I was listening to a bethel podcast this morning and I was blessed with a vision of a brick road. I’ll get to that in a bit but first I’ll brief you on the podcast. (link in the comments) The podcast had referenced the difference in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd heavens. It focused on making sure that we understand that we can view and discern all three realms. We are not meant to see only this one dimension. It was an eye opening teaching about making sure you ascend into the third heaven, seated with our Heavenly Father in order to find the right direction needed to conquer the battles in the other realms. That happens in prayer, if you let it. The three realms are this natural world (1st heaven), the spiritual warfare realm where the demonic dwells (2nd heaven), and the Lords kingdom (3rd heaven) where the enemy and all demonic forces have lost all authority have have zero power. I’ll have to learn more on all of that before I can actually elaborate in teaching, but I’ll tell you how this vision plays into that reality.
I saw myself on a brick road walking along. The path of the road was relatively straight but had a slight bend here or there. The area was surrounded by woods and different types of trees. As I was walking along I noticed that there were random things along the way. I saw a dusty mirror leaning against a tree. I saw an old truck. I saw a rusty pair of scissors laying on the grass. Then my gaze shifted up and I saw shiny necklaces, bracelets and gems hanging up in the branches of those trees. I was wondering why everything near the ground looked warn and dusty, while everything that was strewn in the trees looked shiny, valuable and new.
Then I heard the Lord say to me “don’t get distracted by the shiny things.” As I continued walking, it was difficult not to look up and see the sunlight reflecting on the valuables. Then I heard again “don’t get distracted by the shiny things.”
Then the Lord put on my heart to really think about where the shiny things were located. They were in the air. “What does that mean, Ash?” I heard the Lord ask me. Once again, like a cover was taken off of my head, I saw them. Vultures in the trees, that you couldn’t see in the natural. They were in the spirit realm, patiently waiting for you to go after the shiny things in the natural realm. Waiting to attack you when your mind is focused on the material things of this world. Enticing you with the things that seem important. The things that really have no value in the kingdom of Heaven. They were in the realm of the prince of the power of the air, and without discernment, you’d never be able to see them. Their jaws were sharp and stained with blood. I could see torn flesh hanging from their nests in the trees. They showed no mercy once they got ahold of you.
Ephesians 2:1-6 2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
As I turned around, boom, Jesus was right there. He likes to show up like that and scare the crap out of me. It’s like bam He just shows up and I look over at Him and laugh because I know He’s about to blow my mind with revelation. As we continued walking, the first thing we came to along the way were the rusty scissors. He motioned for me to pick them up so I did. I could feel the rusty metal in my hands. They were the heavy scissors like the kind they used to have in school. You could hear the metal scrape as you opened and closed them. “Pretty valuable, huh, Ash?” I heard the Lord whisper. Now, in the natural you’re probably thinking to yourself, what value do rusty scissors have? But I already knew in my heart what they were for. “They’re to cut the grave clothes, Ash. You’re going to need them.” He said. As I tucked them into my back pocket, we continued on our way. I could see the vultures hungrily watching our every move, waiting.
The next thing we came across was the mirror. It had a cherry wooden frame that looked decades old. The glass was weathered and you could still see the reflection but it wasn’t crystal clear. He motioned again for me to pick it up. My arms were shoulder width apart as I held the mirror up to my face. “What do you see, Ash?” This broke me, because I didn’t know how to answer Him. It’s like how you know what answer the teacher wants to hear so you just say that. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t speak. I knew that the right answer was to say that I see Christ in me but I didn’t. He was standing behind me and what I saw was a fuzzy unclear reflection of myself and a somehow crystal clear reflection of Him standing behind me. My natural mind began bringing up feelings of failure. I thought because I didn’t see all of Him in my face within that reflection that I had failed in my walk. As my heart sank, The Lord simply smiled at me and put this on my heart as He put His hand on my shoulder.
