Every wonder about having Spiritual Vision or even having the ability to behold the Glory of things to come? In some churches there seems to be a select few who claim such abilities, will what does GODS word reveal about such things? And are these people prophets who make such statements? Before digging into the word of GOD to find out, what does Pastor Hoekstra have to say about Grace as he broadens our understanding of the LORD through the word. And then with the use of the ESV translation and the LORD if He should choose to give me utterance I will endeavor to look at Spiritual Vision as part of Heavenly Wisdom and Knowledge.
"The Exceedingly Abundant Ability of God"
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
"In light of GODS being our sufficiency for the development of godly characteristics, this benedictory prayer in Ephesians 3 becomes an appropriate and instructive response.
It begins with the most critical issue for living the Christian life: the Ability of GOD: "Now to Him Who is able." Natural religious theological thinking would consider the ability of man as the most vital matter in developing a godly life. Such an approach would leave us striving vainly under the old law, attempting to live up to GOD's perfect standards by our own inadequate resources. Praise be to GOD, He has seen fit to remove from our view such an obstacle. There is a heavenly, effective option: relying upon GOD's Ability and no longer the working of our flesh and beggarly ability. Though there are some who still choose to strive after the wind by learning the Hebrew language and Hebrew meanings hidden in scripture to gain earthy knowledge. But thanks be to GOD He has provided a better way.
Think of the immeasurable ability of the LORD. "Ah, LORD GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You" (Jeremiah 32:17). He created the entire universe. Certainly, by His power He is Able to strengthen us. "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? " (Jeremiah 32:27). Our LORD rules over all of humanity. Surely, He is able to manage our lives. Actually, our GOD is "Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." Everything we could ask concerning His Will, He is able to do far beyond that. Whatever we might contemplate but hesitate to ask, He is able to surpass that.
The most amazing aspect of our GOD exercising His Ability on our behalf is that He unleashes His power within our lives: "according to the power that works in us." This is exactly how the LORD wants to develop Godliness in our lives. He Himself desires to work by the power of His Grace deep within our hearts. "For it is good that the heart be established by Grace" (Hebrews 13:9). Again, the Christian life is not affected from the outside in, hoping to modify our behavior by external religious pressures. Rather, it involves a true change of character within, affected by GOD Himself. This is how GOD is ultimately glorified in the lives of His people: "to Him be glory in the Church." He works a genuine transformation of life in and through us. Then, we give Him the glory for His exceedingly Abundant Ability."
Spiritual Vision:
Given in Answer to Prayer,
2Kings 6:15-19 "When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria."
Afflictions Prepare for,
Job 42:1 and Isaiah 29:18 "Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question You, and You make it known to me.' I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Isaiah 29:17-21 "Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off, who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right."
Heart Purity Essential to,
Matthew 5:8 and Genesis 32:30 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD."
Genesis 32:22-23, 24-32 "The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.
Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him. Then He said, "Let Me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me." And He said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with GOD and with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked Him, "Please tell me Your name." But He said, "Why is it that you ask My name?" And there He blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen GOD face to face, and yet my life has been delivered." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh."
Believers Alone Possess,
John 14:18-24 (Jesus is speaking) "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will Live. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We Will come into him and make Our home within him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father's Who sent Me."
The Holy Spirit the Author of,
John 16:12-16 (Jesus is speaking) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He Will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He Will speak, and He Will declare to you the things that are to come. He Will glorify Me, for He Will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He Will take what is Mine and declare it to you. "A little while, and you will see Me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see Me."
Uses the Telescope of Faith,
Hebrews 11:23-29 "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him Who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned."
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