Death and Birth of a Vision by Os Hillman
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By Os Hillman
Death and
Birth of a Vision
by Os Hillman
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the
ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces
many seeds." - John
12:24
Almost
every significant thing God births He allows to die before the vision is
fulfilled in His own way.
Abraham
had a vision of being the father of a great nation (birth). Sarah was barren
and became too old to have children (death). God gave Abraham and Sarah a son
in their old age. He became the father of a great nation (fulfillment).
Joseph
had a vision that he would be a great leader and that many would bow down to
him (birth). Joseph's brothers sold him to some merchants and he became a
slave. Later he was falsely condemned to spend his years in prison (death). God
allowed Joseph to interpret the dreams of the butler and baker and later the
king, whereupon, he was made a ruler in the land (fulfillment).
Moses
had a vision of leading his people out of the bondage of Egypt (birth). Pharaoh
as well as his own people drove Moses out of Egypt after Moses' first attempt
to relieve their bondage (death). God gave Moses signs and wonders to convince
Pharaoh to free the people and bring them out of Egypt and into the Promised
Land (fulfillment).
The
disciples had a vision of establishing the Kingdom of God with Jesus (birth).
The very ones He came to save killed Jesus, and the disciples saw Him buried in
a tomb (death). God raised Jesus from the dead, and the disciples performed
great miracles until the gospel had spread through all the world (fulfillment).
A
grain of wheat has a "vision" of reproducing itself and many more
grains of wheat (birth). The grain dies in the ground (death). A harvest
springs up out of the very process of "death" in the ground
(fulfillment).
Has
God given you a vision that is yet unfulfilled? If that vision is born of God,
He will raise it up in His own way. Do not try to raise the vision in your own
strength. Like Moses, who tried to fulfill the vision of freeing the Hebrews by
killing the Egyptian, it will only fail. But wait on your heavenly Father to
fulfill the vision. Then you will know that it was His vision when He fulfills
it in the way only He can do.
Os
Hillman
By permission only. To learn more about
Os Hillman, go to: www.marketplaceleaders.org.
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"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'"(Josh 3:7-8). Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 40 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 40 years? Now that is faithfulness! Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose for elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.
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"Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." Ruth 1:3-5 Naomi's life was going well. A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn't how life was supposed to be.
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"While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'" Acts 10:19-20 Peter had never preached to the Gentiles. In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law to associate with the Gentiles. God needed to change Peter's attitude about this, so God gave Peter a vision that showed him it was permissible to preach to the Gentiles. The Spirit came to Peter and informed him that some men were about to come visit him, and he was to go with them. He went with them, and the Lord did great miracles in the lives of Gentiles through Peter.