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Thursday 15 November 2018

When each part is working properly


Last Saturday I was in a ladies meeting at somebody's house and was given something to comment on that was talking about geese.  A post I had put up on my blog about three years ago came into my mind and I have decided to put it up again. Hope you enjoy reading.


I have a little gold book by the side of my computer, one of the diaries that I have written in.  I opened it and noticed that the page I had opened to had many of the things written in it that were in the article 'Rapture'.  So I have decided to put up this post, edited,  so that I can re tell in the present time what happened at that time. 


The church that I attended at the time I first wrote this post  is not the church that I attend now, and I have added a few photographs.


Rapture
Several years ago I had a dream in which I was looking at certain stars in the sky.  As I looked at them they appeared to grow in explosive glory, yet were not destroyed.  It was absolutely beautiful.  In the dream my husband was stood nearby and I asked him to look at the stars, but when he looked he saw them as normal stars.  Then some other people came along who were unbelievers, and I asked them to look at the same stars.  They too saw them as normal stars.  A short time after I had the dream I bought some new gold coloured curtains, and when I got them home and went to take them out of the packet I noticed they were called 'Rapture', and that the pattern on them was very much like the exploding stars that I had seen in my dream.  The word 'rapture' means 'to be carried to a state of extreme joy', and that was exactly the state I had been in, watching the stars in my dream. 
 
Soon  after, I went to the church that I was attending at the time and the pastor was saying that he and the family had visited a waterfall in a local park.  Then a lady spoke of waterfalls of wine, the pastor following on speaking of how new wine could not be put into old wineskins but had to be put into new wineskins.  I noticed that the lady who spoke on 'waterfalls of wine' had a dress on with an almost identical pattern to my curtains, only the background colour was brown instead of gold. 
 
I told my son, who had moved to the area recently, that the waterfalls were there, because he had said that when he moved down here from Scotland he wanted to visit many of the waterfalls in the area.  He said he knew of the waterfalls that the pastor had spoken about, and that they were partially man made.  Again I felt that something was being pointed out to me, that the waterfalls that were partially man made and the dress with the brown (representing earthly wisdom) background colour could be speaking spiritually of man's interference with God's word and the Holy Spirit in some way and that if it was, then the Lord would reveal more to me if I prayed and waited.
 
Some time after, I was reading 2 Kings chapter 2 where the men of the city were telling Elisha that the situation of the city of Jericho was pleasant but the water was bad and the land was unfruitful.  Elisha asked for a new bowl and put salt in it.  Then he went to the spring and threw salt in it, and the word of the Lord came to him to say that the water was made wholesome and that neither death nor miscarriage would come from it.
After I had read this I was thinking about sharing my thoughts with the pastor at the church, and I reached for my UCB daily reading book.  When I opened to the reading for the day it was saying that we all have gaps and that the best way to handle the weaknesses was to work together and it was encouraging us to work more together and not to be like  Diotrephes who not only refused to welcome the brethren, but also stopped those who wanted to welcome them.

 
I was about to put up on my front room wall a print of two geese painted originally in watercolour.   I was reminded of a book I have called 'Why geese fly farther than eagles'   The following is a paragraph from that book which reflects to me the way the body of Christ should function as stated in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 16 '....... joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and up builds itself in love.'
'When the head goose grabs the wind, air is displaced, which then rushes up to reclaim its space only to see the smiling face of the bird flying behind, whose wings just happen to be in the downward position - a very dangerous condition, which doesn't last for long, because the upward rush gives them a push, and they're right back up where they belong.  This goose then grabs the air again, causing another upward wind, which lifts the bird behind.  And so it goes on down the line.  So the head goose breaks the wind, and all the rest are carried by him, with very little effort, I've heard, on the part of any one bird.  When the head goose has had enough, he or she simply drops back and depends on another bird for strength when strength is what is lacked.
So that's how I found out how the goose can fly from up north to way down south and back again.  But she cannot do it alone, you see.  It's something that must be done in community.  These days it's a popular notion, and people swell with emotion and pride when they think of themselves on the eagle-side, solitary, self-sufficient, strong.  But we are what we are.  That's something we cannot choose.  Though many would wish to be seen as an eagle, I think God made most like the goose.'
 
That Sunday the pastor of the church that I attended was saying to my friend and myself that if anyone has anything they want to share during the service they have to speak to the appointed convener about it and he will decide whether it should be shared or not.  Does not 1 Corinthians ch. 14 v. 26 say 'What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.'  

