It's a trap!

If you are a fan of Star Wars, then you'll get my reference in the title. If you haven't seen Return of the Jedi then that will be lost on you. Now, I'm sure some of you are wondering what on Earth does Star Wars and Jesus have in common. Both have spiritual themes to them, redemption and unseen forces but the whole reason I have titled this entry this way is to push the point home with the title. It's a trap! For those that haven't seen the movie and probably never will, here's a brief rundown. In the picture above is the Death Star, a moon sized space station capable of blowing up an entire planet. Now in the movie, the ones trying to destroy this galactic terror think they have gotten the upper hand on the evil emperor but the evil one is more cunning and has led them straight into a trap. Hence the title of the post. Now that we've gotten backstory, let's begin.

Last night I had a very special dream. I say special because usually I don't remember vivid details of my dreams unless they are from the Lord and they have meaning to them, a message. In this dream I walked into this huge mega church. The whole front of the church had glass at the entry area three stories tall. The lobby had escalators taking you up to the second and third balcony areas for the sanctuary. The lobby area was huge with multiple points of entry into the ground floor sanctuary area. People were coming from all over and filling up this massive church. I didn't know anyone so I just walked around and listened to other conversations. Proud words, confident words and an air of arrogance filled these conversations as I walked through. The sanctuary didn't have pews like a normal church has, instead it was a flat floor that spanned the entire ground floor from the stage to the entry doors. So standing in the crowd, you couldn't see the other side for the mass of people in there. The noise level was loud as everyone had huddled up into groups of five or ten or more and they all were engaged in some sort of conversation. I couldn't hear specifics but I could hear words here and there. Those words got lost after I woke up so I'm certain they weren't important. After what seemed like an hour of walking through the crowd, I heard a loud noise come from the lobby. Everyone stopped and turned to the doors as men dressed in black burst through them. They carried assault rifles and wore masks and spoke with authority. They came in and the first people they encountered, they hit with the butt of their guns to show they meant business. Their displays of violence ran shock waves of screams throughout the room as people pressed backwards away from them. As the initial shock wore off and minutes became hours, then days, then weeks, the hostage situation became different. The men in black walked amongst the crowd, taunting them and telling them things like, your no good, you don't mean anything to anyone, you can't think that way, you don't belong here. They were spreading lies throughout the crowd as they walked in and out of the people. The crowd had gathered back into groups like before the attack and they carried on their conversations like nothing happened. The men in black would go to the groups and listen to what they were saying, if they approved, they'd move on. If they disapproved, they'd talk to them, feeding more lies until their conversations changed. If anyone talked about walking in Jesus or the Spirit, they would get beat or they would get the others in the group to yell at them and call them names. They would manipulate and coax and keep people from learning truth. As I watched this unfold, I would go to the groups and do the opposite. I would start telling them the truth. Some would listen but fear of the men with the guns would overtake them and they would say they didn't want to die. They said they would kill us if we disobeyed them. I would have some yell at me to leave them alone, others to just ignore me like I wasn't even talking to them. 

The fear was very thick in the room. I could feel everyone's fear and to be honest, I felt it a little myself. However, I couldn't stay there in that place anymore. I had scripture resonating in my mind telling me one thing then I'd hear everyone there contradict it. I'd feel the truth in me, then see men cowered in corners frightened to death. I'd feel the pull of God, yet the men seamed to have the entire room filled with fear. The doors of the sanctuary were off limits and the men with guns would keep people away from them. It got to the point where no one even looked at them anymore. I did however, and I started to plan a way out. Suddenly, one of the doors opened and a man walked in. He was smiling and happy. Everyone recognized him and celebrated his return. They had known him before the men with guns showed up and they were waiting for his return. He stood by the doors motioning for people to follow him but as he did, every man with a gun began to yell loudly at the people. The people didn't move in fear of being killed. I however, decided this was my chance to get out, I walked to the open door behind the man and went out into the lobby. It was quiet and calm out there. The men with the guns yelled from inside to convince me I was doing the wrong thing but I moved to the exit. When I got to the exit doors and stepped outside the quiet was strange. It was dark outside with no lights in any direction. The building behind me was lit up and it cast a glow on the parking lot I was in. I turned around to see the building and those men were standing in the lobby cursing me and trying to get my attention. My thoughts changed instantly, instead of thinking about what was going on in the building my mind went straight to God. I remember saying, "Fill me" and a rush of wind came through and hit me like a bolt of lightning. This experience in my dream was so vivid that it woke me up somewhat to where I was conscience of my body in my bed. My body in my dream and my real body both at the same time felt this electric pulse from the top of my head all the way down to my feet. It was like I was being electrocuted. I felt different. I went back to my dream and as the pulse moved through me, my clothes changed to a white robe and then I ascended towards the sky. I woke up fully then. 

To those wondering about the meaning of the dream, it is this. The building is a huge church, as a matter of fact it looked like a church I had visited for a men's conference before. It symbolizes religion and all those in a religious relationship with Jesus. Shortly after the church was formed, the enemy infiltrated it and continues to reek havoc in it till now. The enemy, the men with guns, threaten us from within our own minds and hearts telling us lies and causing us to fear. They whisper lies and cause discord among everyone calling themselves Christians. They have caused every religious person out their to be in fear of losing something. Whether it's losing self or losing traditions or losing relationships with people, the enemy creates fear and doubt within the church. I represented someone who didn't want to comply or listen to the lies. Once the man showed up, which was Christ in His return, I was ready to go, where as those in fear, doubt and unbelief were too afraid to move. I represented those wanting a relationship instead of religion. As I left the building, my body and raiment were changed. It says those in Christ will be given a new body. Notice how only I was able to see through the lies, draw courage from God and walk away from the lies. It doesn't mean I personally am better than all those people but it says there will be few who come to Christ in the end. 

Matthew 24:9-14 

9Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

perseveres
ὑπομείνας (hypomeinas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5278: From hupo and meno; to stay under, i.e. Remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. Bear, have fortitude, persevere.

Strong's 5281: Endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for. From hupomeno; cheerful endurance, constancy.

Persevere in the truth of God, in Faith and in good deeds. Do not be caught up in religion but be guilty of pursuing Christ and Him in you, which is your hope of glory. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Do not listen to fear but pursue His Love that conquers fear. 

To God be the Glory Always!