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Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you’re well. Since 2023 when I spent some time with the Father in the secret place, I had an impression that He wants me to be hidden. I know there are many people who share their testimonies in public, having interviews or publishing books, and God used them tremendously for His purpose. Yet, for me, I felt Him want to hide me. One night, I felt Him asking me whether I want to publish a book of my testimony (His story) here on earth or in Millennium when Jesus reigns. I said to Him, “I want to wait till Millennium.” And I felt that’s what He wants, too. Then, last year, when I watched a few YouTubers’ vlogs and subscribed one of them, I thought to myself, “Hmm, what if I made vlogs and posted them in YouTube, without my face shown? I think I would enjoy making vlogs. Maybe it’s good for His Kingdom.” But I thought of the conversation that He and I shared. And I also realized that it was my hypocrisy to rationalize that I would make vlogs for Him. I knew it was from my ego. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying YouTubers or vloggers make and post videos out of ego or they’re not in God’s will. God tailor-made each one of us, and He has different plans for every single person. And I’m one of the recipients of His blessings through His faithful servants and friends’ teachings online. But for me, I think He knows me so well that He doesn’t want me to be distracted. Not only by making vlogs, but by reading and replying to comments (sometimes or oftentimes getting hurt by negative comments). The Father knows the best. And I think He also knows that it’s not my priority for the rest of my life on earth. There is more important thing He planned for me. And He is a jealous God. He doesn’t want me to put anything between Him and me. I do not know whether it might be a good metaphor. Some people don’t like their spouses to be known in public or to actively meet friends in Facebook, etc. My brother-in-law once said to my sister that he would divorce her, if she started being a YouTuber or that sort of thing. Some husbands seem to enjoy showing off their wives as their trophy, though. They seem to enjoy their wives’ wearing revealing tops, dresses or even underwear only, in public. But others dislike it. And I felt the Father wants to hide me, because He is jealous and He hates my distraction, my thinking of how others would think of me and my vlogs and how I would make vlogs to please them. He wants me to minister to Him first, not to think of ministering to others. He wants to be pleased and He longs for intimacy in the secret place. You might have heard Jesus’ parables on hidden treasures many times: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matt. 13:44)” I do not know about you, but I’ve heard this verse interpreted by many that we, believers are the man in this parable and we sell all that we have, to buy that field for the hidden treasure, the kingdom of heaven. It sounds quite right, and I used to interpret it that way for many years. But, in early 2023, after listening to the Father’s Rhema words on treasure, I came to think of Isaiah 33:6, “The fear of the LORD is His treasure.” And it shed light on the meaning of this Jesus’ parable in Matthew in a new way. I came to think for the first time that the man to buy a field is Jesus and you and I are the hidden treasure. I searched Pastor David Guzik’s EnduringWord, online commentary. Interestingly enough, I found out he also interpreted it just like I newly viewed the scripture: a. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field: The field is the world, but the man does not represent the believer, because we have nothing to buy this treasure with. Instead, Jesus is the man who gave all that He had to buy the field. i. “Under rabbinic law if a workman came on a treasure in a field and lifted it out, it would belong to his master, the field’s owner; but here the man is careful not to lift the treasure out till he has bought the field.” (Carson) ii. This parable and the one following are different in character than the previous three. The previous three parables (the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed, and the leaven) each spoke of corruption in the kingdom community. These two parables speak of how highly the King values the people of His kingdom. b. And for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field: The treasure so wonderful that Jesus would give all to purchase is the individual believer. This powerfully shows how Jesus gave everything to redeem the whole world to preserve a treasure in it, and the treasure is His people. i. “Finding the treasure appears to be by chance. In a land as frequently ravaged as Palestine, many people doubtless buried their treasures; but…to actually find a treasure would happen once in a thousand lifetimes. Thus the extravagance of the parable dramatizes the supreme importance of the kingdom.” (Carson) ii. “So did Jesus himself, at the utmost cost, buy the world to gain his church, which was the treasure which he desired.” (Spurgeon) Yet I also wanted to search more on others’ interpretation. I