A few Sundays previous it was preached in church that if people did not go to the doctors with certain sicknesses they would die. 
I had been trusting in the Lord solely for a particular healing  and when I got home that day I sought the Lord regarding what had been spoken in church and I opened my Bible to read.  On the page in front of me was a verse in Psalm 118 that I had underlined some time previous.  It reads ' I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.'  I asked the Lord if He was speaking this word to me, closed my Bible, and opened to exactly the same page, with the same underlined verse speaking to me.
 
I have to ask, ' If I had asked the Lord this question in church that morning and opened my Bible to this verse twice, would I have been allowed to share this with the church or would the convener have thought that it went against what was being preached regarding 'going to the doctors or dying' and disallowed it, thereby denying this testimony which might have strengthened and encouraged somebody else ?'
 
Surely there can only be one convener in the church, the Holy Spirit, and are we guilty of trying to interfere with His work by bringing in our own rules instead of following the guidelines of the scriptures when we come together. Daniel ch. 2 v.44 reads:- 'And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.'  
 

We must not be afraid of a little 'salt' in case it might offend.  Jesus says that we, as believers, are the salt of the Earth:- “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  (Matthew ch. 5 v. 13)
 
 
Why, in my dream, did not my husband or the unbelievers see the full glory of the stars in the heavens?  I could understand why the unbelievers did not see it, but my husband has been baptized and believes in Jesus.  Was he representing somebody who believes but can not see the full glory because he is guided largely by worldly wisdom and knowledge?   Jeremiah ch. 15 v. 16 reads:- 'Thy words were found, and I ate them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart; for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.'   
Nehemiah  ch. 8 v. 10 contains the words 'the joy of the Lord is your strength.'

In order to be carried to that 'extreme state of joy',  the word of the Lord has to be our strength.  Then we shall be able to put off the old brown (earthly) wineskins and put on our new gold (Christ like )ones?

25 comments:

Sandi said...

This was a blessing to read, Brenda. That is very interesting about the geese and community. I was just thinking about how we are made to be in families and communities, even an introvert like me.

Maybe in the dream your husband did not see it because God showed you one detail and was showing him another?

Brenda said...

Hi Sandi,
thank you for your kind comment. I think I know roughly why my husband did not see the stars as I saw them. Although he was baptized in Adelaide the same time as my son and I he never appeared to have the passion for knowing the Lord as much as I had. My son and I came up out of the baptismal water speaking in tongues, and my husband did not, and I wondered if this was something that made him less passionate.
However, when we were living in Lancashire I awoke about two in the morning with terrible pains in my chest. I cried out to my husband to pray for me, but all I could hear was snoring. Suddenly he started speaking in tongues and my pain disappeared. I woke him up and told him what had happened, he could not believe it.
He still does not come to church with me, however we do speak about the Lord and scripture in the house, and he has also experienced healing through prayer.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Brenda,
as we draw ever closer to the End Times and the world seems to be spiraling downward in amorality, criminality, and disaster, born-again Christians are truly blessed in knowing that the joy of the Lord is our strength. The source of that joy is our salvation, which ensures we will live forever in Heaven, beginning either at the time of the Rapture or sooner if He calls us home. Either way, we have the joy of knowing that all trouble here is temporary, but life with Him and our loved ones in Him, in glorified bodies that will never age, is eternal.
Thanks as always for your lovely post and God bless you,
Laurie

Jephyr! said...

Hi Brenda, When I was young I lived high in the rocky mountains and often found myself shoveling snow on late evenings. Large flocks of geese would fly way over-head in the darkening sky — all loudly honking in their V-formation. Reading your description about why it's an advantage for them — and how it relates to our shared Christian walk is a beautiful analogy! I love the scripture you shared from 1 Corinthians 14:26 and have searched my area high and low for that kind of gathering. What a Blessing that you were led to Psalm 118 twice! I believe God does speak to us personally and uniquely through his living Word! Thank you so much for sharing — God Bless and Heal you in the name of Jesus!! Keep standing on His Word!

Keith said...

Hey Brenda, I understand that you wrote this post a few years ago. I also know that you now do fully understand how certain individuals see, while others do not. I'm reminded of the 10 virgins parable, where all were believers, but not all were committed believers of the remnant. Even though there are many believers in the Messiah, there are very few that are of the Remnant. God only reveals his intimate details to the Remnant. Rejoice all of you, who are of the Remnant and pray for God's Spirit to intercede, on the behalf of those who are luke-warm. Good Post, as always, Brenda.

