Hi Friends,

  Today I have three visions that I am sharing with you.  They concern God’s commandment to be baptized in water for repentance. I am also sharing about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that is given to believers for their empowerment to share the gospel, to perform signs and wonders and to overcome the enemy of our souls. 

The Visions

• I saw a turtle in a pure white tank of perfectly clear water.  A woman’s arm reached over the back wall of the tank and took hold of the turtle and lifted it out of the tank.  On the fourth finger of her right hand, was a gold ring with a red stone.

• Next I saw a brown chicken egg in another white tank of perfectly clear water.  It was resting at the bottom of the tank, undisturbed.

• Then I saw a clear plastic Lego piece that looked like a quarter of a dome sitting on a quarter of a cube.  Since the piece was hollow, the lower section had only two sides.

What I believe the visions means

The Turtle 

The turtle in the vision was a terrestrial turtle, not one that swims.  Therefore, the turtle would not last long in the water, for it could drown.  The hand that reached over the back wall of the tank and picked up the turtle, came to its rescue.  The hand belonged to a woman and the ring on her finger had a red stone in it.  I believe that the turtle represents those that are spiritually lost and need the Lord’s salvation.  The woman I believe represents the church, for the church is called the Bride of Christ. 

The ring on her hand represents spiritual authority, which the Lord gives his church to overcome the powers of darkness, and to do his work. The stone was red symbolizing the blood of Jesus, that cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and restores us to right standing with the Father.  

We have authority because the Lord said:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  John 14:12-13 

The Lord gives us authority so that we can bring honor to his name.  When we are in step with the Spirit of God, and moving by His power, we will do what he did. 

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.  For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” John 5:19

So in faith, we do what the Lord did. He spoke and things came into being.  We speak because we know that there is power of life and death in the tongue.  With faith in the Lord and in his word we can declare those things that are not as though they were.  The words that the Lord speaks have power, therefore when we are in agreement with him, we speak his Word.

The Lord gives us a calling and a purpose to fulfill. And he shows us how to fulfill his will by giving us his authority and the keys to the kingdom of God.

“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”  Luke 22:29-30

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  Matthew 16:19

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28: 18-20

Just as he sent his disciples out, he sends us.

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.  Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.  And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.  As you enter the house, greet it.  And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.  Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.”  Matthew 10:5-15

In the vision, we know that the turtle was very much aware that he could drown.  However, people who are lost are not always aware of their spiritual condition, and their need a savior.  They do not know that judgment will come to all. So, if one has not acknowledged Jesus as God and savior, nor has he asked for forgiveness of his sins, then he will be destined to eternal punishment.

Some people know that need to get right with God, but they delay making a commitment to him. These are the  prodigals who keep running from him.  They often do all they can to avoid the conviction of sin by hiding out and keeping themselves busy.  They want to go their own way and do their own thing without having to give an account to God.  But—

“It is written: ‘As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.’  So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:11-12

In the vision, the tank was white, and the water was clear.  Both of these things represent purity, righteousness and holiness.  The white tank with water also represents water baptism, which is a baptism of repentance.  In water baptism, we are immersed in the water to symbolically die to our old sinful nature.  As we emerge from the water we are raised to new life in Christ Jesus.  We become born of the Spirit of God.  It is of course possible to become born again without being baptized, like the thief on the cross who had no opportunity, but simply acknowledged his sin before the Lord:

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”  And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:39-43

Water baptism is the Lord’s command to all believers.  Even Jesus, the perfect, sinless, Lamb of God came to John to be baptized by him.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:13-17

It was to fulfill all righteousness that the Lord insisted on being baptized.  And we are to follow his example.

The Egg

The egg in the vision represents new life.  Just like the former vision, a brown chicken egg does not belong in the water. If the chick were to hatch in the water it would immediately drown.  And  in this vision, there is no one to rescue the egg.  I believe that the Lord is concerned for the church, for it may not be doing what he expects his church to do.  The disciples were told to go to the lost sheep of Israel.  Then after his resurrection, near the time of his departure he commissioned them to go into all the earth.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”  Acts 1:8-9 

And the gospel of Mark records:

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  Mark 16:15-18

 If he commissioned the church to go, then why are so many not proclaiming the gospel?  Is this apathy?  No one cares about the lost?  Do they only care about themselves and their immediate families?  Where is the love of God?  Do they fear rejection? Shouldn’t they rather fear God?

