MY DISCIPLES

 

MY DISCIPLES

 

This devotional teaching will be one that is quite close to my heart.  Father began all that He showed me for this teaching through a dream. The dream shook me a bit, as it continues to be about the disposition that is required of the workers in the time to come, especially towards those who are of the five-fold ministry.  As always, the way this teaching came together is knitted by His hand through dreams.

 

Years ago Father told me that He was going to use me as a Joseph and that I would be known for my dreams, but also that many will hate me because of it.  He told me He would show me the things that will happen in the future and that He would also give me the interpretation.  I‘ve noticed lately that He uses those who are quite close to me to have dreams that relate to the next devotional teaching, and they have no idea about it until I tell them when they share their dream with me.  You will clearly see this as I share four dreams in this teaching along with the interpretations as they fit in.

 

The last two devotionals were a series on the spirit of Elijah.  Part 1 was about binding the sacrifice to the altar and not allowing yourself to get off the altar so that Father can work in you that character that will make you a pillar of faith.  I mention quite a bit that we are trees of righteousness and that He makes us pillars.  I also mention that the church of Smyrna are these pillars but also the John the Baptist/Elijah company that will be sent out in the time to come.  We know that Elijah is linked to Jezebel.  The person who will speak the word of judgment over the spirit of Jezebel, which will be operating not only through the false prophet but also within the church, will need to have gone through the fire of judgment, where God has judged them as they remained on the altar until all the work was finished.  These people who do so are the elders – those of the five-fold ministry – the shepherds, who will be operating in the spirit of Elijah.  These will be purified to speak the word of judgment as fire.  In Part 2, I spoke of the tribe of Benjamin and how this tribe received a blessing that they will be as ravenous wolves in warfare.  I spoke about the required disposition for us, as shepherds of the flock, that we must be as innocent as children but also as ravenous as wolves for the time to come.  I also spoke about how the tribe of Benjamin always comes together with Joseph, and I also went into the doctrine of Jezebel and the deception that is to come.  Both of these parts of the Spirit of Elijah devotional teaching are very important, we should read or listen to them again.

 

With this teaching, we are going to go even further and talk about the disposition of the flock towards the shepherds.  This is what Father wants to discuss with His disciples.  I pray that you will hear specifically the message that Father is wanting delivered to His people and that you will not look at the vessel delivering the message, but to Him who is speaking to you.  He has shown me His heart that I might show you.  The Word says that to know God is to have eternal life.  To know Him is not only to know about Him through His word, but we will know His heart… His essence and person. 

 

I would like to start with sharing my dream that initiated this message.  Before I do that, I would like to explain the relationship I have with the person whom the dream is about.  His name is Arthur Katz.  He is my mentor and passed away in 2005.  The relationship I built with him by listening to him is that I consider him a father.  Listening to him and being able to grow under the shadow of this mighty tree, this pillar of faith, I have learned the heart of what it means to be apostolic and prophetic by the anointing that rested upon him.  If I think of the 14 years that I have been listening to his teachings and have been under his guidance and wisdom, I realize how Father purposed me to have his teachings cross my path knowing that the call upon my life is to prepare the workers.  My gratitude is immeasurable thinking of the impact he had on my life, especially during a time of great suffering that I endured.  I had to practically apply and do what I learned, authentically.  I had to walk the talk no matter how difficult it was.  I saw the fruit grow in my life to the point that the Lord raised me up to be able to minister to other people.  I am immensely grateful for what Father has done through this man in my life, again, who I truly consider to be my father.  I will say that I am quite jealous of the things I have learned and don’t usually share them with everyone, because I treasure them so much.  I don’t want to give it to everyone just because I don’t want to risk casting pearls before swine.  I am that protective over it.  Of course anyone can look up his teachings and listen, but remember, we are accountable for what we hear!  Having shared all that, I will now share the dream.

 

 

DREAM ABOUT ART KATZ

I dreamed that I was at someone’s home and as I entered, I noticed a bedroom door open and someone sitting on the bed.  To my joy it was Art Katz! The owner of the house told me to sit down and called Art to come and sit with me.  Sitting down next to me, he looked at me with the eyes of a loving father, full of wisdom, love, and compassion.  Like a typical overwhelmed admirer, I started talking about how I have been listening to his teachings for about 14 years and how much they have meant to me and how much I’ve grown as a result.  The next moment he called his mother over to introduce her to me.  It was as if he wanted to share someone so precious with me as well as show her one of his children.

