Hi Friends,

I hope you are feeling encouraged.  If we take our eyes off the Lord and focus on the evil and the problems of the world, we can become a bit overwhelmed.  There is no doubt that there is an “the increase in wickedness,” in our nation and the world.  This increase in wickedness is one of the signs that we are entering a period or season that is described as “the beginning of birth pains,” or the “beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24)  This is a time just preceding the  Tribulation. So our eyes need to be opened, and our hearts turned to God.

We need to pray for understanding to know how to consider the events of the day and how we are to pray.  If the current events are truly endtime events that the Lord has ordained, then we should acknowledge them as such and pray for our faith to endure.  However, if these events are the works of darkness which are within the parameters of God’s permissive will, then we should use the spiritual authority that He gives us to fight in the Spirit against the wicked plans of the enemy.

For many years, I have received many judgment visions regarding the sin in our nation.  And I have understood that God will bring judgment so that people will turn to him in repentance.  Of course even with judgment, some will not turn to God, for their hearts remain hard.  

“All day long, I hold out my hands to an obstinate and stubborn people.”  

Isaiah 65:2

In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’  

Matthew 13:14-15   

Many believers are beginning to take this seriously and are praying for repentant hearts among our nation’s leaders.  We want our nation to return to its foundational beliefs in God and in serving him.  We want our nation’s laws to reflect the Lord’s commands and his will for us.  

We never intend to pray against what the Lord is doing.  We want to partner with him to bring about a change in people.  However, one time, long ago, I was praying for a man, when suddenly, I heard the Lord tell me, “Don’t pray for him!”  So I stopped.  My prayers were obviously interfering with the will of God.  The Lord must have purposefully brought hardship upon this man, to create in him a desire to give up his sin and repent.  

When we work with God, he will drop in our spirit a word or revelation when we need it.  On another occasion, I was praying for a man who came to prayer asking for the Lord to provide him with a new job.  Before I began to pray, the Lord spoke to me saying that the man was living with a woman with whom he was not married.  So I told him what the Lord revealed to me, and that he should not expect the Lord to work for his benefit, if he was muddying the waters between himself and God.  I told him that he needed to break up with this woman or marry her.  

Several years later, a woman came up for prayer, and told me she was ashamed of living with a man.  She asked me to pray for this man to be willing to marry her.  So we prayed together.  About three weeks later, she came to me to give me the good news that he had proposed to her and that they were getting married.  I was so excited to see her prayer come true, that we were both jumping up and down at the altar.  I asked her to  point him out.  And I was so surprised that it was the  same man I had prayed for years earlier!  Even though I never knew the woman before, and had only seen the man once, I knew it was the same man!  God wanted me to see the fruit of my prayers.  What a blessing!

 “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:7-9

We must understand God’s ways, in order to please him and not to work against him.  

Today I am sharing several visions that I received just last week.  

The Visions

The Cooktop on Boulders

In the first vision,  I was standing near the edge of a rocky cliff, looking down at the large grey boulders below.  Resting on top of the boulders, jutting out from the cliff was an outdoor camp stove.  Someone standing near the stove was ready to cook.

When I began to contemplate the vision, two aspects came to mind.  The first was the connection between a stove and its location–being placed on top of boulders.  The stove is for preparing a meal.  For most people that means hamburgers, hotdogs, steaks and chicken cooked over the fire.  The cook top or stove was a source of fire, it represents a flame.  The second aspect was in regards to the boulders, I saw them as  an altar, where burnt offerings were presented to the Lord.

I thought about the time long before the temple of Soloman had been built, or before the tabernacle in the wilderness was constructed. The Lord told Moses to build an altar of uncut stone. The altar was to be created of stones that were untouched by man’s tools. It was to come directly from God’s creation, untainted.  

“You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.  And if you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stones; for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them.”  And do not go up to my altar with steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.”  Exodus 20:24-26 

Again in another passage, Moses was told:

“Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones.  Do not use any iron tool on them.  Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God.  Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God.  And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”  Deuteronomy 27:5-8

When I saw the boulders below with the camp stove, I saw that they were uncut stone, perfectly natural. There were no steps going up to the stove/altar, for I was looking down upon it from a rocky cliff.  We no longer offer the Lord sacrifices of animals because the Lord was the perfect, spotless lamb that died to take away the sin of the world.  One sacrifice once, and for all.  

