The Principles and Process of Vision

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV) Where there is no prophetic vision [no redemptive revelation of God], If people can't see what God is doing, When people do not accept divine guidance, the people cast off restraint…. the people are unrestrained…… the people perish…. The people run wild, ............................................ but most blessed, joyful, happy is he who keeps the law!

Vision: A Divine Vision, Divine Revelation, Revelatory Word, Dream, Spiritual Purpose, Calling, Goal

• If you don't know where

• Without vision, you are like a ship without a rudder adrift at sea

• Without Vision, you will live under the circumstances of life instead of rising above them

The Principles of Vision

1. Vision is the Product of Purpose:

Create an Oasis in a dry place

• Many Churches - but not many fire-breathing world changing believers.

• Regional Spirits: Spirit of Religion & the Spirit of Antichrist

We need to be these men:

Acts 17:6.. "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

1. Vision is the true source of leadership:

Prov 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

Psa 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

1. Vision never maintains the status quo: This vision also showed me that the problem in many of the churches of Oklahoma City and Edmond is not that they don’t teach the Word, but that they don’t put enough emphasis or make enough room for the outpourings and gifts of the spirit.

2. Vision always demands change: More of an emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit

3. Vision creates self discipline: We have an inner drive from Holy Spirit to bring this to pass.

Nehemiah 4:6 AMP - for the people had a heart and mind to work.

1. Vision is a result of Godly inspiration

Paul rehearsing his vision to King Agrippa Act 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Act 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Act 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

1. Vision is generational: I want you to Start a Church…

2. Vision is manifested in phases:

Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

1. Vision wakes up opposition:

Nehemiah 4:1 (CEV) When Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, heard that we were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, he became angry and started insulting our people.

1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

1. Vision is more powerful than death

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1. Vision empowers people to action:

Luk 2:49 And He said to them, Why did you look for Me? Do you not know that I must be about My Father's business?

Joh 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day. Night comes when no man can work.

Paul Prayed

Ephesians 1:18 (Darby) being enlightened in the eyes of your heart, so that ye should know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

How to Recognize Personal Vision:

1. What is the deepest desire of your heart

2. What stirs your passion

Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

1. What flows naturally out of you

2. Where do you bring forth fruit or produce good results

Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

1. What is the witness of the Holy Spirit in your heart about your calling

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1. What do your spiritual leaders see as your calling

2Co 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD SHALL BE ESTABLISHED."

• What is the consensus of prophetic words over your life?

1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

• Write down the prophetic words that have been spoken over your life that bear witness with your spirit

• Meditate on them and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal divine strategies to you

1. Vision Comes from Purpose

Psalm 33:11 (BBE) The Lord's purpose is eternal, the designs of his heart go on through all the generations of man.

• God's purpose is eternal - Outside of time

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

• Before time He chose us and purposed us!

• God predestined us (gave us a destiny before we got here)

Isaiah 14:24 (MSG) GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies speaks: "Exactly as I planned, it will happen. Following my blueprints, it will take shape.

• Everything that happens isn't God's purpose, but history is

• Bad is still in the world because of the devil working through fallen mankind and disobedient Christians

• In spite of all that, all the unbelievers, the devil and disobedient Christians aren't big enough to stop the plan of God!

• The Blueprints of Heaven will be done exactly as He planned

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

• God ordained the - you are not an accident

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

• Nothing is by accident, it's here and it's here now because the Father planned it that way!

• Everything and Everyone here is necessary right now for His plan to come to pass!

Est_4:14 ...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

• God had ordained the time of your purpose

Ecc 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.....

Job_8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

• There is a time for your purpose:Much of that is up to you, some of it is up to God!

• How fully and quickly do you obey God?

• Is He your saviour and Lord or just your saviour?

• Do you spend time praying in tongues and reading and meditating on the Word of God?

Ecc 3:11 .....Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

• There is an eternal part of you that reaches out to the eternal God for your eternal destiny which was fore- ordained before time began!

Ecc 3:10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

NLT (NLT) I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.

Burden: Heavy Responsibility, Task, Occupation, Responsible Urge

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

In this passage God says He does 2 things:

1.) He establishes the end from the beginning. This means that he finishes things first in the spiritual realm, then he goes back in the physical world and begins them

2.) Second, He reveals the end result of something when it is just beginning

• Purpose is established before production

• God made a blueprint of His purpose, then he created all of the elements necessary to fulfill that purpose

• The fact that you began means you are completed because God always finishes before He starts!

• This takes the pressure off of us and puts it back on God to fulfill our purpose now and throughout our lives!

• Nobody starts without being first complete and predestined for the plan of God

Purpose: The intent for which God created you, the reason why you were born.

