Vision

When God chooses you for something... He shows you a picture.

That picture is VISION; and that picture is your assignment...

"For the VISION is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry". Habakuk 2:3(KJV)

Note: This piece is written for those of you who have been pursuing a goal that is very important to you. You’ve been praying, you’ve been studying, you’ve been working, you've been watching; and now you're waiting for this goal to come to fruition. This is specifically for those who have been praying, working, watching and waiting a long time; not weeks or months; YEARS.

When God chooses you for something, He shows you a picture. That picture is VISION; and that picture is your assignment. Some have a portrait of one day writing a book. Others picture finding a better job. Some picture making improvements in their health. Many musicians have a portrait of doing a recording. And the entrepreneurs among us picture finally starting that business. No matter what vision you have; there are a few things you should know.
One, you need to realize that there are principalities and evil spirits that are determined to keep you from that vision. Why? Because, the vision God gave you plays a part in the Kingdom that God is establishing. You may not see how, but if you stop and look around, the implications are there. Your vision affects your family and it affects your friends. In fact, your vision it impacts this city. Your vision contributes to the work that God is doing at this time in your area. It fits like a puzzle piece into God's plan and it affects the future of this world. So, as a result, evil principalities of this world will oppose you at every turn.

Next, you need to know how your opposition will oppose you. Because I’ve experienced their tactics, I can tell you that they will attack your confidence in the vision you’ve been given. They will try to convince you that your vision is nothing more than an ILLUSION or a DILLUSION.
An Illusion is a false belief. It’s a portrait of a reality that will never exist (as in “optical illusion”). Your opposition will try to convince you that you have been psychologically deceived; i.e., "the book you’ve been planning is not real"; "the business you are imagining will never exist"; "the album you’re working towards will never be on store shelves"; "you will never arrive at the goals you are working towards"; "it’s all a mirage".

A Delusion is slightly different. A delusion is an unreasonable belief. It is a fantasy that rejects reality (as in a paranoid delusion, or delusions of grandeur). Your opposition will say your goal may exist; but its unreasonable for you. What your planning can be done; but you can’t do it; i.e., "it’s not your path"; "you don’t have what it takes"; "you’re a fool for believing you could do this".

You need to be confident that your vision is not an illusion; and your vision is not a delusion. Whatever it is; whether it’s a health goal, a professional goal, a ministry goal, an educational goal, a family goal; whatever vision you have, it is God’s work in you. He is the one who has convinced you that your goal must be done and that it must be done this way. He chose you to pursue the portrait at this time in history. And He is not going to give your vision to anyone else. No one else can write YOUR book. No one else can start YOUR business. No one can burn YOUR calories; no one can get YOUR college degree.
Finally, you must realize that FAITH is your weapon to battle the lies that the principalities and evil spirits will bombard you with. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.
Faith is Substance and Evidence of your vision. If your vision is called a delusion; Faith is the Substance that confirms your vision is true. And if your vision is called an illusion, Faith is your Evidence that your vision will come to pass. Faith is Substance and Evidence that your business will succeed. Faith is Substance and Evidence that your book will be completed and it will be a success. Faith is Substance and Evidence that you will reach your goal. But, if you do not have Faith, then your vision has no Substance or Evidence and it can not survive an attack by the enemy. Without faith, negativity and lies will penetrate your thinking concerning your vision and you will fail.

So walk in that vision and use your faith to combat the weapons of your enemy. Continue to press towards that portrait which God has placed within you. Don’t give up; or we will all miss-out on the vision that God placed in you when He made YOU which He intended would come fourth in these days.
"...the VISION is yet for an appointed time..though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come...." Habakuk 2:3(KJV)





Published by Directors Desk Publishing Copyright ©2011. Published by permission. Graphics by Divine Style Graphics. All Rights Reserved.

You Are In Position

sleeper cell: n. refers to a grouping of agents that belong to a network or organization. The cell "sleeps" (lies dormant) inside a target population until it receives orders or decides to act.

If you are a believer in Christ, chances are you have something on your heart that you feel God wants you to do. For some, it’s subtle; just a quiet sense of encouragement to do certain things on God’s behalf. For others, it’s far more than a simple feeling; it’s an urgent beckoning; a pressing call to follow a specific instruction or complete a group of instructions to accomplish something substantial for the Kingdom of God. In either case, this thing placed on your heart burns inside of you and you absolutely must get it done. Many Christians are so serious about their "charge" that they would go so far as to say accomplishing this thing is in fact the reason God placed them on earth.

The problem is, most who have something on their heart which they feel they must do also face obstacles which keep them from accomplishing the work they've been given. In other words, most Christians have the “WHO”, the “WHAT”, the “WHEN”, and the “WHERE” but are usually lacking the “HOW”. It’s like being stuck behind a 20-foot brick wall. On the other side of the wall is your destiny; the place where God is calling you to go. But you don't have a clue how to get to the other side. The wall seems completely insurmountable from all angles. After years of facing this wall, you might find yourself so frustrated that you may decide to just walk away.

But, what I want to tell you today is this: You are not stuck behind that wall;

YOU ARE IN POSITION!

There is a serious difference between being “stuck” and being “in position”. “Stuck” denotes an unintensional place from which you can’t escape. You get stuck in mud. You get stuck in snow. You get stuck in traffic. "Stuck" means you are trapped and the only options are to A). Keep trying, or B). Stop trying. And that’s the devils goal. He wants you to feel so stuck that you eventually choose "B" and simply walk away.

Being “in position”, on the other hand, indicates that you are "Ready". "Ready" means you anticipate a point where you will be able to take action. It means that although you can't see a way to accomplish what God has placed on your heart to accomplish, you are still ready and willing to do it. You may not have all the resources you need, but you are ready. You may not have the power to get past your barrier, but you are ready. Being ready means you are in the place where you're supposed to be and you will absolutely stay there; not by force, by choice. "Ready" means YOU ARE IN POSITION!

Remaining in a state of readiness IS your position. Your potential to move forward at any time is what God is counting on. You see, God hasn’t allowed you to be where you are by accident or by coincident. God is not a coincidental God; He is a strategic God and He is a purposeful God. He knows exactly where you are and He knows exactly what obsticalse you face. God has hidden you in the place where you are in the same way that a farmer hides his seed in the ground. The seed is hidden so that it is not eaten by animals or destroyed by the sun. The seed is hidden so that it can find nurishment. And just like a seed, you are hidden in a place where you can be protected. You have enemies who don't know what you will soon become. They see the barrier, but don't see the greater "you" hidden behind it. If the world knew what God has invested in you, they would immediately attack. But your God knows exactly where He placed you. God expects you to grow roots and be nurished in this place. When the time comes, God will remove the wall allowing you to emerge from that place, stretch your arms towards the sky and be fruitful.

And God has an unlimited number of options at his disposal to remove any barrier. He can send you over; he can tunnel you under; he can send you around; he can make the barrier crumble before your eyes; or He can give you the power to bust through to the other side. The advantage you have is that the years you've spent behind that barrier have strengthened you. You've been held back for so long that now your desire to perform this great work for the Kingdom of God has reached the point of near desperation. Which means if God were to put so much as a crack in the barrier, you will not hesitate to move. And it means the moment God removes your barrier completley, you're driving forward full-steam ahead with everything that is in you.

You are like a “sleeper cell”. You’re a soldier who is hidden deep in the enemies territory. You're parked in your position with the engine on and artillery drawn just waiting for the call to action. You've lived for years as an "ordinary citizen" but the moment you get the word, you will not hesitate to make your move. And when you emerge from your hidden location, the enemy will have no idea where you came from or what you are capabile of.

Don’t consider yourself stuck ever again. You may not have the power to get over your barrier, but you are not “stuck”. You may not know how you are going to do what's on your heart to do, but you are not stuck. You are hidden in position waiting for God to send his WORD and remove your barriers which will reveal to the world the investment that He’s made in you. God has been cultivating you for years for the work that you will do. Stay ready and willing for your call to action. And until then, don’t’ give up your postiion. Make the decision today that you will not walk away from your post. Keep training for the job even though you don't have it yet. Keep preparing for the speech even though it seems now there will be no one to listen. Keep singing into that mic which doesn't yet exsist... because soon... it will. Soon there will be nothing to stop you which is your activation call and it is then that you will be glad you held your position because you will already be strong enough to Move.

How Shall This Be?

We look at the gospel of Luke Chpt .1 verses 26-38. Here Luke detailed his understanding of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel who came to explain what was to take place. The angel told Mary that she had been chosen. Mary had found favor with God. The angel said that, though a virgin, Mary would give birth to the savior of mankind.

Luke records that Mary was not immediately convinced. She was puzzled at first. She asked, “How shall this be?” (Luke 1:34). Mary’s reply to Gabriel is similar to the reply that we give God today. We read in the bible that we can overcome any situation; that we can do all things; that we have the knowledge of all things; that we are meant for an abundant life here on Earth as well as in Heaven. We read all of this and in our minds we wonder the same thing that Mary did, “How?” How can we overcome the enemy when everyday in this world it seems the enemy is conquering us? How can we enjoy an abundant life on this Earth when for generations it has been increasingly difficult for us just to live from one day to the next? How can we know all things; how can we do all things? How shall this be?

To answer her question, Gabriel, on administrative business for the King, gave the official word from heaven. He gave Mary the answer that we still should be embracing today. He said “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” That’s it! We will overcome the enemy because God himself is standing by us, He overshadows us to make us conquers. The Holy Ghost is “up-on” us providing strength to know all things and do all things. We will see success in every area that we trust God to lead us and protect us in. We will see victory doing anything that we allow the Holy Ghost to overshadow us doing. The angel Gabriel went on to say that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

There is one more detail to illustrate in this passage. After Gabriel spoke and Mary’s doubt was erased, she gave a reply filled with confidence. Her statement was one of the most impressive that a believer could utter, words that surely pleased God on that day and would surely please him today. Mary said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38). She accepted what the angel said as fact. She agreed with the spirit in her and accepted the word of God as truth.

For every believer, every time you hear the word of God you must make a decision – accept it or reject it. Don’t allow a word from Heaven to linger doubtfully in the back of your mind. Stop wondering if what you heard for you or for the person next to you. Stop trying to calculate how much longer it will take. And stop wasting your time trying to figure out how God is going to do the work that He has promised in His word. Once you hear from Heaven, settle the issue forever. Accept that the word of God will come to pass by the power of the Holy Ghost upon you. For every great work, every miracle and all the abundance: (repeat out loud)

“BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD!”

Don't Breakdown, Breakthrough!

“…when it is well with you, remember me and show me kindness; I pray thee, mention me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this prison: Genesis 40:14



When God sets a plan into motion in your life and you begin to press towards a great breakthrough, there are a series of events that will take place to lead you to victory. Certain things will need to happen a certain way to lead you to a certain place so that certain other things can connect with you and, before you know it, you’re living the life that God promised you. The frustrating thing about waiting for a breakthrough is that, at times, we don’t do what God has strategically put in place for us to do. When we fail to do what God has given us to do, we stand in God’s way. Disobedience interrupts the process of reaching our breakthrough. Instead of being in the right place at the right time, we’re in another place looking for the same success. Instead of doing things right the 1st time, we’re out doing a bunch of things wrong following our own rules for the 3rd and 4th time, yet still have the nerve to ask God why we aren’t in the place we desire to be.

When we miss our mark, it doesn’t mean we can’t get our breakthrough, it just means that it’s going to take more time. God has to direct us another way; we’ve sabotaged ourselves. And once we realize this, it can get so frustrating that we want to quit. But, the message I want to give to you today is: Don’t give up! You have a destiny!! You have a divine purpose! There is something that God put you on this Earth to fulfill. God is not going to give up on you, ever. Only you can determine if you have what it takes to make it to your breakthrough, or if you are going to get frustrated and breakdown.

