Psalm 1:3 KJV “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his
fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The preceding scripture, Psalm 1:2, states the delight and meditation of the law of the Lord. It continues in this verse (Psalm 1:3) to reflect what that will lead to, which is prosperity. At the root of God’s perspective of prosperity is the ability to take delight in the order He sets for us and to meditate on such order, which is His Word. Meditating on the law of the Lord does not just entail pondering over it, but it includes murmuring the law of the Lord in a pleasurable way. We usually associate murmuring with complaining but actually that word takes on a twofold meaning. It can go either way: murmuring is considered complaining when we continue to utter about the things of dissatisfaction. That is what we usually relate murmuring to but it is also to utter about things of satisfaction, pleasure, and affection in such a soft and low voice. We do not have to be loud and speaking even in our normal tone but simply softly and lowly so that it is one-on-one with God. Now that is not what we are quite so familiar with in murmuring. That may take some major adjustments but it is certainly doable because it is stated in His Word “For
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). It is done in pleasure because there is a love and a joy to fulfill what God wants us to do.

To prosper first begins with a delight and meditation of the law of the Lord. This meditation just is not about just a few minutes. We can take a scripture and take a few minutes to dwell on it long enough for God to speak to us about it and even for us to learn it. But sometimes walk away from the principle behind that very exercise. God does not want merely a few minutes, although He appreciates our attempts and efforts. He wants His law to be so embedded in us that it will take the meditation of it night and day. That means throughout the day there should be some indication of the Word of God in our mouth. Now we enjoy putting other things in our mouth and making discussions about what we enjoyed consuming. God wants us to shift that to the how we view His Word. We can go about our day and take moments where we stop what we are doing to meditate on the scriptures because we are so delighted we have this privilege to God’s Word and that He affords us the opportunity to know Him. God knows about the course of our day with all our personal agendas. But even within the time frame of our day, we take periodic breaks for certain things. We do so when we are hungry because we do not often neglect our hunger or our thirst. Not only that, but we take pleasure in what we choose to consume. We enjoy it! We may not stop immediately to satisfy that craving or that thirst but we do stop to be sure that that is taken care of. We can make those breaks throughout the say just to meditate on the law of God because we take pleasure in consuming it. God wants us to view of the origin of our prosperity in such a way. It begins with a delight for the law. If we do not yet have a delight for it, we cannot meet the initial criteria for prospering. Delight comes with the knowledge that God wants the best for us and with this we learn to accept what He says through His law.

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”-Psalm 1:3 is the reflection of what a prosperous person looks like. It is in the description of nature. God demonstrates the abundant flourishing of a tree to give us a vivid picture of what delight and meditation of God’s law will lead. It first deals with relating us to a tree and the position of the tree. The tree is planted by the rivers of waters. We have to position ourselves in a specific place, particularly in our mind. This is the fixing, the readjustment of our mind to not only reflect but to begin to murmur the Word of God. It is an adjustment because this does indeed take work. To plant something means that we have to dig it in the soil of the earth. We have to dig our way into the Word of God bypassing the thoughts and nature of carnality and self-will and adjust ourselves to begin to change what we have been speaking because of the other things that we have already had our minds fixed on. However, this adjustment allots us the way to begin to flourish. As we are adjusting what we are saying, we will find that we are redirected in our way of thinking because it has conformed to the Word of God. There is a stand, a stature that we will have in the God’s Word. As we delight and meditate on God’s Word, we allow the Word to flow in our life which keeps us moving in the way of God. What we know about rivers is that they are a constant flow of water, always moving. That means that there is no room for us to be complacent or stagnant. That also means that we continue to move advancing from faith to faith and from glory to glory. We may too often hear that but not truly understand what we receive as we transition and advance from one dimension of faith and glory to the next. God desires to prosper us but this begins with the delight and meditation of His Word.

This scripture takes another look at this “tree” God refers us to as one that “bringeth forth his fruit in his season”. This shows the ongoing growth of the tree. God develops us as we set out to take delight in His laws and meditate on them. He develops our mindset and with this transforming, developing, and renewing of our mind, comes another presentation of who we are created and designed to be. We must begin to understand that who we are is connected to our prosperity. This prosperity is about us pushing forward and advancing. When we are not prospering, we are not fully developed in certain stages in our life. God staggers how He wants to develop us in stages and that is why there are fruit brought forth in seasons. We do not fully see the “fruit” of a person as a child and consider them fully developed as an individual. But we do see certain fruit (development) in the stages of their life through early childhood, elementary age, adolescence, young adult, and then to adulthood. Each stage represents a season of life. There is presented a “fruit”, that is, a development of who they are yet they are still flourishing and growing. God grooms us as we take delight in His law and in meditating because this sets the stage, the foundation for where we are going.

As we continue on this path to prospering, we will find that our leaf does not wither. It is amazing how God continues to show us through His Word how to have sustained life in Him. A leaf withers when it does not have the adequate amount of nutrients it needs to sustain it. We too often dry up because of our weariness, frustrations, doubts, worries, sin, and faithlessness. This is what causes us to be stale, weak, stagnant, complacent, and fall short in upholding the standard of God’s Word. When this happens, we forfeit our own prosperity in God. We find that we are not moving forward, there is no advancement in our walk with God, and we have not received all that God desires to bless us with. We have to change our perspective about the law of God. He provides so many nutrients for us in His Word that sometimes we get caught up in how good it is for us but do not want to consume it because we do not like it. We know that certain medicines and certain types of food are good for us but we may not want to partake of them simply because we do not like them. In those medicines and certain types of food are the nutrients we need to sustain us and help us. Sometimes we fail at the law of God, not because we did not know what it said, but because we did not take to heart the nature of God’s love and intention underlying the law. That is another way that we forfeit our own prosperity. There was no production of that and with no production, we wither, we dry up because of the lack of activity of the law of God operating in our life.

This latter part says that whatever this person does, they will prosper. This is because what they began to initially do was favorable in the sight of God because their affection was set on Him and His Word. With this favor is advancement, a life of walking and living in prosperity. God desires that our attitude and reaction towards His law is to delight and meditate in them. As we delight in them, we will begin to act according to what He says and our affection and lovewill be that to please Him.

I Tim 4:14 says, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery,” and II Tim 1:6-7 says, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

You have talents and special abilities that are needed to further the ministry. As long as you have permission from those elders in authority, your gift should not be neglected. You have been endowed with something that has the power to save lives and change lives for the better. Stir it up!

