6-22-2016

Good Morning All!!   

           Acts 2:17; “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”

    “So why don’t we have visions anymore like they had in the Bible?”  This was a question in a Bible Study a little while back.  Now some would tell you that there are many things in the Book of Acts that don’t happen anymore like the miraculous healings and the visions and the dreams and the talking in tongues.   That may be but I think that is a cop out.  I am not sure that you can say that people aren’t having dreams and visions; it might be that we don’t recognize them as much.

     So I asked how do you know that we don’t.  This threw them for a loop.  So I asked them about earthly visions.  They looked at me so I explained.  A business usually needs a plan for the future if it desires to seek a loan from the bank to expand.  This is a type of vision.  Young people need to have a vision of what they want to do with their life as they pick and choose the classes that they will take; this is a form of vision.  A vision, in many ways, is just a projection into the future of a particular need, want or desire and a method to accomplish it.  I have known preachers who had a vision of a school or medical service intricately tied to the church.  It may take years to accomplish but they eventually “follow their dream” or vision and accomplish it.  The vision may change over the years, an elementary school instead of a high school, but the vision is essentially the same.

     So I would say that we do have visions.  I remember a fellow pastor telling of a detailed email he received from a member explaining how the church could start a special ministry to an immigrant community.  The member told of dates for meeting, topics, lists of people who could help interpret, needs of the immigrants and a list of names.  When the pastor approached the member, complimented them on the incredible idea and invited them to go ahead and follow the vision; the member turned him down flat.  Maybe the problem isn’t that we don’t have visions; the trouble is that we don’t follow the vision that God gives us. 

    Perhaps we are guilty of asking God for a vision but then responding, “no, not that one; I want a different one.”  Perhaps our visions are like our prayers; we want what we want when we want it.  Perhaps this is another case of us not really listening to God, trusting his Word and faithfulness and obeying His commands.  Perhaps you have had a vision and God is stretching your faith.  Remember; stretched faith has room to grow and be drawn closer to Jesus.  Trust God to deliver you through what he shows you.

Father, you lead me through so many paths and show me so many things.  Guide me by your Spirit to follow where you lead me.  Give me the courage to walk as you lead me.  Lead me to put my trust in you.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,                              

Pastor Bret