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Pulpit Today Sermon
The Purpose of God-Given Visions
Job 33:14–18
by Robert D. Pace
God has blessed Christians with two types of vision—natural and spiritual. As you understand the purpose of natural human eyesight, it helps demonstrate the purpose of visions born of the Holy Spirit. For example, if our natural eyesight is blurred and darkened, it isn’t easy to manage life and can imperil our welfare. The same holds true for God-given spiritual visions. Such visions provide people with knowledge, direction, and opportunity. But before going further into this message, I want to pause to clarify the type of vision I’m referring to today.
(Definition) A vision may come to your mind with dimension, shape, and color—something as vivid as John’s apocalyptic revelation at Patmos. Or, God’s vision can come in the form of a deep impression that presses against your soul. As the Apostle Peter experienced in Acts 10, a vision can appear while in a God-induced trance when the Lord instructed him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Regardless of how God communicates a vision, it will always include the conviction that God has ordained it.
(Transition) Through the course of today’s message, I trust you will understand how Scripture validates dreams, visions, and special revelations, and uses them to glorify His Name. The foremost purpose of visions is to disclose God’s Sovereignty over life.
Visions Disclose God’s Sovereignty
In the book of Daniel, the Lord gave His prophet a vision that foretold a succession of empires that would rule the world. His visions were so accurate that skeptics accused the Jewish keepers of Scripture of purposely misdating Daniel’s prophecies. These skeptics couldn’t conceive of a God who knew the future as well as the past. Nevertheless, the God of Israel repeatedly sent dreams and visions to His prophets, and in so doing, it assured the Israelites that their God sovereignly governed the nations.
In Genesis, the Lord entered the dreams of Pharaoh to warn him of a seven-year famine. Although his dreams required Joseph to interpret them, his interpretation spared two nations—Israel and Egypt—from disastrous consequences. Here again, the Lord used special revelation to affirm His sovereignty over human history. And don’t forget how the Lord had spoken to Joseph about two decades earlier of his brothers bowing before him. This likely brought hope to Joseph and helped him “keep on keeping on” during tough times. After being betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph’s dreams assured him that God had not abandoned and would use him for a higher purpose.
(Transition) Secondly, let’s examine how God-given visions furnish direction for people.
God-given Visions Furnish Guidance
Vision helps us prophetically prepare for the future and plan our course. Let me illustrate what I mean.
(Illustration) In 1953, my 22-year-old dad experienced a wonderful vision regarding his military assignment to France. Just before leaving the United States for France, the Lord showed Dad my mother leaving America and crossing the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe. So he told his new bride, “Honey, I want you to sell the car when I leave and purchase a ship ticket to France.” But when he arrived at his Post, he was told it would be nearly impossible to get his wife over. Even military officers weren’t permitted to bring over their wives. But as my dad trusted God’s guidance, he filed the paperwork and, remarkably, an officer approved it! Consequently, my mother bought the ticket, boated over, and I was born a year later! Thank goodness for heavenly visions!
Fortunately, we have the testimony of Scripture that shows us how to respond to God-given visions:
A vision guided Joseph and Mary, along with the Christ child, into Egypt to avoid Herod’s slaughtering of infants.
The Lord gave a vision to the prophet Agabus of a devastating famine coming to the Middle East. After sharing it with the infant Church, the Apostles crafted a plan of provision to help thousands of Christians overcome it.
As Paul was transported over the Mediterranean Sea, a mighty storm struck the vessel. Just before the crew lost all hope, the Lord gave the Apostle Paul a vision assuring him of everyone’s safety. Thus, it supplied the captain with enough encouragement to proceed with the journey. You see, God’s goodness resides upon those who heed a vision from the Lord.
