The Long Road away from God's Purpose

Numbers 22:1 

Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho. ² Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³ and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites. . . . ⁴ So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵ sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. ⁶ Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed." ⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said. ⁸ "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him. ⁹ God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" ¹⁰ Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ¹¹ 'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' " ¹² But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." ¹³ The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." ¹⁴ So the Moabite princes returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." 

The reading today tells the story of a man with a double heart. One the one hand we read that he resisted the pressure of enticement with material possession or royal accolades. And if he had held resolutely to those values Balaam would have been recorded among the righteous concerning Israel. Instead we read that he ended up one of their arch enemies.

2 Peter 2:15  forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet. 

You can read the whole story in Numbers 22 and 23. The lowlights were that after Balaam faithfully sent the kings messengers Balak, the king, sent more noble messengers with greater rewards. 

Numbers 22:15  Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. ¹⁶They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; ¹⁷for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me. 

Once again it seemed like Balaam would pass the test:

Numbers 22:18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.

But then Balaam made what I consider his fatal mistake. 

Numbers 22:19 "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." ²⁰God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do." ²¹ So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. 

I believe that we don't just sin. I believe we make mistakes.A mistake when followed to its end will end up in sin but in itself it is not a sin. The best example for me of this understanding was Eve. She sinned when she took the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She made a mistake when she listened to the serpent as he challenged God's Word. She had not sinned by talking to the serpent but it was a big mistake. If she had stopped at the mistake level she would have never sinned. 

Too often we hang around temptation too long. It is not a sin but it is a big mistake. 

Balaam is a perfect example. You see God had already told him not to go. Why did he need to go back and ask God a second time? Only one reason. He wanted to get what Balak offered him but he wanted to have God's approval as well. And God let him go when he asked the second time. Here is the part that is very hard to understand:

Numbers 22:22 But God was angry because he was going,

Why would God be angry when He told Balaam to go with the men? 

God teaches us two ways - by us listening in complete surrender to His heart and ways as revealed through His Word or by giving us up to our own devices. We have already seen this in the wilderness. The people cried out for meat and God gave it to them. But as soon as they started eating it the started dying from a plague.

Psalm 106:14-15 Expresses it perfectly:
 ¹⁴ But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,
         And tested God in the desert.
 ¹⁵ And He gave them their request,
         But sent leanness into their soul.  

I like the way the Message says it:

They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert,
      provoked God with their insistent demands.
   He gave them exactly what they asked for—
      but along with it they got an empty heart. 

We will see this again as the people of Israel cried out for a king. Even though He made it absolutely clear that it was in complete opposition to His will God even choose their king for them. 

Psalm 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,. . . 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:. . . .

Many years ago, when I first began to meditate on this truth I found it very disturbing.  But I know from the scriptures and history that it is true. When we do not listen to Him, God will let us learn by going our own way. The terrible tragedy of this is seen clearly in Balaam's life. 

Numbers 22:22b and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.²³When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. ²⁴Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.²⁵When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again.²⁶The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left.²⁷When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.²⁸And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" ²⁹Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." ³⁰The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." ³¹Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. ³²The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. ³³"But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." 

See the great deception the lusts of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life have? At that moment Balaam should have said, "That's it! I'm headed back home." But he didn't:

Numbers 22:34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, " I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back."

Understand this, God already told him not to go and the reason why -  "But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.""

Balaam knew God had told him that he could not curse Israel. God's first command was not to go. Nothing had changed in the situation. Balak was still seeking to get him to curse them. But Balaam kept asking to go. So Balaam lost his destiny for good and became a horrible lesson about the consequences of continuing down the long road away from God. Scripture gives us a look at what God saw in Balaam's heart - He  "loved the wages of unrighteousness;" (2 Peter 2:15 above) 

As we read the rest of the passage we might think, "What is so bad about Balaam? He did not curse Israel but blessed them." This is the problem with double mindedness. It seems like we are doing what is right but our hearts are intent on finding a way to get our own desire and still believe we are doing God's will. Ultimately the reward of divination became more powerful than keeping God's command. Balaam did not curse Israel directly but instead taught Balak what it took to get them cursed:

Revelation 2:14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.

Israel came under a deep curse as they followed those sent into the camp by Balak into fornication and idol worship. And Balaam died for his part in bringing that curse on them. 

Balaam's name is used fifty seven times in scripture. All of them tell the sad story of a double minded man who knew the will of God but for earthly goods and honor failed to find his destiny. Had he followed God his name might have appeared only one time. But it would have been in honor.