Suddenly the scene changed and I am outside.  Someone walked up to me and told me that Art had been attacked and killed.  As the person described this to me, I could literally see the actual event play out.  I could see the person lifting up a hammer and then crushing Art’s head with this hammer, over and over.  The person told me that Art was in great pain, feeling every blow, and that he had died from it.  The next moment the dream was over and I woke up sobbing.  I cried from the time I woke up at 6:00 a.m. until the evening around 5:00 p.m.  I cried as one would mourn for a father.

Immediately after waking up from the dream, the Spirit said to me, “THE APOSTOLIC FOUNDATION HAS BEEN LAID”. 

Interpretation

Father led me to Luke 11 to understand the interpretation of this dream.  Art represents the apostles and prophets that will be going out to the different churches. 

 

After hearing the Spirit speak those words to me, I wondered if it meant that He has already prepared those apostles and prophets that will go out and the time is now here.  I didn’t go further with this thought but instead waited for Father to show me what He was saying about this foundation that had been laid.  I couldn’t help but think of Hebrews 11, the “faith chapter”, and how it talks about the elders who have gone before us.  In Ephesians 2:20 it says, “[ye] …are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone…”.  Hebrews 11 is actually referring to these same apostles and prophets – those who have gone before us and laid the foundation of the gospel. 

 

As I woke up from the dream and after hearing the words the Spirit spoke, the following came into my heart and I said to myself, “I am willing to die for this man; that is how much I love him”.  The whole purpose of this dream was for me to experience these emotions.  Father has my emotions, and He can do with my heart as He pleases.  He can allow me to feel whatever He wants me to feel, because He has purposed to use me in this way.  He allows me to feel what He feels.  What I felt was that brotherly love that the Lord God requires of us now and in the time to come.  I had such a sense of love for this spiritual father of mine that I was willing to die for him.  An example of this is in Romans 16.

 

ROMANS 16

³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

⁴ Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

 

Priscilla and Aquila represent the Smyrna church – those who will go out, the elders -- but they also represent those who will be under them who will be sent out as workers.  Paul is both a representation of Christ and of an elder for whom those under him are willing to lay their lives down.  Not only will Paul lay his life down for his children, but his children will lay their lives down for him.  This is the disposition and the heart that Father wants to speak about, and the reason why He gave me the dream.

 

Let’s take a deeper look into Hebrews 11 now.

 

HEBREWS 11

³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

³⁸ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 

Scholars say that the book of Hebrews was written in blood.  I believe it was David Pawson who said in his series, “Unlocking the Bible”, that a good book to read along with Hebrews is Leviticus.  This is because all the sacrifices and priestly ordinances are indicative of our High Priest and how He gave His life.  Hebrews 11 also talks about the sacrifice of the others who also gave their lives for the sake of Christ.  We see the Apostle and High Priest of our faith as well as those under Him.  He is the Great Shepherd.  In 1 Peter 5, Paul exhorts the younger ones to submit to the elders, the Shepherds, who are responsible for feeding the flock, so that when the Chief Shepherd comes, He would approve of them.  This submission Paul is speaking of is not because they are forced but because they are willingly submissive and walking in the bond of love.

 

The first part of Hebrews 11 speaks of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah and others’ faith, but we don’t hear much about actual sacrifice.  We do hear about them obeying in faith to obtain a city they could not see with their eyes.  Then in verse 33, it begins to talk about the sacrifices, some of which are a bit gruesome.  It is important to note that this begins with a foundation laid with blood.  The people did not seek to save their lives, as they were looking for the better resurrection of being raised on the last day to eternal life.  Yeshua told us that some would be cast into prison and some would die, such as these we read of here.  I added a verse 41 to my Bible that says, “By faith, Pietra…”.  I placed myself there with the heavenly cloud of witnesses.  Witnesses in scripture are martyrs.  You don’t have to die to be a martyr.  If you live your life in such a way that you are constantly laying your life down, you are a martyr.  If you are a witness, you are also a martyr.  Again, here we see this foundation being laid with blood. 

 

In original form the Bible does not have chapters and verses.  But now that they have been added, we see chapter 12 of Hebrews starting with the cloud of witnesses that basically gives us the torch to run further in building this foundation.  We know that once again, Father is going to send out His apostles and prophets.  The number 12 is an apostolic number (12 apostles), and it means “to point, to judge, to convict, to exhort, and it is related to discipline”.  Chapter 12 is exactly about discipline.  We will come back later to chapter 12.

