A Field With No Fences

Let us begin with a well-known scripture in the Book of Acts, chapter 2, verse l7...'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, (Yahweh), That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams...'

As I have kept a Christian Journal for many years, I was thumbing through some older pages and came across a Dream Vision dated August, l988. I can remember years earlier how my friends and I were known for loving to look at someone's diary hoping we wouldn't get caught.

Listen to the vision and it's ultimate confirmation received a few years later in l994 and see if it would apply to us today. The Lord Jesus Christ always confirms His Word and well He did explaining the meaning of 'A Field With No Fences'. Test and see for yourself God moving within our midst.

Dream Vision, Summer, l988

In this dream just prior to awakening, I was being lead as a horse with a simple harness around my head...similar to a horses harness signifying, I believe, being put into a restraint of some form. A kind and gentle master had me by my right strap on that harness and lead me through a gate looking like the entrance to a great pasture with a large mountain straight ahead of me much like what I would feel Mt. Sinai would have looked like with its vast plains surrounding it. This man lead me up a dirt path and through a wooden entrance much like you would have seen in Westerns or, for example, on the old Roy Roger's program, that went into this field. He, then, removed the harness and said, “Now, go!”

But, I didn't go. Instead, I stood still and just turned and looked at him and said, “But, Lord, you have placed me into 'a field with no fences'.

He simply replied and said, “I know that wherever you are or no matter how far away you go...all I have to do is call your name and you will be here right by my side.”

From that dream, as I woke up, I felt a 'freeing and great joy in Christ' that I'd never felt before.

Confirmation and Explanation comes in l994

'Religion or Following the Lamb'.. quotes by Ray Prinzing

'But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.'...Phil. 3:7-8.

Paul knew what it was to be 'religious' and he also came to know what it meant to count all of that realm as rubbish, that he might come into an intimate knowledge and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Win-- the Greek word “weidenen” meaning: to pasture. Furthermore, 'it signifies a pasture without fences'. There is a going on—to enter into Christ, to plunge into the depths—a union with Him where there are no barriers or limitations. Religion does not lead you into this expansive field or realm in Christ, but rather fences you in with its many creeds and doctrines which become an end in themselves.

Men have constantly thought of God in terms of a man, attributing to Him all the base emotions of man. Long ago the word was given, 'God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent'...Numbers 23:l9. He is 'Spirit', and He must be worshiped 'in spirit', that is, out of our heart, out of our innermost being as our spirit reaches out to magnify and exalt Him This is not an external 'doing', it is a life-flow from within. Furthermore, real Spirit worship cannot be in subjection to types and shadows, it reaches out for reality...'deep calling unto deep', unrestrained by any religious form. A generated worship by the will of man requires an atmosphere to stimulate an attitude and a mood for our ceremonial observances, with robed choirs, stained glass windows and our attention focused front and center upon a leader. Thus, we have come to what we feel spiritual can become nothing but mere religious practice by adding into the mix our self-effort and self-will, until it deteriorates into more mere works of the flesh. Religion can be and may well be, the greatest enemy of the moving of the Spirit of God, for it was religious belief that crucified Christ and it was religious belief that hindered the entry of men into the Kingdom of God. And, even in this day and time, Paul writes, “O foolish Galations, who hath beguiled you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (Gal 3:l) Having begun in the spirit, they were ready to revert back to the works of the flesh, to observe days...to go back into the bondage of form and ceremony, rather then the free flow of His very life flowing through them by the Holy Spirit of God. Turning back to legalism is in effect crucifying Christ afresh...for it is a turning away from the very life of the Spirit back into man's attempt through dead works and self-effort.

Christ has not called us into being fenced in by religion, but to Himself. Not to the outward form but to the inner substance. Often the outward form will become our adversary, keeping us fenced in from going on into that which He hath prepared for them that love Him. We need to take a leap of faith beyond doctrines of men into the higher realm of trust.

We cannot live this life out of our own minds...only Christ can live the Christ-like life...through Us..thus why the necessity of having that personal relationship with Him, dying daily, allowing Him to live through us.

A relationship with Christ requires that 'we follow Him withersoever He Goes'. The Greek word for follow is 'akoloutheo' meaning to be in the same way with, to accompany as a disciple. He has given us an example that you should follow in His steps (l Peter 2:2l). This is not just an historical way of life. We are not called to be imitators but partakers of Christ. It is 'Being in His way Today', as the Spirit leads us onward step by step. Eliezer said it so well, “I being in the way, the Lord led me...” Genesis 24:27. 'We're going the same direction He is going...following Him!'

In contrast to religious form, which is hung up on some particular doctrine, or a personality, infused with self-will and self-effort, there is an intimate walk with Christ, seeking only to live out His Will, and fulfill His plan. It requires that 'total surrender'...'not my will but thine be done.' And, it is a daily challenge to maintain our eyes single to Him alone that we might be 'filled with HIS LIGHT', and that He might fulfill His promises in His Way rather then our trying to circumscribe Him to our interpretations.

Following the Lamb wherever He goes does not mean that we dash across the country escaping all of our responsibilities. Much of this following is inward. We continue with our normal duties which He has given us to do and foremost in us at all times. We do not take our religious stance and insist that God do things in our way, on our timetable, according to how we feel He should do things. But, we remain in a 'state of willingness' for His purpose to be consummated in us and through us according to His wisdom's rare design and all to His glory and honor.

And, when He (the Good Shepherd) putteth forth his own sheep, He goeth before them and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And, a stranger they will not follow but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers...John l0:4-5.

Now, we have an allegory, with the shepherd and the stranger. In a sense we have them both within. The Shepherd is THE VOICE OF THE CHRIST WITHIN. The stranger is the voice of the carnal mind...and by extension, could be called the voice of religion. I dare say, our spiritual maturity is evidenced by the 'voice' to which we hearken and follow. God is Spirit and He contacts us through our Spirit. Job 32:8 tells us...'There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration (in-breathing) of the Almighty gives them understanding.' How we yearn for more and more and more of that Divine Nature and In-Breathing. Far too long we have relied on the proper religious atmosphere for our inspiration. And, being influenced by these exterior conditions, we were often vulnerable to the voice of strangers through religious creeds and dogmas, traditions of men, reasonings from carnal minds, and we followed them into harnesses and bondage, fenced in dry pastures, fallow ground of type and shadow...without His Life.

Praise be to God...'My sheep hear My Voice and I know them and They Know Me'...John l0:27.

Whithersoever He goeth...into the length and the breadth and the depth and height and to know the (agape) love of Christ which passeth understanding...that they might 'be filled' with all the fullness of God through Christ Jesus...Eph.3:l9. How precious is His leading us by grace onto perfection. Amen?