pomegranatesandchains

In my time with the Lord yesterday, I saw a vision of gigantic bunches of ripe fruit on a tree – it was mesmerizing to behold. The tree wasn’t just holding one kind of fruit, there were multiple kinds on it and I specifically saw both figs and grapes. The bunches of fruit were enormous, they were so big in fact that they were weighing down the tree. As I came closer to the tree in the vision, I could see that the fruit was bursting with flavor, beckoning to be picked and eaten. The vision then changed where I saw these larger than normal figs and grapes, laid out on a banqueting table. There were only two chairs at this table and Jesus was already sitting in one. With a warm smile on His face, He simply motioned His hands and said to me, “Come, eat.” As I sat down, He cupped his hands to his mouth, as though waiting in eager expectation, and again, He said, ‘eat’ with excitement in His tone. I picked up one of the figs, and as I bit into it, it unexpectedly burst with delicious juice all over my face. I felt like a toddler who had just eaten a bowl of spaghetti and found it in my hair somehow. He began laughing uproariously as I embarrassingly wiped the juice from my face. “Don’t be embarrassed,” He kindly gestured, “keep eating.” As I bit again into the fig, suddenly, I felt a joy stir in my belly, as Jesus continued to laugh, I literally felt His laughter stirring in my own belly until I too began to laugh. It was the kind of laughter where you have to catch your breath as tears of joy roll down your face.

“Now, try my grapes,” He offered. As I grabbed one of the grapes, each one larger than the size of my fist, and ate it, I felt peace and refreshing wash over me. The look on Jesus’ face was an utter delight. He then looked at me, “This is where you are to stay. This is my fruit of joy and peace. Come here and eat with me as often as you need. This is the fruit that will sustain you. This is the fruit I want you to carry to my people, and offer it to the Nations.” As I came out of the vision, Psalm 23:5 came to my heart; “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” It felt as though I had just experienced the reality of this verse. Another verse came to my heart, Isaiah 61:3;     “provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

I don’t believe this vision was reserved for me alone, but as an invitation to you. I hear Him calling you today, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” A seat at His banqueting table awaits you. The Lord is longing to pour out the oil of gladness upon you, upon those who have been tired and weary. He is saying to you today, “Come, eat, be refreshed.” I believe this is going to be a time of GREAT refreshing for many as you come and eat at His table with Him. Many are waiting on circumstances to change in order for their peace to come, but I believe Jesus is saying to you, “My peace precedes the breakthrough. Come eat at the table with me and find your joy in me, and it will make way for that which you have been waiting for.”

The door you have been waiting on.

I then saw a picture of many in waiting rooms. You have been in a season of waiting, and you don’t know how much longer you can hold on. I saw you waiting on a specific door to open, but then another door opened up. Jesus was standing in this doorway holding grapes, saying, “Come, eat.” And many replied, “If I come to eat, I might miss the opening of this other door.” Some stayed in the waiting room, but many others followed Him through the door. This door didn’t seem like the logical choice, it almost seemed like a step backward, but as they entered in, they were greeted with the banqueting table, just like the one I had seen in the first vision. It too was laden with bright, bursting and oversized fruit. It too had two chairs, one for you and one for Jesus. I then noticed, a secret door hidden behind Jesus. As you began to eat and be refreshed, the door was revealed and it was the door you had been waiting for.

Friends, though many of you have been in waiting, I am here to encourage you, go and eat with Jesus. It may seem counterproductive, you may even say “I already spend enough time with Him,” I hear Him saying, “Come, eat more.” This is going to be a time where He is pouring out GREAT refreshing, GREAT joy and GREAT peace upon you. It is this fruit that is going to prepare you for the open doors that are in waiting. Rather than it being a detour, the Lord is saying, it is your fast track, your launching, the key that unlocks the door of breakthrough you have been waiting on. I prophesy over the areas of sorrow and despair that have been holding you back in this past season: “BE LOOSED from them in the Name of Jesus.” Respond to the invitation as He calls you today, “Come to the table and eat.” Not only will you find the refreshing you have been needing, but you will be able to offer this fruit to the Nations. It’s not just for you, it’s to give to others, and there is more than enough for all.