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
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.
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.
