* John the Baptist Foreshadowing an End Time Revival * (Dream)

Dream: 11-24-09 In this dream I found myself in ancient Jerusalem. A narrator was speaking explaining what I was seeing. Jesus had just died and even some of His disciples had not heard what happened to Him. The sky was still dark from when it darkened after his death. People were gathering in confusion as they murmered about the things that had happened in the past couple days. Then the narrator said, "One of the disciples went to the tomb of John the baptist and raised him from the dead." The people were already drifting toward his tomb. It was a typical biblical style tomb with a large stone rolled in front. I stepped forward to fulfill what the narrator had spoken. I directed the peoples gaze to the entrance of the John's tomb which now had the stone rolled away. In a loud voice I called out, "John, come!" John stepped out of the tomb and seemed to stumble each time he put his foot down, as you might expect a recently resurrected person to do. As he came out the people began to loose it. Some ran away, some seemed to be running in circles, some gasped in shock, and I believe some were sincerely encouraged by this encounter; I could feel them treasuring what they saw in their hearts. I knew that encouragement was the real reason for this miracle being displayed. This was just a sign to show that death would not hold our Lord down, but He who has the power to resurrect will be resurrected himself. John then told the story of his execution. As John described his execution, I was shown what he spoke of. I saw him in what must have been Herod's palace. There was a pit inside it where he would execute people. John was knealed over the pit so his head would fall into it. The sword came down and off his head fell. However, what he described was unexpected and remarkable. "When my head was cut, I fell into the pit, but the Holy Spirit caught me and comforted me with His presence." I saw as his head fell into the pit, yet at the same time I could see the invisible Holy Spirit waiting at the bottom. I saw as John's head fell, his spirit was loosed from his body and was caught by the Holy Spirit as He embraced him and loved on him. It was like a father holding and loving his own child. John continued, "At first I was going to turn around and tell the executioner, 'is that all the better you can do? These executioner's are supposed to be the best in the land and they can't even kill a man right!'" What John didn't initially realize was he was actually alive because of Christ, even though he was dead. There was the sense that even death is nothing to fear for us who believe. Again, I was back in ancient Jerusalem, looking at John standing in front of me. I now understood the reason for this miracle. This was to show that not only would Christ be resurrected, but so would we who believe and follow Him. No matter what we have to face on this earth, we are guaranteed a life of eternal comfort in the presence of God once we die. John, having finished his mission for being raised from the dead, turned around and ambled back to the tomb. As he walked, my heart welled up and I called out, "So long old friend!" John turned around one last time and looked at me; he smiled in recognition, "So long friend!" This blew me away. I was surprised that he knew me, I was a follower of Christ 2000 years after his time, yet he seemed to be aware of me; he knew me on a personal level. I could tell that he genuinely liked me. The feeling was that we shared something elementally the same. I understood that because we both deeply loved God, that love for God made us friends of the deepest nature. It wasn't because of anything special that I did to get his attention, just a shared common value that was so intrinsic, that it went as far as making us friends as affectionate as brothers. John then returned to his tomb and jumped onto a high bed set inside. He returned to sleep and earthly death. Suddenly, it felt that I was alone in the landscape. The reality of the resurrection was hitting me like never before. I knew the reality of the resurrection is what made the apostles so passionate that they would daily risk their lives to share this, "Good News" and it was the driving reason for everything they did. I began to pray desperately in the dream, "God make me like Peter, make me like Paul, make me like John the Baptist!" I knew that each of these men were consumed with the message of the resurrection and the kingdom of God. I knew that they were fiery preachers, compelling the lost to come to the Lord. There was also a sense that each of them had a constant awareness of the looming second coming of the Lord. This also added a measure of desperation to their message and a willingness to risk all when sharing it. When I woke up, the last prayer to be like Peter, Paul, and John the Baptist was resonating in my heart. As I lay in bed, my body shook as I cried and asked God to make me a bold witness like Peter, Paul, and John. My prayers soon shifted as I became aware of fears in me that keep me from speaking more boldly about Jesus. I could feel all sorts of fears which I so often face when considering sharing my faith. I often opt out for a less confrontive, indirect route to sharing my faith. For instance, I feel that others will not want me to live the selfless life of a preacher or discipler, that I will have to fight other's feeling of self-comfort to be a thorough messenger. I fear people rejecting me and my message. I fear being inaccurate and not saying the right thing. Probably more than anything, I fear giving up my own comfort. I also fear failure. I feel a strong awareness that I will not be able to fulfill my call if I don't get free of these fears.