(Transition) Another intention for God-supplied visions is to convey the gravity of a situation. Throughout life, God calls us to assignments of varying degrees of importance. Some endeavors are menial, while others are consequential. This is evidenced throughout the Scriptures:
Visions Convey the Importance of a Situation
One of the most notable visions in the New Testament was given to Paul as he was planning a missionary journey. However, the Holy Spirit spoke to Paul, warning him not to go into Asia. So, Paul immediately complied with the Lord’s instructions. Shortly thereafter, the Holy Spirit showed him a vision of a Macedonian man calling for help. So, Paul re-routed his course and headed for Macedonia, where God abundantly blessed his ministry.
It’s here that Paul’s Macedonian vision gets incredibly interesting because Macedonia is where Paul became fast friends with Dr. Luke. It was most likely Luke that God placed in the vision and beckoned for Paul’s presence in Macedonia. Luke was not only a skilled physician, he was also a prolific writer, for it was Luke who became Paul’s assistant and would later write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.
Do you see the value of heaven-sent visions? The Macedonian Vision brought together a preeminent partnership of the New Testament—Paul and Luke. Imagine what might have happened had Paul ignored his Macedonian vision. Without the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, we would lack 52 chapters of the New Testament. The Macedonian vision has made a phenomenal impact on people throughout the centuries. Likewise, Simon Peter’s vision of taking the Gospel to non-Jews resulted in millions of Gentiles converting to Jesus Christ as their Savior (Acts 10). Never discount the value of a God-given vision; they can change the course of life!
(Transition) Let’s next examine how visions affirm God’s care for His People.
Visions Affirm God’s Care for His People
For those who have experienced a vision or dream from God and then watched it come to pass, you understand the amazement it stirs within your soul. It’s typically because they come to pass in a way you hadn’t conceived. That’s why they are filled with double wonder: (1) they disclose God’s sovereignty over life, and (2) they assure us that He cares deeply for us. Always remember this: Fate does not guide us. We cannot boast of being the directors of our destiny. God does not allow “chance” to govern our welfare. Visions from God prove He is trustworthy and that the “steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way (Psalm 37:23).
As the Lord speaks to you through visions and dreams, you’ll discover His sure hold will never let you go. You’ll see that He’s guiding you through all circumstances, especially through tough times.
(Illustration) Years ago, I leased a home with a $900.00 per month payment. It was a temporary six-month lease that allowed us to search for a permanent place to live. Things were beginning to tighten financially during that six-month period, but the Lord brought comfort through a dream. He showed me two $900.00 checks lying on the mantle over the fireplace. I felt the Lord was saying He would provide two month’s rent for our home. And sure enough, in the next two months, two different businessmen handed me $900.00 for the rent payment.
Vision discloses the future by speaking of a course of action we should take, a word of warning to heed, or coming events to pray about. Simply put, a vision supplies a vital piece of information that guards our welfare.
God discloses visions to build faith, create hope, and help us trust Him during trying times. That’s what Paul discovered in Acts 18 when he ministered in Corinth. Turn to that passage and let’s read.
Read: Acts 18:1–11
When Paul ministered in Corinth, he was contested by people who despised the Gospel of Christ. Who contested his ministry? The Jewish religionists! The opposition he suffered reached critical mass and Luke notes that it even became blasphemous! But this triggered the turning-point of Paul’s ministry. He literally began shaking off his garments in front of his enemies and concluded that God was leading him to focus on the Gentiles. That’s when the Lord gave him a vision to forget his fears and keep on preaching. God literally said, “I am with you, and no man will attack you to harm you.” The Corinthian revival exploded and the ministry to the Gentiles followed.
I love the fact that God gives His people visions. When the Lord supernaturally inspires someone with a vision, it’s His way of letting us work with His plan. Remember, too, that the Prophet Joel and the Apostle Peter recognized visions and dreams taking a prominent place during the Last Days. Nevertheless, there is something more important than receiving a vision. Let me explain.