• Purpose is when you know and understand what you were born to accomplish

• is when you can see it in your mind by faith and begin to imagine it

• is foresight with insight based on hindsight

• is a glimpse of our future which God has purposed

• Purpose is the source of your vision.Your purpose existed before you did.What you were born to do was accomplished by God before you even arrived on the scene, and He ordained your birth in order to carry it out.

Prov 19:21 (NLT) You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail.

• God's purpose is as close as your most persistent thoughts and deepest desires

Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

• God will place within you His desire, purpose and vision for your life

Rom 11:29 (Darby) For the gifts and the calling of God are not subject to repentance.

• God will never change His mind about your purpose no matter how badly you mess up!

1. What career or ministry do you feel the peace of God about pursuing

Col 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

1. What can you give 100% of yourself to for the rest of your life

Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

• So many people are strong starters, while so few are strong finishers

• When you think about so many in the bible who started strong then fell away the names:Gideon, Saul, Soloman and especially Judas Iscariot who daily saw all of Jesus miracles and later betrayed him with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver.

• Paul at the very end of his life writes:

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

• A Spiritual Father or Pastor's greatest joy is to see his son's and daughters walking in truth

3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

• It had to be tough on the Apostle Paul to see some of his spiritual children abandon the truth to live only for today

2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 2Pe_2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

• There is not much worse of a visual picture I can give you than a dog who has puked up something gross it ate and coming back a couple of hours later and turning it into lunch

• That is exactly what happens when a believer who leaves God, leaves the church and goes back to living like God doesn't exist

Mat_12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

• When people turn from God after He has enlightened them, they give the devil legal right to severely oppress them and whatever sins or addictions they had before they came to Jesus many times consume their whole life destroying everything good God has brought them.

How do I finish Strong?

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

• The Race Set before you is a marathon, not a 100 yard dash!

• We are to run with patience the race set before us

• We are to lay aside weights (nonessential elements & besetting sins)

We are to employ faith and patience together for victory

• 1 characteristic of bible faith is that it always has patience

Heb_6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• We live in a microwave society but we must be willing to employ patience in our walk with God

• Sometimes things don't work out on our timetable

• Jesse Duplantis says, "You can outlast the devil because he doesn't have the fruit of the spirit called patience"

• Jerry Savelle says, "It's my ball and my bat and Mr. Devil we play till I win"

Php_1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

• The earthly race is over on the day of Jesus Christ

• The day of Jesus Christ is when you see Him face to face

• Whether by the expiration of your Earth Suit or via the rapture of the church - we all look forward to that day!

Php_2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

• God is working in us, and He is working in us 2 things:

His Will: Your prosperity is every facet: Spirit, Soul and Body

To Do of His Good Pleasure: That is to accomplish the purpose for which He created you. To bear fruit for His kingdom that will remain!

Heb_12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

• This is a great key!

• The key to starting strong in the beginning, staying strong through the trials and triumphs and finishing strong in the end is to always look to Jesus above any other person.

• When people start saying - I am of Paul and I am of Apollos - it isn't right

• It's OK to follow your man of God as he follows Christ - but look past your man of God to the Christ he is following!

Gal_6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

• Due Season always comes!It just doesn't always come in our timeframe!

• God's paydays aren't every Friday...brother Hagin

1. What do people gather around and want to help you accomplish

Leadership is Influence: and influence can be powerful or subtle

• Tonto Says, "Keemosaube, He who lead, and no one follow, simply take walk"

• If the vision is from Heaven then those who have Heaven in them and are called to help you with the vision will be drawn to that vision

• Is your vision a good idea or a God idea?

• When you step out to do your vision 2 things happen:

1. People called to help you will be attracted to the vision

2. People who want to hinder you will arise against you!

Neh 4:1 BUT WHEN Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and in a great rage, and he ridiculed the Jews.

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone;

• Individual vision is always fulfilled within a larger corporate vision

• It is imperative that we work with others in making our visions a reality

Neh 2:17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach."

• Nehemiah saw the problem and was given the vision - but he knew he could never fulfill this task alone!

• Therefore he said, "Come and Let Us"!

• The Godhead uses the same principle:Then God said, "

• The devil employs fallen men to use the same principle to fulfill his purposes

Gen 11:3 Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. Gen 11:4 And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."

The Devil's Vision was:

1.) Let us make bricks and bake them

2.) Let us build a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens

3.) Let us make a name for ourselves

Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Gen 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

• God said when the people are 1 and all have 1 language - nothing that they imagine to do will be restrained from them

• Wicked people with wicked intentions can accomplish anything if they have 1 heart and 1 mind and 1 language!

• God said the only way I can stop them from fulfilling their humanistic vision is to break their unity by destroying their ability to communicate!