Thoughts:

Initially I was concerend with the scriptural accuracy of this dream. I didn't know what had happened to John's body when he died. I assumed Herod did something dishonoring to it and would not have put it in a tomb. About a week after having this experience I told a close friend of mine what happened as well as my misgivings about it. Sure enough, earlier that very day he was reading an article citing historically that John's body was taken and buried in a tomb. Having been confirmed in this way, I knew this dream was truly from God. Later I discovered that this was even stated in the Bible in two places (Matthew 14:12, Mark 6:29). There were many similarities with the scriptural discription of the death of Christ and what happened in Jerasalem as well such as the sky darkening and great saints of the past coming out of their tomb.

As I recounted this dream to my wife Aysha, I said, "I believe a revival is just around the corner. Any year now." I tried to guess a year, but felt the Holy Spirit restrain me. We will know when it is time to know. However, I felt the Holy Spirit direct me to understand one inherant meaning from the dream, which he confirmed with a wave of His presence. The fact that it was John the Baptist being raised from the dead was a sign. His mission and ministry is going to be raised up again in these coming days. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:17 Zacharias, John's father spoke of him while full of the Holy Spirit. "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;" Luke 1:76 Jesus illuminates the role of this mission as well. "This is the one about whom it is written, BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU. . .And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come." Matthew 11:10, 14 However, most fascinating and pertaining to our current time is what Jesus tells the disciples after being transfigured. They asked Him, ". . .Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Matthew 17:10 Jesus answers with a double answer referring to two time periods. First He speaks of the future which has yet to be fulfilled, but is actually just about to be. "And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things;" Matthew 17:11 I believe this dream was given to me because God is about to send the spirit of Elijah to restore all things, just like he prophesied would happen during His days on the earth. He then answers the past coming of Elijah. "but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist." Matthew 17:12-13 Here, this gives scriptural context to this dream. There is a correlating connection with John the Baptist being killed and Christ being killed in Mark 9 and Matthew 17. I believe many are going to be raised up in the spirit and power of Elijah these coming days who will likely die a martyr's death, but will ultimatedly prepare the way for the Lord's second coming. I believe this is the symbolic message of this dream. The end times are here and we are almost in their fulfillment. "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6 Peter, James, and John heard that Elijah would come before the Lord from the scribes all their lives. Yet here, after seeing His glory they knew the Lord had already come. They did not understand then that there were two comings of the Lord or Elijah. As we all know the Lord is coming again, so also is Elijah.

It will be a whole generation like John the baptist who will arise to prepare the way of the Lord. That was the significance of John recognizing me and calling me his friend. I represent a generation that will rise in this power in our time who will have that same spirit of Elijah on them, just like Jesus prophesied so long ago. I believe for those called to this life the formative years of John will often mirror their own. Fasting, prayer, and hiddeness (the desert) for much of their lives, until they are released to proclaim Isaiah 40. Their message will be the awesome ressurrection of Christ and His emminent return. They will declare that the bridegroom is coming and they will all be burning and shining torches. Masses of people will come out to them because of the power of the annointing from the Holy Spirit will be on them. They will not care about numbers. They like John will say, "...but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears Him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine is made full. He must increase and I must decrease." John 3:29-30

They will live to make the bridegroom great and will not care for applause or large numbers of people, they will live for the approval of Christ.

