Following the Crowd?
Hi Everyone,
I hope all is well with you. Fall will be here shortly, and for many, fall is the beginning of a new season. And thank the Lord that He is all about new beginnings:
”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
He gives us the grace to begin again, for his mercies are new every morning!
I have three visions to share with you today.
The Visions
The Birds
I saw a flock of black birds racing towards an opening behind a clear rectangular piece of glass. There was a narrow gap, only inches between the flat, vertical plate of glass and the wall behind. All the birds flew toward the gap between the two surfaces, attempting to outrun some type of danger. They clustered together within this narrow space. As they settled in, I could see that among all the black birds was a single white bird in the center.
The Dead Insect
Two days later, as I was praying about the vision of black birds, I received its interpretation. Then the Lord showed me another vision. I saw on another pane of clear glass. And in the upper left hand corner was an insect that resembled an ant with wings. It was apparently dead.
The Parable
Just moments after seeing the vision of the dead insect, I saw another clear pane of glass, and written on it were the words: The Parable of the Talents.
The Meaning of the Visions:
I believe that all three visions work together to speak of a single topic, for all three visions featured a rectangular pane of clear glass. I believe that the glass represents the unseen wall, that separates the natural world from the spiritual realm. The clear glass allows what is seen in the natural to also be seen in the Spirit.
This is exactly what happens in what I call an “open vision.” The supernatural is seen superimposed upon the natural. Both views are happening simultaneously and seen simultaneously. There are times when God will reveal the kingdom of God as it operates in the supernatural right here on earth. Jesus prayed: “Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus spoke of his kingdom throughout his time of ministry, explaining to those who asked:
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20-21
The Kingdom of God is operating on earth whether we are aware of it or not. When we pray the Lord dispatches angels to do his bidding and to come to our aid. When we speak and declare things in the Spirit, our words go forth in power:
“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
The Lord wants us, his followers to operate with power in his kingdom.
“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20
The Lord revealed the kingdom of God through parables, for he knew that not everyone was going to understand. Those who resist God and have hard hearts will not understand spiritual things for they are spiritually discerned.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. This is why I speak to them in parables:
‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ 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.’
But blessed and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:10-17
The Black Birds
I believe that the flock of black birds in the first vision represent people in general. The birds somehow perceived danger, and so moved with speed to avoid capture or some other physical threat. People, like the birds, will react in a similar way. When danger comes the instinct to fight or to take flight is automatically triggered as a function of survival. Using our physical senses we determine the risk to the group or ourselves, and spontaneously move to fight or run. Birds do not have the ability to think, reason and/or plan, they can only react to danger.
The white bird in the center of the group reacted just as the rest of the birds did. They all chose to fly away, seeking a place of refuge. The space between the glass and the wall was perfect, in that they could see what threatened them, and they felt safe. The white bird acted as the black birds did. When danger presented itself, the white bird flew with the group hoping to find safety among them.
I believe that the white bird represents believers, for white generally signifies purity and holiness. We as believers have no purity or holiness of our own. It is only by placing our faith in the Lord Jesus, that his blood will cleanse us from our sins, and make us holy.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
A believer who is walking with the Lord, has the inner witness and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. He will receive words of knowledge, supernatural faith and power, and have inner peace. However those who are more in tune with their natural instincts and spend little time, if any, with the Lord, will not be able to move in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God tells us that apart from him, we can do nothing, but with the Lord, and our trust in him, we can do all things.
“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
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23
In the vision, the white bird followed the crowd, and reacted just as the others did. It chose to fly away to avoid a predator or some other danger. A believer, if led by the Spirit of God, does not have to follow the crowd because he has a better option. A believer, walking with God, can choose to stand his ground rather than fleeing his enemy.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
It is far better to submit to God and resist the devil. This is quite the opposite of what is instinctive. When we are born again, we are given the Holy Spirit who indwells us. We are made new, and we are given the spiritual authority to stand up and overcome the devil, his lies, and his temptations.
The Lord wants us to be overcomers, to be victorious. He gives us his authority over darkness, yet so many believers do not make use of it. We are to overcome, not be overcomed. Those who have opened doors to the evil one, find themselves tormented by sickness or overwhelming problems, not realizing that they have given place to the devil.
“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath and do not give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27
Unforgiveness, and all sins, give place to the devil. So we must repent of our sins, get right with God and he will forgive, heal, and deliver us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1-9
When we are in right standing with God, we can access his authority and stand our ground against the devil.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
The Lord confers upon us the kingdom of God and gives us authority over darkness. He also gives us the keys to the kingdom of God.
And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me.. Luke 22:29
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
Not only does the Lord give us the means to overcome the devil and his demons, he gives us the armor of God to protect us, and the Word of God as our offensive weapon. As the enemy comes to kill, to steal and to destroy, bringing trouble and every evil, our God in whom we trust, and our weapons defend us, and bring victory.
