All posts tagged: Dominion of God

A Wallet from Heaven

The day before Faith Hope and Love Community (FHL’s) annual fundraiser dinner was very busy.

As you may know, many details encompass the planning for such an event, but it was important to my team to hash out the details necessary to make the dinner a success. After accomplishing our plans for the day, my wife and I treated ourselves to a relaxing dinner. However, when it was time to pay, I discovered my wallet was missing!

A queasy feeling

Assuming I had left the wallet in one of our FHL trucks, we decided it would be best to just wait to retrieve it the next morning when we arrived for setup-the day’s events had left us very tired! The next morning, though, I was dismayed to discover that my wallet was nowhere to be found. This worried me greatly, but I was tasked with assisting with setting up the venue. Throughout the rest of the day, I searched the vehicles I had travelled in the day before inside and out, even searching through the venue several times thinking I had perhaps left it sitting somewhere. That lingering anxiousness stayed with me for the next few hours. Finally, my wife finally told me to forget about my wallet and concentrate. I decided she was right. The angel of the Lord would just have to deliver my wallet back to me.

The fundraiser proved to be an excellent distraction. It was an evening filled with powerful stories and life-changing testimonies, including stories of miracles.

When the guests were gone and everything put into its proper place, I started the drive back to my home around midnight. Suddenly, I remembered my wallet! Immediately, the feeling of anxiousness and dread came rushing back over me. The thought of my personal information being open to a stranger was interrupted by a “thump” on my windshield. For some reason I can’t explain, I thought that perhaps this could have been my wallet! After pondering this for several minutes, I decided to turn around, (thank God for round-abouts), and I drove back to where I heard the sound. My hope began to fade as my methodical search did not reveal my wallet. Besides, I couldn’t figure out how it would have suddenly shown up anyway. I got back into my car to go home, but I felt the Lord’s nudging to go back. Hesitantly, I turned around saying to myself that this would be the last time.

Choosing what to believe

I turned on my hazard lights and got out of my truck. After about 2-3 steps I saw on the side of the street what seemed like a piece of paper and not thinking anything else, picked it up. To my surprise, it was a copy of the FHL tax-exempt certificate! I had inserted it into my wallet to have ready to show to certain merchant who offered us an exemption to rent the tables we needed for the annual dinner.

A surge of energy radiated all over my body! It only took me a few minutes after that to find all my credit cards, pictures and my wallet! It was a moment when I knew that heaven invaded earth!

I called my wife immediately and as I proceeded home, I tried to remember how, when and where I lost my wallet to dispel the notion that indeed, an angel of the Lord had brought my wallet back to me.

Moments like this give me confidence that God uses such times to build our faith in Him. I believe He chose that moment to, ‘drop my wallet from Heaven,’ to give me assurance that He is intimately involved in my life.

Beyond life’s circumstances

Our God is a God of miracles that can go beyond space and time, and infinitely out of the bounds of our limited minds and experience (Ephesians 3:20). This experience reminded me that whatever happens in my life or my ministry, He is in control and I have nothing to worry or be anxious about. The same is also true for you, and your worries and cares. We can trust in the promises of God, no matter how absurd or illogical they may seem to be.

God is with us and He is good all the time.

Update: When my wife read the story, she had vision of an angel and the demon who stole my wallet fighting in the sky and the angel got my wallet back and threw it in my truck.

Merlin GonzalesA Wallet from Heaven
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Session 4: Signs of the Kingdom

Signs of the Kingdom are here with us

Signs of the Kingdom are here with us

Shiloh MBC Men's Choir

Shiloh MBC Men’s Choir

Session 4 started with worship from Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church! It was such a blessing to join the worship of a 7 – man choir. Thank you to Pastor Brian and his group. This week, our session will start with worship led by Najwa Loh and Tim Taylor, both from Midtown Vineyard community.

White board discussions

White board discussions

One of the Signs of the Kingdom is change. We watched this video from Andy Stanley about leadership and change. We learned that tradition could be a stronghold and an obstacle in experiencing the Kingdom. We also learned that the Pharisees and the Sadducees (basically the religious leaders with their tradition and unbelief) had more conflict with Jesus than the demoniacs and the sinners.

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” – Matthew 15:1-3

Assignment for Session 5

You are a Time Changer

You are a Time Changer

Read pages 107 – 140 of “The Kingdom In Our Midst”and answer the Group Discussion Questions in Session 5.

Contemplation: Think about a project, service or event that you’ve wanted to do but have not taken the first step to start the process.

Experiential: Make intentional efforts to increase your faith by relying more on the Lord rather than your own strength and will.

