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The screen is defined as: A
protective device, something that shelters and
protects. Something that covers or disguises the
true nature of something. A maneuver in various
sports whereby an opponent is legally impeded or his
view of the play is momentarily blocked. Something
used to separate coarser from finer parts. A frame
holding metallic netting used especially in a window
or door to exclude pests, such as insects.
Its purpose is to guard from injury or danger, to
give protection or shelter, to separate the fine
from the coarse, to examine methodically in order to
make a separation, to select or eliminate by a
screening process, to keep out pests.
I had a dream that our screen door had been left
open. I believe that the screen door represents
protection from the enemy in that we can see through
the screen, but still be out of his reach. I think
it is a warning not to neglect our screening
process, such as screening out the pests or lies of
the enemy. I also thought of screening as a process
of sifting in order to keep the good and eliminate
the bad.
I believe the dream revealed an element of
vulnerability … otherwise, why would we even have a
screen door? What is this area of vulnerability?
And, what is the open door?
Several things occur to me:
The open door means perhaps being too open or too
compromising.
Or, allowing anything the enemy wants to bring
into the house – pests.
Pest is defined as something detrimental to humans
or human concern; one that pesters or annoys, a
nuisance.
In spiritual terms, however, it would be something
that is detrimental to our integrity:
Flesh -- Lies or false concepts -- Being taken
advantage of
Galatians 5:17 For the
flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; and these are contrary to one
another, so that you do not do the things that you
wish.
The ability to screen means that I am exercising
spiritual discernment.
Matthew 23:23-25 "Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have
neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice
and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done,
without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who
strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse
the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are
full of extortion and self–indulgence.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid
food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,
those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.
We must be able to discern good from evil.
In our church, we try to allow people the space and
grace, the liberty to express themselves, but when
their expression begins to erode the integrity of
our spiritual foundation, we have to be willing to
deal with it.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of
man, I have made you a watchman for the house of
Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and
give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked,
‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to
save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his
iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn
from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he
shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered
your soul.
We are called as watchmen and are prophetically in
the fourth watch (the last watch before Jesus comes
again).
Mark 13:34-37 It is
like a man going to a far country, who left his
house and gave authority to his servants, and to
each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to
watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the
master of the house is coming––in the evening, at
midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the
morning––lest, coming suddenly, he find you
sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
Jude 3 Beloved, while I
was very diligent to write to you concerning our
common salvation, I found it necessary to write to
you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith
which was once for all delivered to the saints.
The LORD has spoken to us that our foundation has
been swept clean.
1 Corinthians 3:
10 According to the grace of God which was given to
me, as a wise master builder I have laid the
foundation, and another builds on it. But let each
one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day
will declare it, because it will be revealed by
fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of
what sort it is.
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it
endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss;
but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
THE TRUMPET by Bill Burns: Rise up, My people, and
take your position on the new foundation that I have
established for you in this season, says the Lord. I
put into your hand today a broom that you may begin
by sweeping off the ashes of the wood, the hay, the
stubble, so that your foundation can be swept clean;
so that you will begin again in this season to build
with precious gems, gold, and silver. For I have
determined to have a house in the end of the age
that is without spot and without wrinkle. It will be
a house filled with all the glory of My purposes and
the glory of My presence; a house in which people
can be healed; a house in which people can receive
revelation. It will be a house on which the glory of
the Father will come for those in the world to see,
and they will know absolutely that there is still a
God in Heaven who cares, a God who speaks, and a God
who does. So arise now to your station. This
foundation, My people, is higher than any you have
known before. It has even been called the New
Plateau. It is the plateau of My purposes. It is the
table of the Lord. It is a habitation where I will
come and dine with My people. I'll come in this
season, and I will prove My kingdom not only to the
Church, but to the world itself, says the Glorious
One.
The LORD is dealing with our prayers and
intercession in this season. When we pray according
to flesh instead of by the Spirit of the Lord, then
we are building on the foundation with wood, hay or
straw. And, it will go up in smoke.
We’re learning that we need to use the “screen”
or spiritual discernment so that we don’t pray for
things that God won’t answer or violate the law of
sowing and reaping.
Examples:
We can’t pray for prosperity if someone refuses to
tithe or be a good steward of what they have been
given. Nor can we pray for safety for someone who
continues to speed or drive recklessly, or drink and
drive. What we can pray is that God would open the
eyes of their understanding so they can cooperate
with His Word.
Ephesians 1:17-18 that
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that you may know
what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches
of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
What concerns me is people who pray prayers that God
won’t answer “yes” on, and then turn and accuse Him,
when all the time they are reaping a bad harvest.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man
sows, that he will also reap.
We need God’s wisdom and revelation and to have our
eyes of understanding enlightened to see how to pray
and why some of our prayers go unanswered.
1 John 5:14 Now this is
the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask
anything according to His will, He hears us.
We all have the responsibility to protect the
Body of Christ by speaking truth according to the
Word of God and bringing correction when necessary.
2 Timothy 4:16-17 All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
2 Timothy 5:1-2 I
charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at
His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be
ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
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