SURF'S UP!!

Once again the Lord has placed this dream upon my heart. For the majority of this year, the Holy Spirit has been drawing me back and back again to this dream that I had nearly eight years ago. He spoke to me this morning and told me it's time to address it and display it to His Body once again. There is a particular emphasis on a specific portion of the dream that He wants me to highlight to disclose the hour we are in. He has been ministering to my spirit that we have just walked through the dryness of the pool water being drained, and we are indeed at the very brink of the ocean water spilling in with the great force of His Spirit.  

Church, we are at the brink of some of the most powerful days of living in the days of His manifested Presence moving through us in signs, miracles and wonders! We are being transformed away from the religiosity of what the boxed up church has fed us and we bit into for so long. We're shaking the residue of the religious mindsets off and awakening. We're awakening to His grace, His love for one another and for the lost, we're awakening to the Kingdom within us and understanding that it is truly finished and we can walk in it. We're awakening to the Spirit and Truth.

We are now on the bridge of stepping into what is truly of His Spirit. The true transforming power of the deepest intimacy we've known with Him that will manifest in ways of display and clarity of greater depths of revelation, love and unity among Believers and for the lost. It's time for the Holy Spirit to genuinely be seen through His people. 

Some years ago the Lord gave me understanding that this 'revival' we've all been praying for, will take place when we truly walk in brotherly love for one another. Love brings about unity. Walking in one accord, or unity in other words, brings about manifestation of His Spirit, His Word, His faith moving power. When we are in once accord or agreement with the Lord, breakthrough happens, when we are in one accord with other Believers prayers are answered. He has designed for us to be in one accord by the way He distributes the gifts, and the function of the offices, the family, etc. In the dream the ocean water poured in when the people worked together in one accord. Unity was the key to that breakthrough moment from the people being in the dry pool to pouring in of the ocean water in it's power, and to the surfing the ocean water. 

Here's the 'be careful' in it, stay focused on a relationship with Him and truth of what's to be praised above all.....the good news of the gospel rather than the display of the power. As the foundation of the gospel (salvation) is preached with genuineness, the signs WILL follow. 

(The following is the entire original article I wrote);

 If you are like me, there have been many times of struggling with trying to understand the meaning and significance of a dream that you are positive has been brought from the Lord. So many times God has given me a dream and I had absolutely no doubt that it was from Him, but I simply could not understand it.
 
There can be so many different factors involved with why we may not perceive or understand the meanings of our dreams, but among the list of contributing factors there are a few that stand out above the rest.

1)Sometimes we in our natural reasoning can be trying too hard to figure out the symbolism in the dream that we make it harder than what God designed it and we end up looking past the obvious.

2)It may be that God desires the Body to function together in an 'every joint supplying' effort in which He chooses to give one person the dream and another the interpretation. This will keep us in a humble place, helping us to understand that we truly do need one another's portions. I have found when this is the case for me personally, the Lord will give me a persistent prodding to share it with a specific person.

3)The last factor that I want to mention and the one that I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to focus on in this particular circumstance is that often the Lord will withhold the revelation of the meaning of a dream until it's appointed time.
 
 I am not going to even try to pretend that I know or understand God's reasons for doing what He does, but there are times that He gives (partial) insight for some of His decisions. I have a tendency to ask the Lord , "why?" and sometimes He will tell me, but other times He lets me know that it's not for me to know and that I am to only trust Him in His ways without any explanation. Some of the "whys?" I have asked over the course of the years have been..."Lord, why did You give me this dream so far ahead of it's time?" or " Why did You give me this dream but not tell me it's meaning?"
  
The reasons can vary greatly, and I have learned through the years that I cannot take one answer and apply it to every dream, or even every similar circumstance surrounding a divine dream. There most certainly has to be Holy Spirit led discernment with each individual dream. However, there can be general guidelines that are followed as long as we are careful not to lock it into any hard fast rules that do not allow the Holy Spirit liberty to speak differently to us.
  
