Every vision should be subject to test to ascertain it genuineness or otherwise. There is a plan of God for your life and your fulfillment is in locating this plan and faithfully abiding therein. When you negate the provisions of this plan and decide to walk contrarily, then you are held responsible for the consequences of your action.
Many saints of God have been lured away from their destinies because they received vision from someone and did not subject it to proofs. Before you take the next step to run with that vision, subject it to critical examination. God had sounded the warning to us in Proverbs 14:12, “There is way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.”
Furthermore, the bible tells us that the devil himself can appear as an angel of light. So, don’t start running with anything you receive, prove all things first. 1Thess. 5:21.
Let’s consider some ways that you can subject your vision to proofs.
1. Through God’s Word.
The Bible remains the authentic tool for proving any vision. When you receive a vision, get inside the Word for spiritual understanding of it before stepping out. This will help you to be so sure of the step you want to embark upon. Compare scriptures with scriptures, the vision you received must not be contrary to God’s word.
God’s Word is the surest tool for proving a vision. When you receive any guidance, first illuminate your spirit in God’s Word for a backing, before you step out in its pursuit. By so doing, you have the double assurance that it is from God, because God will only back up what He has said.
A young pastor was praying one day, and a word came to him, saying: “You are the Elijah who is to come before the Savior comes back.” It seemed so good and real to him, and he was excited. Then the thought came that he should get a scriptural backing for the revelation. He went into God’s Word and got to the place where Jesus told His disciples that Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist. He then went to his pastor for more illumination and was told the same thing. Then he knew that the word he had received was not from God. The devil also knows the scriptures and quotes them to confuse people, so beware.
Jesus, the Son of God, was faced with this trick of the devil on the mountain of temptation (Matt 4:1-11).
The devil quoted scriptures to Him, but He was not moved, because He has the right scriptures to set the devil running. Therefore, wisdom demands that before you start running with a leading or any word you have received first subject it to biblical examinations. Check out is accuracy, sieve off the
unwanted elements and hold on to the substance. Even God’s Word had to be tried seven times (Ps 12:6).
If the Word of God could be subjected to testing, then every leading or revelation you receive must be properly scrutinized also. Compare scripture with scripture, and unravel the truth behind the vision.
2. Unravel the content of the vision.
You must set out to get good understanding of the vision before you run with it. God is not the author of confusion; He wants to guide you accurately, so get back to Him to ascertain the content of the vision. Do not hesitate to ask God questions for clear understanding of your vision. A good
understanding will give you courage to run with it effectively. Also, pray for commitment to the vision set before you. Psalm. 37:5
3. Ascertain the voice behind it.
In a bid to ensure the accuracy of your vision, you must seek to identify the voice behind the delivery of that vision. This is very fundamental because the atmosphere is full of voices. There is always the authentic voice of God, there is the voice of your spirit man and equally also is the voice of the devil. The only reliable and dependable is the voice of God. You might be able to detect the devil’s voice easily but your own voice is not easily detectable. So, you must watch out. Furthermore, the voice of your spirit man is not absolutely reliable because there can be some form of carnality in it. Your voice will always support with seems right in your own eyes. Identifying the voice behind your vision will help you not to be led into error.
4. Peace.
As a proof of your vision, there must be peace within you. Peace is the proof of a genuine vision. When the good Shepherd God leads, He always leads beside the still waters. Still waters here connote peace, rest. Ps. 23:1,2. Whenever the peace of God eludes you in the pursuit you claim to be a vision, there is the need to check it. The Bible says in Zechariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. This is corroborated in 1 Samuel 2:9, For by strength shall no man prevail. So, your success in any pursuit is a result of direct involvement of God in it. And faithful is He who calls who will also do it. 1 Thess. 5:24. Therefore, any genuine vision must be accompanied with peace from the person who receives it so that God can work it out.Brethren, look unto God alone, and He will verify your vision for you.
5. Seek God in Prayer
Prayer draws the hand of God into a situation. It is the link that connects man to the throne room of God. If you want to know the ways of God in any situation, you must pray and ask Him for direction.
The man Daniel was a man of visions and revelations. He was also a man of prayer. He received his vision and revelation mostly through prayer. A time came when he discovered the set time for the captivity of Israel. He then took it upon himself to seek the face of God in prayer concerning the restoration of Jerusalem. He prayed and God unfolded His plans to Him in a vision. (Daniel 9).
God only reveals His plans to those who ask Him. If you will not ask, you will not receive. Prayer is a means of receiving God’s plans. Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said:
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3
Every showing must be preceded by a calling. No calling, no showing. The word “shew” means revelation. In this context, it can be called guidance, as He will reveal what you need to do to you. This can only come to you through prayer. This call is resounded all over scriptures. God has been saying it, in case you have not heard: “Call on Me, ask of Me.” So, ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.