…But it’s also VERY tricky. Whether it’s a prophetic vision (speaking the future), or foresight vision (“This is what God’s wanting us to do”) it is vital, but tricky. EVERY organization (secular or Christian) needs a strong vision. Companies and churches without strong vision, usually don’t last, or at least don’t flourish. The longer I go in ministry the more valuable I see, and more strongly I believe, that vision is VITAL. But MAN is it tricky.
As I was reading in Genesis today I read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37. Here are a couple things God spoke to me about vision.
1. There is a right AND wrong time to cast vision. God may give you a “vision” or “dream” He wants you to fulfill, but there is a RIGHT time and a WRONG time to deliver it. In Genesis it tells us that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other brothers. It also says that his brothers HATED him because of it. Joseph has a dream about his brothers bowing down to him. He told them and the Word says “They hated him all the more.” THEN he soon again has another one. What does he do? CASTS THE VISION to a group that already hates him. I know the end of the story and how it all works out, but God just spoke to me: “There is a time and place for vision, and it may not always be the day after I give it to you.”
2. The WAY vision’s communicated is important. Telling a group of men who already hate you “You’re going to bow to me” may not be the best communication style. WORDS MATTER when communicating vision. If you haven’t got it all worked out in your brain, don’t let it out of your mouth. POORLY communicated vision, EVEN if the vision is from God, can create DI-vision.
3. People will get mad at vision EVEN when it is right, AND even whet it’s best for them or the kingdom. Josephs dreams…his visions were CORRECT. They were prophetic. They REALLY happened. Josephs dreams…his visions were the BEST. Not only did the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream save his brothers from starvation years later, it preserved the line of Christ (Judah’s family). Regardless though. Even though the vision was RIGHT and BEST, when Joseph came to visit his brothers in the field they said: “Look, here comes the dreamer. Let’s KILL him.”
Vision is VITAL, but it’s also TRICKY. The TIME and the WAY are very important in how you deliver. But I’m convinced, that REGARDLESS of how you say it or when you say it, there will ALWAYS be people who say “Here comes the dreamer. Let’s take him out”.
If God’s given you vision, don’t EVER back down from it. But be VERY careful in WHEN and HOW you communicate it. Vision is VITAL, but it’s TRICKY.
Learning,
Jeff
