Someone asked Jack to share about his latest visions. Jack considers that it is time to clarify before anyone gets a wrong impression. The following is based on his own limited experience.
Seeing visions is not a choice. He cannot see visions or dream dreams as and when he wants to. He cannot choose to see what visions he prefers. For example, he cannot see into his own wife’s secrets. Only once he was shown a vision about spiritual events concerning her and he was required to intercede urgently for her then. After that incident, there was no more visions about her. However, he did see some visions for her relatives and was required to intercede for them.
He was never revealed any personal secrets about anyone through seeing visions. The visions he saw have to do with God’s kingdom for God’s own purpose. For example, he saw people in need being attacked by beasts of various kinds and he knew then he had to intercede for them. He saw people being hindered in the ministry by things and so he interceded accordingly.
The visions were always about how to advance the kingdom of God, claiming the more abundant life as promised by Christ Jesus who had conquered sin, death, darkness, curses and sicknesses on the cross. They were based on the promises based on the words of God as revealed in the Bible.
When he saw someone seemingly lost or unaware with a beast nearby he knew he had to intercede immediately.
Sometimes he saw good things too and he would be prompted to pass the good news to the persons involved.
He also saw visions or dream dreams after he had prayed on specific issues he needed guidance. As recorded before, the visions can be in the form of pictures, words, or signs. Lately he had started teaching a class with the purpose to disciple those whom the Lord Jesus had called. While he did not know any of the students well, he did not ask the Lord to show him whether there were potential disciples for the ministry team in the church he currently attends. In his heart he was sort of hoping to find one or two potential candidates but it was not his immediate concern. However, soon after the class commenced, the Lord gave him one vision and two dreams. In one case he got the same message twice in two consecutive dreams (in which the name of the person and the face of the person was revealed. He was even holding a Bible reading and ministering to someone! This was the last thing Jack would have expected).
He also received signs when he was led by the Spirit to intercede. For example, one recent evening he was led to intercede for Jerusalem. He did not know which nation he was praying for until the word “Jerusalem” actually came out of his mouth after praying in the Spirit for sometime. Before he ended his intercessions he did a symbolic act by watering his garden, proclaiming that God will pour His Spirit on the land of Jerusalem (Israel) to quench the thirst and flood the dry ground. He was using the actual words “Pour Your Spirit”, “water”, “flood”, “thirsty”, “dry ground” etc.
The next day when he read through some passages from the Book of Isaiah, he was pleasantly surprised to find that he was indeed quoting Isiah’s prophesy regarding God’s promise to pour His Spirit on Israel, in Isaiah 44:3, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring;”
This was a passage he was not familiar with in the first place. He knew it was not him who purposed and initiated that act of faith in the garden on the previous night.
Is it easy to hear God or see visions? Jack cannot answer this question. But he has found that God responds almost instantly many times. His own mind was not fast enough to catch the answers at times. This confirms what the Holy Spirit has promised in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
To him, seeing visions is just a way to receive certain communication. As he was at times unsure of what to do with the visions, he would wait for sometime until he received clear Bible verses as confirmation before he took action. Staying close to God through daily worship, reading God’s words and prayers would ensure that he hears God more clearly and not be presumptuous. Visions cannot prove anything about your relationship with God. Being in the presence of God is itself the best experience ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment