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What does grace do in your life?
Grace takes you from where you are, to where God wants you to be in life.
Therefore, wherever you are in your walk with Him in your life right now, God will take you higher, and draw you closer to Him, that you may enjoy His glorious riches.
Grace and riches –
Having experienced the goodness, the guidance and the wondrous provision of God, King David prayed thus, as he neared the end of his life – ‘Both riches and honor come from You, and you reign over all. In your hand is power and might. In your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.’ [1 Chronicles 29:12]
It is today a valuable instruction, teaching you and I that –
1) God is the source
2) God is in sovereign control
3) God gives success that includes riches and honor.
Defining riches –
The word ‘riches’ immediately brings to mind, money and possessions. But in God’s sight it is much more than just that. It is linked to His purposes for your life; for it is then that you will find fulfillment and satisfaction.
It is His blessing that brings riches with no sorrow added to it. It begins in you as He deals with your character, your inner being, for God is more interested in the eternal than the external. And as you listen to God’s word, faith comes in you and develops steadily as you keep hearing the word of God. It goes on to bring about a transformation in you. And even as His word refines you, His provision will come to you in order to fulfill His purposes for your life.
The path to godly provision –
God’s provision comes as a blessing from Him. It is beautifully expressed in the words of blessing that Jacob, who himself had been transformed and blessed, spoke over Joseph, his beloved son, as he neared the end of his life. They were words that acknowledged Joseph’s painful past, to speak of his future well being – the blessings that were to rest upon him – ‘Joseph is a fruitful bough – a fruitful bough by a well;. His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved, shot at him and hated him. [Genesis 49:23]
It described his past and the God who strengthened him in trouble –
‘But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were strong; By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob – from there is the Shepherd the Stone of Israel. [vs 24]
And then Jacob spoke the blessings of the future –
By the God of your father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you, with blessings of the heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, up to the bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the one who was distinguished from his brothers’. [verses 25,26]
Blessings that rest upon the one who was the prince among his brothers, is how one translation puts it. And it can be yours too today, as you receive, understand and operate in the truth of God’s word.
It all began with a dream.
The dream from God –
Dreams come to all – many a time they are a colorful fantasy, where impossible wishes come true! But when it is a dream from God, it is powerful; and pursuing it without giving up will determine whether you walk into your God ordained destiny.
Joseph’s was one such dream. It was a dream from God, signifying his future, where he would be lifted up, to be above his brothers. It was not surprising therefore, that his brothers hated him when he narrated it to them. His second dream troubled even his father Jacob, though Joseph was his beloved son. But he kept it in his heart without voicing it.
What were those powerful dreams that disturbed the hearts of the ones who heard it?
The eleven sheaves and stars, the sun and moon –
There we were binding sheaves in the field; and then behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and indeed all your sheaves stood around, bowing down to mine’.
Then Joseph dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers saying, ‘Look, I have dreamed another dream; and this time the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed down to me’. [Genesis 37:7,9]
It was how it all started in the life of Joseph.
‘ I have a dream’ –
The civil rights movement in America began with these words spoken by the man of God, Rev. Martin Luther king Jr. And though his own life ended tragically, much came to be accomplished in society through it.
Therefore, a dream that remains just a dream is not significant. It has to make a positive impact to bring about transformation in and around you.
The ‘good idea’ and the ‘God idea’ –
There is a distinct difference between the above two. For there are plenty of good ideas in the world, genuinely well motivated, that men come up with, in order to alleviate the suffering in the world. But, you and I are not mere men and women; we are by the grace of God much more than that – we are children of the One True Living God. And it is when you receive from Him, His dream, His idea or vision, that blessing can flow into you to bring about a transformation. It takes place in you when the out working of His dream for your life happens, and it becomes a reality.
The ‘God idea’ –
God wants to meet your need in a wholesome manner; He addresses all areas of your life to make you complete. And it cannot happen without having a relationship with Him. Everything from Him comes to you through a relationship.
And this is where the problem comes; for ever since his fall in God’s garden, where the human ‘self’ was enthroned in the heart of man, replacing God, man wants to make his own decisions. And this problem will be around until Christ returns! Man has to now choose to enthrone God in his heart. For, it is the idea from Him, what God thinks about a troubling situation, which will bring about a true, lasting and complete change for the good. The ‘good idea’ will never be the lasting and complete solution to a problem.
Joseph’s dream was from God –
Jacob did not reject Joseph’s dream, but kept it in his heart, for he knew that it was God communicating to his son. It was not an ordinary dream. Joseph was still a young boy, when God gave him the dream. It shows why the Bible teaches that it is vitally important to remember the Creator in your youth. For, when you receive His dream, His plan for your life in your youth, a whole life of blessing lies ahead of you.
