Going Deeper

Hi Friends,

I hope all is well with you.  I am sharing a four part vision today about going deeper with the Lord, and his plans for our lives.  I have been seeking God for direction and a deeper devotion to him.  Without intimacy with God, without truly seeking him we will remain in the dark.  There is so much he wants to share with us if we are only willing to spend time with him.

The Vision

First I saw a green pear, that was fully ripe.

Then I saw a man wrapped up in a blanket lying face down on the ground.  He had no bed.

Then I saw a plastic drafting template for making two small circles and a triangle.  

Then I saw a mouse just sitting.  Suddenly, it turned its back to me and went straight down a hole or crevasse with its tail being the last thing seen.

This is what I believe the vision means:

The Green Pear

The pear was both green and ripe at the same time, similar to a Granny Smith apple.  Yet a pear is different than an apple in several ways.  The shape of a pear is bottom heavy, whereas an apple is generally round.  This difference is used to describe people and their body shapes.  A  pear shape is considered a female shape, because women have narrow shoulders and considerably more flesh on the backside than a man.  A man generally carries extra weight in his abdomen, appearing to be more like a round apple.

The pear is also green, which I believe indicates newness, and the season of spring when new life appears and blossoms are produced.  The green color may refer to someone who is new to a particular endeavor.  We might say that a freshman is green to college life.

The pear is also ripe, which refers to readiness.  “Ready to eat.”  It may refer to the time being right.  It can also refer to being fully mature. 

Another characteristic of the pear, is that it is a particularly juicy fruit, more so than the apple.  

As I considered this vision, I thought of my desire to go deeper with the Lord, and to receive more direction from him.  I believe that the pear reminded me of the scripture, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8  Because a pear is not my “go to fruit,” someone would have to encourage me to eat it, “taste and see for yourself.” 

I believe that the Lord is showing me that the time is “ripe.”   That the time is now, to seek the Lord to go deeper with him.  “Seek the Lord while he may be found.” Isaiah 55:6

However, since I was also praying for direction,  when I received this vision, I believe that the Lord  was saying that “even though we may be new or “green” to a particular task, if we are fully mature (ripe), then we will be able to accomplish what he calls us to do.   “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

As I began editing this, I came to remember another passage, which puts this altogether.  “How long will you go here and there.  O faithless daughter?  For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth, a woman will surround a man.”   Jeremiah 31:22

The pear is green, meaning something new.  The pear represents a woman and her new role.  The new thing God is doing is:  “a woman will surround a man.”  I believe this to mean that a woman will protect a man.

In the past it was always the duty of a man to protect his family from wild animals, from dangerous people, and from the outside physical elements.  But now, if you look at the church, and who attends prayer meetings, you will no doubt see that women by far out number men,  probably 20 to 1 or greater still.  I am not speaking only of the monthly or quarterly corporate prayer meetings that the pastor may call, but of all the various prayer groups that women attend, and all the prayer that takes place over the phone, and at every hour of the day.  Women are literally praying around the clock.  A woman surrounds a man through her prayers.  She protects her husband and family from the onslaught of the wicked one.  This is the new thing that God has done!  

But please note men, that God very much wants an intimate relationship with you as well.  His desire is that all would seek him. “If you seek me you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13

The Man with a Blanket

When I saw the man lying on the ground, covered in a blanket, I remembered this scripture: “The Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”  Matthew 8:20  The Lord was homeless for the 3 years of his teaching and ministry.  The Lord demonstrated through his very life, that he did not seek possessions or comfort.  He came to seek and save the lost and there was nothing in the world that would distract him from his purpose.

In contrast, the rich young ruler who wanted to follow Jesus, found possessions and comforts too valuable to give up.  “Jesus answered him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come follow me.’”  Matthew 19:21   

The young man believed that everything he wanted or needed came from his wealth.  Giving up his possessions threatened his very identity.  There would be nothing to distinguish himself from the poor or average person.  He would no longer have his home as a place to retreat, or to entertain friends or dignitaries.  He would have no one to wait upon him as he was accustomed.  His word would carry no authority.  The idea of living as Jesus did, under the eye of scrutiny by the Pharisees and being rejected by his friends and family was probably more than he could bear.  I am sure that he imagined that his life would be difficult, and that he would be defenseless, and vulnerable.  He could not see or appreciate the provision of the Lord.

This feeling of lack of control and loss of identity causes many to reject the gospel. “They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”   John 12:43

I believe that fear, and perceived hardship are other hindrances to following Jesus.  Fear of the unknown, and the fear of man, what people will say, what will they think, are powerful negative motivators.  

Some of us may be fearful about sharing  the gospel - the fear of rejection.   But God’s love and compassion for others can move powerfully within us to overcome those fears.  “Perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

We call this “holy boldness.”  We do things now that we are born again, that we would never have been able to do before, in our own strength.

