My Spiritual Father, Pastor Richard B. Peoples Sr., walked me around a plot of land a few years ago. As we walked around an empty field, he began to explain to me what God had already empowered him to see. He told me where the sanctuary was going to be and how it was going to look. He went on into great detail about the doors, the entrance, the offices, etc. He knew what God had allowed him to see, although we (the congregation) had yet to see it. By the summer of 1997, at the time where I was scheduled to leave Augusta, GA; the building that he saw was erected for the rest of us to see. He painted the picture of the vision God had given him and that vision gave us the motivation we needed to support the move of God in his life. Last year (2003) I was afforded the opportunity to visit my Dad and walk around the land again. This time the plot is much larger and several more buildings have already been built. As we exited the the newly erected Family Life Center, he pointed to an open area on the land where the Lord has shown him the Faith Dome will be built. I am now assigned by the US Army to Fort Gordon Georgia and by the Lord Almighty to Faith Outreach Christian Life Center, to serve God under His Lordship and under the Leadership of my Spiritual Father. I arrived in Georgia knowing that I can support a man that has a God-given vision. I have not seen this “Faith Dome” yet, but I have faith that I will. God gives us Pastors according to His own heart (Jer 3:15) to feed us with knowledge and understanding. These under-shepherd’s are the Visionaries of the local church. We must follow them as they follow Christ. In like manner, we must be the visionaries of our homes. We can hear from God for our personal lives, just like Pastors hear from God for the collective ministry. God gives us a clear Vision of His expected end (Jer 29:11) for our life and living. This Vision then becomes the ruler by which we judge every decision; in order that we might reach God’s desired destiny for our lives. That is the Power of Vision! Sight is common in this world, but vision is rare. Are you ready to be a Visionary for God?
The Power of Vision
It Shall Come to Pass (Part II)
Purpose, Direction and Motivation (Part III)
About My Father’s Business (Part IV)
Discipline and Preparation (Part V)
Vision becomes our clear Target! (Part VI)
The Purpose in the Pain (Part VII)
Vision and Provision (Part VIII)
Potential vs. Performance (IX)
Never Give Up! (Part X)
The Power of Vision (top of page)
(Prov 29:18 KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
People that can see are common in the world, but people with vision are rare. Mr. Walt Disney sat in an open field many years ago, just shortly after opening Disney World. At the time, the park only had a few rides. He sat and looked out into the field for a long time and seemed very preoccupied. A worker was cleaning and came by to ask Mr. Disney what he was doing. He told the worker that he was looking at his mountain. Many years later, at the opening of Space Mountain, a young man introduced Mrs. Disney to the platform. He said that it was great to have her there, but it was a tragedy that Mr. Disney had died without seeing his mountain become a reality. Mrs. Disney took the mic and corrected the young man. She told the crowed that they were just seeing the mountain, but her husband had seen it many years before. That is the power of vision. Vision is seeing beyond where our eyes can look.
In our text, Solomon speaks of God’s divine revelation. The word translated vision literally means revelation. The word translated perish means to loosely stumble. The word translated keepeth means to guard, protect, and take heed to. The word translated law means the instruction, direction, and teachings of God. The word translated happy literally means blessed. Read in this light, our texts tells us that those who do not hear from God and receive His revelation, loosely stumble through life, but those who take heed to and protect His instructions, direction and teachings will be blessed.
What do you think God does all day? He speaks to His people through His Word, the Holy Spirit, circumstances, situations, experiences, and etc. God wants to speak to us and show us His will for our lives.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that we have a choice. We can either continue to live without hearing from God and stumble our way through life, or we can take the time to learn God’s plan for our lives — obey what He tells us — and receive the blessing of living a life of vision. God wants us to Find, Follow, and Finish His plan for our life and living. This can be accomplished through His vision (revelation) for our lives. Those without vision (revelation, purpose), simply perish.
Do you know why you were born? If not, why not ask the one who made you? He knows everything about you and He knows the plans (Jer 29:11) He has for you!
