little blue spheres shooting up into the sky was the same. I’m not saying that this is what the Rapture will be like or anything. I have no idea. I just know that it matched my dream exactly.

 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

The arcade was about how good works will not earn us a place in heaven. It is through Jesus Christ alone that we are saved. He is the bridge. That is the reason that when I had that revelation I was immediately freed from that place.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. – Ephesians 2:8-9

The part in space was about being caught up to Jesus, again very straightforward. I believe that the Father appearing as Morgan Freeman and the Holy Spirit as Judi Dench was just to keep my mind focused on Jesus. I don’t think those two actors have anything to do with the dream.

It was very strange. I’ve had many dreams, visions, and words from the Lord regarding a remnant when America falls so this may have been at a later time during the tribulation. It may have just been to teach me something. It was a bit confusing, so, I have largely shelved it until I receive an interpretation from the Lord. If you have that gift, by all means, have a crack at it.

I think the main focus here is that it all comes down to Jesus. In the end, we will be with Him and that is a very encouraging thought. The joy that filled my soul at the thought of being caught up in the sky to be with Him was indescribable. He is so good. Come to Him if you don’t know Him already.

 

Dancing into the Pit

4/10/17

This was a few months ago and the Lord spoke to me as He showed me this vision. This is what He said:

“Every system America depends on will be broken and destroyed. I will not hold back much longer. It is the only way to save them. Close your eyes. Do you feel it? The suffering of their souls? They do not even realize they are in darkness. They dance and sing their way into the pit. Such sorrow fills my heart for them. If they would only let me I would save them. I love them so very much. I love them as I have loved you. But, they will not see me. They will not hear me. They spit in my face. They mock me. They drag the name of my precious Son through the mud. It is with a heavy heart that I bring judgment to America. I would turn away and bring them blessings beyond measure if they would just come back to me. This must be done before it is too late for anyone to be saved. If I stay my hand they will sink so deep into sin that even shaking the earth beneath their feet will not cause them to cry out for me. Oh, how I love them.”

The vision:

As the Lord spoke I saw a vast plain. The earth was blackened and cracked. There was no vegetation or animal life save for a few skeletal trees the color of charcoal. There were flames still burning everywhere. The entire sky was consumed in a dark, violent storm. In the center of the plains, there was a massive, circular pit, it was pitch black and seemed to have no bottom.

I stood with Jesus and watched a horrifying scene unfold. There were people dressed in tribal clothing, covered in war paint and tattoos. They were wild. You could actually feel it. It was a tangible presence. They were dancing and singing with each other, marching along toward the pit. As they reached the edge, they just walked off and vanished with a scream. Those behind them took no notice of their distress and followed them down.

Jesus called out to them, beckoning them to come to Him. They wouldn’t listen. He fell to His knees and cried out to them over and over, tears streaming down His face. For a moment, He allowed me to feel a fraction of His grief and it brought me to my knees. Then the grief started to fade and He started to get angry, and I mean furious, it was so startling that I was pulled out of the vision.

Jesus wept. – John 11:35

I was in tears after this vision. These people were so lost in sin that they were literally dancing and singing their way into hell. They didn’t even recognize their sin as evil. They embraced it. And the  Lord has had enough of it. I don’t think we truly understand God’s wrath. I don’t believe He wants to destroy sinners as some people will tell you. It’s the sin. It’s destroying us and He loves us so much. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for that sin and raised Him to new life to give us new life.

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! – 2 Timothy 3:2-5

If you’re a parent you can probably understand how he feels at least somewhat. If your child is being hurt whether it be from another person or themselves doesn’t it make you angry? Doesn’t it make you want to protect them? Doesn’t it make you want to save them? If you’re not a parent, think of a close friend or family member. Wouldn’t you do the same? I believe God’s judgment is a mercy to keep us from destroying ourselves and each other. It’s a wake-up call.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. – 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord spoke to me again later in the day:

“Judgment comes for America. It breaks my heart and if she would turn back to me I would stay my hand. It grieves me. They are so deep in sin they don’t even see it as such anymore. Or they place confidence in the knowledge of men which is nothing to me. Such people will not be convinced by mere words. Oh, how I desire that they would listen! They are so easily distracted. It is too easy for them to turn away and ignore me. I will bring the entire grid crashing down. People will need to speak face to face again.”

“Understand how I feel about the coming judgment, my son. Feel what I feel. Know my love for the lost. I need you to understand the reason for this judgment before it happens. When these people are running, dying, and suffering I don’t want you to turn your chin up or turn away. I don’t want you to look away. I want you to weep and show them the heart of my Son, Jesus Christ. Show them MY love. True love. Many like you are crying out, “Is there no other way Lord?” If America will not repent then there is not. But, do not despair, my child. Shine the light of Jesus Christ in the darkness and those with eyes to see and ears to hear will come home to me. Then there will be a period of joy and peace again in the remnant of America for a brief time. She will be small. So small that no one will care about her anymore. That in itself is a blessing in times of war.”

