This Vision

Through God’s Holy Spirit and in his perfect will, the first sermon preached, after Our Lord Jesus had ascended back into Heaven, included the following quoted prophecy, which even today continues to be fulfilled.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” (Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28)

Since then, God has, with one man or woman after another, continued to

• Pour out his Spirit upon them, and 
• Cause the young among them to see visions, and
• The old to dream dreams.

And so in the midst of hardened sinners, a vision was given to one of them that they would all die (in fire) unless a particular young man in their midst turned to God.

• Three days later, that one young man was miraculously led to eternal salvation from sin through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thirty-six years later found this once young man, now old, looking back across a life lived in service to his Savior. Never missing the weekly church meeting whether they went the usual three to four days a week, or sometimes daily, or sometimes all night. Working to bring others to Christ while encouraging those around him to endure. Yes, all seemed well. But both the man and God knew better: there was fear that had grown within this man which had separated him from the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit. The fear of being called to be a missionary.

And then the revival came.

In the midst of this move of God, as others confessed, surrendered and experienced both power and great communion with God, this man was moved and helped by God to finally surrender all. 

• Thirty-six year later then, this now old man began to “dream dreams.”

Dreams of being called by God to go out from the midst of his brethren; from the midst of a church that he had been in for over thirty-five years; from a congregation where he had determined to remain until he died; and from a Pastor known for being strongly opposed to anyone leaving his church.

• For four years more he prayed without ever telling anyone (not even his wife and family) of the persistent and increasing call of God for him to be “set apart”, as it is written

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them.”  (Acts 13:2, AMP)

And then God closed the church.

Two weeks later, after visiting and trying to find a new church, God asked, in that still and quiet voice which he is so known for, “What are you doing?” And the man knew… what he must do.

• No more halting.
• No more doubting.
• No more waiting for anything more than was already printed on the plain pages of the Bible in his drawer, on his desk, in his hands, and in his heart.
• No more sin of looking to himself or any other man for ability and consent.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then said I, “Here am I; send me.”

And then the vision, and then the dreams, and then the plans for what God wanted increased and continued to come. Not in this man’s scheduling but in the timing and turning of God, directions came and (Hallelujah) continue to come. Nothing turning back but, as it is when the Lord is leading, always in a plan that builds towards greater fulfillment of his Word, his will.

And where and what is this vision today, as this so prayerfully is typed? Read on if you dare, and it will now be in your heart too.

1. It begins with you pledging to do all that you can to reach your own neglected nation first, through the abandoned back parts of its cities; before going on with your life to live wherever you are or wherever you are afterwards sent.
2. It continues with you acting upon your faith in Christ by surrendering to be either
   • a mentor who donates their professional talents or
   • a missionary willing to biblically (Acts 1:8) give at least your first year of service towards reaching the forgotten souls in your “Jerusalem, and in all [your] Judaea, and in [your] Samaria.”
   • (Samaria, you know, was their version of their neglected forgotten disdained inner city people.)
3. The vision then continues to expand as missionaries, now with a heart (like the Aposte Paul’s) filled with the joy that comes from bringing Christ to your own before bringing Him to others.

So now you see. You see the vision. Do not turn away. Pray.

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)

Therefore said he unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)