Why would God give us a dream before the appointed time for it to be revealed? It's the same reason why He may speak vaguely to us about what is in our future. He knows that sometimes we become so eager to fulfill the things He has shown us, that we have a tendency to run ahead of Him, determined to make happen what we have been shown. When we do that, we are bringing it into existence by our own strength and our own timing, instead of God's and that's a formula for disaster.
 
So why would He show us before it’s appointed time?
  
When we have the dream, even if we don't have the revelation, things begin to take place within our spirits. We begin to develop within, even if we don't realize it's taking place. Our spirit has grasped it - much like when we pray in our spiritual language. We don't know what we are saying most of the time, but our spirit within does and it's a perfect prayer that we have not, in our natural selves, been able to tamper with by involving our own reasoning. We may be given the dream months or even years ahead of time and when the appointed time arrives, (read Hab.2:3) we begin to discover that much has already taken place within us. When we are then given the revelation of the dream we are able to grasp it from a much deeper place of understanding than what we could have at the actual time in which we were first given the dream. Often, by the time we receive the understanding, we may also have the surrounding circumstances lining up with the dream, (or at least at the brink of it) rather than placing it in the wrong circumstances and twisting and stretching it to try and make it fit prematurely.

For example, in 2003, I was given a dream from the Lord. It was a dream that stirred me greatly and even though I did not understand it at the time, it seemed so full of promise. For the past several years I have lifted this dream up before the Lord so many times, asking Him what He wanted me to see in it, but it was only recently that I received the understanding of this dream.

The funny thing with dreams is that we may spend a long time trying to understand them and when its meaning is unveiled , the interpretation seems so obvious that we have a hard time figuring out how in the world we did not "get it" from the beginning !! That's why it's called; revelation- Act of revealing; the disclosing to others of what was formerly unknown to them; also, that which is revealed; often, a striking disclosure. (Webster's)

The following dream holds a lot of personal direction and insight for me, but it also gives insight to the season that the Body of Christ is entering into. For that reason, the Lord has for, several weeks now, been pressing me to release it to His Body.


The Dream
I was at one end of a large, long (public) swimming pool. There were many others there also. Some were in the pool and some were positioned on the deck around the pool. As with most public pools the deck surrounding the pool was made of concrete. The people on the deck surrounding the pool seemed to be there more as spectators and were quite content and delighted with where they were and were not getting into the pool themselves. They were appropriately dressed for being on the deck, and I, along with the others in the pool were dressed appropriately for swimming.

This pool was slightly different than most other public swimming pools I have seen. The first thing I noticed as I stepped into the pool was several small shallow steps. Each step took me a little deeper into the water. At the deepest part on the steps, the water came to only about knee deep. Following the steps, the floor of the pool was divided into approximately three different levels. Each level , unlike the steps, was the entire width of the pool and took up a much longer length than what the steps did. I moved from the last step, (being at my knees) onto the first level which was to my waist, and then proceeded on to stepping onto the second level which was now to my shoulders. Finally, when reaching the last level, I found that it was necessary to swim because the water was deep - over a person's head (approx. 10 ft.). The water was very clean and clear so that there was a crystal clear view of every step and every level.

I began swimming laps back and forth. As I swam, I noticed that I could no longer see any shallow parts of the pool, it all seemed to be deep. I looked across from one end to the other and it seemed so far, that I could not imagine being able to swim the distance. I watched others around me and saw their movements and the way they turned around from one direction to another and realized that I was in the pool with the Olympic swimmers ! I was not sure I would be able to keep up with them, and felt very unqualified to be in the pool with them. To my surprise, when I swam, I noticed that I hardly had to put any effort into each stroke and I was propelled a much greater distance than what I would be from any natural ability. I swam among the others with grace and ease, as if I had been as trained and as experienced as they were. With only a couple of strokes of my arms I was able to go the entire length of the pool effortlessly. I swam on my stomach and I swam on my back. There was no distinction of one being more equipped or more highly trained than another, we all blended in equally with one another.