Joseph pressed towards the palace

The next time you find yourself frustrated by set backs, just think of Joseph; the man who dealt with years of obstacles before finally reaching his destiny. First, he was sold into slavery by jealous and spiteful brothers who despised him Gen. 37:4. After being sold, Joseph found himself in prison for a crime he didn’t commit Gen. 39:20. Then, while in prison, Joseph was forgotten by a person who he had helped but failed to return the favor Gen 40:23. Finally after two years, Joseph was called out of prison and advanced to meet his destiny as ruler over Egypt Gen. 41:39-40.

At any time during his journey, Joseph could have given up, especially when the obstacles he faced where no fault of his own. Joseph could have just decided that he was meant to be a slave, or a prisoner. He could have just accepted that he would never be anything more than a servant. But he didn’t breakdown. Years of set backs and adverse situations couldn’t break Joseph. Obstacles dealt at the hand of people around him couldn’t keep him from reaching his destiny.
What made the difference for Joseph?

Through it all, at every stage of his life, Joseph recognized that the hand of God was on him. He never let discouragement or hate settle in his heart over what was done to him. When he was made a slave, he made sure that he was a good slave. Joseph was so valuable that eventually he ran his master’s house. When he found himself in prison, even though he was innocent, he worked hard to be a blessing and he even served his captors. The guards looked forward to seeing him in the morning. Before long Joseph, a prisoner, had control of the whole prison. He served them to the point that it was unusually for him to see them unhappy. When he saw the guards fret, he was faithful to cheer them up.

“When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected... ‘Why are your faces so sad today?” Gen. 40:6-7.

Joseph remained faithful, no matter what. He continued to be obedient to God. And with obedience, Joseph received everything he would need so that when promotion time came, Joseph was ready.
Looking back, Joseph realized that it was all a part of God’s plan.

“God sent me ahead of you… to save your lives by a great deliverance… it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt” Gen 45:7-8.

God allowed Joseph to go through situation after situation to position him for the job he would have to do. It was God who made it obvious that Joseph was destined for greatness, which caused his father to decorate him as such. God allowed Joseph’s envious brothers to sell him into slavery so that Joseph would find himself in Egypt; the riches and most advanced civilization on earth at that time. Then God made Joseph’s master recognize his worth and promote him from slave to overseer. Then when Joseph was framed and put into prison, God’s hand was at work again to place him in a cell with Pharaohs Chief Baker and Chief Cupbearer. God is the reason that Joseph was placed in charge of the entire prison and all of the prisoners. Finally, God gave Pharaoh a dream that no one but a little Hebrew boy could interpret. God provided Joseph the opportunity to use the gift that he was given to place him into the position to finally achieve his destiny. Joseph did what he was supposed to do and God made certain things happen in a certain way to lead him to a certain place so that certain other things could connect with him and, before he knew it, he was ruler over all of Egypt.

Our job is to consistently work towards a breakthrough. We need to get interested in moving from one level to the next; from one season to the next. The reason that our God is Lord of the breakthrough. If we fail to pursue a breakthrough in our lives, it is the same as us trying to put God out of work. If we are not interested in success, then the obstacles God allows in our life will begin depressing us and cause a breakdown instead of motivating us to keep striving for a breakthrough.

It takes time to qualify for a promotion. Remain faithful. Keep offering your obedience to God who holds your future in His hands. Recognize that the hand of God is with you. Don’t let discouragement or pain from anything that has ever been done to you settle in your heart. Remain faithful to the vision that God has for you, not the perception that the world has of you. The road to your breakthrough may be long, 2 years or 20 years long, but don’t breakdown. Decide each moment of your life that you will keep pressing with everything that is in you until the day that God provides the opportunity to use the gift you have been given to breakthrough!!