Catch The Vision

People talk about vision - the vision of an organisation, of a church.

A vision sets out and declares what we see. It tells of where are we coming from, and where we are going.

For us, Vision has three dimensions:
• The INward look - look at what is our heart, examine ourselves
• The OUTward look - are we looking to reach others?
• The UPward look. Are we looking up, readying for our Lord’s returning? Are we looking unto Jesus?

I urge you to get your eyes checked. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish… Let’s be People with Vision.

Is there something wrong with your eyes?

One of the problems of the lukewarm church was that there was something wrong with their eyesight… Thou …knowest not that thou art …blind… Revelation 3:17.

They were continuously bragging on. But God saw right through all their spiritual big talk.

The Laodiceans were actually spiritually poor, wretched, miserable. It was a pathetic sight. They were blind and naked. They should have been ashamed. But they could not see. The Lord says …anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Revelation 3:18.

Let’s talk about how your eyes are today.

Vision looks ahead. Vision sees tomorrow; what CAN be.
Vision sees the way forward - the path ahead.
People without sight cannot see where they are going.

True Vision sees... the One Who holds the Future.

Some people can get too caught up in the past, hurts and disappointments. We have to move on... and follow the cloud… the pillar of fire...

The Lord kept the children of Israel moving. He gave them the pillar of cloud by night and fire by night. It represented God’s leading and guidance.

We can miss that. We can get too comfortable. We are lying on the pillows instead of following the pillar.

You’re not going to be able to drive safely by looking just through the rear vision mirror.

I believe our Vision for the Future, in a word, is being a...
GROWING CHURCH

1 Corinthians 3:7, it is God that giveth the increase.

We need to... GROW IN GOD. He brings the increase.

Some believers don't go on to maturity... They are - still babies spiritually...
Still in their spiritual nappies... 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding... but in understanding be men.

Let’s aim to grow. Spit the spiritual dummy.

Let’s get the focus right. A Christ-centred focus; a Bible-focus.

May we also be…
A GOING CHURCH…
In obedience to our Lord's command...
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore… He says: I am with you always.

God's plan is that His Church be "a going concern". As our Lord modelled for us: Luke 19:10 "...the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." We carry on His mission. We aim to be a Soul-winning church.

Sometimes our vision can extend very little beyond the tips of our noses. We have to look up and see the Harvest fields. We can have a clear vision, not a clouded one.

We're not seeking popularity. We're not an ear-tickling ministry. We want to be prepared to challenge others with the Word of God.

Let’s be a church with a focus on sound Bible teaching. 2 Timothy 4: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables...

How effectively are we impacting our city for Christ?

Faith and action go hand in hand. Let’s put feet under our faith.

We aim to be a Church with Balance: It says, "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). We uphold Biblical standards with God's grace and love. We aim to be a church with Biblical Purpose and Values.

Certain Greeks came to Philip and they asked him, John 12:21 Sir, we would see Jesus.

We are part of a spiritual family; the Household of faith (Gal. 6:10)
If our vision is impeded then let’s remove the obstructions.
Let’s be: A Church GROWING, and GOING with the GOSPEL.