searched it in Pastor John Fenn’s The Church without Walls International website, but I couldn’t find any. And I asked the Father to let me know what He meant by hidden treasure. A few days later, I had an impression in my heart, as if He were saying that it’s good that I would look up and search commentaries, etc. to understand the meaning of the Scriptures, but at the end of the day, He has the final say. And I felt Him saying He meant us by hidden treasure, and I don’t have to spend time to search others’ interpretation any longer. I do not mean that some preachers or teachers who interpret otherwise are all wrong. From Genesis to Revelation, I didn’t see 66 books interpreted all the same. 1 Corinthians 13 says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. (Verse 9~10)” So, it’s quite biblical that we know in part and interpret His words differently. :) If it turned out that I might have heard Him wrong on the interpretation, I would acknowledge that I made a mistake. No shame, no pride when the perfect has come. Then, in about a year, 2024, I came to see a new video of Pastor John Fenn in his YouTube channel and it was titled “You are the pearl, the key to understanding.” The parable of the pearl is right after the parable of the hidden treasure. And I found out the Father confirmed His teaching to me through Pastor John Fenn in His time. I was grateful to Him for His kindness. (And John Fenn’s interpretation of the field is our heart.) One night in 2023, when I prayed for someone, I felt the Father saying she is His hidden treasure. She has been faithfully praying for North Korea for over 20 years in a missionary organization. And I think we will see myriads of hidden treasures on that Day when Jesus catches us away. Rick Joyner wrote what he saw in vision in his book, The Final Quest: At one point the Lord looked toward the galleries of thrones around Him. Many were occupied, but many were empty. He then said, “These thrones are for the overcomers who have served Me faithfully in every generation. My Father and I prepared them before the foundation of the world. Are you worthy to sit on one of these?” I remembered what a friend had once said, “When the omniscient God asks you a question, it is not because He is seeking information.” I looked at those who were now seated on the thrones. I could recognize some of the great heroes of the faith, but realized most of those seated had not even been well known on earth. Many of those on the thrones had been missionaries who expended their lives in obscurity. They had never cared to be remembered on earth, but wanted only to be remembered by Him. I was a bit surprised to see some who had been wealthy, and rulers who had been faithful with what they had been given. However, it seemed that faithful, praying women and mothers occupied more thrones than any other single group. There was no way I could answer “yes” to the Lord’s question regarding whether I considered myself worthy to sit here. I was not worthy to sit in the company of any who were there. I knew I had been given the opportunity to run for the greatest prize in heaven or earth, and I had failed. I was desperate, but there was still one hope. Even though most of my life had been a failure, I was very glad that I was here before finishing my life on earth. When I confessed that I was not worthy, the Lord asked, “But do you want this seat?” “I do with all of my heart,” I responded. The Lord then looked at the galleries and said, “Those empty seats could have been filled in any generation. I gave the invitation to sit here to everyone who has called upon My name. The seats are still available. Now the last battle has come, and many who are last shall be first. These seats will be filled before the battle is over. Those who will sit here will be known by two things: they will wear the mantle of humility, and they will have My likeness. “You now have the mantle. If you can keep it and do not lose it in the battle, when you return you will also have My likeness. Then you will be worthy to sit with these, because I will have made you worthy. All authority and power has been given to Me, and I alone can wield it. You will prevail, and you will be trusted with My authority only when you have come to fully abide in Me. Now turn and look at My household.” I’m grateful for his book. I believe that the Lord showed the thrones not only to encourage Rick Joyner, but you and me. God would certainly give some a public stage for His purpose, but He may want you and me to live a quiet life in our small circles of family, friends, neighbors and coworkers, representing our Lord, Jesus. He was not a superstar on the stage. I believe we will see many hidden and precious gems on that Day. I think many of them would be nameless, faceless fathers and mothers, neighbors and co-workers on earth. And I think I should press forward to be one of the gems. As all that glitters is not gold, all that is hidden is not treasure. :) May our heart be like our Lord’s and be known by Him as His precious and hidden gem, being of a gentle and quiet spirit. Have a bliss! Julie Listen, O daughter, Comments are closed.
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