So to go deeper in a relationship with the Lord, we must remove those things that hinder  our walk with the Lord.

The Drafting Template    

The drafting template in the vision is somewhat unusual, in that there were only three openings and very small.  A fine drafting pencil would work to draw two tiny circles, and one small triangle.  The size was more like an erasing shield slightly larger than a credit card.  It really wasn’t very useful, because of its limited three openings.  A erasing shield or even a lettering tool, that creates parallel lines and a slanted edge to make downward strokes, would have been far more useful.

I believe this vision, is showing a lack of usefulness.  If we are to be instruments in the Lord’s hands, then we have to be available, and we have to be, who he is calling us to be. The Lord told me many times, “I do not want you to do.  I want you to be.” We have to know our calling.  For me to be useful for the Lord, I must not do - I must be.  What the Lord said to me may seem to contradict being useful to God, but I believe, that when we are who he wants us to be, we won’t be deterred by “good works.”  This may seem confusing, so let me explain:

If I simply did whatever sounded good to me, like making costumes for the Easter play or the Christmas play, then I would do it under the assumption that it was good, and that God would honor my efforts.  However, If God would have preferred me to sit at his feet, fast and pray to hear his voice, then I would have gone my own way, and done my own thing.

This is an actual example.  I prayed for two weeks to know if God wanted me to make costumes for the Easter play.  He gave me the passage of Dorcas:  “All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.”  Acts 9:39

By this, I felt the Lord had given me the green light to proceed to make the Easter costumes. And I believe that God did honor this, and that I was in his will.  

But when June came, and I began making the Christmas costumes, I began to feel that it was not his will.  I had not prayed as before, for his permission.  I simply assumed that it was okay.  I rationalized that they had no one else to do the work, if I didn’t do it.  I put need and pleasing others before the Lord.  This is a mistake.  Ministry should not take precedence over our time spent seeking God.  “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22

Just as it says in the Bible, ‘Everything is permissible for me,’ but not everything is beneficial.  “Everything is permissible for me,’ but I will not be master by anything.”  1 Corinthians 6:12

Each of us has a different calling.  With what has God gifted you? “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

We need to be available for God to use us.  If we limit God, by being too busy with our own endeavors, we will have nothing to show for our lives.  We understand that salvation is not by works, but by faith in what Jesus did on the cross, “because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation.”  Revelations 5:9

Yet, we will have to give an account for how we spent our time, how we used our talents, and what were the motives of our hearts. “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his 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 man’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved--even though only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15

We are all called to reach the lost, to seek God, and to intercede on behalf of others.  This is God’s work that has eternal value.  God does not place value on the things that we do for the here and now, or done to please ourselves and impress others.

We do not want to limit God.  “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20  We cannot live as if we have no responsibility towards God.  We must choose to live for him today, for only the Lord knows when our last day will come.

We are not perfect, and even the apostle Paul was frustrated with his efforts and shortcomings: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.  What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”  Romans 7:19-8:2

So what is God asking of us?  We must sit at his feet and ask him.  If you wanted to please your boss, wouldn’t you ask him what is expected of you?  God has a calling for each of us.  And it may change and develop over time as we enter new seasons of our lives.  Yet we must always remember that ministry springs from, and is powered by, an intimate relationship with the Lord.

The Mouse

I knew what this piece of the vision meant immediately.  

When I was a kid, we had a pet hamster named “Hamilton”or “Hammy” for short.  My sister placed Hammy in my lap, one afternoon while I was reading the Sunday cartoons in the newspaper. He ran across my lap, and behind me while sitting in the leather chair.  I got up to look for him, but he seemed to have disappeared.  We looked all through the house, and didn’t find him anywhere.  For three days he went missing. My sister, on the third day, was watching TV in the same leather chair.  Suddenly, Hammy appeared.  We thought that he must have come from inside the chair.  He had apparently slipped down under the cushion into the area housing the springs.  When she sat motionless for a period of time, it allowed him to find his way upward and out of the chair.  He was amazingly in good health and happy to have been found.

In the vision, the mouse, appeared to have gone down a crevasse in a similar manner.  His tail was the last part of him to be seen.  I believe that this vision represents fasting and going deeper with God.  

Hammy was missing for three days, and did not eat or drink anything.  He went down, and was all alone for those three days.  Because I was seeking God for direction, and for becoming closer to him, God was giving me the answer as to how, to draw close.  It is really a simple message:  To go deeper with the Lord, get alone with him and fast and pray.  The more time we devote to him, the more readily we are able to hear his voice.   Hammy fasted and was alone for three days.  I believe God is saying, “Do the same.”

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,  Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”  Mark 1:35

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 

I hope you have a special time and place to pray.  It is such a blessing to spend time with him.   God wants to have a close relationship with everyone.  There are no exceptions!  God loves you and wants you to call upon him.  “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you wonderful things that you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

Be blessed!  And encourage each other to seek him!  Please share this with others!