God’s vision for your provision –
Godly vision is always connected to godly prosperity – it is the provision that comes to you from God, in order to fulfill His purposes for your life.
His vision, purpose, provision, prosperity, fulfillment
Joseph’s dream was not an ordinary one. It was supernatural. And making it your life experience too is possible. It is in the words of the prophet Joel, the very passage of scripture that Peter stood up to proclaim on the day of the Pentecost.
The Spirit poured out on all flesh –
‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and daughters shall prophesy; Your old men will dream dreams; your young men will see visions; And also on My men servants and maid servants, I will pour out My Spirit on those days’. [Joel 2:28,29]
The word of the prophet was fulfilled that day in the Upper Room as the church was born. Today, you and I are the church, with the Spirit in us and His anointing upon us. And so, ‘your sons and daughters shall prophesy’ is the promise from God. And the Spirit is the channel through which God’s dream or vision comes to you.
What is prophesy?
Prophesy is a telling forth of what God speaks into your heart; it is not limited to foretelling alone. It is when your heart is enlightened by the Spirit with the revelation knowledge of God’s word, and your mouth is touched to speak it forth. His word in your mouth is prophesy, a telling forth. Your voice may remain the same, but prophesy is not about being dramatic; when God’s word comes to you it will go on to make a godly impact in your life.
You are included –
There is no category that is left out in the promise of the pouring out of the Spirit; it is upon the young and old, sons and daughters, male servant and maid servant. It signifies the all inclusive nature of the Lord’s promise. You are included therefore, in the vision God has for mankind. It is communicated to you as he Holy Spirit comes in you and upon you.
What is God’s vision for your life?
The need to know God’s vision for your life is there, for otherwise some other vision will take it’s place. It could be even the visual images that you see in your television. For television, as it’s very name suggests is,’ tell-a-vision’. And the advertising industry especially uses the captive audience to sell it’s vision concerning a product or a concept. You end up buying their vision, for your thinking process is left untouched, and assimilation of the message comes by what you see alone. Your sight eclipses the faith that comes by hearing the Word. It is what happens in the spiritual realm, when you do not know your vision from God.
Eve saw that it was good –
It was how it all began in the garden of God. It was the attractive appearance of the fruit that made her ignore what was forbidden by God, for their own good. And God’s majestic vision for mankind was undermined. It needed God’s own Son, to die on the Cross and arise from the grave, that you and I may live, and enjoy abundant life.
God has a specific vision for your life –
When God brought you into the world, it was with plans, very specific and very good. Your children are an inheritance from Him, and He has plans for each one of them, to give a future and a hope. All you need to do is what Hannah did with Samuel. Give them into the safe hands of the God who gave them to you, knowing even as Paul did that He is able to guard what you have entrusted to Him.
Lot, the nephew of Abraham, when asked to make the choice of land, was attracted by what looked like the garden of God. But in reality it was not. And it is why hearing from God, His voice and His vision for your life is so vitally important. It is His vision that brings success, riches and honor in your life.
Listening – to hear God’s voice:
The prophet Samuel, when he went to the house of Jesse to anoint a king for Israel, thought on seeing Eliab the eldest son, and his kingly stature and appearance, that he was God’s chosen one. But he soon found out that God looks at the heart of a person. More than charisma, it is character that matters to God, and it was sadly lacking in Eliab. And it was how David, the youngest, who was not even deemed important enough to be present, and had been sent out to watch over the sheep was called. He was brought in and anointed by Samuel to be the future king. It all happened because it was God’s voice that Samuel heard, and also obeyed.
Making everyday count –
It is as you make each day count for the glory of God that you find true fulfillment in life. And it becomes possible when led by the Holy Spirit you are connected to God’s vision for your life. He is God your Father; you are His child. In such a close and loving relationship, you can never misunderstand what He is saying to you. And He is not the gentle Savior who will pass you by. For, when you are a child of God, nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in you, in Christ Jesus. And it is the Holy Spirit who makes it all possible.
What does the Spirit do in you?
‘However, when He the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come. [John 16:13] They are the Lord’s words to His disciples. And it shows the logical progression – He is the Spirit of truth. So, He comes to lead you into all truth. And then you shall know the truth, and be set free.
The Holy Spirit discloses what is in the word of God, and through it, He gives you insight into your life’s circumstances. And this insight goes on to become your foresight regarding all that you need to know and do regarding your future. Thus you are in an advantageous position; one in which you cannot fail.
Identifying the godly vision –
‘He will glorify Me, for He will take what is of mine and declare it to you’. [John 16:14]
Lord Jesus explains how the vision from God will glorify Him; it will glorify God.
