We've talked at length about seeing the unseen on this blog...do a search and you'll find lots of articles here on the subject. Remember Hagar's well? How about the table set before us in the presence of our enemies? Elisha's armies?
All examples of pre-existing provision from Jehovah Jireh—the Lord Who Sees Ahead and Provides.
Faith
We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for [Hebrews 11:1]—we also know that faith is always in two places...the heart and the mouth. [Mark 11:22-24; Romans 10:9,10; Luke 6:45]
We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for [Hebrews 11:1]—we also know that faith is always in two places...the heart and the mouth. [Mark 11:22-24; Romans 10:9,10; Luke 6:45]
We see something in the Word and begin confess it into our lives. But I think we leave out the all-important step of seeing come to pass when we pray...seeing the unseen.
We know that God's Word is settled forever [Psalm 119:89] and that His works were finished from the foundation of the world. [Hebrews 4:3]
We also know that He has already given us the Kingdom [Luke 12:32] and that all things belong to us [1 Corinthians 3:21,22]. That every promise is already 'yes' in Christ [2 Corinthians 1:20] and that we are redeemed from the curse of the law [Galatians 3:13]
But when we go to pray [which includes the confession of God's Word into the earth...see James 5 and 1 Kings 17,18] I think many of us talk to an empty place. We believe in seeing the unseen, but only as a kind of involuntary vision...if we are lucky enough to get them!
We hope our prayers get answered, instead of believing they already are!
'And without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.' [Hebrews 11:6]
Folks, God WANTS us to use faith to bring His Kingdom into the earth!
'"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven."' [Matthew 6:10]
He WANTS us to pray and say His Word, so He can watch over it TO PERFORM IT!!! [Jeremiah 1:12]
And He wants us to see the unseen...He told us to look at it! [2 Corinthians 4:18]
Engage
I believe that we are to engage our 'seer' on purpose. While we are praying [or saying], we are to watch the Word come to pass, on purpose, right then and there.
I believe that we are to engage our 'seer' on purpose. While we are praying [or saying], we are to watch the Word come to pass, on purpose, right then and there.
He changed Abram's name to Abraham—Father of Nations—while he was yet childless. [Genesis 17:5] He got Abraham to call into being that which does not exist, just like He does! [Romans 4:17]
But before He changed his name, He gave him the image of it coming to pass...
'And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."' [Genesis 15:5]
So we see that God had Abraham use his imagination—his 'seer'—and his words!
Use the God-given gift of imagination to see WHILE we pray, to see WHILE we confess the Word! See, on purpose, what it will look like when the answer is manifested in the earth! Watch it happen in real time, in the Spirit, and it will come to pass in the natural.
I think that's called believing you receive when you pray...
What Would Jesus Do?
Jesus told us to talk to mountains, trees, storms, sick bodies...even dead bodies! He commanded physical things and they obeyed...even a donkey and a fish! Then He told us to do it, too!
Jesus told us to talk to mountains, trees, storms, sick bodies...even dead bodies! He commanded physical things and they obeyed...even a donkey and a fish! Then He told us to do it, too!
In fact, He said we would do greater works than He did! [John 14:12]
We try and try...sometimes we get results, sometimes we don't. But as a Body, we don't seem to be operating even close to His level, let alone doing greater works!
I think the missing key may be the active, on-purpose, engaging of our ability to see the unseen. He told us to look at the unseen, so we must be able to. Surely we're all practiced enough in seeing the unseen bad stuff...it's called worry and fear! How about using that power for good?
I'm talking about visual prayer. Seeing what we say come to pass because He said it would [Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21]. Seeing our prayers answered because He said they would be. [John 14-17; 2 Corinthians 1:20]
'This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask ANYTHING according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we HAVE the requests which we have asked from Him.' [1 John 5:14,15]
Sanctified
The Holy Spirit, praying through Paul for us, prayed that the God of Peace would sanctify us entirely—cleanse, purify, separate and dedicate to God, perfect, complete in all respects. And I'm pretty sure His prayers got answered.
The Holy Spirit, praying through Paul for us, prayed that the God of Peace would sanctify us entirely—cleanse, purify, separate and dedicate to God, perfect, complete in all respects. And I'm pretty sure His prayers got answered.
So receive your sanctification. Begin to use your imagination when you pray or when you confess the Word. See the unseen...watch it come to pass.