Brenda said...

Hi Keith,
how lovely to see you. I absolutely believe what you have said here, and feel passionate about not being luke-warm. I have been waiting for another post to come up on your blog, as I find your blog very interesting for discussions. I am so glad for the blogging platform, as we don't have to be in a building to interact with one another and can share as much as we like without the Spirit being quenched. I don't know if you are still on u-tube, if you are can you give me the name of your site?
God bless you Keith

Brenda said...

Hi Jephyr,
I love that book about the geese, and I love the way God speaks through His creation. I don't think we have to worry about searching for a 'church' to go to as I believe time and space mean nothing to believers. I find the best 'church' I go to is on the blogs, my brothers and sisters in Christ are everywhere. Thank you once again for your prayers, I know absolutely that the promises of God are Yes in Jesus.
God bless you Jephyr.

Brenda said...

Hi Laurie,
I love how I was shown that the 'joy' was the Word of God, and how I was shown many times that I must not just be a 'hearer' of that Word, but I must be a 'doer' of that Word spoken to me by the Holy Spirit. That Word is definitely a vocabulary and not just a book - I love it.
God bless Laurie.

Keith said...

Hey Brenda, I'm working on a couple of YouTube videos.I'll let you know when I'm finished. You can critique them for me. :-)

Brenda said...

Thanks Keith, can't wait.
I just love interacting on blogs and I know I would like it on YouTube as well. I don't know about critique(ing) them, I might learn something from them eh? :-)

Keith said...

Hey Brenda, I know that Great Britain doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, in the same way, as Americans do. However, I know that you do celebrate the idea of Thanking God for everything, everyday, as I do. So, in the Spirit of God and Family, I wish you and you family, a Happy Thanksgiving, everyday, my sister, even though I a day early. :-) LOL

Brenda said...

Hi Keith,
thank you for your blessing. You are so right, I thank God for everything everyday, and I can truly say that He and His Word are never out of my mind. It is never too early to give thanks to our Father God for our reconciliation back to Him through His wonderful Son Jesus's sacrifice eh?
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Keith.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Brenda! Every time a teach a Bible study class I begin with a word of prayer, and part of that prayer is always that we may open our hearts to the Word, and be not only hearers, but doers of the Word.
God bless you,
Laurie

Patrinas Pencil said...

Greetings Brenda,
you're the first blog I've read or commented on for years. I'm always partial to yours. Loved the geese story. Hadn't heard that before. As to the Stars...we all see and hear differently. Some haven't developed these spiritual senses. They don't see the point. Different personalities come in to play as well. It is sometimes a lonely road for those of us who do see and hear and discern things unseen with the common eye. I long for a like-minded friend that shares the joy of such encounters. You are that kind of friend...if only we didn't live on different continents :) As for asking for and receiving God's wisdom concerning sickness or disease...I agree with you. I always seek the Lord's will first and I always ask for healing according to His will. He is the great Physician...The True Healer.

hugs, my friend
I'm preparing to jump back into writing on my blog. Look for me :) not sure if I'm going to enable comments though. Writing is going to be my first priority.

Brenda said...

Hi Laurie,
I love prayer, and 'acting' on God's Word is essential for our growth isn't it. God's ways and thoughts are so amazing, and His love for us is truly the greatest love we will ever find.
God bless you with all He has for us.

Brenda said...

Patrina, greetings to you my lovely sister in the Lord. Thank you for your very kind comment, and I love your referral to the stars.
How strange that you was on my mind about two days ago, and I was wondering where you had gone regarding blogging. I always felt that we were like minded, and distance never means anything when we are joined as one in the Spirit.
Our great Physician is truly amazing, as something happened last week which could only come about by Him, and these happenings increase my faith and trust in Him.
I look foreword to your blogging returning. I hope it will still be the same blog, A pencil in the hand of God, as I still have that on my sidebar and will have access to it. If not, could you let me know what it will be called.
God bless you Patrina.

Patrinas Pencil said...

Brenda,
I'm picking up where I left off...yes, same place, same pencil.
I remembered a story of a ministry friend that shared last month of his 'star' experience. He literally saw the stars dancing. A closer look revealed what appeared to be tiny angelic beings. He said it looked like children at play...tiny angels celebrating and rejoicing with each other. Can you imagine? He was not dreaming or seeing a vision. He was standing under the night sky, admiring the heavens. I call that favor. Nothing is impossible with God!

keep looking up!
patrina

Brenda said...

