Without A Vision The People Perish

Proverbs 29:18 (King James)

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

The word "vision" is translated in different ways in varying translations of God's Word, but the Hebrew word means, "vision, oracle, or divine communication."

Proverbs 29:18 (New Living Translation)

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Three Brief considerations about this Bible verse

1. Vision or Divine Guidance comes from anointed leadership

If you are not submitted or if you don’t accept Spiritual leadership you will eventually die spiritually

When the anointing is not present we can have all kinds of Church programs but we will never get anywhere.

Guidance implies listening and obeying

2. Walking in God’s Vision requires Obedience

3. A consequence of having vision and walking in obedience is the Joy of the Lord.

When you see people of vision they are smiling and they are always very positive because they have joy in their hearts

2. People with no vision complain all the time they see the worst result in all the circumstances, criticize, accuse other, backbite, they are troublemakers.

3. If you want to know if you are walking in God’s Vision check the level of Joy in your life.

Helen Keller, probably the most recognized blind person who has ever lived, once said, "What would be worse than being born blind? To have sight without vision." I am convinced that the vast majority of our population today has no vision for their lives, their families, or their church.

A. IN ORDER TO HAVE VISION WE NEED VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

Automobile genius Henry Ford once came up with a revolutionary plan for a new kind of engine. We know it today as the V-8. Ford was eager to get his new idea into production. He had some of his men draw up plans and presented them to the engineers.

As the engineers studied the drawings, one by one they came to the same conclusion. Their visionary boss just didn't know much about the fundamental principles of engineering. He'd have to be told gently -- his dream was impossible. When told, Henry Ford said, "Produce it anyway." They said, "But it is impossible." Ford said, "Go ahead, and stay on the job until you succeed, no matter how much time is required."

For six months they struggled with drawing after drawing, design after design. Nothing. Another six months. Nothing. At the end of the year Ford checked with his engineers, and once again they told him that what he wanted was impossible. Ford told them to keep going. They did. And they discovered how to build a V-8 engine!

In order to accomplish a plan or to follow God’s vision the Lord placed Pastors in local Churches that will get the plan and build teams to put it into practice in the right time and the right season.

Some people come to the services here and have their own plans and vision for this Church but it’s the role of the pastor to make sure that God’s plan and vision is put into practice. As Ford gathered his team to build the first engine of the modern era and was persistent even when the experts told him that it was impossible our Lord has placed leaders among us that have a plan to build a Church of Multitudes in our City. You either join the team or seat down and wait for others to do the work. At the end of your life you will be accountable to God according to your faithfulness.

The Bible says that Jesus was the stone that the builders rejected but became the capstone (1 Peter 1:27)

1 Corinthians 3:10

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

We are building a great church. Let me now ask you to join the team and learn how to build. This ministry has been here for almost 80 years and by now we should be thousands and not hundreds. It’s time to reorganize our priorities and get some JOY.

B. PEOPLE WITH LITTLE FAITH WILL ALWAYS TRY TO DISCOURAGE US FROM FOLLOWING GOD’S GIVEN VISION

There is a second element that is vitally important for us as we seek to pursue the vision God has given us. Once God has given us a vision we must never let people detract or discourage us, but we must also continue to listen to the Lord for His guidance and direction as we move forward.

Are you familiar with Murphy’s Law? The original “Murphy” was an engineer who conducted an experiment to test human acceleration tolerances. Unfortunately for him, he installed 16 motion sensors the wrong way, leading to the now famous quotation, “If anything can go wrong, it will.” I guess the corollary is also true: “If anything can’t go wrong, it will anyway.”