The Power Of Vision
2 Chronicle 34: 1-8 Luke 2:41-52
One of the most powerful things you can have in your life is a vision of what could be. Why does a young girl swim lap after lap in a swimming pool? She has a vision of winning a state title. Why does a young man run endless sprints? He has a vision of being an all American on the team. Why does a student do all that and then some on each homework assignment or special project. He or she has a vision to be in the top ten of the class. Why is that young worker getting their early and staying late. A vision of getting the next position. Visions will cause us to endure things, that we might otherwise just quit and give up on.
Those of you who recently graduated have accomplished something that many of your fellow students did not. Many of them fell by the wayside because the vision they had for their lives, was not strong enough to keep them from making some poor choices. One of the amazing things about God, is that God is willing to deal with us as individuals. God’s not interested in excuses for why we can not succeed, but rather in our desire to want to make it.
Jesus came upon a man one day who had been paralyzed for 38 years allegedly waiting for a miracle to happen in his life. Jesus asked him the question, “Yo brother, do you want to be healed.” The man, said, “you know these other people are holding me down and keeping me back and before I can get mine, somebody else has already taken it. What’s a brother to do in times like these.” The guy lacked vision for his life. Jesus went ahead and healed him anyways. No sooner than the guy was healed, he turned back to a life of sin, and tried to get Jesus arrested for Jesus telling him, he needed to change his lifestyle.
Your vision can be stronger than the family or the background you came out of. Society will tell you, because you didn’t have good role models you can’t make it. In our reading today, we met one of my favorite kings. King Josiah had a grandfather who was a terrible role model. His grandfather was King Manassah. Manassah was 12 when he became king and reigned 55 years. He was known for doing much evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was more of murderous thug than a king in that he slaughtered so many innocent people, that he filled the streets of Jerusalem with blood.
King Josiah’s father King Amnon followed in his father’s footsteps. He became king at age 22 and was such a rotten king, he only lasted two years. He was murdered in his own home by his home boys who were ruling with him.
That meant Josiah became king at eight years of age. The main difference between him, his father, and his grandfather, was that Josiah had a positive vision for his life. He didn’t look to his father or his grandfather as his example to follow. He wanted to be like the king who had followed the Lord with his whole heart. The bible says of Josiah, “he did what was right in the eyes of the of the Lord and walking in the all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right of to the left. He had a vision for a better kingdom and a better life and it paid off for him and his people. He was the last good king of Israel in the Old Testament.
I want you to notice his vision started early. At age 8 he had become king. At age 16, he began to diligently seek the Lord. At age 20 he started clearing out the false idols and religions that had crept into the land. At age 26 he began a New Life Center project at the temple to restore it to its former glory. He recognized that he was in the place he was in, not just to uplift himself, but to make a difference for God in the lives of others. If you keep your vision intact between 8 and 26, you will have a much easier time in life later on.
Your graduation is about something greater than you. It’s about a plan that God has to bring about justice and righteousness in this world. Your diploma and your degree is part of the process of equipping you for the ministry of Jesus Christ to make a difference in the lives of others.
So often when we talk about being a disciple of Jesus Christ, we get this fuzzy religious image of people being holy and sitting in a bible study class. But my friends sitting in a bible study class, without living a lifestyle makes discipleship meaningless. I can recall a time as a college athlete when I blew it as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Even though I was the team chaplain, and everyone knew I was a professing Christian, I didn’t think I was being a disciple at the moment it happened. I was just being a defensive back. The other team had the ball. The receiver was coming toward me, the quarterback looked at him and released the ball. It was thrown high, and the receiver had no chance of catching of the ball, but I went up with him. I timed it perfectly so that I got a really clean shot and hit him pretty hard. It was all perfectly legal.
The only problem was that when I got back to the sidelines, one of my team mates who did not know Christ, but knew me said, “you’re the last person I would have thought would have hit a guy like that.” You see I had let go of my vision for Christ, and thought only about the moment. In so doing I lost all the credibility I had with this guy for telling him about Jesus.
Some of you are on your way to becoming judges, teachers, politicians, health care workers, business people, architects, actors, lawyers, doctors, dentists, professors, pastors, business owners, managers, principals and a whole lot more. Don’t lose your credibility on the way to getting there.
It does not matter if you’re preparing to go to high school, to college, to graduate school or to a job, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ for 24/7. You are going to be put into some amazing situations where you will either deny Christ or stand for Him by your actions. You will discover freedoms you have not know before. You will hear many voices saying, “come try this”, “let’s go there,” “it’s going to be fun” and “loosen up.”
Those voices will not be coming from the Spirit of God. Your vision for your life will determine what your response is going to be. All of us need a realistic vision that ultimately includes two things. The first is that God put restrictions on my freedoms because God loves me and wants the best for my life right now. The second is one day I am going to stand before God to give an account for the decisions I make and for how well I used the gifts and talents He had given to me for the kingdom of God.
