◄ Open Heaven ►

The mystery was made known to me by revelation. (Ephesians 3:3 ESV)

As we take account of the situation today we feel more and more deeply convinced that the greatest need of the hour is for men of vision and courage. But we use the word "vision" in the specific sense in which it is used in the Bible and not in the general sense, of enterprise. That is, what is needed above all else is men who have had a Divine revelation by the Holy Spirit in their own hearts as to God's purpose in this dispensation, and the particular Divine emphasis for the present hour. There can be much enthusiasm and zeal put behind a more or less generally conceived idea of what needs to be done, with a resultant activity and "movement." The opposite of this, and that which we are seeing to be so much more needed, is a burdening of the hearts of "chosen vessels" with God's own most pressing concern at this time, resulting in an all-consuming passion which will accept all the cost of its realization....

There are very few men in our day of whom it can be truly said, "That man has had a revelation from God." There is all the difference between being saved and then going into Christian service with the resultant studying of the Bible, the preparation of sermons, addresses, lessons; collecting material, mastering themes and subjects; etc., etc., and giving this out as required or as opportunity affords there is all the difference between this and an open heaven, an anointing, a revelation by the Holy Spirit. It is the difference between our laboring to get, in order to meet a constantly recurring demand, and the Holy Spirit continually revealing Christ in us. This is a general difference, but it is a very great one, and it may represent all the difference between bondage and liberty, between limitation and fullness, even between Life and death in ministry. But this is not our particular point. The need of the hour is not only for a higher spiritual level of ministry in general, it is for men with a specific revelation which will meet the situation as it is now.