The Power of Vision

Assignment One

Define: Vision Define: Dream(s) Define: Burden Define: Calling

Answers to Assignment One

Vision = dream(s) = burden = calling

What Vision is

VISIONS are burdens... a heavy burden on your heart placed there by God for you to ponder upon, meditate upon, plan about, seek His face about and act upon it.

Visions/Dreams/Burdens/Callings are God's invitation for partnerships

God says of you: For i know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a good future (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Surprise Surprise

God had a vision Joseph had dreams Moses had a burden Samuel had a vision Isaiah had a calling (and he saw many visions) There is nothing different with you!!!

Expectations, a must

They all got intimate with it: Nehemiah 2:14-16, Acts 26:19: none transfered it to a third party.

others get radical with it... wearing scripture in their shoes They all had implementation Strategy:

Nehemiah 3, Genesis 37 onwards They all had to deal with the pits:

Adam, Eve and the Apple Joseph's pit Nehemiah 4:10-14

Expectations, a must

Expect conspiracy:

Nehemiah 6:1-14 Joseph's shame when accused of rape, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus...

Remember Jeremiah 29:11... 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.

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.

Where there is no Vision

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

1 Samuel 3:1 NOW THE boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; there was no frequent or widely spread vision.

Where there is a Vision

(Hab 2:2-3 KJV) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 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.

(Dan 1:17 KJV) As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Where there is a Vision

(Joe 2:28-30 KJV) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

Where there is a Vision

(Act 26:12-20 KJV) Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 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; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 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. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Personal, Church...

Unless your church members have a vision, they are a useless bunch in the pews of your well built church building.

Unless you know where you are going, how you are going to get there, and what you want to accomplish, life will become dull and boring. Dennis Waitly, in Seeds of Greatness, says, "The reason so many individuals fail to achieve their goals in life is that they never really set them in the first place."

God has a plan for you, and He is willing to reveal it to the person who will seek Him. Jeremiah 29:11-13

Personal, Church...

A vision gives a sense of urgency and rightness. This conviction that the vision is right and urgent dominates his thoughts, penetrates his emotions, and dictates his actions.

The difference between a visionary and a daydreamer is that the visionary activates his dreams, while the daydreamer just thinks about them.

A vision consumes one with a sense of responsibility. He assumes responsibility for the accomplishment of his vision. Although others may catch his vision, no one will have a more intense passion than he does.