Some people think when they have given a tithe of their salary that’s all God is looking for, from them as far as their job is concerned. No your vision for your job should include how do I bring Jesus into this place. I’m not talking about wearing big crosses or sticking up posters. I’m talking about your attitude toward others at work. I’m talking about treating all people with dignity and respect.
I’m talking about challenging policies that make money at the expense of the poor and the downcast. I’m talking about not stealing from your boss and not ripping off your employees or your customers. There’s a reason God has placed you where He has placed you. You are there to make a difference in the lives of others.
Jesus came into this world to make a difference in the lives of others. Let’s look at some of his traits before he really got started. Luke’s gospel give us our only account of what Jesus was like as a youth growing up. The bible tells us what it was like for Jesus when he was baby and up to about two years of age, what it was like at age 12, and then what it was like at age 30 and beyond. It’s important for us to remember that Jesus went through all the same kinds of desires, feelings, and hurts, that we go through. God took on a human form in order to make visions for our lives possible and complete.
Once a year, all the men were supposed to come to Jerusalem in order to attend the Passover meal. The Passover meal had its roots in the time period when the people of God were slaves in Egypt and God had decided to free them from their bondage. Even though God had done many miracles in the eyes of the Egyptian King, the king would not let the people go. God told the king he would strike down the firstborn male and animal in every house in Eygpt.
However God’s people in Egypt were to kill a lamb and put some of its blood outside on the doorframes. When the angel came and saw the blood on the doorframes, the angels would pass over that house and not kill anyone.
The first recorded meal we have of Jesus and the last one we have of Jesus is the Passover meal. In one he’s age 12 and in the other he’s about 33. The Passover lamb, represented the lamb that would one day be slain for the sins of the world. Every year, Jesus parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus may have gone with his parents several times, but we know that when he was 12 he did make this journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem. We think of a 12 year old as a young kid, but in the first century, Jesus was just a year from being treated as a man. A 13 year old was considered a student of the law and was held liable for his actions. So a 12 year old year old Jesus, would be more equivalent to our 17 year old today as far as the law was concerned.
Jesus’ family was in Jerusalem probably up to about eight days, because the Feast of the Passover was immediately followed by seven days of celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now then they did not have cars, so for safety reasons, they would travel as a caravan with a group of people. The women and children would often be in front of this group of people as they walked and the men would often be in the rear. Groups of families and friends would travel together.
At 12 years of age we can see Jesus’ vision taking place for his life. For the past 10 years, he’s been living his life as just an ordinary child. His parents knew there was something special about him from the events surrounding his birth, but they had no idea when it was Jesus would begin his ministry. When it came time to leave Jerusalem and go back home to Nazareth, Jesus was not in with the family. The family left without him. They had traveled all day long before they realized he was not with them.
Let me make some deductions on what Jesus must have been like in order for this to have happened. First of all Jesus must have had a positive attitude in life so that people enjoyed having him around them. If he had of been a pain in the neck or a grouch, don’t you know Mary and Joseph would have both have expected their family members or friends to have sent him to them as soon as possible.
There is no way he could have been away all day long, without them knowing that he was a positive influence wherever he was. In your vision, remember one of the greatest abilities to have is the ability to get along with other people. Learn how to get along with others. You don’t have to do what they do, you just need to know how to have a positive attitude about you so that you can be known as a peacemaker.
Jesus’ parents trusted him to run with the right crowd of friends. Your success in life is going to have a lot to do with who you choose to run with in life. Your best friends in eighth grade may need to be cut loose when you get to high school if they do not share your vision for the success of your life. Your high school relationships may have to terminate if you’re going to be a college graduate. You may have to let some co-workers and running buddies go, if their influence on you is greater than your influence on them. Keep your vision in tact. Don’t letter others begin to modify it or to take short cuts from it.
Jesus parents went back to Jerusalem to find him. They had traveled one day away from Jerusalem, one day back to Jerusalem and one day looking in Jerusalem. I can imagine them about ready to give up looking for their son with all the pilgrims in Jerusalem. One of them probably said, “look, why don’t we go to the temple and pray. We can’t look all over this city.” So they head for the temple to pray, and when they get there lo and behold whom do they see. There is Jesus sitting around in the temple courts with all the teachers and scribes listening to them and asking them questions.
You see, you could not have asked for a better time to have been in the temple court than at the Passover time. All the great teachers and preachers from all over the country would be in Jerusalem at this time. It was hard for Jesus to give up this opportunity to learn from some of the great masters. Although Jesus was God, he limited himself in His understandings so that he could me a normal teen just like everyone else. Jesus had a vision to be educated to his fullest potential. He started early preparing for the life he intended to have. Make the most of the learning opportunities that God places in your pathway.
There were times in my life when I was more concerned about getting an easy grade than I was getting the most of what was being offered. When I was in law school, they offered a legal aid clinic program. It had a lot more hours to it, but it was very practical in terms of developing legal skills. I didn’t have to take it. I chose it because I didn’t just want to do what was easy. I wanted to learn what was going to be the most helpful.
