Bold Visions

Bold Visions

Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17

ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, when some of the first believers in Jesus were gathered in one place, the Holy Spirit came upon them dramatically with visible signs and powerful effects. This outpouring created a scene that was a little difficult to interpret—the Spirit is good at that—so Peter offered some context. He quoted from the prophet Joel and implied that the “last days” had begun. The old and young, male and female, were entering into a new era of inspiration that by implication continues to this day: We dream dreams and have visions. We are granted insights from the Holy Spirit into what God is doing and how we can be part of it. We are participants in his Kingdom coming on earth.

Scripture is clear that we are to have a strong, motivating, life-shaping vision of our own identity in Christ as God’s chosen and beloved people. Understanding who we are always precedes what we are called to do. Actions flow out of identity, so it’s vital to be saturated in our true identity, to steep ourselves in God’s love and be healed from past emotional and spiritual wounds. But we are also called to do things, and those things come out of the vision, dreams, and inspiration God has placed within us. If we are born of his Spirit, we have his Spirit’s mission. We see through spiritual eyes. God gets things done by putting his heart and his desires inside of his people.

Knowing who you are is foundational in the life of faith. Seeing what God is calling you to do is the overflow. That vision involves big-picture purposes as well as the day-to-day protection and provision you need from him. It involves you and your loved ones and the larger world around you. In order to enter into a full, vibrant, powerful life of prayer and faith, you will need to learn to dream dreams and see visions. And you will need to let them drive you into the throne room of grace, where bold dreams and visions are validated, refined, and empowered.

When the Spirit of God comes into a man, he gives him a worldwide outlook.