Catch the Vision
Heb 11:24-27
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
KJV
What is your VISION for this Church on this second Sunday of this new year?
Church we are at a place – a crossroads if you will –the future of this church is up for grabs – The path we choose will have lasting eternal effect – either for the good or bad.
God has placed us here to make a difference.
We have something to offer this world –something that can give them hope, peace, comfort – I speaking of Jesus
I believe it is time for us to do that – before us is a clean slate- a new year – if we do not do it now – then I ask you when – will it be done.
The word vision carries with it several difference def.
One is --The ability to see something that is not actually visible.
Can we see ourselves as a church where families come from all around, -- coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ – families being added to the kingdom of God?
For the way I remember that song in Sunday School –as a child
RED, YELLOW, and BLACK OR WHITE – they are all precious in his sight.
And I believe it is the heart of God – that ever church be fill to overflowing – with people coming to Christ –being forgiven – their names be adding to the Book of life –
I will tell you honestly that many of our churches – have fallen into a state of a social club mentally.
We like thing just as they are.
But I wonder if God is happy the way things are
When in come cases 70 percent – attend only one serve a week
When 20 percent – carry the financial load of the church
When we have become so seeker sensitive – that the gospel has been so distorted –that no one is ever challenge to live right before the eyes of God
May we realize the importance of being His hand extended –
May we be available for Him to work & flow through us –
So the kingdom of God will grow
MAY GOD GIVE US SOULS FOR OUR LABOR
I’m talking about your family, neighbors, those you work along side with –
Can we not once again realize – that without Christ – they are lost -- & the Lord will spend eternity – in the torments of the hell
Moses the word says was faithful, he persevered, he stayed the course – because he caught a glimpse of him what was invisible…
Church Moses caught a glimpse of God – he saw God in such a way that is changed his life forever..
This is what – I hope happens even this morning – that you & I will get a glimpse of Him – that we will see him in such a way – that we will never be the same as we are now.
Can I tell you – that when you get a glimpse of Him - -you will live more in His world that your world..
Now notice what this did to MOSES
The bible says—
HE REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH’S DAYGHTER
He caught a glimpse of him who is invisible -- & it changed His life
He refused to be called a citizen of Egypt.
What is Egypt – it is a type of the world
As children of God we too must refuse to be called Citizens of this world
How many know – this world is not my home === we are just passing through
Our home is waiting for us – some where beyond the blue
Phil 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
NIV
Look at 1 peter 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Church we are headed somewhere & Heaven is our destination
This is not all there is – There is something better coming
Peter said – v8
Though you have not seen him – you love Him – How many love Him
Even though you do not see him – You believe in Him –
Peter said – you are filled with joy – JOY!!!!
Things in this world may excite you & make you happy –
You may get joyful over your favorite team winning - -
But I’ve got something greater –
I have a place waiting for me – that has not been made with the hands of man
A place who’s builder & maker is God.
There is another kingdom –
This morning – we are here -- we see this building
But there is another kingdom
If God were to open out eyes – we would see angelic beings in this place
Sitting beside you –
Walking the isle
Isaiah saw into that world
Isa 6:1-5
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
NIV
Rev 1:10-18
10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
NIV
Church I just want you to understand – there is a world beyond that which we know
There is a dimension – beyond which we move, live & see.
That is why Jesus said when you pray
Matt 6:9-10
"’Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
NIV
Pray that my kingdom – my world will invade your world
Oh That God would invade us in such a way that –
our world, our wants, our desires, -- no longer matter….
Is this what is wrong in the church – I’m afraid so –
Too many sitting on church pews – are more concern about building their own kingdom – than the kingdom of God
To some all they see – is there cars, houses, money, recreation,
Personal pleasure – that all that motivates us compels us.
Illist – new car smell – but eventually – that smell vanishes
you have to go – get that New car smell in a spray
That is how it is in this world – When you put everything you have in a basket – you have to keep spraying it - -to keep it smelling good…
That new car eventually loses it luster
That home eventually lose it beauty
That money no loner satisfies
Hear me – nothing in this world will ever satisfy –
Nothing will ever bring you true peace & joy –
IT’S ALL STUFF
I need the presence & power of Christ in my life – more than I need more stuff!!!
I ask you just what is important to you – Your world – or God’s
Which one are you working for – Laboring in
Moses refused to be called the son of pharaoh
He refused to be associated with Egypt – He walked away from it all
The reason –
He got a glimpse == what happened, what did he see –not quite sure –but it was enough to change him…
The invisible God changed his life forever
I spoke about catching a vision –
When you catch a vision – it changes me – it changes my lifestyle
It is no longer me – my way, my wants - -it is all about him
WHEN YOU ARE LIVING MORE IN HIS WORLD THAN YOUR WORLD
God won’t ask what kind of fancy car you drove. He will ask how many people you took to church who didn’t have transportation.
God won’t ask the square footage of your house. He will ask how many people you helped who didn’t have a house.
God won’t ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet. He will ask how many of those clothes you gave away to those who didn’t have any.
God won’t ask how many material possessions you had. He will ask whether those material possessions dictated your life.
God won’t ask what your highest salary was. He will ask if you trampled over any people to obtain that salary.
God won’t ask how much overtime you worked. He will ask did you work overtime for your family.
God won’t ask what you did to help yourself. He will ask what you did to help others.
God won’t ask what neighborhood you lived in. He w will ask what other neighborhoods you visited.
God won’t ask how many times you told the truth. He will ask how many times you told a lie.
God won’t ask about the color of your skin. He will ask about the color of your heart.
Lets us catch a vision and let the vision catch
"There was a blind girl [or so the story goes] who hated herself because of her blindness.
Not only did she hate herself but she hated everyone else, except her loving boyfriend.
He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.
"One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything—including her boyfriend.
Her boyfriend asked her, ’Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?’
The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her that simply said, ’Just take care of my eyes dear.’
Think of it church – the very one that gave her sight, the one that gave her vision – she wanted nothing to do with –
He had given up so much for her, yet she wanted nothing to do with Him
This is a picture of those in the church - -We have been given so much, He has done so much – and yet some want so little to do with him..—
He gave her his vision –she now was able to see what he saw all along
Let our pray be – Lord give us your eyes to see with
Let us catch your vision - -to see what you see!!
