Get A Vision

Get A Vision

Do you feel dead and depressed and don't seem to have a purpose for living. It may be because you don't have a vision. If this seems to be you, I want to give you ten steps that will change your life. Solomon said that where there is no vision or dream or word from God, the people perish.

Scripture Basis:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish ...." (Proverbs 29:18a).

At about the age of five, I remember taking a wooden bar type stool and using it as a pulpit and imitating someone preaching. I believe that this was the beginning of God's vision in my life. It wasn't until I was nine years old that I give my life to Jesus as Lord. It wasn't until thirteen years later that I surrendered to pastoral ministry. Six years later I received my M.Div. degree in seminary. However, it was not until twenty-six years later that I received my Ph.D. in Christian Counseling. Though I did counseling prior that that, as of today, that was some twelve years ago.

OVERVIEW:

1. First comes a desire for a vision.
"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom" (Proverbs 18:1).
I am convinced that God puts a hunger in us for a vision, a dream.
2. Next comes the birth of a vision.
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalms 37:4).
3. This is usually followed by the delay of the vision.
"And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him" (I Samuel 13:8).
4. Following the delay of the vision come temptations.
"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (II Peter 3:4). (Concerning the day of the Lord).

"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him" (Exodus 32:1).
5. This is usually followed by self-efforts to fulfill the vision.
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Remember that Abraham was going to adopt his servant to be his son. Sarah, gave Hagar to Abraham to give him an heir.
We may feel that we HAVE to do something. When the Philistines came against Israel and Samuel, the prophet didn't show up on time, by Saul calculation, then Saul stepped into the role of a priest to offer a sacrifice. Later when Samuel confronted him, Saul said, "Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering" (I Samuel 13:12).
6. Next comes the death of the vision.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24).
7. Through faith comes the supernatural resurrection of the vision.
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly" (Genesis 17:1-2).
8. Through patience comes the fulfillment of the vision.
"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" (Hebrews 6:15). (God promise that Abraham would have a son, but he waited for many years before he received the promise.
9. Next come the testing of the vision.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17).
10. Finally, comes the fruitfulness of the vision.
"But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold" (Matthew 13:8)

Ten Steps Toward Fulfillment Of A Vision

I. Understand God has a plan for your life!

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalms 37:23).
"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD" (Lamentations 3:26).

II. Understand that you must turn your life entirely over to God each day.

"And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it" (Exodus 4:2-3).
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33).

III. Call upon God to reveal to you His vision for you.

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).

IV. Both Watch & Pray.

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).
"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is" (Mark 13:33).

V. Start where you are as a servant.

"Howbeit Jesus suffered him not (did not allow him to follow him), but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" (Mark 5:19).
"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (John 4:28-29).

VI. Wait upon the Lord.

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD" (Psalms 27:14).
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
"To wait" from a Hebrew perspective means that you knit yourself to God while anticipating God to bring a miracle into your life.

VII. Despise not small beginnings.

"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28).
"He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:22-23)

VIII. Remember that promotion comes from the Lord.

"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalms 75:6-7).
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (I Peter 5:6).

IX. Minister by His Grace: the power and authority that He provides.

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:6-8).
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

X. He will make your fruitful.

"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" (John 15:5).
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16).

You should also remember that God wants you bless you as he did Abraham so that you, like Abraham, will become a blessing to others. A true vision from God must always extend beyond one's self. God does not respect selfish gain.

If you don't have a vision, get one. If you have one, be patient and faithful to see it fulfilled in your life.

Ministry