A gift is a notable talent that was voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; the act, right or power of giving. God voluntarily gave you this special ability. All gifts come from God, so it’s like He gave you a part of himself, so you can use it for His glory. So why are you sitting on it? Why are you neglecting it? Why won’t you stir it up?

Paul recognized that fear could be keeping Timothy and others from using their gifts. Many of you have been stagnant and have not used the gifts that God has given you because of the following fears:

(1) Fear of failure – There is a hesitation or shrinking from using your gift because there is fear that you will not be accepted and will be hurt. For some, there is such a reverence toward God that there is fear you might not do the gift justice.

(2) Fear of the Past – There was a time when something yielded an unpleasant result, and there is a fear the past will be repeated, or there is fear that something yielded a pleasant result but may not happen again.

(3) Fear of other people – There is a constant fear of what others have said or may say such as those that are naysayers or who say things to indicate you may not be the one to do the job.

(4) Fear that there will not be enough time. There are so many distractions – things that draw away the attention. There are the daily things of life that take up time like jobs, family, errands, and other things that keep us busy and often in a state of confusion.

(5) Fear of submission – There is pride. There are titles, positions, statuses. There is a fear of being controlled so you are not willing to submit to church authority or the will of God.

Why do you think that after Paul told Timothy “that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands,” he goes on to say, “ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”? It is because Paul knew he needed to remind Timothy that fear does not come from God, but power, love, and a sound mind, do come from God. If you use your gift, you will have the power to gain wealth (just like the two servants who profited by using their gifts), you will have love and a mind that does not waiver, which all come from God.

Matthew 25 tells the story of a man who was to travel to a far country and called his servants to give them talents. To one he gave five talents, to one he gave two talents, and to another he gave one talent. While the servants who had five and two talents used them and doubled their talents, the servant who had one went and buried his in the earth. When the master returned, he rewarded the servants who had used their talents to gain twice as much. He told them, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” When the master found that the servant with one talent had buried it (neglected it and refused to stir it up), he was angry. This servant accused his master of being a “hard man,” and said he was “afraid” which is why he hid his talent. The master took this servant’s one talent and gave it to the servant who had five, stating, “and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Notice that the master called the neglectful, fearful servant, unprofitable! If you want to prosper, you must use your talent. Don’t worry about not having what someone else has or what anyone else is doing or saying. Don’t bury or neglect your talent. Don’t make excuses and don’t be afraid to use it. Stir it up and make it worth double the amount it was when it was given to you…And guess what? God will give you even more.

There is a technique for fortifying “concrete and greatly increasing the load bearing strength of concrete beams. The reinforcing steel in the bottom part of the beam, which will be subjected to tensile (stretchable) forces when in service, is placed in tension prior to the concrete being poured around it. Once the concrete has hardened, the tension on the reinforcing steel is released, placing a built-in compressive force on the concrete. When loads are applied, the reinforcing steel takes on more stress and the compressive force in the concrete is reduced, but does not become a tensile force. Since the concrete is always under compression, it is less subject to cracking and failure” (Wiki).

So the steel is heated and stretched and tension is placed on it, so it will make the concrete that is poured around it stronger and more resistant to cracking and failure. So when you use your gift, you will be heated (because you know the devil won’t like it, and he will do his part to turn the heat up), you will be stretched (you know your faith and trust in God will be stretched), and tension will be place on you (because a certain amount of tension and stress can come from expectations). Yes, but when all is said and done, you will be stronger. The tension and pressure will actually fortify you. When the heavy loads and storms of life come, you will not crack or fail. You will have power, you will have more love, and you will have a much sounder mind because you are doing God’s will by using the gift he gave you. You will have prosperity and make such an impact for the kingdom of God. God has given you a gift and some of you more than one. If the elders have confirmed it, then you need to use it. Don’t neglect the gift God was gracious enough to give you. Don’t be afraid and don’t end up unprofitable. Use your gift. Share it! Double it! Stir it up! Even though you will be stretched, you will profit and you will come forth stronger and more prosperous than ever before.

Biography:

Doctor Kathy is a former teacher and principal with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina. Upon retiring, she founded Hall’s Consulting and Publishing Enterprises, focusing on writing, publishing and motivational speaking. She has an MAED in English and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a doctorate in the Ministry of Christian Education and Leadership with Logos Christian College and Graduate School in Jacksonville, Florida.

Doctor Kathy was saved in 1977, and she has served in many capacities in Kingdom Harvest Bibleway Church from Choir Director and Youth President to Women’s’ Ministry President, first under her father, Bishop G. W. Pettice, and then under her brother, Pastor Stanley Pettice. Doctor Kathy and her husband, Elder Trent founded Servants of the Most High Ministries which is an evangelistical/outreach ministry that emphasizes serving God by serving others.

Doctor Kathy’s philosophy of life comes from Micah 6:8 of the Bible as she often states, “God only requires three things of us, which are to be just, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”

Part 1: Let the Teacher Teach

The first step is determining who is the most effective at communication. I say to that one “Let the teacher teach!” It’s not always in what you say, but how you communicate it. It’s important if you are the one that better understands the laws that govern effective communication that you teach (which is NOT the same as being the communication police). If he better understands the laws that govern effective communication, be teachable. In either case, always pay attention to how you utilize communication to stay balanced, remain open, keep your mind and conscious clear, and to keep the relationship intact.

It is a known fact the women use twice as many words as men do in the course of a day. Know how to make your words count- and stick! Doing so will leave him yearning to hear what you have to say as opposed to reluctantly listening. It is possible, even to express dissatisfaction in a way which leaves him hinging off of every, single syllable. I know many woman are asking “How?” The answer is- by utilizing wisdom in your conversation. It is important that even in a place of correction, that she strips, but leaves his manhood in tact. There are ways to correct a man without stripping him of his dignity. Don’t use words that demean him in order to prove your point. It is not necessary to yell as if he has a hearing impairment. Being the woman not only he desires, but needs means understanding the power of her words versus the level of her volume. You must understand the difference between him comprehending and him applying, be able to communicate to him where application is missing, and communicate that disconnect in ways that are not redundant. You can utilize your time and words on what’s next on your agenda and bringing issues to a place of resolve instead of rehearsing the same issue with no resolution.

Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Part II: Doing Good First

In being the woman he not only desires, but needs, you must not be afraid to communicate first. The Bible says “Communicate and forget not; with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Don’t be afraid to be the first one; find out what is needed to have healthy communication. Understanding that is not your role, but it’s your life! Not allowing role definition or gender responsibility to hinder you from having what you need or want. A wise woman asks “What is required before I bring this subject up for communication?” First, is it the right timing!? Stating all of the facts, giving every detail, keeping your volume at a minimum will still not yield a resolution if it’s still the wrong timing. There is no set rule on how and when. It depends on the couple, their temperament, the setting, etc. But what’s for sure is that extreme tension is always the wrong time. In front of peers, yours or his (wrong time), when already angry, you or him about something else (wrong time). It is essential that you communicate and be ready to utilize everything you know about him to get your issues solved by discussing them. In being the woman he not only desires, but needs, you must ask “What am I willing to give up to have victorious communication?”

It is most challenging to go first when you have to lead in uncomfortable conversations. Most men will avoid talks, debates, or arguments he feels he can’t win or be given a fair chance. In being a woman he not only desires, but needs, don’t allow him to avoid talking about issues that need to be discussed because of fear of retaliation, anger, silence, no response, or a mouth full of excuses. A man wants to be right, but sometimes does not comprehend what you mean, know how to answer your question, resolve the issue, or humble himself and ask for help, so he will avoid the issue. Don’t let him off the hook. And what does lack of communication about difficult things do to the relationship? Lack of communication first brings about suspicion in both parties trying to imagine what you think the other person will say or how they are feeling. The second thing is it breeds selfishness you begin to justify your actions and become tunnel visioned avoiding your responsibility in the communications. Third is time allows pride and stubbornness to set in and avoid all communication. Fourth, it makes you numb to the other persons feelings or point of view. Finally. it allows space for bitterness and resentment.

Be a woman who knows how to put her emotions to the side, lay her attitude on the line, and roll up her sleeves and use this teachable moment to demonstrate love, humility, character, compassion, and support. In being the woman he not only desires, but needs, state the facts, tell the whole truth, accept your portion of responsibility, if any; tell him how it makes you feel. Ask him can he give you what you need to begin to be healed, reassured, redirected, or for it to be solved. Then take what he says and verbally communicate it back to him so he hears what he just said to you and verbally agree that is what he said and means.

Then ask him how he feels about your communication. Were you fair? Were you over emotional? Is the resolution balanced? Were his needs met while meeting yours? Do you feel like this was the right timing to discuss, if not, when would have been the right timing? How was my vocabulary? What I learned is that whether you are in the seat of right or wrong, these things can’t be avoided: 1) The situation still must be discussed, 2) Both parties must take a level of responsibility, after examining the situation from both sides, 3) Both must always remain open and respectful, and 4) It must be resolved so both parties may benefit and grow!

Part III: Patience with the Process

The last stage is deciding to communicate effectively beyond my anger, hurt, or frustration in getting to the root of misunderstanding. Sometimes it takes hours of talking, crying, and affirmation on both parties’. First, you have to decide to accept the truth no matter how hard it is for both. Secondly, you must decide to do it because it’s the right thing to do; meaning, taking the time to talk and process what is spoken, taking time to assess needs and explore feelings, withdraw any negative words or attitudes, and simply state these feelings or needs. Last, determine what is going to satisfy both parties involved. In being what he not only desires, but needs won’t leave you empty, angry, or bitter, but will leave you balanced, healthy, clear in the direction of the communication, and satisfied with the results.

2 Chronicles 26:5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

King Uzziah was anointed king over Israel at 16 years old. His name means “my strength is Jehovah.” He is the son of the late king Amaziah, whose name means “Jehovah is mighty,” and his wife Jecoliah, whose name means “Jehovah is able.” He is the grandson of King Joash whose name means “given by the Lord.” It’s obvious Uzziah has a rich heritage. His bloodline suggest that he has strength, might, ability and a gift. In all of his legacy, all of his resources, all of his servants, all of the people at his beck and call, you would think that if anybody could pull of a vision it would be him. He had so much going for him and one major thing against him. Time. He is 16. He hasn’t been around long enough to make sound decisions about the vision of this great country. Though he is undoubtedly surrounded by counselor and has access to the wisest of the elders, he understands that the inherited mistakes of his lineage must not be repeated. Enter Zechariah.

“And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,…” We understand that the days to seek God are limited. We must also understand that we are currently living in a time that was once a vision.. Uzziah knew that the kingdom he now had to rule was in it’s current state of affairs because of the vision someone once had concerning it whether good or bad. Armed with only that realization, the Bible says he sought Zechariah. The name Zechariah means “Jehovah remembers.” When you are talking about vision in any capacity, it requires that someone have a good memory. Zechariah’s memory allowed him to have excellent hindsight, critical insight and promoted the necessary foresight into what God willed for his people. Uzziah had to assess where the kingdom stood and determine which direction to take it. Uzziah knew it was also just as critical to know where the kingdom had been in times past. Listen, just because you’re at the helm now, doesn’t mean the vision started with you. Where we are is because there was groundwork laid to get us here. It’s called a testimony.

“…who had understanding in the visions of God:…” Zechariah was called in to offer his testimony to the intents of God. Zechariah has the ability to say it hasn’t always been this way. This is the way it should be now for it to end up the way God wants it to. See, Zechariah was the grandson of Iddo, another prophet to the kings, so he was skilled and well versed in kingdom history. Isn’t that like Daniel? Didn’t Daniel see visions but consulted the book of Jeremiah to get understanding of them? The only difference is that Zechariah was a living resource. What is God saying? He’s saying he’s provided a living resource, a living well of wisdom for you to draw from to understand where he is going with your life. God had a vision for your life. He had a vision for the world. He had a vision for everything you’re involved in. It doesn’t need updating and God doesn’t need glasses. His vision is perfect, always has been, always will be. We must be able to connect what God has willed to what we have before us now. What was God’s purpose for your organization? For your family? Why are you in your profession? Zechariah knows. God places Zechariah’s in the earth to keep us from repeating past mistakes. Zechariah may have many forms in your life. It may be your Pastor. It may be your mother. Your father can be your Zechariah. It may be your favorite aunt or uncle. He can be your mentor, he can be your ally. Zechariah can be your boss. He can be your elderly neighbor. What he cannot be is your peer. Gotcha with that one, I know. Zechariah must be concerned only with what he understands to be the will of God. His submission to you is with great humility as he is older than you. Remember, Uzziah is an inheritor of the vision. He cannot forget that he’s a runner too. Zechariah has been around the block a time a time or two. He knows what lies around every corner. His memory is critical because there is no new thing under the sun. God uses Zechariah to help Uzziah save critical time. Remember, Zechariah means Jehovah remembers, and he is sought because of his understanding of the visions of God. That means that what God saw, he only relayed once; After that, you have to get it from someone who was there. Over and over God mentions the father’s of the kings. Each king is tied to an inherited legacy. The only one getting fresh insight is the prophet. That’s why each king kept one around. Zechariah is valuable to the king, which leads to the conclusion of the matter.

