**For the previous post in this series on visions, see this link:
All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
So, say that the Lord gives a vision. It may be come in personal prayer, it may come while praying with others, it may come unexpectedly. It may be an open vision. Either way, it's a gift from God, and that's awesome! And it's likely that the Lord will give us ourselves the interpretation, also. (If not, all the more reason to share!)
We all see in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), so it may just be that God withholds the meaning from us--even if we were the one who had the vision-- so that the faith of everyone can be built up. If we are in a corporate setting with other believers, I think it's safe to assume that any God-given vision can be shared in order to obtain the full revelation on it.
So, we receive a message, a vision or mental picture from God. We will probably get some sort of interpretation. What should we do with it? Often, we should share! Often...but not all the time. Let's look at a few responses we might have after God gives a vision. Keep in mind that there are a lot of variables here. But more than that, know that if God can give a vision, He can also give the receiver a knowledge of what to do with it.
Keep in mind that many times, vision are for our own edification and upliftment. They may not be meant to share. But the following categories can apply to that, too:
1) We share the vision--not knowing ourselves exactly what it means
Like I said, if we are surrounded by loving brothers and sisters in Christ, this could happen often! God may want us to share, so that someone else can be edified in getting the interpretation. Or, He may want us to share because the vision is meant to prophetically apply to someone else present, in a way only they could understand. It can take a level of boldness to just throw the message out there, but we can have faith that it can and will benefit someone else. We probably won't know how--but God does!
It's also possible that a vision is shared and several people receive a personal interpretation that is perfect for them. And that's awesome! Every vision God gives is perfect, in accordance with His Word, so this kind of simultaneous edification can be hoped for and expected.
2) We share the vision and our own interpretation
So, God gives a vision and also gives us that knowing into it's primary meaning. Then we should share both the vision and it's interpretation. It may apply to just one person, or it may apply to a large group of people. It may apply to your home church, or to the Church in general. The Lord may give me a vision that is just meant to build up Vanessa...or He may give Vanessa one that is meant to build up several people.
Don't be surprised if you get the vision while in prayer for one person, and then realize that it also applies to several others later on down the road. Christians are of one mind (hopefully...), and it's pretty common for God to 'recycle' a vision and use it over a variety of people. His timing is intricate and perfect!
Also don't be surprised if, after sharing, others have a different interpretation for what you saw. You yourself probably received the primary meaning...but not necessarily! Even so, there's almost always more than one meaning. The fact that many people are contributing their own interpretations is good--it means that you are all digging further into the revelation!
3) We don't share the vision--it just gives us a foundation for our prophecy or prayer
This is also pretty common. Say you're in prayer, and the Lord is giving visions that help you know what to pray for. He probably doesn't expect you to share all of them. It's more so a case of doing only what you see the Father doing (John 5:19). These visions are being delivered so that we can understand how to pray His will onto the earth. Once they are given, it's our responsibility to 'pray into them', so to speak.
4) We don't share the vision--it's not yet a 'now' word
The revelation that God gave you may just be waiting for that appointed time. (Habakkuk 2:3) We need to deliver a vision when God says so! Often, He wants us to share right away, but sometimes we may need to hold back the message for a season. I find that God likes to come in at just the right time. He creates better stories than we do. So, we need to be in tune with Him...it may be that He tells us or leads us into not sharing right away. In this case, the vision may not be prophetically attuned to the 'now'...but it may be 'waiting' for God's hand to move, so that after He moves, we can deliver to this or that person a confirmation on what just happened. God wants all of His words to be released in their season.
5) We don't share the vision--it's just for us
We don't share the vision, because it's encouragement from God to us that deals with personal issues. There are a lot of things that I don's share. God may want us to lay low for awhile. He may want us to withhold from sharing what He's doing in a certain area of our lives. Maybe He's forming a testimony, or maybe He's going to allow us to overcome a certain major struggle. Maybe at that point He'll prompt us to share. We'll see!
It isn't always a good idea to share if other people won't understand. Jesus said not to throw our pearls to pigs--not to disclose spiritual gifts to the undiscerning (Matthew 7:6). This is especially true if the vision God gave is symbolic. A non-spiritual person just won't get it! Only a spiritual person--someone filled with the Holy Spirit--can lovingly discern all things (1 Corinthians 2:15). We don't want to risk being trampled and having our faith mocked.
In general, some things are better left withheld. At least until God says share! If He does, then trust that He's opened the door to an awesome opportunity. It may be that the vision He gave you will apply to a nonbeliever in ways that you yourself couldn't imagine. That's what personal prophecy is all about. It shows the reality and redemption of Jesus! But I'm hesitant to go around sharing every symbolic vision.
More posts on visions in the near future. I feel that this is a very important topic. God wants us to be able to convey the word! So, more on this later.
