"The Doorpost, the Lamp and the Water"

The Doorpost, the Lamp and the Water

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” Psalm 119:11

A couple of weeks ago as I was sleeping soundly, a dream came to me.  In my dream I saw a doorpost and then a lamp, followed by a little cup of water fastened to the door.  I felt this was something I must pay attention to and then I woke up.  I rarely have a spiritual dream, but I knew this was from God and I cannot get away from it.  I thought about it all the time.  Finally I decided to search the Bible to see what God was telling me.

After prayer and searching the Bible, I now know what that dream meant.  God was showing me all revolved around His Word; the Holy Bible.  The first thing I saw was the doorpost. This is what it says in Deuteronomy 11:18, where God was speaking about his word.  “You shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and soul.”  Then in verse 20 he says, “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

I did some research and found this: In Hebrew, to this day, the Jews have a Mezuzah. A Mezuzah is two chapters from the Torah written (in Hebrew, of course) on a piece of parchment. The parchment is then rolled into a scroll, wrapped in paper or plastic, usually inserted into a hard-plastic or metal case, and affixed to the doorpost. This practice is still being followed by God-fearing Jews.  We can only guess how powerful the Word of God is.

The second thing I saw was a lamp. In my dream it appeared to look similar to a very old lantern, but was definitely a lamp of some kind. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” [Psalm 119:105] To explain this verse more fully, Matthew Henry’s commentary says, “The word of God directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it.” We go through so many doubts and difficulties during a lifetime and it is God’s Word that can direct me and comfort me in all these fears and turmoil.  The problem is that many of us do not turn to the Word of God when these things come upon us.

I have always believed that the Word of God is a ‘manual’ for living.  How many of you have tried to put a piece of furniture; a toy, or game together without reading the directions?  I would say most of us and we are so frustrated when it doesn’t go together right.  This is true for life as well; you have the directions, if you would just read them. 

The last thing I saw in my dream was a dish or a cup of water. It looked like a small font attached to the house.  I thought, “The Catholics bless themselves with Holy water before they enter their church, but I don’t think that’s what it means”.  Then I read this in Ephesians 5:26, “He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”   This is not speaking of Baptism with water, but was to be accomplished by truth, which is the Word of God.  John 17:17 explains it best, “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” 

As we read and study the Bible and believe all that it tells us, we become sanctified like the Word is washing over us with water.  Many times when reading the Bible, a certain truth will stir my soul and I will feel cleansed and refreshed.  I can read other things that mean nothing, or fiction that is a little racy and it makes you feel dirty.  I learned a long time ago to not read that sort of thing. 

When I read about the word of God on a doorpost, I know it’s written on the doorpost of my heart.  When I think of the lamp, I know the Lord is guiding me along my journey of life.  And when I think about the water of His word, I am refreshed knowing he has me washed in his word.  He also showed me a word in my dream and the word was this – PREPARE!  I believe that means to hide the word of God in your heart; you never know when you will need it.

Friends, I know your life is so busy, but won’t you take time each day to read something in God’s Word?   That is being prepared.  Dip your fingers in the water of his Word and be blessed.                      

"Are You Listening?"

Are You Listening?

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7

When I was about ten years old, I went to visit my grandmother who was a strong Christian.  While I was there I played with a girl across the street and one day Grandma came outside where we were sitting on a blanket.  She brought her Bible and said, “While you girls are playing I want you to each pick a Bible verse and memorize it by the end of the week. I didn’t know much about the Bible, but my girlfriend thought it would be fun.

My girlfriend was about 12 and belonged to a church where she learned many verses, while I also went to our Presbyterian church in my home town.  I attended Sunday school there, but it wasn’t like my grandma’s Baptist church where they prayed a lot, or my friend’s church where they said “AMEN” out loud and raised their hands. However, my friend wanted to do it so I pretended I did, too. I opened the Bible and put my finger on a verse in Revelation 2:7.  I didn’t know what it meant, but I memorized it and never forgot it to this day.

The other day I was studying in Revelation and read this verse and suddenly my brain downloaded the memory.  Inside of my spirit I heard, “This is why you memorized this so long ago – you must keep listening to my Word”.  Now after these many, many years I finally understood. I have studied and taught from the Bible for over 30 years and no matter what I studied I always came back to ‘end times’.  Now I see that ‘If we listen for the voice of God, by whatever means He chooses to enlighten us, we will understand so much more”.  Without the Word of God we are like blind people stumbling around in the darkness.

When Jesus spoke to the seven churches, he was also speaking to all of us at the end of the ages.  There is a personal message to each of these that I want to share with you.  The first message was to Ephesus.  Beginning with Rev. 2:5, He has a one-word warning: “Repent”!  You hear it everywhere; ‘the time is short’ so if you listen you’ll get the message.  Then at the end of vs.7, he gives you a reason to repent, “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

The next is to Smyrna. In verse 10, this warning stands out, “Be Faithful”!  If you are serving God to best of your ability, don’t compromise, but stand strong and be firm in your faith.  What is the reason for this?  Jesus promises that he will give you the ‘Crown of Life’ which means you will spend eternity in heaven.

Thirdly, he spoke to Pergamos.  In verse 17, his message to us is this: “To him who overcomes”. We must be Overcomers.  In today’s times this isn’t as easy as it sounds.  Not only we must be overcomers, but our children and grandchildren may find this even more difficult. The only way is for families to attend church, children need to go to classes and youth to youth groups.  The more they join with other Believers, the stronger they become. What does this mean? “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” No one really knows what this means, but only these who overcome will enter heaven.

To the church of Thyatira, found in verses 18-25, Jesus explains that you can’t really hide anything from him because he sees your hearts and minds.  He tells us in vs. 25 that whatever faith you have to, “Hold fast what you have till I come”.  If we keep doing what the Lord requires of us, “He will give us power over the nations.”  To understand this we must know that Jesus has made us kings and priests. See Revelation 5:10 (“And (He) has made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.")

In Rev. 3:13, the Lord rebukes the church at Sardis, for they think they are alive but the fact is there is only a few who have not soiled themselves with sin. He tells them to hold on to what little faith they have and to “Return to what they first heard and believed.”  Those that do that will walk in white with the Lord.  That means in ‘Purity’.  There reward is that “I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

Now we go to Rev. 3:8 where Jesus centered on the church at Philadelphia.  Listen to these powerful words and understand.  “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.”  If we are obedient to our Lord, we will be lifted up, but he does give us this word. “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown”.  (vs.11)  Now look at his promise for you faithful believer, “Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly!”

Lastly, in Rev. 15-16, Jesus says a terrifying thing to the Laodiceans, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”  He will cast out all those who are just playing around with being a true Christian.  (read vs. 14-22)  These people don’t even know what horrible condition they are in.  They are having fun and making money, but don’t think about God or heaven or hell.  In verse 20 he says

He is knocking at the door of your heart and if you open that door to him, he will come in and be with you.  He promises this: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Are you listening yet?  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Don’t plug your ears; He is calling you, just like he did me so many years ago.  The difference is, we have so little time left to answer his call.  For all my loved ones, family and friends, please listen.  Read this again and ask yourself where am I in each of these seven warnings from God?  Then make a decision where you want to spend eternity.  If you open your heart’s door to Jesus; you are on your way to Heaven; if not, you are on your way to Hell.  I speak truth, the truth of the Bible, to you and you know it.

Because I care what happens to you.

With Love, Wanda Ritter