But what are we encouraged to do with regards to his precious sacrifice?  We are to remember the Lord’s death on a cross for our sins.  We are to remember the Lord offered up his own blood to reconcile us to the Father.  We give special honor to the body and blood of the Lord Jesus as an atonement for our sins, and by sharing the Lord’s table with other believers.  Just as the burnt sacrifices were to be eaten, we also eat the symbols of his body and blood as we participate in communion.

Because we were ransomed and purchased by the Lord’s blood, we are not our own.  Our very breath belong to God.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”  Romans 12:1

So we are living sacrifices, holy unto him. 

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘Be holy for I am holy.’”  1 Peter 1:15-16  

There is second aspect to the vision.  In the vision, there was a man ready to cook at the camp stove.  A scripture came to mind:  

“For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.”  Philippians 3:18-19

What does it mean “Their god is their bellies, and their glory is in their shame”?  Too many people constantly think of food, and its various preparation methods, looking to achieve perfection.  Others obsess over food, its calories and its nutritional content, as it relates to health and longevity.  

There is nothing wrong with health, and food is essential for life, but when food becomes an obsession, over-taking one’s life, it can become an idol.  

Over-consumption, or gluttony is considered by God to be a sin because it indulges the flesh, the physical body.  We remember that the flesh competes with the Spirit.  

“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”  Galatians 5:17

If we continue to indulge the flesh, we starve the Spirit, the very part of our being that communes with God.  So we see that “Their god is their bellies,” means that they prefer food, their god, to God.

The Apostle Paul said, "I discipline my body and keep it under control." 1 Corinthians 9:27

He made it a point "not be mastered by anything." 1 Corinthians 6:12. 

So let us not indulge the flesh, but read the word, pray and fast as spiritual disciplines to put down the flesh and strengthen our spirits.  

When we look at sin, regardless of the form it takes, we need to repent and turn to God asking for help to overcome our weaknesses.  Let us also remember that many who do not yet know the Lord are not aware of their sin.  That is why the Lord said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

We should also be understanding and forgiving, sharing the gospel with those who do not know Jesus, for He wants none to be lost.  Let us pray for their salvation, and that the Father will draw them to Jesus.

A Lock Set for a Door

In the second vision, I saw a circular lock for a front door projecting forward, as if it was being removed.  As I contemplated this vision, I thought of what circumstances would cause someone to change a lock or remove a lock from a door.  Someone might authorize the locks to be changed if there was a change in relationship or trust. 

I believe this vision concerns the change in the spiritual relationship that we have with the Lord.  Before the Lord’s death on a cross, there was a curtain that denied entry into the Holy of Holies in the Temple of the Lord.  Only one person, the High Priest, was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies to offer a blood sacrifice for himself and the people of God.  He was to offer the sacrifice once every year for the atonement of sins.  

But at the moment of the Lord’s death, the curtain that denied entry into this Most Holy Place,  was torn in two.  Now the Lord’s death made a way for us to know him intimately and to speak to him directly.  Because of his sacrifice, we are counted worthy.  

“When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.  At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” Matthew 27:50-52

As believers we no longer need a high priest to offer the sacrifice for sins.  We no longer need a “go-between.”  We can speak directly to the Lord, and he will speak directly to us.  Hallelujah!  

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  John 10:27-28

 In the vision, the lock was being removed.  If no other lock were to be installed, the door would always remain open.  Continuing in the analogy of Jesus being “the Good Shepherd,” he speaks of leading the sheep in and out of the fold.  He calls himself the gate or the door, through which they come in and go out.  

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”  John 10:9

In another passage Jesus calls himself “the Way.”  

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’”  John 14:6

Jesus is the way to freedom.  He is the way to truth, for he is the truth.  And He is the way to  eternal life, for he is the life.  With Jesus we have salvation, and true peace.  With Jesus we are forgiven and put in right standing with the Father!  And with Jesus we have the Holy Spirit and the Father’s love. Hallelujah!

Thank you Jesus for opening the door of heaven and drawing us close to you.  Thank you for allowing us to hear your voice and to call you friend!

“Regardless”

In the third vision, I saw a personal check.  In the upper left hand corner where the name and address on the account would have been printed, was the word: “Regardless.”

As we all know, a personal check is something that a person uses to transfer money from his private account to pay for goods and services.  Today, most people pay for things with debit cards.  But it is still a transfer of money to pay for something.  Often landlords still insist on being paid with an actual check.