Confession for this day: Lord God. I receive Your Vision for my life. I am Your sheep and I hear Your voice. I will Find Your plan through Your Vision. I will Follow Your plan for all the days of my life. I will Finish Your plan while I am here on the earth. I will not die full of purpose. I will die empty. I will get out of me all that You have deposited in me while I am living. I live a purpose driven and vision-filled life! I do not perish, because I take heed to Your instructions. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part II) (top of page)
(Hab 2:2,3 CEV) Then the LORD told me: “I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance. At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting– it will happen!
The book of Habakkuk opens up with the prophet complaining about being surrounded with the unrighteousness and being placed in a troublesome situation. In the 5th verse of the 1st chapter, God says, “”Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock. Something’s about to take place and you’re going to find it hard to believe.” In other words, God was telling him that He was going to blow His mind. But beginning at the 12th verse, Habakkuk goes right back to complaining. Something must have happened between chapters 1 and 2, because chapter 2 opens up with a new Habakkuk. He seems to have a new attitude. In our text for this morning, God tells him to write down His vision (message) for him and the people. He is to write down the vision so clearly, that all those that pass by would be able to read it at a glance. God then says something that will bless all of us if we take heed to it. God told the prophet that the vision would come to pass in His timing. It might take while, the text says it might even take a long time, but the prophet and the people were to continue to wait with a clear confidence that it would happen!
So what does this mean to you today? There is so much in this passage. Let’s glean a few golden nuggets from the text:
1. Sometimes God will place us in troublesome surroundings, but it is all part of His plan (chapter 1).
2. When God shows up, He will always do so in such a way that He will blow our minds (Hab 1:5).
3. God declares the end from the beginning (Is 46:10), so we must understand that God already knows what the outcome of our situation is going to be.
4. Since God already knows the outcome, He gives us glimpses of the outcome in visions (messages).
5. He shows us His vision because He wants us to be visionaries, by writing the vision down for others to see and to be blessed from it as well.
6. Whenever God shows us His plan (vision) and we write it down, we can take it to the bank. It is already done in eternity; it simply has yet to manifest itself in time. We must wait and confidently wait that he vision will come to pass.
7. God is not a man that He should lie (Num 23:19), so if He tells you something is going to happen, it will!
Has God shown you some things that He is going to do in your life? If so, keep on waiting. This too, shall come to pass! Write the vision down and hold it close to your heart. No matter how long it takes, God will manifest it in your life. The mere fact that He already has shown it to you gives you the quiet confidence to endure every situation. This is the Power of Vision!
Confession for this day: Lord God. You speak to Your children. I am Your child and I hear Your voice. You give me the power to see beyond where my eyes can look. You show me Your plans for my life and I write them down clearly enough for my family to read. My family does not wander aimlessly through life, but we are propelled by Your vision! No matter how long we have to wait, we patiently and confidently wait for it. We know Your vision will come to pass in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part III) (top of page)
(Hab 2:2,3 CEV) Then the LORD told me: “I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance. At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting– it will happen!
This morning I feel led to piggy-back off of yesterday’s text. As we saw in Habakkuk’s experience, vision can change our attitude, our actions and our lives. When God reveals His intended vision for our lives, He is attempting to provide us the leadership we need to receive His best. In the military, we define leadership as “the process of influencing others into the accomplishment of the mission, while providing purpose, direction, and motivation.” God’s intended vision for our life is and living gives us His Purpose, Direction and Motivation:
1. Purpose: God through Jeremiah said, (29:11 MSG) “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” God has a plan for our lives. When God give us vision, He reveals that plan to us. Once we know that we have heard from God and understand His expected end for our lives, we can live a “Purpose-Driven Life” and not simply meander through days, months and years. God’s vision gives us purpose.
2. Direction: Paul said, (1 Cor 6:12 NIV) “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. The same verse in the Message translation reads, “Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.” God’s vision for our lives gives us a ruler by which to judge the decisions we make. Vision disciplines us make decisions correctly. The quality of our decisions is contingent upon the quality of our information. Once God reveals His plan for our lives, we can make quality decisions that will direct us towards our destiny. As I shared a couple of days ago, where there is no vision, the people perish; because they don’t know where they are going. Yoggi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up some where else.”