The Lord is so patient with us. He gives us so many chances. He always warns us before judgment comes because He truly loves us and wants everyone to be saved through His Son, Jesus Christ. Sound the alarm! Repent! Time is running out! This isn’t the time to be idle and pretend as if America will endure forever. Every empire has fallen. Pride is America’s greatest sin. Our loyalty is to Jesus Christ above all others. He is our only hope! Come to Him!

Underground

3/17/17

I had this dream a few months ago during a period of time when the Lord instructed me to write down my dreams. I had several intense dreams and will share those that the Lord leads me to post here.

This is the dream:

When it started I was walking through an office building that did not appear to be in use for it’s intended purpose. The cubicles had been shifted to form distinct sections and there were papers scattered all over the floor. Each section had something different going on.

One section had people on stretchers. I remember seeing people with various injuries. I also distinctly remember IV bags. It appeared to be a hospital or roughly thrown together first aid area.

Another section was filled with children bunched together in small groups with an adult reading to them and watching over them as they worked. It was definitely some sort of school or teaching area. It seemed to be for both Biblical and practical application.

The last section I remember was more hidden and it had people in prayer circles. Some were laying hands on people. Others were singing and praising the Lord. Some seemed to be talking very seriously while standing over a large table covered in maps and important documents. It seemed to be a church meeting place.

There also seemed to be people that I felt were messengers or couriers moving food, water, and other resources around, in, and out of the building. There was a lot going on and I felt that I belonged as no one seemed to mind my presence or cared which room I entered.

As I moved through the building to the exit I entered another area that appeared to be a building under construction. Abandoned tools and hard hats. Half-constructed walls and what-not. I remember those long, plastic sheets you see hanging in them very clearly. It was the same set up as the other place. A school, hospital, and church all wrapped into one.

The next area was an abandoned building, followed by an abandoned factory, then a very dark place that might have been an underground parking garage. All the same, all containing a hospital, school, and church.

I remember asking the Lord during this vision why nobody seemed to care that I was moving around these places and He said, “You will be hidden in plain sight. At first, during the worst of the chaos, nobody will care where you go or what you do because they will be too busy panicking, trying to take care of themselves and their loved ones.” I woke up soon after this and recall nothing else after it.

This is the word the Lord spoke to me after the dream:

“When the attacks begin I will conceal you. I will give you safe passage. No one will care where you tread. Everyone will be too busy with their own problems to care where you go or who you are as you do not have the appearance of a soldier or a terrorist. I will be turning their eyes from you. Sometimes you will hide in quiet, isolated places. Other times you will be with other believers. There will be secret places within abandoned buildings and construction sites. These will serve as schools, churches, and hospitals as those on display as such will be targeted for destruction. They are just buildings, remember that, son. It is my people that are the Church. My people will learn what it means to truly have fellowship with each other and to work as one body. ”

From what God told me it seems that we will be hiding in plain sight as well as underground. Perhaps we will have what seem to be businesses, factories, and labor camps on the surface and are in fact underground refuges for persecuted Christians as well as those that need our help. This would make sense if lined up with prophecies that indicate that we will be occupied by Chinese and/or Russian soldiers.

Other places such as the construction site might just be places that nobody would bother to look for us. I think it will be a mix of totally underground churches and churches hidden in plain sight, masquerading as the places I listed above.

The hour is late and times will be hard, but, it is encouraging that even in the darkest of times the Lord is preparing a place of refuge for us beneath his mighty wings. There is always hope. It may be America’s darkest hour, but, it will be the brightest for Jesus Christ’s true followers, his remnant, as we shine a light for the injured, the lost, the hungry, and the sick.

Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.” – Revelation 7:1-3

Few in America have shared the gospel in such a way. Usually, it’s just the missionaries that bring the gospel to dark places, those places of evil with starvation, witchcraft, horrendous disease, poverty, violence, and destitution that we can scarcely imagine in our cozy country. The mission is going to be on your doorstep, brothers, and sisters.

Be prepared in the physical and most importantly the spiritual. Repent. Dwell in the secret place with our Father. Even if your home is destroyed the Lord will provide for you. He can send wild animals to bring you food as he did with Elijah. He can make it so your supply multiplies and never runs out. He can do anything. Nothing is impossible. Be ready to see healing, miracles, and wonders on a level the West has not seen in ages. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6:25-33

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” – Matthew 17:20

Stand ready brothers and sisters. God bless you all.

Into the Deep

6/23/14

This is another vision the Lord showed me a few years ago around the same time as the other I posted by the name, “An Old Friend”.