Listen to Parts 1 and 2, 3 and 4

Part 1:

Part 1

Part 2:

Part 2

Part 3:

Part 3

Part 4:

Part 4

Merlin GonzalesSession 4: Signs of the Kingdom
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Session 2: The Possibility of Kingdom Living

Session Two

Session Two

It was a blessing to worship the Lord with Lirios de los Valle (Lillies of the Valley). Bilingual worship was powerful! As a part of experiential study, there will be different worship teams coming throughout the entire class. In heaven, there’s no division between Americans and Latinos or Evangelicals and Pentecostals.

Bilingual worship

Bilingual worship

Group discussion is an important part of learning

Group discussion is an important part of learning

Our consciousness and our awareness of the promises of God affect our lives and our approach towards others, the next generations and beyond. At the group discussion, we shared our thoughts about our understanding of Genesis 28:10-22. We also learned about the definition of a kingdom and some of the characters of God as we study how we live out the Kingdom in our everyday lives.

In Session 3, we will discuss about the Kingdom worldview. We will look at how Jesus operated His life while He was here on earth and how we can be supernaturally natural through working with the Holy spirit within us.

At the end of each class, we pray for each other and speak blessings over our group.

At the end of each class, we pray for each other and speak blessings over our group.

Genesis 28:16, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.

Assignment for Session 3

Kingdom Worldview

Kingdom Worldview

Read pages 22-55 of “The Kingdom In Our Midst” and answer the Group Discussion questions in Session 3. Read Act Chapters 1 and 2.

Contemplation: Meditate on the topics about the Kingdom of God in the Bible

Experiential: Make a conscious effort to increase your awareness of the Lord’s presence in your life. What is He doing in your family, neighborhood and work places?

Listen to Parts 1 and 2

Part 1:

Part 1

Part 2:

Part 2

God bless you!

Merlin

Merlin

Merlin GonzalesSession 2: The Possibility of Kingdom Living
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The Interpretation of my dream

This exercise reminds us that God speaks to us in dreams. If you read my dream from my last posting, you would notice the details and the vividness of events. I would like to encourage you to keep a dream journal next to you so you can capture God’s messages more accurately. Don’t wait for several hours to write them, otherwise, you may forget some important details.

Most of the dreams are personal. The dream I had (posted previously) is personal but it also include some messages about the ministry that I founded. This is very important for me because God had shown me some of the events that will transpire (many of the events already transpired as I was writing this blog).

I am sharing some of the interpretation of my dream but since most of it is about my personal life and ministry, I deleted most of the interpretations. However, I left some of it so you can see that God’s instructions can be very detailed and we need to pay attention to what He’s saying.

It is my prayer that this dream and it’s interpretation would inspire you to ask the Lord for answers. He speaks to us in many ways and one of them is through our dream.

God bless you, Merlin

 

Merlin’s Dream – The 3 Images – August 31, 2015

Dream Date 8-31-15

Eight is the number of man’s ability to transcend limits of physical existence; resurrection power, to make fat; the teacher; new birth or beginning; abounding in strength; circumcision Ps. 119.

Thirty one is the number of divine perfection; offspring the name of God; deity.

Fifteen means energy of divine grace; resurrection in the glory; deity; rest; mercy delivered from death; the bride of Christ; reprieve and pardon.

 

People in Dream:

Merlin – self

3 enemy soldiers – represents attacks from satan (the enemy); things coming against you

Patel – a man of India decent – represents Merlin

refugees – children, parents, grandparents – no relation – represents those in your life looking for your guidance and protection

African American lady – teacher – represents Holy Spirit

Randy Clark – a Christian Apostolic Leader – represents the Lord who gives wisdom and is our shield

 

Before the Dream and Symbolism

This morning, I woke up at 2 am and couldn’t go back to sleep because I had an allergy attack.

Two is the number that means separation; division; contrast; split; war; testimony from a witness and support; blessing; judgment; ruin multiplication of death; revelation; harmony, incarnation; the Living Word.

By 3:30am, I was still awake sneezing and blowing my nose. Then, I asked God if He has a message for me since I am staying awake. I propped up my head with another pillow. I finally fell asleep – maybe around 4am. Then I dreamt.

4:00 is the time that spiritual doors open to bring revelation knowledge to dreamers. Morning is considered to be from 3:00 to 6:00 am. These dreams are from a divine or godly origin and bring the incense of heaven. We are able to gain inspiration from divine revelation outside of the constraints of earthly time.

