The answer is EVERYTHING! What I’m about to share with you, is a dream I dreamt in college. I’d newly rededicated my life to the Lord, and shortly afterward I had this dream. I believe it is, something God wanted me to share with the Church. However, back then, in what platform and in what manner, I did not know. The time frame had to be around the year 2011 or 2012. Well nearly nine years later, in 2021 I’m sharing it. Before I do, I would like to share a few scriptures concerning how God does speak to His people through dreams.

Acts 2:17 (KJV) “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”

Numbers 12:6 (KJV) “And He said, Hear now My words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.”

Matthew 2:13 (KJV) “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

There are countless other scriptures that refer to God communicating to His people in the forms of dreams and visions. Far more than there is room on this entry to write. Others that one might consider looking up, would include the book of Revelations, which depicts John’s encounters with God via visions; God speaking to King Nebuchadnezzar via dreams and the Prophet Daniel’s interpretation thereof; lastly, the dreams of Joseph and his interpretation of the Pharaoh’s dream that helped the people of Egypt and Joseph’s family escape famine.

The Dream:

As I walked into what appeared to be a church service. There was a woman clothed in blue, praying over the multitudes. When I locked eyes with her, she was speaking in tongues and motioned for me to come forth. As I walked forward, all I remember her saying was “LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE” and when her hand made contact with my forehead, I fell to the floor speaking in tongues myself. When I’d finally arose from the ground, I was looking at a large congregation sitting before me. Some people I recognized, namely a friend Olivia; most others I did not. The size of the congregation was beyond that of a megachurch. They were all sitting neatly, side by side in the pews before me. However, everything about them, was engulfed in colors of grey. It was like one of those outer body experiences, where you could see everyone, but they couldn’t see you.

I was standing beside the very first pew. It was the only one covered in light, and a man sat there waiting for me. I couldn’t see His face, nor His form, but I knew He was a man. Light surrounded Him. As he motioned for me to come to Him, I walked and sat beside Him. He pulled me closer and wrapped His arms around me. Then He said to me, “Look,” pointing towards the congregation. “Do you think they love me?” His question scared me, so I didn’t want to answer. I said nothing. Then He asked me again, “Do you believe that they LOVE me?” still I didn’t answer. I remember not being able to think of anything, I just looked at everyone that was sitting there. Finally, He asked a third time, it was like he was letting me know it was okay to respond. “Do you think they LOVE me?” I looked up and responded:

“Well if it looks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is actually a chicken. Because they are too afraid of what it may cost them to love you completely.“

He looked at me and replied, “Now tell them that!” and I woke up.

When I woke up that day, I was more confused about my response than anything. I sat up in my bed wondering why I would respond as such. “Who would say something like that, to God?” is what I thought. For about a good week, I pondered on the dream and wondered if I were to take it literally or not. I wondered if it was specifically designed for me or just maybe for my group of friends.

Well many years later, I believe that God was speaking of the church in general. The congregation of people was so large and was filled with people I did and didn’t know. Why did I only recognize Olivia? After briefly studying dream interpretation, I found the word Olivia to be a reference to “the Olive Tree;” which was commonly referred to in the bible, and even by Jesus in the New Testament. Yes, there are many other meanings for the name, but in combination with the dream, the reference to the olive tree seemed more fitting. My Olive Tree, wrote on August 10, 2017 “Olive trees are mentioned all throughout scripture. They are used symbolically as peace, prosperity, beauty, and the relationship between God and His people.”

Psalm 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I will trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.”

Romans 11:24 ” For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree.“

It was not random, that Olivia’s face was recognized. My interpretation of the dream is very literal, and back then I believe God was telling me to remind the Church of the importance of true agape LOVE. The part of my response that said, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck,” I believe God was saying that His people are only going through the motions. When looking on the surface, an outsider can be easily deceived by one’s actions because they do not know him/her performing the actions. But because it is God who tries the hearts of man, according to Proverbs 17:3, it will be IMPOSSIBLE to deceive God.

God is not moved by actions that are not provoked from fear of and love for God. Which is why, in Matthew 15:8, Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees saying, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their hearts is far from me.”

Paul warns the church of Corinth, of mindless worship, use of the gifts of the Spirit, and so forth in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. The amplified version of the text reads, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophesy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I AM NOTHING. if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrendered my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me NO GOOD AT ALL.“ It’s not enough to just perform the acts. If we do not have a total and complete love, in regards to God, our acts are worthless.

When I responded, “it’s actually a chicken because they are too afraid of what it may costs them, to love you completely,” I’m reminded of the rich young ruler, of Matthew 19:16-24. It reads,

“And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what [essentially] good thing shall I do to obtain eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?” Jesus answered, “Why are you asking Me about what is [essentially] good? There is only One who is [essentially] good; but if you wish to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.”  He said to Jesus, “Which commandments?” And Jesus answered, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; Honor your father and mother; and love your neighbor as yourself” [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others]. The young man said to Him, “I have kept all these things [from my youth]; what do I still lack?” Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” But when the young man heard this, he left grieving and distressed, for he owned much property and had many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God]. (Amplified Text)

Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.”

Let’s not misunderstand, what the text is saying. God does not despise wealth or the acquisitions of property. He, however, does require that we be not lovers of worldly things. We can neither take them with us when we leave nor stay here on earth with them. So, God requires that our full devotion is to Him and Him alone. We are not to place people, things, or any other idols above Him, because He is jealous for our affections.

My assessment of God’s overall intended message is this: It will be our fear to lose, give up, and let go of what “we think” is valuable that will hinder our progress with God the Father, Christ the Son, and His Holy Spirit. Jesus was asked by one of the Pharisees, in Matthew 22:36, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” verse 37-38, “And Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. “

I know this passage is flowing with scripture, as it should be. Though that is the case, I will leave you with one last passage from the bible to ponder.

Matthew 7:21-29 (KJV)“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

It is my hope, that we as the Body of Christ, take inventory of ourselves. With prayer and supplication to the Father, submit your requests boldly before God. Inquire of the Holy Spirit, that He may reveal those areas of your life, which are just not quite there yet. So that you may know the strongholds that hinder you. Ask Him to teach you how to love Him according to His will and His good pleasure; so that in that day He will say to us, “Well done thy good and faithful servant!”

AMEN