“…and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.” Zechariah brings with him a wealth of knowledge, hindsight, insight, foresight, and support at critical times of change and transition in the kingdom. Uzziah understood that Zechariah wouldn’t be around forever and he sought him in Zechariah’s days, not the king’s own days. While you have access to great men and women of God, or before your loved one passes from life to death, while your boss still has a heart to help you with your start-up, get all you can from them. Remember, God has vision too and we are all living inside of it. Zechariah is too. When we get what Zechariah has, we’ll turn a profit like never before.

Hang On Ministry desires to be a Zechariah to you. We sincerely hope that we are playing our part in God’s vision for your life to help you prosper.

Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Our month long study on the subject of Vision is all balanced upon this third week. We are at the the point of having to solidify our vision so we can begin to live our vision. The study this week will take us through a lot of defining what it is that we have on our hands. A vision is a huge responsibility. It can be consuming. It can make you doubtful. Was it a real vision or were my eyes playing tricks on me? Visionaries are an intense set of people. They spend a lot of time in their own heads. That’s what brings us to the Book of Acts. Here, Peter provides a perfect inside look into the mind of a Visionary.

Acts 10:19 starts out, “While Peter thought…..” Those are three very powerful and important words and they demand our attention and we’re going to look at these words in depth now and throughout the length of this blog. For now, we’re not going to spend a lot of time on Peter’s name. If you are churched enough to be reading this blog, you know about Peter’s name. It means rock or stone. I could link that with the table from Habakkuk and all that ,but the truth is this Peter is US. Put your name there. You are who we’re about to discover in light of Peter’s vision. Now, let’s get into some meat we may not have considered before.

While denotes time. It also denotes effort, as in worthwhile. “While Peter,” in this text means that Peter was using precious time. Has it taken you a while to wrap your mind around what God has shown you? It took Peter a while. This is the same Peter who rebuked Jesus, after all. Why, because it took Peter a while to get it. Verse 16 tells us it took the vision three times to appear to Peter. Each time Peter rebuked it, and each time God rebuked him back. Is God still having to rebuke you because you keep telling him something else? “While Peter,” is for those of us who have taken our own sweet time. Peter hasn’t written his vision. This is the book of Acts. This is Luke’s book. Luke wrote about Peter’s vision. Come on here, Peter didn’t do his own part yet. Remember, while also means effort. All Peter’s work was being done in his head.Yeah, he was still one of those “let me think about it” saints at this point, which leads us to why it took him a while. It was his thought process.

Thought, such a common word now, but it won’t be after this paragraph. Did you know the Greek word used for thought in this verse is used only a total of three times in the whole New Testament? Yep, twice in Matthew and this one in Acts. All the other times the word thought is used in the New Testament, a different word is used. Yet, THIS time called for a special word to be brought in. Remember now God’s dealing with You, Peter. It requires a special word when dealing with visionaries. The Greek word used here is: ejnqumevomai or Enthumeomai.

It means to bring to mind, to revolve in the mind, or to ponder. Easy enough right, but this is the kicker: It’s a compound word! It’s made up of the Greek word enj meaning a fixed position, something instrumental, and the word qumoveb (Thumos) meaning passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith and boiling up and soon subsiding again. It means the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength.) That same root word means wrath, fierceness, indignation. It is used ten times in the Book of Revelation alone. See where we’re going with this? Peter was a mad somebody. Don’t you know we get more ideas when we’re angry than any other time?!!! Hey, and look at this, Peter dealt with madness AFTER God gave him Vision. We think if we get a glimpse of God we’ll be alright, but it’s not always so. Why? Peter almost lost his mind behind what he saw. Why??? It’s because of what a vision is! Read on and watch this.

“…on the vision…” Let’s define Vision. I know that seems like something we should have done week one, but that was too soon. See, we’re all Gung Ho week one. It’s hard to receive when you’re hopped up on adrenaline. It took three weeks to face the fact that our Vision may not be all inspired by God even if ultimately comes from God. What do I mean? Let’s Lexicon Vision as it relates to this verse. It is from the Greek word Horama; It means that which is seen, a spectacle, a sight divinely granted in an ecstasy or a sleep, a vision. It means our Vision is based on what we’re sleeping on or ecstatic about. Which was Peter’s case? Verse 10 tells us. He was very hungry. It says he would have made ready to eat but he fell into a trance. What’s wrong with that? Nothing except for what happened in verse 9, Peter was supposed to be up there to pray! Peter went up on the housetop, the place where God raptures people from. He went up there to pray and got sidetracked by his appetite. Look at verse 13. God speaks to Peter according to the last thing that Peter was ecstatic about, FOOD. He says kill and eat. Since somebody is about to spiritually die, finish em off with your next bite. Come on Peter, Since you ain’t praying no more, or since your appetite is now what influences your spirit man more than me, kill! Remember this was done three times. Peter had three times to pray and each time the trance broke, Peter went back to thinking about how hungry he was. What have we really hungered for since the trance of the New Year has broken? Does God have to captivate you all over again every Sunday? Remember, we just learned that Peter’s thoughts were motivated by anger. He was mad that his own will kept being interrupted by what he considered unclean and all the while God was trying to to show Peter, US, that we cannot take our unclean thoughts to prayer and have a clean Vision! It’ll produce a hysteria that can drive you crazy. It’s not that so much that Peter was hungry, its that the Bible says he would have eaten something in the place of prayer. Don’t try to substitute or delay spiritual things, even for a little “while.”

