Vision

by David Shannon

Without vision the walk is blind. The Lord taught the danger of following blind leaders ( Luke 6:39), as both will end up in the ditch. How many leaders today have a clear vision of where they are going? The modern day CEO's aren't the originating force behind mission statements and living to fulfill visions. From the beginning God used men and women to do great things by sharing in His vision. Noah shared in God's vision to build an ark and saved his family. Moses shared in God's vision to deliver Israel from slavery. Jesus stated His mission to His parents at a young age as he asked, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business" ( Luke 2:49)? When it came to the area of His Father's business to establish the church, the Lord prayed all night ( Luke 6:12) before appointing apostles who would, in fact, lead the church from the first day toward maturity. He helped them envision the approaching church by telling parables of the kingdom (Matt 13) and by giving insight of who would use the keys to open the door (Matt 16:18-19). Peter stood on the day of Pentecost with the keys of the kingdom to tell folks what they could do to be saved and be added into the church by the Lord ( Acts 2).
The same day Jesus appointed the apostles he spoke of three things; for them to preach, heal, and cast out demons ( Mark 3:14-15). This was the vision Jesus was placing before the apostles as to what His ministry and their ministry would concern. The church today can learn a tremendous application by considering these same principles. We must always be about proclaiming Jesus to MJ and the world. We must always love our neighbors and compassionately show His love in their time of need. The world is full of brokenness and pain. If anyone ought to share solutions, it ought to be people of the Word from the Word. We can't perform miracles, but we can lead them to a God who can heal broken lives. We don't cast out demons in the same sense as in Jesus' ministry, but nonetheless we still fight the same enemy.
How blessed we are to have elders who clearly lead from the old paths of Christ's doctrine by holding up a vision of work to fulfill The Lord's desire for this congregation! Each of the items mentioned Sunday were born from a desire to fulfill the three areas mentioned above from the words of our Lord. More will soon be distributed about the 20/20 Vision.
Let's pray, envision, ask, live faithfully, and believe in the Lord's promise, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" ( Ephesians 3:20).

• Go Home to your friends and tell them the great things the Lord as done for you -Mar 18, 2007
• Don't Be Afraid to Go Out on a Limb, That's Where the Fruit Is! -Jul 03, 2005
• A Woman in Chattanooga Fasted and Prayed -Jul 03, 2005
• Taking Jesus as We Go - Even to Iraq! -Feb 20, 2005
• Showing our Friends to Jesus -Apr 07, 2002