A man, (dressed not as one of the swimmers, but in regular clothing) - who we recognized as the owner of the pool, entered into the center of the pool. After a short time I realized he was draining the water from the pool. When the water was completely drained I could once again see the steps and the different levels of the pool. As we are now standing inside of a dry pool, we all began to move toward this man who stood in the center of it. The man spoke to a young woman that stood among us, yet to the far side of the width of the pool, and instructed her to adjust a white knob located on the floor of the pool. She had a difficult time comprehending where the knob was. Those of us standing there could feel her becoming nervous as the moments passed by and she was unable to see what it was she needed to see.  As it seems to be, those on the outside looking in can see things a bit more obviously than the one who is enduring within the heat of the circumstance. Therefore those of us watching this young woman were able to clearly see the knob and the adjustment that needed to be made, so we began to point to it, directing the young woman until she also was able to find it and make the adjustment as the man had instructed her to do. Through this process, the man did not interfere in anyway, but stood silently observing as we directed the young woman to what it was we could clearly see, but she could not.

After the adjustment was finished, the man gave a final shout to us, saying "Be careful!", he then turned and left the pool. His instruction to us was not a frantic warning to be careful, rather it was what you might say to your children as they are about to embark on a fun adventure, giving them a last reminder to not be careless in their time of fun.

From the place where the adjustment was made, water began to spray forth. This was not ordinary pool water. The water sprayed out swiftly and as if there was a great force behind it. It quickly become a giant wave that was coming directly toward us. There was a slight place of fear within me when I saw the wave, but it was not fear as in being afraid for my life, it was more like a respectful awe - as in a respect for something that you know contains much power.

As I looked upon this wave, I understood the man's final instructions to us..."Be careful"; as there was great power within this wave and as it is with power, if you do not respect it and become reckless with it, it can be damaging. The wave was not being brought to destroy us, but instead so that we could be moved and carried by it's great power and that in itself could be an exciting, thrilling, fun ride ! As we stood observing this wave coming full force toward us, we could sense and feel the timing of the wave. We knew that there was an appointed timing that we would, by a small act of our own will, either choose to be carried by the wave or to be knocked down by it. As I discerned the exact moment of the impending wave's arrival into the place I was standing, I made a slight jumping motion and was then on top of the wave, being carried by no effort of my own, only by the power and force behind this giant wave. As I looked around me at all the other swimmers who had also been in the pool at the same time, I noticed that there were differences in how we were all riding this wave. Some were on small boards (similar to what I know as being called, "Boogie Boards" ), and some had nothing between them and the water. The water was no longer clear, it was now blue like ocean water and the wave was white-capped like the waves that are seen in the deep place of the ocean.

As I glanced toward the people that were on the deck, I saw that they were all watching delightedly at what was taking place, and I knew somehow that part of their delight was in observing the diversity of how each one of us was riding the wave in our own unique style.

The Lord has been speaking to me that we are entering into a season in which many of the dreams that have been given to us in the past are now being revealed and coming into a time of fulfillment. Because the dream I have shared holds so much insight into the season that the corporate Body is entering into and I am led to give only a general summary of it's meaning, I encourage you to press into Him for even more revelation about it.


The Interpretation
I first must address that the separation of the people on the deck from the people in the pool is only a distinction in the different functions within the Body of Christ. Those who are on the deck are in no way representing people who are "missing it" in anyway. In fact, just the opposite. They are people fully grounded on a solid foundation and are exactly where they are suppose to be. If you examine closely what is taking place, the people surrounding the pool are viewing clearly everything that is happening. They have not missed out on any of it, they are in fact experiencing it, only from a different perspective. I perceive that many are the intercessors who are actively involved in prayerfully positioning those within the pool (representing those who are in the ministry field) to ride the wave.