Gen 11:8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city.

• Once their languages became diverse they no longer could operate in the most powerful force to accomplishing vision:Unity

• In the Old Testament, the prophet Zephaniah prophesied of a future day when God would give his people a new pure language

Zep 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

• Isaiah described this new language of refreshing as well:

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

In Acts 2 we see the release of this language:

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

• Our new birth came with a new language that we are learning to speak and gain the full benefit of

• This language was released when they were all with 1 accord in 1 place

Accord: With 1 Mind, Unanimously, Common Consent, Together

• This language was a byproduct of being filled with the Holy Spirit

• Just as God had supernaturally created a language barrier in the human race at babel to stop Satan's Plans, by His Spirit He had now supernaturally bridged the language barrier with a new supernatural language which had the ability to be heard in 18 dialects simultaneously

• Now all people of the Earth who speak different natural languages can now speak the same language of the Spirit!

• This language of the spirit creates supernatural unananimity in the church that flows from the spirit realm and is greater than any natural unity

• The results of supernatural unity are demonstrated throughout the book of Acts:

Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Act 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, Act 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

1.) Mega Power - Signs, Wonders and Miracles

2.) Mega Grace

3.) Mega Giving

4.) No LACK - supernatural abundance for the entire church!

Act_17:6 These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

5.) The whole known world was evangelized within 20 years because the only time the church had any strife in it was in Acts 6 and it was dealt with swiftly to restore unity

Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

• God said how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity

Good: Well, Beautiful, Cheerful, Merry, Joyous, Desirable, In Order, Suitable, Friendly, Kind, Generous, Festive, Pleasing

Pleasant: Delightful, Agreeable, Pleasures, Benign

Unity: 1 heart and 1 mind

Unity - Allows the Anointing to flow throughout the entire church

Unity - Releases the Commanded Blessing of God

Commanded: Order, Direct, Give an Order - God gives an order that you are blessed and NOONE and NOTHING can resist His Orders!

Blessing: Prosperity and Good of Every Kind

• The Law of Association: The Law of Association states that you become like those with whom you spend time

• The old saying is true - birds of a feather flock together

• Since this is true, there is wisdom in spending the most time with people who want the same things and are going the same direction

Act 2:46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord's Supper].

• Fellowship with each other and with God will cause tremendous spiritual growth!

• When we fellowship around a common vision the Holy Spirit will help us do 5 things with the vision so that those called to help us fulfill it catch the vision and make it their own:

1.) State the Vision Simply

2.) Cast the Vision Convincingly

3.) Repeat the Vision regularly

4.) Celebrate the Vision Systemically - Celebrate the individual wins and milestones that are accomplished on the way to fulfilling the overall vision

5.) Embrace the Vision Personally

• God ideas or Vision come out of a living connection with the vine - Jesus

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

• It can be a vision from Heaven and still deal in business, politics, medicine or some other area that some might consider to be unspiritual!

• We don't just need Christians in ministry - we need Christians in government, business, education, Family, Arts & Entertainment, Religion and media.

• In whichever of the 7 mountains you are called in - your job is to excel and transform that mountain of society with Kingdom culture

• The popular slogan, "What would Jesus Do" is a simplification of this

• If Jesus was in business, how would he operate?What do the scriptures teach?

• The same goes for family, religion, arts & entertainment, government, Media and education.

• There will be provision for the vision:People, Finances, buildings, lands, Brain trust (wisdom encompassing all areas of the vision)

• If it's your deal - it's your bill!

• When it's His Will - it's His bill!

1. What thoughts, visions or dreams are impossible to put out of your mind

Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? Gen 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

• No Matter what Joseph was doing or where he was…his thoughts, dreams and visions kept gravitating back toward his calling

• These dreams of being a leader and even having authority over his older brothers and mother and father kept coming to him in his youth

• God was preparing him for the tough 14 years ahead of him before he would begin to reign in Egypt for the next 80 Years

• Many times in our youth we are empowered and energized by visions and dreams God puts within us

• To fulfill those visions and dreams there are things we have to go through, relationships to build, character to perfect, faithfulness to demonstrate before we get promoted.

• It is worth all that we go through to be able to fulfill our God given purpose and destiny

Joh 4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Joh 4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

• Jesus said…My meat is !

• What kind of word is ?Action – verb!

• Some Christians believe meat is when you hear a sermon so deep it takes you 2 weeks to get it!

• You can’t get meat hearing a sermon – meat only comes from doing your purpose!

• You can dream all you want, you can see visions, you can get prophesy’s, you can have hands laid on you till you're bald but you won’t ever get the meat Jesus is talking about until you do the purpose of God for your life!

