ARE YOU PAINTING UGLY PICTURES?
VISION: STAY FOCUS!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law,
happy is he.
WE ARE DOING FINE HERE? WHO NEEDS THAT?
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Come let us think about our history?
Around 360 years ago a ship was with pilgrims traveling. They were searching for more.
They felt like God had a plan to reach beyond previous possibilities?
Year one, they build a small town.
Year two, they established a government.
Year three, the new government voted to use tax money to build a road five miles out into
the wilderness.
Year four, the people tried to impeach their leaders for desiring to build a new road 5 miles
long into the WILDERNESS. WE ARE DOING JUST FINE HERE IN TOWN.
WHO NEEDS A 5 MILE ROAD INTO A WILDERNESS, LET US JUST STAY HERE!
THE PEOPLE HAD A VISION THAT CAUSED THEM TO TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES
FROM THEIR HOME AND THEIR COMFORT ZONES TO ESTABLISH A BETTER HOPE,
BUT THEY WERE ROOT BOUND. THEY WERE WILLING TO SAIL THE DANGEROUS
WATERS WESTWARD. THEY SURVIVED TRIALS AND STORMS,
BUT THEIR VISION WAS REDUCED TO LET US JUST STAY HERE.
THEY REFUSED TO SEE 5 MILES OUT OF TOWN... THEY LOST THEIR VISION...
THEIR FOCUS BECAME SELF-CENTERED...
THEY HAD A GREAT VISION TO FOCUS BEYOND THE STORMS AND DIFFICULTIES.
THEY SAW BEYOND THE OCEAN GREAT OPPORTUNITIES... BUT THE VISION
DIED?
THANK GOD FOR LEADERS THAT SAW BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS?
5 MILES? 3,000 MILES, WESTWARD!
SHARE A SUSTAINING DREAM!
Do we operate in the realm of NIGHTMARES more than vision?
FAITH IS VISION THAT CAN SEE BEYOND EYE SIGHT.
WE SHOULD HAVE LISTENED... BUT GOD HAS TENDER MERCY!
Acts 27:21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should
have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you,
but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them
that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it
was told me.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO NOT SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE ---
BUT OUR VISION'S FOCUS SEE THINGS AS WE ARE AND WE DISTORT REALITY?
FOCUS WORKS BEST WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING WHERE YOU ARE GOING...
Hind sight is good looking forward...
Vision that will stay focused where you have been could be dangerous.
Many have a real clear vision of other people's faults and can not seem to focus on their
own failures. WHY DO WE SEE OTHERS' SPLINDERS WHEN WE CAN NOT SEE OUR?
TELEVISION? CAN HINDER VISION?
We knew a lady that watched a certain day time soap opera that was so in love with a man on
the show that she requested prayer for him at church? SHE TOLD HER HUSBAND SHE WOULD
GLADLY LEAVE HIM FOR A DATE WITH THE MAN?
Perhaps we could use more vision and less television?
VISION IS SEEING BEYOND TODAY
VISION SEES POSSIBILIIES AND THE GOD FACTOR...
VISION IS LOOKING BY FAITH THROUGH GOD'S EYES...
FOCUS IS A BASEBALL PLAYER STANDING AT THE PLATE WHEN THE
PITCHER IS THROWING THE BALL 105 MPH.
A pilot landing a jet must keep his focus on what is before him.
VISION IS ESSENTIAL FOR SURVIVAL...
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law,
happy is he.
Vision is essential for survival.
FAITH GIVES BIRTH TO VISION.
VISION IS SUSTAIINED BY HOPE...
IMAGINATION AND FOCUS IGNITES VISION.
ZION AND ENTHUSIAM KEEPS VISION GOING.
ELIJAH IS THE OLD MAN...
ELISHA IS THE YOUNG PREACHER IN TRAINING REFUSING TO LOSE HIS FOCUS.
2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,
that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for
the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy
soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said,
Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee;
for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth,
I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho
came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy
head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said,
As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
ELISHA KNEW FOLLOW GOD'S DIRECTIONS EVEN WHEN THE VISION IS LIMITED.
ELISHA'S FOCUS WAS SO CLEAR HE BURNED ALL THE BRIDGES...
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing
with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast
his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee,
kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again:
for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew
them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they
did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
ELISHA REFUSED TO COMPROMISE... DOUBLE PORTION
HE WAS EXPECTING SOMETHING TO HAPPEN...
2 Kings 2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two
stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and
they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do
for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy
spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when
I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire,
and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
ELISHA KNEW THERE WAS MORE AND HEPOSITION HIMSELF ON THE FOCUS
OF RECEIVING...
ELISHA SAW THE NEED... HIS VISION WAS CLEAR...
HE KNEW ALL THE PROBLEMS AND TRIALS, HE JUST KNEW GOD WAS BIGGER
THAN THE PROBLEMS...
GOD IS ABLE...
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that worketh in us
REMEMBER THE CARROT IN FRONT OF THE DONKEY?
GOD DESIGNED US TO SEE FARTHER THAN WE CAN REACH? PONDER WHY?
PAUL KNEW ONE MUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT...
While you can focus beyond your reach... You reach should never limited your vision...
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION: Feelings, emotions and problems will distort our vision and cause us to
FOCUS on the problems as INSURMOUNTABLE and CHRONIC PROBLEMS that cannot
ever be OVERCOME. A DISTORTED FOCUSED VISION WILL BIRTH DISCOURAGEMENT
AND DEFEAT. COME, LET US DREAM OF BUILDING BETTER LIVES. WE NEED CHANGE.
KILL THE SACRED COW. ARISE ABOVE APATHY AND COMPLACECENY. QUIT
PAINTING THE PICTURE OF DOOM AND GLOOM. QUIT PAINTING AND REHEARSING
PROBLEMS... YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM! YOU AND GOD ARE THE SOLUTION!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
