Just a few good grapes

Today’s lesson comes from a dream the Lord reminded me of this morning.  It is as follows;

Dream from 2/16/10

“I was in front of a supermarket where fruit was on display.  There was a big tall box, cut down in the front to reveal its contents for shoppers to see.  Though the box should have been full of grapes, there were hardly any in it.  One lady remarked that the store hadn’t had their delivery yet.  A second lady said “Yes they did.  They were very good,” and explained that there weren’t many bunches of grapes in the delivery.  She had some grapes in her hand.

While the 2 women talked I searched the bottom of the box for good grapes.  Many were moldy or shriveled, and I couldn’t understand why the second woman had said that this batch of grapes was good.  I reached down and pulled out 3 large good grapes.  Then the first woman reached in to get some.  I apologized for getting in her way.  Then I looked at the second woman’s grapes.  They were blighted.  I thought “I must have gotten the only good ones,” and walked away.” End of dream.

In this dream we see that discernment, and lack of discernment, cause the women to have different perspectives on the harvest of grapes.  Also, the confident report of the second lady that the grapes were “very good” is a false report.  Often the Lord will put one in a dream to see things as an observer, and to receive His perspective.  That is my role in this dream. How does this dream have importance on today’s ministry?

In my writings about the times we live in I have come across some common traits in false ministers; bragging, and lying to make oneself look good (Jude :16; 2 Pet 1:16 & 2:3).  Many of our contemporary Christian speakers boast about having what they do not have.  Like the second woman in the dream above, they boast about good fruit, when in reality, it was almost all rotten.

Many of today’s churches fill their pews with people who do not know God, nor do they serve Him.  Their pastors take comfort in the numbers who attend their worship services and yet do not lead them to walk in the Spirit where they will get to know their heavenly Father.  If a pastor’s heart longs to give a good report to others, he may lack discernment about the condition of his people. However, God longs to share His viewpoints with us.  Only then can good fruit come.

The man who would be over men, who would assess the current situation and discern the problems, he who would give God’s advice . . . this man must not judge as a man judges, looking only through his own eyes (John 5:19 & 30; 2 Cor 5:16).  This man must set all aside to look through his Father’s eyes, and hear through his Father’s ears.  He will learn that the bragging and the good reports of many mean nothing.  He will disturb pastors who are contented with their numbers.  Then you will see God’s hand at work to redeem those who do not know Him, and to teach them God’s ways, by His Spirit.  Amen