Permission Granted To Imagine
by Bill Yount
A gavel strikes, shaking the courts of heaven, shattering major mindsets on earth, as a long overdue verdict is rendered: “Permission Granted to Imagine!” Corks blew, as new wine gushed, hitting heaven’s ceiling, emptying a billion bottles and bursting old wineskins. God’s Spirit of imagination began flooding the nations.
This scripture becomes rhema, activating a host of angels. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or ‘imagine’, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 NIV
The song, ‘I Can Only Imagine’, was embraced by the world as its contagious message stirred hope into the hearts and minds everywhere. Only a movie could help relate the message that I believe God wanted to convey throughout time: “If YOU could only imagine.”
Our imagination wants to kick in more than we know to run with the possibilities of God. It can make a person appear peculiar. With that said, I believe the Lord is saying, “Please, let your imagination run wild when it comes to what I can do through you in this new era. You will never offend Me in this, I promise. I dare you to imagine.”
Made in His Image to Imagine
By Christine Vales
The Lord created the heaven and the earth. (Gen 1:1) He pictured heaven and earth and all that is in it, including us, the crown jewel of His creation. His imagination, expressed through words, painted a picture He spoke into existence. (Gen 1:3)
We have been created in His image and with the very same nature and capability. We were made in His image to imagine. (Gen 1:27) When we receive Jesus as our Savior, He seals us with His Holy Spirit giving us everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Pet 1:3)
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov 23:7) We are all are products of what we think. If we picture ourselves poor – we will be poor. If we picture ourselves healthy – we will be healthy. Likewise, if someone says “apple”- we do not see the word “apple” spelled out, we picture an apple. We think in pictures. Whatever images we see in our mind, we go and paint it on our hearts. This picture is expressed further through our words – for out of the mouth, the heart speaks. (Matt 12:34)
Imagination: The Womb of Creativity
Most of us are familiar with Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” However, many of us fail to meditate on the second half of the verse which reads, “…according to His power that is at work within us.” This is key. For though we have all the resurrection power we will ever need living in us, for those of us in Christ, we can still limit the work of His Spirit within us. (Ps 78:41) This limiting of God happens in our mind through unbelief, fear, or laziness. These are just some ways we stop the power of the life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit within us. Many of us think imagination is just for children, or that all imaginations are “vain imaginations” and something we should avoid altogether. Yet this is not true. God has given us the power to imagine. Let us be conscious that when we use our imaginations in partnership with the Holy Spirit, His plans for us come forth.
“‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jer 29:11) These “thoughts He thinks toward us” are His imaginations. The word for imagination in Hebrew is “machashabah” – meaning “designs, inventions, creative thoughts” or even “intricately woven plans”, like a tapestry.
Spirit-Filled Imagination Stations
The Lord calls us to partner with Him. When we are born again, His Spirit dwells alongside our spirit – and we become powerful “Imagination Stations” through His power in us. He longs for us to express our imaginations, thoughts and words through our born again spirit, which is our true identity in Him. (2 Cor 5:17) He came to give us life, and life more abundantly. (Jn 10:10) As we delight in Him, we begin to understand the plans He has for us through the knowledge of His goodness and love for us. When we mix faith with His truth, our words will not return void, but will accomplish and prosper in the thing for which He sent it. (Heb 4:2, Isa 55:11)
Lastly, as the Ancient of Days would have it, this all ties in with His times and seasons. We are exiting the Hebrew year, 5779. This decade of the “70’s” was a decade of “vision”, connected with Hebrew letter “Ayin” – a picture of an eye and fountain. On September 30, 2019 we will cross over into the year 5780. This is a whole new decade with a timely prophetic mandate. This new decade of the “80’s” is connected with the Hebrew letter “Pey.” Pey is a picture of a mouth, an opening and an entrance. It also means “to speak, declare and command.”
After wrapping up a decade of vision and seeing things from His heavenly perspective with clarity, He now gives us “20/20” vision for our future. Shortly after 5780 begins, the new Gregorian year advances into 2020. I believe the Lord is tying these two calendar years together beautifully for those of us with eyes to see and ears to hear and mouths to speak. Can you hear the Lord saying, “I have trained your eyes to see. I have given you the ability to see in the Spirit with perfect clarity. You have everything you need to imagine perfectly. Now, as we move into 5780, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and let your lips move in the heavenly language I have ordained for you. Do not forsake praying in the tongues, but imagine with Me and let your spirit speak forth these pictures I’ve placed in your heart – and watch them manifest! Your faith-filled words carry My creative power. Remember, you have been created in My image to imagine. Open wide the gate of your mouth and I will fill it. Let your imagination run wild. 5780 is just the beginning. Imagine that!”
Bill Yount – billyount.com
Christine Vales – ChristineVales.com
