Promises are the substance (the “what”), and prophecy is the channel or communication (the “how” and “when”), explaining the implications of promises and covenants. When it comes to God’s promises – he always adds visuals to his promises.
Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity (open hostility)
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed;
He shall [fatally] bruise your head,
And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”[AMP Bible]
It’s not a visual, yet it’s visuals. The offspring of woman – that is son of man – himself shall [fatally] bruise the head of serpent, whereas serpent would be able to bruise only the heel of the son of man. It’s powerful. Head vs heel, Top vs bottom, Head vs tail. It’s about position, and also about important portions. Human beings – Adam and Eve were also there, and so was the serpent.
Genesis 3:15 is often called the “first gospel” (proto-evangelism) immediately after Adam and Eve’s sin. Wherever sin raises its head, the Son of God comes to crush it.
This was a promise of Jesus coming on this earth – and manifestation was Jesus himself. This happened on the cross – Colossians 2:15 “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”. The power of a serpent is nowhere but in its head – where there are its teeth and poison/venom.
Another visual of Jesus we see in Genesis 18. It says three men appeared to Abraham. In the beginning it says – they, but later we read it again and again – “The Lord said, ….”, “The Lord said….”, “The Lord said…”. That Jesus himself was one of them. The Lord promises about conceiving Sarah.
In Luke 5:1-10, we read Peter was a fisherman, no fish on that day. When Jesus asked him to cast out the net to another side of the boat, plenty of fishes were caught in the net. After a few minutes of this, Jesus promised to Peter, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” God’s command, then obedience, then visualization, and then great promises. We see this promise got into reality on the day of Pentecost. After baptizing in the Holy Spirit, the power of God, Peter stood in front of 3000+ people and 3000 accepted Jesus at that very moment (Acts 2:41) – from now on you will catch men.
Another great example of visualization before promise is Genesis 15. Abraham was childless, and was considering his servant to be his heir. But we read what God did and said to Abraham in verse 5, ‘He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”’ First visuals and then the promise of God.
Visuals may be in your vision like Peter had from God in Acts 10 – he saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth, four footed animals, and he was asked to kill and eat them. Those animals were unclean in Peter’s conscience – but God said – they were cleansed by him, so they are pure. Later Cornelius and his family got saved and baptized through the same Peter.
Let’s think of our lives. We may not have similar vision like Peter had, or Abraham had. But if we meditate on the promises of God enough with visuals – the promises get into reality. Word becomes flesh – bodily form. Visuals might be in your dream before promises become reality.
There was a person – diagnosed with some liver diseases. He had no hope of life as per the medical reports. His family had lost the hope for his life. One night, in the dream, he saw himself in a deeper pit, was not able to come out of it, and one man with white gown appeared, and gave his hand to him to pull him out of it. A few days later, he saw a vision, one red ribbon came swirling from above and came to his chest and disappeared. From that very day, he started feeling well, and finally got healed of that disease. God has promised that Jesus took all our infirmities in his body on cross (Matthew 8:17). That was the promise, and became reality after vision.
God gives visuals before promises – it could be in your dream, or visions, or some real pictures, or just visuals in your mind – then promises become reality.
Let this message sink in your heart and promises of God be fulfilled in your life. The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but power (1 Corinthians 4:20).