WISDOM ON THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES   7/22/08

DREAM:  My Grandpa was by the back door in the foyer.  There was no light on in the foyer area and so he went to see about installing a light.  In the next scene I was in the kitchen doing dishes and suddenly a friend popped into our home and said, “Hi Sandy!”  I gasped as it interrupted my peace.  She went away quietly because she didn’t feel welcome. 

THE VOICE OF WISDOM:  There is a group that is persecuting those who have dreams and visions about the cloud of witnesses, calling it necromancy.   We should always have scriptural backing and alignment with its standard for all our experiences in God.  Remember Jesus Himself talked with Moses and Elijah who had passed on.... and Peter, John and James witnessed it.

Luke 9:28-36 NKJV

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah , 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah " — not knowing what he said.  34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

When reading the above, I heard the voice of wisdom in the way it was portrayed. 

1.  First, Jesus was not talking to the dead.  Those who love the Lord are not dead, they have passed on to LIFE. 

2.  Second, Peter wanted to worship and monumentalize the experience of talking with them.  The Father corrected him to the right focus.  “Yes you got to hear and see the cloud of witnesses, but focus on what My Son says, HEAR HIM.”  There was absolutely nothing wrong with the experience, it was a holy experience.  Wisdom says that it was not revealed to all 12 disciples.  On that day, only 3 were allowed to attend Jesus when He prayed. 

3.  Third, they kept quiet and told no one what they had seen. 

Ahhhhhhh, some of the pearls God gives are not for public scrutiny.  Part of the reason for this is exactly what happened to Peter.  Also remember the prophet who had the testimony of Jesus and was sent to John.  When John fell down to worship him, the man said “Do not worship me!  Worship God!”  God wants the glory and worship. 

Remember Paul, who did not share the literal visions and revelations he received when taken to the throne, they were inexpressible and not lawful to utter.  However he did share with us the heart, message and wisdom of what was imparted to him through his relationship with the Lord.  

2 Cor 12:1-4  NKJV

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows —  4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Rev 19:9-10 NKJV

Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Col 2:18-19

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels , intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.