Breaking Down The Walls of Religion- A Vision For The Church

THE VISION FOR THE CHURCH   

     As I closed my eyes the vision began.  Standing in front of me I could see a large building that looked like a temple. And setting within the porch of that temple were two enormous pillars that stood on either side of two double doors that led into that temple.  The more I looked at the pillars the larger and stronger they became.  I then noticed at the top of each pillar lay exquisite capitals that had been carved, sanded and shaped with detail and perfection.  They looked strong and mighty and I knew they had been set their to support that building.  The body of the pillars were white like the whitest marble and glistened as the light hit them.  The building itself was long in length yet narrow in width and the color on the outside was white like snow. 

     Soon there appeared in front of the large doors a very strong, powerful and muscular looking man that was as tall as the pillars and covered the width between the two pillars.  Around the wrist of this man were very large chains that were linked to the two pillars. I then saw him lunge forward with his huge legs and feet so he could take his stance and  position himself.  With his powerful arms he then began pulling and working together with 
the two pillars as supports. Soon the walls behind him and around him began to crumble and fall until there was nothing left but dust.

INTERPRETATION

      The temple I saw represents the church (the body of Christ). The walls of the temple represent the walls of religion and denominationalism that have separated and fractured the church.  The two pillars are the Apostles and Prophets God is raising up in this time and season within the body of Christ.  The man of strength and power is Jesus who is linking Himself together with the Apostles and Prophets in this hour.  God has positioned them in the church to help train and equip The body of Christ with the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit to tear down the walls of religion in His church.

     Body of Christ, first we must allow the Lord to tear down the Spirit of religion in our lives and allow Him to show us any walls we have put up against other denominations.  We've been judgemental, critical and legalistic towards one another and not loved them as Christ loves His church.  God has created His church to function as a whole and work together as one body that walks in unison and union with Him.  It's not about religion but about relationship, it's not about the rules, regulations and the denominations of man.  

     The book of Acts tells us how the church began and says they were of one mind in the temple and came together with gladness and sincerity of heart.  They praised God and found favor with all the people and the Lord was adding to their number day by day.  They were being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, performing miracles and healing the sick. We the church must come together in one mind, heart, spirit and purpose as never before.  How can we reach a lost, hurting and dying world if we are fighting amongst ourselves.  If we will humble ourselves before God and turn from our wicked ways then He will heal our land and the walls of religion and denominational differences will come crushing down.

Blessings,

Elma Garlock  

The Appointed Time for Vision Part III

       Habakkuk 2:3
                                     For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.

     Continuing with our teaching lets begin with the words "appointed time".

     The Hebrew Lexicon says the words "appointed time" mean:  An appointment or a prophetic signal.

     And what does the word "wait" in this scripture mean?  It means to remain in place, in readiness or in a state of anticipation because of some event expected to happen.

     In Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us:  There is an appointed time (fixed) for everything.  And there is a time for every event under Heaven.
     The appointed time for vision is set and nothing can delay it. God has spoken it and things have been set in motion that can't stop it.  He is about to break forth with a prophetic signal to those who are listening and who recognize His voice.  There has been an anticipation in your heart and a knowing that something is about the happen.  The quickening in your spirit is the Holy Spirit confirming that this is true. 

     Verse 3 goes on to say:  It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail,(it will not deceive or disappoint) though it tarries, wait for it, for it will certainly come, it will not delay.

     When something "hastens" what happens?  Things are hurried and are brought on sooner than if events were left to run their normal course.  They are treated as urgent and executed with added speed towards the "goal" that is set for you. 

     Have you noticed how fast the days, weeks, months and the years seem to fly by?  And that time seems to be speeding up? God is speeding up the maturity process in His people. He is restoring our minds, delivering us of wrong thinking and binging victory to replace defeat.  He has set in motion the prophetic vision that will not be behind on its appointed day and will reach it's goal.  He has set the arrow (the vision) in the bow (of His hands) that will hit the mark for fulfillment to come with speed. 

     Getting back to our scripture we know that God had a vision for His people. All God wanted was for Habakkuk to wait, have faith and confidence in that He was doing what was right for His people.  And so just as God renewed Habakkuk's faith so He will renew your faith. 

