Where there is no
vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) KJV
Courage and Vision
The Bible tells us that where there is no vision, no
perspective from God’s point of view, we perish. The Bible is a continual record of man
personally interacting with God, sometimes through dreams and visions. Noah was
given the vision of a future flood for which he was to prepare. Joseph had visions as a youth that weren’t
manifested until decades later. Joshua
and Caleb had a call and vision to go into the Promised Land but it took forty
years before this vision was fulfilled. Daniel continually had visions, some of
which possibly have yet to be fulfilled. Isaiah had visions of a future Messiah
which weren’t revealed for centuries.
The apostle, John, while exiled on the island of Patmos, was given a
stream of dreams and visions he recorded in the book of Revelation. Jesus
continually spoke of future events in his own life as well as future signs of
the end times. In the book of Joel it states that in the day of the Lord,
“…your old men [women] will dream dreams, your young men [women] will see
visions.” (Joel 2:28)
It takes courage to share a vision from God with others
and even greater courage to act on these visions to help bring them to
fulfillment. Many prophets were scorned and lost their lives for doing this and
others were persecuted. Joseph was sold
into slavery. I am sure Noah’s neighbors
got a huge laugh regarding the boat their neighbor was building in his
backyard. Joshua and Caleb were scoffed at when they told the Israelites they
were to go in and possess the Promised Land. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, laughed
when told she would become pregnant at an extremely old age.
What personal vision, dreams, and directions has God
given you? Have they been fulfilled
yet? God wants you to receive this
message from Him: “I haven’t forgotten
what I told you long ago about your hope and future. I revealed it only to you because it was a
special gift just for you. Unlike many
others, I keep my promises. Look in your
heart and mind where you filed it long ago. Dare to dream again. Dig up the
ground of your memory where you buried it in doubt. Look on the beach by the ocean, where in
anger, you once threw the vision I gave you because you were impatient and did
not see it coming true. You will find
your old dream and vision washed up on the shore. You lost it that day, but I found it and want
to return it to you because I love you eternally.”
About ten years ago Debbie Adamson was driving to attend
a city-wide Christian Educators Association International Empower group meeting in Houston, Texas. As she was driving, one verse
from the old gospel hymn, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, kept coming to her
heart and mind: “I have seen him in the
watch fires of a hundred circling camps…” She began and then kept singing
this verse over and over, belting it out with all her strength. Nothing else would come to her lips. She
believed the Lord spoke to her heart that day saying, “When there are one hundred teacher prayer groups with at least three
participants in each group meeting regularly, then I will break the spiritual
bondage and strongholds over the schools in this city.”
Through the local Christian Educators Association
International organization Debbie began to encourage teachers to start prayer
groups and develop a Biblical process for them to use. She knew she was to be a
pilot light and fire carrier to help start these watch fires. As native tribes moved from one camp to
another, one person was assigned the job of carrying burning coals from one
camp to another in order to keep a fire constantly burning, for fire was
essential to their survival. Carrying
the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts into the classrooms and schools and
joining together in prayer to fan these spiritual flames is also essential for
the survival and life of the schools where we work. We all carry the life
giving vision that God is greater than knowledge and the law and that there is
a savior beyond “self”. When we serve
Him first by obeying the teaching of Jesus in His classrooms and schools, then
we are bringing true life to others.
Ten years after this vision and after many professional
trials, Debbi still has no idea how God is going to fulfill the vision He gave
her but she doesn’t doubt him. If He has truly spoken it then He will make a
way. He is the way, the truth and the
life. He can do it in a day if the people He is calling to this task obey. He has shown us through the Israelites, that
if the people He is calling are not listening, wrapped up in anger, continually
murmuring and complaining or are holding priorities higher than Him, then the
vision could take 40 years or more. God is so patient with us. Take courage and
dream again. Share and follow the vision
He has given you. Believe.
Prayer: Lord, thank
you for giving us visions and dreams.
Give us the courage to share and fulfill them.
Application and Sharing: Write down your professional and personal dreams. Share them and agree in prayer regarding
these dreams with others who believe.
CLASSROOM
LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE!
(For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) #10
Prayerfully dependent,
K
PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement.
• Follow us on Twitter for the prayer prompts @one16pray
May God bless you with success His way this 2013-2014 school year.
Christian Educators Association International is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools. CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.
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