Introduction
1. Quote: .Source: Joel Smith, SermonCentral.com
“A dream without a positive attitude produces a
daydreamer. A positive attitude without a dream produces a
pleasant person. A dream together with a positive attitude
produces a person with unlimited possibilities and potential.” by
John Maxwell, “The Success Journey”, p-49.
2. Webster’s dictionary defines vision as: “...something supposedly
seen by other than normal sight; something perceived in a dream,
trance, etc. or supernaturally revealed, as to a prophet. (b) the
experience of having such perception or revelation.
3. Another term I looked up was ‘visionary’. The writer of
Webster’s dictionary seems to come across with skepticism when
he defines ‘visionary as “existing only in the mind; not real;
imaginary; not capable of being put into effect; not realistic;
impractical ....”
4. For us to have ‘faith’ in God requires vision. The ability to see
what is unseen to the physical eye.
5. Listen to the Bible’s definition of faith: (Heb. 11:1, NIV) “Now
faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do
not see.”
6. In fact without vision the Bible says: Proverbs 29:18 Where
there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but
blessed is he who keeps the law.
7. If the vision is from God then it comes in response to our faith.
Our faith brings certainty and assurance to our vision.
8. There is no greater need today in the Church than that of
‘visionary leadership’.
9. Illus. of a modern day prophet by the name of Judge Roy Moore
from Alabama.
Trans...There is no greater example than that of our Lord
Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 9:35-38. Jesus was living out
His vision and in so doing was providing leadership to those
who would follow. (Read Matthew 9:35-38) Let’s look first at
the mission.
I. Visionary Leadership
A. The Mission (Vs 35).
1. Jesus went to the cities and villages of Israel. He was no idle
dreamer but a visionary leader who lived out through action what
the Father had called Him to.
2. We can be even more specific about this plan of action because
it says that He would enter the synagogues and begin to teach ...
proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom.
3. Illus...Judge Roy Moore said: “Enough is enough...” Its time to
take a stand ... its time to get into action. Here is no idol dreamer
or speculator!
4. When, out of strong inner conviction, you know what ought to
be, then you have a vision. But it is only an idle dream until you
decide how to live it out. How do we bring to reality the vision of
what ought to be? This is what separates spiritual visionary
leadership from the worldly type. The Bible gives examples of
both.
5. Someone wrote: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with
the first step”. Likewise your visionary journey begins with the first
step of obedient faith as you live out what God is working in!
6. Illus...The Life of Reta O’Neill is another example of Visionary
Leadership. In her autobiography she first mentions her parents
responding to an invitation when she was five years old. At 98
years of age she was still keeping a prayer journal of who to pray
for on a daily basis. Almost a century of influencing family, friends
and many times total strangers through her witness and prayers.
7. The Apostle Paul wrote: “...follow me as I follow Christ....”
Paul followed Christ all over the know world at that time. Into the
cities and the villages, beginning in the synagogues, teaching and
proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. His mission was not of his
own making. His mission was to follow Christ, his Lord and
Master.
8. If the church’s mission is following Christ then he will make us
what He wants us to be and send us where He wants us to go.
Trans...We’ve looked at Christ’s mission. Now lets look at His
vision.
B. The Vision
1. Vs 36 “...seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them....”
2. What did He see? “...distressed... downcast... like sheep without
a shepherd.”
3. They were the ‘lost’ of Matthew 18:11 "For the Son of Man
has come to save that which was lost.”
4. Lost meaning people who are in the process of being utterly
destroyed ... perishing ....
5. If Christ were looking at people threw sin darkened perceptions
He would have seen people in a far different way. But the love of
God shaped His vision and He had a far different perception.
6. Jesus saw them as broken, distressed, downcast & perishing but
very savable. He saw them as His own sheep who were valuable
enough to attempt to recover and restore.
7. He did not respond like the Priest or Rabbi, who didn’t have the
time to be bothered, in the story of the Good Samaritan.
8. But rather we are told that He was moved with compassion.
That same compassion would take Him all the way to the cross to
save then from utter destruction and ruin!
9. His response to His disciples is: “Truly the harvest is
plentiful....” In other words these broken down, distressed,
shepherdless, perishing people are valuable enough to inherit the
Kingdom. They are the future residents of His Kingdom. Valuable
enough to rule with Him in the Kingdom.
10. My conviction is that vision has to begin with the way we see
people for whom Christ died. Not as pawns in a chess game that
we manipulate for our own advantage. Not sources of income that
will help us pay the bills and make life easier around the church on
Sundays.
Trans...When our vision is right then we can avail ourselves of
a great resource. It is absolutely necessary in bringing vision to
reality.
C. The Ultimate Resource
1. Its prayer. Jesus said: “My House shall be called a House of
prayer.”
2. Vs 38 “...beseech (also translated as beg) the Lord of the harvest
to send out workers into His harvest.”
3. James 4:3 tells us “You ask and do not receive because you ask
with the wrong motive....”
4. To bring a spiritual vision to reality requires that are motives are
spiritual. To have a love for the multitudes that is full of
compassion moves upon us to step out in obedient faith in a
visionary journey.
5. We can go to the ultimate resource and pray to the Lord of the
harvest to send out workers into His harvest. What a privilege and
what an opportunity!
Conclusion
1. Have you heard the call? “Follow Me!”
2. Have you seen the vision? The harvest field that is so plentiful
of broken, distressed and perishing people.
3. Are you moved with compassion to the place where you beseech
Him?
4. First maybe we should begin like Isaiah who cried: “Lord, send
me....” Our you willing to go into the harvest?