The vision began on the beach with Jesus again at my side. He led me to the edge of the water and we dipped our toes into it. There was something about the ocean that touched me in that moment. The vastness and depth of it overwhelmed me and I was hesitant to enter into it. I looked at Jesus with skepticism and with some encouragement from Him, we stepped in, splashing our feet and talking idly to each other.

After a time He led me deeper in, up to our knees and the power of the waves nearly toppled me over. This was no ordinary ocean. I could feel the power of God in it. He revealed to me that the ocean represented His presence. Jesus steadied me with a hand on my shoulder and we continued forward.

The water was up to my waist at that point and the current began to drag me deeper into His presence. I held onto Jesus at that point so I didn’t get swept away and drown. I should probably mention that I am not a huge fan of the ocean so that in itself was a test.

Jesus essentially took over at that point, moving deeper until I was clinging to his neck to keep from going underwater. It was then that He told me it was time to take the plunge and with a little more encouragement from Him we immersed ourselves. After a few moments, we returned to the surface and I felt free and full of joy. All of my hesitation was gone.

At this point, Jesus started to teach me how to swim. I copied everything that He did and over time I became more dependent on Him and more like Him in my movements. Eventually, as I grew stronger and more confident He swam onward and I followed Him. The shore was far behind us.

We swam for awhile and then we came upon a new land, walking onto the shore. He told me that this is His kingdom. I caught only a glimpse of it before the vision ended. I just remember that the colors were more vibrant and lush than anything I had ever seen before. It felt like Home.

So, what was this vision about? It had a very similar theme to the vision I had received two weeks earlier. It was about trusting Jesus and entering into the Father’s presence. Jesus is the only way to the Father. He is the only way into heaven. The Father is calling to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Without Him, I am certain that I would have drowned.

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

It was also a representation of baptism.

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? ² Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? ³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. – Romans 6:1-4

The beach at the beginning of the vision was the old way of life, the sinful life. Entering the water with Jesus and being immersed represented how we are crucified with Jesus Christ. When He died for our sins, they were paid for by His blood AND our old, sinful selves were crucified with Him. And just as he was raised to life, we were raised to new life with Him. It’s done. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished!” He’s done it all! Thank God for Jesus Christ!

That was the reason I felt so free and full of joy. Now because we still have our old, sinful bodies while we’re here on earth we have to submit them to the Holy Spirit which enters us after we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. That was the process of learning to depend on Him, learning to swim as He did and to follow Him wherever He led me. The greater our dependence on Jesus the more He shines through us. Then when we reach the end of the race and arrive in heaven we will be given new, glorified bodies just like Jesus after the resurrection. This is what it means to “Walk in the Spirit”.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior I would encourage you to let Him into your heart. There is a new life waiting for you! If you want to talk to me, ask me questions, or request prayer I’m here for you. You can reach me at thecascadeblog@gmail.com.

 

An Old Friend

6/8/14

This is a vision that the Lord showed me a few years ago and is the first that I can recall Him showing me. I wrote down several details about it and I feel led to share it with you.

The vision began in a dense forest with Jesus leading me down a dirt path by the hand. He told me, “I do not want you to run ahead of me in an attempt to reach my promises before the time has come for them to be fulfilled. Let me lead you along the path. Let me take your hand in mine. Let me show you the wonders around you.”

At this point we paused and He directed me to some flowers that were growing on the side of the road of all colors and varieties. We watched them dance in the breeze and smelled their sweet fragrance.

He then pointed up to the treeline and we watched as a beautiful robin flew among the branches, singing it’s heart song.

Jesus pointed to our feet after this and it was only then I noticed that we were barefoot. We took some time just to feel the rich earth beneath our feet. I remember it was very dark and soft.

After this, we walked for a bit until an open meadow appeared on the side of the path filled with all sorts of woodland creatures. Deer, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, etc. Jesus ran off into the field and played with the animals, inviting me to join him. I cannot fully express the peace and joy that radiated from him in that moment.

Eventually, we returned to the path and He spoke to me again, “Let us above all else talk to each other and grow so close that by the time we reach the end of the road we will be as old friends, and when you are too tired and old to continue I will carry you on my back and bring you home so you can rest. The journey is a beautiful adventure, my son. Don’t rush it.”

During this conversation, I felt myself aging rapidly until I was an old man with white hair. Just as He said that He would carry me to the end, He did just that. He lifted me up like a child and carried me on His back until we reached the end of the path which was engulfed in light so bright that I could see nothing beyond it. This was the end of the vision.

Now, let me explain the meaning of this vision as He revealed it to me years ago. At the time of this vision, I had just started hearing from the Lord and I was so excited that I would take whatever He told me and try to run ahead and fulfill the promise myself or apply whatever lesson He taught me without Him. Let me warn you, my friends, that is impossible. We can accomplish nothing in the flesh and I mean nothing. God will fulfill His promises and the Holy Spirit is our teacher and He is a constant companion.

