Spiritual Warfare: Vision (Repost)

I’m reposting several previous posts in conjunction with a new post I’m developing. The first is related to …. published August 2019. I’m reposting to stress the importance of God’s people to discern the times we are living and make whatever spiritual and natural adjustments to press in further…

August 24, 2019

There is a war going on over our future. An ongoing battle between good and evil. This conflict originated in heaven when Adam and Eve, influenced by Satan, rebelled against God’s perfect plan for them. We may not see this battle with our natural eyes because Satan is a deceiver who goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. We are encouraged to be sober-minded and watchful. We are not to be ignorant of his devices. (1 Peter 5:8)

The ability to see and hear spiritually is crucial today. God has a great future for His Church. Yet, we must have foresight and vision to see what lies ahead or we will be unprepared. In these turbulent times preparation and readiness is necessary to move into the future. We must be properly equipped and prepared for the greater wave of glory that’s coming. One of the primary reasons God allows us to see into the future is so that our hope and strength is in Him in the midst of the adversity around us (Isa. 40:31).

The wind is blowing!

Jesus “said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” (Luke 12:54-56)

In the midst of all that is taking place now, the Spirit of the Lord will show us our future. I will never forget 25 years ago the Lord spoke to me from Jeremiah 33:3 saying,

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

Afterwards, the Spirit begin to gradually reveal to me over time the future plans for my life. This didn’t happen all at once. It is a process. A process that requires submission and obedience to God’s will and His ways.

God’s vision for His people always has a divine redemptive purpose. Many times we read Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” and get excited about the prospect of knowing God has a plan for our lives. Still, we do nothing to pursue His divine will and purpose for our lives. God’s vision is not just for us or our personal our benefit. It is a part of His greater plan for His Church and the world. It is for the benefit of generations to come. It’s for my children and grandchildren. It’s for your children and grandchildren. It’s so that others may live to see the glory of the Lord in the land of the living and be victorious over the forces of darkness that rule this world (Jn. 8:44-47; 12:31-33; 14:30; Eph. 2:1-3).

The God of all Truth reveals His plans of redemption, but we must be willing to watch, listen, pray and run with the vision as He reveals our part in His divine purposes. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13)

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. 

Habakkuk 2:1-4 NIV

We are to run with God’s vision for the restoration of humanity.  Jesus is returning soon! As believers, let’s do our part to make ready for His return. The earth is shaking and groaning awaiting the manifestation of God’s mature sons and daughters of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 8:22-25 NIV

When we live in the Spirit and see according to the Spirit we gain vision and wisdom for the future. God can then position us in a place where we can see what He sees. This is what makes us prophetic people.

I love Acts 17:24-27. I believe we are living in a time where God wants us to see, hear and speak as prophetic people, revealing His heart of love for all humanity.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Acts 17:24-27

God has promised to cover the earth with His glory (Hab. 2:14). Satan does everything possible to prevent us from seeing what God wants us to see. Remember, without God’s vision people perish (Jer. 29:18). People are perishing every day.  Let us take hold of the vision and run with. There are lives depending it!

The greatest need for all at this time is the need for diligence and a radical pursuit of God. Knowing the will of God will always be more valuable than all of the treasures of this world. Many people are walking around blinded to the truth of God love. The Church of Christ is called to unveil the “good news” to those who are lost and perishing. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and to open blind eyes so that they can the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. Our heart must be tempered to care enough for those who are perishing. (Luke 19:10)

But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost. The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 MEV

Watchmen are very much needed today….

Notes:

All Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard (NASB) unless otherwise noted.