“God has a Vision for You”
It is impossible to overcome our past and press forward without a clear vision from God of our future.
Text:
Proverbs 29:18 - (KJV)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Proverbs 29:18 - (the message)
“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves: but when they attend to what he reveals they are most blessed.”
Joel 2:28
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”
1Corinthians 2:12-16
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Intro:
It is then important for me to understand that in order to overcome my past, I must have a vision of my future. The anointing of Gods Spirit brings with it a vision of how to proceed into my God given destiny. It reveals a new hope of
what our life can be!
I. What is a Vision?
a. Vision is
-The reason we get of bed, the reason we learn and stretch our abilities. It is the reason we go forward. There are visions of raising kids, building companies, etc. This vision will give us a certain amount of impetus to grow and change.
b. examples of someone with a vision in the natural
- Great machines
- Giant Boat
- Great works of architecture, Sky city
c. according to the bible
Gods vision for us is a deeper vision, one that consists of eternal issues and builds things that will last forever!
The Hebrew word “vision” is not the ordinary word for something that is seen, rather it indicates a revelation from God and in a prophetic sense.
c. examples of someone with a vision in the spiritual realm
- God led Gideon to victory with divine vision
II. Self led or God led. The carnal vs. the spiritual
It is sometimes hard to project our future because we are reminded of our past.
David said it this way in
Psalms 119:25 - “My soul cleaveth (“clings”) to the dust, quicken - (revive) thou me according to thy word.”
This is why the apostle Paul admonishes us to “Forget those things which are behind us and press for the mark of the high calling of God.”
God’s vision is better than our vision of ourselves
a. Job, dare to dream
b. David, not afraid to challenge Goliath! He had a vision from God!
b. Joseph, “when dreams die”
c. Moses, “I am not but I know “I AM”
Exodus 3:11-14 -
“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
d. Disciples, “cast your nets on the other side”
e. Paul who was Saul,
f. Gideon - Mighty man of valor, in the bottom of the threashing floor
Judges 6:12
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”
III. God has a vision for you.
God overcomes my present situation with revelation, that leads me to live in expectation!
We are no longer children of circumstance, we are children of God and as such we are not ruled by the meager elements of this world we are ruled and led by God!
Saul had a vision and was laid down in the road, God calls him Paul! Gives him a new mission!
ability to see beyond the “now”
- Creates within us an anticipation
- We are not creatures of time but we are creatures of eternity
You are not the same as you have always been, you are new!
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Numbers13:33 - grasshoppers And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Proverbs 23:7 - as a man thinks in his heart…so is he
Romans 8:5-6 spiritually minded For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Closing:
David and Goliath 1 Samuel 17:
Vision is put to action through faith, David had rehearsed in his mind all that God had done through him. God builds his vision in us one victory at a time! I killed a lion, a bear, what is this Philistine to me?
Goliath rants at David
1 Samuel 17:43-44
“And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.”
David’s response and actions!
1 Samuel 17:45-51 -
“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.”
THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE CHANGES WHEN WE ACT ON GODS VISION!