3. Motivation: Once we know God’s plan for our lives and start using that plan as a ruler for making decisions, we have the quiet confidence to know that we are in the will of God. This gives us an inward peace. A woman that endured the Nazi concentration camps was asked how she endured. She said, “Look down and be oppressed. Look around and be depressed. Look up and be at rest!” When we look up and receive Godly direction for our decisions, we can be at rest; knowing that we are living a life that is pleasing to God. Like God told Habbakuk, it might take a while, but the vision will come to pass. His vision gives us the motivation we often times need to make it through the storms in our lives.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that you can read this message and walk away like God did not say anything to you, or you can internalize it and seek God for His vision for your life and living. Remember, our purpose in life is to Find, Follow, and Finish God’s plan for us. The first step, however, is finding it. Do you know His plan for your life? If not, why not ask Him? If you do, are you making decisions that are going to take you towards that expected end?
Confession for this day: Lord God. I do not wander aimlessly through life. I have an ear to Find Your purpose. I Follow your plan. I have the discipline to Finish my course. I line up my decisions with the ruler of my destiny. I live a Purpose-Driven Life. I cause my way to prosper and I receive Good Success. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part IV) (top of page)
(Luke 2:49 BBE) And he said to them, why were you looking for me? Was it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father’s house?
This morning we take a look at Jesus as the ultimate example of a man of vision and purpose. We know how Jesus was born, but we know nothing about Jesus between the early years of Herod’s attempt on his life and this morning’s text. We know that his parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover (as was the custom). Jesus was not obligated to go, under the Jewish Law, until the age of 12. When he turned 12, He was of age and so, He joined His family on the annual trip. After the Feast was over, the crowd began their journey back to their homes. His parents started back for Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and they did not know it. They traveled for a day before they realized He was not with them. Then they began looking for Him among their friends and relatives. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem. After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed by His wisdom and His answers. When his parents saw Him, they were upset. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” This is where we pick up our text. And he said to them, why were you looking for me? Was it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father’s house? Let’s investigate the text:
1. Why were you looking for me? Jesus indicates here that Joseph and Mary should have at least had an idea where Jesus was. After all, they knew how He was conceived and they knew that He was the Messiah. Probably no one else knew yet what they had on their hands, except for Joseph and Mary, and they should have known that Jesus would maximize the moment on His first trip to Jerusalem.
2. Was it not clear… His parents had made the journey every year while He stayed home. Maybe He asked them questions about the Holy City whenever they got back. They should have known that He was going to jump at the chance to spend time in the Holy Temple in the Holy City, with the learned men of the time. There He was, a young man (12 yrs. old), taking the teachers back to school. His parents should have known.
3. My right place… This is the key. This 12 yr. old understood the power of Vision and discipline. He submitted Himself to His parents and the law and did not visit Jerusalem until He was of age. But when He finally did, He got right to work. He was in His Father’s house, doing His Father’s business. He was asking questions and giving answers about the Word (that He wrote by the way). He understood His vision, He understood His purpose, He understood His destiny; and He had the discipline to make decisions that would take Him towards it!
So what does this mean to you today? It means that we should seek God for His vision and purpose for our lives. Once we have that purpose, we should maximize every opportunity to bring that vision to pass. We should also discipline ourselves to make decisions that will always line up with that expected end. It also means that, like Jesus, others will not always understand what we are doing; when we are doing it. Their lack of understanding, however, should not keep us from driving towards our purpose. Even if misunderstood, we should stay focused and drive towards our destiny!
Confession for this day: Lord God. I thank You for Your vision for my life. I meditate on that vision and discipline myself to make decisions that will take me towards it. I will not let the feelings of others derail me from my destiny. I live a purpose-filled and purpose-driven life. I am about my Father’s business, today and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part V) (top of page)
(Luke 2:49 BBE) And he said to them, why were you looking for me? Was it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father’s house?