God also spoke to Peter about what his being so uncommon that he couldn’t deal with the commonalities that we all share as people. Is your vision only for uncommon people? If it is, then prepare to have a small impact. Great impact comes when everyone can benefit from your vision. Everyone may not have a role, or be a runner, or be intimate at all. You may never meet them in fact, but even the super healthy will eat apples from McDonald’s. The company has so much vision it can give you a 1300 calorie hamburger and still get the money of a vegetarian. What I’m saying is that we, being uncommon, can’t forget about we what we have in common with the next man.

“…the Spirit said unto him,..” This is the stage of the vision most of us perpetually exist in.
Now, we just learned that enj means something instrumental. See, what holds up most visions is the lack of material. Peter considered himself and got mad when he thought about how he was the material God had to work with. Knowing you are an instrumental part of your own vision can make you downright depressed. Remember that “while’ we talked about? Check out verse 17 for more information about that while. Peter doubted a while, he doubted IN himself. Then he started thinking about killing the vision, you know, aborting destiny? That’s why we sometimes call it a “meanwhile.” Mean folks are usually people of vision that nobody can work with or for. Jesus tried to work with Peter, ask Malchus how that went. John had to work with Peter and found that Peter was so hot blooded that he worked naked. Every time Peter blew up, he was at work, or faced with a task or a responsibility, or in a emotional state that he couldn’t control. In other words, he was trying his very best to make something happen. He had a wife to look after, her mother was sick, a fishing business, come on here, Peter was stressed. He worked with his brother Andrew which means they probably inherited the family business, employees to manage while they were away with Christ. It was a lot. He wasn’t well educated. (Acts 4:13) Peter had nothing in him that suggested victory. Remember, Peter means rock. Rocks can be thrown. Peter got thrown quite a few times, remember that cursing thing? In fact, Peter’s fault and his saving grace was his own name; he was rock solid baby. God knew that Peter, did I mention he walked on water, would not crumble. Peter is my hero. He feared being an instrument, but he continually positioned himself to be used. I love it all day. You may be fearful of making a name for yourself. You may be reluctant to put your name out there. You may back up because of the reputation behind your name. I’m hear to tell you there’s greatness in your name!!! It’s not great because of what you’ve done yet, it’s great ‘cause of what other’s haven’t done yet. Ain’t nobody walked on water since Peter! Peter’s problem, the one that plagued him on the same water he walked on, was that he was easily overwhelmed. He is about to discover the solution for being overwhelmed in the midst of Vision. Read on.

“…Behold,…” pay attention, observe to see about something to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit to know. God is saying study this moment. I’m about to let you interview me, ask me questions about how I took my vision and created the world in a week’s time. All your answers are in what I say next, “…three men seek thee.” Three is the first all encompassing numeral. 1 cannot enclose anything, neither can two I I sides encase anything. It is only beginning with the number three that man became capable of holding onto anything. Ask Adam and Eve how well they held on to Eden after they took God out of the equation. The number 3 forms the first true shape in arithmetic, the triangle. It tells all sides of the story. It is representative of what is complete. Three men came seeking Peter. Men, remember those who God called you to? Peter was called to be a fisher of men. He was struggling with the vision and what it meant and how he could do it. He was about to lose it again. He was about to blow it all, not because he didn’t love God, but because he felt inadequate. That’s when God gave him a formula for success. He used the number three and he used who he assigned Peter too.

What was God saying to him? What is God saying to you?

He’s saying the Vision is realized through a series of completed assignments!

Don’t get overwhelmed y’all. Just complete each assignment. Don’t fear being inconsistent. Just complete each assignment. Don’t get antsy about the 6 months from now. Just complete each assignment. I feel worship in the room. I’m in the library and I feel worship in the room. I’m telling you, Pastor Terence said last week “…the vision isn’t for you to get trapped up in timelines, but for you to keep stock of the milestones…” I know that was and still is a word. The milestones are the point where you completed each assignment. Go back and break your vision up into doable assignments. Make it manageable. Leaders, give every man their assignment. Let them complete it before you give them another one. That’s how you’re going to see the full vision be accomplished. Do it with your children. Do it with your work. Do it with yourself. Do it with somebody else. The runners didn’t take off with the whole book. They took what they could retain and ran with that. Complete each assignment this week and come back next week for more.

Hang On Ministry endeavors to complete it’s assignment in your life for 2012!

Teaching by: Minister Laketa McKinney

The valley of vision is the period of time after the excitement wears off and before the vision comes to pass. That is the time when most failed visions die. That is why Isaiah saw dry bones in the valley. This is the period in which it is hard to see the finish line. Imagine standing on the mountain top seeing your promise on the mountain top across from you. At this point you are high with excitement; you are on the mountain top! You can see clearly what God said, even though it is far away on the mountain across from you. As you race down the mountain toward what you saw you hit the valley and realize you can’t run up the mountain at the same pace you just ran down. Things now began to get difficult. The climb requires so much more stamina and strength than you anticipated, so do you go back to the valley where it’s comfortable? Do you go back to the place where more than 90% of everyone else is? Do you go back to the place where you don’t have to try as hard and exert as much energy? What makes us do that? Is it the fact that when you are on the side of the mountain climbing, everyone in the valley is watching you and you are afraid you may fall? Is it because the company of others is more important to you than the achievement of the vision? After all it is lonely at the top? Or are you just afraid that you may not make it all the way, so why try at all? What is your excuse for not being elite? Better question, have you begun to believe that your excuse is a valid reason? Granted, this valley of vision is far from the other valleys you have been in. Which one is better, to never try or to try and give up? Neither should be an option for kingdom minded saints.

A burden is defined as a something borne with difficulty. When you face difficulty, you come face to face with the real you.

The burden of weight which produces resistance during exercise is what causes a muscle to grow stronger. The burdens God gives you are gifts to make you better. Most visions are difficult. If they were easy, everyone would be successful. It is quite easy to be average. That’s why the majority of the people are. This is not because they don’t have the potential to be better, but because they don’t have the stamina, boldness and character it takes to be great. Nothing God does is less than great, including giving you a vision. So, if it is from God, why is it we think it will take anything less than a great effort to fulfill it? What does all of this mean to us? That depends on what you are willing to do. Want is not enough for fulfilling the will of God and climbing this mountain called a vision. Most of us want to, but are we willing to climb the mountain after we become tired? Are we willing to push beyond the pain? Any athlete that has reached any level of achievement will tell you that they had to play hurt sometimes. Anyone that has achieved any level of success will tell you that difficulty is a part of the process. Are you mature enough to do what you don’t want to do to get to the mountain top? Will you endure the burden? I know you can, but will you?