Back to the dream and the interpretation, Father also took me to Luke 11.  The dream wasn’t just for me to experience what I did, but also to give us understanding of what will happen in the time to come.  In Luke 11, the disciples ask about the signs of the times to come, and He speaks to them about the Queen of the South rising with the men of Ninevah, which is a representation of the Gentile Bride.  He also speaks to the Pharisees, lawyers, and scribes about how they are given over to traditions and He requires that their hearts be cleansed.  As we read this, remember that in my dream Art Katz represents the apostles and prophets, and also remember what happens to him.

 

LUKE 11

⁴⁶ And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

⁴⁷ Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

⁴⁸ Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

⁴⁹ Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

⁵⁰ That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

⁵¹ From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

⁵² Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

⁵³ And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

⁵⁴ Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

 

In my dream, someone hit and killed Art Katz with a hammer.  In Jeremiah 23:29, the Lord says to Jeremiah, “Is not my word like as a fire saith the LORD, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”  The scribes and Pharisees and lawyers are all waiting for Him to say something wrong in order to use it against Him.  In the same way, this is what will happen in the future.  The Lord God wants us to understand that this is the type of persecution that will be awaiting those who are sent out.  He also wants us to know that it will not only come from those in authority (as we spoke about in the previous devotional, “Prophets Amongst Us”, that we would come before kings and authorities) but also from those in the churches as we expose the deception.  We will also be speaking to the flock, and depending upon their disposition and where they are at, they will listen intently to use the words that we speak against us.  It will be as a hammer to kill us.  They will either love us or they will hate us.  Let’s go to Acts 20 and see the disposition of those who Paul was speaking to.  He had been with them for three years, and they didn’t want him to leave.  He said that his conscience was clear, no one’s blood was on his hands, and it was time for him to leave.  The people were very sorrowful.

 

ACTS 20

³⁶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

³⁷ And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

³⁸ Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

 

These people loved Paul so much and did not want him to leave.  In Galatians, Paul was talking about his eyesight and that it wasn’t pleasant to look at him, but he knew if it were possible they would have given their own eyes to him.  In both of these cases, we can see this absolute love that is of the Father between him and his children.  I truly believe that the “Acts 2.0” outpouring that is going to come will be a baptism of the love of God, because the Word says that love endures all things.  If I had to have a choice between the power of God and the love of God, I would choose the love of God.  For the time we are going into, that which causes us to endure will not be power or glory or those kinds of things.  Those things will minister to people, but that which will change the hearts of the people will be the love of God.  It will be a time of great deception with false signs and wonders, but true love will break down every barrier and be able to endure all things.  It believes all things, bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 

 

Now I would like to now share a dream from my friend Chantel. 

 

CHANTEL’S DREAM – JAGERMEISTER

Chantel and Ivan were in a pub drinking Jägermeister (not something they would normally do).  They did not like the taste at all and told the owner that he needed to speak to the manufacturer as it tasted horrible.  End of dream.

Interpretation and further explanation:  Chantel later did some research and found that this beer or shooter is made in Wolfenbuttel, a place in Germany.  The founder’s name is Curt Mast, who was an avid hunter, and “Jägermeister” means “master huntsman”.  This is the reason for the deer or stag on the label.  This deer or stag is also an occultic symbol.  We see it in various movies, like “Knowing” that starred Nicolas Cage and was about the end of the world.  It is also important to note that the founder started his business by first creating vinegar, which is bitter.

The place where the drink is made, Wolfenbuttel, is very important as it shows the connection with being sent out amongst wolves.  Also, the word “buttle” also means “a messenger” or “court officer”.  This links it to those who will use the words of the apostles and prophets against them as a hammer.  Think of a hammer in a court case that a judge uses.  

Chantel and her husband, representing the apostles and prophets, are drinking something that tastes bitter, and it means “master huntsman” made in a place called Wolfbuttel, with buttle meaning messenger or court officer.  This speaks of the persecution that will taste bitter, and Father is showing us that this root of bitterness is the source of the persecution.

 

In a previous devotional teaching, I discussed Ezekiel as the Son of Man being sent out, and he was given a scroll to eat.  On the scroll was written “lamentations”, “mournings”, and “woes”.  On the label of the Jägermeister drink is the number 56, and the Strong’s reference for 56 is a Hebrew word that means “to mourn”.  The apostles and prophets will be eating a scroll of persecution that will be bitter, because it is out of bitterness and envy that they will be persecuted, just as Christ was persecuted in this same way. 

