I am under the bridge on the land beneath Michael’s calf. Gatherer stands to my right, silent, watchful, waiting for me to speak.
I don’t feel like talking at first, nervous that more snakes may be pulled from my chest to expose who I really am. The process has been incredible but exhausting and having my weaknesses borne to the world is completely the opposite of my pastoral training.
Me:
“I was taught that leaders must play their cards close to the chest, keep their weaknesses concealed and deal with our issues privately so that people can have confidence in us.”
Gatherer:
“That is the exact problem. Cursed is he who puts his trust in man, his perspective will be so limited that he will not see the purpose of God for his life even if it was right in front of him.
Hiding weakness is an act of pride, nothing more. You sell people a life that they cannot live and cause them to live in fear of failure. Those who fall end up living in a cage of shame because your love is limited and your grace is limited.
Hear this well son of sorrow:
You who lead people to have more faith in you than they do in God are obstacles to the kingdom. It will be better for you to jump in a river with a large rock than what awaits you at judgement. You bring hell upon people for the sake of your own ego and completely misrepresent God, His word, and His heart. Unbelievers scoff at God because of you. Your theatrics cause many who are young in the faith to stumble and fall off the path. All because you want your name in lights and a life of luxury.
You are chaff! And as teachers of the word you will be severely judged!”
Me:
“Wow! Which of us stands a chance? We are all just doing the best we can with what we know.”
Gatherer:
“The heart of man is filled with deceit. You must search your heart and work out your salvation with fear and trembling son of sorrow. To build your empire at the expense of the innocent is inexcusable. You (plural) know better.
In studying the word as teachers, you read the commands of the son and still call yourselves ‘father’ and ‘teacher’, you still seat yourselves in places of honor, you still dress like peacocks in unjustifiably expensive clothing and parade your wealth before the poor.
You know the word, you read it often yet you still place the widows, orphans, and the poor at your lowest priority. If you think that this version of faith is Christianity, you are completely mistaken. They are cults, emulating Christianity but worshipping success.
It is simple son of sorrow. If you love God you will do as He says, you will eat from the tree of life and let Him decide what is right and wrong, what is just and unjust.
You are all one. If one of you is hungry, the body is hungry. Which part of this do you not understand? Your pulpits are filled with ear tickling manipulators who hate the idea of God placing dominion and responsibility in your hands. But you (plural) are responsible for each other. You are your brother’s keeper, you must love one another carefully and patiently and really care when someone suffers.”
Me:
“What you are saying makes sense to the ear and looks good on paper but how do we make this a reality in the devil’s world? Helping the poor shackles you to their problems and there are never enough resources. It is never as simple as a meal or two, the mindset that sustains poverty also sustains contempt for wisdom.”
Gatherer:
“Ahh, you see son of sorrow, that is where all things work together for the good and people can be brought into God’s purpose for their lives. Feed them, love them and teach them to love God. If they love God they will do as He commands and the seven spirits of God will fill them with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, might and council. They will will walk in the fear of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and God himself will teach them.
But if you strut around like a peacock, feeding them and leading them to believe that you are their spiritual father, teacher and leader, they might as well go back to slavery. Slavery is better than deferred hope because all man can offer them is forty years in the desert.
Teach them to love God so that the darkness of the seven spirits of Satan within them can shrink back from the light of the Holy Spirit. Perfect love casts put fear, so teach them the love of God and enforce an environment of the fruits of the Spirit.
You cannot ‘law’ people into the kingdom with rules and regulations but you can express the impact of their actions on you and expel the divisive ones who contend against love.
Love, acceptance, joy, fun, peace, good works – create environments like that wherever you are. Work to create a love for wisdom and love itself within people. Do this son of sorrow, and see how revival breaks out among you!
Love is all. His kingdom is all! His kingdom is a kingdom of love!
People who are filled with love do not force cold laws on each other, nor do they parade their wealth in front of the hungry. Such heartless arrogance is demonic. Such selfishness makes your entire religion worthless.
Love is a sacrificial, intentional thing son of sorrow!”
He reaches into my chest once again and pulls from me a dark, inky serpent like spirit as thick as my arm. It oozes malice and intimidation, a creature that hates with fierce purpose and intelligence.
Gatherer:
“Behold! Your spirit of fear son of sorrow.”
Again I am shocked. Fear? Living in me in such abundant authority? Do I even know myself?
The friendly man appears beside Gatherer once again and speaks to answer my thoughts.
Friendly man:
“No Courier, only I know the fullness of you. The seven spirits that you have been shown create a lot of blindness within the hearts of man. If you had even a glimpse of how powerful you truly are, the world would be a much different place.
In choosing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and deciding to choose your own versions of right and wrong, you open yourself to terrible torments. The enemy hates you with a fierce, focused hatred and ensnares you at every turn.
You must choose me, my version of right and wrong, my instructions, my way, my truth and my life. I alone know the potential and power that lies within you and, if you heed my instructions, I will use you mightily!”
He turns to Gatherer and takes the serpent from him.
Friendly man:
“Look at how your fears masquerade as a powerful serpent! Look at the thickness of their attachment to your heart. This serpent holds you captive because you are tired of criticism and rejection. You fear more humiliation so you keep silent about injustice. I cannot take care of this for you Courier, you must defeat this spirit yourself. I have sent the comforter to help you with this. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
Remember that only perfect love can drive out fear so you must create an environment of perfect love and pray daily for the spirit of might. You are not the only one at the mercy of fear so many will watch how you overcome it and they will follow suit.
You are going to be a household name, famous for teaching people about the seven spirits of God and rebuking them for their lukewarm hearts. You will not have time for fear. You need to defeat this spirit violently so that we can advance!”
Me:
“I thought I was supposed to be anonymous?”
Friendly man:
“As the Courier, as the son of sorrow, only uniters may know your identity. But as yourself, it is inevitable, you are going to use media to reach two billion souls and your voice is going to be a source of fire and water, even the United Nations will take note of your words and Presidents will come to you for prayer and council.”
Me:
“I don’t know if I have the energy for that my Lord, these dreams and visions are exhausting as it is. I don’t even think I believe in myself enough to be ‘that guy’ again. I hardly have the faith for this land we are supposed to buy.”
Friendly man:
“My yoke is easy and my burden is light Courier. I have already placed many in your life who know exactly who you are. They are simply waiting for you to realize it. You won’t carry anything alone. Stop worrying about the land, that is not your problem, it is mine. I speak to the hearts of believer daily and when the miracle comes, you will know that this vision is real and that I care for you. Just record what you see and have fun. Your tests are over, you are in the Father’s perfect will. Stop fretting Courier, you are a chess piece on a big board and your love for me has made it easy to move you. Just relax.”
Me:
“Yes my Lord. How long still without running water and power? I would really love to have my PC so that I can be creative again. And um… a flushing toilet..”
Friendly man:
“These few months I need you away from distractions. I have isolated and humbled you so that you can deal with the seven spirits of the enemy and have encounters with all seven spirits of God. When you have dealt with bitterness and shame, Uriel will lead you to an encounter with the spirit of wisdom. Just relax Courier, I order your steps now. Keep recording all that you see because hundreds of millions of people are going to read every word. They must know your inner pain and inner struggles so that they may deal with their own with full confidence. Stop worrying about what people think, just be obedient.
I love you very much!”
Me:
“I love you too my Lord. Your kingdom is all!”
Gatherer:
“His kingdom is all.”
I wake up.