The steps that are taken at the very entrance of the pool are necessary steps of obedience unto the Lord. Every step of obedience will take you a little deeper into the revelation of the Spirit that therefore leads you to deeper levels of anointing, revelation and relationship. Notice that each step and each level is clearly a choice that is within view.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18
(also, read Ezek. 47: 1-12)

(I would like to personally note that the same steps of obedience are of such importance no matter what your function is within the Body of Christ. There is not one function more valuable than the other, some gifts/callings are only out in the forefront being seen more than others. Being "seen" does not signify a greater value or anointing than one that is not as much within view.)

Many in this season are about to be launched into a new depth of ministry that they may feel as if they are unequipped or unqualified to enter into. This is a time of the Lord releasing the acceleration and a season of being thrust forward, not by our own abilities, rather, by the favor, grace and Spirit of God. We are entering into a time of becoming qualified to minister in our gifts not by our own merit of accomplishments and training , but -first and foremost -grace, inspiration, anointing and acceleration of the Holy Spirit. In the Kingdom of God there is no place for "respecter of persons", nor is there a place for competition of "who will be the first to arrive". Whether it be in regards to experience, or the size of ministry one may be in..etc., we are all made equal by His Spirit. The anointing is His, and so, in this season we shall see, even more profoundly, the "unknowns" and the "youth of the Kingdom" ministering powerfully as if they have had years of prior training, equal to those who are well seasoned ministers.

Matthew 20 (v12)"These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day."

Much of the ministry of the Holy Spirit that the majority of the Body of Christ has been submerged in up to now has been pleasant and refreshing, enjoyable, but really somewhat on the calm side....,(with a few exceptions)… Not many being filled with His manifested, extraordinary power where signs, miracles and wonders are the everyday norm. That's all about to change. This season holds a definite, noticeable transformation within the Body of Christ.

Prior to this transformation it is necessary for us to become emptied from all that we have been contented and comfortable with. As this takes place it may seem as a dry time but it is a time we must walk through. The dry time is not a time of being void of the presence of the Lord. In fact, He is right there in the center of it all. It is a time of emptying out all of the old, for the purpose of being prepared for this next season of genuine Holy Spirit-filled power. Some in the Body may have already gone through this dry time in their lives or in their ministries and are just on the brink of the wave coming into view, others may be right in the middle of it, while others are just getting ready to enter into it. Whichever place you may be walking through at this time, do not despair, the dry time is a "God thing" and is the hour we are in by His design. It's a good place to be, there is much promise and abundance of that which is of the Holy Spirit following closely behind it.

One Unified Body
The prophetic seers can see what many cannot yet see. It is important to listen to the prophets as they point the direction, and even if one cannot see at the time what the prophets are declaring, in time it will be made clear to those who desire to see. As the prophets point the way for the adjustments to be made that are necessary for the Body of Christ to make, we must listen carefully and take heed to their instructions. For many years now the prophetic and the office of the prophet have been being restored to the Church, but mostly working independently from the other ministries within the Body. In this season, the Church will come into an understanding far greater than before, knowing that when the various gifts and offices are allowed to function - not just independently from one another, instead - together with one another, as one unified body, which is the fullness of the plans and purposes of God being brought to fruition. The first place we will see this being restored is with the prophet/prophetic. The prophetic is only the forerunner, and shortly afterwards, many other ministries will also begin to join in and function together in an enhanced unity of the Body.

1 Cor. 12: (v 4) "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (v5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (v6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (v7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (v8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (v9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (v10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues. (v11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

THOSE OF YOU ON DECK, GET YOUR SPLASH GEAR READY !! SWIMMERS, HOLD ON TIGHT !! WE ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE THE MOST EXCITING, THRILL OF ALL TIMES...., THE TSUNAMI OF THE HOLY SPIRIT !!