Bishop David Oyedepo: Encounter with Power through vision!

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2:17).

We are in the last days which are the days of God’s power among the saints. As such, every child of God is empowered to operate in the realms of supernatural exploits; for as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become sons of God (John 1:12).

However, it is important to know that divine vision is one of the most powerful platforms through which we are empowered for supernatural triumph. This is because vision commits the integrity of the omnipotent God to deliver. No wonder men and women in scriptures who walked in God-ordained paths were divinely empowered to fulfil their mission on earth. Therefore, it is wisdom to locate God’s plan and purpose for our lives from time to time (1 Kings 8:23-24).

But, what is Vision?

Vision is the unfolding of God’s plan and purpose as it relates to us. As it is written: I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:1-3).

It is important to understand that when God unveils His plan, He empowers us to deliver it. For instance, when Jesus called His twelve disciples, He gave them power to accomplish their mission over unclean spirits. That is why the Bible says: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (Proverbs 29:18).

We must also understand that every child of God is a product of divine predestination, created with a particular and well-defined purpose. As it is written:

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Romans 8:29-30; See also Ephesians 1:5, 11).

As we all know, every child of God has a glorious and enviable destiny, but it takes engaging the Holy Ghost to unfold God’s vision for our lives. This is because, according to scriptures, the Holy Ghost is the custodian of God’s vision for His people. As it is written:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28).

Apostle Paul knew God’s divine plan and purpose for His life and that was why he said: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace; To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen… (Galatians 1:15-16; See also Jeremiah 1:5).

Thus, nothing empowers like locating God’s plan and walking in it. This is because when we locate ourselves in that plan, we become more-than-conquerors as a result of the amazing divine forces available to us for conquest.

From scriptures, we saw a picture of an ever-triumphant, ever-conquering and unbeatable army. Among the mystery of this great army as propelled by vision is that: They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded (Joel 2:7-8).

Therefore, when we walk in God’s plan for our lives, we become unstoppable, irresistible and unbeatable in the journey of life.

How do we encounter God’s vision for our lives?

It is important to know that we cannot access vision without a revelation of it. This is because vision defines the goal, while revelation identifies the steps for its fulfilment. However, vision and revelation have a common source, which is the Bible. We must understand that the Bible is a Book of visions that shows us who we are in Christ, what we are worth in redemption, what we can do, and how to do them in order to fulfil God’s plan and purpose for our lives.

As it is written: And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed (Isaiah 29:11).

Hence, there is nothing about our destiny that is not contained in the Word; but we need the ministry of the Holy Ghost to open the seal for our access. That means, we must engage the Holy Ghost to open our eyes of understanding so we can see God’s great plans for our lives in His Word. When we see it and don’t doubt its reality, it becomes a revelation. Therefore, when the revelation of God’s plan is discovered and pursued diligently, we are empowered to deliver it.

What makes visionaries unbeatable?

When God unveils His plan, He commits Himself as follows:

He goes before us: When we are in God’s plan, God is committed to go before us to clear every opposition on our paths. As it is written:

Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared (Exodus 23:20; See also Isaiah 45:1-3).

He goes with us: When we walk in divine plan, we enjoy God’s companionship, which makes us unbeatable in our journey. Jesus said: …lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; See also John 8:28-29; Romans 8:31).

He works with us: We must understand that through divine vision, we are in partnership with God to deliver the project He ordains. As a result, we accomplish unimaginable feats with ease. After Jesus delivered the Great Commission to His disciples, the Bible records: They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (Mark 16:20; See also John 14:10; Acts 10:38).

He works through us: We enjoy God’s backing through divine plan, thereby prevailing sweatlessly where others travail. It is written: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13; See also Genesis 41:15-16)

He works for us: It is written: Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Therefore, we must be confident that nothing can stop God’s plan from being fulfilled in our lives. When God sends us on a mission, the unction required to deliver accompanies us. Hence, it is wisdom to enquire from the Lord about every step of our lives in order to prevail where others travail. The Bible says:

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass (Psalms 37:5).

In the light of the above, until we commit our ways to the Lord and allow Him to direct our paths, we may never live a struggle-free life.

Let’s Examine Some Scriptural Examples of Ever-Conquering Visionaries:

Abraham: Vision empowered Abraham’s destiny into generational greatness (Genesis 22:1-18).

Moses: Moses was on the path of God’s plan; therefore, nothing could stand in his way. According to scriptures, he confronted the strongest nations in his days at the age of 80, yet he could not be stopped. We must remember that walking in God’s plan empowers us to be ‘more-than-a-conqueror’, because we have His entire backing (Exodus3:1-10; 7:1; 23:20, 22-23).

Gideon: He was a one-man unbeatable army and terror to the enemies of Israel. He led 300 men to war and engendered victory without shooting an arrow because God was with them (Judges 6:1-14; 7:9-25).

Paul: He had an encounter with the resurrected Christ that changed his life forever. He was empowered to the point that he was referred to as ‘a god in the likeness of men’ (Acts 14:11-15, 26:19).

David: He was addicted to divine guidance and always took steps that were divinely approved. As a result, he always emerged victorious. The Bible records: David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all (1 Samuel 30:8).

It is important to understand that our destiny in Christ is not a destination but an adventure. It is written: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18).

That means vision is not just a one spot issue but an advancing adventure. This is why every divine agenda requires patience to deliver. The Bible says:

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3; See also Proverbs 14:12).

We must, therefore, be sensitive to divine plan because there is no comparing God’s plan with our plans. I have often said, not every open door is God’s door; many are traps in disguise. Remember, not all that glitters is gold. Thus, we must never negotiate divine instructions; but strive to always be at the centre of God’s plan per time. This is because God never leads backwards, but forward. Therefore, an end has come to all your struggles in life! Remain ever Blessed!

Jesus is Lord!

Prophetic Blessings

The last defeat you suffered is the last you will ever experience in your life!

Every harassment of death in your household is terminated!

Henceforth, where others travail, you will prevail without stress!

That terminal disease is declared terminated now!

You will dominate every issue of your life permanently!

You will never experience setbacks again!

The next step of your life will be stress-free!

Every good thing ordained for you this year will not pass you by!

By the Word of the Lord, an end has come to every ordeal in your health!