COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU!
I had a dream a few weeks ago that was very profound, and I believe it provides insight into the next move of the Holy Spirit among the churches.
THE DREAM
In the dream I was in a modern church that looked like a converted movie theater. It was dimly lit and the seats were covered in a dark velvet-like fabric that looked very comfortable. I sensed sadness in the dream, as there was a deadness about it.
A man entered the room. He was average looking, maybe in his thirties, but radiant with light. He came over to me and when He looked at me there was an immediate connection and the sense of being known completely, to the innermost part of my being. It felt very intimate and I was no longer aware of anyone else in the room. I could not move away, nor did I want to.
After some time, he began looking around the room; I could tell He wanted to minister. I was wondering how the pastors and others would feel about someone they didn’t know ministering among their congregation.
He brought out a large bottle filled with golden oil and began anointing different objects that suddenly appeared in His hand. I knew they were gifts that would be distributed. He then began talking with others and handing them something that looked like invitations. I wanted one but didn’t say anything.
He immediately turned and looked at me with surprise. He spoke to me nonverbally, saying: “Do you not know that I AM already with you? You do not need an invitation. We are One; where I AM, you are also. I am revealing this to you in a dream to show you these things, so that as you move forward there will be no doubt.”
I woke up strongly aware of the presence of the Lord. I knew that the man in the dream was the Lord or the Holy Spirit. I sensed what the rest of the dream meant but asked the Lord if what I sensed was accurate and what He wanted me to know.
INTERPRETATION AND WHAT THE LORD TOLD ME ABOUT THE DREAM
CHURCH STRUCTURE
This church looked like an old-style movie theater; the atmosphere seemed geared toward comfort and “spectatorship” versus participation. Dim lighting indicates lack of illumination. In the dream I sensed deadness and asked the Lord about it. I heard, “I am coming soon to a church near you. I have not given up on My Church and will continue to work with My people in the state they are in. Trust Me; I am working and will continue to until the end of time.”
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure." (Phl 2:13 NKJV)"
"teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen." (Mat 28:20 NKJV)
THE MAN
As stated above, the man in the dream represents the Lord or the Holy Spirit.
GOLDEN OIL
Oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Gold represents glory, and purification. Fully purified oil goes through a process until there is nothing in it of the olive’s flesh. The Holy Spirit is bringing a resurgence of purity to the Church, that the anointing would be clearly from Him and not generated from the flesh of man.
ANOINTING OBJECTS
The Holy Spirit told me that these objects were new gifts that would be given to people. The emphasis in the dream of His anointing of the gifts indicates these gifts are of great value and will operate from the purity of the presence of the Lord.
INVITATIONS
Many need to know the reality of the fullness of the invitation given to us in our new life in Christ, to not just to be an attendee at a meeting. In the dream I was kindly reminded that I was already with Him and no further invitation was needed. I believe this is to assure many to walk in full confidence of His indwelling presence. He is in us; therefore everything we need to be, have, or do, is available. (Eph. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3; Phil. 4:19) He will reveal all we need to know. We do not need to fear we will miss out on anything or compare what we are doing with what others are doing. (Jn. 21:20-23; 2 Cor. 10:12)
MY QUESTION ABOUT HOW LEADERSHIP WOULD FEEL
The Spirit of the Lord told me that He will move among His people in such a way that they would be the change. There is no need to try and change structures and procedures, for He is anointing with fresh oil and releasing new gifts in His people. The Holy Spirit will move upon individuals as He wills and the change will be obvious. The transition will happen through His people moving in a new way and shifting of structure will happen naturally. It will be by “being” and “doing,” not by plans thought out by man or personal agendas. It was obvious He was there to bring change, but not by overturning the structure.
I also heard Him say, “There will be resistance, for some will fear loss of control, but I am the Good Shepherd and care for My sheep. My love will break down barriers over time, for My sheep will hear My voice and they will follow Me. (Jn. 10:27)
PURE LOVE BREAKS DOWN THE HARDEST WALLS
The pure love of the Lord causes our hearts to turn fully to Him. His anointing breaks every yoke and sets the captive free. The religious spirit is strong, but it cannot stand against the pure love of God. The Spirit of the Lord said, “I am massaging the hearts of the deeply wounded with My oil of joy for mourning. I am mending those with hearts broken and shoulders bent by the weight of their own sins. Deeply forgiven, with the love they have received they will minister to others without measure and bring forth from them much great treasure.
