TOPIC: THE POWER OF VISION
TEXT: HABAKKUK 2:1-4; PROV. 29:18; GEN.15:1-6
PREACHER: SESAN BANJO
A. Introduction
B. What Is Vision?
C. The Basic Elements of Vision
D. The Power/Effects of Vision
E. The Pathway To Getting A Vision
F. Scriptural Steps/Strategies to Fulfilling The Vision
INTRODUCTION
“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
Hab 2:1-4
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Prov. 29:18
“Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelations of God), the people perish; but he that keeps the law of God, which includes that of man, blessed, happy, fortunate (and enviable) is he” Prov. 29:18 (Amplified Bible)
In life, what you see is what you get. What you don't see, you can hardly get.
When God decided to give Abram landed property in Gen. 13:14-15
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
God said to Abram, all the land, all the money, the cars, the houses, the positions, the places, which thou seest, which thou seest, to thee I will give it.
Tell your neighbour, what do you see?
I see success, increase, greatness, comfort, prosperity. Halleluyah!
At another occasion in Gen. 15:1-6, when God wanted to give Abram a great child, he said to him in verse 5, And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
What you cannot see for yourself in the nearest future, you can hardly come by. God works with the vision you have of yourself.
All great achievers in life, business, career, ministry, politics are men and women of vision.
No man ever became anything worthwhile or worth celebrating without the emblem of a great vision.
People fail and become frustrated in life because they lack the vital element of success and happiness called Vision.
The infallible, ever current word of God says in Prov 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
No man can escape perishing and failing when he lacks vision for life. But success and happiness in life belongs to men and women of vision.
It means Vision is highly essential for survival. Where there is vision, the people lives and prospers.
Quickly,
So what is Vision?
Vision can be described as the picture of a preferred future.
Vision is seeing tomorrow from today.
Vision is seeing the end from the beginning.
Vision is seeing the ultimate purpose of God for your life or existence.
The Basic Elements of Vision
A Vision is:
• A Picture (of your destiny)
• Your Future Rom. 8:18
• Clear Exod 3:7-8,17
• Possible; Feasible
• Challenging; Tasking
The Power/Effects of Vision
A Vision:
• Gives Direction – a road map for our lives towards destiny, purpose and dreams.
• Evokes Passion; strong emotion. The clearer the vision, the stronger the passion.
• Motivates – Those who lack motivation in life truly lacks vision.
• Prioritizes your life and time
• Disciplines your actions and behaviour. Your vision actually determines your esteemed values. Those who lack good values and virtues actually lack good vision for their lives.
• Protects you from total failure and falling.
• The fulfilment of vision Is the key to happiness in life.
The Pathway To Getting A Vision
Habakkuk 2:1- “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
And the LORD answered me…
1. I will – Vision starts from your desire. The desire for a better and preferable future. The desire for something greater. People lack vision because they are satisfied with where they are; with the status quo.
2. stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see – the word translated tower there means a fenced placed, a secret place, a solitary quiet place, a contained place without distraction.
It takes standing in a quiet, solitary, secret place for
i-meditation or thinking with your mind
ii-praying for revelation and God given pictures of your tomorrow
3. what he will say – True vision about your life, business, ministry, career, education, marriage and so on comes from what God says to you; not what your parents, brothers or friends thinks or says to you but what GOD says.
4. what he will say unto me, - From original bible language, that scripture is better read as what he will say in me,. God speaks the vision into your heart. So you need a listening ear and an inner eyes to see it.
So that when you are challenged or reproved about your vision, you will have an unshakeable answer.
Scriptural Steps/Strategies To Fulfilling the Vision
Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Hab.2:2-4
1. Write the Vision – An unwritten vision is a soon forgotten vision. The faintest pen is always sharper than the brightest brain. Revelations 1:19-Write the things which thou hast seen…
2. Make it Plain Upon Tables – Interpret the vision into easy, readable language and goals. Break into parts, pieces and bits. Divide into sections and segments; into projects and targets.
3. That he may run – who is the he? Yourself first and then others. The vision should include the support and help of others. There should be the hes that will read and run with it. Where there is no vision the people perish; where there are no people, the vision also perish. Look out for people. Extend your arm of friendship and relationship to others.
4. That he may – Avoid Discouragement and embrace Courage. Both from yourself and others. But mostly from others. The he that should run with the vision may or may not; don’t ever be discouraged, God will send those that must support and run with the vision.
5. That he may run – Work out the vision into fulfilment through commitment, dedication and diligence. Move the vision from paper to possibility; from images to reality. Put in the energy, time, ideas and money.
6. That readeth (reads) it – Continous reading. Daily seeing the written vision. Consistently indoctrinate yourself and those around you about the vision for your life, for the business or organization you run. What you consistently see daily, and habitually say will eventually materialise in the physical.
7. Wait for the Appointed Time of Fulfillment – There is a time lag or period from the conception/inception of the vision to the birth and completion of the vision. Work with that time. And don’t be in a hurry. Wait patiently for the promise.
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Heb 10:36-37 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
At the end, it shall speak and not lie. Vision speaks for itself – though at the beginning looks like a lie, deception and impossibility but at the end, the vision fulfilled and accomplished becomes the truth, reality and possibility. It will speak for itself.
Though it tarry. Vision will always tarry or take some time, wait for it. There is a waiting time for vision manisfestation. So, be patient. Continue investing, working, and running.
Waiting for the vision while working at the vision is never waste.
Tell your neighbour, waiting is not wasting.
True vision from God will surely come to pass or fulfilment. Vision comes …… from the Spirit realm to the Mental realm and finally to the Physical realm.
The Delay in the physical is not denial. It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming!!!
8. Vision takes Faith – The just shall live by his faith. You and I need the force of faith to actualize the vision God has given us. Heb 11:1- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is calling those things that be not as though they were.
Rom 4:16-21
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
CONCLUSION
If you are yet to know Jesus as the personal Lord and Saviour of your life; you are not yet born again – I challenge you to come out now so that you will not perish and that the vision of God for your life will be fulfilled.
Lord Jesus, I come to you today
Please Forgive me my sins
Wash me in your blood
Write my name in the book of life
Be my Lord and my Saviour
As I confess you as my Lord and Saviour
Grant me the grace to live a righteous life
In Jesus’ name. Amen!