The Holy Spirit can reveal things from the realms of eternity past, present or future. This is the best time to present yourself before the Lord to hear revelatory instruction, words of wisdom and gain redemption.

Jesus made a practice of awakening while it was still dark. The revelation God brings to our spirit will enhance our total life. The Holy Spirit shows us how to achieve and exceed our greatest potential. The Spirit of Truth guides our daily decisions and develops strategies to defeat every enemy and destructive force.

 

The Dream and Symbolism

I found myself in a war zone. There was all kinds of noise and commotion. There was 3 enemy soldiers who were coming at me. I had a rifle in my hands; I aimed and pulled the trigger. BANG, the enemy went down. However, 2 more were coming at me but I didn’t know how to cock the rifle. The enemies were coming fast so I used the bayonet and killed both of them.

A war zone is where we receive wisdom, strategy, instructions for planning battles and warfare through prayer and heavenly communication.

The enemy always tries to make a lot of noise to bring confusion.

There are three specific things you are fighting:

One you are able to kill off at a great distance because you know how to shoot an assault rifle. A rifle often represents a goal you have set your sites on; hitting the mark; focusing on reaching a high distant aspiration; to sort through a lot of information or thought processes.

But you need to become more familiar with the weapons of your warfare as you were not able to reload to take out the other two enemies. This allowed them to move into your territory at a close proximity instead of keeping them at a safe distance.

Hand to hand combat places you at risk even though you took them out with the bayonet. A bayonet is a short sword on the end of a gun that represents a frontal attack with stabbing, jabbing words that cut and wound while one is trying to defend one’s beliefs.

 

Soon, I ran away from that place to hide from the enemies. I saw buildings abandoned, streets were ravaged by bombs and total chaos all around. I found an abandoned building and tried to hide behind a wall while several people were passing by. There were a few other people hiding with me; they said that the people passing by are not enemies.

The enemy’s job description is to kill, steal and destroy. You notice the destruction of a chaotic city that has taken place due to the ravages of war and bombs. You go into hiding in an abandoned building behind a wall.

People are passing by which can indicate you feel hidden or that advancement or opportunities are passing you by because you are walled in.

There are other people with you who are in the same situation and looking for community or escape from the enemy.

Judges 9:51-52 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.

Buildings represent oneself or the body; a church; a corporation; attributes of personality and functions. Positive progress, awareness, and understanding is being made if one is on upper levels.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Psalms 143:9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.

The name Patel is found primarily in people of India descent. It is derived from the word Patidar, “Pat” which refers to a piece of royal land. “Patel or Patil” refers to one who was tasked with taking care of or farming that piece of royal land.

 

The refugees were children, parents and grandparents.

Refugees in dreams represent a need to rest in God; place other’s needs before your own, being generous and benevolent is of utmost importance because you will reap what you sow. We are told to bless the foreigner. Refugees can also indicate one is trying to escape instead of confronting issues especially if basements are involved in the dream. The person may be feeling socially rejected, emotionally isolated or that they do not belong. (Amos 9)

Children: the future or next generation; a person between birth and puberty, juvenile, offspring, increase, prosperity, joy, spiritual inheritance or fruit, blessings, childlike or immature, a son or daughter, a descendant, someone or something for which you are responsible, spiritual inheritance.

Parents and Grandparents speak of multiple generations of families.

They were all sleeping in beds made of plywood, around 7 of them.

The number seven means completeness; wholeness; fullness; spiritual perfection and development; purification; consecration; weapons of self defense; the number of days of creation; forgive 70 x 7 seals and trumpets; the priest trumpeted at the walls of Jericho for seven days.

The beds represent of place of rest or intimacy in close quarters.

There being made of plywood can speak of a need to be flexible or pliable in a difficult situation. Build something new to honor the Lord from your spiritual inheritance of leadership and wisdom. God is your high tower and support for the new structure. Plywood is a standardized structur­al member used to build and construct facilities.

Each bed is full of people lying in opposite directions to allow them to fit in the bed.

People are trying their best to ‘fit in,’ even if it means they have to lie or do something that is uncomfortable or opposite to the norm.

 

Later, I met an African American lady, she’s the refugees’ teacher.

In dreams women often represent the Holy Spirit or the Church who is sent to comfort and teach.

She comes on a regular basis to teach them for about an hour, then she goes back to her place.

This movement can represent the move of the Spirit.

As I was talking with Mr. Patel, the Lord showed me 3 images. I asked the Lord what they represent. Towards the end of my dream, the answer was revealed.

Three is the number of the Holy Spirit; perfect witness & testimony; union; approval; completeness; fullness; kindness; entirety and Divine perfection. Spirit life, resurrection and the Godhead’s mighty acts. Jesus ministered for three years. The time dimensions of past, present and future.