With these thoughts in mind I believe we need to commit ourselves to wholeheartedly listening to God the first time He speaks. We need to not ask twice about what he reveals in the scripture or by His Spirit in line with that scripture. We also need to remove ourselves from situations that tempt us. Most of all we need to seek God to take out of us any hint of doublemindedness about serving Him.

PRINCIPLES OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I Thessalonians 5:11

DON'T BE AFRAID TO PRAISE - GOD COMMANDS IT

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.


Proverbs 31:31


FAILING TO ENCOURAGE WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF LEADERSHIP

Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now."


II Samuel 19:7

GOD COMMANDS OTHERS NOT TO PRAISE THEMSELVES


IF YOU DON'T PRAISE THEM WHO WILL?


Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.


Proverbs 27:2

DON'T JUST THINK IT - SAY IT!


Better is open rebuke than hidden love.


Proverbs 27:5

ENCOURAGE OTHERS DAILY

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today . . .


Hebrews 3:13


ENCOURAGE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT


NOT OUTWARD THINGS WHICH OTHERS HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR


Similarly, encourage the young men to be self controlled.


Titus 2:6


FOCUS ON THE GOOD - THEN SAY IT TO THE PERSON YOU SEE IT IN!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.


Philippians 4:8

ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO WORK CLOSEST WITH YOU

But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.


Deuteronomy 1:38

REWARD FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS WITH PRAISE

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.


I Corinthians 11:1


REWARD A JOB WELL DONE WITH PRAISE

"`Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'


Luke 19:17

ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SELF CONFIDENCE

And we urge you, brothers, . . . encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.


I Thessalonians 5:14


COMMUNICATE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE WORK YOU ARE DOING TOGETHER

Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.


Ephesians 6:21

SHARE YOUR VISION OF THE FUTURE

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.


I Thessalonians 4:16


SHARE WHAT GOD IS TEACHING YOU


TO MAKE YOU A MORE EFFECTIVE WORKER FOR HIM

. . . encourage others by sound doctrine. . . .


Titus 1:9

The First Vision – The Price

I was asking God to develop a godly hatred of sin in my heart. I had only been a Christian for about six months and was experiencing deep conviction for my sins. I had not yet found the power in my life to overcome some of the terribly ingrained habits of body and soul that had been imprinted on my life before receiving Jesus. Night after night I prayed for hours that God would set me free from the evil in my heart. Night after night I grew more convinced that I could not just will it away. My friends at the church I attended cautioned me that I was getting to concerned about this. After all, they said, your sins are forgiven. But the cry of my heart was not that my sins would just be forgiven but that I would truly change.

 
As I went to pray again I pressed into God with all my heart. Suddenly it was as if I was taken into a very dark room. It seemed like the darkness fell over my whole being. Then I saw what seemed like fire that began to spread across the whole of my vision. As it came more focused it was like a lake of fire. I began to panic. My whole body began to shake and I felt fear like I have only known once before. I was paralyzed in its grip. The inferno seemed white hot and raging like no fire on earth that I have ever seen. It was as if I was moving along just above the surface of it but nothing was visible except the fire so I could not really know which way I was traveling. At the edge of my vision in front of me I saw a figure in the fire. I began to look carefully and the figure became clear. To my horror I saw myself crying in torment. I was screaming so hard yet no one came to help. I realized that in spite of the great heat I was not burning up. I watched in sheer terror for what seemed to be a long time. With each moment the absolute finality of my fate gripped my soul with unimaginable fear. I had joked with my friends before being saved that I wanted to go to hell since that was where all my friends were going to be. Yet in this vast lake of fire I was alone. I had flippantly said that hell would be where the party was but there was no laughter here. Screaming out in absolute pain I knew there would be no relief for me. No one would bring a sip of water to cool my tongue. There would be no sleep to hide from the terrible flames. Eternal wakefulness and eternal torment. Day and night forever. No one to help me. No one to take pity on me. Eternal aloneness.

 
When I thought I could stand no more but would dissolve into the lake of fire myself, the vision ceased. I lay on the floor weeping. Then the voice of Jesus spoke, "This is what I saved you from."

