In Agreement with God
Hi Everyone,
I have four visions to share with you today. The Lord wants us to see the things that hinder our walk with him and the things that promote our faith and the kingdom of God. These visions cover such topics: making covenants and agreements with God, valuing God’s ways over the ways of the world, learning to be content with what we have, and seeing things from God’s perspective. God wants us to align with him and his purposes.
The Visions
A Young Girl
In this vision, I saw a young girl about 8-10 years old come up to me and put her arms around me, giving me a big hug. She looked up at me and said, “I will tell you what…” She looked at me as if she was ready to offer me a deal, or to make an agreement with me. For example, she might have said, “I will tell you what, if I clean my room, would you let me go to the ___?” She wanted to offer me something in exchange for permission to do what she really desired. There must have been something about what she wanted, that I would be hesitant to give permission.
So this first vision is about making a deal or a compromise. The young girl I believe represents those in the church who may be in a back-slidden state, or somehow less assured of their standing with God. As she represents the would-be believer or the prodigal son of faith, I believe that God stands in my place, in the vision, as a parent to his child. Just as a child makes a plea or request to a parent, we as believers, make our requests to God.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Many of us want to make a deal with God, when there are circumstances beyond our control. If there is unrepentant sin in our lives, we may feel that God won’t hear our prayers. So, in our desperation, we might offer God our willingness to give up a sinful habit, or something we know that offends Him. Many people live in this gray area, and are not willing to part with their sinful lifestyle until there is no hope of fixing things by themselves. It is in desperation that we offer God a deal. We hope that in return for our sincere commitment to change, that we receive his help and his intervention in our otherwise hopeless situation.
Years ago, I knew I was not right with God and I wanted so badly to be restored to him, that I made a deal with God. I asked him, “If you give me Frank as a husband, I promise that I will be good.” God honored my request, because he knew that I was sincere. I truly wanted to stop the waywardness in my life and get right with him. I believe the Lord heard me for Frank proposed after we had known each other only 5 weeks, and we were married 7 weeks later. We have now been married 45 years and 5 days.
My sister, and her husband made a deal with God too. Their little guy, perhaps only 4 years old at the time, was diagnosed as having a large tumor surrounding the spine. They knew that it was a very dangerous surgery, but they told God that they would give up their business, (which was offensive to Him), if he would heal their son. God was faithful. And they kept their promise. Today they are entirely devoted to God and have served him faithfully all these years.
Making a deal with God is good. Thank the Lord that we have opportunities to see our sin, through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and we get right with Him. It makes all the difference in our lives. Everything changes. We have a God who loves us and cares for us. He gives us the desires of our heart when we inclined our heart to his.
“...God’s kindness leads you to repentance.” Romans 2:4
Two Threads
In this vision, I saw the left hand holding two different length threads. The right hand held a pair of scissors, and cut off the piece that was in excess of the other, making two threads the same length.
This vision speaks of conformity. The two threads were unequal in length, but after the cut, the long piece conformed to the shorter. When we see ourselves as different from others, we often want to conform to their ways so as to be accepted. Very often in preparing to attend a social gathering, we may ask “How are we to dress for the occasion?”
No one wants to feel out of place, or to be judged for their appearance, or for their lack of social awareness or etiquette. This is a minor thing when applied to inconsequential situations. However, when we choose to conform to the world’s values, rather than please God, then it becomes a major thing.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
When we compromise with the world’s values to please others or to please ourselves then we set ourselves in opposition to God.
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4
Next week is Halloween. And it fits right in with the American culture. All the schools encourage the kids to dress up in their costumes, not only princesses and super heroes, but witches, vampires, ghosts and goblins are equally represented. Years ago, before I really understood the wickedness of the holiday, I dressed my own children up and took them trick or treating. Now I see that it is a most sinful thing to do, to dress up a child to please the devil. We give the child the wrong signals. We take away their natural apprehension over evil. Instead we show them that not to be wary of witches and goblins, but to consider them fun. We shower the children with candy, games and praise for their scary costumes.
Halloween is a satanic day of worship and the church has no business compromising the faith by “making it safe and fun for the children.” Some churches celebrate the wicked day with “harvest festivals,” and “trunk or treating,” on the church grounds. They decorate the trunks of their cars with pumpkins and bowls of candy. They call these “outreaches” to the community. But why do this? Isn’t this just compromise with what they hope will please the children and their parents? How do you think the Lord sees this compromise?
What does light have to do with darkness? This I believe is an abomination to the Lord. It is compromising a child’s faith.
Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.” Luke 17:1
We cannot conform to this pattern of celebrating the world’s holidays that are from the devil, when they are entirely against God’s word. And we cannot declare them innocent by giving it a noble name such as “All Saints Day.” There is nothing saintly about Halloween.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 John 2:15-16
As we look at the two threads in the vision, the one is cut to conform to the other. There are other ways in which we conform to fit in. If everyone is gossiping do we jump in and add to what is being said, instead of excusing ourselves from the conversation? When we watch movies that feature violence, sensuality or the occult, aren’t we engaging in sin vicariously? To be sure, it is sin in our thought life.
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28
“I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” Psalm 101:3
But it is so easy to make excuses for ourselves, and to justify what we are doing by comparing our actions to those who we consider worse than ourselves. We can justify our actions when we want to please those we admire. When may be like the Pharisees who thought so highly of themselves, that they could do no wrong. We are more than capable to deceive ourselves and fail to acknowledge our sin.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” John 9:39-41
The Pharisees believed that they were above reproach, for they did not hold themselves up to the same standard of perfection that they used on everyone else.
