All About Visions: Walking into the Vision

**For the previous posts in this series on visions, see these links:

All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
All About Visions: Sharing the Message



Visions come in all sorts or different ways.  Many of them are interactive!  This was the case in Bible times, and this is still the case today.

Then He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

Ezekiel 3:1-3

Here we have Ezekiel in a vision that transcended his current reality.  It was much more real than 'real' life!  I would call this sort of experience a trance vision.  In it, one may move, touch, taste, smell, etc. the things being seen.  They may talk to other people or to angels.  I would consider this kind of thing to be an out-of-body experience.

And it all started for Ezekiel when "the heavens were opened" (Ezekiel 1:1).  That's when it starts for all of us!  God comes down and sets up habitation with us.  And that's when the supernatural things of God start to happen.  That's when we can 'walk into' a vision and really experience it--earthly senses included.

Interactive visions may come for many reasons--but one of the main reasons is so that we know how to intercede.   Visions are a wonderful way to conceptualize God's will, and if we know His will, then we'll also know how to pray for others.  We'll know how to intercede and pray into God's target. (More on this in a future post).  So, how do we have an interactive vision?  Let's look to the Word:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"
Luke 11:11

So, we can ask in faith, not doubting, and then receive!  Now, seeking may be a process, even a long one, of drawing closer and closer to the Lord.  But He gave us a wonderful promise there!  We ask, we believe, we receive--and we do so by living within the Holy Spirit.  While we're there, God will decide exactly what to give us, but we can trust that He is gracious an faithful to give.

If God is willing to give of Himself, then the question is, how do we position ourselves?  How do we get into the Spirit?  Music can be a major way.  Praise and worship can intensify the work of the Holy Spirit, who is already alive and active within us.  Music can activate the prophetic, it can activate visions ...it can activate our understanding of a parable that the Lord has already spoken.  Music can bring us into the Spirit.  Let's take a look at the Word, again:

But now bring me a minstrel." And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. He said, "Thus says the LORD....
2 Kings 3:15

"I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre."
Psalm 49:4

John was in the Spirit when God gave him revelation (Revelation 1:10).  He was told to "Come up here" (Revelation 4:1)!  And it can be just the same today. We get into the Spirit and the Lord extends His arm and takes us into a vision.  He allows us to walk into it, to interact with it, and to change it, all for His purposes and all for His glory.  We may see the resurrected Jesus.  We may see angels. We may see family members that we need to pray for.  Or we may see things that are mostly symbolic.  It's God who gives the vision, and it's God who decides what He will.

We should all be seeking the Lord for a full portion.  He wants to give us all our daily bread.  He wants to give us all something powerful enough to radically change us!  God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalms 107:9).  He fills them!

Snapshot: Having God's Heart

Last week the Lord showed me a softened heart and explained:

"I am taking your heart and making it Mine. You are Mine, so take heart in the truth.  Today, I am sending you to deliver truth"

Isn't that what it's about?  When we have acquired God's heart, then we can deliver His truth.  And we can also 'take heart'--get it?--in knowing that we have received from Him.  We have received from Him a truth that delivers and is delivered among the darkness of this world.  

"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."           Hebrews 10:22

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart."        2 Cor. 4:1

"Guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God who delivers me....."             Psalm 25:5

Dream: Repentance with Jesus; Winds of Change

Last night I had an interesting experience.  I was dreaming and the Lord Jesus came in.  I did not quite see Him in this dream, that I can remember. However, He seemed very close by and I did really feel His presence.  Once this presence came into my awareness--wow,  what love!  I was pretty taken aback with admiration and bliss.  I felt His love surround me and was left in adoration.

And I also felt the need to repent.  I realized how far from perfection, how far from Him, I'd been living.  I repented and repented and repented--I had to in order to withstand His nearness.  I became acutely aware of the degrees of pride, impurity, and unbelief I had let into my daily life.  For every 'good' work I had done, I understood that He had the ability to just burn it up.  At the same time, I did not really feel a worldly guilt.  My sense of unworthiness was refreshing, not condemning.

So I did repent.  With each confession, and every time I turned back from something, I felt Jesus come nearer.  I felt Him begin to penetrate my heart.  I felt His Love in a new way.  His presence got so, so thick.  I was crying, and then sobbing.  I had repented, and I finally felt clean!  And I could let Him in.  Praise the Lord!  This experience did not take very long, but resulted in so much heart change.

