The dream of finding family
Hebrews 11:10 for he (Abraham) was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
John 13
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
It was 2006 or 2007, I had an extraordinarily clear and vivid dream about the love of God manifest in his people, the church. In my dream I felt the love of God, not directly from God, in spiritual experiences but through the people of God.
I was immersed in an atmosphere of such love and fierce loyalty and strong friendship that I had never felt before and have never felt since. Before I saw any images in my dream, I first felt the love of the people of God as part of a community.
if any believer lacked anything, this particular company of believers would register them and meet those needs. It was not a love that would only pray for people, and nothing more, but a love that would do ‘whatever it could’, small or big, to bless another. In my dream, the people shared whatever blessings they had with their brothers and sisters, small or big. No gift was too small to be shared. These were ordinary people and there was a sense that the blessings that were shared were more often small rather than big.
Short homework help for kids, ad-hoc free legal or medical consultations, small acts of service- sometimes money would be involved, though the sense was that this company of people was by no means rich. ‘Whatever’ could have meant a hug, a meal, or a listening ear.
Acts 2:
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread [as]from house to house, they were taking their [at]meals together with gladness and [au]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding [av]to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The hall
I was in a wide hall, like a secondary school hall, except that it was on the ground floor. As I looked around me, I could see seated on the wooden gym floor were 5-6 groups of 10-12 people. There was such an atmosphere of love unto God – Everyone was talking about Jesus. Some groups were led to do fervent intercession, praying bent over, some kneeling, some sitting facing the floor silently praying, taking turns to lead in prayer. I could not hear what they were praying about but they looked focused, reverent and purposeful. It was 7-8pm when everything began.
Another group was in worship, someone playing a guitar but everyone focused on and enjoying the presence of Jesus, other groups were teaching the word of God, some people listening, praying and giving out words from God l, some were studying and talking about the scriptures. There were other group talking about their lives and their reflections about what God was doing in their lives others were sharing their needs.
I felt that I was ‘known fully’ that I was accepted – without any questions, I was loved just as I was and accepted by this company, and I knew and loved these people also, wholeheartedly. There was a level of vulnerability that I was not afraid of, I did not feel like I had to put up my guard to protect my heart because these people were family, they were for me and they rejoiced to see God bless me as much as I rejoiced to see God bless them.
Everyone seemed to be working to encourage each other to know God better. Everyone wanted to know Jesus and experience him and know His word and everyone was doing whatever they could to bring another person to know Jesus more.
Everyone seemed united in one desire – they were eager that Jesus would come back because they loved Him intensely and longed for His return.
John 13
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 24:14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
I thought ‘with this intensity of love (for one another), surely Jesus will return soon, because the gospel will surely be preached to the ends of the earth by the manifestation of such love that these disciples have for one another.’
I sat down in one particular group, when a secondary school student who was about 14? And dressed in her school uniform sat down beside office workers in pants and folded up long sleeved shirts.
She opened her mouth to share, while everyone else listened intently and eagerly. She had a dream, and in her dream the Lord had opened her eyes to see the stars in the heavens, which burnt bright as the darkness grew darker. The Lord said, the ministries of the apostles and the prophets will be restored, & Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)
The atmosphere of the whole group seemed to shift, when the students shared her vision, a change happened- wafting through the air were praises, ‘hosanna, hosanna (exclamations of ‘salvation, salvation’) to the Son of David.’ It seemed imminent now that the whole group suddenly shifted in urgent expectation of Jesus return. It felt certain – yes He will return anytime soon, anytime now. Now it was late about 10-11pm in the evening.
The dream did not end with the ending of the gathering – everyone was adjourning from that gathering point. They continued in fellowship on the trains back to their homes, sharing about the word of God, the person of Jesus, the works of the Lord, caring for one another, supporting one another.