Yesterday we looked at Jesus as the ultimate example of a man of vision and purpose. This morning we continue to flow in that same vein. Yes, Jesus did stay behind in Jerusalem and after the feast of the Passover. Yes, Jesus did tell His mother that He was about His Father’s business when they came back and had been looking for Him for days. Yes, Jesus did not let His parents’ feelings derail Him from His destiny. But Jesus also had the discipline to submit to them and go back into seeming obscurity for the next 18 years. The Bible tells of us of baby Jesus and then goes silent until the time that He was 12 (at His coming of age). The Bible then goes silent again until He is 30. Why this hiatus? Because Jesus would become our High Priest and the Law (Lev 8-10) dictated that priests could not be consecrated before the age of 30. At 30 years of age, they were to be washed in water and anointed with oil, before they began their Priestly duties. At the age of 30, Jesus walked up to John the Baptist (his cousin), to be baptized in water — to signify the washing of the Priest. While He was being baptized, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove — to signify the anointing of the Priest. His time had finally arrived. Jesus was led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the adversary and then began His three and a half year earthly ministry.
So what does this mean to you today? What can we learn about vision and discipline from this? Let’s seek to glean a few golden nuggets:
1. Jesus understood His vision, but still submitted to those in authority over Him until it was God’s proper timing. Application: God’s vision for our lives is not a license to disrespect authority and disregard order. We must submit to those He has placed over us and remain faithful, until He tells us to move.
2. Although Jesus knew His purpose and His assignment, He was seemingly unknown from birth to 12 yrs. of age and then again from 12 yrs. to 30 yrs. of age. Application: If you are faithful in the dark, God will reward you in the open. But we must wait for His timing. We must keep His vision before us and know that He will exalt us in due season.
3. Jesus prepared 30 years for a 3 year assignment. Application: Your preparation will show up in your performance. We say we walk by faith and pray and believe God, but God also requires us to plan and prepare. The preparation process is key. We must be faithful in the preparation process if we want God to move when it comes time to act on the vision.
Keep the Vision (purpose) of your life before you and make decisions daily that will take you towards it. It may seem like you are in obscurity now, but the time will come — if you remain faithful — that the vision will come to pass!
Confession for this day: Lord God. I walk in discipline daily. I submit and surrender to You and You help me to submit to those in authority over me. I am faithful over a few things and You will make me ruler over many. I use what I have today in preparation for what You will give me tomorrow. In everything I give thanks and I expect to grow continually in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part VI) (top of page)
(II Tim 4:7 BBE) I have made a good fight, I have come to the end of my journey, I have kept the faith.
So far (in this series) we have learned a lot about vision. Possibly the most important nugget about vision is that vision becomes the ruler by which judge our decisions and therefore exercise discipline to reach our full potential in Christ. I have mentioned many times the fact that it should be our desire to “die empty.” We cannot die empty, however, without vision. Vision allows us to acknowledge when it is that we have arrived at our destination. Like Yoggi Berra said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might end up somewhere else.” So God’s vision for our lives gives us the ruler, yes, but it also gives us a target. It becomes our desired goal and our expected end.
Paul was a man of vision and focus. No doubt, God had spoken to Him and given Him clear instructions of His plans for his life. This vision gave Paul drive and passion. When we know where we are going, we are able to aim for that target and overcome insurmountable circumstances. Paul endured a great deal for the furtherance of the gospel and he was able to do it, because he had the ability to look beyond the problems and see the vision. Let’s look at a few things he endured: (II Cor 11:24-27 CEV) Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend a night and a day in the sea. During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who only pretended to be the Lord’s followers. I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm.
Some may think — how in the world was he able to endure all of that? And the answer is, because the Holy Spirit empowered Him and God’s Vision for his life drove him. Paul was able to overcome every obstacle on his path, because he knew what the end of the path was going to be. That is why our text says, “I have come to the end of my journey.” Now, everyone on the planet was not a Christian; the gospel had not yet been preached in every nation; everyone was not healed; everyone was not set free from bondage; but Paul had a peace in knowing that His journey had come to an end. He had driven toward this target for many years and — by the grace of God — he finally made it there. He finished His course, he kept the faith.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that we should also know where we are going. Our course may not take us through everything that it took Paul through — Praise God! For God knows what we can endure. But OUR course will require us to overcome the obstacles on OUR path. No matter what the obstacles are, we must have the faith in God to look beyond the Problems and focus of the Purpose!