The burden of the valley of vision is the weight of knowing you shouldn’t reside there and the difficulty you know faces you on the climb up. Its time for us to allow this burden to make us the people we have been called to be. God is requiring us to shoulder this burden and finish the visions we have been given. Your new word is waiting for you on the mountain top which represents the completion of your vision.

Habakkuk 2:3
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.

Are you ready to be used by God? Before responding, God wants you to truly look beyond your normal cliche’ response and look to what He has planned for you and how you will be used for his glory this year… starting today, even right now. God has already given you the game plan and what’s necessary for you to be effective, but He wants you to realize that the time that you used to spend getting beyond your doubts, fears, personal agenda, and opinion is precious time you don’t have anymore. That time and opportunity now is purposed for the advancement of you in His Kingdom and you in it. Now is the time for God’s vision in your life to be executed – His Word has to do what it’s set out to do.

You see, believer, that was the point in Him giving you the time to write the vision in the first place… so you can count up the cost and see what lies ahead. That was the time to work out the insecurities. But be assured, knowing that in God instructing you to write the vision, He’s already given you the keys to victory. In His eyes, it’s already accomplished. He want’s you to see all that had to be done in order for you to be the vessel He is going to use and for you to be all that you are called to be. It’s to draw your focus in, but let you know that He placed it in your hands for you to be trusted with it.

This is the time that “it shall speak, and not lie”… and it will be all in His timing. You writing the vision isn’t for you to get trapped up in timelines, but for you to keep stock of the milestones God is performing and when. He knows just what we need to build our faith as we progress and what builds the integrity and character needed to maintain what He continues to bless us with. Whether it takes a day or the rest of the 364 days of the year, what God has promised shall be and it’ll be right on time.

I am so glad to be with you another week as we continue our month long study on January’s theme:VISION. As I began to study our topic, there were some recurring themes that the Lord showed me. As they developed within all the verses I read through, the Lord has led me to conclude that there are different degrees of vision that we continually experience at any given time. Those degrees of Vision are summed up in the three (3) major parts that are the subject of this weeks blog. The 3 Degrees of Vision are: Hindsight, Insight, and Foresight. Let’s take a look at them all.

HINDSIGHT

Daniel 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Hindsight. It’s been said that hindsight is 20/20. I’m inclined to believe that. The thing is, Hindsight has gotten a bad rap as it is often times wrongly confused with our past. There is a big difference between looking at your past and using Hindsight. For one, your past is too tunnel visioned to be a reliable or credible. Hindsight, however, takes in to account everything and everyone it has ever come across. For another, they past is lazy. It stopped at certain point in your life and can only replay its last greatest joy, or is most searing pain. Hindsight though, will take you right up to minute ago. You will have used hindsight to reread a piece of this writing just to make sure you’re keeping it all in context. Your past will only tell you you wish you knew this last year. See, that’s the problem with memory; It is based on the past. Reflection, however, can be based on something that happened just this morning. The Past mostly promotes anxiety, but Hindsight is a promoter of anticipation. Daniel used hindsight quite a bit, like when he had to re-envision King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He didn’t go to sleep and re-dream it. He had a night vision and God showed it to him. That’s hindsight working. Daniel didn’t need to see the king’s past, he needed to see the kings dream. God replayed the dream for Daniel as a vision. For the King, the dream was futuristic, for Daniel it was not. Did you know anytime you have see where a person is “coming from”, you are using hindsight? You’re seeing where they’ve been, their angle, their take on life, all of that involves using hindsight. He does it again in Daniel 9:2, “In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Now this just blows me away, Daniel read the book of Jeremiah! So much for the argument that the people in the Bible didn’t have the Bible to go by. They weren’t just winging it. They had to read the Word too. Daniel in Hindsight or retrospect understood where he was by reflecting on what God said to Jeremiah. Daniel was able to look back into HISTORY, not the past, which is another good point about hindsight: it’s a wonderful historian. Hindsight is the history of your vision. It is the reason that supports your vision. It the groundwork for phase two, the 2nd Degree of Vision:Insight

INSIGHT

Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

The second degree of Vision is Insight. It is the now part of your vision. One thing is clear and said twice as a witness, Daniel was a man of understanding. Understanding is nothing more than insight. If you have understanding then you have insight. It’s that simple. If you have no insight into what’s going on around you, you have no understanding of it either. You can have actions. You can have a role. You can have an opinion. You can have a vote. You can have all of that without having insight so you never really understand the why of what you has to be done. We really have hindsight mastered. What we lack is insight. That’s a recipe for regret. We all have a vision and are a part of somebody else’s vision. It takes insight to do your right now part. Daniel’s right now part was to weep, fast, and intercede for Jerusalem. Didn’t Jeremiah call for the people of the captivity to howl? Daniel understood that Jeremiah was talking to the ones with insight. If you have Insight, you have the greatest responsibility to gap-stand for the vision. If you can see what your leader, boss, spouse, kids, friends, neighborhood, are trying to do…then you have the greatest responsibility to pray them through it. The only physical thing Daniel could do in captivity was go to work, go to persian church, and pray. Let me point out here that every vision doesn’t make you shout. Some stuff we see is heartbreaking. Insight is what we use to stabilize our emotions. That stability comes from understanding what we see. The verse says Daniel had understanding of the ‘thing” and of the “vision.” That means he understood the reasons for what was going on; What God sowed him in the vision, he understood it to be the reasonable outcome for the behavior of Israel. Visionaries must be reasonable. Check the scriptures, God isn’t against reason. He’s against intellectual highmindedness. Daniel was able to read Jeremiah and humble his thought process to what he read. His insight told him what was “true.” Your constant use of Insight will anchor you through the vision, however long the process. That takes us up to the Third Degree of Vision: Foresight.