It will not be like the construction of the tower of Babel, the purpose of which was for man to glorify himself. And even today you can see higher and higher towers being built, each country trying to outshine the other, all for the sake of glorifying themselves.
But then, ‘How am I going to benefit in accepting God’s vision for my life?’, could be a very reasonable doubt that arises in your mind. It is a question that has a wondrous answer.
Your place in God’s vision –
All God’s promises to you are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Christ Jesus. Therefore, as He leads and guides you in the path of His vision, and in it as you are blessed, the Name of Christ is glorified. He is glorified through you, as you are blessed; and this is what will bring true fulfillment in your life.
Revelation of God’s vision through His word –
Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. [1 Samuel 3:21]
When you are praying with closed eyes for a vision from the Lord, and you are able to see a picture that depicts what could be the divine plan for your life, you could be right; there is no doubt about it. But also, the revelation of God’s vision does not demand that you should visualize a picture of it, when you close your eyes. It can come through the word of God, even as you are studying and meditating upon it.
God’s word paints a picture –
This happens when a particular verse is illuminated by the Holy Spirit as you are reading it, to paint a picture in your mind of how God wants your life to be. It will be very specific, and speak to you very personally, for each person is very uniquely created and shaped by God for a unique purpose. And when you receive it in faith, He will then go on to elaborate and build upon it step by step, as you keep studying and meditating upon the word of God day by day. Wait upon the Lord therefore, to see His vision for you unfold day by day, enabling you to deal with the intricate details of your life.
Upright in the dream – stooped in real life :
Joseph knew that his God given destiny was a position of royal authority. But from the time God gave him the vision, the dream, all he experienced was terrible downturns – injustice and evil from people who did not want him to even live, let alone succeed! He stood stooped in the Pharaoh’s house, as a servant bowing before his employer, only to be falsely accused and put in prison. In your life also, the present reality can at times be the very opposite of your God given vision. And it is when the devil may try to plant doubts in you, in order to make you give up on it.
But – the vision will come to pass –
It is what the Lord is saying to you today – ‘Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run, who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time. But at the end it will speak, it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. [Habakkuk 2:2,3] It tarries – it will not tarry; this may seem to be an apparent contradiction, but it is not. For though, according to your calendar it may seem to be getting delayed, in God’s sight it is not.
He has made everything beautiful in it’s time. And He will step in at the right time, bringing your vision to pass. He is an ‘on time God’ – and whatever time He chooses to intervene and act is the right time for you – the best time! Your vision will surely come to pass. Meanwhile, as you are waiting, the Lord has also prescribed what your attitude needs to be.
The just shall live by faith –
‘Behold the proud; his soul is not upright within him; But the just shall live by his faith’. [Habakkuk 2:4] Justified by faith in Christ, you will have the faith to trust in God, in the One who gave you the vision, for it’s fulfillment. And the proof of it will be the feeling of rest that you experience in your inner being. It is in the position of rest that God will begin to accomplish all that concerns you, for your vision to come to pass.
Interdependence – the connecting links :
For Joseph’s vision to come to pass, God gave a dream to the pharaoh and the answer to him. He was still in prison though, but the cup bearer who knew both him and the pharaoh remembered at the right time.It is the inter dependence that is found in God’s vision, which He Himself works out, for all the pieces to fall in place, and make the vision complete.
In your life too, the God who is great in counsel and mighty in His deeds will bring in the connections. His arm is not too shortened to save. He will make people remember you at the right time to make your vision a reality. For your vision to come to it’s fulfillment, God brings provision, by giving visions to others! They may be people you do not even know, but God knows all!
‘The Spirit of God is in you ‘ –
They were the words of the pharaoh himself, who was considered to be like a god in his society – the words of the god-man about the God –man! And today the same Spirit of God is in you, the Spirit of wisdom and might. He will lead you into all truth and guide you to receive provision for your vision.
God’s provision follows His vision for you –
Joseph was no longer stooped when God’s vision was fulfilled. He was in the seat of power and authority, second only to the pharaoh. It was the significance that lay behind his dream in which his sheaf alone stood upright. Joseph. And as a symbol of his authority, he received from the Pharaoh, a ring, a chain and a grand chariot to ride on.
Provision followed his vision.
Seeking His Kingdom first –
Even in your life you do not have to go seeking after the ring and the chain. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and it’s righteousness. And all that the gentiles, the unbelievers seek after – will come seeking after you. As you wait upon the Lord and meditate upon His word, may His Spirit lead you into all truth – give you insight that you may have foresight. And you will indeed stand in awe and see – all provision follow for the fulfillment of your vision from God.
In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
