I remember when I accepted the call to the ministry in 1969, at first, I didn’t have anybody asking me to preach. I had been an automotive paint and body man.

Not many people knew that I had left my business and was preparing for the ministry. In fact, some of the same people praying that I would surrender my life to preach didn’t want to hear a word I had to say.

I’ll never forget one day the Lord said to me, “I want you to get up this morning, go into your guest bedroom where you’ve been studying, and instead of just reading today, I want you to prepare yourself like you’re preaching tonight.”

I didn’t have a soul asking me to preach and there probably weren’t but three people who knew I was called. I went in there, and prayed and then prepared my outline. I had no place to go, but I was ready.

If they ever called, I wouldn’t have to say, “Well, you caught me off guard, I don’t have a sermon.” I had a sermon. All I needed was an opportunity. In fact, He said, “Put on your suit like you’re going to preach.” I put on my suit and sat there all day with my outline ready to preach.

Nobody called. They didn’t call that day and they didn’t call the next day, they didn’t call the next week, and they didn’t call the next month. Three months later, I was still ready! I could see myself preaching.

The Lord told me one day, “Now, you’ve got that part of the image perfected, let’s add this to it, start interceding for all the people who will hear you preach.”

Every morning, I’d get up and start praying just like I had a whole congregation to preach to. I started interceding that people would receive the Word and that God would give me utterance in the Holy Ghost. I prayed that people would be healed and delivered. Do you see what I was doing?

I was creating a God-given image on the inside of my spirit. I was seeing myself fulfilling the dream that God had put in my heart. There wasn’t anything happening on the outside. But on the inside, I was seeing my dream become a reality. If they ever called, I was ready. And you know what? They began to call.

Later, I went to work with Brother Kenneth Copeland, and the first year I worked with him, I didn’t preach much in his meetings. However, I did do some soul winning seminars from time to time. I would gather people up teach them how to witness and go out in the streets and minister to people one on one.

After the first year, we were going to Jacksonville, Florida for a meeting and on the way down there as I was driving the van with all the equipment, the Holy Spirit began to say some things to me.

He said, “Are you ready?” I said, “For what?” He said, “To preach in this meeting.” I said, “Am I preaching in this meeting?” He said, “Yes, are you ready?” I said, “I’m ready!” He said, “What are you going to preach?”

I said, “One of Brother Copeland’s sermons, which was my favorite; ‘The Greatest Faith!'” I loved that sermon. I had it memorized. I knew all the illustrations. If Brother Copeland ever stopped and said, “Jerry, take over,” I could have.

Once I arrived in Jacksonville, I didn’t call Brother Copeland and say, “The Lord told me that I was suppose to preach in this meeting.” No, I didn’t say a word to him.

I picked Brother Copeland up, took him to the service that night, and he preached the opening service. The next morning, I was sitting in my room, I’ve got my suit on, I’ve studied my outline, and I’m ready.

I saw myself preaching. The service started at 10:00, and at 20 minutes till 10:00, Brother Copeland called my room and said, “Are you ready?” Those were his opening remarks, I’ll never forget it. I said, “I’m ready”.

He said, “What are you ready for?” I said, “To preach”. He said, “That’s what I’m calling about. You’re going to preach the morning service.” I said, “Praise the Lord, I’m ready!”

He said, “You are?” I said, “I’ve got my sermon ready.” He said, “What are you going to preach?” I said, “Your sermon – ‘The Greatest Faith.'”

Now, I don’t know why I thought this, but I thought that since I was preaching the morning service, he wouldn’t be going. I assumed that he would just stay in the room.

He said, “Well, come by and get me.” I said, “Say what?” He said, “Come on and get me. Take me to the service.” I said, “You’re going?” He said, “Well of course, I want to introduce you.” I thought, he’s going to be in the same building, and I’m preaching his sermon.

When we got to the service, Brother Copeland said, “Many of you know this young man whom God sent to serve this ministry. You see him running around here, turning on the recorder and selling tapes and so forth, but this morning, the Lord has instructed me to have him preach today. Let’s welcome Jerry Savelle.”

Then he pulled up a chair next to the podium, sat down, crossed his leg and looked straight at me. I couldn’t remember my name, the scripture, nor the sermon title. I fumbled around for 10 minutes trying to remember what I was going to say.

I kept thinking, “What could I possibly say that he doesn’t already know.” Then, it finally dawned on me I’m not preaching to him, I’m preaching to them and they’ve never heard this. And I took off from there. Since that day, I’ve never lacked for a place to preach.

The image began with me sitting in that bedroom with my suit on looking like a fool, working on outlines, and studying the Bible. Somebody would say to me, “Where are you going?” And I would say, “I’m just like Abraham. I’m on a journey of faith and I know that I’m going to reach my destination.”

God dropped a dream in my heart and it became so alive on the inside of me that it became more real than what was happening on the outside.

When that happens, it enables you to endure anything and everything. There may not be anyone else who can see your dream but you, so hold fast to it, start preparing for it and never give up.

Source: Turning Your Dreams Into Reality by Jerry Savelle.
Excerpt permission granted by Jerry Savelle Ministries International