Eight years ago, while visiting an area southwest of Brisbane, I saw a small town’s future. Not in a vision but with spiritual insight. I pointed out to Lorraine a site where a future supermarket would be built and later encouraged the owner of a business to hold on because a time was coming when the town would boom.
The Lord showed me that in five years his business would gain in value. He asked me how I could be so sure, and his response was positive. Lorraine and I drove around the town and I pointed out the streets in which houses would be much in demand. After three days, we drove away, leaving it all behind us. No personal interest, it was just how the Spirit of God was developing prophetic insight in me.
Artists see things that others don’t. They perceive that the leaves of eucalyptus trees hang down in the midday heat. Artists also develop a keen perspective. Pastors likewise see things in people they wish they could address but cannot until the time arrives. While being driven into a large town in England, many years ago, the Spirit of the Lord said in my heart: “This will be your base in the United Kingdom” — and it has been for 20 visits over more than 30 years.
Similar insights happened in regard to the future location of a bible college in the Philippines, a political change of a state government in a Southeast Asian nation, and quite dramatically the absolute certainty of BREXIT — some of the above prophetically and others to prophetic insight.
We don’t always need God to reveal to us future developments: some will be right in front of us and we’ll just need spiritual “eyes to see” them. When Jesus came to the boatload of storm-tossed disciples on the Sea of Galilee, he “would have passed them by” had not Peter recognised him — unlike the other fearful disciples, who mistook him for a spirit!
Peter did not react but rather responded. No doubt the authority of Jesus would have kept them afloat and seen them safely to the other side, but Peter’s rashness and willingness to “step out on a word” from his Lord Jesus, the peace that then dispersed the storm, a boatload of amazed disciples, and the suggestion of an instant crossing to the far side was a better way to go!
Perception: the keenness to perceive and to act accordingly — or to prophesy what the future holds — makes life much more memorable!