An Old Turbine
Yesterday while praying God showed me an old turbine engine in the back of a large but very dirty, truck. The turbine was possibly removed from an old jet, or perhaps a generator. There were other nondescript pieces of machinery and metal parts in the back of the truck. The truck appeared ready to take it somewhere, but where? Would it be reconditioned and reused? Would it be taken and sold for scrap metal? What was the turbine used for? What would God use this for?
I needed to understand the function of the turbine as part of an engine, so I consulted the internet. As I understand it to be, a turbine on a jet engine, uses its shaped blades to increase lift and thrust. The blades increase air speed while they reduce pressure. However, without the fan that draws the air in, the compressor that increases both air pressure and air temperature, the gasoline that combines with the air, and without the combustion chamber, the engine would not operate. All the components need to work together in order to have both lift and thrust. What ultimately happens is that a tremendous amount of "wind" coming from out of the nozzle at the back of the engine, pushes against the air behind the plane and moves the plane forward.
Now for a moment, let's go back 2000 plus years, on the Day of Pentecost. The disciples were all together in one place. "Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:2-4
The wind is a representation of the Holy Spirit, just as fire and oil can also represent the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, "You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:7-8
I was reminded of an earlier vision of an electrical plug that fits into a wall outlet. Its purpose is to multiply the number of useable outlets, similar to an outlet strip. In this earlier vision, the plug was lying on its side on the floor and spinning round and round. It was not plugged into the power source where it could be effectively used for other things to receive power. The Lord was showing me that I was like that plug, spinning on the floor. I was not plugged into the power source, and was too distracted with other things. We need to be plugged into the power source, (the Holy Spirit), so that others will benefit and get plugged in too. We must be careful to not be consumed with other obligations and activities, that compromise our effectiveness for the Lord.
In the vision, the turbine engine was also detached. It was no longer in a place where it could, with the help of the other components, perform its job,to move a jet, or power a generator. The turbine, needed to be restored, reconditioned and refitted. That is what God wants to do with the church, the body of believers. We need to be restored, reconditioned, revived and refitted to be useful. We must be willing to go through God's reconditioning process, to fully equip us, other wise we will do nothing for the Lord.
When I asked the Lord to tell me about this vision, He gave me the Parable of Talents. When God gives us gifts through the Holy Spirit, he expects us to use them. The master's last remarks regarding the lazy servant were these: "Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:28-30
The turbine engine was loaded onto the truck. Where will it go - to be reconditioned and reused? Or will it go to the scrap metal dump where it will be melted down?
God is very clear. He is giving us a choice. Just as I was the electric plug, and needed to be plugged into the outlet to receive power, and then be used by God, we as the church are the turbine which has become detached. Do we want to go our own way and find our destination, the scrap metal dump? Or are we willing to be reconditioned, and refitted into God's plan?
Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John 15:5-8
God has a greater purpose in all this. He is preparing and equipping the church in anticipation of the great outpouring of his Holy Spirit. He wants to bring the wind - he wants us to be like the wind, carried by the Holy Spirit. He wants us to live, to move, and to have our being in him. When we are connected to our power source, and placed where God would have us be, then we become useful to him. If we are detached from the body of Christ, as the turbine engine was sitting in the back of a truck, or detached from the vine as the branch was, then we become worthless, just as the lazy servant was deemed useless by his master. Notice the end fate of them all: Fire!
We need to be part of God's plan, to be willing to be used by God. We were not meant to go to the scrap metal dump to be melted down, nor were we to be like withered branches tossed into the fire. We certainly do not want to go where the master was to throw the lazy servant! God has made this perfectly clear - this is a sober message - Fear God and remain in him!
