From the desk of Steve Shultz:
We can get so caught up in the plans and details that we forget what the real focus is—Jesus. This is a great word by Vince Gibson, who serves as an associate pastor at The Habitation, and also as senior worship leader of The Habitation and Abiding Glory Ministries. Ryan Wyatt writes a short intro for Vince just below.
I like what Jesus shows Vince in the vision for his future...it's so good for us to keep focused on Jesus.
Here are also a couple of resources that will help you in your Peace this Christmas and give you a Hope for your future:
Vince Gibson:
A Vision of Jesus:
"I Am Your Hope and Future"
Intro by Ryan Wyatt:
I want to highly recommend the ministry of Vince Gibson to you. I have known Vince for many years, both as a friend and also as one of the leaders within Abiding Glory Ministries. Vince has an incredible anointing upon his life to lead people into the intimate, manifest presence of God in worship. The kind of encounters you have with Holy Spirit while sitting under Vince's prophetic worship are the kind of encounters that change a person forever. Both in prophetic word and in prophetic worship, Vince Gibson is the real deal and brings something fresh from the treasuries of Heaven!
Ryan Wyatt,
Founder
Abiding Glory Ministries & The Habitation Church
A Vision of Jesus and His Plans for Me
Every Wednesday morning some of us gather for a time of soaking. Recently, during one of these sessions, I had an encounter with the Lord. I realize that getting up in the early morning to meet with the Lord is truly a sacrifice, but I am finding quickly that it does not take long for Him to show up when we make that sacrifice.
This particular morning I made my place in the front of the stage to be still, and immediately I saw Him. He had the biggest, toothiest smile planted across His face. He leapt upon seeing me, and you could tell He had a sprightly step this particular morning. As I looked into His eyes, I could tell He was up to something.
As soon as that thought came to my mind, Jeremiah 29:11 was in my spirit, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Immediately, He held out His hands and in them He had two blocks. On one block was written, "Hope," and on the other, "Future." I stood up to take them, but instead of taking them He shoved them straight into my chest. I knew at that instant I would be able to discern the mysteries of my hope and future.
My first instinct was to search inside to see the details. I had such excitement that my destiny would finally be revealed and my future laid out in full detail before me. As my eyes focused on the two blocks, the words "hope" and "future" had been replaced by only one name: "Jesus." There were no details at all, no plans for world domination, no formula to take the globe, no step-by-step programs—only His name.
I looked up and He spoke. "I have the details and I will reveal them when I am ready; for now I am all you need, I am your hope and your future! I am the rhythm of life, I am the next note, I am the next unknown which I already know, I am the next breath which I have already taken. I hold all the wisdom from the age past, the age present, and the age to come."
For the next few moments I pondered this deep in my heart. We get so wrapped up in the details; I know how important plans and details are. They are needed, but many times "the details" become the focus. Honestly, He is the only detail that matters! In Proverbs 16:9 it states, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps."
The Daily Details
In Matthew 5 Jesus sees the multitudes coming and He climbs the mountain. His disciples climbed with Him, and if you read closely, you will see He taught those that climbed with Him, not the multitudes. That is another article for another day. However, in the next couple of chapters Jesus begins to lay the foundations of the Kingdom of Heaven. Later, in chapter 6, He begins to talk about the daily details. In verses 25-32, Jesus talks about the details of life, and He sums it all up in verse 33: "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Seek Him first in everything we do and He will reveal and add everything else later. We strive so hard for the details when all we have to do is be in the secret place with no agenda except to love on Him, and out of that—the hope and the future appear. Remember that He taught and revealed those details to the ones that climbed the mountain with Him. This "climb" will take work and sacrifice on our part.
Peter encountered this very thing when Jesus asked him to step out of the boat and walk on the water. At first Peter was so focused on Jesus that nothing else around him mattered. As he got out on the water, the details of how he was doing this and the "what-if's" began to creep in. In my opinion, Peter starting looking around and forming details of how he would get out of this predicament if needed, and as soon as he did he began to sink. As soon as Peter focused again on Jesus and took His hand, everything was fine.
I encourage you that as you plan out the details, always keep the focus on Him. I love planning meetings and brainstorming, but in the end He knows the plans He has for you, not to harm you, but to give you a hope and a future!
That hope and future has always been and will always be—Jesus.
Vince Gibson
The Habitation and Abiding Glory Ministries
Email: Vince@thehabitation.com
Vince Gibson serves as an associate pastor on the pastoral leadership team at The Habitation, and also as senior worship leader of The Habitation and Abiding Glory Ministries. Vince has worked in ministry for 23 years in various capacities. He has a passion to lead others into the tangible presence of God and encourages the Body to engage in the realms of the Spirit through worship. Vince longs to see the sounds of Heaven released here upon the earth to usher in the Kingdom.
Vince has a Hegai mandate from the Book of Esther to prepare the Bride of Christ for an encounter with the King and lead them to the chamber doors. He longs to equip the entire Body of Christ to bring people into deeper places with Him. Vince loves to speak on bringing Heaven to earth, returning to the garden, and seeking out the pre-fall walk. As Vince teaches, he is always looking for that moment when the wind blows and we are caught away into an intimate encounter with our Love.
Vince is married to Leslie Gibson, who serves as the Kids Ministry Director of The Habitation and is on staff at Abiding Glory Ministries.
