What is the place for supernatural visitations in our lives? Are they for everyone—or just a few “special” people?

A “visitation” is an experience that lifts us out of the realm of the natural into the very atmosphere of God—the realm of the Spirit. It is a “God-touch”—an encounter in which the Holy Spirit reveals truth to us in a supernatural way.

We learn many things from others and from the Bible—great truths about God, Jesus, heaven, redemption and so on. But much of this input goes through the mind. It takes on a totally different dimension when we learn it by the Spirit. Reading about heaven, and even having an understanding of it in the heart, cannot compare to actually visiting it ourselves.

Although we are commanded to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), God sometimes chooses to bring revelation by allowing the Holy Spirit to show us things, thereby making them more real. Jesus told us He would do this. He said, speaking of the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you” (John 16:14).

The Holy Spirit often manifests the power, presence and truth of God in special visitations. These visitations are for every child of God.

Jesus died that we might be delivered from sin and death, but His death and resurrection also opened the way for us to walk in the supernatural realm of the Spirit, which includes divine visitations. “You have granted me life and loyal love, and Your care has preserved [kept, quickened, strengthened] my spirit,” Job declared (Job 10:12).

You may be wondering, “If visitations are available to all believers, why don’t I experience them?” Jesus said, “According to your faith, let it be done for you” (Matt. 9:29).

We do not receive because we do not ask, and sometimes when we do ask, we do not ask in faith. There are many things God has made available to us, but often our unbelief prevents us from being in the flow of the Spirit.

When we believe, our faith gives the Holy Spirit a vehicle to flow through and bring the manifestation that we need in our lives. When we do not, the Holy Spirit cannot work. It is contrary to His nature to work through unbelief, for He is a Spirit of faith.

When I was first filled with the Holy Spirit many years ago, I eagerly learned about miracles, healing, the gifts of the Spirit and supernatural manifestations of the presence of God. But I had a hard time believing they were for me personally.

I had been a good evangelical Christian for 12 years, and somehow I had gotten the impression that for these kinds of “favors,” you must be “qualified”—meaning you had to have a special ministry, be a great saint, or live as a missionary in the jungles, for example. But God showed me that I could walk in the Spirit just as Jesus did (see Gal. 5:25). I began to see that this was my inheritance as a Christian.

Not long after I made the decision in my heart to believe that the realm of the Spirit—angels, heaven and supernatural manifestations—were my inheritance, I began to experience them. I began to see the things I had only read about before.

The first time I was lifted out of the natural into the Spirit I saw the heavenly Jerusalem. Several years later I had another visitation and was lifted into heaven every day for seven days. Another time I was taken into heaven daily for 3-1/2 weeks. These experiences were awesome and changed my life.

Am I some kind of special person to be blessed with such experiences? No! I have no particular qualifications, talent or anointing. But I did decide to believe that all the things of God are for ME. They are for YOU too. Simply believe and receive.

Prayer Power for the Week of January 12, 2015

As you pray this week ask the Lord, in His will, to let you experience the reality of what you’ve only read in the Bible regarding the supernatural. Expect Him to open your senses and increase your discernment to see beyond the natural and experience everything He desires for you to experience. Thank Him that while His Spirit guides and reveals those things He wants you to know concerning Him, He maintains consistency with the written Word of God to anchor and keep you on solid ground and secure in His truth. Continue to pray for worldwide revival, the persecuted church, the protection and destiny of Israel, our own nation, leaders, pastors and teachers who influence the upcoming generation and for more laborers for His harvest (John 16:14; Gal. 5:25).