Post by disciple on Jun 1, 2010 14:39:28 GMT -5
CHAPTER 1: HOW VITAL IS VISION
PURPOSE: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL VISION; REALIZING WE DON’T SEE AS GOD SEES
I. SPIRITUAL CONCEPT
· EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH VISION
o YOU WILL BECOME LIKE WHAT YOU BEHOLD
o GOD HAS VISION-SEES ME AS LIKE CHRIST
2 ASPECTS OF VISION: PERSPECTIVE AND LENS (PENNY FOR PERSPECTIVE AND GLASSES FOR LENS/FLESH)
· PERCEPTION>PROCESS>PRODUCT
· SPIRITUAL VISION: SEEING THINGS FROM GOD’S POINT OF VIEW; SEEING AS GOD SEES; GETTING ON YOUR HEART WHAT GOD HAS ON HIS (HIS GLORY THROUGH ALL PEOPLE). EVERY PERSON IS EITHER SERVING GOD BASED ON SPIRITUAL VISION OR HUMAN REASON.
· NO VISION = TOTAL FAILURE
LIMITED VISION = LITTLE SUCCESS
VISION - PLAN - ACTION = A DREAM
VISION + PLAN - ACTION = GUILT
VISION + PLAN + ACTION = SPIRITUALLY PRODUCTIVE MINISTRY
· JESUS FULLY EXPECTS EVERY SAVED PERSON TO HAVE VISION AND A STRATEGY TO IMPACT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TILL THE END OF TIME
· SMALL SUCCESSES (LITTLE FOXES) ARE GREAT ENEMIES OF TRUE SUCCESS (TOTAL IMPACT OF THE TOTAL WORLD FOR GOD’S GLORY). EX: CAKE V. CAKE CRUMB (CARTOON OF ANTS FOCUSING ON THE CRUMB & IGNORING THE CAKE)
· THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE IS TO HAVE AND PURSUE A VISION THAT AGREES WITH GOD.
· POTENTIAL IS DORMANT ABILITY NEVER MOBILIZED THROUGH VISION. “POTENTIAL” IS THE MARGIN OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE SEED AND A SUPPLY OF WHEAT TO FEED THE WHOLE WORLD.
· PROPER INFORMATION + SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION>VISION>MOTIVATION>SPIRITUALLY PRODUCTIVE ACTION (WE GIVE PROPER INFO, GOD MUST GIVE ILLUMINATION)
· BUILDING BLOCKS: KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURE, EVANGELISM, TEACHING OTHERS, WORLD VISION, MISSIONS INVOLVEMENT, CLEANSED BY TRUTH, PRAYER, WORSHIP
II. SAD CONDITION
· WITHOUT VISION, MOST SAVED PEOPLE ARE NEARLY AS INTROVERTED, SELF-CENTERED, AND SURVIVAL-DOMINATED AS LOST PEOPLE
· NO VISION IN PULPIT, PEW, PUBLIC LIFE
· PARADIGM: OUR PERSPECTIVE, OR THE LENS WE SEE THROUGH (SEEING GOD THROUGH THE GIANTS V. SEEING THE GIANTS THROUGH GOD)
· IS YOUR VISION GOD-BIG FOR HIS GLORY? DOES YOUR VISION REQUIRE A MIRACLE OF GOD?
III. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
· PROV. 29:18a “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.”
· THE PEOPLE “CAST OFF RESTRAINT” (MORAL EFFECT)
· THE PEOPLE “DISINTEGRATE” OR “GO TO PIECES” (SOCIAL EFFECT)
· THE PEOPLE “ARE UNCLOTHED” OR “GO NAKED” (PERSONAL EFFECT; CLOTHING = RIGHTEOUSNESS)
· THE PEOPLE PERISH (ETERNAL EFFECT)
WE MUST REALIZE THAT WE DO NOT SEE AS GOD SEES TO HAVE A CHANCE. GOD’S WORK OF BIBLICAL DISCIPLE MAKING BEGINS WITH ME HAVING SPIRITUAL VISION, SEEING AS GOD SEES (COL. 1:9, PHILLIPS)