REGAIN
THE FIRST VISION
Apostle
Handley
Many people have lost
their first vision. They have settled for "status quo." The enemy is
laughing at them ... and they are not experiencing the JOY, the POWER, and the
PRODUCTIVITY designed by God for them.
The answer: they MUST once again take their part of the covenant. They MUST
start believing again. They MUST grab hold of that first vision.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law,
happy is he." [Proverbs 29:18]
The Hebrew word for "vision" here used is "chazon" which
means a "mental sight, or a dream or revelation."
The Hebrew word for "perish" is "parah" and it means
"to loosen, to dismiss, to absolve, go back, or set at nought."
In Job 22:28 we read, "You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be
established unto you ..."
In the original Hebrew language the word "decree" is a primitive root
form of the word "gazar", which means "to cut out exclusively, or
to decide." In its primitve form it is used also as a "quarrying"
term ... as in cutting out stone from a rock quarry.
It means more than to "say" or "speak." It conveys the
meaning of "cutting something out in your mind's eye"; that is,
"to envision [to make a vision], to decide upon it, and confess it"
... and then it will be established unto you!
If you ... or your Christian brothers and sisters ... have a common vision or
goal, and decide upon it, confessing it in a common language, speaking it ...
"nothing will be restrained from you which you have imagined (or,
envisioned) to do!" [Read Genesis 11:1-6.]
There is an amazing spiritual truth we find in Genesis 11:1-9. Before the
nations of the earth were scattered on the face of the earth, the earth was of
one language and one speech. The people had decided to make a city and a tower,
whose top would reach unto heaven; they wanted to make a name for themselves so
they would not be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.
"And the Lord said, 'Behold, the people is ONE, and they all have ONE
language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from
them, which they have imagined to do." [Verse 6] "Let us go down, and
there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's
speech." [Verse 7]
Archaeological records show us that these were wicked and idolatrous people. Yet
we see in verse 6 that God said, "nothing will be restrained from
them." Notice: they had ONE goal and ONE speech. They were unified in
purpose and language.
If this principle of "oneness" works in unbelievers ... for ungodly,
wicked people ... how much more will it work for believers ... for God's people
... who have ONE goal and ONE speech: a common vision and a common language!
Especially spirit-filled Christians who have a common objective and who can pray
and decree a thing (or a set of objectives) in not only their common earthly
language(s), but also their heavenly language: tongues!
Read prayerfully the whole passage in Job 22:21-30. Part of it tells us:
"Acquaint now thyself with him [God], and be at peace: thereby good shall
come unto thee.
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine
heart.
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away
iniquity far from your tabernacles.
Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the
brooks. [Verses 21-24]
There are some tremendous allusions to material prosperity in this passage,
also. Many scholars will try to dissuade seeing this intent in this passage;
however, in context, we read about the gold of "Ophir." Ophir was the
name of a son of Joktan, but also was the name of a gold region in the East.
Remember that first vision: "You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be
established unto you ..."
See that first vision again in your mind's eye. Cut it out (like a rock cut out
of a quarry). Decide upon it. Then speak it.
Jesus said, "Have faith in God. For truly I say unto you, that whosoever
shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and you be cast into the sea; and
shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says
shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says."
Therefore I [Jesus] say unto you, What thingsoever you desire, when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." [Mark 11:22-24]
And don't forget the next two verses ... "When you pray ... forgive if you
have anything against anyone ... so that your Father ... in Heaven may forgive
you ..."
Don't let the enemy steal your vision. That first vision you had was from God.
Reclaim it and let God bless YOU ... and then bless THE NATIONS through you!
Write the vision; make it plain. Now start declaring it and receiving it in
faith daily. Remind God WHY it needs to come to pass!
"Put me in remembrance: let us plead together; you declare, that you may be
justified." [Isaiah 43:26]
I'm praying for you: that the vision God has given you will come to pass. Start
again, and remember:
■ If you don't quit ... you will win! But, if you quit, you can't win!
■ If your plan fits into God's plan, you will have God's faith ... and
God's faith always works!
Your friend and brother-in-Christ,
Apostle Handley