I know this is a long post but it’s necessary based on something the Lord began to show me weeks ago. So please bear with me and may this help you in your moving forward with Christ Jesus.

I pulled up to my appointment and noticed a beautiful flower blooming on what looked like a long vine. I made a mental note of it but didn’t put much thought into it.  Later that evening I went for my walk with the Lord. As I turned the corner, I noticed the same exact flower blooming and a vine full of them. I stopped quickly. I make this walk every night and had not yet seen this flower. Certainly, it’s appearing twice in one day told me the Holy Spirit was trying to teach me something.

I began to Google to find out what type of flower, exactly, this was. The Lord often teaches me through His creation and scriptures. Quickly I found it to be called a Trumpet Vine.

As I researched this beautiful flower, I began to notice some interesting characteristics and I felt the Lord was using one of His creations to teach me some wisdom and much needed discernment.

The Trumpet Vine is widely known by gardeners as an aggressive and invasive plant. Both are distinct qualities. Let me explain. Aggressive is more often used for plants that are at least from the same region, while invasive is used for a plant not in its natural home.

Ponder this with me. Have you ever seen someone move into an area and begin to overtake it? They exhibit aggressive behaviors and begin to plant themselves everywhere. Pretty soon the region is overcome and others are rooted out of their places or in the least entangled with something they never saw coming. This is like the Trumpet Vine. Please know Christ wants us to walk in authority and be able to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. We must learn to call things what they are and understand there should be no guilt when speaking truth. Jesus was clear about His own thoughts regarding the Pharisees and He did not diminish His rebukes towards them. We, too, are called to recognize the Hamans, the Jezebels, and other deceivers that are sent to bring down God’s dreams, visions, and plans in our lives. So it’s time to gird up the loins and walk in power. Deborah judged righteously and plainly. Esther spoke up to save her people. We must do the same to protect ourselves and others from wolves in sheep clothing.

Back to the Trumpet Vine:

When a Trumpet Vine is planted along with other flowers, it will dominate them and run right over them. The Trumpet Vine is very aggressive in that it can grow on the ground, it can scale tall items, and it can climb. This plant must be planted very carefully in its own space and “contained.” This speaks nicely to “boundaries.” A Godly man or woman will submit themselves to other’s boundaries. That which is not of the Lord will barrel right over other’s boundaries and never consider the offense as valid.

This vine reminds me of the Jezebel Spirit that often works its way into many congregations, ministries, and areas. She/He seeks absolute control of an area, situation, etc. She/He is also very sneaky.  The Trumpet Vine is also known as the “Trumpet Creeper.” It can creep in and slowly spread over any entire area. Once this happens it is very difficult to eradicate a Trumpet Vine…..and it is also very difficult to eradicate a Jezebel Spirit. This is why it is so important to have discernment before entering into relationships and ministry partnerships.  There will likely be no obvious signs, only subtle actions and behaviors that give the truth away. I watch for integrity in a person in the smallest of things. How do they handle other hearts? Do they honor others? Do they use others to exalt their own organizations and agendas? For Christ calls us to think more of our brothers and sisters than ourselves giving selflessly not taking selfishly.

Like the Trumpet Vine, these types of people have no intention of honoring others they feel are inferior. They will use you to get where they want to be and they do not mind using what you have been given by God to further their own gain. Jezebel is competitive. She will align herself with like people and stay clear of those with prophetic insight. Her greatest hatred if for the prophetic voice and will come against them with full throttle. The spirit working in her/him can see the Christ in you.  Pay very close attention to subtle behaviors. Here are some things I’ve noticed as God is still teaching me:

 

• Do they honor you and the ministry Christ entrusts to you?

• Do they seem to not really be “for you” unless it’s for their own benefit?

• Do they value Christ in you and the way He uses you or do they prefer to control you?

• Do they do any “bait & switch” behaviors? This is a major tell-tale sign for me. Do they honor your vision or hijack it.

• Are they able to “submit one to another” or is it their way all the way?

• Do they act one way in private and another in public? (Another tell-tale sign.)

• Has there been a change in personality at some point that you cannot rationalize? (Big red flag)

 

The caution with Trumpet Vines is that they are beautiful, blooming flowers and many would desire to plant them because they draw hummingbirds. So, there is a measure of “goodness” and “light” that is exhibited. This is similar to false prophets, deceptive people, as well as users and abusers. They are very alluring.  The abusive wife rarely encounters abuse during courtship. The ministry partnership seems on the up and up well into the relationship when all goes south and there is an overtaking of a vision.  Suddenly, the vision is no longer yours but theirs. This is so alarming because it’s the enemy’s way of halting a God given vision. It has happened to so many. The Trumpet Vine can move underneath and between root systems to lock itself into a place where it’s virtually impossible to get rid of it. This spirit counts on you having a perverted knowledge of scripture that makes you stand down from confrontation rather than standing up with truth.

I found this in my research of Trumpet Vines:

“These plants spread by suckering underground runners, as well as from seed. This makes them tough to eradicate. For example, the runners may push up between the branches of shrubbery and go undetected; all the while, they are taking in nutrients that keep the plant strong.”  (Taken from an online plant forum)

 

Pay attention to the last sentence, “they are taking in nutrients that keep the plant strong.” A Trumpet Vine type of person is sent by the enemy to drain you of resources, energy, time, and money. All that was designed to go towards the God given vision Christ has entrusted to you. Before you know it, you have poured into another man’s agenda and it will be uncertain whether or not it was from God in the first place.

As we move forward in wisdom, we must remember the scripture about the wheat and the tares.

Matthew 13:24-30

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.

Once the Trumpet Vines are planted within your organization, congregation, or so forth you may have to wait until the time Christ, Himself, will clear out your garden. Even in this, we can trust Him to rightly divide the truth versus deception and set you free of any Trumpet Vines bringing deception or hidden motives into your vision.

The days of being passive followers of Jesus have come to an end. You and I will have to walk in all the power Christ affords us. We must discern as Paul did the woman who followed him for days and also be willing to declare, “Come out of her.”  At times she/he will be very flattering, yet the tongue is one of deceit. She will follow close enough to hang on when Christ raises you up on wings of eagles. Whatever you do, do not allow a Trumpet Vine to take root in that which Christ has given you to do. If you do not heed His warning or exercise authority and discernment, the ministry could crumble.  Your alliance is to Christ alone and your obedience is a necessary one. Remember Nehemiah when he realized his enemies were now in the camp opposing his work of God? This still happens today my friends.

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Beware of the Trumpet Vines.

The Trumpet vines they run and wind

Embedded under roots

And if you do not boundaries make

They’ll overtake your blooms.

Aggressive traits will manifest

Overruling now your plans

Sent from Satan’s deathly hoards

To halt the heart of man.

Deceit will be a subtle thing

A tale of hidden sorts

You’ll have to watch the little moves

Observing their cohorts.

The vine will climb upon your back

And spread now high and low

Soon you will not see God’s heart

The vine has now control.

The Christ in you will give a tug

Beware! You’ll be abused.

Heed the warning, obey His voice

Pull up the Trumpet’s roots.

Although the birds will come to see

There is a hidden truth

Agenda’s live behind the veil

See past what’s right before you.

The flattering tongue will draw you in

Until the bait and switch

What was pure will take a turn

Dishonor will commence.

They’ll not soon try with others alike

Their hearts they too consume

But when a mercy heart appears

They’ll peg you for a ruse.

Be careful not to be unwise

The truth will set you free

And when the truth reveals deceit

The vines will have to leave.