 

Then, I saw Randy Clark was one of the leaders (a well-know apostolic Christian leader)

The name Randy means guarded shield.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

The name Clark means enlightened spirit of a scholar.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

I followed him and he showed me a large generator.

A generator is a machine that coverts mechanical energy into electrical energy to generate vapor or gas. Vapors often speak of the Holy Spirit who is source that generates all power.

There was a problem in it but he quickly fixed it. He commented that it seems like you have to do the mechanical things more than being a spiritual leader. It made me think – why did he say that?

Most people function in the natural or carnal realm rather than moving by the Holy Spirit and power. Randy is known for his healing ministry that fixes broken people and puts them back together again so they can be powerful once more.

 

We walked back towards the refugees’ building that seemed concealed.

God is our hiding place those who run into Him are safe and concealed from the enemies view.

It is inside a compound with a large gate in the front.

Gate: entrance; threshold; passage from one chapter of life to another; increased levels of maturity, power and authority; entering destiny; something new and different; holds within; hindrance; Hell. Gateway to Heaven; portal Ps 24:7, 122:2, 100:4, 107:16; oppor­tunity; cities; kingdoms; promotion; life; salvation; death. Gen 19:1; Heb 13:12; Mt 16:18.

 

Small Vehicle: represents a personal ministry or church; light and easy yoke; cramped and in need of expanding ministry.

From the look of it, I think the hard soil to the side of the gate was wide enough only for a motorcycle.

Motorcycle: an ability to go off road, escape the reg­ular paths of life to experience adventure, freedom and to explore the unknown. Youthful drive, motiva­tion and ambition, an ability to quickly out maneuver those around, physical energy, restlessness, daring, adventurous, demonstrates an ability to stay in con­trol, fast acceleration propelling you past others; lon­er; personal, quick moving ministry; rebellion; pride. 1 Kings 12:18; 2 Kings 2:11–12, 10:16; Ps 104:3; Acts 8:28–38; 17:28a; 1 Thes 2:18. (Harleys, Hogs, Choppers, etc. and sport bikes) a great ability to overcome obstacles and physical skill to go off road to out of the way places; or maneuver through traffic on highways and byways; to feel the Holy Spirit wind and follow His leading.)

Mr. Patel being seated upon a Chair represents a comfortable place of rest; enables a person to communicate from a relaxed position; joining in or fellowshipping with; an invitation to lead, as in chair­ing a meeting; a position of authority; seat of office, favor or position. Ps 107:32; 2 Sam 23:8.

 

I was still half awake in my bed trying to wake up. I asked the Lord what the 3 images represent. Quickly, I got the answer – CHURCH, SCHOOL and MONEY. We need to have those during calamities. As I was starting to type this dream, I wondered why food and water were not listed. My answer was delivered to me right away – the Lord will provide.

Church: community of Christian believers; the eccle­sia; an assembly; Body of Christ; Bride; five–fold ministry; called to serve; moral belief system; fellowship; relationship with God. Mt 16:18; Gal 1:13; Ep 1:22; 5:27. Church building: can indicate you are acting in a religious structured or legalistic manner instead of moving through life full of love acting as the living temple of God. Jesus said he would build His church on revelation. Mt 16:18.

School: preparing for a test; school of the Holy Spirit; place of promotion from lessons learned; student or teacher of the Word. Spiritual teaching and ministry training; discipleship; instruction in a skill or business; college, institution or university; higher learning; planned curriculum for years; educational; “the school of hard knocks;” “of the old school;” “tell tales out of school;” “old school tie;” “well–schooled;” aquatic animals (especially fish) swimming togeth­er. You are in the need of knowledge and wisdom; place of learning and acquiring skills and talents to succeed in life; anxiety from feeling insignificant or inadequate. It is time to overcome childhood insecu­rities or performance challenges; walking out the les­son of life or acquiring anointings and learning how to operate spiritual gifts and abilities; skipping class: means you are not open or receptive to the philosophy that is being taught; learn from past mistakes and failures. Mt 11:29; Acts 19:9.

Money: favor being given if money increases or favor lost if money is taken; inheritance; prosperity; bless­ings; saving; investment; power; fear of loss or theft; greed. Power; prestige; wealth; medium of exchange; measures value; property and assets; precise, “on the money”; finding money: small troubles will result in happiness and change; to steal: danger of lack and deceit; roll of dollars

 

INTERPRETATION

Merlin your dream is a call to prayer and intercession. Ask God for wisdom and His end time ministry strategy. You are called as a leader in this difficult time to bring comfort to those who feel lost or abandoned due to the chaos and confusion that is shaking the world right now. God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in Glory.

