A Dream, March 5, 2011

I was awoken this morning early by a dream. I think it was a warning to God's people. Now, before you think I've gone off the deep end, I did not see a revelation of end times or new scripture or what-not. In my dream I was in a church. I don't know what denomination or where. The service was reasonably well attended, but there was no life in the congregation. I was struck by the lack of enthusiasm and extreme ritual with which the service was presented. The sermon began, and while the pastor was talking, they started passing out bread for communion. Without a word on why we were eating the bread, the people were just gobbling it down. Not wanting to be out of place, I did the same. It tasted like a doughnut hole. They then started to pass out the "wine". I started to listen to the pastor talk while they were doing this, and got a real shock. He was on the pulpit proclaiming that the resurrection of Jesus was simply a bit of mythology. As he was saying this I looked and I saw that the "wine" was orange fruit punch. I could take no more of this and I interrupted the service. I admonished the pastor, and began to teach in what limited capacity that I had, but from the Bible. I saw life on the faces of the people as I began to speak to them directly from God's Word. I woke up shortly thereafter. I remember talking about rebirth, justification, and sanctification.
I think the warning is this: Beware of false teachers! They are everywhere, claiming to have some new insight on the Word. Read scripture for yourself, know that it is right. Guard yourself against these teachings! I was on a website last night that claimed to know the exact date of the Return (which incidentally was almost four years ago by their measure). It admonished people with scriptures taken out of context and out of time. These are the most dangerous of false teachers. They twist the Word to fit their theology instead of letting the Word shape their beliefs. Jesus warned us this would begin happen in the end times. See Matthew 24: 10-12, and Mark 13:21-23. Yes I know I said I didn't have a dream about the end times, but I believe that we have been in the "end times" since Jesus ascended. The point is, that our culture is starting to embrace a pantheistic and materialistic way of life. A lot of this has crept into the church. We have a "this is the way I want my religion, and can I have fries with that?" approach to living. If nothing else remember that Christ shed His blood and died so that your sins may be forgiven (past, present, and future for those that love Him). He rose on the third day to conquer death and Hell, and to prove that he is the messiah. We are born again of the Spirit (rebirth or regeneration) We get to count our sins to Christ, and take his credit of righteousness for ourselves (justification). And the Spirit will begin to mold us in Christ's image, and that this process will take the rest of our lives (sanctification). Loved ones, read your Bible, hide it in your heart so the enemy cannot have any victories in your life. The Word of God stands true, never forget, and do not stand for teaching (in loving admonishment) that is counter to the Word from anyone claiming faith in Christ. God bless the true church of Christ!