Visions

Visions.

Webster's Dictionary definition:

1 a : something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy; especially : a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation b : a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination

Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 are Scriptures that are at the heart of the Spirit Filled Movement. In fact, they are Scriptures that are the foundation of the modern church movement both Catholic and Protestant. Every Catholic and protestant church traces it's roots to the birthing of the church at Pentecost. I submit then, that every church is a Pentecostal church, whether they speak in tongues, have miraculous manifestations or not.

Part of the last days outpouring prophesied by Joel and preached by Peter on that Pentecost day involves dreams and visions. While dreams seem to occur at regular intervals in some people's life (life mine) visions are often reserved for those considered mystics, those who seem to be out on the fringe. But according to Scripture, they should be a vital part of the function and life flow of the New Testament Church.

Again, I have dreams regularly that I know are prophetic in nature; dreams in which I know beyond the shadow of a doubt God is speaking to me about situations in my life, ministry or someone I know. Visions are another matter. But I know I have had at least three distinct visions in my Christian walk I want to write about.

My First Vision

In 1977 I was 16 years old, part of a family singing group that traveled around the South East United States singing in local churches and special venues. We were somewhat more of a religious family instead of a spiritual family; I don't say that to hurt my family, it's simply the truth. Many times we got caught up worshipping the singing, and the singing group we were trying to be instead of the God who was supposed to be glorified through our singing.

I had recently completely committed my life to serve God in whatever way He saw fit when God began to call me forth into something that would absolutely and completely rock my world.

In November 1977 God began to place an intense hunger in my heart to seek Him and know Him in a greater way. I had asked Jesus to come into my heart the summer I turned 12. But something else was going on I could not explain. I spent more and more time in my parents garage in the afternoons, listening to Christian music, praying, and thinking about standing on platforms singing…. and even preaching.

One mid November night while showering I suddenly began to have what I can only call a vision. I was a Baptist kid at the time; I didn't understand tongues, and prophecy or anything supernatural. But one night as I began to have this vision in the shower, I began to see myself standing in front of a huge mass of people; most of them were black, but there was also Asian, East Indians, West Indians, American Indians, Chinese; people from every nation and color on the earth! The Holy Spirit was so thick in that shower I didn't know if any water was even touching me, that's how strong the anointing was! I saw myself in that vision preaching to this huge mass of people.

This vision happened again the next night, and the third night, just like it did the first night. I don't know how long it lasted, or how long I was in the shower, but on the last night I was weeping almost uncontrollably over what I was seeing and feeling. In almost a fit of desperation I began to pray and say, "Father, I don't know what you are trying to tell me, but I will do it even if it's preach!"

The vision ended, and I haven't had that particular one since. I didn't tell anyone about what I saw or felt. In fact within a couple of days I forgot about it.

Two weeks later we were in a Gospel singing outside Opelika Alabama in a small country Baptist church. The anointing was so strong I thought the roof was about to blow off! When suddenly a gentleman I had never met, nor have I seen since stood up and began to prophecy of the calling on God on my life. That vision I had over those three nights came flooding back into my mind and heart, and I knew that I knew this was the confirmation that God was calling me to preach His Word!

That vision led to my first preaching opportunity in February of the following year. It was the biggest pulpit disaster ever been attempted by a human being. I preached on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It lasted three minutes. Three minutes that seemed like three years. I just knew when I sat down I had missed it and the vision was nothing more than something I had eaten for supper that had sent me into some kind of hallucination.

On the way home sitting in the darkness of the back seat I began to cry and swear to God I would never try preaching again. The preaching that night was so bad that when we pulled into me grandmothers driveway to let her out, she pulled a ten dollar bill out of her purse without ever looking back at me and said "Son, here's some money to go buy you some books with; your going to need all the help you can get!"

Needless to say, I didn't quit for good. But that vision has guided me when I didn't know where to go or what to do. That vision has strengthened me when I thought I could not take another step forward. That vision has kept me, even when I had given up hope that God could ever use me again after so many failures in my personal life, in my marriage and even in raising my kids. That vision has encouraged me to push forward when everything in the natural looked like God had forgotten my name address and phone number!

I know the vision was from the Lord. It was not something I ate. Some wild-eyed preacher or mystic did not give it to me. It came after a long season of prayer and fasting, that a 16-year-old boy was not supposed to be doing. I should have been playing football or chasing girls; but I was chasing God! When you chase the face of the Father with all your heart, you will find Him on a way that will rock your world!

I'm so grateful that God gave me that vision. Thirty-two years later, I'm just now beginning to see some of the people and places I saw in that vision!

What is your vision? What is it that you absolutely know God has shown you about your life and about what He has called you to do?

Write your vision down.

Pray over your vision. Daily. Weekly, even spasmodically if that's all you can do. The more we pray over a vision we know has come from the Lord the bigger it will become.

Hold on to your vision. Many have tried to talk me out of my vision. Many well meaning Christian people and some well meaning family members have attempted to talk me out of it. But they weren't there, I was! They didn't see what I saw or feel what I felt, I DID! I have to hold on until I see the completion of my vision!

How many people started with a vision that was a result of a visitation by God, but let people, circumstances, their personal failures and the world talk them into abandoning their God vision for another vision.

Many will arrive at their destination when they die, but they will never find their destiny. Many will go to heaven when they die but will never know the purpose for their lives because they have allowed people and stuff to rob them of their vision that came because of a Joel 2:28/Acts 2:17 experience.

You can know your vision is from God when it must have God's participation to make it happen.

Don't abandon your vision! And don't give up on your dream, no matter how impossible it seems!

With God, ALL THINGS are still possible!