In the Wilderness: Experiences of Encountering God: Father, Son, and Spirit

By Merle A. Hodge-Carey

ENCOUNTERING GOD, Father, Son & Spirit, is awe-inspiring and truly humbling.

Ever wondered if you would recognize the audible voice of Almighty God speaking to you? Or have you any questions of life after death? Or will you be reunited with loved ones who have long passed on? In her book In the Wilderness, Merle, through dreams and vis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781640885264

Book preview

1.png

In the Wilderness

Merle A. Hodge Carey

Trilogy Christian Publishers

Tustin, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 1997 & 2019 by Merle A. Hodge Carey

Many Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide and from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

Also References from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (1991; solely for clearer understanding).

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64088-525-7

ISBN 978-1-64088-526-4 (ebook)

Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Preface xi

Introduction xiii

1. Separated 1

2. It’s All Right, I Understand 11

3. Put Your Hands in My Hand 15

4. But You Are a Soldier 25

5. Ambushed! Injured! Captured! 41

6. Look at Yourself 51

7. Give Him a Call 57

8. Rachel’s Miracle 73

9. And the Desert Shall Rejoice and Bloom as a Rose 77

10. Buried Treasures, Uncovered! Restored! 99

11. Take Your Appeal to the Judge of All 127

12. That I May Know Him! 139

13. The Job Application—Hired! 183

14. Steal Away to Jesus 197

15. The Pilgrimage 221

16. Go View the Land 243

Bibliography 253

About the Author 255

Dedicated

To my Heavenly Father, the Most High God, and

to His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord

and Savior, and to my Constant Companion, God

the Holy Spirit, who is my Teacher, my Comforter,

and my Guide. He who has birthed and named and

inspired this book and has dedicated it to every

Wounded Christian Soldier amongst the Great Body

of Christian Believers.

Blessings to all those who read.

Acknowledgements

To Almighty God, the Holy Spirit, my Teacher and Guide, who in a dream put the idea in my spirit to author this book as well as Him providing to me the title and the book cover form and color. And thanks to Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN for giving New Christian Authors like myself the opportunity to realize their dream to share their God Given Message with the world.

Also, to my Parents Richard and Rosetta, and to my sister, Murie I say a special thank you because of her willingness and keen interest in the Book’s Publication. And I thank her and all my other siblings for their love and support in my endeavors. And to my parents and siblings I dedicate this poem:

The Blood of Jesus Christ

Early one Sunday morning,

The day of resurrection,

Before the throne of God in heaven,

The living blood of Jesus stood.

And addressing God the Father,

Lovingly mentioned our names.

The speaking living blood of Jesus Christ,

Attorney, legal counsel

And advocate for the penitent,

Reverently articulated words

Before God’s judgment seat,

Pleading not for vengeance as the blood of Abel,

But instead pleaded for mercy on our behalf.

The speaking living blood of Jesus Christ,

Supplicated and negotiated

The hearing of mankind’s petition.

Then as liquid currency

Sprinkled Himself on God’s Divine Altar

and Judgment Bar and Seat!

And paid mankind’s sin debt in full!

It was the required remedy and payment

To repair and make amends

To the judgment of Almighty God.

And the Lord God Almighty was pacified.

He was fully appeased!

For His injured honor had been fully restored

To His utmost satisfaction.

Speaking blood, living blood,

Signing blood of Jesus Christ

Ratified and authenticated

A new blood covenant on that ‘First Day.’

With the laws of God now written

On the hearts of penitent mankind,

Providing love to overcome feelings

Of hurt and rejection and condemnation

While purifying and preserving all consciences

From sin, from guilt, and from shame.

And dispensing the right to fellowship

And commune with Almighty God the Father again.

Being heirs of Salvation,

Penitent man has been assured

That their names are written in God’s divine Book of Life.

Never to be erased!

The speaking living blood of Jesus Christ,

Today still speaks pardon for the sin of mankind,

And still speaks peace perfect peace to man’s soul.

And in return, He requires true penitence

And obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading,

And sweet love and gratitude and belief

In Christ Jesus the slain and resurrected Lamb of God

The Savior of the world.

Preface

Only the strong and the well-armed can survive the devil’s violent and brutal attacks. In times like these, it is the Christian soldier’s duty to make certain that he or she is always fit and ready for warfare.

Regular refresher courses in dressing for battle are highly recommended. It is of great importance that every Christian soldier reacquaints himself or herself with each piece of the Christian armor.

In September of 1996, I had been warned in a dream of an imminent wilderness my family and I were about to travel. This warning was in response to my usual prayer for advice from the Lord concerning what I should share next in our home Bible study classes.

In that dream, I had removed a black hard-cover book from a beautifully crafted glass bookcase at my parents’ home. On the front cover of the book in bold white lettering bore the name In the Wilderness.

When I awoke, I was immediately prompted by the Holy Spirit to write this book. And after sharing the dream with the family, we immediately began the necessary preparation for battle. Our refresher course on spiritual warfare was centered on Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness. Close attention was focused on how Jesus conducted Himself in spiritual warfare.

Shortly thereafter, we became aware that a family member was facing a possible serious medical condition. This sudden information instantly launched our family into the thick darkness of yet another wilderness.

We conducted ourselves in the same manner as Jesus did in the wilderness when He was tempted by the devil. We confronted the enemy with the Word of God as our two-edged sword, and also with fasting and constant prayers of faith.

Months later, after the completion of various medical treatments, a final test revealed that the medical condition had totally and completely been reversed! Our battle in that wilderness as a family ended in complete victory—as well as the many battles I solely experienced and fought with the help of the Lord God against Satan the devil in the wilderness!

It is of a truth that the Christian armor of prayer, the Word, righteousness, salvation, truth, peace, and faith, is the power to stop the foe!

Introduction

Hearing the audible voice of Almighty God on different occasions speaking to me audibly and warmly addressing me by my first name was awe-inspiring and most humbling.

In two of those breathtaking moments, I received from the Lord instructions that presently pertained to my main calling and assignment in His vast vineyard. And secondly, He spoke words of encouragement that brought comfort and strength and indescribable peace to this Christian soldier who at the time was in a wounded and bewildered condition.

And in addition, experiencing personal encounters with the Living Holy Spirit of Almighty God and also encounter with a smiling Jesus the Christ the Son of the Living God were just as overwhelming and awe-inspiring that gave to me the feeling of being accepted and beloved.

And the crowning moment—the special treat—of hearing heaven’s angelic choir so perfectly and beautifully singing one of earth’s songs in a capella and in perfect harmony. The angelic choir ministering in song—words of hope and encouragement to us weary pilgrims. Reminding us of the joys of heaven that await every Christian believer after awhile. Joys beyond compare. How stupendous! How compelling!

But most importantly, seeing the Holy Spirit, humbly and quietly kneeling beside me in my moment of prayer at the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Israel. At the place where some believed that the original cross of Jesus Christ stood some two thousand years ago. And He leaving me with an inner stirring and floods of hot tears. Being reminded of God’s Word that states:

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s Will." (Rom. 8:26–27; NIV)

And secondly, seeing a happy, friendly, and smiling Jesus Christ standing at the right front of the kneeling Holy Spirit, and cheerfully and lovingly looking me in the eyes that were at this time fixed on His. And He, smiling with me with such a wide smile of total love and acceptance!

I join with the apostle Paul when speaking of visions and revelations from God and would say of these experiences ...whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows… (2 Corinthians 12:1–5; NIV).

So I invite you, my readers, to journey with me through the real world—the world of the supernatural. And it is my prayer that you too will experience wonderful encounters with the Triune Living God our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit, along with the sights and sounds of heaven.

1

Separated

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

Then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction."

—Job 33:14–16

And it came to pass, in the year 1978, on the seventh day of the fifth month, on one Sunday afternoon, around 3:00 p.m., after church services had ended; I too heard the Lord’s audible voice.

I heard the Lord’s audible voice speaking to me while reclining at the home of my sister Marie and her husband Lloyd in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

During this time, I was very much involved in church activities. However, due to my lack of understanding in the Word of God, I was not aware of the Lord God’s great interest in every aspect of my life.

I had reached a critical point in my life. I wanted to know God’s plan for my life. However, I had not learned enough of the importance of intense prayer. Praying to the Lord God for direction and expecting an answer from God.

And so, I did not seek the Lord’s advice as closely and as intently as I should. But the Lord God knowing the longings of my heart, and, in His mercy and grace, found a way to get my attention. He chose to speak to me in His audible voice!

As customary, on Sundays, after coming home from church, I would have dinner with the family and later retire to my bedroom to rest, before returning to church to attend choir practice at 5:00 p.m.

While lying in my bed, listening to and enjoying the beautiful country and Western Gospel songs aired on Radio Paradise—a Christian radio station, broadcasting from St. Kitts in the West Indies I drifted off to sleep, and a dream came to me.

Unfolding before my eyes was my beloved hometown—a seaside community with a mountainous and forested backdrop—experiencing a series of disastrous activities.