FORESIGHT

Daniel 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

Foresight is the ability to see into the future. That future can be a second from now or decades from now. It is always before you. It is visual only to the spirit. Your minds eye can imagine, but only the spirit can foresee. You can have a pretty good idea how its gonna turn out, but only foresight knows for sure how its going to turn out. Foresight will cause you to plan much more than a hunch will. Foresight had Joseph to store up the grain. Foresight had Abraham glad about Jesus’ day(Jn.8:56). It is foresight, not foretelling mind you, that dominates the tone of chapter 10 in Daneil (v15,17) While you may not have a prophetic word about everything you do, you sure better have prophetic foresight about it. It is the unspoken part of the vision. Remember, you were only commanded to write it all, not tell it all. You don’t have to put it all out there at one time. Indeed God had Daniel “seal the book, even to the time of the end.” You’ve got to pace your vision to get you through to its fruition. Forget 70 years, 365 days is long time to be pray, fast, work and worship every day. There, I said it. We can only do it if we have foresight. Two weeks into the New Year and I can tell you you are only still committed and resolved if you used foresight. If you imagined yourself thinner, you’re probably still fat. If you hoped you’d be traveling, you’re probably still sitting at home. If you thought real hard about changing, you are probably still the same. It is foresight and foresight alone that compels men to plan to meet their goals. Foresight alone challenges us to gear up for the long haul. Those who are for you must have foresight concerning you. Parents had foresight, your boyfriend at 16 did not. Your Pastor should have foresight concerning you. Your employer had to have foresight concerning you, at least enough to get you out of training. Again, Foresight may be but for the next 3 months. Foresight may be for the next 30 years. It all depends on the purpose of the task. Jesus foresaw us and gave his life. My Apostle saw me and was longsuffering towards me those past 12 years. Foresight, I’m telling you, will make you hang in there. Foresight alone motivates us to make better choices. It is not hindsight that does it. Hindsight educates you on the consequences of your choices. It is not insight that does it. Insight makes the best of what is already chosen; Only foresight implores you to make better choices. Foresight is the final, yet, maybe the most crucial step in any true vision.

Conclusion

Last week P. Jonathan, in The Prophet Speaks blog, talked about a recipe. It was spot on.

A vision can truly be likened unto a recipe. The ingredients are like hindsight. They show us how a dish began. The instructions are the insight into how a dish came together. The picture of the dish is the foresight. It’s what it should look like when its done correctly. The Vision God gave you is your recipe for success this year. Week 1, (hindsight) we laid the framework for this exciting groundbreaking study on Vision. This week (insight) has taken us to the next level in our understanding. Just imagine, nope use foresight and anticipate what we’ll find out next week.

Hang On Ministry supports your Vision2012!

Vision defined is the act or power of sensing with the eyes or anticipating that which will/may come to be.
Vision is such an important topic in so many facets of life. Just the word vision can mean so many things, differing on the audience. If I were to ask a basketball player about vision, they would begin to tell me how it is important to see the court as you are passing the ball to an open player for an easy basket. If I were to ask a restaurant chef about vision, they may bring up being prepared to have enough ingredients for that week’s food service. Or if I were to ask a mayor about vision, he may begin to discuss the foresight of having the necessary roads in place for the expected growth over the next ten years.

In all of these instances, without the use of vision, failure is almost guaranteed. This begs the question of, “why do we rarely use vision in our own daily lives?” For most of us, we live a distracted life. Whether it is on purpose or not we choose to be uninformed on God’s plan for our lives. We choose to hope that things will work out for the best. We make the decision that someone else will plan, just tell me what to do. Yet, failure always seems to be at our doorstep. And if not failure, it takes us years to accomplish what should be done in but a short time.
As we look at the scripture in Habakkuk, the Lord gave him precise directions on how to accomplish what was being required. The Lord said to “write the vision.” In other words it was a requirement to write down the directions that were being assigned. Even writing down words is so amazing. Because it requires you to show that you understand what was said to you verbally. If someone gives you directions and you can’t write them down, then you don’t understand what you were instructed to do.

Over the past few years, I’ve dabbled at being able to cook a great dish or two. I am not the type of person that can just make great food out of thin air. I need to follow a vision or recipe for success. My wife occasionally jokes that I will take the directions and meticulously follow them one ingredient at a time. By the time I am finished I have about three times the number of pans dirty because I did not want to lose my focus on what the instructions were telling me to do. The result is usually a delicious meal. I use the word usually because there are still occasions where have I veered off of the directions that were given to me. The good news is by making the correction, I can improve the next time that I make the dish.

Now let’s contrast that with someone who does not follow the recipe. The dish may turn out good or bad. But if it turns out poorly, corrections cannot be made because a certain recipe or vision was not followed to begin with. The recipe is the vision to success.

About the topic of vision, the scripture continues that it should be made “plain upon tables”. At this time, historians believe that people were already utilizing papyrus to write. However, papyrus was not as durable as writing things on clay tablets. So with the choice of paper or clay, Habakkuk was given the direction to write it on something that would last and be more permanent. Too often, our vision changes. God knew that in order for people to be able to run with the vision, it had to be something that was solid.

Before a building is constructed a very thorough vision/plans must be made. It must be thought through. It must go through inspections. It must be subjected to the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of those that have built buildings before. Before one shovel of dirt is moved, the vision must be written and approved. And once it is started, the plans are followed until it is completed. Now how would it look if half way through building a house, they change the plans and start building shopping mall. I can’t begin to list all the problems with that. However, we follow that same formula in our own lives. If you are going to change what you are building, you’d have to strip everything down and start over from scratch.
The scripture in Habakkuk concludes with being able to “run that readeth it”. Once a plan has been approved, there’s nothing left but to follow the plan. Living my entire life in Charlotte, NC I have seen sky scrapers go from nothing to towering over our city in a matter of weeks. If I didn’t realize that months and even years of preparation went into the vision for this building, I would be concerned. So don’t be concerned with how quickly things can or will grow if the proper planning was done.

What is your vision for the 2012? What is your vision for your family? Has God inspected and approved it. Have you written it down? Do you have something to follow? Or are you just waking up every morning “winging it”? Have you asked for the wisdom and knowledge of those that have gone through it before?

I believe God has amazing things in store for your life as he does mine. But we must be reminded of the importance of vision. Write down the vision, make it permanent, and watch as things begin to move quicker than they ever have before.

God bless!
Pastor Jonathan

This month of January has been dedicated to Vision, and rightfully so, for it is one thing to plan for 2012 from inside 2011, its a whole other thing to live inside of the year that you’re planning for. I say planning because very few, if any, people already have a vision for 2012. Oh, we’ve got hopes and dreams, we’ve got resolutions, we’ve even got lip service backed up by good intentions. But really, does all that translate into a Vision?

