Jason Hooper: "Write the Vision & Revive the Runners"

Intro From Julie A. Smith:

Being a runner, one of my favorite Scriptures is from Habakkuk 2:2: And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run" (The Message).

This is a profound word by Jason Hooper with practical steps in "writing the vision" so it can be "read on the run." Jason shares here:

In recent days, the Lord has been highlighting the importance of making time to "see what God is saying" as new and fresh vision is now being released, causing the hopes, desires, and God-given dreams hidden within hearts to be awakened in a way that empowers others to "read and run" with the spiritual realities and prophetic promises that are woven into the DNA of God's sons and daughters.

The Lord has positioned runners, those who will take action, that will assist you in bringing to pass the vision that God is giving to you...

I encourage you to take time and "write the vision" in the practical steps Jason shares below and pray into just WHO He will be bringing along to assist you in His visions, dreams and promises over your life!

Blessings,

Julie A. Smith, Managing Editor
The Elijah List
http://www.elijahlist.com

"Opening Up the Flood Gates"

On April 14th, during a time of prayer, the Lord spoke to my heart that over the next six weeks (April 15 – June 1), He was going to be "opening up the flood gates." We understand from Scripture that "gates" simply speak of openings, doors, portals, and even heavenly windows of visitation.

The Lord shows us these things in the hopes that we will discern His voice and draw near to Him in a time or "window" where He may be found in the way that He desires to be sought (see Isaiah 55:6). In asking Him for what He has already told us He desires to give – we are assured of the fact that we are interceding according to His will for our lives, and in that we can have great confidence and expectancy that He will answer our prayers.

We see this in Zechariah's exhortation to "Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain." It was the "time of rain," and yet they were encouraged to ask for rain! So when God is saying, "I am preparing to open up the flood gates," we are to call upon Him and ask that He would open up the flood gates! (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain. It is the Lord Who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field. Zechariah 10:1 AMP

Oftentimes, in Scripture, rain can speak of outpouring, revival, renewal, refreshing, and revelatory teaching, while lightning often speaks of breakthrough. Over the next six weeks, the Lord is going to open up for His Body the windows of Heaven in a very tangible way as He pours out such a blessing that there is not even room to receive it (see Malachi 3:10)!

"Making Room!"

When the Lord promises to pour out a blessing so great that there will not even be room to receive it – I take that as an encouragement to make more room! This is a time to think bigger, dream bigger, and get your hopes up!

Sometimes in life, the workplace, and even in ministry we can make plans not to fail instead of making plans to succeed, increase, and expand; but the Kingdom is ever-increasing, ever-expanding, and ever-advancing! Oftentimes the thought process behind this type of planning is a fear of being let down or disappointed, but this is a time to see what God is saying with new eyes and allow hope to fill your heart and expand your territory.

Leaders Stepping Up & Laborers Being Sent Out

With this word, I began to see leaders that the Lord has anointed and appointed with divine purpose stepping into their appointed place at this appointed time so that laborers can be sent out...and sent out with power (see Luke 10:1-2). Much of the supernatural training and equipping that has occurred in the Church over the last 20 years is about to pour out of the Church and into the streets in a new way as a genuine love for the lost and compassion for the hurting begin to refuel the heart of His Body and dictate the direction of His Church. (Photo via Pixabay)

Many of these leaders have gone through a process of being retooled and recalibrated in their calling so that they are now ready to emerge from what has felt like a prolonged wilderness season to see their Promised Land again – but this time with new eyes and fresh vision. The foundational fabric of this emerging company of leaders is a desire for family while creating the container of community to both receive and pour out the blessing of the Lord's presence and purpose in and through our cities.

Write the Vision & Revive the Runners

In recent days, the Lord has been highlighting the importance of making time to "see what God is saying" as new and fresh vision is now being released, causing the hopes, desires, and God-given dreams hidden within hearts to be awakened in a way that empowers others to read and run with the spiritual realities and prophetic promises that are woven into the DNA of God's sons and daughters.

I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." Habakkuk 2:1-2

Practically writing out your vision prophetically paves the pathway for others to rise up and step into their proper positional places in and around your life, seeing where you fit together in the plan of God for you both. In this place of relational alignment, you will find that God is assigning individuals to your life that have a heart for the vision that God has placed in you as well as a desire to partner with you in the bringing to pass of the vision that God has given to you.