     In chapter 3 is Habakkuk's prayer that speaks of God's deliverance of His people and expresses Habakkuk's faith in God despite what his circumstances looked like.  

     Verse 18:  Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

     Verse 19:  The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds feet, and makes me walk on my high places.

     In the last month the Lord has directed me to meditate on Psalms 46:10 and this is what it says:

     Psalms 46:10:  Cease striving and know that I am God.    

     I didn't realize that I had been striving out of my own strength to convince God that I was spiritual enough, prayed up enough and ready for the fulfillment the vision concerning ministry.  He was asking me to wait for Him with patience and to trust Him for His perfect timing.  To be faithful and know with great assurance that He would lead me to those high places in Him in His strength and in His timing.

     Beloved, this is the place that God is bring you to.  You are going to be like a young deer that can scale the high places of the mountains because God is going to take you there.  This is the place where vision meets destiny and you see beyond today.  The vision that has been inscribed on your heart is ready to be read. This is the appointed time for vision.

Blessings

Elma Garlock

"The Appointed Time for Vision Part II"

Habakkuk 2:2 (King James)
     Verse 2:  Then the Lord answered me and said record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.

     In verse 2, I want to key in on specific words so we better understand what the Lord is saying to us.

     Let's begin with the word vision:  It is a mental sight, a dream, a revelation, an oracle or a prophecy and comes from the Hebrew root word that means:  To see, to behold, to observe and to gaze.

     I want to ask you some questions:     

     1.  Has God given you a vision concerning ministry and you know that there is a call on   your life?                
     2.  Have you received personal prophecy concerning that vision, that call, but it hasn't come to pass yet?
     3.  Has He given you a vision for your family, your marriage, a business or an invention?   

     Beloved, I want to encourage you today to keep trusting God in that, that He has shown you and the words that have been prophesied over you.  Don't give up on that dream, that vision or that prophetic word.  Don't get impatient and lose hope while you're waiting for it  to come to pass.  Be on the alert because the enemy will put doubts in your mind to try and discourage you when you don't see things happening or coming to pass as quickly as you would like.  Remember what God tells us in Philippians 4:6,7 (amplified bible)

     Verse 6:  Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

     Verse 7:  And God's peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

     Now let's look at the word inscribe in verse 2 and what it means:  To write or engrave words on a surface and impress to the point that it would be impossible to wipe out.

     So what the Lord is saying to us prophetically is to allow Him to engrave the vision on the tablet of our hearts. But how do we do that?  By allowing the Holy Spirit to etch it so deeply within us that it not only affects our hearts, but the way we think, the way we talk and the way we walk through the waiting and the preparing process that God is taking us through.

     During this waiting process be assured there will always be those in you family and even close friends that will try and discourage you because, they cant's see what God sees in you.  And your adversary the devil will use any tactic he can to try and stop the vision from coming to pass and why? because, we are a threat to his kingdom and he sees the anointing on your life.      
  
    Getting back to our scripture, the end of verse 2 says:  That the one who reads it may run.

     If we look up the word reads in the Lexical of the Old Testament this is what it says:  To declare or proclaim a prophetic message so that one may read it fluently.

     And our last word in verse 2 is the word run and this is what it means:  To go rapidly and move about without restraint and to finish a race.

     At the end of verse 2 it tells us that the Lord said.  This word carries in it the creative power and character of God's word and an example of this is when He spoke and called the world into existence. 

     God in this hour is calling us to be a prophetic people. But you might be thinking how do I become a prophetic person?  By being full of the Holy Spirit and seeking spiritual gifts as I Corinthians 12: tells us.  By asking the Holy Spirit to reveal greater revelation, vision and incite into God's word that will enable you to decree and declare God's word with power.  By speaking God's word with boldness and understanding so those that are chained and in bondage, groping in darkness, paralyzed by fear, doubts and unbelief can be set free, live in freedom and finish the race in victory. 

