Bob Jones once had a dream about MorningStar being an aircraft carrier that was being torpedoed. There were three of us on the bridge. One responded with an immediate "Abandon ship!" One responded with "Nuke them!" (the ones attacking us), and I responded by just trying not to spill my coffee. Bob said these were each a rebuke from the Lord about how we were responding to attacks at the time. 1) It was far too early to abandon the ship. In fact, the torpedoes did not even damage the ship, but just knocked the barnacles off, and actually shined up the hull so that we were even faster. 2) The "nuke them" was an obvious overreaction too. People can be used by the enemy, but they are not the enemy. Be careful who you nuke. 3) My rebuke was for being too casual about the attacks. I needed to take them seriously, but not let others cause me to overreact. This dream has helped us to steer through many challenges since, and our history is that through every one of them the Lord's direction for us has been: "Steady, and straight ahead." Through each one we have emerged stronger and better, and we will through this one too. The pattern has also been that the bigger the challenge, the bigger the advance, and the more power and authority we are given. But as I was the one in Bob's dream that was too casual, I do want to more seriously consider the lessons we can learn from these, and there are many. These I will share as it is appropriate, but we are still moving ahead. Many of you have asked about me, and I'm doing great. I'm closer to the Lord than I've ever been, and hearing His voice more clearly. 2014 was the best year of my life until then, and each year since has gotten better. I think this is because in 2014 I had a day long encounter with the Lord closer than I had ever had up until then. It caused me to more than ever resolutely seek to get closer to Him, and know Him better. I think the greatest promise of all is that if we seek Him we will find Him; if we draw near to Him He will draw near to us. I can verify that this is absolutely true. So, what do we have to do that is more important than that? In His presence you can't help but to have peace and "the fullness of joy." I admit this last challenge may have been the biggest disappointment I've ever had in many ways, but that is fading fast as we press on. So, I want to share the lessons learned for the sake of any that can learn from them, but at the same time keep moving forward--which is God's direction for all of us. FORWARD!

Posted by Rick Joyner at 2024-09-04 10:22:47 UTC