Spiritual Vision

Part II

from Rusty Owens

“Behold, I say unto you look on the fields for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35

Satan would have no greater victory than to keep us blind and impotent. As the Philistines blinded Samson, even with all his strength, he was ineffective. But when we begin to cry out for our God given right to sight, we become dangerous. Sad to say one of the first casualties of war, when we allow sin in our lives, is our vision. There’s a military tactic called blinding the enemy. Battles are won and lost because of this tactic. If the enemy can keep us flying spiritually blind, the world is lost.

Seeing by the Spirit allows us to see things as God Sees’ them. It creates a degree of discernment. It allows us to recognize God when he doesn’t look like God. Matt. 25:44,45.

The two men on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus,

But later said “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us.” Luke 24:32. Learning to discern God when He doesn’t look like God is an important part of seeing by the Spirit. Recognizing the movements of the Spirit and discerning the Spirit of God becomes of paramount importance.

Being able to recognize the Holy Spirit and His movements is part of the natural authority of the believer. We see a picture of natural authority in Adam. God brought all the animals before Adam and whatever Adam called that animal that was its name. Gen. 2:19. Here is a subtle picture of mans natural authority at work. I believe Adam could see things for what they were. I believed he named them according to their nature and attributes. Man was able to see things for what they are. This seems like a small thing, but I am amazed at much of the church’s inability to see things for what they are. Not only that, but how out of focus we are with Gods design. What’s worse is that we don’t even realize it.

Many times when my wife and I are doing personal ministry and are praying for someone, we will see something in the Spirit. Sometimes we know what it is we are seeing, other times we do not. But many times when we do not understand what it is we are seeing we share it with the person anyway because it is relevant to them. Their heart is encouraged because God would take the time to show this to someone or simply to remind them. Seeing by the Spirit also allows us to see by faith and this may be the most important aspect of seeing. When Jesus said “Look on the fields for they are white already.” John 4:35. I don’t know if He was speaking that in the Spirit you could literally see white fields or that by faith you could see the harvest that is before you. I tend to believe the latter, that by faith you could see that the harvest is before you and that the harvest is NOW! That’s the power of seeing by faith, every thing has potential. Seeing by faith allows you to move even when conditions are against you. Eccl. 11:4. Seeing by faith allows you see potential in people and opportunity in situations. Satan’s obstacles become God’s opportunities. Remember what I said about being able to recognize who is for you and not just who is against you.

Coming into the time we live in, this is of great importance. Satan’s opposition will increase, but GOD will show himself stronger and stronger. Don’t be fooled by Satan’s apparent victories or if it looks like he has the upper hand. Remember “More are they that are for us than they that are against us.” II Kings 16:7. And “If God be For us who can be against us.” Rom. 8:31.

God is equipping us for this great end time harvest. Staying focused and being able to see what is set before us is necessary. William Booth before he founded the Salvation Army, had a vision of thousands of souls drowning in a sea. There were many people standing by on a pier going on with every day life totally oblivious that people were dying, drowning in the sea. A few ventured out in small boats and tried to rescue some. In the vision he became angry and then began to weep and made a pledge to try to reach every soul he could. The rest is history as he went on to become one of the greatest soul winners of all time. He had a vision of the harvest. Souls are drowning in a sea of darkness. Will you get off the dock and help rescue them? Or are you content with your church, your job, your recognition you get as a pastor. Would you wade out into this sea and help rescue the lost? “Do you not say ‘there is four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold I say to you, lift up your Eyes and look on the fields that they are white unto harvest.” John 4:35