Hi Patrina,
absolutely nothing is impossible with God. As I have had many experiences which are completely supernaturally of God then I understand where your friend is coming from. I look forward to reading your new post.
Looking up to God's truth is far better than looking down to the enemy's lies - which are rife on the earth at the moment because he knows his time is short.
God bless.

Aritha said...

Love to read about you dream. I also dreamed about a big star this week :-)
Love also what you wrote about geese.

I readed this on a site and I think you'll like it: The natural phenomenon is, for me, a metaphor for our beloved church. As individuals, we often fly on our own, only to find that by working together as a body of Christ we are far more powerful and make a far greater impact on our world than we could ever achieve alone. We provide an uplift for one another, supporting each other along our faith journey and in our lives of service.

And ... bonus: God and the Geese. http://www.antiochianarch.org.au/God-and-the-Geese.aspx

Brenda said...

Aritha, lovely to see you.
Your words regarding the natural phenomenon being a metaphor are beautiful, and the reading of God and the Geese is absolutely amazing. I don't believe anything is coincidence, and I thank you for coming over and sharing this with me. I hope others who come over here will read your lovely comment too.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Brenda -- may we pray daily and study His Word, following His still, small voice to obey His perfect will.
May God bless you richly,
Laurie

Brenda said...

Thank you Laurie,
I love the way that God speaks to us through our daily manna, His Word, as we grow in Him. May God bless you richly too.

S. Knowles said...

Hi Brenda,
This was great and to me it's a very prevalent issue in the church today sadly. I have noticed over the past 7 years that many in the church are trusting in the wisdom of man instead of the power of God. I think one of the reasons the church isn't operating the way it should is because many in the pews have forgotten who the true head is (Jesus Christ), and have allowed man to step in the seat.

Many of these men who have been trained by other men in theology have been taught how to see and understand God's word the way their teacher or seminary professor sees it or was taught to see it instead of humbly going before God and seeking Him and drawing nigh to Him in order to gain correct understanding of God's word from the direct source (God Himself). Paul gives a perfect example of how this is done in Galatians chapter 1 where he explained how after God revealed Himself to him. Paul didn't immediately run to man for guidance or to be taught. It wasn't until a few years later he saw Peter and one other and was only with them briefly before Paul returned to doing what God had called and equipped him to do.

Today we have men who were taugh by men who were taught by men who did not humble themselves to seek God for understanding but relied on the wisdom of men found in their many text books and the philosophy of men. These men end up being placed (by men and not God) over many churches and it results in much of what we see today. A lack of growth in the body because the other members of the body are stiffled by these men who have set up a chain of command that consist of persons who want things to be taught a certain way, understood a certain way and done a certain way and sadly the way that has been chosen more often contradicts God's word of how the church is to learn and grow and go out and make disciples.

I marvel at how when Jesus was in the temple and spoke for the first time that it was during a time when whoever had something to say would get up and go to the scriptures they had and were permitted to read. Jesus got up and spoke then sat down. People were amazed at what He said and this I'm sure stirred up something in them wanting to know who He was and what He meant but in the Pharisees jealousy and hatred was stirred up in their hearts because like Diotrephes they want to be in control of everything, they mistakenly see themselves as the head to be revered and those in the pew as those who must hang on to their every word and not question or even contribute with what hasn't been approved of beforehand.

The church operates a lot like that today. Today the church would have had Jesus have to attend a brief meeting in the pastor's office before church to say what he planned to share and explain what He means and then the elders decide if it's approved. While I think there should be order in the church, I agree that we should not be restricted from operating in the gifts the Father has supplied to (each and every believer) through the Holy Spirit.

S. Knowles said...

It would be great if the church operated the way we're supposed to and there weren't person quenching the Holy Spirit like you said. That analogy with the Geese was very good, it paints an amazing picture of how wgen each member comes together and does his or her part we all are able to remain on the narrow way and patiently endure being encouraged and helped by brethren. Thanks for sharing this story with us. I hope to keep that analogy of the Geese in mind. May God continue to bless and keep you.

Brenda said...

Hi Sateigdra,
nice to hear from you, and a happy new year to you. Yes, every word you have said is true and unless the gifts operate within the church the Holy Spirit will continue to be quenched and the fullness of God will not be allowed to function. Therefore we shall miss out in receiving all the promises of God, which are 'Yes' in Jesus.. God bless you Sateigdra.