It was hard work and long hours, but I learned more of what a lawyer does during that semester, than in all the other semester of classes. In your vision for your life, don’t settle for what seems easy. Go the extra step and build something inside that can’t be taken away from you. Be willing to consider the possibility, that it’s God’s plan for you to choose the more difficult path to follow.
When Jesus’ parents found him, they breathed a sigh of relief. There he was listening and learning. People were amazed at his ability to understand some of the things these great teachers were teaching. They were amazed at the answers he was giving to the scholars. His parents were astonished themselves to see him in such a prominent place among the great teachers. After all, they were just plain common poor people. What on earth had Jesus told the people to get up on center stage like that.
Jesus’ mom says, “Son don’t you know your father and I have been worrying ourselves sick looking for you.” Jesus’ response was, “why were you searching like that, didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s House.” For a moment we see a glimpse of who Jesus really is. He reminds his mother for a moment, saying “you two know who I am. Why would you worry? Didn’t you know I’d be about my Father’s business?” Jesus uses the word Father here in a way that no one else does in the New Testament.
Jesus’ vision for his life was to be about His Father’s business. The only thing is that the time was not yet ripe for Jesus as the Son of God or the Son of Man to be revealed. This portion of Jesus life was not to be filled with miracles and great signs and wonders. God’s purpose and plan for Jesus at this moment was that he would go back home with Mary and Joseph and live under their authority.
Your vision in life, should not keep you from enjoying the journey along the way. God wants to use you right now, where you are to make a difference. God isn’t waiting for you to one day get that job, or that degree, of that promotion. It’s what we do on the journey along the way, that determines how effective we can be whenever we arrive along the way. Keep in mind, for some of us, God gave us the vision only for us to take the journey. The vision will not be completed in our time.
Jesus went back home with his parents and was obedient to them. There was still some growing he had to do. There is still some growing we all have to do. Many of us here lack vision for our lives. That’s why we choose to fall back into patterns of sin. That’s why we take chances on things that can ruin our lives. That’s why we sit back, content without doing much of anything for God.
When Jesus finally came on the scene at age 30, he didn’t come with any false hopes or dreams. He knew that his ministry would be short, he knew that his closest friends would desert him. He knew that he would be beaten, and that ultimately he would be crucified and ridiculed by those He was trying to save.
So why do it. All because of a vision. Hebrews 12:2-3 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
King Josiah’s vision started at age 8. Jesus’ started at age 12. Moses was given his at age 80. Abraham got his at age 99. None of us are exempt from getting a vision because of our age. What joy have you chosen to set down before you to make it worth it for you to obtain your vision ? How is your vision shaping your faithfulness to God? What words would you here today from God if today was the one you had to stand before God and give an account for what you have done. I don’t know about you, but my aim in life is to hear from God, “well done my good and faithful servant.” Nobody’s else opinion is going to matter at that moment.
Sermon Outline
The Power Of Vision –Pastor Rick
6/25/06 2 Chron. 34:1-8 Luke 2:41-52
A. Why Do They Do It
1. Swimmer, Sprinter, Student
2. Visions Lead To Endurance
3. God Deals With Individuals
B. Do You Want To Be Healed
1. 38 Years Of Waiting
2. The Blame Game
3. Good Role Models Or Not
4. King Josiah 8 Years Old
5. King Manassah, King Amnon
6. King Josiah—Different Vision
C. Last Of The Great Kings
1. 8 King, 16 Seeker, 20 Reviver
2. 26 New Life Center Temple
3. It’s More Than About You
D. The True Meaning Of A Disciple
1. The Cornerback Disciple
2. Just One Play Ruined A Testimony
3. Disciples 24/7
4. The Voices Will Be Calling
E. The Vision Elements Foundations
1. God Wants The Best For Me Now
2. I Want The Best For Me Then
3. Bringing Jesus To The Workplace
4. Raised up For A Reason
5. Righteousness & Justice
F. Luke Shows Us The Boy Jesus
1. Jesus Was Just A Normal Kid
2. The Passover Meal
3. The Angel Passed Over
4. Jesus’ Two Recorded Meals.
5. 13 Year Old-Student Of The Law
6. 12 Is Close To 17
H. Jesus And The Trip To Jerusalem
1. Parents Knew Who Jesus Was
2. Jesus Missed The Bus
2. Jesus had A Positive Attitude
3. The Ability To Get Along
4. Jesus Ran With The Right Crowd
5. When It Comes Time To Cut Loose
I. Jesus’ Parents Discover He’s Missing
1. Three Days of Searching
2. Sitting With The Teachers
3. The Great Teachers Are In Town
4. Jesus Committed To Learning
5. Jesus Prepared Early
6. Law & The Easy Path
J. Jesus Knew The Real Deal.
1. Knew It Would Be Short & Painful
2. Knew About The Betrayals
Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
3. Vision Not Limited By Age
4. Vision Connected To Joy
5. What Do You Want To Hear
