Our Eyes. Part Three

This week, I am re-posting a series I did in early 2022, Our Eyes. It feels important as the message remains urgent. Here is a quick summary of parts one and two. Part one was a challenge to consider and survey with the Holy Spirit the amount of information that comes through our eyes because our eyes are a lamp to our bodies. Part Two pushes us to turn away from unhealthy content and turn toward beholding Jesus with unveiled eyes. Beholding Jesus is not a one-turn choice. It’s a continued commitment as disciples of Jesus. (Click to read Part One & Part Two.)

Our Eyes. Part Three

I had three dreams in the fall of 2021 and another in January 2022. The gist of the four dreams are eyes, purity, and alertness. The following are summaries and insights of each one. To end this post, we will look at the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2) and tie some things together.

(I don’t always share dream content when I write because dream interpretation is easily misunderstood. But for this series, I believe the sequence and contents of the dreams may be helpful to understand why I’m writing so much about our eyes, purity, and keeping watch.)

Dream No.1 Entertained by Enemy

In the dream, a cocktail party hosted by the leaders of a (unknown) region was happening. All the citizens were in attendance, and everyone was drinking and laughing. Sub-leaders began to line up the citizens to watch a special presentation. Planes began to fly overhead. I understood in the dream that it was an attempt to mass murder the citizens, but there was a malfunction with one of the planes. The citizens were then separated and kept in holding rooms until another attempt could be made. The leaders and sub-leaders were entertaining the citizens by playing party games. The games kept the citizens’ attention so they would stay in the rooms and not ask questions.

I believe the dream is a wake-up call to the church about being entertained and distracted from what really matters. Knowing the plans of the enemy isn’t the point. The point is to know and discern who/what has our attention. Jesus, our eyes are made to behold you!

Scriptures to Consider: Judges 16:18-22, Proverbs 26:23-26, Luke 21:34-36

Dream No.2 Watching the Sheep

In the dream, I was sitting on a wall watching a herd of sheep. Everything was still and restful. A few cats were lying around while I watched. I started to doze off, so I turned to get some water. When I turned back, the cats had become foxes (maybe wolves) that attacked the sheep. I violently threw the cats/foxes off the sheep, breaking them in half. I was weeping that it was too late for one of the lambs. I couldn’t believe how quickly it happened.

I believe the dream is a wake-up call for leaders, pastors, and intercessors in the church to remain diligent. Stay alert. Be mindful not to entertain “pet” offenses or the accuser of the brethren. And be careful not to turn your back against the church in any way, including back-biting. Also, get in a community of leaders, no lone shepherds. We are a body, and we need each other.

Scriptures to Consider: Matthew 7:15-20, Matthew 26: 40, 1 Peter 5, 1 John 4:1-6

Dream No.3 Gallbladder Surgery

In the dream, I was advised to have gallbladder surgery. Someone asked if I was scared. I was not and happily said, “It’s a good thing.”

I looked up what gallbladders do and what happens if you have them removed. (I am not a doctor, so please check my research!) The gallbladder releases bile that helps break down fat in our digestive system. We can live without it, but some people need or choose a healthier diet to counter its absence.

I believe this was another heads-up about alertness and purity. We can’t assume impurities are automatically filtered out. There is no autopilot Christianity. It is a choice, a joyful choice to pursue holiness, purity, and the fear of the Lord.

Scriptures to Consider: Psalm 19:7-10, Psalm 24: 3-6, Mark 13:33-37, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-9

Dream No.4 Jezebel Vortex

In the dream, I was cleaning a hotel room. To my surprise, there was still a woman in the bed. As I continued to clean, she began to speak. Her words were like a vortex pulling at me. I avoided looking at her because I knew the force would only get stronger. It took everything I had to get out of the room. Once out of the room, I ran to a pillar and hid behind it. The woman could no longer see me. I woke up from the dream calling out, JESUS!

I believe this dream is an alarm in three ways. One, the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6) are real, and they don’t like purity (cleaning the room). They will try to pull and silence the prophetic/messages of God that the Lord is releasing and re-releasing in this day. Two, don’t entertain or be hospitable to evil. Be aware of what you are housing/hosting. Third, our greatest defense against forces of evil is to keep our eyes on Jesus and to hide in him (pillar).

Scriptures to Consider: Psalm 27:5, 60:4, 2 Corinthians 10:3-7, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Peter 2:1-9

TO wrap these up and to emphasize the emergency at hand, I want to look at Revelation 2 and the letter to the church of Ephesus.

We know this letter well because it’s the one that says, “But I have this against you. You have left your first love.” But the most intriguing thing about this passage is that the church was commended for some really wonderful things. Patience, not hosting evil, calling out false teachers, enduring for God’s name sake, not growing weary. Sounds like a good church to me! But, with all those commendable qualities, they still had a serious problem, and Jesus held it against them. “But this I have against you have left your first love.”

I don’t want to be known as just a devoted Christian. I want to be known for being lovesick, for having eyes that can’t stop looking at Jesus, and for exalting him to the highest places of my heart.

Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus! (Hebrews 1-2) He has to remain first, first place, priority, preeminent–our first love (Colossians 1:15-20). When we lose our first love, we get divided. We cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6). The most devoted actions will crumble if they are not hidden in or under the reign of Christ, our pillar, our Cornerstone, the name above every other.

There is a 911 emergency on the things we are watching, on the things we let into our bodies (heart, soul, mind, and strength) through our eyes. If we don’t guard our eyes with great intention, we will host multiple treasures and lose our first love. Friends, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to survey what we are watching throughout our day and follow his lead accordingly.