Our Vision Series

“OUR VISION” Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16; Romans 10:13

FBCF – 2/2/25

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Y’all check this out - Pics of proposed new sanctuary & final cost figure

Struggled w/ starting sermon w/ this. Don’t want to lose some of you right at the beginning of this message & probably risking that in doing this. But this significant moment has been a long time coming as this church has been talking about building a new sanctuary, discussing it, studying it, meeting about it, &, above all, praying about it for a long time – at least 15 yrs or more.

So, w/ this in mind, I want to talk to you about God’s vision for this church FAMILY. Not a sermon about building a new sanctuary. A sermon about GOD'S vision for FBCF. Not MY vision, YOUR vision, staff or deacons’ vision, but GOD’S vision for HIS church. When we say “OUR Vision” in title of sermon, we mean GOD’S vision b/c His vision must be our vision. Our vision must be HIS vision. What does HE want to do here? What does HE want US to do here? What must WE do to accomplish HIS vision for HIS Church here? We aren’t just talking about the vision of building a new sanctuary, although that may very well be an integral part of His vision for His church here. But WHAT IS GOD’S VISION FOR FBCF? Because…

APPLICATION: GOD’S vision is the ONLY vision that matter!

Every church needs a God-sized vision. If it’s a man-sized vision, then it doesn’t need faith, & it doesn’t need God’s help & resources to accomplish it. And if you do accomplish it, it has no lasting, eternal value or impact.

- Like a fireworks show – Lots of excitement & flash. Lots of “oohs” & “aahs”. Entertains you as it lights up the sky. Then there comes the grand finale…then it’s over & everyone goes home as the smoke clears.

- We need a God-sized vision for FBCF!

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to ask the first pastor of this church back in 1887, “What is the God-sized vision that GOD gave you for this church?” I wonder what he would say.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to ask the pastor of this church in 1910 when this sanctuary was built, “What is the God-sized vision that GOD gave you for this church?” I wonder what he would say.

God’s vision for FBCF is unique to us. It’s not the same vision that He has for Pinelake or Flora Methodist Church or Central BC up the road at Little Yazoo or Highlands Pres in Ridgeland or Word of Life Church out in Flowood or The Church of 1122 in Jacksonville, FL.

- Sure, we all are to fulfill the Great Commission & the Great Commandment.

- We all are to preach the truth of God’s Word & worship the Lord in passionate, authentic ways that exalt Jesus.

- We all are to equip God’s people to do His work & care for one another as members of His Body.

But the way He has uniquely positioned FBCF is different from any other church. He has placed FBCF in this community at this specific moment in history to do something unique, beautiful, & powerful for His glory. And that means that He has put YOU & ME in this church to use US to do something unique, beautiful, & powerful for His glory.

- Big DOGS reading this past Monday – Esther 4:14 – “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

- God had a unique vision for Esther & her people at that unique time in history. And I believe that He has a unique vision for us right here, right now, right in the midst of this church FAMILY. He has placed us right here in Flora, MS, for “such a time as this!”

- I love what one pastor wrote: “Right now the Lord is preparing a powerful yet humble army of shepherds after His own heart. And He also is preparing a remnant congregation of hungry sheep who have turned away from the deadness and sin of the modern church establishment. The scene is being set for that church against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. It will be hot, not lukewarm — and it will rock the very foundations of hell. No power on earth will be able to ignore or despise it!” (https://www.worldchallenge.org/gods-vision-last-day-church)

- Will we be that church? – a church full of hungry sheep, turning away from sin, on fire for the Lord, rocking the very foundations of hell – a church that no power on earth will be able to ignore or despise?