This message is from Lillis Boyer with my insight and applicable verses that follow...
I saw a road, and this road came to an abrupt fork. The body of Christ was at a crossroads. God was presenting his body with a choice of 'paths'. It was time to choose.
My 'sight' was fixed on a glorious sight on the road that forked to the right. There were throngs of people moving, dancing together in beautiful synchronized movements. I could not see their faces. They were in complete unity, and flowed as a unit. They were like a combination of a dance troupe and an army. They were all carrying crosses above them. They were holding them, and dancing WITH the crosses.
These crosses were multi-faceted. One side of the cross was covered with blood. The other side of the cross was a flame of fire. These dancers would wave the cross from side to side, flipping it over and over, one minute revealing the crimson blood side, the next revealing the flaming fire. Over and over they would do this, rejoicing as they proudly displayed both the fire and the blood. The more they proudly waved, twirled and danced with their crosses, and proudly held them up for the world to see, the brighter the flame would become. In fact, it would take on an appearance of a flaming shield. The fire, blood, and shield seemed to merge, and the dancers were completely surrounded and protected from assaults of the enemy. Their movements were graceful and soft, yet strong and confident.
To the left of the fork, I saw other members of the body of Christ on a different path. They thought they had chosen the right path, as it looked 'safe', and even appeared golden with glory. Yet the appearance of this path was deceiving. There were assaults by the enemy at every turn. The people on this path truly wanted to experience the glory, yet they were not carrying the crosses like the throngs of dancing warriors on the opposite side. The Holy Spirit told me that the people who had taken the left path, the ones without crosses, were the Christians who were self-seeking, and though they desired to see signs, wonders, and the glory of God, they could not truly experience His glory without laying down their lives, and their own identities.
Dissension, discouragement, disease and disillusionment were rampant among these believers. Some of them who had not journeyed very far down this 'cross-less' path suddenly realized they were unprepared for battle. They realized they were naked, and not carrying His cross! I saw them glance over and see the true glory their cross-carrying brethren on the other side were experiencing, and they quickly turned back and headed down the correct path, took up their crosses joined in with the dancing army. However, there was only a window of opportunity for the cross-less brethren to switch over and join the dancing army, for the warfare increased on the cross-less path, the further one journeyed on it, and many of the cross-less brethren were being taken out by enemy forces.
The believers on the left, cross-less path had chosen that path out of pride and self-preservation. This self-preservation took many forms; some were trying to preserve their own lives, their self-images, their ministries. Even some were allowing their insecurities to rule, and in effect, were, out of fear, trying to preserve their own life, and not laying down their fears out of love for Him, and allowing Him to TRULY rule and reign through them.
Kristi's Insight...
God is bringing members of the Body of Christ to a crucial crossroads with a choice of 'paths'...the fork in the road is whom shall they serve?...Jesus or Self? It is high time to wholeheartedly serve...Jesus Christ of Nazareth...Lord of lords and King of kings!
On the right of the fork, the dancing warriors carrying crosses covered in blood on one side and a flame of fire on the other side represent wholly sold out Christians! They have fanned their love for Jesus into a holy passion. Their strong, confident movements show they are filled with deep faith and Holy Spirit boldness that make them unashamed to suffer and testify for Christ to bring Him glory! Their grace symbolizes how closely they know their Lord! Their gentleness represents their reverent humility in recognition of Jesus as their All in all! They are utterly submitted and surrendered to Him!
On the left of the fork, the other members of the Body of Christ are those who have chosen the path of least resistance, being deceived by a false sense of materialistic security...by the golden glory of a road that appeared 'safe'...a decision in their control and of the flesh, hence opening themselves up to ensuing emotional, physical, relational, and financial assaults by the enemy at every turn. Though these people truly wanted to experience the glory of God, their not carrying crosses signified they were not willing to suffer persecution for, nor glory in their Suffering Saviour on the Cross of Calvary. Barriers of Self such as pride, self-preservation, and superficial spirituality have hindered them from allowing Jesus to TRULY be their Lord. They wanted to gain glory and make a name for themselves. Their fears have also further estranged them from experiencing their Lord's transcending love and joyous liberty!
Getting to know Jesus more personally is the answer to choosing and staying on the right fork in the road! To heartily know Christ, is to deeply love Christ and to deeply love Christ is to wholly trust Christ! Loving reverence for our Lord Most High, who reigns far above all principalities and powers, will utterly vanquish any fear!
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Luke 9:23-25 If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever shall save His life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake, will the same find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
John 7:16-18 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
Galatians 6:12-15 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
Ephesians 1:17 ...keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Philippians 3:7-14 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:6-14 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
1 Peter 3:13-17 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.