After this, I woke up.  I think it was about midnight.  And I heard this roaring wind in my ears.  I felt like it was from God--but it still frightened me.  It was a loud, intimidating sound, and I was hearing it almost internally,  not sensing that I had over it any amount of control.  It would pick up and then withdraw a little.  I asked the Lord if He would make it more bearable, and He did.  It became quieter, and then I went back to sleep.

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”                                  John 3:8

I've had the above verse in my head for a couple days now.  It's clearer now that it'd been preparation for what happened last night.  This morning I did some research.    This year, according to the Hebrew calendar year 5775, is a year for the Winds of Change to manifest on the earth.  This is a time when God will blow away our impurities and usher in a new thing.   The Holy Spirit will usher in a time of greater purity and longing for Jesus.

Here is an article on the Elijahlist about the winds of change and their multitudes of purpose.  There are many winds, because there are many changes that can take place for the better.  We are cleansed by these changes--our own shortcomings are blown away and a spiritual shift takes place.

"When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses."              Jeremiah 10:13

STREET MINISTRY UPDATE #2: PINEHURST

Vanessa and I are still enjoying Pinehurst.  We've been so blessed by God to stay here.  Ministry is just gearing up now, as we've had a busier first half of the week with family, and with projects.  From now on, we're hoping for more time available to get out on the streets (or Wal-mart).

We were essentially gifted two Go-Pro cameras for our trip, and the plan is to use them on this upcoming weekend to document some of the miracles we see during street ministry.  We'll be doing lots of ministry those days, so stay tuned for Update #3 early next week.  Vanessa and I have hope in the Lord!

Back to this current update--Tuesday was a good day.  Every day should be!  We went out to do ministry at the Fresh Market (grocery store) for a while again, and were blessed.  God is continuing to faithfully train us in receiving direction, words of knowledge, and prophetic insight.  Vanessa saw a older man about to leave the store, and she hurried after him. (She had felt impressed that he needed prayer earlier, but hesitated.) She caught up to him and they prayed right in the entrance of the building.  He didn't want prayer at first, but then opened up...this man had sciatica in his lower back, and after prayer, he said that his pain had lessened quite a bit. She asked if she could pray one more time, and he gladly said yes this time. After a second prayer, he said that the pain was completely gone! They both praised God!

Jesus is beautiful. Healings are beautiful!  Sometimes I wish that I could see the aftereffects of a healing and how that person is changed to go on through the rest of their life.  I wonder how many choose to share with family and friends what God's done for them.  And I wonder how many become itinerant street evangelists themselves because of what they've experienced.  When I get to Heaven, I really want to see this!

While at the store we also saw four people we knew, two of which I hadn't seen for years.  I thought this was a blessing in and of itself.  After that, God revealed that a certain man had lower back pain that resulted in walking difficulty.  The man was a little surprised that we knew this, and he was very open to prayer.  So we prayed for that spirit of back pain to leave, but it just wouldn't budge.  After some direction we realized it was caused by unforgiveness in that family towards the military.  I was thankful for the words of knowledge but very sad for the man.  But I'll choose to believe that we were aligned together for a reason, and that God will do the work of healing in the future.  Sometimes God does the miracle later, and we don't see it.  He is in control, and His timing isn't always the same as ours.

Yesterday, Wednesday, Vanessa and I headed out for a few hours of ministry after lunch.  We went to Wal-Mart first.  We were blessed to come into contact with many people with softened hearts and openness to prayer.  The first healing was that of a lady with chronic lower back pain. She was so thankful to God when she felt all of her back pain leave.  Then we prayed for a lady who had nerve damage, muscle weakness, and several other problems.  She had great faith--she wanted to pray that God would give her new nerves!  After some wonderful prayer, she felt good.  I trust that the Lord did what she'd asked Him for.

Next the Spirit directed us to a lady we met last week through my parents. When we met her last week, she and Vanessa found that they had so much in common, included that they both attended John MacArthur's church in Los Angeles in the past. She and Vanessa really connected and had a great time talking together.  While they talked, the Lord showed me to a man in an electric wheelchair.  He had bad arthritis in his knees.  He said that he'd love to be healed, but didn't seem to think that kind of thing would be possible.  I prayed quickly, and he said he'd know if he was better once he got up and walked around.  I saw him again in the checkout line, and he was moving his leg around and looking at it intently.  He said he felt better. We prayed again, and the Lord burdened me to tell him that he was free.  I trust that God healed him fully.