 

Later on the same morning after Chantel shared her dream with me, I went to my computer and found on my screensaver a bird that was called a “killdeer”.  I also found that during the week when I received communication from others, many started it with “dear Pietra”.  As I noticed this, and although it’s not spelled the same way, it brought the impression to me of a deer once again.  Then my daughter and I watched something where I noticed the girl in the show had very beautiful eyes.  My daughter then said to me, “Yes, you call those doe eyes”.  This made me begin to think about who this deer is that the enemy is hunting.  In the Song of Solomon 2:8-9, the Bride says this about her Beloved, the Bridegroom:  “My beloved is like a roe or a young hart…”, which is a stag or a deer.  So we know that the Bridegroom Himself is as a deer.  But then in Psalm 42:1, David says, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God”.   This is a reference to the Bride being as a deer.  Also in Habakkuk 3:19 where the tribulation is referenced in this chapter, it ends with, “The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”  A hind is also a deer, and feet speaks about spreading the gospel and the mountains of difficult terrain.   Also in the Torah in Leviticus, a deer, the Hebrew word “ayyal”, is a ritually clean animal, a symbol of beauty and speed, and is used for sacrificial purposes.  It is also a symbol of purity.  All in all, both the Bridegroom and the Bride are deer.  The enemy hunts the deer, the innocent ones. 

 

It is so apparent that Father gave this dream to my friend Chantel just after I had my own personal dream basically on the same general topic of an apostle and prophet being killed.  His purpose was to formulate the message He wants to send to us.  This leads me to the dream of another friend of mine. 

 

MHYA’S DREAM – CHANGING DIAPER

She was in a college class held in a community centre and it was shaped in a semi-circle, with the ceiling being the curved part.  She was at the very back by the floor-to-ceiling windows, and it was early morning with everything brightly lit up by the sun.

She was crouching on the floor changing her baby Levi’s diaper and tending to him, and she became aware of a presence near her.  (Note that “baby Levi” has the same name as her husband, Levi.)  Her husband’s ex-girlfriend then walked in, with Mhya having felt her presence before she walked through the door.  Mhya saw her looking at her and realized that the ex-girlfriend is smirking with her mouth open.  After she did this and had a good look at Mhya, she turned back around and left the room.

Interpretation:

First, the dream is about generational curses, because baby Levi shares the same name as his father, and his diaper is being cleaned.  Taking into consideration Luke 11 where Yeshua rebukes the lawyers saying that they approved of their fathers’ persecution of the apostles and prophets, even preparing the sepulchres, this dream too is about generational sin brought upon the children.  The diaper being cleaned is a reference to cleansing and sanctifying the children.  The community centre speaks of community or family, as the church.  The windows have to do with discernment, and the sun lighting the building up speaks of revelation or understanding, specifically about what is being cleansed.  Mhya on the floor cleaning the diaper, speaks of serving in humility.  With regard to her husband’s ex-girlfriend standing at the door looking at Mhya with a smirk, this is a reference to sin waiting at the door, the door representing a legal right in the spirit, because the door is open.  Also, Mhya is a mother, representing the apostles and prophets having to look after the children, the flock, cleaning their diapers, if you will.  The ex-girlfriend represents that sin brought upon the children.  What was the sin of the pharisees and lawyers?  It was bitterness and taking offence, resulting in the blood of the saints.  They hated the message of the prophets and took offence, just like they did not like Yeshua’s message and killed him, due to envy and bitterness.

 

Now we ask why Father would bring this dream to Mhya and then to me.  This is a reference to Cain and Abel, and we will go now and read in Genesis 4 and see something related that we need to understand.

 

GENESIS 4

¹ And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

² And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

³ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

⁴ And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

⁵ But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

⁶ And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

⁷ If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

⁸ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

⁹ And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

¹⁰ And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

¹¹ And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

¹² When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

 

We find here that Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, and we find out from the start why.  It was because he was a tiller of the ground and brought forth fruit of the ground.  Tilling of the ground is a reference to the curse that was spoken over Adam, because he was told that by the sweat of his brow he would till the ground.  It is also a reference to not walking by faith and to work by the flesh through exertion, not being in God’s rest.  Such a sacrifice the Father God cannot receive, because in Hebrews 11:6 we are told that it is impossible to please Him without faith.   Then we find Abel who was a keeper of the flock, who brought forth the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof.  This speaks of a whole burnt offering and the favor of God, as the priests ate of the fat of the sacrifice.  In other words, what Abel brought was blood.  This blood was of a sacrifice, and with covenant, blood is required.  Cain brought of his own works of the land where Abel brought of his faith and by sacrifice.  When Cain saw this, bitterness and offense rose up in his heart, just as the same as a religious spirit that does not like to be exposed and put in their place.  This spirit does not like to be told to submit or to do something or that it is operating out of the flesh.  Those with this religious spirit see the favor of God on those who are walking by faith and obedience, and then envy and bitterness grow in their hearts and they begin to persecute, watching and laying in wait for any words or things they can use against that person. In verse 6, the Lord God asks Cain why he is angry and sad after he himself had sinned.  Then he tells him that the blood of his brother is crying out to Him from the ground, from the foundation.  This is just like all the apostles and prophets who followed after that, whose blood has been crying out to the Lord God.  Then we have Luke 11 where Yeshua told that generation, which is our generation that we are in now, that they will be held accountable for all the blood that has been crying out from Abel until now.  That is a grave warning that is given to us with regard to how we are with those whom He has set over us – His true apostles and prophets.  Yeshua said to hate is to murder.  We must guard against this offense in our hearts. 