In Christ, David

PS: I shared this dream with my uncle who has a gift with understanding dreams and he without hearing my thoughts on it came to some very similar conclusions.

I see three important themes in your John the Baptist dream. 1. The spirit of Elijah coming upon the church in the last days. 2. Encouragement to sustain us through persecution and martyrdom. 3. The Resurrection of the Dead - a doctrine we are not yet fully walking in as the church. When the experience, power and revelation of this teaching comes to the church, then I believe we will see the church walking in the power of God as never before. This is one of the seven basic teachings of Christ as listed in Hebrews 6:1-2. The first five have been restored to the church since the reformation; 1. Repentance from dead works - Martin Luther & justification by faith 2. Faith toward God - holiness movement (puritists) & sanctification 3. Baptisms - The Baptist & immersion in water and Pentecost & Holy Spirit baptism 4. Laying on of Hands - Latter rain/Charasmatic movement & gifts of the Spirit These we haven't yet fully experienced or had revealed; 5. Resurrection of the dead - the church moving in power 6. Eternal Judgment - (we will enter into this before eternity) Psalm 149:7-9 7. Perfection - maturity, each saint in the full measure of the stature of Christ Jesus Since we have seen the first four elementary teaching of Christ restored to the church, I believe we will see them all restored before the coming of the Lord (Acts 3:21).

* God's Destiny for America * (Dream)

The day before I had this dream I was asking the Lord to give me a "groaning of prayer for others." I was answered powerfully that night and shown a longing of God's heart for this nation.

All too often I find that Christians are uncertain of their privilege to release righteousness in the human institution of government. This seems to be a particularly strong area of uncertainty for Christians in our nation where we have the slogan, 'separation of church and state.' It seems that some Christians believe this statement more than they believe the Bible. I believe this dream is the word of the Lord regarding God's heart for America, as well as His heart for every Christian's role regarding human government.

June - 11 - 2009
Yesterday on my drive back from the dentist, I asked the Lord to give me the same groaning of prayer for others that I have for myself. I found a principle from Romans 8:

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Rom. 8:26

I didn't feel a response when I prayed so I just left it in His hands to accomplish it if He wanted to. I was very tired that night, but I couldn't fall asleep. I began to pray since I couldn't do anything else. A little while later I found myself praying for the nation in my sleep. I had a dream which greatly troubled my spirit for the fate of this country.

Dream:

I was in a poorly lit hallway which looked like a hallway in the Oregon capitol, however it felt to be a building representing all of the government here in America. There was a large crowd of people in the hallway who I began to speak to,

"If the founding fathers of this nation saw the way it has become today (specifically the government), they would be ashamed. They would say, 'Beelzebub is running this nation!' But that's not what this nation was founded on, and that is not what we want! We want to return to the original principles this nation started with!"

It all felt very inspiring. I could see everyone drawing in, their interest was perked and they were pressing in, longing for what I was saying. I continued,

"This nation was founded on Christ and was set up to be a nation for the spreading of the Gospel. I believe there is a whole lot more than two people in this nation who want to see it change!"

Now when I proclaimed that this nation was founded on Christ, people began to shrink back. They seemed to be looking around awkwardly not wanting a nation built on Christ. Almost everyone left & returned to the business of the capitol. They were attending committee hearings and talking to legislators. I knew they were trying to change laws based on their own wants, not God's desires. I responded to this unexpected decline in support with a dismayed, "Oh. . ." I looked out and there was just a handful of people left. ". . . I guess there is only two." This was the only thing I could think to say. However, all of the few people seemed very interested in what I was saying. There faces seemed to glow from a deep inner light. I changed my messaged a little,

"You are the light and the salt. You must not give up. Keep speaking and doing what you are doing!"

It felt like a desperate charge to stay at it, specifically to pursue changing the government through natural methods like lobbying, petitions and introducing righteous laws. So this small squad of freedom fighters went back into the committee rooms to speak up in spite of all the other voices.