 
Revelation 20:14 (KJS) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 (KJS) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 
Luke 16:23 (KJS) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 

Revelation 14:9 (KJS) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

 

The Second Vision - The Purpose

John 4:34 (KJS) Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 
In 1977 My wife and I were preparing to return home from Kiriat Anavim in Israel. We had gone there on a short term mission with Project Kibbutz. As I was in prayer about our return in our little stone room I saw a beautiful table set with the most wonderful food you could imagine. It was a huge table that was so very long. Beautiful place settings were arranged. No animal substances could be found on the table. There were fruits, nuts, vegetables and breads if all kinds. There were beautiful adornments of the table including golden candelabras which were the light of the table.

 
As I watched intently to understand what the vision meant I saw three very thin men come and sit down at the table near the end across from me and farthest from my right. I watched as they began to eat. They continued eating and it seemed that the room grew lighter then darker, lighter, darker, lighter, darker. I discerned that this represented the passing of days and months....... perhaps a year. As I watched them eat, their bodies changed. The grew larger and larger until they were huge. Their clothes no longer fit. Their bellies were giant. They had rolls of fat all over them. Finally, one by one, they fell asleep.

 
The scene then changed. This time I saw a beautiful field of ripened grain. It was glorious! The sun shone on beautiful golden stalks of wheat as far as the eye could see. In front of the field was a picket fence with a gate. As I watched, I saw a man go and pick up a sickle laying on the ground. He then went through the gate into this marvelous field.

 
The man was terribly thin and emaciated. He looked like someone out of a concentration camp. He started to harvest the wheat but it was pitiful. He could barely cut a few stalks. Still, he persisted.

 
Again the cycle of light and darkness occurred. As it did a subtle change began to take place. The man began to develop muscles. His stroke became surer and more effective. He began to sweat and get dirty. Soon he was pushing the sickle through the wheat with an incredible force. The stalks were being harvested in great number. In the end of the vision he looked like a gladiator.

 
To me the vision was self-explanatory. The first section dealt with those who came to the Lord's table to eat from His Word and gifts of grace but did not apply themselves to the purpose for which they were fed. They remained at the table never ceasing to eat in spite of their obvious condition of obesity. Finally the very thing that was meant to give them the energy for the work God had for them did just the opposite. They fell asleep in their gluttonous state and became even incapable to eat.

 

The second section of the dream was about the work God intends for us to do. The effect of applying himself with the harvest was wonderful to the harvester. He remained steadfast in the beginning when it seemed he was making no real progress and had such a little effect. The discipline of work in the field gradually began to change him. Finally he was totally effective. The food he ate turned into muscles. He was completely alert to his task.

 
As I meditated on this vision I realized it was really the mandate of every Christian:

 
Mark 16:15 (KJS) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 
The true destiny of any Christian is fulfilled in doing God's will. That will involves many things including eating from God's table. Physical eating which is not used to produce work in our bodies produces obesity and slumber. So also spiritual eating without spiritual work produce the spiritual equivalent to obesity and slumber.

 
Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

 
Many Christians believe that going to church, hearing sermons, listening to teachings, watching Christian T.V., Going to Christian entertainment even reading the Bible are the main activities of the kingdom life. The vision gives a picture of what the Bible clearly teaches about this. Those who participate in these things without having the focus of gathering the harvest simply grow fat, lazy and finally fall asleep:

 
The converse is true. God created us to be physically active in work. When we are, our bodies become strong and healthy. The man who was harvesting is the promise for all who will apply themselves to the work God has destined them. They will experience the wonderful increase of physical strength, endurance and skill in the harvest.

 
Many want to be made instantly into gladiators for God but the reality is that it will be the thin, emaciated weaklings that choose to press into the work of God who will become the gladiators. This is so counter to what so many people seem to think life in the Lord is. Because we are taught so much about the supernatural way God does things we can begin to believe if we have meager results in our work that we must not be following God's will. This can so easily set us up for discouragement and failure when we are actually in the center of His will and purpose.

 
Acceptance of the task and pressing on made the man. His unwillingness to quit eventually gave him incredible ministry effectiveness. But first he was tested by the days of small beginnings. We tend to think that we will arrive fully matured and have no period of preparation in which we see little of effectiveness or fruit.

 
The second vision is clear........ it is the doing of God's will is our purpose of life. It is doing it that brings the transformation in our being. It is the practice of our ministry that turns us into effective servants of God.