More important than a Vision
Perhaps you haven’t experienced a vision of opportunity like Moses, Gideon, David, or others in the Bible. That’s okay! Don’t get discouraged. Let me show you where you can start: You can begin by focusing on Jesus. Contemplate Christ. Meditate on his goodness, his teachings, and his miracles recorded in the Bible. This is what Hebrews 12:2 means when it says: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
(Definition) The words, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus” form a vivid photographic image. The scholar W.E. Vines translates the word “fix” this way. It means, “to look away from one thing so as to see another.” It’s shutting your eyes to worldly affections and opening your eyes toward Christ and His ways.
(Application) Most people enjoy peering through a telescope to investigate the constellations. But there is something you must do in order to keep a star, a planet, a moon, or a comet in proper view of the telescope. Simply pointing the telescope toward the sky doesn’t accomplish this. You must ‘focus and follow’ the object to properly view it. The reason we have to “focus and follow” the object is because the constellations are always moving.
This was the chief failure of the First Century religionists. They refused to “focus and follow” the Lord. Listen to how Jesus characterized them: Matthew 13:15 says: “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’”
Of all people, the Pharisees and Sadducees should have embraced the Messiah because they had all the equipment required for “focusing and following” Him. These religious professors had the Law, the Prophets, the prophecies, and the Scriptures, which was all they needed—to identify the Messiah. The prophecies of the Old Testament had unfolded all around them: His birth, his teachings, his life, death, and resurrection had played out before them. But they hardened their hearts and shut their eyes, and thus, they couldn’t “focus and follow” the Lord! Jesus said if they had done that, they would have known He was the Messiah!
There’s a principle that appears at this point: When the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul focused on Christ and obeyed His commands, God supplied them with supernatural revelation. It seems that this principle still occurs. When Christians keep their eyes on Jesus and obey His commands, it increases the likelihood of seeing visions and dreams! Commune with God! It’s as simple as that. Just spend time with your Heavenly Father. God not only listens, He speaks! Your fellowship with God will bring foresight to your life.
God even took the time to reveal His plans to the last generation of people that would live on the earth. He wanted to warn the world of the Apocalypse, so He opened the Apostle John’s eyes to see the Revelation of the Last Days. Do you realize that God could have remained silent and not warned mankind about the Anti-Christ and the Tribulation? But He graciously disclosed 22 chapters of visionary warning to John in the Book of Revelation and now the world knows what to anticipate!
(Transition) I want to close today’s message by issuing a word of warning.
Conclusion
There’s a reason Scripture condemns the practice of consulting spirits and mediums. The Bible expressly forbids using horoscopes, astrology, and Ouija boards. Why is this so? It’s because Christ is absent! The focus of horoscopes and astrology is on a lesser “god.” It’s on a false, evil, and demonic “god,” and not the holy Creator and Savior.
When a person consults these forbidden practices, they invite the powers of hell to intrude upon their life. Think about it. Witchcraft, incantations, séances, and horoscopes are only effective as spirits of darkness empower them. And when someone focuses on these forbidden practices of Scripture, it creates an attachment to the demons behind them. It creates an invited relationship between that person and a demonic entity. But worse yet, it could create bondage to a demonic entity.
The reason some people are troubled and tormented is directly related to their attachments. When a person’s mind, heart, and actions are attached to the activities strictly forbidden by Holy Scripture, it brings torment! When someone pursues worldly pleasures and takes delight in philosophy or illicit drugs, or they worship the creature and not the Creator, they become ensnared by powers that work for their defeat and demise.
Isaiah 57:21 says: “the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. (21) There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”
But Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen [Heavenly matters]. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
This is why God wants our “attachment” directly to Christ. It’s because only Christ can renew, refresh, and fill us with joy and peace. Hear David’s words in Psalm 16:8. “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (9) Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices.” David’s attachment to His Savior brought him great fulfillment. And when you “set the Lord before you at all times,” He supplies great blessings:
As the “water of life,” He completely refreshes our soul.
As the “bread of life,” He fills and satisfies our spiritual hunger.
As Emmanuel, He is “God with us” for every circumstance.
As our Savior, He provides us with peace for today, tomorrow, and forever!