I believe that the vision of the check is about salvation and paying for sin.  The word “regardless,” placed where there would have been a person’s name, reveals God’s intent.  Regardless of who has a debt of sin, a wealthy man, or a poor man, what amount would be needed to pay the debt?  What sum of money is equal to the value of a soul?  Can you place a value on eternal life with God?  What temporal material thing can be compared to something that is everlasting?  

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:36:38

There is no amount of money in the entire world that could pay the debt of sin. It is only the blood of a perfect sinless life that could satisfy the debt.  Jesus was and is the only perfect man, for he was both fully God and fully man.  He was sinless. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Our salvation is found in no one else but Jesus!

A Woman

In the fourth vision, I saw a woman seated, but leaning forward with her chin resting on her fists, and her elbows on her knees. She is looking intently, straight ahead.

I believe that the woman represents the church. She is pondering, watching and waiting.  She is alert, waiting for the Lord’s return.  By the events of the day and the visions that the Lord has shown me, I believe that it will happen in my lifetime.  

The woman is anticipating his coming and everything that leads up to that event. The Lord asks us to be watching and waiting just like the 10 virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom.

The virgins represent the Church, for they are the Bride of Christ.  They were all expecting him to come, for they all went out to meet him.  However, five were wise and five were foolish.  The wise virgins brought oil along with their lamps.  The foolish virgins did not.  However, they all grew tired because the wait was long. They fell asleep.  When they heard the midnight cry that the Bridegroom was coming, they awoke and trimmed their lamps.  But the five foolish virgins discovered they didn’t have any oil left in their lamps, so they asked the wise if they would share their oil.  The wise said that there might not be enough to share, so they told them to go and buy some oil for themselves.  While the foolish, unprepared virgins went to buy oil, the wise went into the wedding with the bridegroom.  The door was shut.  

But what happened next in the parable was tragic–

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’  But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”  Matthew 25:11-13

     Can you imagine a Christian who believes that he is going to heaven, but later finds out  that the door is shut, and he is refused entry?  The Christian might say, what happened?  Why am I not allowed?  Did the Lord change the locks?  Was I never given a key?  

What was the Lord’s response?  He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”  

I believe that the oil in the parable represents the indwelling Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit that is the key that opens the door.  A person who is not born of the spirit, or “born again,” will not be a true believer.  He will not have the Holy Spirit.  He may only have a “head knowledge” of God,  a “religious” belief or tradition about God.   Jesus explains in other words:

“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 both of these passages, the Lord shows that there will be “Christians”  that are Christian in name only.  The Lord knows our inmost thoughts.  He sees our motives.  If we are born of the Spirit of God, we will bear the fruit of his indwelling Spirit.  

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

Having selfish motives, or practicing deceit will show forth as the fruit of wickedness:

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus is looking for us to have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that only comes when we are born again.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains the necessity to be born again:  

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  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:-8

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”   John 3:16-18

If you have not been born again, and you would like to give your life to Jesus now, you can pray to receive the Holy Spirit, salvation and eternal life with him.  Becoming born again is to make a  life-time commitment to God.  It is turning away from your old life of sin and the ways of the world, renouncing all sinful habits, false religions and former “religious ideologies,” to accept Jesus, as Savior, Lord, God and King.  He is the great I Am.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  He is Emanuel, “God with us.”  

The Bible tells us that

“If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that he was raised from the dead, you will be saved.”  Romans 10:9  

So let’s pray for salvation and to be born again:

Dear Jesus, 

I acknowledge that you are God’s only Son, and that you belong to the Godhead, a triune God, a Trinity made of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  You came to earth as both fully God and fully man.  You came to die on the cross as a perfect sinless lamb, as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

I am truly sorry that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed.  Please forgive me, heal me and set me free of the chains of sin.  I know that it is your blood which purchases my salvation. Your word tells me that you will remove my sin as far as the east is from the west, and choose to remember it no more.  With your precious blood, you paid a debt that I could not pay, a debt of sin.  Thank you Jesus, for you are making me a new creation.  The past is gone, and all things are made new.  Thank you Jesus for your death has given me new life.  

Please write my name in the Book of Life, that when I die I will be with you in heaven for all eternity.  Thank you Jesus for I am now born again, born of the Spirit of God!  Hallelujah!  Praise your Holy Name.  I will always remember this day, and what you have done for me!  Amen!  

Please share this important message with all.  God bless you and keep you under the shelter of his wing!