That is the purpose of this vision. Despite being a bit of a goofball on the outside I am actually very serious, broody, and emotional on the inside. I am not the stop to sniff the flowers sort of person. As I said, I would either run ahead or get frustrated and stumble, sitting on the ground to brood and complain. The only way forward is to cling to Jesus and follow Him. A lesson I am still learning to today.

Needless to say, I was undone by this vision. Jesus has this incredible ability to completely break open our hardened hearts if we will let Him. The peace, joy, and love that radiated from Jesus are impossible for me to fully describe to you.

So, what can we learn from this vision?

First, there is no getting ahead of Jesus. The scriptures tell us to follow the Holy Spirit and we must do just that. The flesh can do nothing. That old man/woman died with Jesus on the cross. We must stay in the secret place with our Father all the time and let Him direct our steps in all things.

Second, if you stumble and fall He will not leave you. Every time I have gotten stuck He will turn and meet me where I am, waiting patiently with His hand extended. I cannot overstate how much He loves us and how merciful and graceful He is with us. Our sins have been paid for by His precious blood. Any condemnation or shame you feel when you make a mistake or sin is an accusation from the enemy and it is false! All you need to do is repent, which means to turn away from it, and turn back to Jesus. That’s it. Whenever I have tried to hide I can always feel Him calling to me very simply in the Spirit, “Come to me.”

Third, and this was a very important lesson for me at this time in my life, the only way forward is by following Him. And it is not all doom and gloom. Following Christ will earn us hatred from the world. We are mocked, persecuted, beaten, and all around hated by the world. However, there are moments of real joy and peace here and they are found in the heart of Jesus Christ. Take time to enjoy the good things the Lord has given you. Your family. Your brothers and sisters in Christ. You know what they are in your own life. Just keep your focus on Jesus.

So, walk with Jesus every day. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Follow Him wherever He leads you and when you reach the end of the road you can boldly walk into heaven as an old friend of our Lord and Savior. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

God will fulfill His promises:

²¹ Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? ²² The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. ²³ The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. – Galatians 4:21-23

Walking in the Spirit:

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. – Galatians 5:16-17

God rescues us when we fall:

⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles.
⁷ For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
    he surrounds and defends all who fear him. – Psalm 34:4-7

The Church is a Garden

The Lord showed me something about the current state of the church in the west this morning and I felt led to share it with you today. This is the vision he shared with me.

He showed me a pastor as an apple tree and the congregation as people gathered around the tree. Everyone sat and waited until the tree bore fruit. Then each person went to gather the fruit and he showed me the different reactions of each person that responded.

One person rejected the fruit completely. That person hardened themselves to the message and left, empty-handed.

Another person took just enough fruit for themselves and was content for a time. The Lord showed me that it was different for every person. Some ate their fruit and were hungry again before they even left the field. Others were wiser and rationed the fruit so that it lasted longer. But, in the end, they all returned to the tree the following week to eat again because they had become hungry.

A different person took a basket up to the tree and filled it with apples to share with others. This person was wiser than the others because they were thinking of those that had not eaten from the tree. So, they were able to share their apples and bring more people to the tree to eat.

The last person was the wisest of them all and after eating the fruit thought to themselves, “I want to be like that tree.” So, that person allowed themselves to be planted in the Lord’s presence to grow and bear their own fruit. Thus, the garden grew and was able to feed more people.

Unfortunately, it seems that most people fall into the first three categories. Especially, the second category that only took enough fruit for themselves. Now, I don’t say this out of condemnation, there is a time for new believers to eat and grow before they move on to deeper things. But, what about those that have been going to service for say… five years? Ten years? Twenty years? And they still only feed themselves from the tree of another. They boast about how they follow this or that Pastor. Or this or that Prophet. Or this or that Author.

Paul made a similar observation in the book of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 3, starting on verse 1:

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ²¹ So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

I’ve noticed so much competition among members of the body about who they follow, many bouncing from service to service, defending this or that pastor, or following a prophet, evangelist, author, etc. even if they are wrong, looking for a new man or woman to follow when we are called to follow Jesus Christ. What good does it do to always be eating the fruit of another if you never bear your own fruit? For those that hear the truth and never apply it to their own lives are doing just that!

If this message speaks to you then allow yourself to be planted! What if God has placed you in your situation because the fruit you bear is what those around you need? What if they don’t need an apple right now? What if they need a pear and you’re a pear tree waiting to blossom? After all the church is not a building or a weekly service, we are the church.

Let your roots grow deep into the Lord’s presence. Go to the secret place. God wants to speak to you directly. Take the time to listen to Him and you will never go hungry again.

I believe God placed this message on my heart to be my first writing as a reminder that while you may find some delicious fruit here nothing can compare to experiencing God firsthand. Go to Him.