We continued walking around the store for a while, and Vanessa spoke encouragement to two different people. When she approached them, she didn't know what they needed, but as she prayed with them, God gave her insight into their life. They were encouraged and one of the ladies said, "I really needed that." Sometimes we have to step out in faith and God will give us insight after we begin to pray with a person!

Some people turned down prayer.  We approached one lady, who was pretty oppressed.  She said, "I see what you're doing in here, and I don't like it.  Do they know you're in here?  I'm going to report you."  We felt strongly she was demonized. She was petite and looked about 80 years old, but the fierceness she had was pretty shocking.

Then we saw a nice, Southern lady named Lyla whose left ear was painful and partially deaf.  She had sharp pain that went from her ear into her jaw. After one prayer her pain was gone, out of the jaw as well, and after two prayers, her ear was opened and she could hear much more clearly. She praised God and was so excited.  She wanted to tell her doctors what had happened. We didn't pray for her back, but she had herniated disks, and that pain was taken away too.  I like it when that happens--when the Lord really overshadows us.  It just goes to show you that God knows what we need!

A little while later we went to the Fresh Market again.  Vanessa had picked up something oppressive and wanted to be filled with the Spirit before she went in.  She stayed in the car, and I went in first.  She was sitting in the car when she saw an older man with a cane walking by her.  She went over to meet him at his car, and asked if she could pray for his leg.  He was so open to the prayer, and his wife, who was waiting in the car, was excited to see "a young person offer prayer!" (We do get that a lot!)  Vanessa put her hand on his knee, and he said, "Oh no!  Put it right down here!" as he took her hand and put it lower, on his ankle. (Note: we don't believe that there is power in our hand- it is the power of God.) After one prayer, the man said the pain had lessened. Vanessa asked if it was perfect, and he said it wasn't. She asked if she could pray one more time, and he eagerly said yes. After a second prayer, he said that all the pain was gone!  Praise God! We are learning that God honors persistence. (Like the parable of the woman persistently knocking late at night.)

We stayed there for a while longer, and met two sweet Christian ladies who were so encouraging to us.  They both needed prayer for healing, so we all held hands and prayed for God to heal them. Their diseases didn't have a way to be measured right there in the store (there was no physical pain,) but we believe that God did heal them.

That's all for now.  We praise Jesus for allowing us to do these things for Him and by His power.  He rewards whatever we give away.  And we're excited for more ministry in the future.  We have a few more solid days in Pinehurst left.  I know that the Lord will bless them!

Heart Matters or Mind Matters?

A few days ago, I was being going through a time of teaching and I felt like my mind was getting in the way of what God wanted to show me.  It was like my thoughts and emotions were not agreeing with the truths He was revealing in my heart.  Thankfully, after some moments of mental tug-of-war, the Lord delivered me out of this.

And I saw a vision that my heart had already been purified.  It had already been cleansed and washed pure by the blood.  I was in line with His Spirit, and my heart was crying out, "Father!"  (Romans 8:15)

My mind, on the other hand, was still conforming to the world.  It was getting in the way of Kingdom reality.  It was not willing to go deeper into the word.  I had become, to quote Bill Johnson again (his new book is great!), "intellectually offended".  My mind was thrown into doubt because I could not logically conceptualize what the Holy Spirit wanted to show me.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.  But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.  But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

So we know that God knows all things.  That's an awesome concept.  The more God teaches us, the more we need to yield to His Spirit.  The deepest revelations that God can give usually make the least sense along natural lines.  Just look at the Book of Revelation itself, for example!  We need to acquire a heavenly wisdom and heavenly truth.  And praise God we already have this, but in order to access it we need to yield to Him.  We need to yield our preconceived ideas and our own opinions.  We need to give up the worldly wisdom that we thought we had.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you.  

1 Corinthians 3:19-20

So let's give up the hindrances within our minds.  Friendship with the world is contrary to God, and so is adapting the mindsets of the world (James 4:4)  We also need to give up our fear.  God won't despise us for coming to Him with a broken spirit (Psalms 51:17).  We need to give up our worries and live in the moment.  Change can and often does cause fear and worry, but we need to respond to the Lord's teachings in faith.  As Jesus would say, "Why are you so afraid?" (Matthew 8:26).  The one who can accept a new message should accept it.  (Matthew 19:12)  Lord, let me be that one!