Are you facing something this morning that is hindering you from fulfilling your purpose? It’s only a test. Don’t allow the problem to derail you from your destiny. You can overcome it through the Power of the Holy Spirit! So that some day you can say, like Paul, I have come to the end of my journey!
Confession for this day: Lord God. I walk in discipline daily. I allow Your Vision for my life to be my focus and my target. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I will not allow any problem to keep me from Your Promises and Purpose for my life. I am more than a conqueror. You give me the Power to overcome. This day, this week, and for the rest of my days! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part VII) (top of page)
(Mat 26:39 KJV) And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Those of you that attend Sunday School probably discussed this text this past Sunday. In this text we will see several things about vision, purpose, destiny; but also humanity. This text is part of a seemingly never-ending day for Jesus. Jesus had earlier been anointed at Bethany by that woman with the expensive ointment in her alabaster box. When she spent a year’s wages blessing Jesus, Judas could not take it any longer. He left to betray Jesus. When he got back, Jesus and His disciples had what we call today the Lord’s Supper. During the dinner, Jesus explained that one of them had already betrayed Him. Jesus also predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster would crow twice. After all of this, He takes His inner circle (Peter, James, and John) with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He would pray for several hours (3-4 hours), would be then betrayed by Judas with a kiss, and then sent from mock trial to mock trial. He would later be found guilty without any real charges, without any witnesses, without a public defender; and without a compelling case against Him. He would be beaten, battered, bruised, scourged, slapped, spit upon, and then crucified for the sin of all humanity. Yes, this would be a seemingly endless day for Jesus.
But back in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knew what had to be done. He had already prophesied (Mat 26:61) that the temple (his body) would be destroyed and built back up in three days. The reality of His God-Given vision, however, was now sinking in. He knew His time on earth was drawing to a close. He knew the pain and suffering He would soon have to endure. He knew of the mockery that He would soon have to overlook. He was 100% God, but also 100% man. In His divinity, He was praying and preparing for His purpose. In His humanity, He was struggling with the realization of that same purpose. He gets to the garden. He tells his disciples to sit while He goes to pray. He becomes overwhelmed with the reality of the situation. He falls down on His face and cries out to the Father. In His humanity, He asks the Father if there is any other way to do this. In His humanity, He asks for another possible solution. But then something happens. He is reminded of the vision and purpose of His life. His divinity kicks in and says, “Nevertheless!” As stated in yesterday’s message. He looked beyond the problem and focused on the purpose. He looked beyond the beatings and the mockery and saw the singular purpose for His manifestation on the earth. He was born to die and He was willing to fulfill His purpose, no matter the cost. He came to die so that we might live.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s glean a few quick nuggets:
1. Living a life of Vision does not exonerate us from Pain.
2. There is a constant struggle between our soul (humanity) and our spirit (divinity).
3. When we understand the Purpose in the Pain, we can seemingly receive supernatural power to endure it.
4. No matter the obstacle and no matter the opposition, we must be committed to God’s Vision (purpose) for our lives at all costs.
Are you ready to look at your struggle and say — Nevertheless?
