Aligning Vision with God's Wisdom and Purpose
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound meaning of vision as described in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." We began by understanding the nature of Proverbs as a book of wisdom, not merely promises, but probabilities that guide us to live in alignment with God's moral law. Proverbs teaches us how to conduct our lives, offering wisdom on various aspects such as relationships, thoughts, and even politics.
We delved into the concept of vision, emphasizing that it is not about achieving personal goals but about aligning with godly wisdom. Vision, in this context, is about restraining the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to walk in the fear of God. When godly wisdom is removed from our lives, chaos ensues.
We discussed two types of vision: blurred vision and blind vision. Blurred vision occurs when we hear God but do not trust Him, as exemplified by the Israelites who doubted God despite witnessing His miracles. This doubt often stems from a bad memory of God's goodness or disappointed hopes. The remedy for blurred vision is worship and immersing ourselves in God's Word.
Blind vision, on the other hand, is when we hear God but do not fear Him, choosing to follow our own ways instead. We examined the tragic legacy of King Jeroboam, who led Israel into sin by setting up idols and false worship practices. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of fearing God and following His commands.
Finally, we looked at the story of Saul, who became Paul, to illustrate divine vision. Saul was blinded by his own zeal against Christians until Jesus intervened, transforming him into Paul, a devoted apostle. Paul's life teaches us that divine vision is about seeing through faith, living a life unto God, and placing Him on the throne of our hearts.
### Key Takeaways
1. Understanding Proverbs: Proverbs is a book of wisdom that guides us to live in alignment with God's moral law. It is not a book of promises but probabilities that help us navigate life's complexities. It teaches us how to conduct our lives in a way that conforms to God's character and nature. [42:51]
2. True Meaning of Vision: Vision in a godly sense is not about achieving personal or collective goals but about aligning with godly wisdom. It involves restraining the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to walk in the fear of God. When godly wisdom is absent, chaos reigns. [49:33]
3. Blurred Vision: Blurred vision occurs when we hear God but do not trust Him. This often happens due to a bad memory of God's past goodness or disappointed hopes. The remedy is to immerse ourselves in worship and God's Word, allowing His truth to correct our spiritual sight. [54:49]
4. Blind Vision: Blind vision is when we hear God but do not fear Him, choosing to follow our own ways. The story of King Jeroboam serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring God's commands and leading others astray. It highlights the importance of fearing God and adhering to His instructions. [01:02:38]
5. Divine Vision: Divine vision is about seeing through faith, as exemplified by the transformation of Saul to Paul. It involves living a life unto God, placing Him on the throne of our hearts, and worshiping Him alone. This kind of vision allows us to see Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. [01:09:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[41:41] - Introduction to Vision
[42:15] - Proverbs 29:18 Explained
[42:51] - Understanding Proverbs
[43:50] - Purpose of Proverbs
[44:24] - Wisdom and Instruction
[45:03] - Conduct and Regulation
[45:44] - Imagery and Contrast in Proverbs
[47:23] - Examples of Proverbs
[47:59] - Different Translations of Proverbs 29:18
[48:35] - Role of Prophets in the Old Testament
[49:33] - True Meaning of Vision
[50:34] - Blurred Vision
[51:02] - Story of the Israelites
[54:49] - Reasons for Doubt
[57:08] - Remedy for Blurred Vision
[59:01] - Blind Vision
[01:02:38] - Story of King Jeroboam
[01:07:16] - Story of Saul to Paul
[01:09:57] - Divine Vision
[01:16:17] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
2. Numbers 14:11: "And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?"
3. Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 29:18 say about the importance of vision and keeping the law? [42:15]
2. How did the Israelites demonstrate "blurred vision" in their journey to the Promised Land? [52:46]
3. What actions did King Jeroboam take that exemplified "blind vision"? [01:01:16]
4. How did Saul's transformation into Paul illustrate "divine vision"? [01:07:16]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to have "blurred vision" in a spiritual context, and how can worship and God's Word help correct it? [54:49]
2. How does the story of King Jeroboam serve as a warning about the consequences of not fearing God? [01:02:38]
3. In what ways does Paul's statement in Galatians 2:20 reflect the concept of "divine vision"? [01:09:57]
4. How can the principles in Proverbs guide us in aligning our lives with God's moral law? [42:51]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced "blurred vision" in your spiritual life. How did you overcome it, or what steps can you take to address it now? [54:49]
2. King Jeroboam's actions were driven by fear of losing his kingdom. Are there areas in your life where fear is leading you away from God's commands? How can you address this? [01:01:16]
3. Saul's transformation into Paul was marked by a complete change in vision and purpose. Is there an area in your life where you need a similar transformation? What steps can you take to seek God's intervention? [01:07:16]
4. Proverbs 29:18 emphasizes the importance of vision and keeping the law. How can you ensure that your personal vision aligns with godly wisdom in your daily life? [42:15]
5. The Israelites' doubt stemmed from a bad memory of God's goodness and disappointed hopes. How can you cultivate a habit of remembering and celebrating God's past faithfulness in your life? [52:46]
6. Paul's life was a testament to living by faith and not by sight. How can you practice living by faith in your current circumstances? [01:09:57]
7. The sermon mentioned that when godly wisdom is removed, chaos ensues. Are there areas in your life, home, or community where you see chaos? How can you reintroduce godly wisdom into these areas? [50:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Living in Alignment with God's Wisdom
Proverbs is a book of wisdom that guides us to live in alignment with God's moral law. It is not a book of promises but probabilities that help us navigate life's complexities. It teaches us how to conduct our lives in a way that conforms to God's character and nature. Proverbs offers wisdom on various aspects such as relationships, thoughts, and even politics, helping us to live a life that is pleasing to God. Understanding Proverbs means recognizing that it provides practical guidance for everyday living, encouraging us to seek wisdom and understanding in all that we do. [42:51]
Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek God's wisdom today? How can you actively pursue understanding and knowledge from Him in your daily decisions?
