Visions and Dreams
Os Hillman's sermon emphasizes the importance of being open to God's messages through visions and dreams, highlighting personal experiences of divine encouragement.
Os Hillman shares a personal testimony of a divine encounter where a stranger accurately prophesied about the loss of his finances and God's reward in Heaven, connecting it to Acts 2:17 where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people, leading to prophetic visions and dreams. Hillman emphasizes the importance of being open to God's supernatural interventions in our lives, highlighting how God uses His messengers to speak words of encouragement and affirmation during times of need.
Text
Acts 2:17
In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
"I need to meet with you," said the man from England during a break at a conference overseas. We walked outside to have a coffee break and sat down. "God wants you to know that He removed your finances in order to reserve His reward for you in Heaven. He has done you a great service."
I was shocked. I'd never met this gentleman before. How would he have known I had lost a half million dollars in the previous few years, virtually all of my financial net worth, to some unusual calamities? We shared for the next several minutes.
That week, during our lunch and dinner times, I had been enjoying wonderful, juicy oranges from this island in the Mediterranean Sea. It came time for the gentleman and I to conclude our coffee break. We bowed in prayer. As we prayed, the man began to describe a picture he was seeing in his mind.
"I see a picture of a large orange tree. The tree is full of large, ripened oranges. They are beginning to fall to the ground. You are the tree!"
Again, I looked at the man with shock and amazement, and now tears in my eyes.
"You are the third person in three years that has had a similar vision during a prayer time like this. The first two people were also strangers to me."
I went back into the meeting rejoicing that God could be so personal in my life. He used a servant who had gone through similar trials to supernaturally speak a word of encouragement in a way that I would know it was God who was speaking.
There are times when God supernaturally speaks into our lives. He does this to demonstrate His power, His love, and His intimacy with us. Do not be surprised if God sends one of His messengers to speak into your life when you need it most. Be open to how God might want to speak into your life today.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:3).
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to visions and dreams - Biblical foundation from Acts 2:17 - Importance of recognizing God's voice
- II points: - Personal testimony of financial loss - Divine encouragement through a stranger - God's personal communication
- III points: - The significance of prophetic messages - Understanding God's timing - Being receptive to God's messages
- IV points: - The metaphor of the orange tree - Symbolism of fruitfulness - God's provision and blessings
- V points: - Encouragement to trust in God's plan - Living in expectation of God's revelations - Conclusion and call to action
Key Quotes
“''God wants you to know that He removed your finances in order to reserve His reward for you in Heaven.''” — Os Hillman
“''You are the tree!''” — Os Hillman
“''Do not be surprised if God sends one of His messengers to speak into your life when you need it most.''” — Os Hillman
Application Points
- Be attentive to the ways God may be speaking to you through others.
- Trust in God's timing and His plans for your life, even during difficult times.
- Seek to cultivate a relationship with God that allows for personal revelations and guidance.