 

The Third Vision – The Proof

While I was attending Princeton Theological Seminary, I was studying under and with some of the greatest religious intellectuals in the world. In the context of a strongly neo-orthodox resistance to the gospel I often asked the Lord how I could effectively witness to my teachers and classmates. I had tried to speak on an intellectual level. It seemed absolutely fruitless. In this setting I began to understand that most of my life I had approached evangelism as a kind of informing others of the option and presenting a rational argument or even an emotional argument for acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord.     

 
I came to a point of desperate desire to touch this very closed community but faced my inability to do so with some major examination of my evangelistic biases.

 
I was sitting in my Calvin class...... truly boring but not because of the subject!..... and I had a vision that forever changed my thinking on the root of evangelism. It was the kind of vision where you feel you are actually in the vision. I didn't fall on the floor but I did lose consciousness of the physical room I was in. This does not mean I thought that I physically experienced the vision. Anyone looking at me would have seen me with my eyes open sitting in class....... I only say this to help people understand that visions are not as strange as we sometimes make them.

 
I was sitting in a group of people, about thirty in number. We were sitting in a circle around a small fire. As I looked around I saw that we were in a large cave. It was a lot like Mermac Caverns where the ceiling was very high and the whole cave was quite large. The only light was the flicker from our fire. It cast shadows all around the cave.

 
As I sat there I felt such a desire to get out of the cave but realized I really didn't know how. Anyone from the South knows about caves. We were always told as children to stay out them because some of the caves we had near our house were long enough and had enough tunnels to get lost in forever. Samuel Clemens immortalized this in his story of Tom Sawyer. Tom and Becky ventured into a cave and met a murderer that Tom had testified against. His murderer eventually died in the cave by getting lost. Tom and Becky almost got lost themselves. With this in mind I looked around the room to see if there was a way out.

 
In fact there were about twelve black holes at the edge of the room. I knew from experience that these black holes were tunnels leading away from the main room. One of them surely led to the outside but which one........ How could I know? If a person went down the wrong one they could get disoriented and end up lost forever. The limited companionship in the main room was better than being lost.

 
As I looked at the possible exits each one had a person right outside of it. As I looked carefully at the first one this person was jumping up and down saying, "this is the way out." As I moved on to the next the person was shouting at the top of his voice and waving his arms to get attention, "this is the way out...... this is the way out." While the style of the message was slightly different it was basically the same. The people were doing their best to convince us that they knew the way out. Yet I was not convinced. In spite of their strong expressions I could still be lost forever in the labyrinth of our cave if I followed their direction and they were wrong.

 

At the next to the last "exit" I felt a great despair. I bowed my head and earnestly prayed that God would help me to get out of this terrible place safely........ but how could I know? As I lifted my eyes again I looked at the last person. He was dressed neatly and in every way just a normal guy. He was standing there saying quietly, "This is the way out." He did not jump up and down or do any of the things the others did to try and convince me that he knew the way out. At this I felt my heart was going to burst. At least all of the others did a good job at trying to convince me. This one wasn't even doing that! He would not be a good candidate.

 
I bowed my head again and begged the Lord, "Please show me how to know the way out." As I lifted my head the final time I felt again drawn to the man that didn't try to convince me except to simply say he knew the way out. I looked first at his face but then my eyes lowered to see that he had something in his hand. There in his right hand was a branch of a tree with living leaves and a big ripe pear still attached to the branch. Suddenly I knew that he knew the way out.

 
You see pear trees don't grow in caves.

 
I understood from this vision that the passion of our evangelistic program..... the convincing arguments...... the motivation of our intended converts to find a way out of the darkness of this world...... all are meaningless unless we have the proof.

 
The man who knew the way out had already gone out and brought back proof of his knowledge. Anyone who really cared to know could have uncontroversial evidence that his way was the way. He held the proof in his hand. He went out of the dark world of the cave and came back with life and fruit from another world. A world of sunlight, rain and fruit bearing plants.

 
Above all Jesus was that man. He came from another world and brought with him fruit that does not exist in this world. Imagine a man dying with blessing on his lips for those who were killing him. The apostles continued that fruit bringing as they all gave their lives for Jesus and for others. We are called as well to go out to that wonderful world of fruit and bring back into the darkness of this present world the fruit of the Spirit of God within us.

 
I knew that God was saying to me that as I let His love, joy. peace, longsuffering goodness, faith, meekness and temperance flow through my life, it would do the work of convincing those who wanted to find the way out of this present darkness. Nothing else will substitute. Nor is anything else essential.