I believe that the modern church has become complacent. Many churches are filled with people who just want a good sermon and a place to make and meet with friends. At several large churches, I was amazed to see how many people came after worship ended, so that they did not have to worship God. They would find a seat in the back or in the loft, listen to the message and wait for the coffee hour after the service.

The church should be a place of healing, deliverance, and compassionate counsel.  The church’s job is to study and teach the word of God.  The church should be praying, laying hands on the sick, and imparting gifts that empower and equip the saints to do the work of God. The church is not a social club, but the body of Christ.  He is the head and we are the body that follows his lead.

In the vision the egg is in a vulnerable place under water.  It needs to be snatched from the water.  We need the church to step up and volunteer.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”  Isaiah 6:8

The Lego Piece

The clear plastic Lego piece in the vision I believe represents something that was lost, or something that has been missing.  What I believe that has been missing in the church today is the  Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.  There are still some churches that believe that “it is not for today.”  It is historical that people’s appetite for God and the things of God wax and wane, ebb and flow over time.  In the periods of time when people’s hearts get enamoured with the world’s baubles and pleasures, their faith and desire for God becomes routine, and the power of God diminishes.  These churches have to make excuses for why there is no power to heal or to deliver.  So they tell their congregations,
“Oh – the miracles, signs and wonders, and speaking in tongues of the early church is not for today.”  Basically, they want people to be content with having a powerless God and just go through the motions of “practicing their faith.”

But, no.  This is not the church that God desires.  He wants his people to be volunteers of his power.  

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.”  1 Corinthians 12:27-31

A healthy church should have the gifts of the Spirit and the power of God.  These are fruits of a church that is following the word of God and placing God in the center of all things.  What I believe is essential for every person who wants to be used of God is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  This is the spiritual empowerment needed to do the works of God.  That is why the Lord told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem.  He wanted his disciples to have this greater infilling of the Holy Spirit so that as they preached the gospel, they would be able to validate their words as having come from God, by performing miracles, signs and wonders.

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.  But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”  Luke 24:49 

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”  Mark 16:20

Paul noted that the power to do signs and wonders was indeed essential to sharing the gospel with others.  It is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues which empowers the church to grow and make disciples.

“And so it was with me, brothers, that when I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The Lego in the vision represents the missing part in many churches today.  We need the power of God to be manifested, so that we can successfully build the church.  If believers are  empowered by the Holy Spirit, they will be able to effectively witness to others.  They will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover.  

I asked, “Why was the piece only ¼ of a whole dome and cube?  I believe that when this missing piece is placed where it belongs it will be complete and function as it should.  I am reminded of this passage of scripture:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”  John 15:5-9  

What would complete this piece to make it whole?  It would need a ¾ piece or 3 more ¼ dome and cube pieces.  This scripture came to mind:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  John  17:20-23

We have a triune God:  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, three yet one.  The Lord’s desire is that He, God would be in us and we would be in him.  This is unity.  This is what it means to be in the Spirit, to be in one accord.  This is God’s desire that we would be one  with him.  And that we would be one with each other.  If one of us is missing, the church suffers.  If there is discord, and disunity the church will be in dysfunction.  We must make it our ambition to live at peace with each other and prefer each other, for a house divided cannot stand.

Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth:

“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?”  1 Corinthians 

6:7

And to the Romans:

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”  Romans 12:18

Jesus taught his followers saying:

“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  Matthew 5:39

If we abide in him, and his word abides in us, and we are living at peace with each other, then we will have the favor and authority of God to do his will on this earth as it is in heaven. When we know him and trust him with all things, we will hear him say one day:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23

Thanks for reading. Please share this message with others. Today is the day of salvation, we all need to be about our Lord’s work. God bless you all!