Embracing Our Heavenly Citizenship and Vision
Summary
In today's gathering, I shared a personal journey that intertwines with a broader spiritual message. As I prepare to become an American citizen, I reflected on the responsibilities that come with citizenship, both in a nation and in the Kingdom of God. Just as I am excited to embrace my new role as a citizen, we are reminded of our duties as citizens of heaven. These responsibilities include praying for others, reaching the lost, and giving to support the local church. This aligns with 2 Corinthians 9:7, which encourages us to give cheerfully, not out of obligation but from a joyful heart.
I also shared a personal story about how I met my wife, Jenny, and how it was a journey of listening to God's voice and following His vision for my life. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of having a vision. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without vision, people perish. Vision is crucial because it provides direction and purpose. When we have a vision, we thrive rather than merely survive. God’s vision for us is to prosper and be in health, as our soul prospers.
Vision comes from hearing God’s voice, and it is sustained by faith and patience. Hebrews 6:12 encourages us not to become sluggish but to imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. We must train ourselves to listen to God, to speak words of life, and to run with purpose in every step. This is not just about personal gain but about fulfilling the mission God has given us—to be a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed.
Key Takeaways:
1. Citizenship in Heaven: Just as we have responsibilities as citizens of a nation, we have duties as citizens of heaven. These include praying for others, reaching the lost, and giving cheerfully to support the church. Our giving should be from a joyful heart, reflecting our gratitude for the blessings we receive. [23:18]
2. The Power of Vision: Vision is essential for thriving in life. Without it, we perish. Vision provides direction and purpose, allowing us to thrive rather than merely survive. It is important to seek God's vision for our lives and to follow it with faith and patience. [41:03]
3. Hearing God's Voice: Vision comes from hearing God's voice. We must train ourselves to listen to God and to speak words of life. This requires faith and patience, as we trust in God's promises and follow His direction for our lives. [47:22]
4. Running with Purpose: We are called to run with purpose in every step, not just for personal gain but to fulfill the mission God has given us. This involves being a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed. [22:55]
5. Faith and Patience: Hebrews 6:12 encourages us not to become sluggish but to imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. We must train ourselves to listen to God, to speak words of life, and to run with purpose in every step. [59:58]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[19:36] - Offering Message
[23:18] - Responsibilities of Heavenly Citizenship
[24:16] - Cheerful Giving
[30:25] - Personal Story: Meeting Jenny
[41:03] - The Importance of Vision
[47:22] - Hearing God's Voice
[50:32] - Thriving with Vision
[59:58] - Faith and Patience
[01:06:28] - Mindset of Jesus
[01:10:25] - Vision and Provision
[01:22:55] - Running with Purpose
[01:30:33] - Call to Action
[01:36:27] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
2. Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
3. Hebrews 6:12 - "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."
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Observation Questions:
1. What responsibilities did the pastor mention that come with being a citizen of heaven? How do these compare to the responsibilities of being a citizen of a nation? [23:18]
2. How did the pastor describe the importance of having a vision in life, and what biblical reference did he use to support this? [40:03]
3. According to the sermon, what role does hearing God's voice play in developing and sustaining a vision? [47:22]
4. What personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the concept of vision and hearing God's voice? [39:27]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of cheerful giving in 2 Corinthians 9:7 relate to the responsibilities of heavenly citizenship discussed in the sermon? [24:16]
2. In what ways does having a vision, as described in Proverbs 29:18, impact one's personal and spiritual life according to the pastor's message? [41:03]
3. How does the pastor suggest we can train ourselves to hear God's voice, and why is this important for fulfilling our mission? [47:22]
4. What does Hebrews 6:12 suggest about the relationship between faith, patience, and inheriting God's promises, and how was this illustrated in the sermon? [59:58]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel you lack vision? How can you seek God's guidance to develop a clearer vision for these areas? [41:03]
2. The pastor emphasized the importance of cheerful giving. How can you cultivate a heart of generosity in your daily life, and what steps can you take to give more cheerfully? [24:16]
3. Consider a time when you felt you heard God's voice. How did it impact your decisions, and what practices can you implement to better hear God's voice regularly? [47:22]
4. The sermon highlighted the importance of running with purpose. Identify a specific area in your life where you can apply this principle and describe a practical step you can take to run with purpose. [22:55]
5. How can you imitate those who inherit God's promises through faith and patience in your own spiritual journey? What specific actions can you take to strengthen your faith and patience? [59:58]
6. The pastor shared a personal story about meeting his wife and following God's vision. Reflect on a personal story where you followed God's guidance. What did you learn from that experience? [39:27]
7. How can you create an environment in your life where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed? What specific actions can you take this week to contribute to this mission? [22:55]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Heavenly Citizenship Responsibilities
As citizens of heaven, we are called to embrace responsibilities that reflect our spiritual identity. This includes praying for others, reaching out to those who are lost, and giving to support the local church. Our giving should not be out of obligation but from a joyful heart, as an expression of gratitude for the blessings we receive. This aligns with the biblical encouragement to give cheerfully, as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:7. By fulfilling these responsibilities, we actively participate in the Kingdom of God and contribute to the spiritual growth of our community. [23:18]
"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you pray for today, and how can you support your local church with a joyful heart?
