May His Face Shine Upon You

I had another dream last night.

In this one I was at a church service, but it wasn't in a church. This service was being held in a rented basement room with stacking chairs laid out for people instead of pews. It was bright enough, it didn't particularly have that basement feel but everything was kind of grey. There were Christians who participated fully in worship and whose hearts were with God; and there were others who wanted to participate but were sitting more towards the back. The ones towards the back were sitting with skeptics who jeered those who were worshipping God, and they allowed the fear of judgement from the world to keep them from worship.

As the service went on those who had worshiped with all their hearts sat forward and listened as the pastor taught. Truly they were hungry for the word of God. Those in the back were afraid to appear they were paying attention and slouched back, some even snickering at the jeers from the skeptics.

What I noted most was that the desire to worship our One true God was equal in both the one who fully engaged in worship and the one who was afraid of judgement from the skeptic.

As the pastor was teaching you could feel the presence of God in the room. All of a sudden a bright light was over the church. In the centre of this bright light was the very face of God. His face was literally shining upon us.

The worshipers either fell to their face or stood with arms raised crying out to God. The ones afraid of judgement from the skeptics wanted to jump up or bow down but the fear kept them in their seats. They could no longer slouch though or cross their legs, but neither could the skeptic. The skeptic could no longer speak and could not understand what was happening or how this was possible. Those afraid of judgement could have spoken in those moments to teach truth, but instead let fear keep them silent.

And this is where I woke up at 3:00am.

While I don't often remember my dreams it is even more rare that I would wake up from one in the middle of the night. I can only think of perhaps 2 or 3 times that has ever happened. I thought to myself why am I awake? I am so tired. What a strange dream. It was then I glanced at the clock and saw the time and remembered The Divine Prayer Clock, a book that teaches about specific hours of the day, and the spiritual principals around prayer correlating with them. I recalled someone telling me that when you wake in the middle of the night like that, that you are being called to pray. I will at some point write more about the divine prayer clock, but as I don't know when that will be you can check the link to learn more.

For now I pray that you will have the courage to be fully engaged with God. Let me leave you with these verses

-I just want to add one thing here. Imagine how different this picture would have been had the people in the front been aware of the those who wanted to fully engage in worship but who maybe just needed encouragement. Or if any of the believers reached out to the non believers.

Romans 12:2 KJV

King James Version

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Numbers 6:24-26

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
²⁵ The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
²⁶ The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

-I just want to add one thing here. Imagine how different this picture would have been had the people in the front been aware of the those who wanted to fully engage in worship but who maybe just needed encouragement. Or if any of the believers reached out to the non believers. Imagine if there had been a real unity.

Living Waters

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

                     Revelation 21:6 ESV

I had a dream that I need to share. I should say I don't often remember my dreams, but when I do there is generally something behind it that I need. Sometimes there is a message I need to share, and this time that is the case.  

                   The children of God came before Jesus and begged His mercy that while they were dehydrated and dying of thirst that Jesus would give them living water. Jesus heard their cry and in His hand held a full pitcher of refreshing cold water, He began to pour this water into a tall glass. The people grabbed the cup of water with barely a sip in it, not giving Jesus a chance to fill the cup. They gave their thanks for this small taste,a mere wetting of the lips, but Jesus was saddened. Jesus wanted the cup to overflow that His people never thirst again, but the people would not accept the water they needed to thrive, just enough to barely stay alive.

I shared this dream with a friend of mine and she rather surprised asked if I had really dreamt that. I told her I had at which point she shared with me something the Lord had said to her. "If I am an ocean, why do you come to me with only a thimble." 

People of God, there is so much more waiting for you. God wants nothing more than to pour His blessings upon you, create in you something new. Do not be satisfied with a wetting of the lips but drink deeply of the living waters. The Spirit is just waiting to release a fire of revival over us, if only we would seek Him first!

Remember our God is a mighty God and He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Think about what that means for just a second. Remember the Pentecost? 

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. -Acts 2:1-4

Imagine once again having full unity within the church. No more petty arguments about how to worship but instead fully engaging in worship with our hearts turned to God. Imagine not separating because we don't agree on when a baptism should take place. Imagine being of one accord with our brothers and sisters in Christ. With the Holy Spirit free to work through us we as a people will be free to work His miracles, operating freely through the spiritual gifts. Perhaps then more people would know what their spiritual gifts are and how to use them for the glory of God.

I will leave it off here with a few more mentions of Living Water from the bible. Please consider these things and ask God to reveal to you how deeply you have been drinking.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’

John 4:14 ESV 

But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 4:13-15 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

Isaiah 44:3 ESV 

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Revelation 22:17 ESV 

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Revelation 7:16-17 ESV 

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

John 7:37 ESV 

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Jeremiah 2:13 ESV 

For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

May the Lord's face shine upon you and be gracious to you!