"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." (Matt. 13:35) Similitudes are likenesses, resemblances, images, parables, etc. God uses similitudes a lot in His teachings. You find them in scripture, dreams and visions.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) How often I heard this scripture, read it and really never got the full impact. I chose this parable for a purpose as it has great meaning to me today. One day I saw a vision of a grapevine. The roots were exposed and fertilizer names were shown on them connecting to the vine and the branches. One short broken branch on the left, a tiny new growth on the top and a healthy branch on the right loaded with beautiful leaves and grapes. Almost instantly another grapevine flashed in my mind and on the roots were God's Word. The pictures were almost identical. What changed were the words on the roots and the impression or revelation I received. The broken branch was someone who knew the Lord but no longer followed Him nor was being fed. The tiny new growth on top was a new baby Christian being fed. The branch on the right was a mature Christian being fed by God and bearing fruit. The mature Christian bearing fruit had grapes or seeds falling to the ground and new plants or Christians springing up from the ground. I will write part of what the Holy Spirit revealed to me. "and since Jesus is the vine and we are the branch if we don't bare fruit there is no seed in anyone else for you to nourish and grow. If we are damaged by sin, Satan or don't feed on your word we can't grow so no fruit is produced and no one else is saved through us. We are stunted, dried up and if any fruit is put forth it is withered or rotted and of no value. There is no way for you to get to the end of the branch that blossoms and bears fruit but through us. The Father is the root with nutrients of wisdom, love, joy, peace and everything good being brought to us the branches through the vine, Jesus, to help us grow, blossom and bear fruit which is seed for others so that you can cause them to grow so you can use them also." (Journal 2 pgs. 72 & 73) Without bearing fruit, there are no seeds sown and without seeds there is nothing for God to nurture. It is our part in the savation of souls to sow seeds and it is up to God to nurture and cause the seeds to grow. Luke Chapter 8 verse 11 tells us what the seed is. It says: "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God."
"I was lying in bed praying one night when a vision came to me of my fireplace and the candles I had lit there. All of a sudden by the left candle on the mantel a cross appeared with you, Jesus, hanging on it, a dove was by the one on the right and the big candle on the hearth I knew was my Heavenly Father. Instantly I had such a wonderful understanding of the Triune God, This explained the Trinity so well. There are three separate flames and when the three are put together there is only one fire but all three are still burning and intermingled. Truly ONE. I loved that. Then you, Jesus, started to come off the cross again as you did in my dream. I love seeing you and knowing you are alive." (Journal 1, Pgs. 4 & 5) I had heard all sorts of illustrations and examples of the Blessed Trinity but nothing ever explained it as well as this vision which God gave me. How often the Bible refers to God as a consuming fire, a devouring fire, the Holy Spirit appeared as fiery tongues above the apostles and other examples. God can make things so crystal clear in an instant. He is the perfect teacher.
One day while I was walking in the meadow, God directed me to go over to a tree stump by the small lake where I had felt evil and danger previously. The next morning I wrote the following in my journal. "As I did what you said and put Holy water on it and removed the bark to release the evil remaining and blessing the area I felt Your presence... You said that the bark must be removed that the evil can be released. It is dark under the bark and all sorts of evil comes in, festers and grows like the nests, the termites, rot, etc. Just like our spirit where we allow Satan to come in and give us bad thoughts, etc. As we act on these thoughts they grow and we let more evil in and we start getting areas of rot and nests that keep growing and taking us over. We must become naked to the world and bare our soul as the bark is removed and the pulp is exposed to the light. The only way for healing and growth is Your Word. As the light from the sun caused the insects and vermin to flea after the bark is removed so your word causes evil and darkness to flea from us when we expose our soul without caring what others think. We become naked and die to the world and by dwelling in Your Word which is light we can not hide evil. Your light makes is so bright that Satan or his evil works can not dwell or grow in us as there is no place or darkness for him to hide. If there be any bark left we can go to You for more of Your Word and light which will remove it. The more light we have the harder it is for Satan to come in and the closer we are to you and the image of Jesus. I praise you God for this word and give glory to you."
(Journal 2, pgs. 56 & 57)
If we don't recognize the spiritual meaning of symbols it is important to ask God to reveal them to us. When we hear or see the words Lamb of God most of us immediately think of Jesus. Jesus was the sacrificial Lam slain for our sins. What does the dove symbolize? The Holy Spirit is right. The Holy Spirit came down in the form of the dove when Jesus was baptized. When Jesus spoke in parables or used similitues the symbolisms were things familiar to the Jews at that time. Shephers, sheep, vineyards, sowing of seed and kingdoms are a few examples. God uses things which are familiar and meaningful to whom He is speaking. He may use something entirely different for you and for me. Different cultures, backgrounds, geographical areas or occupations may require different symbols to be meaningful. Since God wants to speak to us He will make it understandable to the person to whom He is speaking. God wants our attention as well as our love and obedience. The more I meditate on the symbols given to me such as in dreams, visions, His Word, actual incidents like the stump example above or however He reveals them to me, the more revelation He gives me. He is the greatest teacher and if you will take the time to seek Him and listen you will be amazed at what He will reveal to you."
Quoted from the book: Hearing God Speak
Author: Margaret Jensen