 
Galatians 5:22 (KJS) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 (KJS) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 
Ephesians 5:8 (KJS) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

 
Matthew 7:16 (KJS) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 
John 13:35 (KJS) By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

 

The Fourth Vision – The Power

The fourth vision I had came as a result of seeking God for a deeper place of prayer. In recent years many have moved in deep intercession as a means of encouraging evangelism. Having seen the real power of prayer in this way in three major renewals, two of which turn into revivals, I have been committed to the deepening of prayer in my own life and those I have served. One day in 1998 I was seeking God for our city of London, Ontario. I was asking Him to touch the hearts of the unsaved. The vision that God gave me brought insight into far more than evangelistic intercession. It gave me a wonderful picture to describe what I had been believing and teaching for years.

 
The prior visions were in color and what charismatics call an "open vision." This phrase means that it seems that you are actually in the vision, not just seeing it. This vision was similar but had a greater than photographic color and realism. It was given in a graphic picture form. Of all the visions I have ever had this one seemed like I was actually physically experiencing it.

 
The vision began with a large picture of the Earth as it would be seen from the journey to the moon. Its beauty was breathtaking. It filled all of my sight but I saw the whole globe. It was slowly turning. The interesting thing about the globe was that in its center was something like a television screen. Its edges were not clearly defined like a screen would be but blurred into the globe itself. As the nation that was on the right edge of the screen moved under it, scenes of the people and activities of that nation came on the screen. The first scene on the screen was in South Asia and the scene was of Asian people in a small village of homes wearing the triangular shape hats indigenous to certain areas. The scenes kept changing as the globe circled.

 
As I looked in wonder at the glorious beauty before me I thought this is a vision about missions. I thought It was to encourage me to pray for the nations of the world and was even showing me which ones to pray for. I began to pray this way.

 
As I prayed the globe moved farther away and to my right. As it did so the entire left hand side of my vision was filled with a horrible fire. It was extremely violent with smoke and what was surely great heat. Again the intensity of the color left me feeling like I was looking at the actual images, not a vision of them.

 
I looked at the fire and understood immediately that it was the fire of Hell. I had seen that fire before and again it struck horror into my soul though not to the degree that my first vision had. I saw that the Earth was in the path of the fire and would plunge into it if something didn't stop it.

 
I then thought that the vision was not about missions but about praying against the power of Hell and the destruction that was coming very soon to the world. As I began praying that way I realized that the globe was not getting closer to the fire which was not what I had expected.

 
As I pondered this thought the picture again moved farther away. On the left side I saw a silhouette of the throne of God. It was only shadow but I could clearly see the Throne and God standing in front of it. He was facing the globe. He had His right hand and arm outstretched toward it as if he were calling out and motioning to the Earth to come back to Him.

 
After this I thought that the vision must surely be about God asking me to intercede for the earth to return to Him. At first I began to pray very hard that the world would turn back to God. I felt confident in my ability to intercede in this way. As I prayed however, my emotions began to be deeply affected. The tragic picture before me broke my heart. To think of the creator of the world pleading with His creation to escape the terrible destruction that awaited it and to return to His loving care filled me with such grief.

 

As I prayed more a death blow was struck to my feeling of adequacy to intercede effectively. My sinful condition overcame my thoughts and I realized that I needed someone to pray for me since I too had gone down the road to destruction. I thought further that everyone I knew was in the same condition.

 
The scripture came to mind of how John the beloved had wept much when he saw the seven sealed scroll and was told that no one could open in all of heaven and earth. My heart wept for my own helplessness and for God's desire for me and my world.

 
In that state, I was perplexed to understand anything more than that the vision was to let me feel God's heart.

 
As I waited in grieving silence before God the vision receded once again. This time at the top of my field of vision there were words in the most beautiful lettering I have ever seen. They were like a translucent shimmering gold. They had golden and silver hues. They were not like neon and yet they seemed to possess an inner light. The thought of them even now brings shivers and tears to my eyes. The message of the words, however brought even greater confirmation to my earlier thoughts:

 
AND HE SAW THAT THERE WAS NO MAN, AND WONDERED THAT THERE WAS NO INTERCESSOR: THEREFORE HIS ARM BROUGHT SALVATION UNTO HIM.

Isaiah 59:16

 

I felt such a wave of relief in my heart as I agreed with the first part of the verse but felt fully the hope the last part expresses. I, indeed, cannot intercede for the world, but God can and does. The verse was fully in context with the vision since it says it will be by His arm that salvation would come. I was now convinced that the vision was to help me understand that God alone has the power of salvation.

