Saturday, 24 October 2009
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It All Starts With a Dream
This is my dream. I've been told that it is the place to start - a dream. It would be more dramatic if I could honestly say that this dream came to me while I was sleeping. Actually, it has been coming to me in bits and pieces, over time, taking a shape that I could not even visualize until just now.
In my dream, the scenery is very much like what I have been seeing in my "real" life. The people - many of them - look very familiar. I want to call out their names, but I'm not sure that they would respond. I mean - could these be the people that they look like to me? This looks like the world I am accustomed to living in, but there is one notable exception: There is a sweetness in the air...a gladness...a quietness...a confidence. God is present here. But, I thought that God has always been here - everywhere, all of the time. At this time, it is special. God is here, and we are rejoicing - some more inwardly, quietly smiling to themselves - some dancing and singing gleefully. This is the day that the Lord has made, and we are rejoicing and glad.
The reason that everything is so much different from the "normal" is the Joy of the Lord. The ECONOMY is no longer "tough." The PLANET is no longer in danger from the excesses of man. The DROUGHT is over. But wait, this is not heaven -yet. This is the same world that it was before I began dreaming this dream. Now, though (in my dream) God is regarded as sovereign. His Word is regarded as true. The Holy Spirit holds sway in the hearts of believers....That's it. Believers are truly believers. They trust in the power of God to save and keep them forever. They no longer have to toil under the disapproving eye of a God who will reject them at the slightest provocation. God's children serve their Lord with gladness. They come before His presence with singing. They trust in the Lord and do not depend on their own understanding. In everything, they glorify God and give thanks to Him.
How did all of this come about? Well in the first place, the circumstances of life: the economy, the environment, the weather, etc. have not changed one iota....What has happened is that believers have become BELIEVERS. They no longer work to gain favor with the Lord. They want to bear one another's burdens. While it is true that they are the same people in my dream...born again, but not yet in their glorified immortal bodies, the difference is that they are led by the Spirit AND filled with the Spirit afresh every day. They are coming to the well for the Living Water to be refreshed. They are being washed daily with the water of the Word. They are living in the Joy of the Lord and that is their strength and stability.
This dream is only a shadow of the joys of living in Heaven with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because there will be no sin there. God will walk about among us and we with Him. I believe that God has given some of us this dream because it is possible for the brethren to live in peace, worshiping the One who is worthy to be praised. It is impossible for US to live the Christian life. Christ is our life. Our security, our assurance, our ability, our joy is in knowing that!
Come let us bow down and worship Him. Let us adore Him and praise Him, and yes, let us enjoy Him! There is no need to "wake up" from this dream. The world needs to know that Christ is real and that KNOWING and serving Him is wonderful and joyful!
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Comments (8)
The water is flowing, my friend! The dream is coming to reality! One by one He is adding living stones to His holy temple! Living stones! Born again! Filled with His Spirit! I am bowing down and worshiping! Is He arm shortened that He cannot save? Is He not beginning to rend the heavens and send the latter rain? The joy of the Lord is the new normal! Everything is healed and comes alive where His river flows. May He bring all His sheep to drink deeply of Him. There is plenty for all! O, may I never wake up from this dream! He is glorious, beautiful beyond measure!
Psalm 126
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
The LORD has done great things for them.
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Amen, i reckon that this strife in our world...all the economy, all the unemployment. It is all bringing out the new and true believers. Ones who aren't complacent about themselves, who are willing to give it all up to God.
I truely await the time when God shall come and take up His elect, hopefully you and I will be the one that he takes with Him.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - I am believing for the dream to come true. I know this is how God wants us to live. Thanks for your comment and thanks for the Psalm. It is though I was writing this post around it! How great our joy! Joy, joy, joy!
@llamalima@xanga - May it be true that adversity in this world will help Christians to return to God. Revival is coming. We won't have to wait to go to heaven to begin to experience His joy. Thank you for your comment!
@llamalima@xanga -I was too hasty in ending my reply to you. The reason that I put those "concerns" of the world in CAPITALS is that the world (and many Christians) have allowed these things to loom so large in their lives. You have said it correctly ( about complacency) It is so easy to fall into an "automatic" mode in our Christian life. If we are not experiencing the joy of the Lord, we must not be keeping our eyes on Him. He is more wonderful than anyone or anything else we can think of....even more wonderful than ourselves...
The joy of the Lord is essential to the genuine Christian experience - it should not even need to be "worked up." He is our joy.
As for going to live with the Lord for all eternity... We who are His elect do know. Those whom He called He justified, sanctified, glorified. His work is accomplished. When God put His seal (the Holy Spirit) on/in us, we became His children, His heirs. The WORK that He is doing IN us is another matter altogether. That work has to do with our maturity and our being prepared to do the works that He has prepared for us to walk in.
I am so glad for your input. Thanks again.
@llamalima@xanga - I'm also waiting but I'm not only hoping, I know it! As Norm @quest4godsaid we can know. Jesus is the sure and steadfast anchor in the veil for us. He is our guaranty, our surety.
@quest4god - I loved the post and love your comments. No, better yet, I love Him! You love Him! We love Him b/c He first loved us! Psalm 126 is one of my favorites. Right not I feel drunk with His wine!
I have been thinking about this song regularly as of late:
How great our joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Amen. Our joy is great b/c He is great. He has pleasures forevermore, joy unspeakable and full of glory for all His children. Let us continue to go and eat and drink of Him. O, the half has never yet been told, has it?
The half has never yet been told,
Of love so full and free;
The half has never yet been told,
The blood, it cleanseth me...
The whole hymn is wonderful. I am considering posting it as a follow-up to this morning's post.
this is a dream of mine, as well. i have to hold onto HOPE that things CAN be different...
@ehrinn_l@xanga - Keep praying that the Lord will send more laborers into the harvest and that more of God's children will find joy in Him. It is hard to be critical of our brothers and sisters when we are full of His joy.