In Part 5, I spoke about the importance of continuously hearing from the Lord. When God began to speak to Abraham in Genesis 12, the Bible recorded many more instances of Abraham hearing from Him. It was the same with Jacob and the Prophet Samuel.
The Beginning of the Idea
In 2018, I was sitting in my office in Osu when a rushing thought hit my mind: I could use tablets to revolutionise a certain industry. The thought came with clear words, and the more I pondered over it, the more understanding came. I quickly moved to build what God had revealed through that thought. I shipped hardware and built the software for the system. At that point it was not the company’s main product, so I gave it limited time and attention.
For about two years I got too busy, and the team I had tasked to work on it became distracted by other projects. I even brought in external people, but the project was not moving the way I wanted. Somewhere in 2019, I completely abandoned the idea.
The Warning
I remember having a dream during that season. I had entered an office with my team members and allowed them to present the idea. They were not ready. They spoke poorly. The HR head of the company in the dream watched them present and was visibly disappointed, saying my team was not serious. When I woke up, I did not make much of the dream. But it was only a matter of time before I completely abandoned the project, largely because of the team’s lack of seriousness. That dream was a warning I did not pay attention to.
The Second Chance
Then in November 2020, I had a dream where a prophet told me to go back to the project. That dream empowered me. I put distractions aside and championed the project personally this time, unlike before when I had left it for others to handle. I shipped new devices from abroad and personally started marketing the idea myself. For about seven months we could not sign a single client, but I remained committed and moved from office to office. Just as it is with most people, you may have your ups and downs.
The Pivot
One night, I had a dream where someone told me to adapt the idea toward a different sector to generate revenue, with the plan to return to the original vision later. The moment I woke up, I knew God had visited me. We did exactly as the dream indicated, and the rest is history.
Today, over 150,000 people across Ghana and about five countries around the world have used that pivoted idea in the last 4 years. Continuous hearing helped us know when God wanted us to change direction. That is how important it is.
It is not only about hearing the voice of the Lord at the beginning of a matter and then running with the idea. It is about continuing to hear Him as the idea unfolds, so that each step of the execution is guided by Him. It is good to be led by God once, but it is far better to be led by Him continually. Do not get to a point where you once had very detailed dreams or clear direction, but they no longer come. Guard that place of sensitivity and strive to keep that line of communication open.
Do Not Limit the Channel
I also want to highlight that the initial idea did not come through a dream. It came through a thought that hit my mind, and God later continued to speak through dreams. It is important not to limit your hearing to just one channel. An idea can begin through a thought and be confirmed and guided through dreams. Simply make yourself available and remain open to whatever channel the Master chooses to use.
If you have time, read Acts chapter 8. In a single chapter, you can see the multiple channels God used to lead the evangelist, Philip. The chapter opens with Philip going to Samaria in Acts 8:5: “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.” The Bible simply records that there was massive persecution and he went to Samaria. Philip most likely went there by the leading of the Spirit or by instruction from the senior apostles.
When Angels Bring Direction
Then in Acts 8:26 we read: “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
God can send angels to bring you directions and instructions. The word “angel” in Greek, angelos, means messenger. I believe it was the same kind of angel that visited Joseph in his dreams in Matthew 1 and 2, and Cornelius in Acts 10. These kinds of angels bring very accurate word of knowledge, which can include names, as seen in Acts 10, as well as locations and specific directions. You can receive a dream in which a location is named as the place to start your business, along with the exact kinds of products to sell. I pray that God grants you such an experience as you read this article. The next part of this series will explore how God can send angels to help you succeed in your mandate.
Obedience Unveils the Full Picture
Acts 8:29 then says: “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’” Once Philip arrived at the specific place he was instructed to go, the full purpose became clear. He realised God had sent him there to witness to a soul. Obedience unveils the full purpose of a divine assignment. Until you obey, you may not fully understand different parts of the idea you are receiving.
Philip gained full understanding only after he had obeyed and was standing in the exact place he had been instructed to be. The instruction that will help you make an impact is often contingent on being in the right place that God has directed you to.
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