Have you ever read the book of Acts and wondered why it doesn’t feel like God is working as miraculously in the world as he did then? Peter and the other disciples stood on the temple grounds on that Pentecost day and spoke in the tongues of many nations and about 3,000 people came to Christ in one day.
If you need some encouragement that God still DOES work in amazing, miraculous ways, then I recommend a new book VOM is offering called Dreams and Visions, by Tom Doyle, a VOM partner. Dreams and Visions has more than 20 testimonies of how God is using dreams and visions in the lives of Muslim men and women who might otherwise never be able to experience who Jesus Christ is. God interacts with them miraculously to call them to himself.
I praise God for how he works! But the other thing that stands out to me from these testimonies is how in almost every case, God gave the person a supernatural experience with himself, but they also needed human contact with a Christian for them to take the final step to accepting Christ, or to provide them with a Bible or to explain some aspect of Christianity to them.
Most of us probably don’t think we’ll ever have much opportunity to assist a Muslim or anyone in this way. But Tom tells a story of stopping at a gas station one day as he was late to an appointment. Somehow his conversation with the woman at the cash register led to his asking her what she knew about Jesus Christ… and suddenly she revealed that she’d been having “Jesus Dreams” for more than 20 years.
Though she lived in the United States, she’d never had an opportunity for someone to explain Christ more fully to her. God was at work in her life for 20 years, preparing her heart, and was just waiting for one of his followers to finish the job for him.
Clearly God doesn’t need us to do his work. But he invites us to be a part of transforming the world, one person at a time as we stay attuned to the Holy Spirit. I want to be a part of that, and I hope you do, too. Dreams and Visions ($9) will get you inspired about what God is already doing… and call you to join in where you are.
Dory P. has worked with VOM for six years. She grew up in Ecuador, met her husband while working with another mission organization, and now lives in Oklahoma. Between Dory, her husband and three-year-old son, they share five passports. Dory helps tell the stories of the persecuted through VOM's newsletter, and her husband serves with VOM's international department.
Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. Mark 13:21; Luke 21:8; 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Deut 13:1; 2Thess 2:11; 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. Luke 17:23;
Posted by: dny | December 16, 2013 at 11:40 PM