4 Keys Abridged Edition - Session 7

Summary

The session argues that Christians can use the “eyes of the heart”—mental pictures, dreams, and visions—to become more aware of God’s presence and activity. The presenter says imagery is not inherently idolatrous. In his view, the key distinction is whether people invent and worship an image or use imagery to focus on God and seek a living encounter.

Main ideas

• Vision and dreams are presented as biblical ways God communicates. The presenter cites passages including Numbers 12:6 and Acts 2:17, interpreting them as promises that God will communicate through dreams and visions. He suggests that not experiencing them may reflect a person’s failure to expect or receive them, rather than God’s unwillingness.
• Biblical imagination can strengthen faith. The presenter describes picturing scenes from Scripture—such as the Israelites crossing the Red Sea—or imagining God’s provision as a way to make biblical truths more vivid and emotionally powerful.
• Pictures can replace fearful or negative beliefs. He shares an example of replacing the thought “never enough” with the phrase and image “more than enough.” In his teaching, a God-given picture of provision can shift a person from fear toward faith and peace.
• Jesus is presented as a model for living attentively to God. Drawing on John 5:19, the presenter says Jesus acted in response to what he saw the Father doing and encourages listeners to seek that kind of awareness.
• Imagery is described as useful for meditation, creativity, communication, and transformation. The presenter interprets biblical meditation and reasoning as involving images, points to Jesus’ parables as picture-stories, and says people can be changed by focusing on what God is doing rather than reacting only to visible circumstances.
• Dreams can offer guidance. Citing Psalm 16:7 and Paul’s vision in Acts 16:9–10, the presenter encourages listeners to record dreams, seek their meaning, and act on guidance they believe God has given.
• The presenter argues against fear of Christian imagery. He suggests that some Protestants associate imagery with idolatry because of historical reactions to religious statues and Catholic practices. He contends that this has led some churches to neglect teaching about dreams and visions.

Distinguishing imagery from idolatry

The presenter offers these distinctions:

1. Who establishes the imagery? He contrasts a human-made idol, such as the golden calf in Exodus 32, with imagery he says God established, such as the tabernacle and its contents in Exodus 25.
2. Is the image worshipped? He says picturing Jesus is meant to direct attention toward God, not to make the image itself an object of worship.
3. Is the goal a dead object or a living encounter? The presenter contrasts an inert idol with imagery used as a starting point for seeking a living experience of God.
4. What is the purpose? He describes using a mental picture to focus the heart on God and then recording any insight or revelation that follows.
5. What is the attitude? He contrasts the pride and stubbornness associated with the golden calf with humbly seeking God.
6. Is the person trying to control God? He says the aim should be to observe what God is doing, not to manipulate God into doing something.
7. Does the imagery align with what the presenter sees as God-given imagery? He points to Jesus as “the image of the invisible God” and to the instruction to fix one’s eyes on Jesus.

Kinds of vision described

The presenter distinguishes between kinds of vision rather than ranking them as levels:

• Spontaneous mental images: A face or scene suddenly comes to mind.
• Images during prayer: A picture or biblical scene arises while praying.
• A vision perceived outside oneself: He cites Elisha’s servant seeing the heavenly chariots in 2 Kings 6:17.
• A vision or message in a dream: He cites Paul’s dream in Acts 16:9–10 and encourages recording and responding to dreams.

Suggested practice

The session’s practical approach is to:

• Read and reflect on biblical passages about dreams, visions, imagination, and the “eyes of the heart.”
• Ask God for help seeing and understanding what is relevant.
• Use a simple mental picture to focus attention on God—for example, imagining walking with Jesus.
• Become still and pay attention to spontaneous thoughts and images.
• Write down what comes to mind in a journal, then consider its meaning.
• Share the journaling with another person for discussion and affirmation.
• In the closing exercise, ask: “Lord, how important is it to use the eyes of my heart?”

The presenter closes by leading listeners through an imagined walk with Jesus beside the Sea of Galilee, then inviting them to journal their impressions.

Speakers and sources featured

• Presenter/instructor: Mark Virkler, as identified by the video context.
• Biblical sources quoted or cited: Numbers 12:6; 1 Chronicles 29:18; John 5:19; Acts 2:17; Exodus 32; Exodus 25:8–22; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 12:1–2; Isaiah 44:19; Revelation 4; Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 13:34; Psalm 16:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:18; Genesis 15:1–5; 2 Kings 6:17; and Acts 16:9–10.
• Audience: Participants respond briefly during the teaching and are invited to share their journaling in pairs or with the group.