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Last night I had the most realistic dream with a surprising message— but the message within the dream was so clear.
I this dream I was in a large old stone church and it was completely filled with people of all ages— hundreds of people. They were waiting for something that the Lord wanted to do but they did not know what exactly they were waiting for.
I knew that they had gathered for this purpose.
Then suddenly the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and I saw mercy flood into the room. It was tangible, transforming and then I heard,
“I am pouring out mercy upon my church— upon my sons and daughters without measure. Nothing is exempt— no one is exempt.”
Then people began to encounter and receive such a deep outpouring of his mercy that they were set free from things they didn’t even know were hindering them. It hit people so deeply that it was as if even issues of sin that were unconfessed received mercy and that person was set free.
In the dream I continued to decree and prophesy about this mercy and it echoed throughout this stone building with clarity and power. It fell upon each person which somehow became the answer to what each person needed. God was distributing mercy without measure.
Mercy Definition:
compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
an event to be grateful for, especially because its occurrence prevents something unpleasant or provides relief from suffering.
especially of a journey or mission performed out of a desire to relieve suffering; motivated by compassion.
The difference between mercy and grace is this: the mercy of God is him withholding deserved punishment, while grace is the act of him releasing unmerited favor. In His mercy, God does not give us punishment the we deserve; while in His grace, God gives us the gift we do not deserve, namely heaven. Mercy and grace are the utmost attributes of love.
As I have pondered this dream since waking up I have been perplexed why the need for mercy was so much needed upon those who had already been granted mercy through Christ’s sacrifice. I wonder if there is a deep unspoken sense of shame or awareness of shortcomings that has come to rest upon God’s sons and daughters?
A deep rooted condemnation or guilt because the line between grace and works has been blurred?
There is work to be done but it is to be done from the place of love and grace not performance. Yet many have felt the weight and burden of the list of things they “should” do each day. This kind of work tends to dilute love, compassion and mercy.
Maybe we need a new outpouring of mercy so that we can move and live to extend mercy once again?
All that I know is that in this dream there was not a single person present that did not need this outpouring of mercy. It was was healed them, revived them, restored them and brought them such freedom.
It balanced and aligned them back to the place of first love. It wasn’t just the mercy offered that keeps us from eternity in hell— it was the mercy offered that restored joy and intimacy with our God— in the deepest levels of our souls.
This dream made me think of David’s prayer in Psalm 25,
“O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.” Psalm 25:2-22
Remember your mercy, Lord! He wipes away the memory of your transgressions according to his steadfast love.
Do we need an outpouring of mercy to wash away unspoken shame and sense of failure that has crept into the sons and daughters of God? Do we need a reminder and tangible washing from unresolved guilt that has impacted intimacy and the ability to show mercy?
This dream was quite a surprising message for me. But maybe the clouds are heavy over his Church with the rain of mercy that will wash us anew.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16
Kathi Pelton
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