So many take the Bible’s words of having Christ in you and end up feeling condemnation when they don’t feel like they have acted exactly as Christ would have acted, or spoke exactly how He would have spoken. What the Lord said to me blew my mind and brought me comfort at the exact same time. “How boring would things be if there were a thousand of me, looking the same, acting the same, speaking the same exact way?” I was taken back by this, but then the revelation came to my heart. That’s why we are all so different, so peculiar. That’s why He has created us each with a unique voice, unique look, different purpose and plan. Because the Truth of the Word is so vast, people are all so different and they relate to people in different ways. That’s where the 5 fold comes in to play. Not because we all have to be carbon copies of Jesus, our pastor, or our mentors, but because His message is so immense and people’s life experiences are all so different that it’s not only the Christ that is in us, but also the Christ that walks with us when we are being our own unique selves, that will bring His kingdom of Heaven down to earth. You aren’t failing because you don’t look exactly like Jesus. You’re only in danger of failing if you walk alone.
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Romans 8:1 - [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (*the shiny things), but after the Spirit.
As we continued walking we came to the truck. The Lord motioned for me to get in. I tried to start the truck but it wouldn’t turn over. He motioned for me to try it again. It started. As I tried to put it in drive, it wouldn’t go forward. It wasn’t moving at all. Then I changed the gear to reverse, it easily began to back up. Tried drive again, nope, not budging. Then the Lord told me to put it in neutral and He motioned me to get out and push. I laughed because of course He would have me pushing a truck in the woods, why wouldn’t He? At this point nothing surprises me. So, I got out and headed to the back of the truck. Jesus slid over to the drivers seat and did one of those forward ho type motions like you give a sled dog, and I laughed as I put my hands on the tailgate of the truck and began to push expecting resistance. Immediately I noticed how smoothly it was moving forward. I was able to begin walking faster and faster, then jogging and eventually got to the point where I was able to hop over the tailgate and sit in the bed of the truck as it went along the way.
The Lord put it on my heart that many of us are trying to drive that truck. We are turning the key and getting angry when the truck won’t start. We eventually get it started and then try in our own ways to make as much progress in the shortest amount of time as possible. We want to get to the destination, quickly, without putting in much effort on our own. Yet the truck will only go in reverse without effort. We will never make forward progress when we expect to do it with little to no hard work on our part. The beautiful thing is, that when we fully surrender and let The Lord drive, (many times at the expense of our flesh) the effort that we put in, seems to be in itself, effortless.
When you begin your journey in Christ, it is hard to stop looking up at the shiny things of this world, it is hard to make time to read the Word, it’s hard to wake up on Sunday mornings when it’s your only day to sleep in and try to get your family ready for church. Yet as your own relationship with Jesus develops and matures, Him being with you, instantly makes it easier and easier to the point where it becomes an effortless ride home to be one with our Father. After only a year, my salvation is ingrained in my heart like never before. The visions become part of my every day walk with the supernatural Lord that is our savior. It’s just another day to look over, realize He is with me and feel His presence. To sense what He is trying to reveal to me. The scriptures come alive because they are the living word. This is what the Lord desires of all of us. To let him drive, to discern the things of the world vs the things of the spirit, and to fully surrender yourself so His kingdom can rein here on earth. We don’t have to wait to die to experience the supernatural realm of heaven. I can assure you this. He is calling for a revelation guys! He is calling us to walk in the supernatural in order to bring Christ into the natural to reveal Him to those who don’t believe, to those who think they believe and to those who believe all wrong.
Amos 3:3-8 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment? 4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something? 5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all? 6 If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it? 7 Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?
We got to the end of the pathway and the woods opened up to a beautiful field. The sun was shining and flowers were beautiful. I could smell the sweet aroma of peace and joy. “This is our stop for now, Ash” He said. It never ceases to amaze me. Till next time Lord. Till next time.
Proverbs 23:26 - My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
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