GODLY VISION – 2. VISIONS. “Vision, can be defined as a compelling mental portrait of a preferable future, communicated by God to his people [individually and collectively through chosen leaders] based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances; all for the purpose of advancing God’s Kingdom.” About 350 years ago a shipload of travellers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. “Who needs to go there anyway?” was their outcry. Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision and vitality. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries.” When you’re up to your eyeballs in alligators it’s hard to remember that your original intention was to drain the swamp. Vision is possibly the most popular self-help buzz word of the last few decades. Unfortunately, vision is too often used as an excuse to violate Gods authority. God created us to be people of vision, but we must have a godly vision for ourselves, our families, our businesses, and the church. Let me suggest that Christians may have a combination of these visions for themselves, but that they must first have a cognitive vision based upon the word of God; therefore of faith. Paul says: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, a Christians inner vision is limited to that which is authorized by God. Paul says: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3:17). Do all in the name, means that Jesus must be the authority by which we conduct our lives. Therefore, He must also be the authority for our inner vision. Then to guard against pride, we must give thanks to God, our Creator, who has blessed us with the ability to envision goals and realize our dreams according to His will. For now, let me suggest that godly vision, in a word, is wisdom. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:17). To understand the will of the Lord is to be wise; and to be wise is to have a godly vision. OUR SLOGAN.... I WILL GO FORWARD, I WILL GO HIGHER, I WILL INCREASE, I WILL WAX GREAT.... UNTIL MY BLESSINGS OVERFLOWS AND I BECOME A BLESSING UNTO OTHERS. Do enjoy this music — “REDEEMER SAVIOUR & FRIEND” – WOMEN OF FAITH. youtu.be/GgXLegK0dz8
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 21:53:12 +0000