The Lord is reminding you to know your spiritual weapons and put on the full armor of God so that you can be prepared for all circumstances whenever the enemy comes against you.

The 3 Images represent a focus on the body of Christ, discipleship and the Lord’s Provision through relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

Merlin GonzalesThe Interpretation of my dream
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The 3 images

August 31, 2015

This morning, I woke up at 2am and could’t go back to sleep because I had an allergy attack. By 3:30am, I was still awake sneezing and blowing my nose. Then, I asked God if He has a message for me since I am staying awake.

I propped up my head with another pillow. I finally fell asleep – maybe around 4am. Then I dreamt.
My dream:
I found myself in a war zone. There were all kinds of noise and commotion. There were 3 enemy soldiers who were coming at me. I had a rifle in my hands; I aimed and pulled the trigger.

I fired at the enemy

I fired at the enemy

“Bang”, the enemy went down. However, 2 more were coming at me but I didn’t know how to cock the rifle. The enemies were coming fast so I used the bayonet and killed both of them with it.

Soon, I ran away from that place to hide from the enemies. I saw buildings abandoned, streets were ravaged by bombs and total chaos all around. I found an abandoned building and tried to hide behind a wall while several people were passing by. There were a few other people hiding with me; they said that the people passing by are not enemies.
Next, I found myself in their camp. I saw an abandoned building where they house refugees – about 30 of them in the basement. I got to know some of the top leaders of the group. A man name Patel allowed me to see inside the building.
The refugees were children, parents and grandparents. They were all sleeping in beds made of ply wood, around 7 of them. Each bed is full of people lying in opposite directions to allow them to fit in the bed.
Later, I met an African American lady, she’s the refugees’ teacher. She comes on a regular basis to teach them for about an hour, then she goes back to her place. I later found out that she lives close by the building. Her place was the only one standing in an apartment-like building. Through the window, I saw that her place has electricity, a desk where she studies and a couch in the living room. However, the rest of the building was dilapidated.
As I was talking with Mr. Patel, the Lord showed me 3 images. I asked the Lord
what they represent. Towards the end of my dream, the answer was revealed.
Then, I saw Randy Clark was one of the leaders (Randy is a well-know apostolic Christian leader who has played a major role in bringing the Toronto blessings in the mid 1990’s when the Holy Spirit came in power upon a congregation calling out to the Lord.) I followed him and he showed me a large generator. There was some problem in it but he quickly fixed it. He commented that it seems like you have to do the mechanical things more than being a spiritual leader.  It made me think – why did he say that?
We walked back towards the refugees’ building that seemed concealed. It is inside a compound with a large gate in the front. As you enter the gate, the entrance seemed like a quick sand. It was like a big mud hole and only small vehicles can go around it. From the look of it, I think the hard soil to the side of the gate is wide enough only for a motorcycle.
As we enter the building, we had to slide ourselves through a square hole on the side of the building since the door is impassable. I thought – how can the teacher go through that small opening? I thought that she was not fit and small enough to fit through it, but I was wrong.
I noticed that the enemies were marching on the side of the building but they didn’t seem to notice the building. An answer came to me – when the Glory of God is over you, the enemies cannot touch you.
This time, the refugees were awake. Mr. Patel instructed the leaders to line up the refugees in rows across the yard out side the building within the compound for the teaching of the day. It was a sunny day. He sat on a chair, grabbed a fresh donut in a box and he took a big bite. He said to have the refugees do the same. I was about to ask him “Why”, but he saw that I was going to ask it so he said that they should experience the enjoyment of eating a donut like the people in France during peacetime.
I saw that the leaders were so busy most of the time in the compound and I asked myself why they don’t raise new leaders to help them in running these band of people. I was about to offer my assistance to the leaders, but then I woke up.
I was still half awake in my bed trying to wake up. I asked the Lord what the 3 images represent. Quickly, I got the answer – CHURCH, SCHOOL and MONEY. We need to have those during calamities. As I was starting to type this dream, I wondered why food and water were not listed. My answer was delivered to me right away – the Lord will provide. Then I was reminded of the Israelites when they crossed the desert – although they had bread and livestock when they left Egypt, those were not enough to last them all through the 40 years of wandering. It was through the powerful hand of God that they received manna and water in the desert.
Next, I will share with you what we think is the interpretation of the dream.
God bless you,
Merlin
Merlin GonzalesThe 3 images
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