Do we have a vision?
My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily
Off times He weaveth sorrow
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reasons why
The dark threads are as needful
In the weavers skilled hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned
Hab 2:2-3
2 Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
(NIV)
Hab 2:2-3
2. And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.
3. The vision-message is a witness pointing to what is coming. It aches for the coming –it can hardly wait! And it does not lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.
(TM)
A. The Hebrew means:
• To gaze at mentally,
• To perceive,
• To contemplate with pleasure for the future.
B. If you look at Webster Dictionary defines it like this:
• It is the act or power of sensing with the eye,
• The power of anticipation,
• Expectation,
• Seeing the attainable, yet invisible.
Famous quotes:
1. Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.
Katherine Logan
2. Destinies are shaped by ones vision.
Pastor Ron Crandall
3. Failures are only the by-product of a visionless person, they are overcome by belief in the Fact that through God all things are possible.
Pastor Ron Crandall
4. One’s destiny is determined, not by what he possesses, but rather by what possesses him.
5. Poor eyes limit your sight; poor vision limits your deeds.
Frank Field
In bringing our vision into Focus:
A. Components of Vision:
Isa 54:1-5
1 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD.
2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5 For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
(NIV)
Isaiah 54:2
2. “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive your tent peg in deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family.”
(TM)
1. Vision or a stretching of the tent must first of all be bible based on properly interpreted Scriptures. The Stretching must be a Bible based vision.
2. Vision or stretching, must be easily understood. So that it can be grasped and embraced by you as your own, Tent Stretching Vision sent from God through men, yet, theirs also.
3. Our Tent Stretching Vision must be reachable, now, on earth, not just an impossible dream. Too many times people say they have a vision but when asked to define their vision, it is so far out there it is not funny. Keep it real because God does.
B. Tent Stretching for the restored biblical church understands that:
1. We are a victorious church:
*Victories that are cheap are not worth having. The only victories worth having are those, which come as the result of hard fighting. Marshal Foch
Matt 16:18
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(KJV)
Acts 17:6
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
(NIV)
2. We have Authority over hell:
*Greatness does not depend on the size of your command, but on the way you exercise it.
Matt 16:19
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(KJV)
Matt 12:28-30
28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Satan’s primary goal is to cause as much havoc in the church and among the saints as he can.
Thus destroying the enthusiasm and drive for the vision that God has placed in their midst.
According to the scripture I just read you that is not a part of God’s triumphant plan.
It is time for us to lay a hold of the vision of God’s word first and then the vision of our hopes, dreams and aspirations.
We will never see what God has for this church if we become nit-picky or complaining, grumbling.
Those are nothing but valleys of trouble... let God turn your valley of troubles into doors of hope this morning.
• Speak the word to your flesh and bring it into subjection to God’s plan.
• Someone once said “Nothing is more contagious as enthusiasm; it moves stones, it charms brutes.
• Enthusiasm is being fully absorbed in your dream.
B. Tent Stretching for the restored biblical church understands that: (Continued)
3. We are Dicipline Oriented:
*Dicipline effects Destiny.
*Papa said, “Now Billie, don’t!”
But Billie said, “I will,” and did;
And Papa went to get the rod,
But Mama said, “Don’t beat the kid.”
So Papa laid aside the rod
While Billie smiled at “poor old Dad,”
And Mama stroked “dear Billie’s head
And called him her poor little lad
The year have passed and Billie is gone-
Buried in a sinners grave-
While Mom and Dad still linger on,
So sad they let him misbehave.
The lesson’s clear for all to see:
If you would raise a son for God
Father and Mother must agree
When Billie needs it, use the rod!
Matt 18:15-18
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(KJV)
2 Tim 2:2-5
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
(KJV)
4. We are to be unified:
*Unity is the grasping of hands, the blending of hearts, and the union of many lives into one.
Pastor Ron Crandall
Matt 18:19-20
19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
(NIV)
Ezek 11:19
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
(KJV)
John 17:6,11&12,26
6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-- the name you gave me-- so that they may be one as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
(Use the illustration of a Baseball Team)
5. We should be a forgiving church:
*True forgiveness does not leave the hatchet handle sticking out of someone’s back!
Pastor Ron Crandall
*When you are forgiven, someone must pay, and the one who forgives is the one who suffers. Edwin Orr
Matt 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
This is the Kind of Church that prommotes God’s agape love -to overcome Phileo or a friendship based love and Eros or Intimate love
We need all three in our lives, yet, when just one of them is out of balance it creates havoc in the church.
6. Spirit-Filled Church:
*We cannot share what we do not process
*Spiritual gifts are given, not for competition but co-operation
*The spiritually successful person did the things that you intended to do.
Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(KJV)
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(KJV)
Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
3674 homou (hom-oo’);
genitive case of homos (the same; akin to 260) as adverb; at the same place or time:
KJV-- together.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
2523 kathizo (kath-id’-zo);
another (active) form for 2516; to seat down, i.e. set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell):
KJV-- continue, set, sit (down), tarry.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(KJV)
The Stretching that has been taking place in the last few Sunday’s has it caused you really search your heart to see if you are in line with God’s plan for this body?
Invitation:
