For Such A Time As This

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Esther 4:14-16

14) For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.

As I begin this message, I want to go back in time a couple of years and share with you some thoughts that I shared early on in my ministry here.

In one of my first sermons, I spoke to you about vision and in particular, I talked to you about the vision the Lord had laid upon my heart for this church.

I said, "Unless we get behind that vision the vision will perish."

I said, "It was decision time for the church.

How many remember that sermon?

In that message I noted in part, "I am convinced that the Lord has a specific word for every church. A word that is as unique as the people that attend that fellowship.

The Word is Specific: To the community that the church serves; As to the gifts within that church. To the pastor and the leadership; To the socio-economic make-up of the church/community;

(Just like he had to the churches in Revelation Chapter 2)

That specific word is what I call VISION.

Abraham called it a WORD.

Martin Luther King, Jr. called it a DREAM.

John F Kennedy called it a Challenge.

The Apostle Paul spoke of it as being his vision. And I call it a VISION, for the Bible says, "Where there is no vision the people perish" A vision is merely a mental picture, or word of what GOD WANTS TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED IN A GIVEN CHURCH OR GROUP.

I believe God wants people who: See the invisible; Hear the inaudible; Believe the incredible; Think the unthinkable; Will do the impossible; Will step out of the boat; Will Wade into the water;

Will Gird up their loins; Will go forth into battle;

God has called the church to such a time as this.

In churches you’ll find that: The majority sees the obstacles; The few see the objectives;

Oblivion is the reward of the former while history records the successes of the latter.

Vision is simply seeing the invisible, hearing the inaudible, believing the unbelievable and thinking the unthinkable.

Well, why do we need a vision? If you do not have a vision my friend, you are dead still in the waters. You’re: Not moving forward; Stagnant; Satisfied with your condition; Apathetic;

"He who aims at nothing will hit their mark every time."

Visions: Produce hope in the face of despair; Are inspiring. Motivate; Give you a goal; Give the people something to unite behind; Creates unity; Call people to prayer and faith; Require faithfulness and patience;

A true vision consumes YOU!

A few examples:

LOOK AT ABRAHAM.

He saw a city whose builder and maker was God. Therefore, he set off from his home in faith and obedience. He traveled to a land not knowing where he was going. He went because he had a vision.

LOOK AT MOSES.

He left the ease of Egypt choosing to suffer afflictions with the children of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and came back 40 years later to lead a rag-tag army through 40 years of wilderness wandering. I want to tell you, you better have a vision and a Word from God if you’re leading 2 million people thru a Hot barren desert, and they’re: Grumbling; Complaining; Stiff Necked; Murmuring; You better have a vision.

LOOK AT THE APOSTLE PAUL

As he does a 180 degree turn and begins to preach the very Gospel that he once hated. These men were directed by a WORD - A VISION from God. They were visionaries. Are you a visionary?

Are you somebody who has a set goal, your eyes are on something, or are you somebody who aims at nothing?

People without a vision rarely accomplish anything.

Do you know that you can see and observe people who have no vision. In fact, the familiar Proverbs 29:18 notes, "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

As I noted a few moments ago, when I came here the Lord directed me to begin a process of instilling within the body the need for Revival. I want you to know I have not lost that vision.

I still believe that God is going to perform that which he has spoken. God is: Going to move; Going to have a people; About to show Himself mighty; Bringing Revival; Fixing to break forth in His Glory;

Some of the things that have transpired, which we can’t figure out; The Purging; The Exodus; The rumors; The Skepticism; The prophets of doom; All these were necessary to get us to where we are right now. I don’t like it, and you don’t like it, but the simple fact is, "We grow through trials and tribulations." "Adversity is the key ingredient for toughness." We need to focus on: Our altar times of prayer; Fighting Spiritual battles; Allowing God to move in our services; A willingness to get behind the vision; A desire to move forward and to put the past behind; Keeping our house in order;