FRESH OIL FOR GREATER WORKS
The Spirit of the Lord spoke to me the following, “I am anointing you with fresh oil for I am sending you forth to do the greater works. Do not get caught up in man’s ways of thinking of “greater works,” for this is not about doing “things” for me; that produces a works mentality and comparison that robs you of the intimacy with Me that is the necessary source for the greater works to come forth. The greater works is “greater of I AM in you.” Remain yielded, your heart inclined to Mine, for all that I have is thine; all has been ordained before time. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10 KJV)
No matter how strange what I want you to do seems, let go of your thoughts of how others might see it and trust Me. My ways are not your ways nor your thoughts My thoughts. (Is. 55:8) The greater (I AM) shall overshadow you and turn the hearts of others to bring them into My Kingdom.
You will not find the ways to change in procedural manuals or formal instructions. My Spirit in you will give you the unction that brings forth the function. I will give you the words and show you what to do.”
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ... But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1Jo 2:20, 27 KJV)
The Spirit of the Lord continued, “I may ask you to stand – and let My presence command. For My presence – My omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience – is My glory and brings forth all that is needed in that hour, sometimes without words. My presence brings conviction of sin as well as the ability to enter in. My presence charges and changes, rearranging and aligning to My purpose. One glance from Me and the enemy is felled, shaking and destroying the powers of hell. Yet many of my people still do not realize that I AM in them and the power of I AM manifesting through them will break every chain. Do you not know that My apostles were ordinary men yet through their yielding to Me others were set free? Yielding to Me brings Kingdom manifestation!
"And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed." (Act 5:14-16 NKJV)
I often think of an account of Charles Finney, a great preacher who lived from 1791 – 1875. One day he went into a factory and there was a young woman who opposed him and what he was doing for the Lord in the town. He just looked at her and kept looking at her. She was convicted of her sin and began to weep. Hundreds began to be convicted and weep. The factory owner stopped all work, saying it was more important that their souls be saved. Over the course of a few days 3,000 employees were saved. The presence of the Lord being known through a fully yielded vessel!
THE RELEASE OF NEW GIFTS FOR THE NEW DAY AHEAD
The Spirit of the Lord told me the gifts in the dream were being given for the new day ahead. Many will find themselves in situations requiring gifts they don’t think they possess. The Holy Spirit said that most people interpret 1 Cor. 12:11 as each person gets one or two gifts, but not to limit Him, for there is a fullness of the Spirit He desires each of us to walk in that includes Him distributing as He sees necessary in any given moment. I have experienced this many times; gifts I didn’t know I had would manifest as I was obedient to what the Lord told me to do. (Consider the parable of the talents in Matt. Chapter 25). Once I asked for the gift of the interpretation of tongues and the Holy Spirit gave it to me! Ask! (Lk. 11:13)
“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1Co 12:11 NKJV)
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit [of all]:" (1Co 12:7 NKJV)
As HE wills, to profit ALL. Not man’s will, to be puffed up with pride or for personal profit.
The word manifestation in the original Greek language is phanerosis. It means exhibition, expression, endowment. The root of the word is phaneroo and one of the meanings is to render apparent; to make manifest what has been hidden or unknown, by words, deeds or any other way. To make actual and visible; recognized and thoroughly understood. The gifts are given to make the expression of Jesus through us actual and visible, recognized and thoroughly understood by others!
The phrase “profit of all” is the Greek word – symphero, which means to bring together at the same time to be profitable to all. To me it portrays a beautiful picture of the manifestation of the Spirit given for a beautiful symphonic fullness of the expression of Christ. Can you imagine the glorious sound that will be produced?
TRANSITIONING INTO THE NEW – THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN AND UPON YOU!
Many have spoken or written for some years now (myself included) about the shaking that is upon us – not just the world, but the Church. One thing that was striking to me in this dream was the kindness of God in the way He will have the Holy Spirit bring about the necessary changes. God cares about all the Body of Christ in its varied forms. It breaks His heart when people discount or judge the former works because they are so enraptured with the new things. They have lost sight of the reality of the sovereign timings of God and the value of each necessary part – past, present and future, as well as His personal relationship and process with each individual He has created for His glory!
What I heard the Holy Spirit say is that it is not God’s desire for the collapse of churches, but a resurgence of life in them. The Holy Spirit at times renews or revives, at other times He brings forth a new move. He said, “Don’t despise the former things for they were necessary for that season and many good men and women with strong faith came out of those churches. I am forming crucibles forged in the fire to carry the anointing into all gatherings of my people – awakened and still asleep. For the crucibles forged in fire have no concern for the opinions of men and their own reasoning if it conflicts with Mine. They are not disrespectful, but purified; tested and tried. They are strong in Me and the power of My might; yet they walk in humility, by faith and not by sight.”
COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU!
I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, “The church to some may seem to be in decline, but I say watch as I refine in accordance with My design; many will see it as a wonder and a sign. I have not forgotten those who are Mine. They will come forth with fresh anointing and new gifts, right at the appointed time!