The Lord took me into a vision on 4/13/20. I was praying unto God thanking him for who He is and this day of life. The vision was as clear as if my eyes were open. I can not begin to fully describe how glorious it was but I will try.
VISION
As the vision began I was made aware of this large Vessel, a Ship, and it was as if I was in a smaller boat facing the bow but attached to the side of it as it was towering high above. The bow of the ship was like straight shiny steel cutting the water and on it in the front of the bow there was a Figurehead of an enormous Cross shining almost platinum - diamond sparkling as in the sun. On its right upper side it illuminated and I knew this was Jesus. The ship was majestic and towering high & the sharpness of the bow was cutting the water. It would seem the clouds were getting darker as we moved forward. Then the clouds above, all orange, pale blue and pink with evening purple, began to move suddenly and they rotated almost a half circle so quickly. I did’t fully understand the clouds at first but became instantly aware and realized the clouds were not moving but it was the Ship turning a new direction. It turned so quickly and precise being controlled by the Figurehead. He said, “We are turning into the wind.” And then we were moving in the new direction with incredible Power, Glory and Speed. A massive ship cutting the waters full speed ahead. Then there was a distinct clicking of a tick and a small light flashing as if a clock was ticking to a stopping point or destination. Just 3 ticks. Tick, Tick, Tick.
This sudden vision from God was so detailed. I immediately wondered what He was saying. I thought of the Ship, the clouds, the direction change which happened suddenly. There was such peace and reassurance in the vision and I had complete trust in knowing it was Jesus.
I began to press into what the Lord had just shown and the words OUR CHURCH ran so loudly in my spirit. I began to see a change was coming and it would be in a different way and we are not to fear because it is the Lord who is leading and guiding. It will be a Suddenly and whatever OUR CHURCH is going to face we will be doing it by facing it head on with Power and Authority. Now, I am not saying my own church in particular but OUR CHURCH - the Body of Christ as a whole.
God knows I love His mysteries and I as I studied what I saw in the vision focusing on the Ship with Jesus as the figurehead, I learned many biblical meanings as to the vision of a ship. The large ship can represent many things such as; a journey, business, big ministry, trade, wealth, strength, believer, the Christian church, big church/fellowship and Christ such as God’s vehicle of salvation today. These are a few of the many.
Reflecting on OUR CHURCH, I remember the Bible speaking of a code used by Christians to meet when they were being persecuted by the Romans in ancient times. It was a code used everywhere to hold meetings or worship gatherings as they were not out in the open like OUR CHURCH today. Many could see this code on trees, doorways or upon greeting someone they would draw the upper half in hopes the person whom they were greeting would draw the other portion thus identifying them as a friend, believer and not an enemy. This code is a symbol of a fish or Ichthys which basically represents the phrase “Jesus Christ God’s Son is Savior.”
In this season, the Covid-19 pandemic and now the civil unrest we find the United States, we are now having to cast our nets over the internet, social platforms, empty church building preaching through broadcast means, drive in parking lot preachings, reaching out in new ways to share the Gospel to the lost. OUR CHURCH is doing as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission. This is the change of direction and it may seem at times as if the we are moving directly into the wind.
In the book of Luke 5:1-3 it tells of Jesus providing a miraculous catch of fish.
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asks Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
As I read this I could see OUR CHURCH standing on the shore preaching and before us a new means to deliver His Word being set before us. I questioned Has OUR CHURCH been set out to preach from the waters?
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me - I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. Luke 5:4-9
I now see this large ship, Jesus, steering us in a new direction. He always comes to guide and direct us to the way with which we are to go. He is more than just saving us, He never leaves us. Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee used nets, often bell shaped with weights on the ends. A net would be thrown flat into the water, and the lead weights would cause it to sink around the fish. Then the fishermen would pull on a cord, drawing the net around the fish. Nets had to be kept in good condition, so they would be washed to remove weeds and then mended.
The Lord showed me, OUR CHURCH, in these times has simply been guided in a new direction. We are to cast our nets into deeper water. Our nets are the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to do this in a way which is not familiar to all. While we have continued to serve the Lord in churches and in communities the way we have always known, the Lord is simply putting us in a boat of water away from the physical doors of the church building. In the vision the original direction we were heading was going to a dark direction of clouds. We have all heard preachings from OUR CHURCH, that the doors will open and the lost will be found by flooding in. Never could we have imagined it would be for, OUR CHURCH, to leave the building and cast our nets in waters many have never fished in before or even been to before.
Just as the nets in the Sea of Galilee would catch all types of fish regardless of their value. The Gospel attracts many people who neither repent or desire to follow Christ. There will come a time when the fish (people) will be sorted when they are pulled onshore. It will be in this end of age that false believers will be made known and all will be judged by God.
It is vital that our Nets (The GOSPEL) are in good working condition. OUR CHURCH is not closed it is moving in a new direction with Jesus as the Figurehead on the Bow of His Ship. When we are in the most adverse situations in our lives, Jesus will meet us right where we are at to help us.
God is assembling His people just as He did in the days of Noah and again leaving us instructions himself. speaks of God speaking to Noah with instructions on building a boat as He was to destroy all living creatures. Genesis 6:13-16 (paraphrase)
And….. OUR CHURCH is to remain watchful now.
Jesus is telling us about his return. He speaks of the days of Noah and how people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Matthew 24:37- 39 (paraphrased)
Jesus’ purpose for telling us about his return is to warn us to be prepared. Jesus asks us to spend the time of waiting taking care of his people and doing his work here on earth, both within the church and outside it. This is the best way to prepare for Christ’s return.
OUR CHURCH is in a time of preparation beyond the physical church building. God has His people in a State of Awareness and stretching us to seek the lost beyond what we have known to do in the past. Its time to cast the nets in deeper waters.
The inheritance is before you. We haven’t come to the end of time yet as we know it. There is still time left to “become fishers of men” for the Kingdom is yet to come. It will no longer look like OUR CHURCH of yesterday as God is steering us directly into the Wind. With Power and Authority to cast nets for the whole world to be saved.
Jesus also said, (to the church) ‘Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Revelation 3:3
As the three ticks of a clock and a light in the distance appeared in the vision. Remain ready to cast the nets in deeper waters for the catch of souls will be great. The time is now. Tick. Tick. Tick.