The Visitation

It was a perfect day for studying the Word; the children were in school, the house was quiet and a glitter of sunlight danced on the blue water in the swimming pool. I was sitting in my living room on the sofa reading my Bible, when suddenly my glance became fixed as I beheld a man wearing a white robe-like garment, walking on the water in the direction parallel to where I was sitting. I watched Him as He proceeded to walk through the wall of my bedroom. I knew in my heart of hearts that this was Jesus, the Christ. Excited, I ran into the bedroom to greet and worship Him, but when I got there, I did not see Him. With my heart still pounding in my chest, I sat on the bed, leaned against the headboard and pretended to read again.

I say pretended because with such expectation in my heart, there was no way I could discern the words on the page I peered at. A few seconds later, all of my expectations were realized. He was there, sitting at the foot of the bed. I was frozen in time. My lips could not move so I couldn’t speak. I sat there, eyes ablaze and my heart silently pleading and longing to touch the Master. The light of His countenance blotted out everything else in the room. I stared until I was no longer looking upon Him; I was a part of Him. Suddenly, I was in what some would call another dimension, but in essence, I was in the Spirit. My flesh seemed to merge with the light and my mind drifted into a peace that truly surpassed understanding. Then He spoke, “Mary, I have called you unto Myself. I will teach you My Word and I will send you to My people. I will go into tradition and bring out the best and give them to you for training in My Word and My ways. They will become My disciples, and I will send you to the uttermost parts of the world to teach My people and turn their hearts back to Me. You will stand before dignitaries and heads of nations.”

Needless to say I was stuck back at “Mary”. Regardless of the spelling on my birth certificate, the Lord knew me as Mary. He called my name, and was actually speaking to me. I felt the lips of my spirit as they began to slightly smile in amazement. His words were so personal and affirming, I knew that He was going to perform all that He spoke. As He continued to speak, He told me how to start the ministry. He even told me the name of the radio broadcast (Bible Talk) that was to bring in some of those who would be helpers and workers of the vision. He spoke of holiness and godliness in ways that I had not heard ministered before. He also caused me to know that the true power of the Spirit could only be found in the humiliation of the flesh.

I could write a book of several hundred pages to convey the details of the conversation, but then I have written many books and study guides which I have taught at Global Training Centers around the world. The revelations I have received are all being cataloged and made available in my Faith Library, (www.marybanksfaithlibrary.com). Jesus said, “My people are not going to follow you; they are going to follow Me. If you have the guts to say what I say and to do what I do, then, I will bless you. ” I cannot describe for you the joy, yet humility that I felt listening to His words. I knew He would be faithful to perform all that He purposed to do. But more than that, I knew all I had to do was obey. I remember Jesus saying to a congregation once: …Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: (John 5:1).

The vision was true to the Word. I knew I could trust it. Beloved, this removes the stress out of ministry and pleasing the Father: for truly my fellowship was with the Father and the Son. Somehow I heard myself utter the words that had gathered in my heart. “But Lord, I said. I don’t love your people the way you do. I don’t stay up all night praying for them. I go to sleep. I don’t have the burden I need for prayer. Will you give me that burden? Will you teach me how to pray?” At that point He began to teach me the rudiments of prayer and led me into the travailing prayer that birthed the ministry gifts I now serve. That, of course, is another lesson. If you are struggling in prayer that seems to accomplish nothing, then seek out my book, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.” I think the most important thing I’ve learned from the Lord is the perspective of scripture and the true meaning of salvation. As I sit in my office and write this, I realize that it has been twenty-one years since that first visitation. You might wonder why it has taken so long to bring these truths to the Body. The answer is simple, I used to make television appearances on one of the larger Christian television networks. The saints in the church wanted to purchase some television time on that very network. They were quite “well- to-do” folk who were fascinated with the Word they heard. They wanted the Body to hear the same. Just when all was set to go, the Lord spoke to me and said, “If you go on the networks now, you will become another famous bible teacher without evidence of your message operating in the lives of My people. You will become sought after and embark on speaking engagements that will not afford you the time to raise My people in the Word I give you. Stay at home and develop Sons who will bring glory to My Father. Disciple them and make them strong in My ways.

Raise up a body of believers who will not bring shame to My name.” I obeyed the Lord, and remained in the quiver, listening and imparting the life He poured out to us. Subsequently, I received my commission; and this was the word God the Father spoke to me, as I lay prostrate on my bedroom floor. “Even as I sent Moses into the land of Egypt to bring My people out of slavery, I am sending you to My Church to bring My people out of ignorance.” As we began to grow spiritually He increased my borders and added new measures to my territorial sphere of influence. In 1985 I began with twelve members/students, and now twenty-one years later we have founded works and developed Sons both here and abroad. This is the reason I come to you now, with the first of many truths the Father has delivered to me. I am sure that there are others, like me, who have also been hidden in His quiver this many years. Be encouraged, the fact that the Father has allowed you to partake of these truths means that He is mindful of you and desires to use you in His service.