It was a natural disaster of grave and dire proportions. There were what appeared to be fiery volcanic explosions erupting everywhere from the depth of the earth and spewing fire high in the air! The surface of the earth was being broken up!

I saw great crowds of people many of whom I recognized fleeing in panic and great fear from this natural disaster of immense proportion and crying out to God for help. They were crowds of people of all ages running and screaming in fear. All running in the same direction to a small corner area of the community—that appeared to be a safe-haven—untouched from the devastation.

Havoc and widespread devastation was seen everywhere. Pillars of smoke fill the air and fanning out across the mountains as well as the low-lying beach front area. Fire igniting and burning everywhere. The earth quaking with a loud rumbling sound.

Loud continuous explosions were seen and heard, mixed with loud screams from the fleeing multitude of people filled with fear trying to outrun the fast spreading fires and explosions, looking for a place of safety to hide. And they, realizing that airlifting was the only way out!

Then there was complete silence! The commotion appeared to have ended. And then as if in another scene of my dream, it appeared at that moment that the end of time had come. And all the nations of the world were gathered in that same safe-haven in the corner of the community.

Multitudes of people thronged everywhere in this secluded corner of the community that was spared from the devastation. Everyone standing quietly and looking up to heaven for a way of escape. In the dream, I was now standing on the front row with others, and the hundreds of millions assembled behind.

Then the separation process began. As each name was called, one of two distinct sounds of our church bell could be heard. Each sound was a clear indication of whether that individual was hell-bound or heaven-bound.

The first name was called, and that most welcoming, clear heavenly-bound sound from the bell rang out in response.

I saw a ladder being slowly lowered down from heaven and stood directly in front of that individual. He gladly mounted the ladder and was taken up to heaven!

My name was called next! And sure enough, with great relief, the sweet clear heavenly-bound sound from the bell rang out!

I saw the ladder slowly being lowered from heaven and stood right before me!

With my right foot lifted, just about to step on the first rung of the ladder, Almighty God spoke from the top of the ladder in an Audible voice from heaven! He called me by my name! He said, Not yet, Merle. Go back. Get your Bible. Turn to Romans 1:1. There is a word there for you.

Instantly I awoke! I sat up in bed and grabbed my Bible from the bedside table. Hurriedly I turned the pages until I located the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter 1 verse 1.

The word separated lifted itself off the page! And that quick and powerful word, like a guided missile faster than the speed of light launched itself toward its assigned target, headed straight for my eyes! It came with such force, and such speed and high velocity. I swiftly held my head back, trying to avoid what appeared to be an impending collision.

Steadying myself, I quickly read the verse from Romans 1:1 (emphasis added): "Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, SEPARATED unto the Gospel of God."

Silently I sat on the edge of my bed, in awe and amazement: at a loss for words, and afraid to even breathe.

The sweet and comforting words of the Almighty Lord God Jehovah still seem to be echoing in my ears.

And seeing the mental image of the word separated, instantly coming to life. It was so vivid, as it removed itself from the page of the Holy Bible, and with incredible powerful speed and force, it hurled itself at my eyes!

(A testimony to the Word of Almighty God in the book of Hebrews, chapter 4:12 that declares, For the Word of God is quick [alive, living], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…)

It was as if the Living Word of Almighty God separated on divine cue, knowing that it was being called to action—lighted up, perked up, and happily made ready for takeoff and was ready to express itself with motion and with action.

And so, this quick and powerful Word of Almighty God in the literal sense had lifted itself from the page in such a majestic manner, and with such speed and swiftness and accuracy, and like a bullet, it fired itself straight at my eyes.

To me, the Word—separated—the Living Word of Almighty God had been divinely chosen to appoint me for my work in the kingdom of God.

And the loving, gentle, yet firm and authoritative audible voice of the Lord God Almighty who had directed me to this portion of Scripture seemed to have echoed throughout the ends of the whole world!

It seemed as if everyone on earth had heard His audible voice as I did!

When I finally gained my composure, I went to the front porch where my sister Marie was speaking to a neighbor and shared the dream with her.

Realizing I was running late for choir practice, I quietly got dressed and drove off in silence with the vision on my mind and the millions that had gathered waiting to hear the pronouncement of each one’s eternal fate or destiny from the Lord of glory, the Righteous Judge.

I later set out, on my own quest, to find out as much as I could about the word separated, from a spiritual viewpoint.

I checked the verse in the various commentaries and translations of the Bible and came up with the following definitions:

• Set apart for the service of the Gospel.

• Set apart to preach the Gospel of and from God.

• An apostle by the selection of God.

• A called apostle.

• Called as a messenger.

• Set apart to publish the glad-tidings of God.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words declares "to