Posted: 09 Dec 2011 02:00 AM PST
Good morning,
Today let's finish talking about the dream and it's interpretation.
For three nights I dreamed the same dream; "There were eight deer standing on a hill at several stages of growth. In the distance behind them were twelve trees swaying in the breeze. A major snow storm had come and the deer were almost overtaken by it, yet they stood immovable. The twelve trees refused to bend under the pressure of the heaviness of the snow. We have already shared about the number eight especially associated with 'resurrection' and 'regeneration' and the beginning of a new era. The number three signifies the perfectly divine and heavenly number. The number twelve signifying "perfection of government". Now we all know that we are oftentimes referred in scripture as certain things, to denote the character of those things. For example: sheep, goats, wolves; we are referred to as deer; eagles; members of a body; and trees; just to name a few. In the Bible we see a deer as a hart as well as deer. Here is one scripture, "As the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God." (Psalm 42:1) Deer have a four-chambered stomach and they have high nutrition requirements. That is what we should have toward the Kingdom of God, our thirst and hunger for God should cause us to seek the high nutrition of His word above all else. We are not to just go around eating anything under the guise of "Christianity." Deer are selective eaters too.
Now the definition of 'trees' is a plant having a permanent woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerate height and usually developing branches. Now we are likened unto trees in several places: "And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]." (Psalm 1:3) "[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit," (Jer.17:7-8) "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (Is. 61:3) Now the Amplified version of this verse says a lot about trees, that should describe us; "To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." This year my brothers and sisters we must be lofty, strong, magnificent, but most of all distinguished, set apart by our uprightness or doing right according to the Word of God. Of course our ability to do this is in line with us being firmly planted and tended by the streams of the river. Determined to be people who are determined to remain consistent and constant in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, in-spite of all that is going on around us. Trees don't get up and move around to find the conditions that they think are better for them. We must not bend or break. The year 2012 will be the time that those who are trees will receive beauty for ashes, oil of joy instead of mourning, praise instead of a heavy burden. We will be truly distinguishable from all who haven't made the right choice. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, [like a tree] always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose." (1 Corin. 15:58)
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