Day 2: Aligning with Godly Vision
Vision in a godly sense is not about achieving personal or collective goals but about aligning with godly wisdom. It involves restraining the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to walk in the fear of God. When godly wisdom is absent, chaos reigns. True vision is about seeing life through the lens of God's wisdom and aligning our actions and decisions with His will. This kind of vision helps us to live a life that is pleasing to God and brings order and purpose to our lives. [49:33]
James 3:17 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to align your vision with godly wisdom? How can you ensure that your goals and actions reflect the fear of God and His will for your life?
Day 3: Trusting God Despite Doubts
Blurred vision occurs when we hear God but do not trust Him. This often happens due to a bad memory of God's past goodness or disappointed hopes. The remedy is to immerse ourselves in worship and God's Word, allowing His truth to correct our spiritual sight. When we trust God and remember His faithfulness, our vision becomes clear, and we can see His hand at work in our lives. Trusting God despite our doubts and disappointments helps us to maintain a clear vision and stay aligned with His will. [54:49]
Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."
Reflection: Think of a time when you doubted God's goodness. How can you remind yourself of His past faithfulness and immerse yourself in worship and His Word to restore your trust in Him today?
Day 4: Fearing God and Following His Commands
Blind vision is when we hear God but do not fear Him, choosing to follow our own ways. The story of King Jeroboam serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring God's commands and leading others astray. It highlights the importance of fearing God and adhering to His instructions. When we fear God and follow His commands, we align ourselves with His will and avoid the pitfalls of self-reliance and disobedience. This kind of vision helps us to live a life that is pleasing to God and brings blessings to ourselves and others. [01:02:38]
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (ESV): "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are following your own ways instead of God's commands? How can you cultivate a healthy fear of God and commit to following His instructions today?
Day 5: Seeing Through Faith
Divine vision is about seeing through faith, as exemplified by the transformation of Saul to Paul. It involves living a life unto God, placing Him on the throne of our hearts, and worshiping Him alone. This kind of vision allows us to see Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. When we have divine vision, we are able to see beyond our circumstances and trust in God's plan for our lives. This vision helps us to live a life of faith, devotion, and obedience to God, bringing glory to Him in all that we do. [01:09:57]
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a divine vision that sees through faith? What steps can you take today to place God on the throne of your heart and live a life of devotion and obedience to Him?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Vision is godly wisdom that teaches us how to restrain, you ready? The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life so that you, in fact, can walk in the fear of God. So if it's telling you not to do that, and you do it anyway, you're not walking in wisdom. Why does godly wisdom want you to know that? Because here's the thing. When it's removed from your life, when it's removed from your heart, when it's removed in your home, when it's removed from society, chaos reigns." [50:04] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Doubt is human. God can handle our doubt. But it's when doubt leads to worry, and then we ruminate, if you know that word, we meditate on worry rather than the word of God, it eats hope for breakfast. It eats hope for breakfast. Hebrews writer tells us that eyes that see, see in faith. He says, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen." [54:08] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Divine vision can only be seen by placing God on the throne of your heart to be worshiped regardless of what is pressing in on you with no other gods before him, not the God of pleasure, not a God of power and friends, not even the God of yourself to see with eyes that see is to worship him and him alone." [01:10:38] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "My prayer for the church is that you're drawn because he loves us, because he loves us. But then we are sent out full of his Holy Spirit to let others know we can't do it without divine vision, a life lived unto God, not a divided heart, but a life unto God. And so let this be a moment where we just set love right, in right order in our heart." [01:11:17] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The book of Proverbs is where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. So what it does is it teaches those, who want to gain wisdom, how to, in fact, walk and grow in wisdom. It teaches how to conduct and regulate our lives, no matter what is pressing in out there in the world. It'll guide us to conform to God's very character and nature." [44:24] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Blurred vision is when you hear God, but you don't trust him. You don't trust him. So we're going to use a couple of stories from the Bible. There are these people, the people of God, and they found themselves in slavery, in Egypt. You may know the story if you've ever heard about Moses. There's a bunch of movies out there. Moses set my people free, right?" [51:02] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Doubt forces us to really contend with what we believe about God. Not about ourselves. The problem is we're too focused on ourself and doubt leads to worry. But it forces us to contend with what we believe about God. Now, there are reasons for doubt. I'm not going to stand up here and say, don't doubt or just push through it. I understand, I acknowledge it. In my life, doubt was, let's start with a bad memory. I forgot the goodness of God and the things he's done for me." [54:49] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "This is why people of God. It's so important that we know what God said not what someone told you God said, but we know what God said. There was not one king out of the 19. First Jeroboam that did well in the sight of God. In fact, they were all evil in the sight of the Lord and led the people to sin the blind nothing with me. You ever look at something. Oh, do you even know where you're going?" [01:05:03] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Divine vision is to see that Jesus is the way he is the truth and he is the life and no one gets to the father except through him. It's a life lived unto God. Divine vision can only be seen by placing God on the throne of your heart to be worshiped regardless of what is pressing in on you with no other gods before him, not the God of pleasure, not a God of power and friends, not even the God of yourself to see with eyes that see is to worship him and him alone." [01:10:38] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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