Newsletter March 2019

Visionaries

 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”  So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”  So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”  Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”   Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:41-45)

     After the Mount Carmel encounter, where fire fell when Elijah called on the name of the Lord, the prophet announced that it would rain.  Being a visionary, he was able to know the mind of God as God revealed to him in a vision. Seven times he sent his servant to look out for rain, because he knew what God had told him.  There had been no rain in the land for 3 years and 6 months, but Elijah saw in his spirit the vision of rain.  Even though his servant saw no sign of rain coming Elijah insisted that he should keep watching until something positive was seen.

     Visionaries see beyond the present situation and immediate occurrences.  Later at Mount Horeb, Elijah saw the Lord passing and heard a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-18).  When God needs to engage us, He comes to us at a time when we can be still in His presence to see Him passing; not when we are busy here and there, or distracted.

     When Isaiah saw the vision of the Lord, he was shown his imperfection and renewed his way before God as His prophet. (Isa. 6:1-6)  The Lord also revealed His mysterious works to visionaries like Moses. (Ps. 103:7)  He made His way known to Moses and His works and deeds to the people of Israel.  In Psalms 25:14, the psalmist states that the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him. Visionaries are like the sons of Issachar who had the understanding of time (1 Chronicles 12:32).  They have the ability to receive a vision and run with it, until it becomes accomplished in their hands. They see what the future holds.  John in his Revelation saw the vision about the seven churches and what God was saying concerning each one of them. (Rev. 2:3)

     Visionaries are unstoppable and not easily discouraged; they don't quickly give up. (Hab. 2:2-4) They receive direction on specific things and the appointed time for things. They are spiritually sensitive and act in faith, always avoiding discouragement and distractions in order to stay focused. When the going gets tougher, visionaries are determined, desperate and resilient. They know the mind of God.  They see, they hear, and they receive and focus on the activity of God in Christ Jesus.  They testify by transmitting what is revealed to them. (1 John 1:1-3).

     If we are visionaries, we need not to hide the gifts of God in our lives; God's presence of light, salvation and deliverance will be revealed to our family, community, neighbourhood, and the nation at large.  So let us rise up and watch.  When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he thought that he was the only prophet of God who remained during his time, until God revealed to him that He still had 7000 prophets in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal (1 Ki. 19:11-18). Let us pray to God to open our spiritual eyes to see beyond the physical, to be enlightened, and to know His purpose and the hope of His calling.

 Minister Deborah Olaoti