One night, several years back, in a
dream, I saw myself preaching to a congregation. Some of the faces in the
audience were very familiar to me, friends and members of my church, but then
as if a camera were zooming in on someone, one face stood out from the rest. It
was of a middle aged man, partially bald, medium height and stout. He was in
the 2nd or 3rd row, listening intently to my message.
I woke up the next morning
and as I recollected the dream, I remembered the face that had stood out from
among the rest, but wondered who it must be, for I had never met that person.
That Saturday, I was called
to preach in a prayer meeting held at a friend’s house. Friday night, as I sat
for prayer and asked the Lord what I should preach the next day, He gave me the
verses from Joel 2:12-14
Yet even
now,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” Tear your heart, and not your
garments, and turn to the
LORD, your God;
for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink
offering to the LORD, your God.
And there was a surprise waiting for me when I reached the house where
the prayer meeting was held. There in the 2nd row sat the man the
Lord had shown me in the dream. Instantly I knew that the message though for
everyone, was especially for this man.
As I preached, the Holy
Spirit led me through several portions of the Bible where the apostasy of the
Israelites is evident. “Enquiring and worshipping Baal instead of Jehovah. The
Holy Spirit led me into speaking how Christians get trapped when they involve
themselves in idol worship.
After the service, the man I
had seen in the dream came hastily to me and told me his story. He was a
believer who had got involved in idolatry and now his daughter was mentally
ill. He had done everything in his capacity to get her cured with medicines but
to no avail. He had come on holidays from another state to our native place and
was returning in a couple of days. I told him that the message that day was
especially for him from God and that he should obey accordingly and that I would
be praying for him and his ailing daughter.
It was very evident here
that God wanted to give him another chance and that’s why the message-“Even
now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and
weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the
Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate...”
I do not know whether he
took the Lord’s counsel or not, for I have never seen him after that.
I will instruct you and teach you in
the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on
you.
(Psalm 32:8)
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