All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
So, say that the Lord gives a vision. It may be come in personal prayer, it may come while praying with others, it may come unexpectedly. It may be an open vision. Either way, it's a gift from God, and that's awesome! And it's likely that the Lord will give us ourselves the interpretation, also. (If not, all the more reason to share!)
We all see in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), so it may just be that God withholds the meaning from us--even if we were the one who had the vision-- so that the faith of everyone can be built up. If we are in a corporate setting with other believers, I think it's safe to assume that any God-given vision can be shared in order to obtain the full revelation on it.
So, we receive a message, a vision or mental picture from God. We will probably get some sort of interpretation. What should we do with it? Often, we should share! Often...but not all the time. Let's look at a few responses we might have after God gives a vision. Keep in mind that there are a lot of variables here. But more than that, know that if God can give a vision, He can also give the receiver a knowledge of what to do with it.
Keep in mind that many times, vision are for our own edification and upliftment. They may not be meant to share. But the following categories can apply to that, too:
1) We share the vision--not knowing ourselves exactly what it means
Like I said, if we are surrounded by loving brothers and sisters in Christ, this could happen often! God may want us to share, so that someone else can be edified in getting the interpretation. Or, He may want us to share because the vision is meant to prophetically apply to someone else present, in a way only they could understand. It can take a level of boldness to just throw the message out there, but we can have faith that it can and will benefit someone else. We probably won't know how--but God does!
It's also possible that a vision is shared and several people receive a personal interpretation that is perfect for them. And that's awesome! Every vision God gives is perfect, in accordance with His Word, so this kind of simultaneous edification can be hoped for and expected.
2) We share the vision and our own interpretation
So, God gives a vision and also gives us that knowing into it's primary meaning. Then we should share both the vision and it's interpretation. It may apply to just one person, or it may apply to a large group of people. It may apply to your home church, or to the Church in general. The Lord may give me a vision that is just meant to build up Vanessa...or He may give Vanessa one that is meant to build up several people.
Don't be surprised if you get the vision while in prayer for one person, and then realize that it also applies to several others later on down the road. Christians are of one mind (hopefully...), and it's pretty common for God to 'recycle' a vision and use it over a variety of people. His timing is intricate and perfect!
Also don't be surprised if, after sharing, others have a different interpretation for what you saw. You yourself probably received the primary meaning...but not necessarily! Even so, there's almost always more than one meaning. The fact that many people are contributing their own interpretations is good--it means that you are all digging further into the revelation!
3) We don't share the vision--it just gives us a foundation for our prophecy or prayer
This is also pretty common. Say you're in prayer, and the Lord is giving visions that help you know what to pray for. He probably doesn't expect you to share all of them. It's more so a case of doing only what you see the Father doing (John 5:19). These visions are being delivered so that we can understand how to pray His will onto the earth. Once they are given, it's our responsibility to 'pray into them', so to speak.
4) We don't share the vision--it's not yet a 'now' word
The revelation that God gave you may just be waiting for that appointed time. (Habakkuk 2:3) We need to deliver a vision when God says so! Often, He wants us to share right away, but sometimes we may need to hold back the message for a season. I find that God likes to come in at just the right time. He creates better stories than we do. So, we need to be in tune with Him...it may be that He tells us or leads us into not sharing right away. In this case, the vision may not be prophetically attuned to the 'now'...but it may be 'waiting' for God's hand to move, so that after He moves, we can deliver to this or that person a confirmation on what just happened. God wants all of His words to be released in their season.
5) We don't share the vision--it's just for us
We don't share the vision, because it's encouragement from God to us that deals with personal issues. There are a lot of things that I don's share. God may want us to lay low for awhile. He may want us to withhold from sharing what He's doing in a certain area of our lives. Maybe He's forming a testimony, or maybe He's going to allow us to overcome a certain major struggle. Maybe at that point He'll prompt us to share. We'll see!
It isn't always a good idea to share if other people won't understand. Jesus said not to throw our pearls to pigs--not to disclose spiritual gifts to the undiscerning (Matthew 7:6). This is especially true if the vision God gave is symbolic. A non-spiritual person just won't get it! Only a spiritual person--someone filled with the Holy Spirit--can lovingly discern all things (1 Corinthians 2:15). We don't want to risk being trampled and having our faith mocked.
In general, some things are better left withheld. At least until God says share! If He does, then trust that He's opened the door to an awesome opportunity. It may be that the vision He gave you will apply to a nonbeliever in ways that you yourself couldn't imagine. That's what personal prophecy is all about. It shows the reality and redemption of Jesus! But I'm hesitant to go around sharing every symbolic vision.
More posts on visions in the near future. I feel that this is a very important topic. God wants us to be able to convey the word! So, more on this later.
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