 

When John the Baptist was in prison, he asked his disciples to go to Yeshua and ask Him if He was the one to come or to look for another.  Yeshua told them to go back to John and tell him of the signs and wonders that were taking place, as if to say….  If you don’t believe in me, at least believe in the signs and wonders.  Then He said to them, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me”. (Matthew 11:6)   John was in prison about to have his head taken and sorely disappointed in the One he earlier thought was the Lamb of God, pointing to his disciples and saying, “Follow Him”.  He saw Yeshua being baptized and the Spirit come down upon Him.  Even though he saw all of that, when he was cast into prison, he doubted and he was offended.  To him, God did not answer nor provide in the way he wanted Him to.  Through this, the Lord God is saying to you and me -- the workers, elders, shepherds, apostles and prophets – “Blessed are you if you are not offended in me even though it is going to be so difficult for you”.

 

I mentioned earlier about Hebrews 12 being an apostolic chapter, because of the discipline that is spoken of.  We are given the torch now to finish this foundation that has been laid.  In my dream when He said at the end that the foundation had been laid, that foundation is two-fold.  It has been laid by the apostles and prophets that have gone before us in Hebrews 11, but it is also the foundation of the apostles and prophets that will soon be sent out.  He was telling me that His work is finished, and it is time for them to go out.  In Hebrews 12, He is telling us what we need to do.

 

HEBREWS 12

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

⁴ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

¹⁴ Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

¹⁵ Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

 

Here he is telling them to remember those who have gone before them who laid the foundation with their blood and to continue to run the race.  He then says that they had not yet resisted to the point of blood as Yeshua did.  He is disciplining them as sons and daughters, because they are sons and daughters.  Then skipping to verse 14, he addresses how they should treat one another and to not allow the root of bitterness to defile them.  He addresses this directly, because in the tribulation the hearts and love of people will wax cold, and they will grow bitter.  They will feel so out of control because of the persecution, and they will want to seek that which is profitable to help themselves first.  But if everyone would look after one another, that would bring unity and protection and care.  Acts 2 gives us an example of this where we can see the disposition of those in the first church after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

 

ACTS 2

⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

⁴⁷ Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

Yeshua tells His disciples in Luke 10 that He was sending them out as sheep amongst wolves.  The wolves are a representation of the persecution that will happen.  He tells them they will go from house to house and they should eat whatever is given to them, instead of going from place to place looking for the best.  He wanted them to stay there as long as He needed them to stay.  The people shared all they had with one another as shown in Acts 2, but then there was Ananias and Saphira who only gave their possessions in part and then were dishonest about it.  Both of them fell dead for this reason.  They were dishonest with the Spirit and only gave in part, because they were looking first after themselves.  When the love we spoke of earlier in Acts 20 -- that immense love the people had for Paul, the love the Galatians had who would have given him their eyes if possible, and the love I had for Art Katz in my dream – when this leaves the church, the root of bitterness will come out and defile many.  This is obviously exactly what the enemy wants.

 

Father has prepared in so many across the world for the tribulation when all of the many trials and tests will come, unlike we’ve experienced before, refuge and provision for those who will be sent to them.  He has prepared the hearts of people to be ready for those who will come and have need. It touches my heart so much to realize this is what He has already done, and the people are ready.  I have not prepared anything in my home, because I know He is going to send me out, and He will send me to people I do not know just at the right time, and He will provide for me through them.  Some of these people do not yet have an understanding that they have been prepping for those shepherds who will be sent out; many are doing this for themselves at this point.  Obviously, the prepped provision is not theirs, because everything we have, we have received from Him.

 

Let’s now go to John 15 where Yeshua talks about this love we will need for one another.

 

JOHN 15

¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

¹² This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.

 

It is also in John 13:35 where He says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”.  This is in reference to the command He had just given them in verse 34 to love each other just as He has loved them.  It’s as if Yeshua was telling them that there would be many disciples who say they follow Him, but the one way the world would know that they were His disciples would be by their love for one another, even to lay their lives down for each other.  Just like Priscilla and Aquila who were willing to put their necks on the line for Paul.  Just as the other churches were willing to die for the shepherds, and the shepherds for them as well.  Just as John 10:11 says, “… The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”  This is what the shepherds will do, because they are destined to die for the sheep.  This is not to say that all will die, but as a shepherd, you should have already counted that cost.

 

The word “friend” in John 15 is Strong’s G5384 and it means “one of the bridegroom’s friends who on his behalf asks the hand of the bride and rendered him various services, enclosing the marriage and celebrating nuptials”.  John the Baptist was known as the friend of the Bridegroom, and this is exactly what the workers will be doing. 

 

Let’s now go to 1 Corinthians 4 and read what Paul said to the Corinthians as he was rebuking them for some of their sinful behaviors, which were a bit typical of the things the apostles dealt with when going to these churches.  Bitterness, division, envy, fornication, adultery, law versus grace, observed days, etc., were prevalent and had to be addressed.  These are the very things the enemy used to cause disunity and break up the brotherly love that was needed to keep them unified and we even now see within the church. Please take note of what these apostles and prophets will have to endure.

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4

⁹ For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

¹¹ Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

¹² And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

¹³ Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

¹⁴ I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

 

In the time to come, the apostles will be going through so much, and they will be dependent upon their children to look after them – those whom God has appointed to prepare a place.  They will be so dependent upon the love of the Body and the church, and this will be the disposition and mark of a true disciple.  Let’s go to 1 John 3 and read what John tells us about this love.

 

1 JOHN 3

¹⁰ In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

¹¹ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

¹² Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

¹³ Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

¹⁵ Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

¹⁶ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

¹⁷ But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

¹⁹ And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

²⁰ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

²¹ Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

 

John 15 is not just about Yeshua laying His life down for us, and it’s not just about us laying our lives down for Him.  It is also about us laying down our lives for one another.  This will be because of the love we have for one another, and that love is fostered out of the deep gratitude of having been forgiven and saved from destruction.  Yeshua said that he who has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47).  The Word also says that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).  Love is not easily offended and does not keep record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5).  It is by this love that we will be able to lay our lives down for each other, and if that love is not in us, it won’t be possible.  In verse 17, he speaks of us seeing our brother in need in the time to come and not being willing to give because we are more concerned about ourselves… because we do not trust God to provide.  How is the love of God in us in this case?  Yeshua said that the world would know that we are His disciples if we love one another, and this means laying our lives down for one another.  This is not only to physically lay down our lives but also to willingly give what we have.  This is going to be extremely difficult in a time of great poverty and persecution, when we want to save our children and spouses or even others we are caring for.  This love that will be needed amongst us will be our security in the time to come.  We need Him to deal with whatever bitterness is in our hearts now, already.

 

Now let’s go to Hebrews 10.

 

HEBREWS 10

³² But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

³³ Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

 

He is saying to them here that while he was in bonds and they were going through their own suffering and had so little, they were joyfully willing to give the little they had to him.  He encouraged them not to forget their eternal reward that is waiting for them on the last day when they will rule and reign as kings and priests in the kingdom of God.

 

My friend Chantel had another dream I would like to share now.  This dream is quite profound and has a very strong message.

 

CHANTEL’S DREAM – TORNADO

She dreamed that she, her husband, and mother-in-law went somewhere and suddenly found themselves in the eye of a very strong tornado.  She saw furniture being swept up and absolute chaos in this tornado.  She then suddenly jumped on top of her mother-in-law and held onto her for dear life to save her mother-in-law.  She said that she was like an anchor on top of her.  She was also holding onto her husband’s forearm at the same time.

She looked up and was overwhelmed by this massive tornado, holding on with all her might onto her mother-in-law.  She could feel that she had strength.  However, the next moment she lost hold of her husband and he was taken into the tornado.  The next moment everything stopped and her mother-in-law was fine. 

The scene then changed and she was lying on her bed and her husband’s sister walked in. She is not a believer.  Chantel was trying to get hold of her husband via her cell phone, knowing in her heart that he was alive.  She kept phoning him, but his phone continued to go to voicemail each time.  His sister told her that there was no news about her brother.  She came to tell Chantel to pull herself together and just accept the fact that her husband was not coming back.  However, Chantel refused to believe this. 

Time passed and the next moment her husband walked in.  He was battered and bruised and limping. She was so overwhelmed, but knowing that he was alive the whole time.  He walked into the room and mumbled, not acting himself.  He fell on the bed and curled up and kept asking, “Where is my “bakkie”? (pick-up truck). He is upset about the bakkie, asking, “Where is the bakkie, did it survive?”  End of the dream.