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12
“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
We are not to conform to the world’s standards, values and ideologies, for the world is blind to the things of God. The world offers the wide road that leads to destruction. But the Lord shows us the narrow that leads to life:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The Email
In this vision, I saw a computer screen showing my inbox. The email came from an online seller who sells decorative accessories, household goods and furniture. The ad read: “Save Everything.”
Notice that the ad did not read “Save on Everything.” It said “Save Everything.” The ad was calling people to save everything as if all things have value. It is a call to amass possessions and horde it all. This vision speaks of covetousness.
In the vision of the email advertisement, we see the world’s methods of enticement to buy whatever the world is selling. Companies market to former customers hoping to convert them into being regular customers. In other cases, they purchase customer data from other sources and market their wares through email advertising campaigns. Every company thrives on a constant flow of business, so they do all they can to convert a shopper into a customer. They do this by creating an emotional attachment to their product, appealing to their innate desires and demonstrating the need to possess it.
The world has taken its cues from the devil, for he tried to tempt the Lord by offering him all the kingdoms of this world.
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:8-10
We can see here that the devil is after–our worship! He wants us to desire the world and serve him rather than God. He uses enticements like money and the things that money will buy. The desire for material possessions leads to the sin of covetousness and idolatry, for anything that we give greater value to than God, becomes an idol.
We began coveting even as children. I remember the Sear’s Toy Catalog came out a few months before Christmas. We would take turns pouring over the pages of toys, and imagine having them, and playing with them. Day after day we would study the catalog and dream of seeing the toys at the foot of the tree. We would be so filled with desire, that we would ask our parents if we could have “Barbie’s dream house,” or a “Schwinn bicycle,” or whatever was the hot item.
To put the brakes on coveting, we need to learn how to be content with what we have. The world will never promote such thinking, for the world sends the opposite message: “You must have the newest, the latest and the greatest.”
The manufacturers have planned obsolescence in mind every time they bring out a new and improved model. Automobile manufacturers constantly change their models so as to entice those who have to “keep up with the Joneses.” Our economy is based on continually replacing the old with the new. Each seller hopes that the buyer’s desire and covetousness will turn into profits.
I remember going to a pyramid marketing conventions long ago, where the successful leaders would encourage us to go and “dream build” with those who are new in the business. The dream building was designed to spark a desire in them, to sell more, in order to have more money to buy the luxuries that are shown to them. Dream building as they call it, comes right out of the devil’s play book.
The Lord hates a coveting heart.
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2-3
Paul, gave up all material possessions and comforts for the sake of the Gospel. Because he put God first, he was given great power and authority. He did not concern himself with his needs, for he trusted in the Lord to supply whatever was needed. He committed himself to serve the Lord and fulfill His purpose.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
To be content with what we have, helps us to avoid the temptations of the world and the devil. Knowing what is truly important to God, keeps us free of the love of money, which leads to death, spiritual death.
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10
The Glasses
In this last vision, I saw a pair of hands take a pair of eye glasses and place them inside an eyeglass case.
I believe that God is asking us to take off the filters and lenses that come from aligning with the world’s view. God wants us to recognize what filter or lens has tainted our view.
Offense can taint our view of others. Hurt feelings, resentment and prejudices can affect what we see. If we have believed lies about ourselves or others, it will affect our relationships. It will affect our actions and decisions. We might fail to act in an emergency because of a filter, that says “protect yourself first.” A person who believes that they can do nothing right, will not try at all. A person who believes that the situation is deserved, will walk away and not help. A person who believes he is a victim, will always blame the “other guy,” and take no responsibility.
Filters taint our view of life. They are not healthy. God would have us remove such lenses to see clearly. It is the truth that sets us free.
In Jesus’ parable of “The Good Samaritan,” we see filters over the eyes of the priest and the Levite. They considered it “someone else’s job to stop and help a man that was beaten and left on the road.” Their filter, may have told them, “It is beneath me to get involved.” “I am too important to stop, I have people waiting for me at the synagogue.”
But the Samaritan had no such filter. He could see clearly that the man needed his help. And he wanted to be a blessing and do what was right.
Jesus spoke of these mindsets, attitudes or lenses, referring to them as sins, specks and planks. He opens this teaching prefacing the subject with judging others. With our filters and prejudices we make judgments.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5
These are strong words. Jesus never candy-coated his messages, but spoke only the truth and let people accept or reject his teachings. If we have ears to hear, and eyes to see, then we can accept what he says. We are told to remove the plank from our own eye, so that we can see clearly to remove a speck from someone else’s eye.
The plank is the lens, which causes us to judge improperly. If we see ourselves as better than someone else, we have condemned ourselves as hypocrites.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:1-4
The hands in the vision, I believe, are the Lord’s, for if we are willing, he will remove the blinders that conceal the truth. He will take away the preconceived ideas and beliefs that keep us in bondage and taint our view.
Not only do we have lenses, but all people have lenses. And those who don’t know the Lord are completely blinded to spiritual truth. Lies, doubts, unbelief and the fear of man block the good news of the gospel. So it is important to pray that the Lord will lift these lenses off us and off others so that we all can see.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please take away the glasses, the filters and the blinders that have covered our eyes and blinded us to the truth of your Word. You are God, and there is no one else. We renounce the devil, the ideologies of the world, and the wickedness of sin. We want to be reconciled to the Father. We ask that you forgive our sins, as we recognize that it was your perfect sacrifice on the cross that paid our debt of sin. We ask that you fill us with your Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth. We ask that you write our names in the book of life, and so that today, by our declaration of faith in you, we are given new life. We are born of the Spirit of God, and have eternal life in you. Thank you Jesus. And we also ask that you draw the hearts of our loved ones to yourself. We want all to be saved, just as you do. Thank you Jesus! Amen!
God bless you in your walk with the Lord. Please share this with others. We want all to come to the knowledge of the truth. Be blessed!
