Casting vision: Home and Church
Ephesians 4:10-12
Introduction-
I want to talk a minute about casting your vision.
About goal setting and doing what each one of us is called to do.
Not everyone is called to be a pastor.
Without God’s calling, and God’s blessing, I don’t recommend that you try it because contrary to people seeing me one hour on Sunday, it is a very demanding , very spiritually draining and frankly without God’s help and anointing,
I would not be able to do it.
I say that to say, that God has something for each one of us do.
There is such a thing as being in God’s perfect will and doing what God desires for our lives.
This takes seeking God’s direction and that very much takes God’s help in accomplishing.
Casting vision and goal setting is not new in the Bible, there is a thread throughout as God leads His people to become the very best that He desires for us.
The misconception occurs when we think that God only wants to direct the lives of the Moses, Abrahams, Nehemiah’s, Jeremiah’s of the world.
He desires to lead and guide each one of our lives, I believe especially those that have professed Him as Lord and Savior.
He wants to see His will done in our lives, which should be our wills, and see that our lives grow and mature and the kingdom of God expanded because we have apart in it.
We will be looking at several different Scriptures, so maybe you want to write them down.
Jesus is talking about unity in the body of Christ and the deity that keeps the body in unity.
Ephesians 4:10-12 (From Bible)
Apostle Paul introduces the idea that God has gifts for all His people and that it is the responsibility of all of us to find what that is to better ourselves, family, church, and the kingdom of God.
When we do that, God uses these gifts to prepare God’s people for works of service (12)
Some people want to read this verse as God raising up leadership to do all the work for all the people, but really it is God training all the people to do the work themselves so that the body of Christ may be built up.
There is only one way to cast a vision- that is God’s way! At least for a believer that is.
Lots of people have great vision. But usually, it does not happen because of 2 things.
1. They could not communicate to others and the dream died.
2. They were not faithful to it as it got tough and they gave up.
Most people today have no commitment; they are quick to run when things get tough or never recover from a past hurt or failure.
I am assuming that you have a dream, if you do not have a dream, I don’t care how old you are, that would be your first mistake.
God says “My people perish because of a lack of vision.”
There are 5 principals that make up the church.
Fellowship
Discipleship
Worship
Ministry
Evangelism
To be a fully functioning church All 5 have to be operating at the same time.
Average churches do some but not all.
There is a reason that the Lord says that we need to be in a fully functioning church. It is because each of us needs these 5 functional things in our lives.
We need fellowship
We need to worship God and be in His presence.
We need discipleship- we need to be accountable because we cannot survive on our own.
We need to be plugged into ministry. We need to be involved in something that is bigger than we are. We need to feel that we belong and not just visiting.
We need to evangelize. We need for our benefit to express our faith to others what God has done for us. It benefits our faith and at the same time is a testimony to others that draw people to God
Proverbs 20:5-
“ A plan in the heart of man is like deep waters, but a man of understanding draws it out”
Society is sinking in deep water because they are not understanding that the plan of God has for the church is the same that He has for each one of us.
We are the church!
If it were possible that I could look each one of you in the eye, I would say without hesitation that weather you are 10 years old or 100 years old, you need the church and the church needs you.
We need each other and we need God to be able to live life like God intended.
The problem today is not the economy, it is that most people have no vision, they are living their life in survival mode instead of living the vision that God wants to give them.
The problem today is that the same principals that God wants implemented in the church works in our everyday life.
We are not accountable to allowing God to work it out in our lives.
Fasten your seat belts, it may get bumpy for a minute, but if your will hold on, you’ll enjoy the ride.
Vision casting is important part of my role as pastor. For the church, I need to communicate it so that we get behind the vision and see what God wants done to bring it to pass.
It is also important part of being the pastor to communicate to each other that there is benefits, to fulfilling the vision that God has for each of us. Spiritual. Emotional. Financial.
Once we understand that God has to be first in our lives.
We understand that He has our best interest in mind.
That church is not only a place to go, but a place to belong.
We will see God’s plan unfold and come to pass in our lives.
The big question- How do we implement the plan of God?
I want you to see that in proverbs 29:18- (Read from Bible)!
Read 29:1-4 (tug of war, right from wrong, God’s vision for His people and the sinful vision of man for himself.)
Okay, let’s spend a minute implementing a plan into our lives…..
Paint your vision
1. Understand that to have a Godly vision… that God has to be the goal setter for each of us.
There is a risk factor following a vision of God
Noah had to give up his day job to build the ark
Abraham started a family in his 90’s
Moses had to g o back to Egypt.
David had to face the giant Goliath
It has been said that stepping out in faith is like parachuting. Nobody “sort of” parachutes. You either do or don’t!
You will never know the thrill of walking on water until you get out of the boat.
If there is no risk, it probably is not a God thing!
2. Have a prayer strategy
Be seeking God for direction, guidance, approval, and where you fit into His plan.
“I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plan to prosper you, and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
God provides purpose- that we become a part of something significant.
There are exciting things happening at Rosdeale! It is through much prayer.
The church is growing, its bigger than one person, it is God blessing falling on each one of us purposefully finding where God wants you.
It is the safest place, most fulfilling place anyone of us could be.
Recap
Implementing God’s vision
Realizing God Has to be in it
Prayers /seeking God
And… number 3-
Avoid distractions that pull you away
Realize that distractions will keep you from fulfilling God’s plan for you- even if some is good stuff.
Criticism and resistance will come as you purpose God’s plan for your life and the church.
We have made many changes in the last seven years. We have not done things like they have always been. We have made some tough decisions, and some have offered resistance, that change had to take place.
Some it took a while to get on board of what God was doing.
Some opportunities had to be let go because they did not line up with what God was doing.
Fear
At some point in our lives, in the life of the church, God takes us out of our comfort zone and places us in unchartered waters.
Fear takes us to the “what if’s”, and if you let it win, we do not accomplish what He intends for us.
Fear when it is defeated says “if not” if not, the plan of God doesn’t get done. We say that we will not let fear distract us.
Closing,
If you have not gotten it yet, make sure that your vision and direction are from God and align everything you do to the vision.
Every person’s life should align to God’s vision.
Every church has to have the 5 principles of God active.
Fellowship
Discipleship
Worship
Evangelism
Ministry…………………………the same in our lives
Unless you are living for something bigger than yourself, it is easy to be distracted and get off course.
Sir Francis Drake-
Disturb us Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed to little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed to close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life, having fallen in love with life. We have ceased to dream of eternity, and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed your vision of the new earth to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wilder seas where storms will show your mastery. Where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask your future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
Here is what I want you to do as we close, ask God where you fit it, not if you fit in, where you fit.
Be specific on what He wants for your life, Cast your vision and align what you do to line up with His vision.
There is no doubt that God will challenge some of you this week as He speaks to you.
Altar Call.