Confession for this day: Lord God. I am a child of Destiny. I am a child of Vision. I am a child of Purpose. I seek Your Vision for my life and I strive to bring that vision to pass daily. I can overcome every obstacle and endure every hardship required to bring to pass Your Vision for my life. I am covered by Your blood and Anointed by Your Spirit. I can do what You have set before me to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part VIII) (top of page)
(Gen 1:22 & 28 KJV) And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. (v.28) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
One of the key aspects of God’s vision is that God never provides vision without provision. A preacher toured the Ford Motor Company some years ago. He observed that the company makes the spare parts before they build the new cars. That is why, if something happens to a spanking new car and you need a part replaced, the part is already prepared. They prepare for what you are going to need before you ever need it. The Ford Motor Company has nothing on God. In the 22nd verse of the first chapter of Genesis we see that God told the fish and the birds that He had just created to fill the waters and the earth. Why? Because He placed them in the environment that they needed to fulfill their vision. He placed fish in the waters and birds on the earth, with air. God uniquely fashioned their environment before He ever made them. He placed them where they needed to be to grow and prosper. In the 28thverse, He told man to be fruitful and multiply and to have dominion over the fish, the birds and the beasts. The key here is that man could do what God instructed Him to do, because He already had everything He needed to bring it to pass. He told man to be fruitful, because He had already given him the seed to bring forth the fruit. He told him to have dominion over the fish, the birds and the beasts, because they had already been created and were ready for Him to take over.
One of the key pursuits in life for many people is the pursuit of prosperity. The problem is that prosperity can be defined many ways. Dr. Myles Munroe defines prosperity as “having everything that is needed.” I like this definition. God wants us all to be prosperous and to fulfill the individual visions (purposes) He has given us. God, however, will not ever tell us to do something that He has not already made provision for us to do. Even though the provisions might not yet be manifested, they will come to pass. Prosperity should not be tied to the number of cars in your driveway, nor the number of zeros in your bank account. If you don’t need those things to fulfill your vision, then God might not give them to you. But He will give you everything you need to bring your vision to pass. So don’t get frustrated by trying to live someone else’s life and fulfill someone else’s purpose.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Where there is Godly Vision there is always Godly Provision.
2. God has already set up everything you will need to bring His vision for your life to pass.
3. Prosperity is having everything that is needed.
4. Don’t allow frustration to set in by focusing on someone else’s vision and provision. If you need what they have to bring to pass God’s vision in your life, God will give it to you. If not, enjoy what He has given you and use it to His glory!
5. We can have peace in knowing that God feeds where He leads and He guides where He provides.
How are you using His provision so far? Are you maximizing the gifts He has given you and the environment He has placed you in? If not, it is time to make some changes.
Confession for this day: Lord God. Everything I need to bring forth Your vision for my life is either in me now, or shall be in me prior to the need for it. I have Your vision and I enjoy Your provision. You lead me and feed me this day and every day. I can do what You have destined for me to do. I can have what You have destined for me to have. I can be what You have destined for me to be! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part IX) (top of page)
(Luke 22:31-34 CEV) Jesus said, “Simon, listen to me! Satan has demanded the right to test each one of you, as a farmer does when he separates wheat from the husks. But Simon, I have prayed that your faith will be strong. And when you have come back to me, help the others.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to jail and even to die with you.” Jesus replied, “Peter, I tell you that before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
We are drawing to a close with this series on Vision. God’s vision for our lives is His intended purpose and His desired end. We discussed yesterday that He always provides provision with the vision and thereby ensures that we have the potential to bring it to pass. It is God’s desire that we maximize our potential in our limited time on the earth. Potential, however, does not guarantee performance. We must have the discipline and the desire to overcome the obstacles that will attempt to keep us from reaching our full potential in Christ.
Our text puts us at the end of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus had already broken the bread and shared of the cup. He then announced His betrayer. Although there was only one betrayer in the midst of the twelve, He makes it clear that it is satan’s desire was to consume them all. Jesus then focused on Peter. He told Peter that satan had desired to pluck him right out of God’s wheat fields. The enemy wanted to get a hold of Peter and cripple him before He ever really got started. Jesus then says something to comfort Peter that should also comfort us. He said, “I have prayed that your faith will be strong.” Jesus did not pray that Peter not fall — as a matter of fact, He went on to predict that he would — but He did pray that he not fail. Why did Jesus and satan both focus so much on Peter? Because Peter would preach the first New Testament sermon (Acts 2) and 3,000 souls would get saved. Peter would also lead the New Testament Church for the first 20 years (or so). Peter’s potential was great and so would be the attacks against him.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God gives us Vision and Provision, but we still have to bring that vision to pass. He will not DO it for us. Laziness and lack of discipline will cripple us from maximizing our potential. He gives us the potential, but we must carry out the performance.