A Prophetic dream can clarify Visions:

     I was standing in my dining room starring at the wall above a buffet table where I had just hung a beautiful picture.  I remember being so excited about getting it hung and seeing it put into it's place, but as I starred at it intently I noticed that the picture was too small compared to the size and length of the buffet table....It just didn't fit.......It wasn't tall enough and wasn't wide enough.
    
     Through this dream the Lord revealed to me that the picture on the wall represented my vision for ministry, but it was to small.  God wanted to enlarge that vision so it better fit with His plan and purpose for my life.

     The vision that God has for you is far greater and extends beyond the boundaries of what you can see or perceive.  If you will learn to trust Him, the realm of the impossible can be reached and He will manifest His Glory in your life. 

Next week we will continue with Part III.

Blessings,

Elma Garlock

"The Appointed Time for Vision Part I"

In the Old Testament there is a book called the Book of Habakkuk.  This book is comprised of only three chapters but within this small book we find a prophetic message for this hour and season for the body of Christ. 

It begins with the prophet Habakkuk questioning God but when God answered his question the first time he was troubled and confused so Habakkuk questioned God a second time. 

     This time God reassured Habakkuk by telling him that if he could only wait for the vision, it would be clear to him and chapter three ends with Habakkuk's prayer to God.

So lets begin with chapter 2, verse 1

Habakkuk 2:1 (King James)

     Verse 1:  I will stand on my guard post, and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved.

     Let's talk about some of the key words in these scriptures that will help us to understand what the Lord is saying to us.

     In Strong's Concordance the Hebrew definition of the word stand means:  To abide, to be established, to remain and to be firm.

     And what is a guard post?  It is a watch or a command post.

     An example in the old testament was a guard that stood as a watchman on the wall.  He was a soldier posted in a tower on the wall of the city and was commanded to guard and watch for any approaching enemy that would try and breach the wall and invade in the night while the city was sleeping.

     This guard (soldier) had to be dressed for battle, trained and equipped with all the right weapons so he could accomplish his task.  He was given a command and willingly stood guard with confidence in his ability to carry out his task.

     And so we as soldiers for Christ are to stand equipped and ready to fight our enemy in the spiritual realm as Ephesians 6:13-17 tells us. (please read)

Ephesians 6: 13-17 tells us to put on the full armor of God, and why,  so we may be able to resist, fight and stand firm against the enemy and resist him in the day by day battle we face in the spiritual realm.

     We are to stand strong in our authority as believers with both feet firmly planted and established in the word of God.  We are to stand confident in knowing that as we put on the armor of God we are equipped and ready for battle.

     We are to keep watch over our attitude and guard our hearts, our thoughts and recognize the tactics of the enemy.

     We are to guard against deception and any distraction that the enemy would try and use against us that would cause us to stumble, fall or break our stand and position with in Christ.

     And not only are we instructed to fight for ourselves in the spiritual realm but we are to stand as "watchmen on the wall" and fight for our loved ones and each other because
I Peter 5:8 tells us:

     Verse 8:  Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for the enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

     Now let's look at the word see and what it means:  To perceive with the eyes, see objects, color, dimensions and distances.

     We know that as we go about our daily lives we see or look at things with our natural eyes and we see things that are only in our scope of vision.  We can't see whats around a corner nor what lies miles ahead.  

     But when we see through the Eyes of the Spirit, He enables us to see with clarity and focus.  We begin to see things with a different perspective and our faith begins to see beyond the boundaries and restraints of the natural.

A Prophetic word for you:

Some of you are going through a season in your life, you're confused and there's  a lack of understanding and yes, even questions that you have because you don't know if what you are going through is from the enemy or from God. You're running out of strength to fight, you've lost hope and you've wanted to give up because of all that is coming against you. But God is about to bring you new strength and hope into your situation.  He will begin by removing the blinders from your eyes and you will begin to see and recognize the enemy in a way you haven't before and understand his deception and the lies he speaks to your mind.  If you continue to live a repentant life and seek His will, all of the confusion, doubt, oppression, depression, fear and lack of focus will end.  Instead of defeat you will begin to see victory and freedom in your life.

Next week we will discuss verse 2 of chapter 2

Blessings,

Elma Garlock