Praise from Men or from God?
Hi Everyone,
I just came back from a week with my sister and her husband in Florida. It was wonderful to get away from the New Jersey winter weather and experience palm trees and sunshine. But the part I enjoyed most of all was praying and worshiping with my sister who is also a Spirit-filled born again believer. She has been my prayer partner for over 26 years! We had a retreat with the Lord!
During that week, I received nine visions. But today, I am sharing just two of them. The others I hope to share in a few days from now. These visions cause us to reflect—Are we seeking the praise of men or the praise of God?
The Visions
I saw a table set before me with a tall dark blue plastic tumbler (drinking glass) and a white plate. There was no food on the plate. Then a cluster of leaves fell from above. The leaves were fanned out from the center showing the undersides of the leaves and their long slender stems. The underside of the leaves were a soft silver green. The blue plastic tumbler and white plate were completely covered by the cluster of leaves.
Next I saw myself taking a tall stack of tuna cans, about seven, and place them in an armoire that was used as a pantry. They were placed next to a single can of tuna.
What I believe these visions mean:
The Cluster of Leaves
The leaves came from above, and dropped down in front of me. I was sitting at a table, with only the blue glass and the white plate in front of me. There was no fork, knife or spoon, and there was no food on the plate. I believe that this represents fasting. Someone who fasts, may fast to hear the Lord’s voice, or to gain understanding regarding a situation, or simply as a spiritual discipline to put down the flesh.
The plate was white, which generally represents purity, and godliness. The plate was also perfectly clean; nothing to distract the eye. The empty plate therefore not only represents fasting, it also represents a peace that comes with no distractions. This is truly a benefit of fasting, becoming more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and more aware of the presence of the Lord. With fasting, we become less distracted with other commitments and activities, and more focused on God.
The blue tumbler, was large and simple with no designs or prints. It merely held water. This is a fast with water only. The blue usually represents God or godliness. So the water fast is a discipline that we impose upon ourselves to shut out the world, and to focus upon God. When we seek him, we will find him.
The leaves fell from above, showing that they had come from God. I believe the leaves feel in order to conceal the plate and the glass, so that fasting would be done in secret. This is the primary message of this first part of the vision:
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18
The Lord does not want us to fall into sin, by doing things we say are done for the Lord, but are instead done for recognition. In that same passage of scripture, He uses the examples of giving offerings and praying, because these are practices that can elicit a prideful response in us.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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 6:1-6
We must be careful not to be self-promoting, but humble and God fearing.
The Cans of Tuna
Next I saw myself take a tall stack of tuna cans, about seven, and placed them in a cabinet that was used as a pantry. They were placed next to a single can of tuna. In this vision, I recognized the cabinet or armoire to be my sister’s. It was in her dining room, just off the kitchen. Later, as I was praying to understand the vision, I thought about the cans of tuna that I had given away long ago, because I am a vegetarian. So I knew that these cans of tuna were not for me, but for her. The passage of scripture, that came to mind was this: “Well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.” Matthew 25:21
I shared this with my sister, because I felt that God wanted her to know that he was pleased with her and her husband’s recent decision to no longer sell their hand made jewelry at certain art shows where they were required to make the jewelry themselves. They made some pieces themselves, but designed and had others make the balance of their inventory. By making this decision to honor these rules, they were giving up the opportunity to sell at these shows. They knew that by doing so, they would lose a portion of their income. However, God comes first in their lives, and they were trusting him to provide for their needs.
We are to be Christ’s ambassadors. Therefore we cannot behave in a deceitful manner, or not keep our word. When we follow the rules of various establishments, or activities, and are faithful to fulfill our commitments and the requirements of the contracts we sign, we show others that we are people of character, and people who can be trusted to keep their word. This honors God.
So even though the rules of some art shows may seem trivial, we need to adhere to them, or else we become deceivers, and so sin. If we cannot agree to the terms as stated in an agreement, then it is better to not engage in that activity.
I believe that the Lord was pleased with my sister and her husband, because they placed obedience to God above their desire to make money.
In the vision, the seven cans represent God’s provision and increase. Before there was simply one can of tuna, but it became eight altogether.
