Vision in the house.
IAN JOHNSON PAPATOETOE ELIM CHURCH
Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
Helen Keller was asked once “What would be worse than being born blind?” to which she replied “Having sight without a vision.”
Vision is the ability to see beyond the surface of human potential.
It is not what we are but what we desire to become or where we desire to go..
Illustration.
On a flight to Wellington, the pilot announced that the takeoff had been
postponed due to mechanical failure.
Later, the flight attendant announced that everyone who was heading for Wellington was to remain on the plane. Forgetting that the intercom was still on, the pilot was overheard in the background...he said "Whoops!" A minute later, the pilot headed down the aisle toward the rear exit ramp, with his hat in one hand and his briefcase in the other. One of the passengers saw the pilot and asked him, "Where are you going?" The pilot told him in a low voice, "Christchurch." The passenger replied, "This plane’s not going to Christchurch. It’s going to Wellington!" The pilot, with his face turning red, said, "I know, I’m on the wrong plane!"
Vision is a mental picture of a desired future.
It is a picture that can be seen of what is not yet, but of what can be. Our present belief is reflective of our vision. Where we are in life is directly connected to our vision or the lack thereof. What you are today is a direct result of your vision yesterday.
Illustration: From George Barna research.
The following terms were used in the survey by those being surveyed who confessed to be born again Christians, in describing themselves:
(a) Stressed Out: 31%
(b) Too Busy: 49%
(c) Needing New Friends: 50%
(d) In Debt: 40%
(e) Dealing with Addiction: 11%
(g) Searching for purpose: 48%
(h) Skeptical: 55%
All of the above can be attributed to a person’s vision.
Stress: you need a vision for the future which includes taking it easy.
Too busy: great people don’t work harder they work smarter through vision.
Needing friends: get a vision for being a friend
In debt: you need a long term vision of being debt free…Budget
Addictions: you need a vision of being free.
And so on.
Illustration
A little boy was heard talking to himself as he walked across the backyard, baseball cap in place, ball and bat in his hands. "I am the greatest hitter in the world," he said. He threw the ball up, swung and missed. "Strike one," he said. But again, he told himself, "I am the greatest hitter ever." He threw the ball up again, swung and missed. He looked at the ball, and at the bat, and said, "I’m the greatest hitter that ever lived." He threw the ball up again and swung and missed a third time.
This time he said, "Wow! Strike three! What a pitcher! I’m the greatest pitcher
in the world!...
There is a direct connection between vision and Faith
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. V3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at Gods command So that what is seen was not made out of that which is now visible.
God had a vision when he created the heavens and the earth!
He had a vision when man fell
He had a vision when Jesus went back into heaven and the Holy Spirit came
He has a vision for the church when he returns!
There is a Japanese proverb that says; "Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."
Vision will turn lukewarm, lazy, sleeping church members into red-hot, living soldiers in the grand cause of changing a generation.
Vision gives us stability,
If we want to stay on track through thick and thin we must have vision. People without vision fall back and become discouraged. (Jamaican bobsled movie)
Vision helps us gain Guidance,
If we have no vision we won’t bother pushing through to get the full story from the Holy Spirit.
Vision brings great joy and excitement.
I have a vision for evangelism; there is nothing that brings me more joy than when a new soul comes to Christ.
A God-given vision will bring glory to God and fit us into His eternal purpose. A true vision from God is not self-seeking, but praises God and brings glory to Jesus Christ.
WHAT IF I TRIED TO FULFILL Gods vision for my life and I failed?
NEVER GIVE UP
Vision is usually birthed out of heartache and burden. It must come from the heart.
Think about it:
§ Jesus wept over the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:6)
§ Moses stood in the gap for the Israelites (Exodus 17:4)
§ Jeremiah wept over the burden he carried (Jeremiah 3:21)
As long as we are content with the status quo, we will not discover God’s vision. Ask long as we are happy with the status quo, God will not speak. IF we are more concerned with not rocking the boat than we are with storming the gates of hell, we will never discover God’s plan for His church.
God gives us His vision when we are desperate. He speaks to us when our whole heart and mind and soul is set on Him. When we are hungry and thirsty for God, We find Him.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
Habakkuk 2:2 -
Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets That the one who reads it may run.
Habakkuk 2:3 -
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
Illustration:
Phil Pringle has the largest church in Australasia but he failed several times before he got it right.
I first got a vision for Powerpoint ministries in about 1990. We didn’t start the ministry until 1999. And we haven’t got anywhere near fulfilling the call as yet but we press on!
We got the call to plant a church in Papatoetoe in 1998. we planted in 1999 the vision we received is part of who we are today
A) We see a big vibrant multi-cultural church filling this hall 3 times a day.
Polynesian Maori Indian European Asian Middle eastern peoples meeting together in unity
B) We see a church ministering to the broken hearted and those who have lost their way (more half way houses in Papatoetoe than any where else.
C)We see a worshiping church full of many voices and cultures but bringing one sound to the Lord. (Worship)
D) We see a church where people can express their own ministry call as part of the wider church vision.
E) We see a church full of grace where people can have another chance
F) We see a church reaching the lost: every ministries ultimate purpose is to see men & woman restored back to God.
This church is about people reaching people.
If a young person gets saved then they will reach 19% of their family
If a woman gets saved she will reach 32% of her family
If a man gets saved He will reach 82% of his family.
We Must Be Mindful of Vision Killers. Last time I spoke we talked about unity and we mentioned Nehemiah and samballat
WHAT ARE THE VISION KILLERS IN CHURCH?
A. Complacency… Attendance – Giving – seeing your part in the vision. You are important!
B. Carnality….. Allowing ourselves to be sidetracked from our vision by the flesh.
C. Critics… beware of an evil report. Don’t ley it kill your vision for this church
We Must Give ourselves Totally to the Fulfilling of Our Vision.
A. Commitment …to the cause of Jesus and His church.
B. Compassion ….Jesus always ministered out of compassion.
C. Contributors.. You are a contributor to this ministry you are awesome people.
D. Commonality… One voice one sound one purpose…”Bringing God to South Auckland and South Auckland to God”.
E. . Courage This is a big one. And a sermon in its self.
I. Communicators. Both in church and in the world… one voice one sound. (unity)
Proverbs 4: 25 – 27a (NLT) Look straight ahead, & fix your eyes on what lies
before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path & stay
safe. Don’t get side tracked…