2. Jesus will pray that we do not fail, but He will not always keep us from falling. Peter did deny Jesus three times, but he got back up again!
3. The greater the vision to the greater the attack. When you look at Joseph, David, Job, Peter, Paul, and many others that God used mightily, you will always see that they were ‘Picked Out to be Picked On!’
4. If we couple desire and discipline with our God-Given Vision, we can unleash our potential and achieve greatness in life. God does not play favorites. What He did for others, He can do for You!
Are you ready to unleash your potential in Christ? If so, get ready! It will require discipline, desire and determination!
Confession for this day: Lord God. You have given me the potential for greatness and I will carry out the performance. I have a desire to see Your vision come to pass in my life. I have the discipline required to apply self-imposed limitations to bring it to pass. I have the determination to maximize my potential in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of Vision (Part X) (top of page)
(Gen 37:5 CEV) One day, Joseph told his brothers what he had dreamed, and they hated him even more.
We finish our series on vision with a look at a man that received God’s vision for his life at a young age and never let go of that image, even under the harshest of circumstances. His name was Joseph. He was the favored son of Jacob. Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age (37:3) and he made him a coat of many colors. God gave this little favored boy (about 17 years old) a dream that would propel him for his entire life. He showed him that he would be over his brothers and even over his father and how they would come and bow down to him. This was the last straw. His brothers already disliked him because of their father’s attitude towards Joseph, but they now wanted to kill him. They finally decided not to kill him and ultimately sold him to a company of Ishmaelite merchants for twenty pieces of silver (this was ten pieces less than the going rate for a slave). The merchants sold him to an Egyptian Officer named Potiphar. Potiphar’s house became blessed because Joseph was there and Potiphar made him overseer the house. Potiphar’s wife, however, attempted to sleep with Joseph, and when he refused, she accused him of attempted rape. This caused him to be cast into state prison. Joseph was also blessed in the prison. Pharaoh’s butler and baker were cast into prison with him and they had dreams that needed to be interpreted. The Lord gifted Joseph to interpret their dreams. Later on, the butler would remember Joseph when Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. Pharaoh summoned Joseph and the Lord blessed Joseph to interpret his dream. Pharaoh would eventually make Joseph #2 in command in all of Egypt. Joseph’s plan to save Egypt from a famine the Pharaoh dreamed about would lead to his brother’s and his father coming to him and his dream finally coming to pass.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Believe the Dream — no matter how Big it may Seem: Joseph was 17. He was the 11th born of Jacob’s house. His brother’s already did not like him. But when God gave him the dream — he believed it and received it! Application: No matter who you are and where you are, receive God’s Vision for your life! If the vision is Big, then that is probably a good indication that it came from God. God is not in the business of dreaming little dreams. Receive the vision and run with it!
2. Guard the Vision: Joseph immediately shared his dream with his brothers and his father. This was probably not the wisest thing to do. His brothers hated him and sough to kill him. Application: Not everyone that is with you is for you. Be prayerful about who you share your vision with.
3. Favor Ain’t Fair: God blessed Joseph everywhere he went. He was blessed in Potiphar’s house and blessed in the prison, before He was ultimately blessed with Pharaoh. Application: Walk in God’s favor and enjoy His blessing everywhere you go. Others may not like it, but Favor ain’t fair!
4. Never Give Up: Joseph had plenty of opportunities to give up on the dream, but he remained faithful to God through it all. Application: Be faithful to God at every stage of vision development. Whether you are in the Pit or the Prison, remain faithful, so God can elevate you to the Palace! His vision will come to pass!
Are you ready to strive towards God’s vision for your life? Don’t’ let anything stop you for reaching your full potential in Christ!
Confession for this day: Lord God. You have impregnated be with greatness and I strive birth Your vision out of me as I walk in destiny. I have the power to triumph over every stumbling block and the faith to remain steadfast until the completion of the Vision. I honor You will my life and You bless me with Your favor! I walk in Your favor, this day and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!