We all want to know the future something fierce. What if the future looks different from what you want or envisioned? Do you believe in prophets or prophecy? Prophets still exists, in spite of what some denominations teach. According to the word of God, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has not changed. So, it stands to reason that prophets and prophecy still exist. But what exactly are we to do with that? Paul said “we prophecy in part…” And here is the segway into my thoughts.
I’ve been having some very strong and vivid dreams lately. With the help of the Word of God I have a much clearer understanding of what I am seeing. I know that many of you are having dreams and some of you are even having waking visions. If God is the same as He was yesterday, and the same as He will be tomorrow and forever, then we can trust the prophecy of Joel 2:28 which was quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17, at the inception of the early church on the day of Pentecost. "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions”.
God is on the move! Yes, people of faith, God is moving in a way, that we’ve not seen before. I personally believe that we are in a time where people of faith are praying “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, MORE than ever before in history, therefore, we are seeing God move more clearly. I think everyone agrees that there is a spiritual war going on in the earth today.
Recurring dreams that myself and others have been having, forces me to ask a question. What side of this spiritual war do you want to be on? You are probably thinking, “Well obviously on God’s side, of course!” Are you sure of that? I mean, what if it looks differently than what you think it should? That’s a difficult question when you think about it. Pastor Tony Evans says, “God does not ride on the backs of donkeys and elephants.” I love this quote because the truth is, God is neither democrat nor republican. (I hear a lot of people say, “How can Christians be ______ Fill in the blank”). What God is, is holy and Jesus said be holy as I AM holy. What is holiness? I can tell you without question, it is not perfection. Not at least what man considers perfection. Holiness is completion. Can we be complete? Absolutely. Our transformation into completion begins and ends with the work of the cross. What Jesus accomplished on the cross and in the resurrection was and is complete, yesterday, today and forever. We join in His holiness by coming into agreement with the work of the cross. Our political parties, our favorite churches or denominations cannot do that. Even our families and friends cannot do that, because no matter how much we try, we cannot come into agreement 100% with all they have, say, do or believe. We will always disagree at some level with their ideologies. Can we come into 100% agreement with the work of Jesus? We can, but the choice is always ours. If you do not know what God’s word says; God’s work through Jesus is, then how can you possibly be in agreement with God? And if you are not in agreement with Him, how can you possibly be on God’s side? During the Civil War, a reporter asked Abraham Lincoln, “Is God on our side?” Abe responded, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”
We must know the Word of God in order to know if we are even willing to be on His side. The Word of God not only shows us the heart of God, but it shows us His will and desire for our lives. It’s a road map to understanding His heart, His will and His desire for us individually, as well as corporately. Without it, we are pawns in the hands of a powerful enemy who seeks only to kill, steal and destroy us, individually and corporately. In the book of Joshua, Joshua and the Israeli army come face to to face with the Angel of the Lord. Joshua asks him "Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies'? Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”
So, my question is: Whose side do you want to be on? When things don’t look like you want them to be will your faith in God be crushed or will it be increased? Will you look at others as your enemy or will there be forgiveness if their opinion is different from yours? Will there be a willingness to learn and grow? And if things HAPPEN to work out the way you want them to, will there be an arrogant, “I told you so” or a haughty look? Or will you humbly thank God for His faithfulness to you personally as well as to His people, allowing friendships with those who may think differently to continue through forgiveness? I will leave you with this wonderful song by David Phelps and Gloria Gaither:
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion. I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too. I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges; I'll dare to see another's point of view. And when relationships demand commitment, Then I'll be there to care and follow through.
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me; Your power and glory, let them shine through me. Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor, And may Your living Kingdom come in me. The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor, And may You feed a hungry world through me.
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