Six Keys to Finding our Vision

Six Steps to Finding our Vision

Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

The words 'dream' and 'vision' are similar. Dreams are long-term, and more general while visions are short-term and very specific. Paul, quoting Joel, tells us that in this time, our young people will have vision and our older people will be dreaming dreams. Why is vision important?

Proverbs 29:18b: Without a vision, the people perish

So we'll look at six keys to finding our vision, and to make it easy, they are six f's.

1. Focus on it. Matthew 7:7,8: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

a. Are we looking for God’s vision? If we seek, ask, and knock, then He will give it.

2. Faithful. Faith is in the heart and in the mouth. As God gives us vision, we need first to get it into our very core, our heart. The vision isn't for someone else, but it becomes part of who we are! And once it has done that, we need to get it on our mouth. Can not talk down about the vision, however, and have faith for it at the same time. Too many Christians get God's vision and integrate it, only to be stopped by their mouth when they begin to give voice to all their doubts. We must begin to speak out faith.

3. Fruitful. Our vision will help us grow and bear fruit. Jesus said,(Mt. 7:17-20)Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

a. Personal growth (see Gal. and the fruit of the spirit)

b. Numerical growth (souls for the kingdom, not stealing sheep)

4. willing to Fight (Spiritually)

a. When we begin to ask God to show us His vision and work in us and through us, we can expect the enemy of our souls to everything in his power to stop us. We shouldn't be surprised when that attack comes. Instead, we need to know how to fight the spiritual battle. Our weapon is the Word of God. Read your Bible and learn what it says about the areas of our weakness.

b. And we need to learn about our Defenses: Blood of Christ (plead the blood), prayer covering, spiritual armor (Eph. 6)

5. Friendly (Love one another) Mt. 22.34-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

a. Our vision needs to help us love God and our neighbor

6. Favor: Pray for favor with God and with man. Favor will help us overcome every obstacle that will hold back the vision of God.

Walt Disney said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." If our church catches God’s vision, what will we be able do?