A Ring of Fire

Some time ago, a woman came up to my wife Peggy and said that she had seen (in a vision from the Lord) something that Peg was going to experience in the future.  So, being polite and attentive, she listened to what this person had to say.

Let me say first of all, she was not a stranger.  We know her.  We worship together as part of the same body of believers.  She loves God and knows how the Lord works through the Holy Spirit.  She once shared what she saw (in a vision) about our grandson she doesn't really know ... and it was right on target.

I really don't know if these pictures she sees are visions or just dreams.  The Scripture speaks of young men seeing visions and old men dreaming dreams, so I assume it is the same with women.  But really, who can understand women?  I'm just kidding ladies.

Now, before I go into detail about what was shared with my wife, let me say this ... "warning" ... whenever someone, anyone, those you know and especially those you don't know, come to you with ("I have a Word for you from the Lord") be wary and proceed with caution.

1st John 4:1 ... "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

The words Peg received from this friend and like believer in Jesus went something like this ...

"I saw you standing in a ring of fire like a round burner on a gas cooking range.  It was much larger in diameter though, because you were not standing in the fire, you were not burning, but the fire was flaming in a circle all around you." 

Then she went on and said ... "Do not be afraid, do not worry, everything is going to be alright.  You will come out of this just like pure gold." 

Whether or not these are the exact words ... they are the message of the picture she saw in her spirit and gave to Peg.

Okay, now what are we to do with this information?  It didn't sound very good to us.  It's not exactly uplifting.  In fact it could create fear, not hope and peace.  But if it was from the Lord ... then there would be nothing to worry about.  So we just filed it away on our spiritual shelf where we store the things we don't understand or know how to use.

Time passes ... about two weeks later, we hear from one of our closest friends that she has been diagnosed with cancer.  It takes Peg's breath away.  Fear and dread set in.  "Dear Lord, no ... this isn't happening to her.  She is a child of God.  She is a bright light for you in a darkened world.  She is a teacher of the Word, a prayer warrior" ... but bad things still happen to good people.

So you are a Christian, a believer in Jesus.  Does that mean you will never get sick or have a disease attack your body.  I don't think so.  That's why Jesus was scourged and beaten bloody with that cruel Roman whip for our healing.    

In Matthew 8:17, speaking of Jesus it says ... "He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah; He took our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases," referring to Isaiah 53:4-5 which adds ... "and with his stripes we are healed."  

Believers often need His healing power. 

King David said in Psalms 34:19 ... "Many are the afflictions of the righteous ..." which is very true; even so, we are believing that the last part of this scripture will also come to pass ... "but the Lord delivereth her out of them all."

Solomon, David's son said in Ecclesiastes 9:2 ... "All things come alike to all ..." meaning no one is immune from the evils of nature.  Misfortune can fall on anyone at anytime.  What is that old saying ... "But for the grace of God, there go I."

At first I am thinking, evidently Peg is going to have her faith tested as she stands with our dear friend.  It's Peg's faith that goes through the fire, not Peg herself, since in the vision she isn't standing in the fire itself.  Her faith may be tried by fire to see if it is real faith or just hope as she goes to prayer on behalf of our dear and close friend.

But during the next week the Lord brings to my attention the story in 2nd Kings 6:14-17 of Elisha and his servant surrounded by the Syrian army. 

The Syrians have come to capture Elisha and have surrounded the city of Dothan at night where Elisha and his servant are dwelling.  The next morning, the servant looks out and sees the Syrian army of chariots and horses surrounding their city.  So he asks Elisha, "What do we do now?"  Elisha answers him ... "Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."  So Elisha prays that God will open his servants eyes so he can see spiritually ... and when he looks again ... "the whole mountain around the city was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha."

God's chariots of fire were between them and the enemy.  God's angels formed ... "a ring of fire" ... around Elisha and his servant.

Why did God remind me of this story?  Could it be, when all we can see is the problem, like the disease of cancer or anything else that causes fear to rise up in our hearts, we need to take a second look and see the forces that God has placed all around us.

The ring of fire that was surrounding Peg was not something to fear, but rather was revealing the truth ... a ring of fire ... like Elisha saw, that God has placed spiritually around us for protection. 

This then raises a question ... how can bad things get through this hedge of protection? 

I don't know. 

Even so ... everything is going to be alright.  But make no mistake about this ... the battle is real.

Will it take more effort on God's part, to dry up this cancer than it takes to dry up a cold?

In Jeremiah 32:27, God is speaking and says ... "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?"

The answer to both questions is ... no.



Comments welcome.