The Lord has positioned runners, those who will take action, that will assist you in bringing to pass the vision that God is giving to you, but until the vision has been written in a way that it can be read and responded to – they have nothing to run with. Some of these runners are Kingdom financiers that the Lord is positioning in your life to resource what is being written; others are angelic messengers that have been assigned to heed the visionary voice of His Word in your life at this appointed time (see Psalm 103:20). (Photo via Flickr)

Seeing what God has said and writing out the vision that God has given to you is like laying hold of a God-given key that opens up your personal door of provision and destiny.

Unlocking a Door of Provision

During this time of prayer on the morning of April 14th, I also saw a greenish-blue door with gold trim and what looked like an ancient golden doorknob with an oversized keyhole. Over the door was a sign that read: "Pro-vision." In this experience, I saw myself picking up the vision that had been written, and as I did, the vision became a large golden key that I could feel pulling me toward the door marked: "Pro-vision."

In the Kingdom, vision precedes provision. The Lord is saying that if we will write the vision it will open up for us a great and wonderful door of provision and promotion over these next six weeks. The prefix "pro" simply means to advance or project forward; it is used to describe a specific favor being aimed at a specific person, place, or thing. (Photo by Jennifer Page "Psalm 119" via elijahshopper.com)

In this encounter, it literally took no effort to insert or turn the key...the vision was the key and the key is the vision! Writing the vision and picking up the vision opened the door!

7 Keys to Writing the Vision
(Taken from Habakkuk 2:1-4)

1. Stand your watch – set yourself apart.

Set a specific time of prayer for the next six weeks where you have a standing appointment with God and make prayer, especially "listening or contemplative prayer," your priority.

Silence your surroundings – take an evening walk, find a place in nature where the beauty of His creation silences the pressures of your day.

Spend time meditating on the nature and wonder of God as well as Who He is and the miraculous things He has done for you in times past – this is a key to entering into the secret place (see Psalm 63:6-7).

2. Look for God to speak – expect to SEE what God is saying.

Isaiah 60:4 Lift up your eyes, and see...

Proverbs 8:34-35 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord...

If we say what we see – we will then see what we say!

3. Write the vision...put pen to paper.

Just do it!...and don't delay! (Photo via Pixabay)

Oftentimes, the Lord will speak to us at a time when we might be otherwise engaged in other activities and there can be a temptation to put off writing down what He is saying and engaging with Him until a later time – but I would encourage you to turn your attention to the Lord when you feel Him drawing you near.

No matter how big or how grand of a vision the Lord gives you – write it down and trust that the God who gave you the vision is big enough to accomplish it in your life at His appointed time.

4. Keep it simple, but be specific.

Just as specific prayers receive specific answers, specific vision paves the path to a specific goal.

Post it where you can see it and others will read it.

5. Keep the vision in front of your eyes.

Looking at the vision causes your eye to be single and your heart to remain encouraged.

Keeping the vision in front of you helps you to do something each day that moves you closer to your destination.

6. Stay true to the Word.

Don't deviate from what God has shown when easier or more profitable opportunities present themselves (see 2 Kings 5:20-27; Gehazi in Hebrew means "the valley of the visionary").

7. Stay in faith and trust God's appointed time.

Hebrews 6:12 ...imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Photo via Pixabay)

Vision keeps your eyes on where you are going in a way that keeps you from being discouraged in regard to where you are presently or where you have been in times past.

Vision, when properly embraced and engaged, causes an "attitude of gratitude" in the midst of trying times, knowing that each step of your journey is necessary to the destination of where you are headed.

Jason Hooper
Senior Leader & Pastor, King's Way Church
Email: info@kingswaybirmingham.com
Website: kingswaybirmingham.com

Jason Hooper is a revivalist, prophetic teacher, and pastor with a passion to see God's Kingdom released through sound teaching, prophetic revelation, and demonstrations of God's power. His ministry focuses on equipping and encouraging Believers to function as witnesses of God's power and messengers of His heart from a place of intimate friendship with God.

Jason and his wife, Tina, serve as the senior leaders and pastors of King's Way Church in Birmingham, Alabama, with a heart to see the name of Jesus lifted high as His Kingdom advances in and through our incredible city. Their primary desire is to fan the flames of revival and awakening while training and equipping the Body of Christ to walk in the fullness of their gifts and callings as Christ is more fully formed in them.

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