The interesting part is that before this dream, an actual wind came up at their place, stronger than usual and they themselves were in an argument.  This is nothing new for those who are married.  Iron sharpens iron, right?  However, after they made up, Chantel said the following:

She said that such a great peace came over them, and what she sensed was that it was different from usual and that she felt as if they were sealed off and an anointing was over them that she could not describe in words.  What she sensed was that they had been re-established and made ready, ready in their starting blocks.  Her specific words were, “It is as if Priscilla and Aquila are now established”.  This made me think of the words “The Apostolic foundation has been laid” that the Spirit said to me after my dream.

Interpretation:

Chantel and her husband represent three things:

1.  Husband and wife

2.  Apostles and Prophets that will be sent out

3.  Christ and His Bride

The tornado speaks of a storm, which has multiple meanings in a dream, depending on the context.  It can be a literal storm, a natural calamity, or simply a difficult time or tribulation.  In the context of this dream and who Chantel and her husband represent, it means a difficult time personally, or in the case of the time to come, a difficult time amongst the leaders of the church and those under them.  It also points lastly to the relationship between the Bride and Christ during the tribulation, which is the greatest storm of all time.

Her mother-in-law represents the law, whom she throws her whole weight upon to protect and save. In other words, she is holding on to her rights.  When you go to a court of law, you fight for your rights.  The mother-in-law represents those within the church fighting for their rights, not willing to submit, and holding onto what they believe is right – holding on to the law which can come in many forms. 

In contrast to how Chantel is holding on to her mother-in-law, she is only holding onto her husband, representing Christ, with her hand only on his arm.  In the process of fighting for her rights -- what is hers -- she loses her husband, her first love.  This will also be the case with the church fighting for their rights – saving their rights but losing their first love.  The church will only be concerned about being right and not willing to protect the bond of love or go introspective into their own hearts.  As a result, they will lose sight of their first love.  In the midst of this and the tribulation, hearts will grow cold (you can read more about this in the devotional teaching,  Enduring Love).

This is the same within our marriages and will also be the same within the church with regard to how we submit to those who are set over us.  Just like Art Katz’ head was bruised with a hammer.  The issue remains offence, just as it was the case with Cain and Abel.  Offence leads to bitterness, which leads to murder.

Chantel then finds herself on her bed which points to having come to a place of rest, no longer fighting but longing for her husband to return.  She had saved her rights, but she lost her husband.  She now longs for him, knowing that he is not dead, just as the Christians will know that Christ is not dead and will return.  However, she is unable to talk to him, him being silent.  Some believers will think that Yeshua has forsaken them in this time and will be a target for those who say that He will not come back.  And just as Job, where his wife told him to curse God and move on, so the unbelieving sister comes and tell her to get it together, he is not coming back.  Just as the enemy brought doubt and offence into John the Baptist heart during his own personal storm.  Yet, she still believes. She no longer is concerned about her rights, as long as she can only have him back. 

As her husband returns, she sees he is battered and bruised.  Father is speaking here that we must know that just as the husband and wife are one body, so the Bride and Christ is one flesh, one body, and one spirit.  When we hurt each other, we hurt His body.  Chantel’s husband is a representation of Christ.  Just like those who will come against the elders will in fact bruise His body when they do.  They will stand up against them, using the word as a hammer to break the head, but it will be His body they bruise.  We use the law to break each other down. 

Her husband returns back to her and lays on the bed, and he asks one question, “What about the bakkie or pick-up truck?”  The bakkie represents ministry.  Christ is asking us, “Are you willing to forfeit all, including your inheritance, and lose everything for the sake of your rights or to be right?”  The bakkie represents moving forward in the purposes of God.  “Are you willing to let go that which we built together and the eternal purpose of our call?”  The bakkie represents God’s purpose which is to bring in an inheritance, His children.  This is what we stand to lose when we allow offence, or bitterness to take root in our lives.  We forsake the arm of our Beloved and hold onto to the law.