Sometimes revelation can be scary.  Sometimes a new thing can be perceived as impure, only because of it's novelty.  Sometimes we doubt that God is faithful, if we ask for a gift of revelation, to give us that rather than a snake (Luke 11:11).  Sometimes we need to receive faith to accompany our gifts.  

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:17

The more faith we have, the more we can hear Him.  And the more He can teach us.  And the more He can share wisdom.  We need to receive new wineskins to accommodate these gifts (Matthew 9:17)

When He gives revelation, we make sure it testifies to Jesus, then we accept it in our hearts.  Don't let your mind overshadow the Divine Mind of God!!  Don't let your idea of spirituality limit His Spirit.  Don't let where you're at currently detract from where He wants to take you.  

It's time to get ourselves out of God's way.  It's time to discern with a softened heart and guidance from His Spirit.  It's time to stop judging based on the inhibitions of our human minds.  It's time to take God for His Word and be conformed to the world no longer (Romans 12:2).  Let's be taken together into a place where fresh revelation and the spirit of wisdom are plentiful (Ephesians 1:17)

Confirmed:  Later on in the day when God gave me this vision, I was reading a Joyce Meyer book called, "Battlefield of the Mind".  In it she emphasized being led by your HEART, not by your mind or doubts.  If we have received from the Father a softened heart, then our heart's feelings are what we need.  We don't need to go by our minds, which are so vulnerable to the lies of the our accuser.  

Confirmed:  Several messages recently have come to me that stress the importance of our hearts.  From Facebook memes--yes, God can work through Facebook--to the forums over at the Quickened Word, God has been faithful to keep confirming to me His original message.

Confirmed:  A good friend sent me an email that included a prayer for forgiveness, again, on the very same day that I received the vision.  I don't actually get emails like this very much.  Below are a few short excerpts, in italics.  I bolded the most confirming parts.

Meditate on the truth of who God is and who you are in Him:

Take into your heart and spirit scriptures about God's forgiveness, mercy, grace, and love. Psalm 103 is a good place to start.

Take an objective view of your past to learn from your failure. What did you learn about yourself and God through this experience?

Allow God to expose the wound for His healing touch, and refuse the attempts of the accuser and destroyer to harass you anymore, because the King of glory stands as your Defender and Advocate.

...Thank You that You control me, not my emotions or what others say or do. I receive all Your blessings for my life and give You all praise, honor, and glory.  

God makes the best stories, He paints the best pictures, and He teaches the best teachings.  He is teaching us new things.  Will we receive them.  Let's pray ourselves into alignment with the Word:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."    Ephesians 1:17

Snapshot: How's the Fruit?

"Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance."  Matthew 3:8

A few days ago I started seeing fruit in my visions.  Oranges have been quickened recently--from featuring on the Quickened Word site, to randomly seeing Florida license plates (oranges).  God is funny sometimes.

And I knew that this related to the verse above.  Repentance to me means sorrow leading to heart change.  If we are just sad about our mistakes and our sins, something is missing.  We need to be changed from the inside out.  God's grace extended to us in forgiveness needs to compel us!  It needs to compel us to change our actions.  It needs to motivate us to bear better fruit.  Don't abuse His grace!

God has since started speaking to me about fruitfulness in my tasks.  If we work for Him, He'll make us fruitful.  That's the truth!  He is faithful to come in and give us the hundred-fold if we are working for Him (Matthew 13:8).  Why?  Because He wants us to bless us for His name's sake.

Then this morning, Vanessa had a vision of bunches of oranges.  Bearing fruit comes from God's goodness.  It comes when He places this goodness within us.  No good tree bears bad fruit.  So Let's dedicate everything to Him.  He will change your everyday life first, probably, and steer your attention to Him.  Then He will make your important work fruitful.  That's the second step; that's the hundred-fold.  Will you rededicate the things you care most about to Him?  He will be faithful to reward you!  God can change you from the inside out.  Let Him do the work, and let Him redeem the things that were selfishly motivated in the past.  Bobby Connor says that God has called us to "redeem the time".  How true!  Allow Him to take over your actions for His glory.