In the book of Habakkuk, most notably in Chapter 2 verse 2, we find the eight necessary ingredients of a true Vision. “And the LORD answered me…” is the first step in determining whether you have a true Vision. It is preceded by a question. A lot of time our visions are determined by a need, not a response. True Vision is the result of a response from God, not just the need that provoked the question. Most times we have allowed our question to form the vision that we call an answer to the issue. In reality, it is the response from God that is needed to properly call the answer a vision. It’s like this; if you have a health problem, you cannot just envision yourself as the picture of health, unless you have asked the doctor for a diagnosis and proceeded in the instructions that will insure your well being. Same with God, to see yourself successful in 2012, you’ve got to ask the right questions and receive and his answer. Let’s explore the remaining 6 points to get even more meat out of this verse and see prophetically what God is speaking to us concerning Vision. Let’s get into point 2…The LORD’s next move.

Habakkuk 2:2 starts out “And the LORD answered me, and said…” Now, note that it reads God answered, and said, not the LORD answered me saying. God did two things here. He answered and provided a witness or verification of his answer. It’s time out for you having a vision and you being the only one who knows what you’re doing! The LORD answered Habakkuk AND he said something to him. The answer is just that, what followed next is the implementation. The process is not the vision itself, the answer is! That’s one thing we’ve had mixed up. We’ve called the steps the Vision, but the answer is the vision, what he’s saying next is what to do with the vision which is point 3…Write it down!

“Write the vision,…” we’ve got to document the Vision in 2012, whether its natural or spiritual, it’s got to be written. That’s why we just distinguished the answer from the process. The process can be unsure, the answer/vision is not unsure. We have usually thought the vision changed if the process did, but not so in 2012. If the answer is yes, don’t be deterred if the process gets a no along the way. Whether it be the vision for your home, church, family, even yourself, if you have asked, and God has answered (step1), then you have a scriptural obligation to write it out. You and your Vision have got to have a binding contract with God to be legitimated in 2012. Speaking of writing, that leads us into point 4…Make it plain.

“…and make it plain…” Edit your vision in 2012. With all that we’ve left undone in previous years, its time to edit your vision. God is a wonderful writer and he is the one who started the proofreading and editing process. He blots out(modern whiteout),he removes, he strikes through, he does all of that. His writing genius qualifies him as the Chief Editor. It is the Editor who goes over what is written and makes sure it’s tailored to suit its intended audience. He knows what words to use to capture his audience. This “make it plain” is actually the rewriting of the vision; It’s the final draft. Please hold off on presenting your vision until its your final draft! It’s like what you’re reading now. I couldn’t just type and throw this on here as it was, I heard the Lord say spell check. Yeah, this is a good place to do a spiritual Spell Check, were you under an illusion while you were writing your first draft? Were you under a spell? Edit it again, get the devil out of it, get the fantasy out of it. does your vision include any effort by you? Edit it again before you issue it out. Is your vision going to end your year looking like the answer God gave you at the beginning if the year? If so, then progress to point 5…the tables!

“…upon tables,…” The biblical word table refers to what the vision is written on for purposes of publication or display. You’ve got to publicize your Vision in 2012! It must be seen, posted, documented, verifiable somewhere other than your spirit man. It’s got to be edged in stone. Do not tell anybody in 2012 that “this isn’t written in stone, but….” and then try to enforce it! Just call it a suggestion or a good idea, or something, anything but a vision. Remember, a vision must have runners, and in 2012, if it ain’t written in stone, then people ain’t running with it! Which bring us to point 6…the runners!

“..that he may run…” The word run is not to be taken for granted. It is an action word in many senses and tenses. We know it means to run as in move a whole lot faster than walking, but did you know it also means to drive away from? When you stomp at a dog, or fan a fly, didn’t you “run’ it away from you or your space or your property? The Vision requires protection! I can shout right there. Listen!!! The runners have got to be protectors of the Vision before they even read it!!! Isn’t that how the word reads? Remember, God is a masterful Editor and he placed the words in the sequence that he wanted them in. We’re not talking about secretive runners, we’re talking about safe runners. You’ve got to get your Vision in the hands of those who will protect it, ensure its survival. They may be relay runners, you’ve got to trust them to get to their rally points on time, and to hand it off to the right person and not wanna keep going further than they know they safely can. They may be long distance runners who will have to concentrate on that one thing all year long. What ever kind of runner it is, they must above all be committed to the Visionary’s purpose knowing that they are an extension of it and may be its only representation to which they are sent may see. That brings up another good point. Point 7..the Vision must be legible.

“…that readeth it.” Since the Vision is by now a published work, and you have little or no say about who all may read it, it must be legible. We fear that and we limit our circulation of the vision because it can be subjected to scrutiny and sabotage. Have no fear in 2012, God already solved this problem; Daniel 5:8 Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. If you see people standing around idle in 2012, it’s because they can’t read! God is making the distinction plain this year. The runners will be the ones moving, the ones to whom the writing is legible. The illiterate will be standing still. Its that simple. They won’t even be able to run interference, they won’t even know which direction to go. They’ll be the ones always in confusion, the ones who don’t know what’s going on. It’s gonna be crystal clear that they can’t read the vision. They won’t even be able to read the people, they won’t be able to make sense of all the movement around them. 2012, you won’t have to concern yourself with the distractions, God is using the readers as runners to confound their purpose. Above all, do not forget, runners are not workers. They are delivery specialist. Workers never even come into play. Make sure deliverance is running smoothly and the work will get done

I appreciate your patience with the length of this teaching, but then again, that’s the sign you’ve got a teachable spirit. Those without Vision don’t sit still this long, they are antsy, better suited for running. Which brings us to our final point, point 7. Point 7 includes the whole verse. The focus of point is back on Habakkuk, back on you, the Visionary. Everyone had a role in this verse. The role of the Visionary started the process prior to the verse. It picks up again after the verse, yet is sprinkled throughout the verse. Get the thing started, monitor its progress, be there to see it through. 2012, is the year to realize your Vision, beginning with this first week of January. Use this week to identify your Vision, it’s probably changed since Christmas. Ask the right questions of the right people early on this year. Get your answers early. Get it in writing. Edit it (is this what you really want?..fine then make it plain.) Write it in stone, this is what we’re doing and nothing else. Protect it. Make it spiritually legible, the God runners will be able to read it. Finally realize that the work begins and ends with you, your essence if not our presence.

Hang On Ministry wishes you the utmost success with your Vision2012!