Thoughts:

When I woke up, I was still praying for the nation. I found myself weeping for the sake of this nation's destiny and for the people, because their hearts have chosen a way that is against God. A soberness came over me that if things did not change, judgment against America would come. I realized that the barrier of mercy holding back judgment is not as big as I thought. (Ezekiel 22:30)

Many people say, "things are supposed to get bad at the end of the age, so why restrain the evil? Why pray for a failing system? Why change laws that are prophesied to be evil at the end of the age?" But Jesus said that we are called to be salt and light.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Should we who are called to be the only source of flavor and illumination of the darkness, stop shining because of what Jesus said at the end of Matthew (Chapter 24) and deny what he began His teachings with in Chapters 5-7? I believe many well meaning and sincere Christians have abdicated their role as salt and light. This has led to them being trampled by men. They have allowed the evil influence of the world to trample down their witness and influence, instead of letting "the God of peace trample Satan under their feet" where he belongs! We are the light of the world. The world around us, including the government needs our light to shine into it and release the kingdom of God.

Since so many people question the Bible's stance on Christians having much to do with the world besides evangelism, I want to make a strong case for this. (Despite the stance I am taking in this entry, I believe the best way to accomplish this change in law and culture is through prayer, fasting, and evangelism. I am only addressing an error that I have encountered with many people I have met.)

Romans 13 is one of the best examples. In reference to governing authorities, Paul says they are "a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." Romans 13:4
How, if God doesn't care about the 'worldly institution' we call government, does He call it a minister of God? I have heard some say that government will be evil if the people are evil and good if they are good, thus people get what they deserve. This thinking is somewhat true, but that just reaffirms the role of Government as a 'God ordained institution.' Since there is truth in this, what could be more evil than for righteous men and women to do nothing when their 'government' is slaying the innocent and oppressing the poor (or making laws that say it is okay for the citizens to do the same)? As it says in Romans 13 it ". . . brings wrath on the one who practices evil." How can the government punish evil if it does not know what evil is? How can it know what evil is, if the light and salt of the world doesn't make it known?

To say God doesn't want to influence government would be to say that God doesn't want to influence your family, that it doesn't matter if the father of a family rules as a Godly leader, and it doesn't matter if the mother partners alongside him as a uniquely designed helper who brings order and direction to the home. After all, the "world is in the power of the evil one," why should we be alarmed when the devil snatches our children from the protective nest of our own home? Doesn't Jesus himself say this will happen to our families in Matthew 10:34-36? Why resist what Jesus said would happen? I am writing this from the perspective of human reasoning. However, family also is an institution which has been set up by God for the teaching of our children about the Lord and His ways (Genesis 18:19). In the same way, government is meant to accomplish this role, only it primarily accomplishes it through the "sword" which God gave it to bear against the "one who practices unrighteousness."

Let's go back to the example of the family. What parent in their right mind would not cry out to God if their children began to run from their childhood faith. After being taught what is right and wrong their whole lives, they began to see that the government doesn't have the same values as their parents. Let's say they begin unashamedly looking at pornography as soon as they turn 18. What if they begin having sex outside of marriage with someone they met but hardly know. They choose to abort their children which they conceived out of marriage, but never tell you about it (because they don't have to). Or what if they start drinking until they are drunk every night as soon as they turn 21. Or enter into a homosexual relationship claiming they were born that way, and if you judge them, then you are racist and they will take you to court.

What if you lived in Thailand, where the legal prostitution age is 15 years old and your child ran away to work in the well paying 'legal' business. Would your heart be broken? Would you pray for them? Would you weep when you found out? Would you be upset if the police wouldn't get your son or daughter and return them home because it's not against the law. Would you seek to change the laws through any means possible so that this type of thing would be stopped before your child destroyed their whole life!?

