“They have run eagerly in the way of Balaam for profit . . ."

Dream May 25, 2012


I had dream about two specific churches, but believe this also speaks/warns of the condition of  the church right now (generally speaking). I dreamed this specific church finally obtained property and an actual building...it was in another old church building. The church that used to be there had moved on to bigger things and are now "prospering". The pastor came over to me, and hugged me, but he was hesitant. (the feeling was he was nervous around me of what I might say I hugged him and felt such compassion for him, and I felt sorry for him, like he seemed so timid and insecure. I then started to look around, I could tell he was proud of his church, but everywhere I looked was a mess. They had a thrift store (or trying to) they ran and a kids area (ministry) but everything was in disarray. I didn't say anything, I was just visiting there. I went into the bathroom and the bathroom had buckets to go to the bathroom and I didn’t understand why they weren't using the toilets, maybe they didn’t work but they were there. Instead of using the toilets you'd have to bring in a bucket and put a paper towel over it to use as a seat. It just was complicated and a mess. It was like nobody there noticed the mess all around them. So then I go back into the service and all the congregation is lining up to the stage The pastor was up on the stage because he was handing out gifts and everyone was so excited. Everyone was talking and acting like they were so privileged to receive the gift. As the pastor reached into the box or basket he would pull out the "gift".I was confused though because all it was, was a bunch of tangled up costume/junk jewelry he was pulling out. He would pull some out and try to shake it out to untangle it. Everyone was talking about it like it was so fantastic and I was trying to be gracious but was confused on why everyone was lining up for this.Yet when he would give them a piece of the junk/costume jewelry they would be so happy and show it off. I specifically remember these fake earrings and necklace that were tiny turquoise in color, diamond shaped in a ball on a gold chain. I felt like he was trying to give them to me, and everyone was acting as if that was the best piece out of the bunch. But I didn't want it and didn't understand why everyone couldn't see that it was fake and gaudy. It was chaotic in there at this point and people were in a frenzy. I was trying to not embarrass or be rude, so I simply avoided receiving the "gift" by walking away.

As I believe this dream was specific to a particular church I believe the interpretation and warning is also specific to "the church" and  individuals. After praying, here is the interpretation I feel the Holy Spirit gave to me: It was significant that the one church left the perfectly fine building it was in in order to move on to "bigger and better". This church's heart has changed., once full of true prophets, evangelists, and many gifts  they now are completely caught up in the prosperity message. They have sold their ministry for pay like we are warned about in Jude with Balaam. "Speaking of false teachers in the church, Peter says: “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:15). Jude likewise, speaking of false teachers, says: “They have run eagerly in the way of Balaam for profit (Jude 11). Balaam was tempted to his destruction by the love of money. For this he was willing to prostitute his marvelous spiritual gifts. Probably he was flattered, too, by the attention he received from King Balak and his princes. The love of money is closely associated with the desire for popularity and for power. All these evil lusts grow out of the selfsame soil: pride."

The other church that moved into their old building speaks of needing to have validation and position in the community by other "prosperity" churches and following in their footsteps. The fact that they couldn't see their condition and yet had all the "things" to function speaks for itself. They weren't taking care of the church, it was a mess, speaks of the pastor not taking care of the sheep and the sheep blindly following and not seeing the condition either. The bathroom speaks of refuse, waste and they weren't getting rid of it. Instead they were saving it in buckets and it was disgusting. This speaks of the stench this is to God and the absolute filth in the church. The pastor was on an elevated stage...he was elevating himself above the congregation. The people lining up were deceived into believing what was being given to them was a privilege...flattery and arrogance was used to manipulate the people. Elevating himself and them convincing them they could get a "gift" from him. The tangled mess of junk/costume jewelry speaks of the "gifts" speaks of the counterfeit. The fact he was trying to shake them out to untangle them speaks of man-made efforts to undo the mess. They may experience these "gifts" but they don't know what spirit they are in. The devil is a counterfeit. The people were chaotic, deceived and couldn't discern the difference between the real and counterfeit. The jewelry looked like the real thing and was actually stunning and beautiful at first glance, yet I could see that it was fake. The best way of recognizing the counterfeit is by knowing the real thing. I am not sure why I recall the one piece so specifically, but I believe it was used in flattery to tempt me. I didn't want to have anything to do with it. I think this speaks of those who recognize the counterfeit to be very careful to not be tempted by flattery of men, validation, praise, position etc. Those who have an ear to hear and an eye to see must not compromise.

I am not sure and maybe someone else will have wisdom or insight to the colored gem (looked like blue topaz or aquamarine), but since it was the most prized in their eyes I think it speaks of prophecy. I believe many seeker sensitive and prosperity churches value prophecy and use it to validate their stand..."God says, Thus says the Lord, I had a dream"...yet it doesn't line up with the Bible and "they decide among themselves what they are willing to hear" (word given to me at a prayer meeting about a decade ago). But its all fake, counterfeit. FALSE prophecy. They use this "gift" as a tool to manipulate, flatter and validate. The saddest was this pastor was so proud of what he had, yet he was incredibly insecure of me coming and checking it out, he seemed timid and afraid, he wanted to show me that "see I did it...you see all I have" attitude. Yet I could see straight through this and I was deeply saddened and I felt sorry for him. I had compassion and love for him as a fellow believer, yet he was deceived. I think this speaks of the condition of the man and also what the response should be...love and compassion, YET an unwillingness to partake in what they were doing. God loves this man, this man is a son of His too. He is deceived and woe to him for being a shepherd that is leading. Everyone there was unaware of the filth they were in, the shepherd and the sheep. This is what the people wanted. They elevated him, they put him on a pedestal, they were in the filth and doing nothing about it. The whole thing was quite sad. They didn't know what they were being given was fake/counterfeit/junk because they couldn't recognize it!!

What does this mean for us as Christians in this time? We are living in a time of extremes; false prophecy and theology abound. The Spirit is telling us to prepare and to be ready, not to store up and prosper in the natural. Seek the Lord for there is coming a time that if you don't know His voice or are not led by the Spirit it will be easy to be caught up in the deception because it mimics the real, it looks very real, but this counterfeit is nothing but refuse and junk and the stench reaches the heavens. The cup of iniquity here is almost filled and the judgement of God will be poured out. It is not enough to call yourself a Christian. Jesus asked, "why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?" Jesus Christ Lord. There is a continuing narrow walk in the Lord. He is Jesus, our Messiah, He saved us! Praise God! But do not stop there, He is Christ-the anointed! Be baptized in the fire of the Holy Spirit, able to be led and hear His voice. But He is also the LORD! Is He LORD of your life? Surrender completely to Him, let go of the things that will serve as nothing in the coming days. Seek the Lord and make Him the Lord of your life. He is warning His people now because the times we are entering into will require His specific leading and direction. Hide His word in your heart so that you will not sin against Him. Do not compromise the Word for anything or anyone. What is this prosperity they speak of? Is it the hunger for material possessions under the guise that having this "transfer of wealth" will be used for "Kingdom purposes"? The Spirit uncovers this white wash (read more here on that) lie.

God will bless as He see fit, He will use whatever circumstance. If your focus is on making a life here on earth then you are falling right into the deception. These things do not matter! The Lord gives and He takes away. Focus on Jesus and being His servant...Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. Shift your focus and do not take your eyes off of Him! If you do not, you will be caught unaware, unprepared. Discern the seasons and the time. Don't be fooled and confident in the natural. Right before the judgement of God was poured out on nations they always experienced a time of prosperity, that's biblical history. Don't be caught up in that. Be prosperous in spirit, make Him you treasure. Simply be content and faithful with what He has given you. in the natural.