From the desk of Steve Shultz:
There's no need for a competitive spirit in the Kingdom of God. There's room for ALL as my friend Theresa Phillips shares in her latest word. Theresa has a deep, compassionate heart for the Body of Christ and I appreciate that about her.
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Theresa Phillips:
"There Is Room For You!" Says the Lord
I was awakened from a dream hearing the Lord say, "There is room for you..." Here is the dream:
I somehow was in a public area where there was a large Olympic-size swimming pool having several different diving boards available, including a high dive platform. I dove into the pool and the water was perfect; I easily swam to the other side, to my own amazement. It seemed almost immediately that I was able to make it to the other side – in mega seconds. As I got out of the pool, I noticed there were lots of people rushing to the diving boards and that high platform I had just dove from. I didn't notice them before.
I was shocked, for I just swam that pool with ease. I decided to go to another pool in the same park and just soak, getting away from all those people. All seemed to be competing for a spot. I watched from a distance where I saw people diving now into the very same pool which had turned into muddy water – almost a sludge; it was disgusting.
I became concerned; I felt I needed to get back there and see if I could help. Many were stuck in the sludge, needing to get out. Somehow I ended up in the sludge. Then out of nowhere came a hand of kindness which pulled me out with ease. I looked up and it was my own son...again, I was puzzled. Once he pulled me out and I stood firmly on the concrete he said, "Look, what do you see?" and his face changed.
And what I did see was amazing – the people were actually struggling to get to the high dive and platform. I stood there and noticed my own garments were now white, but tears ran down my cheeks. I began to hear from the people, "This is the way." "NO, this is the way!" Then I heard this: "NO, YOU CAN'T, IT'S ALL MINE."
I visibly began to shake, for those dear people were fighting to get to the top, tearing one another down. The language was not so good either as they were yelling at each other and about each other. They were pulling at each other to get to position on the high platform. I stood amazed and grieved. Somehow my spirit was crying, too. Then the dream ended.
When I awoke from the dream, much to my amazement, tears were flowing down my cheeks. It was a short dream but very insightful. I began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let Your children compete for position or heights or place. Please, Lord."
"There Is Room For You"
Jesus was near, then He said to me, "There is room for you. There is room for all. No one needs to fight for a position. In My Kingdom all are welcome and all are important to Me. And there is plenty of room for all."
I began to reflect on the dream. The hand that pulled me out was my son representing the Son of God, Jesus. He is the Savior and the lifter of my head; He pulls me out of the miry clay.
I began to weep, for the perfection of God's grace was in the room. I began to feel like a new beginning of belonging had begun. Yes, a new beginning of belonging had started, and my heart became glad as Scripture filled my heart.
Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear.
As these Scriptures came to my heart, I began to pray earnestly about what I had just seen: the fight to be and to get and to be known, all the while checking my own heart.
Acts 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
After praying these Scriptures, I had another encounter. He was so near and I heard Him say again, "There is room for you." This time I took it personally: "Room for me?" I felt Him wooing me. Coming closer to His heart, I was in His presence, belonging. I thought to myself, "I am not afraid. I was born for this day." I had such peace.
John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me."
I began to really weep now, for what was a corporate moment had now become quite personal. I was being spoken to.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."
Yes, I was drawn out, but so will you be. We all will be also. When all things about you seem so messy, you can be renewed in our Great Salvation – and His abundant grace, His love, is changing us this very moment! I shouted this all across the room, "There is room for you!"
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Today I felt renewed from all the clouds and trials and confrontations that keep us bogged down. Why? Because He lives, and after all, there is room for us all. We belong in the Beloved, He is ours. We are His glory to God.
Let's pray: Dear Jesus, I ask You to help us remember we are one in You and You in us; that You came and You rescue us, and You redeem us, protect us, and change us. Help all of those who are feeling insecure about being with You in Your Presence or even in ministry or church position. Change us, O Lord, from the ways of the world to enter the joy of the King's domain, where YOU, O Lord, care for us and love us equally without preference. Thank you, Jesus, we all have a place.
Bless the reader; bless the people, Lord; and most of all, change us, O God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Theresa Phillips
Chicago Prophetic Voice
Email: Info@ChicagoPropheticVoice.net