 

There is so much communicated in this dream from the Father that we must pay attention to.  We must recognize the harm we do to the body of Yeshua when we harm one another.  When we backbite, call names, gossip, slander, and are so easy to judge and do it publicly, we are truly harming the Body.  This is particularly a problem on YouTube in the comments section.  There is much harm done there, and the people who do such things are not realizing what resides in their hearts causing such behavior.  How much general fighting for rights or to be right is going on in the church right now?  People are bickering about sabbaths, lawful eating, Torah, law versus grace, calendars, which name to use, and even flat earth versus the globe.  They are bickering over these things.  It is not that these are not important issues, but it is how we are talking about it and how we are holding on to it, to the point it becomes a law unto us.  Instead of being liberated by the love of God, we are bound by our rights and we hold on to them with our full weight just as Chantel held on to her mother-in-law in her dream.  We think we are doing a service to God, but in fact we are bruising the Body of Christ.  We must understand the greater picture of what is happening with all of this.  The Lord God wants us to understand that this brotherly love is so very important in the time to come, in order to protect us, and that we must learn to submit to one another in love.  The opposite spirit to this love is the spirit of Jezebel, which persecutes the prophets and apostles and will work with the religious antichrist spirit in the time to come. 

 

The words “laid down” (speaking of laying down our lives) comes from G2749, and in the Strong’s it means “of vessels of a throne, of the sight of a city, of grain and other things laid up together, of a foundation”.  Think of the harvest to be brought in and how the Seals period is that foundation that will be laid.  When you lay your life down, as said in 1 Corinthians 4 -- as Christ laid down His life for us, we lay down our lives for one another -- it means that you are laying down a foundation.  Hebrews 11 gave a clear understanding that this foundation is laid with blood.  When Cain killed Abel, Abel’s blood flowed into the ground.  In 1 John 3, he referred to Cain who murdered his brother.  Then we also know as previously mentioned that Yeshua said this generation will be held accountable for all the blood of the apostles and prophets who have been slain.  Revelation 6 also speaks of this when it talks about those under the altar.

 

REVELATION 6

⁹ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

¹¹ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

 

God has pre-determined who will die a martyr’s death.  Some will die, and some will be cast into prison.  Paul even said they were appointed unto death.  We should understand that this blood from those who were martyred from all ages past is crying out under the altar.  God hears all the people, prophets, and apostles who have died at the hands of this religious spirit; He hears their cries.  He is going to answer them as Revelation 16 tells us.

 

REVELATION 16

¹ And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

² And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

³ And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

⁴ And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

⁵ And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

⁶ For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

 

This is how He feels about those prophets and apostles, those elders and shepherds, the workers and anyone else who will lay their lives down dying a martyr’s death, whose blood cries out from under the altar – even those now and those during and after the tribulation.  He will answer them and avenge it with the vials and the woes in the end.  He will pour out blood.  This is His love for them.  In Romans 12:19 it says, “Beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.”  If we cannot even show mercy to one another, how will we show mercy to the lost.  If we bicker and bite within our hearts, if we have bitterness in our hearts, if we are dishonorable to our parents, if we are an unsubmissive wife or a husband who does not love is wife as Christ loved the church, how will we be with the world?  How will we ever be a testimony of what it means to be His disciples?  Remember the mark of HIS disciples.  John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”  And it is by this that the world will know that we are His disciples – when we truly love one another.

 

I pray that you hear the heart of God in this message and that you will seek His face to ask if there is any bitterness in your heart.  I pray that you will ask Him to show you how to be long-suffering and patient and forgiving to those now who have hurt you, wronging you and treating you spitefully.  We must ask now how we can serve them the way Yeshua did and show them the love of God; how we can wash their feet and bless them.  We must ask how we can protect the unity and the peace in our homes and anywhere we go.  Are we producing the fragrance of suffering that is poured out on those in our lives, just as Mary poured out the fragrant oil from the alabaster box onto the feet of Yeshua?  The feet represent those who will go out and those who will bring the gospel to the lost.  When we minister to them and love them, we anoint His feet.  This is what He requires of us. 

 

I will now close with a prayer:

 

Father I thank you…  that no one is really sufficient for this unless we bind the sacrifice to the altar and allow the High Priest to use that two-edged sword to cut away, just as a surgeon would do, that which is dead, that which rots, and that which has grown like a cancer into our fiber.  Cleanse us so that when we speak out of the abundance of our hearts, it will be clear, pure water of life that brings healing and ministers to those who will hear.  Unless you cut away the dead things and do in our hearts what needs to be done, how will we love one another?  I pray that those who have read this will see those areas where they are holding on to a “mother-in-law” and in the process are losing their first love.  I pray we will not use the hammer of the Word of God to persecute those who look after the flock, not giving in to deception, but that we would be long-suffering.  Let us pray more and speak less Father.  Help us to see the way you see and to be as long-suffering as you are towards us and our faults.  Fill us with that love that covers a multitude of sins for our brethren.  Please give us the disposition of knowing that we are to lay our lives down for one another.  I pray this in the name of Yeshua.  Amen.