But we must choose to live a submitted life to God and have authority over the enemy. The Lord gives us freewill and unfortunately we may choose instead to go own way, and do our own thing. Remember that apart from God we can do nothing. The Lord wants us to be victorious and bring honor and glory to his name. If we fail to submit to God and try on our own to avoid the tactics of the enemy, we will succumb to lies, and experience fear and panic. We will become bound, overwhelmed with problems, grieved, and sick.
The Dead Insect
The vision of the dead ant with wings speaks of the difference in these two choices of action and their outcomes. If we are genuinely devoted to God, and choose to follow him, we will be empowered with unshakable faith to resist the devil. The dead insect in this case represents a demon who has been bound, and cast out. His plans have been overturned and rendered ineffective. He then represents the dead insect.
If, on the other hand, we are not strong in our faith, seldom pray or seek God’s face, and have unconfessed sin and open doors to the enemy, then the dead insect in the vision represents our own demise. As noted above, we give place to the devil when we let the sun go down upon our wrath and we refuse to forgive. We give place to the devil when we choose to engage in sinful activities. We open the door to torment, sickness and disease when we hold someone in contempt, blaspheme God, or simply go our own way and ignore the one who made us, cares for us, and died for us.
With our faith in the Lord, we can move mountains. Without faith in the Lord, we have nothing. There is no salvation without repentance. Without faith, we remain dead in our sins.
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. Hebrews 10:26-27
This is serious. God gives us all the same choice. Who will we serve? Ourselves? Our flesh with its desires and passions? Do we seek wealth, power, status, education, entertainment, luxurious living, food, drink, drugs and sex rather than God? These are the desires of the natural man, which come from the sinful nature. These desires lead to death.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Shall we instead choose to serve our triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Yes! Yes! Let’s choose him above all else!
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4
The Parable of the Talents
On the clear glass pane was written: “The Parable of Talents.” The Lord has given this parable to point to his expectations of us, and how we can be misled into thinking of God and his kingdom not as is, but as we deem it to be.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6
The Lord wants us to understand that the Christian walk is not really as how some people believe it to be. Most people understand salvation to be a free gift, which it is. But too many people do not understand nor appreciate the cost of the cross and the Lord’s precious blood. Too many see salvation as merely a ticket to heaven and “a wink” at sin. Many believe that Jesus will forgive without repentance, and believe the lie: ”Once saved, always saved!”
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
There are so many misconceptions about what the Lord requires, simply because people do not read his word or seek him to know him. Instead people make up something in their own minds to suit themselves and believe whatever seems reasonable.
But what does God really want? He wants our heart’s devotion to be entirely his. He does not want us to compromise with the world, but to completely surrendered to his will. The Parable of the Talents focuses on how we are to serve him.
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug 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. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘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.’
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘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.’
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30
The first two servants understood what their master wanted and were diligent to invest the money that had been entrusted to them. On his return, they were able to give the master his money along with a return on his investment. God gives us talents, skills, and sets before us people he wants us to reach with the good news of the kingdom of God. When Jesus left, he entrusted the disciples with the “great commission.” He wants all his disciples to share the gospel, to reach those who do not know about salvation in his name. He has asked us to put our faith in him, to trust in him for salvation, healing, deliverance, provision and everything whether great or small. We are told to take care of the poor, to visit the sick and those in prisons. Jesus told his disciples:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:24
The last servant who was given a single talent to invest, did absolutely nothing. He did not know the heart of his master, for he would have rewarded him for his faithfulness. But because the servant had assumed that his master was a “hard man,” he was treated so by his master.
God does not want a single person to go to hell. He wants everyone to be saved, but it is simply our choice. We can spend our time doing as we please and being misguided by our own inclinations and our own deceitful hearts, or we can decide that our Creator knows best, and we choose to serve him. If we seek him and follow him, we will live a life with no regrets.
“You will seek me and will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
We do not need to follow the ways of the world, like the black birds, running to escape our fears and torments. We need to stand fast, resist the devil and take authority over the demonic powers that come against us. But without a relationship with the Lord we have no authority. Without faith in the Lord, we will fight our battles alone. But with God all things are possible.
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32
Let us not become victims, falling for every false doctrine, worshiping ‘gods’ or a ‘god’ that we do not know. We need to know Jesus as he truly is. How can we know his heart if we do not read his word? How can we understand his ways if we have not heard his voice or read the very words he spoke? How can we have authority to stand against the devil, if we are uncertain and are unaware of the devil’s schemes? If you follow the Lord, and learn from him, he will give you the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth that will lead you out of darkness and into his light.
I always tell people you can have as much of God as you want. Like ice cream, you can have a scoop or two, or the whole bucket! I want as much of Him as he is willing to give me. When you make Jesus Lord, truly Lord over everything, you will have peace, and the confidence to know that “It is well with my soul!”
Please share this message and encourage each other in the Lord. God bless you!