 
While in this thought the vision again receded and at the bottom of my sight directly below the globe was the Savior lying on his face in deep prayer. It seemed he was on a floor of some kind. His hands were stretched out on the floor towards the throne and his feet were towards the fire.

 
I thought about how the scripture says:

 
Hebrews 7:24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 
Jesus was the only intercessor! Both scriptures confirmed this. We cannot claim to be intercessors at all. He made intercession in his death and resurrection. He alone now lives to make intercession for the world. Amazed, I remembered that the Hebrew word for salvation is Jesus. When Gabriel named him he literally said call him Salvation for he shall save his people from their sins:

 
Matthew 1:21 . . . and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 
In the beautiful words from Isaiah written across my vision, the arm of the Lord would bring Him salvation. I realized that the passage was very specifically referring to Jesus. God's arm would bring Jesus to him and Jesus would and did save the world.

 

It seemed to me that God was clearing up any confusion that I had as to who was or was not an intercessor. Still the vision puzzled me since it underlined the question I had been asking. I wondered, "What part do we really play in anyone's salvation?"

 
The vision seemed to again say, "Nothing, not even intercession." I was left with the feeling that it was only God and the person being saved that could do anything. I had never believed that yet my experience was beginning to make me consider it. I felt that the Bible said we did have some part but I found myself confused to understand what our part really is.

 
I knew that truth was being given to me. The Word confirmed it and I experienced it. But still it did not seem to settle down as the final answer.

 
Then the most astounding part of the vision occurred.

 
The next stage of the vision gave me the clearest understanding of how we are related to God's work that I have ever known in any teaching of any human being. Yet it was as simple as I could have ever imagined. It was totally biblical as well. It brought wonderful illumination to a whole aspect of scripture that I had sought for years to fully communicate and teach.

 
I watched as a young man walked across the floor from the side of the fire. He came to where Jesus lay. He then lay down on top of the Lord and disappeared into Him!

 
As he did I saw this same young man in the center of the screen in the globe. This was where the nations of the world had been passing by and their people had been pictured from the beginning of the vision. As soon as he appeared in the screen a cord came out of the savior, into the screen and into the young man. Smaller cords went from him to everyone that was in the picture.

 
Then a woman came from the right side and lay down on the Lord. She also disappeared into him. As soon as she disappeared into Jesus I saw her in the screen in the globe. The same cord came out of the Lord and into her. Then, as with the man smaller cords, went out from her to everyone in the picture with her.

 
This was the end of the vision. Suddenly I had in my mind almost every scripture that spoke of being "in Christ." The reality of our participation in the work of God is based only on our being "in Christ." It is never our work for he alone is the savior. Outside of Jesus' work there is no work done. Yet as we disappear "into him" he establishes his work in us and through us. This is our authority to intercede. We are actually establishing his intercession as we fully yield our lives to him. His authority then goes out from us and touches everyone in our lives....... everyone. Not just those open to him but everyone. It is his life that takes our identity and melts it into his.

 
Galatians 2:20 (KJS) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 
Us in Christ means Christ in us....... but the work is his and so we must be baptized (fully immersed) into him. As we are then he does the work through our mortal bodies. We do not become God but rather are fully hid in Him by our identification with Jesus.

 

Galatians 3:27 (KJS) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

Colossians 3:3 (KJS) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

Us in Jesus, Jesus in God. This is the final end of reconciliation. It's power is realized as we fully fall into Christ.

 

Ephesians 1:3 (KJS) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 

II Corinthians 5:17 (KJS) Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

 

II Corinthians 2:14 (KJS) Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

 

Ephesians 2:5 (KJS) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 

Romans 8:1 (KJS) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

I Corinthians 1:30 (KJS) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

II Corinthians 3:13 (KJS) And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.

 

II Corinthians 2:17 (KJS) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

 

II Corinthians 11:3 (KJS) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

Galatians 2:4 (KJS) And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

 

I Corinthians 15:20 (KJS) But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

 

II Corinthians 1:21 (KJS) Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 

Romans 8:39 (KJS) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Romans 12:5 (KJS) So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

 

Galatians 3:27 (KJS) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

Galatians 6:15 (KJS) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

 

Galatians 3:28 (KJS) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2:10 (KJS) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

Ephesians 2:13 (KJS) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 

Romans 3:23 (KJS) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

Leonard Terry