Most people are saying at this point, "of course we would pray for them!" If this is so, then why would people claim, it is not a Christian's role to influence the government's blessing on these activities, which it deems safe and proper at the appropriate age. Sure some of the things I listed are 'personal choices' that seem to only hurt the person who commits the sin. But is there really a sin that doesn't hurt more people than the one who sins? However, sins like abortion, are terrifying sins which murder the most innocent, weak, and helpless humans on the earth. This is a people group which has no ability to even speak in their own defense. Unless you consider the report of an ultrasound recording the child in the process of an abortion as an attempt to call for help. The 'fetus' tries to run to the other side of the womb and escape the ripping force of suction being thrust toward it and avoid the painful death that it is legally experiencing. For the sake of proof that they feel pain, click here. If you are a skeptic there is also a video of a doctor who did an abortion at 12 weeks and shows the ultrasound here (graphic).

I'm not trying to be sensational. I am serious; the unbelief of the church regarding this truth may soon lead to the downfall of America and our beloved 'freedom of religion' we now enjoy. If you study communist Russia and China where 20 million and 77 million people died through cultural cleansing and mismanagement, you will have an object lesson in religion free government. I believe this will be the fate of those who opt out of the sacred duty of bringing Godly accountability to our government.

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

So Again I say to all Christians, pray for America to have Godly leaders and laws. Vote based on the word of God and His standards of righteousness. To those God leads, get involved and make your voice heard in the legislative process. As one who spent a session working at a state legislature, I know they listen.

If you are interested in praying for then nation , here is a great resource.

* God Cleanses His People * (Dream)

October 15th, 2009


Dream:


This dream began with me declaring, "Soon, God will cleanse His People! He will completely cleanse their thoughts and actions."


When I said, "their thoughts," I knew it was everything that went with our own way of thinking, that would be cleansed. Human perspectives, evil and good. Human attempts to understand and be wise. It was our very self nature and self made wisdom.


I was then looking at myself, I was full of darkness inside. Then something like a cloud began to fill me from the bottom to the top of my being. I saw it fill me all the way to the top of my head. I knew this cloud was God filling me with Himself. I knew that as He filled me, He was replacing my thoughts and actions with His thoughts and actions. In a moment I was being absolutely renewed. This was to show me what He soon intends to do for all of His people!




My Thoughts:


This experience was a tremendous feeling. In my life, I struggle so hard to be free of my thoughts and actions and to choose God's ways. But this cleansing will be a miraculous work done by God, based on his ability, not mine. It will be a supernatural work of grace. Upon waking from this dream I was filled with hope that I will not be desperately bound to my foolish and human way of thinking forever. Here on earth, God is going to take His people and truly transform them.


It was also known that when this cleansing takes place we will finally be able to serve God and accomplish His will. Up until this point we have mostly blundered in our own strength, falling to our own perspectives and impulses. I now firmly believe a victorious church is going to arise on the earth!


Verses:


In the word of God, thoughts and actions often seem to be paired together as they were in my dream. A distinct separation is made in Isaiah between God's thoughts & actions and ours.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

Also James 4:8 makes the call for our thoughts and actions to be cleansed very clear.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8

(Other verses that show this distinction: Genesis 6:5, Isaiah 59:7, 65:2, 66:18, Micah 4:12, Matthew 15:19)


However, in the dream it was clear that God would be the one who cleanses His people. It is going to be a divine work. Perhaps a worldwide revival of some sort.


There are similar promises described in the prophets. I believe we are in the age of history when we will experience the reality of these promises being fulfilled. There is one main verse I would like to bring your attention to, which describes the heart of this.

Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.

"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.

He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. . .

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. "They will be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
Malachi 3:1-3, 16-18

I believe this dream is from God and is a promise of hope to His body, that HE will cleanse them and make them pure to serve Him. This wonderful event will happen soon and will be a relief to so many of us who have longed to be free from the body of death!


David H.

* Hard Times Coming- Be Intimate With Jesus * (Dream)

8/11/2009
In this dream there was a large gathering of Christians taking place. I was in a room with a youth group, seemed like 7-10 year olds. A friend of mine was there and encouraged me to share. He told me, "You usually have a word from God in your heart, you should share it with these people."

