Part 2; The Dream of Choosing: Religion or Relationship?

Recently the Lord gave me a dream about a 'surprise wedding' that was mainly in regards to returning to our First Love in a full commitment. 

Ten years ago, the Lord gave me a similar dream. As I was putting together the most recent dream, I could not shake the nudging of Him wanting me to combine the recent one with the former. In my logical thinking I would assume this recent dream would replace the former and be the conclusion. That was not His plan and He knows better than I. We're all quite glad about that!

 When I first began to delve into the two different dreams, I related them as being the one in the same message. Although similar, they are not addressing the same message exactly, as you will see. The most recent dream addresses those who have strayed away in some degree, and those who have been enticed by the pleasures and excitement the world/flesh seduces with. 
With the dreams being given to me ten years apart from one another, I felt urged to search out the meaning of the number, ten. In the Hebrew context, the number ten (Yod) is a number representing - shelemut. The Hebrew meaning of shelemut is; completion or, order. The Lord's heart's desire is for us to walk in completion and order. With that being said, within the contents and layers of these two dreams is direction; direction from the Lord leading us to a divine completion and order in Him.

The Dream from 2007: 

I was a young woman, within the age range of early to mid-twenties. I was involved in a relationship with a young man, who had proposed marriage to me. Although we had not officially set a wedding date yet, there seemed to be a peace and a trust in the solidity of the relationship. This young man was muscular and very handsome, and he was also genuinely good and trustworthy. He was fun, interesting, and someone who walked in integrity. Someone that you could always count on to follow through with his word.
I felt very passionate about him in my heart. As I thought about our future together, I knew that he would provide a nice home and all of my needs would be provided for. I could see that we would have an enjoyable life. We would have more than just our basic needs met, but also not lavishly pursuing material abundance, because the joy we would have together would come more from enjoying life itself.

Although I was in a strong relationship with this young man, I'm not sure how it came about, but I began to take up company with "another" young man. It was more of a "social relationship."  Whenever we were together, we were never alone; we were always in public places. This man would be considered to be a "nice" person, yet his character didn't seem to quite match the other young man's, in-depth character. He could be described as an average-looking person. There was nothing in his personality nor his appearance that would cause him to stand out above the rest, unlike the other young man. What did stand out though, was this man's "great wealth." His family owned their own business, which was quite prosperous and thriving. He was very generous with his money and when buying things, he spared no expense. Often, after being in his company, I would later find out that he placed a bundle of money inside of my pocket, without my knowledge of him doing so.This man also proposed to me. After proposing, he took me to his home, showing all I would have access to if I were to marry him. His great wealth most definitely was showcased in his house. If it were not the finest of the finest, he did not want it in his house. He was very meticulous and wanted everything in its proper place, always in order, organized, and very predictable.

The dream ended as I was telling his sister that I was faced with making "a choice." I realized that both men could not stay in my life and whichever one I chose, the other one would have to leave. I awoke knowing who it was that I truly loved.

 The young woman I represent in the dream is the "Church"--the betrothed Bride of Christ. 

 The first young man that stood out above the crowd in his good looks as well as his character, represents the "Holy Spirit." He is everything that has real, true purpose, not what is superficial. In Him is depth, and strength and He is beautiful to behold.

The second young man who had knowledge of the relationship between the young woman and the first man, still sought to entice the woman in becoming his bride. He offered her what could appeal to her flesh, but nothing that had lasting value. This man represents the "traditions of religion." Everything that was shown and offered was nothing of a true relationship, but only what makes you feel good for a time. The time spent together was only represented in public places because there was no place of intimacy, which is needed for a true relationship.
 Friends only become so dear to one another because they take the time for intimate conversation and time to get to know one another's hearts, likes and dislikes, hopes and what brings them joy, and so on. 

In this dream, the Lord is revealing to us, His Church, that we are at the crossroads of decision. This is a personal choice and decision that each of us will individually face. 
The intimate fellowship and passionate relationship with the person of the Holy Spirit can be best defined as a "sacred romance." Spending time in the Lord's presence on a daily basis, in His word, in worship, sharing your heart in conversation with Him, and listening to Him share His heart with you establishes true intimacy and friendship with Him. It's in this kind of walk with Him that you will find the liberty of the Spirit and know Him for truly who He is, and not who man's doctrine tells you He is.

 So what is the decision that we all must face? To resist or, to agree with the temptation to turn away from our "First Love," and fall back into the entrapment of the doctrine of religion?
The danger of the snare of religion is, it's not always as easy to detect as one might think. Sometimes we step into it with the most well-meaning of intentions. Don't misunderstand me, I totally support the function that the local churches have for the Church. We are not to forsake the assembly of ourselves and I believe it to be very vital for the edification, fellowship and joint supply of the Body of Christ.

 On the other hand, it is very important to know the difference from what "the Lord" has called you to do, opposed to what "you or someone else" may have called you to do. It can be very easy to spend all of our time and energy attending or tending to the various types of programs and activities within our local church. In our busyness of "doing" all that we think is necessary, much of the time, before we realize what has happened, we have busied ourselves away from the first love relationship with our Savior - because He did not fit into our schedule of required duties.

Just as in the dream, with the second man, there was social time spent. In that time, there was no depth or intimacy of relationship being established, so the time was only superficial. The reward in the relationship was only temporal, nothing he offered had any real eternal value. If you were to take away all of the material possessions that he had, there was nothing left which would make him stand out above the crowd.

If you were to take away all of the material possessions from the first man, He still had everything that fueled the passion of the heart. How so?  What made Him stand out from the rest came from within Him. He just is who He is, or from the perspective that He represents the Spirit of God, He is, "I AM." He is our all in all, within Him is everything that we could ever possibly need, want, hope for, or desire.

 A relationship with our Lord isn't simply knowing about Him, or even knowing His ways. It's not in fulfilling duties within our local church.  It's not found in any of those things. What it is, is daily interaction with Him. It's a fiery passion that burns within your heart for Him, and it's also recognizing His presence within you.  When getting to know Him personally, you will also desire to know His ways. 

If we become preoccupied with "duties" and leave out the relationship with the Lord during our time at church, or in our daily walk, we have nothing more than a religion, a program, or a daily routine which does not stand out in a crowd above the rest.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

The Lord is "wooing and beckoning" His Bride--that's us! He desires that we stay intimately involved with Him; that we would not be drawn away and enticed by another, not even for a moment. Religion uses His name as if it's own, but the liberty of His Spirit is not found within the confines of it. It is a prettily wrapped box of rules and bondages that leaves you empty and exhausted from trying to fulfill it's quota, and yet it not truly fulfilling you. There's a sacred romance to be found with a genuine relationship that is available to all of us. It's more exciting and fulfilling than anything that this world's riches or doctrine of religion has to offer.

As His Bride, let's be sure that we are turning toward and not turning from our First Love, which we will find in the intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Let's remember and apply this promise in James 4:8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!"