Day 2: Vision as a Pathway to Thriving
Vision is essential for thriving in life, providing direction and purpose. Without it, people perish, as noted in Proverbs 29:18. Seeking God's vision for our lives allows us to thrive rather than merely survive. It is important to listen to God's voice and follow His vision with faith and patience. This journey of vision is not just about personal gain but about fulfilling the mission God has given us. By aligning with God's vision, we find purpose and direction in every step we take. [41:03]
"And the Lord answered me: 'Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.'" (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV)
Reflection: What vision has God placed on your heart, and how can you take a step towards it today with faith and patience?
Day 3: Hearing God's Voice for Vision
Vision comes from hearing God's voice, and it is sustained by faith and patience. We must train ourselves to listen to God and to speak words of life. This requires a commitment to spiritual disciplines that help us discern God's direction for our lives. By trusting in God's promises and following His guidance, we can fulfill the mission He has given us. Listening to God's voice is not just about personal gain but about being a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed. [47:22]
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen for God's voice and discern His vision for your life?
Day 4: Running with Purpose in Every Step
We are called to run with purpose in every step, not just for personal gain but to fulfill the mission God has given us. This involves being a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed. By running with purpose, we align our actions with God's vision and contribute to the transformation of our community. This purposeful living requires intentionality and a commitment to living out our faith in practical ways. [22:55]
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can run with purpose today, aligning your actions with God's mission for your life?
Day 5: Faith and Patience in Inheriting Promises
Hebrews 6:12 encourages us not to become sluggish but to imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. This requires training ourselves to listen to God, to speak words of life, and to run with purpose in every step. By cultivating faith and patience, we position ourselves to receive the promises God has for us. This journey is not just about personal fulfillment but about contributing to the greater mission of God's Kingdom. [59:58]
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to exercise more faith and patience, trusting in God's promises?
Quotes
"You must each decide in your heart how much to give and don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure for God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And just like I am cheerful to be here in this country and I even appreciate paying taxes because when I pay taxes, then you know it pays for roads and all of the good things. [00:24:16]
There are certain responsibilities that citizens of the United States have, and in my heart, I already pay taxes. I do not and have not voted although I will be able to after this go-round, but there are certain things that are expected of citizens both those who are born here and our citizens by birth and citizens who come from another place. [00:22:55]
Vision is so important. I like the word perish. What does it mean? It means basically waste away, come to nothing, quality time. Where there is no vision, the people will perish. So what happens if there is vision? You're not going to perish. Where there is vision, you're going to thrive. [00:40:03]
Vision comes by hearing. It doesn't come by seeing. It comes by hearing. What did you hear? What did you hear? You got to know what you heard, and you got to stand on that. Don't get away by what other people will say. I know what I heard. [01:13:28]
The bigger you make God, the smaller the problems of everything else becomes. The bigger you make God, the smaller of all problems. Yeah, did I have a problem three weeks ago? I had a problem. I had a problem. I had a from my L1 to my L5 were all cracked, my two ribs cracked. [00:50:32]
When you have no vision, what happens? There's no discipline, and without that, you start to die. And there's a saying I've always heard, and we're going to be continuing to talk on vision. I can preach vision every day, all the day. I will. I'm going to be very cautious to watch my clock. [00:41:03]
Vision is so important because when you do it, you're casting the vision. How do you cast the vision? By speaking the vision. And when you speak the vision, things come to life. Even nothing listened to God and became something. Let there be what? Light. They heard the vision of light, and they became light. [00:47:22]
We are called to run with purpose in every step, not just for personal gain but to fulfill the mission God has given us. This involves being a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed. [01:22:55]
Hebrews 6:12 encourages us not to become sluggish but to imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. We must train ourselves to listen to God, to speak words of life, and to run with purpose in every step. [00:59:58]
When I have this, that is the importance of vision. That's my introduction. That is literally my introduction. Now I can tell you about the source of vision. I can tell you about where we, what we hear shapes what we see. I can tell you about the dangers of distraction. [01:06:28]
I heard God say, "That's what you're going to be doing." Yeah, I said, "Well, thanks, Tracy." Because I wasn't doing it for his approval, but it sure is nice when you get a confirmation with someone you trust because I trust that man. I trusted him, and I still trust him. [00:59:58]
I want to ask you this real quick, and it's funny when I think about it. I can replay all the way back in 1999 after I met Jenny on that one day, and it was so funny when I get home from SeaWorld. I'm carrying in pizzas, and that's before cell phones, really. [00:47:22]
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