It was indeed a joyous day for Jack. He has been praying to God to reveal to him whether the visions he saw were of the Holy Spirit or otherwise. Sunday morning he decided to go to a former church after a lapse of six months. He prayed that he would hear a fresh instruction from the Holy Spirit. The sermon was on Joseph. The pastor shared the usual teaching on how we need to be God-focused even during unfair treatment, adversities and great sufferings, thereby looking through God’s perspectives and not blaming self or others.
Jack read the Bible passages which the pastor did not preach on during the sermon and the following verse attracted him and he duly highlighted it:
“And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God and God will shortly bring it to pass.” (Genesis 41:32)
Jack had been looking for this verse for sometime as he had earlier heard the teaching that God would let us have two (repeated) reports so as to confirm that the report is from Him. When he read this verse he knew this was the answer and fresh revelation the Holy Spirit has given to him in response to his quest.
In the evening he went to attend a worship service at the Prayer House. He went early thinking that there would be Bible study. However, when he reached there he found out that they had a prayer meeting before the worship service instead. He was asked to join in the prayers in Spirit (in tongues) which he did. They prayed for about an hour plus.
Toward the end of the prayers, Jack saw visions, in answer to his earlier prayers (at home) that he be told of his future (ministry, relationship, finances) and things to come concerning other children of God and the work of God’s hands (Isaiah 45:11).
He saw Jesus giving different things to different people who serve in key positions in the Prayer House (small keys, a big key and a trumpet-the type used by a Levite), thus dispelling his speculations earlier on. Then he saw Jesus coming to him with a lamp (the type used by traveler). He thought of the verse in Psalm 119:105 (“Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”). But it did not answer his prayer.
However, immediately after that he was with Jesus standing on shore and watching a ship sailing in. The ship was large with many sails, like the type used by the Spanish to travel round the world seeking for gold and treasures. After that he saw a laborer close up carrying a huge cargo on his shoulder, coming on shore (followed by others). The laborer was oriental, like a Chinese. Jack thought he was carrying a big fish but could not see clearly the cargo. But then he saw a lot of open boxes at the feet of Jesus with heaps of gold, precious stones and other treasures inside them. The verse that came to Jack’s mind was a verse about the treasures of the sea being given to Christians, but he wasn’t sure where it located in the Bible.
At the end of the prayer session the leader closed in her closing prayer proclaiming that God is our light. So it did confirm the vision of Jesus carrying a lamp seen by Jack earlier.
On Monday morning, Jack decided to record down his precious day’s (Sunday’s) visions and asked the Holy Spirit to reveal more about their meanings and also confirm to him that they are from God. After recording, he read the November 1st (which was Sunday’s passage) passage in “My utmost for His highest” (a little booklet he used for quiet time meditation). To his surprise, the writer ended his passage with this exhortation (from God): “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine!”
When he read the Bible verse on “Arise and shine” in Isaiah 60, he had a bigger shock. The followings are verses 1 and 5 respectively:
V1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” (Confirming the vision he saw of Jesus carrying a lamp).
V5 “Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.” (Confirming the vision he saw of the ship coming in from the sea with treasures being laid down at the feet of Jesus).
The vision of the lamp and the ship and treasure was one. The confirmation came from the Bible Isaiah 60:1-5. God also used the prayer leader and the writer of “My utmost for His highest” to confirm His revelation. As a bonus, God used this vision to explain and prove how things work regarding vision from Him.
The above event was significant as the Holy Spirit has illustrated to Jack the meaning of the verse he pondered upon during the Sunday morning sermon time, that God would repeat twice for things established by God and which He would shortly bring to pass.
Jack was elated as he was assured of hearing from God and more discerning in the Spirit. This is God’s wonderful way of answering his prayers! Whilst he rejoiced, his prayer partner told him that her prayer was answered too, as this morning she was praying that he be more joyous in the Lord and her prayer was answered instantly!!!
WOW! What a discovery! That God is real and in our midst and answers our prayers!
2009-11-02
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