I was caught off guard. I didn't know I had a word to share! But he was already gone before I could tell him otherwise. Next moment, I am passionately sharing my heart.
"In the days to come, hard times will come. There's going to be trouble, and it will be dangerous!"

I then fell to the floor on my knees with my hands up, as if begging everyone in the room to listen to me. I declared with extreme sincerity in light of the hard times coming. "...and the thing that is very very very very very Very Very Very Very very very very important, is to become intimately acquainted with Jesus!"

With this, I meant a deep prayer life and a conscious knowing of His voice(knowing what it sounds like and when you've heard it). This intimate acquaintance is a very personal knowing of who the Lord is and having a personal awareness of Him in every moment. There was a sensation of Jesus being a dear friend that you recognize by having spent generous amounts of time with Him. It was understood that this intimate knowledge of Him only comes by spending time with Him in prayer.

Also, if we waited for the hard times before we sought out and grew in this intimate acquaintance, it would be too late. The depth of intimacy required to survive these hard times needs to be grown now, during times of peace. We must take action to become good friends with the Lord now. It felt that there is a window of time that we have before things get a lot harder. I also knew, if we don't make use of this window of time, we will likely loose our lives in the hard times ahead.

After saying all of this, a young girl who was startled by the pronouncement of hard times coming, wanted to know more. She Asked . . .
"What kind of trouble will we face!?"

I knew it was many things, but one answer was quickly given to me. I saw the little girl amidst large evergreens. She was in hiding to save her life. I said in response to what I saw, "the government will track you."

I had the sense that she might be safe in the woods, but the government could find her if it wanted to. It was some kind of technology which could sense people separately from animals and recognize their identity. It could also do this using some form of long range scanner.

Thoughts:

I don't have any doubt that this will happen. Often when I have dreams with a warning of bad things coming they are conditional. If the church will respond and pray God will turn back the terrible thing that was mentioned. However, this dream did not feel conditional. It seemed matter of fact and clear. There will be a day when the government will track Christians in order to kill them. This has happened repeatedly throughout history and will happen in the greatest measure during the end times (which we are in) than it ever occurred before.

So what are the preparations necessary for this terrible persecution by our own government? Should we store up water, food, and weapons to defend ourselves. Some feel this way. I'm sure there are things you could do which would bring a benefit for a season. Have a storage of supplies, learn to garden, and become more self-sustaining.

However, I will not say what you should do naturally, not in this posting. It seems to me that the one thing we are called to do first and foremost, is to get to know Jesus. That is the only course of action declared in this dream. Spend time with the Lord until you can say that you know Jesus better than you know your spouse, parents, or your brothers and sisters. That is the kind of intimacy we will need in the days to come. All other preparations will flow out from that point.

I found an article regarding this phrase: Intimate Acquaintance with Jesus, there were two paragraphs that I felt brought out the true heart of this dream. The article is based on Jesus' talk with Pilate before being crucified found in John 18:34.

"As we move from information about things to acquaintance with persons hearsay has no place. If you were to ask me what it is to love a woman and be loved by a woman, my answer might sound somewhat self-conscious and rather awkward. Still, I profoundly know, unshakably know, in my heart what it is to love and be loved by a woman. However awkwardly I might convey this to you, neither of us would be helped by consulting a textbook on gynecology. Information of any kind, however sophisticated, is never a substitute for intimate acquaintance with a person

. . . . . .The same question is put to us. "Do you say this on your own, or did others say it to you about me?" Our Lord means, "Do you have firsthand, intimate acquaintance with me, or are you merely mouthing whatever you've absorbed unknowingly from your environment?" He expects you and me to reply, "Of our own, on our own accord;" and having rendered this reply once to render it again and again as we seize him afresh and follow him forever."
Quote by: Dr. Victor Shepherd (Link to full article)

Blessings, David H.