As I prayed about the vision, I asked the Lord to show me something about the cans. I opened my Bible to the first page in Revelation. My eyes fell upon the study notes (The Full Life Study Bible, Donald C. Stamps, Zondervan Publishing House 1992)
Revelation 1:4 To the Seven Churches. Revelation is addressed to seven churches in Asia (located in what is now part of western Turkey). Each particular church was comprised of various congregations. These churches were probably selected because they represented the totality of churches of that day, for the word “seven” stands for a complete whole. What was said to them is meant for the whole church. In other words, the “seven churches” represent all the churches throughout this church age. The “seven spirits “ may represent the perfection and the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the church.
So I believe that the seven cans represents a message that is universal to all the church, not just for my sister and her husband. Seven represents completeness or wholeness. God is saying that honoring the rules of the art shows, honors God. This is very much like what Jesus was teaching when he summed up the law: “‘Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
The Lord wants us to love and honor him by doing what is right. He also wants us to love and honor others by doing what is right towards them.
As I mentioned before, the Lord showed me another scripture to confirm the meaning of the tuna cans: It is very similar to the one I had quoted above from the parable of the talents. It is this passage from Luke:
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10
The Lord wants us to realize that everything we do here on earth will be evaluated, for what we may receive or fail to receive in heaven.
When we read the parable of the talents, we see that the Master represents the Lord. The servants represent those to whom the Master entrusts with talents (money). The Lord tests our hearts to see our priorities, our loyalties, and our character. Will we hear the words: “Well done good and faithful servant,” or will we hear something else?
The Parable of the Talents
“It is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
“Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“Also, the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”
“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’”
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed! Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the 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 25:14-30
In this parable, we see that rewards and salvation are given to those servants who are found faithful. And eternal damnation is given to the foolish servant who hid the talent in the ground. On the surface, it would seem that the Lord is being overly harsh, for what seems a simple negligence. However, let’s look at the words that the foolish man speaks: “I knew that you were a hard man harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.” Is this a true statement? It appears that this man did not know the Master. He “knew” him as a hard man. This was the Lord’s parable, and the Master represents God. So, what does the Lord say about himself? “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
The master was not a hard man. Did he actually reap where he did not sow? No. This is another untrue statement made by the foolish servant, which shows that he really did not know the master’s heart. They did not have a relationship based on truth and understanding. The foolish servant only imagined the attributes of the master in his own mind. This parable is given to us, to show how we can create our own image of God to fit the pictures we have in our minds of him, without actually knowing him. This is error.
“You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.” John 4:22
Hindus have created for themselves 300 million “gods.” Each fictional character has its own story and personality. But they worship them as if they were real.
The Muslims have created for themselves Allah, and have given him attributes which do not reflect the Most High, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Allah is a “god” who rewards the his followers with the sensual pleasures of the flesh, (72 virgins?), as their heavenly reward for slaughtering “non-believers,” or dying for Allah. Everything that Allah stands for is an abomination to our God.
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 2:23
We must know the Lord. And knowing him begins when we are born again and filled with his Holy Spirit. As we spend time with him, in prayer and worship, and reading the word of God, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and we begin to hear his voice and feel his presence. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23
The foolish servant did not know the Master, just as there will be those who do not know the Lord: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23
In Summary
These two visions have been given, to show us the importance of developing a true relationship with God that brings him honor. In the Book of Psalms, we read that “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111:10
However, when we seek our own glory, and want to make a name for ourselves, we dishonor God. How can we profess to love the Lord, when we seek to call attention to ourselves, and rob God of the praise that is due him. After all we can do nothing without him. “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.” John 15:5
We cannot have a close walk with The Lord, if he cannot trust us. If we convince ourselves that we did it all—that we performed the miracle, we built this ministry, we prayed for healing and it came about because of our faith, then we are traitors to God. This is very serious. Anyone of us can get puffed up, and think that we are better than someone else. The Lord will say to us on that day, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you!” Matthew 7:23
Think on this passage:
“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” John 1 2:42-43
Are we afraid of losing our standing in our social circles? Are we so caught up with who we are, we have left the Lord out of the picture? Are we stealing the glory which rightfully belongs to Him? Have we denied the Lord, or given our ministries, our jobs, or our pastimes priority over Him?
The message is clear, God wants us to take a closer look at our motives. Why are we doing what we are doing?
Please share this important message with your friends and loved ones. This life of ours is a test. Will we be found faithful?