• Personal Vision will always be found within a larger corporate vision

• To fulfill corporate vision we must work together harmoniously to achieve it

• You will never do the purpose of God for your life until you are willing to serve another man’s vision faithfully!

Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Luk 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

• These 2 verses hold GIANT keys to you fulfilling your purpose

• The leader of a corporate vision "draws out" the personal visions of those in the group by helping them activate their passions, dreams, gifts and talents.

• When promotion time comes it will come from God – you will not have to try to promote yourself.

Psa 75:6 The authority to reward someone does not come from the east, from the west, or even from the wilderness. Psa 75:7 God alone is the judge. He punishes one person and rewards another.

1 Cor 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 16That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

• The house of Stephanas addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints and to the building of the local church

• I dare you to trade any other counterfeit addiction you have:drugs, alcohol, pornography, TV, Video Games, Sports and replace it with an addiction to serving the people of God and building the local church.

• There are so many other examples of people in this church who have made building God’s Kingdom an untouchable priority through their time, attendance, volunteering and service to the saints!

What should you do when you recognize your vision?

Hab 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Vision:

1. What did God say, what is the destination or outcome?

2. God’s way…how did God say to do things?

3. You could have the right goal and method, but you still need to have the right timing for things to be effective.

4. The person who writes the vision and person who runs with the vision aren’t necessarily the same person

Enemies of vision:

1. Failure to act – If It’s to be it’s up to God

• God’s job is to give the vision – our job is to JUST DO IT!

Jas 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

1. – I’ll do it later

• Delayed obedience is 100% disobedience

• You hear people say, “God’s been dealing with me for the last 3 months to do……”

• What they really are saying is that they have been in disobedience for 3 months!

1. – Anything (good or bad) that is more important to you than God, His purpose and His destiny!

1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

• The last verse of the book of 1 John warns us to, “keep ourselves”

• That means we have to examine ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit to see if we are allowing anything to elevate itself above the knowledge of God

• Does something or someone have ahold of me, is something or someone more important than obeying God, fulfilling His vision, His purpose for my life?

1. Lack of character

• The Kingdom of God is built on Gifts and Character

• Character is more important to God than Gifting and Calling

• When we purge ourselves of darkness and build Godly character – there is no end to the gifting God can place within us

• You are who you have become because of the decisions you have made up into this point

• Your thoughts produce words

• Words produce actions

• Your actions produce habits

• Your habits produce character

• Therefore if you change your thinking you can change your character!

• Unfortunately many have brought reproach on the body of Christ who were gifted but had no character

Paul speaking concerning putting someone into Spiritual Leadership:

1 Tim 3:6 (GNB) He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was.

1. Failure to say no to good or bad things

God designed Vision to governs priorities

• Once you understand your vision, you must begin to prioritize and manage your life or you will never fulfill God’s vision for your life

• You can’t be a yes man and fulfill your purpose, you are going to have to learn to say NO to some good things

• Pastors, leaders and sheep get into trouble when they start doing good things instead of God things!

• There is PRO-VISION for the VISION!

• There is not PRO-VISION for you to do your own thing

• When it’s God’s Will it’s God’s Bill!

• Stay within the boundaries of your purpose!!!

1. Satan – what lies does he speak to you and are you listening to them?

• Satan is the accuser of the brethren and he specializes in making you feel inferior and insecure

• If he can make you feel like you aren’t good enough to fulfill God’s plan you won’t have the courage to act on the vision!

1. Fear

• False Evidence that Appears Real

• Fear can come from looking at your natural circumstances

• Vision is accomplished in stages – if you try to figure out how you are going to accomplish it all today you will get into fear and worry

Mat 6:34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

• God’s provision will be there for the vision when the vision is to be accomplished!

God designed Vision to govern relationships

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

• Relationships that help propel you into your calling, destiny and purpose are more valuable than Gold

• Relationships that pull you away from your calling, destiny and purpose will cost you everything if you don’t cut them off.

• My Salvation Experience – Friends

• If you pray general prayers and make general confessions, you aren’t effective in your prayer or confession.Faith must have a blueprint.

• THE MORE SPECIFIC YOU ARE IN YOUR BELIEVING AND SPEAKING, THE MORE SPECIFIC GOD CAN BE IN ANSWERING AND GRANTING YOUR DESIRES

• 90% OF WHAT A PERSON RECEIVES FROM GOD THEY INITIATE:Write it down, then confess it out of your mouth.

• A PERSON WHO WRITES DOWN HIS GOALS IS 50 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS THAN THE PERSON WHO DOESN'T

Categories of vision:

Personal:

Family:

Church:

Make SMART Goals to ACHIEVE your vision:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely