Vision: Aligning with God's Purpose for Success
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone, to week two of our series entitled "Vision." Today, I aim to challenge and disturb you in a good way, to push you towards being better in God. Our opening text is Proverbs 29:18 from the Amplified Classic, which states, "Where there is no vision, no redemptive revelation of God, the people perish." Vision starts with a revelation of God. Without it, we suffer negative effects, including destruction and ruin. However, those who keep God's law are blessed and enviable. We should strive to be better in God, not just in material possessions.
Everything begins with vision. You will be what you see, but what you do not see, you cannot be. Oswald Chambers said, "It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires." This means that many serve God out of common sense rather than revelation. We must have a vision and a process to achieve our goals. If the product of our lives is deficient, we must examine our perception and process.
Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9 emphasizes the importance of being filled with the knowledge of God's will. This knowledge helps us understand everything else. We should pursue God's purpose, not just our own. Colossians 3:1-2 from the Message Bible tells us to act like we are serious about living a new resurrection life with Christ. We should see things from His perspective, not just our own.
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. We must align our thoughts with His. Spiritual vision produces spiritual strategies. God will never give you a vision without also giving you the strategy to achieve it. A vision plus a plan plus action equals a spiritually productive life.
Proverbs 16:1 and 3 from the Amplified Classic teach us that while we can make plans, only God can give the wise answer. We must commit our works to the Lord, and He will cause our thoughts to align with His will, leading to success. My life is a testament to this. I had plans, but God had other plans for me, which have brought me greater fulfillment.
We must be smart about our goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Specific goals have a much greater chance of being accomplished than general ones. Habakkuk 2:1-4 teaches us to write the vision and make it plain. The vision is for an appointed time and will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, for it will surely come.
Finally, I want to pray for you. May God open your natural eyes to see Him through your spiritual eyes. May you receive a greater revelation of who He is and what He wants to be in your life. As you align with His will, you will fulfill your own. Remember, if you make it about God, the blessings will follow.
### Key Takeaways
1. Vision Starts with Revelation: Proverbs 29:18 teaches that without a redemptive revelation of God, people perish. Vision begins with understanding who God is and what He wants for our lives. This revelation is crucial for living a blessed and enviable life. When we prioritize God, everything else falls into place. [01:14]
2. Perception and Process: Your life's product is a result of your perception and process. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you need to reevaluate how you perceive things and the processes you follow. This self-evaluation is essential for achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. [06:10]
3. Spiritual Vision and Strategies: Colossians 1:9 emphasizes the importance of being filled with the knowledge of God's will. Spiritual vision produces spiritual strategies. God will never give you a vision without also providing the strategy to achieve it. Aligning your plans with God's will leads to success. [10:42]
4. God's Plans Over Ours: Proverbs 16:1 and 3 remind us that while we can make plans, only God can give the wise answer. Committing our works to the Lord aligns our thoughts with His will, leading to success. My life is a testament to the fulfillment that comes from following God's plans over our own. [25:09]
5. SMART Goals: To achieve your goals, they must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Habakkuk 2:1-4 teaches us to write the vision and make it plain. The vision is for an appointed time and will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, for it will surely come. [38:23]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:14] - Vision Starts with Revelation
3. [06:10] - Perception and Process
4. [10:42] - Spiritual Vision and Strategies
5. [25:09] - God's Plans Over Ours
6. [38:23] - SMART Goals
7. [50:44] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified Classic): "Where there is no vision, no redemptive revelation of God, the people perish."
2. Colossians 1:9 (Amplified Classic): "For this reason, we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special requests for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep, and clear knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom, in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things."
3. Habakkuk 2:1-4 (NKJV): "I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.'"
### Observation Questions
1. According to Proverbs 29:18, what happens to people when there is no vision or redemptive revelation of God? ([01:14])
2. In Colossians 1:9, what does Paul pray for the believers to be filled with, and why is it important? ([10:42])
3. What does Habakkuk 2:2-3 instruct us to do with the vision, and what assurance does it give about the vision's fulfillment? ([38:23])
4. How does the pastor describe the relationship between vision, perception, and process in achieving our goals? ([06:10])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is having a redemptive revelation of God crucial for living a blessed and enviable life, as mentioned in Proverbs 29:18? ([01:14])
2. How does being filled with the knowledge of God's will, as prayed for in Colossians 1:9, help believers understand everything else in their lives? ([10:42])
3. What does it mean to "write the vision and make it plain" in Habakkuk 2:2, and how can this practice impact our spiritual and personal goals? ([38:23])
4. The pastor mentioned that spiritual vision produces spiritual strategies. How does aligning our plans with God's will lead to success? ([18:02])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current goals. Do they align with a redemptive revelation of God, or are they more focused on personal desires? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's vision? ([01:14])
2. Think about a time when you pursued your own plans without seeking God's will. What was the outcome, and how might it have been different if you had sought God's guidance first? ([25:09])
3. The pastor emphasized the importance of having a clear vision and a process to achieve it. What specific steps can you take this week to clarify your vision and develop a process to reach your goals? ([06:10])
4. How can you incorporate the practice of writing down your vision and making it plain, as instructed in Habakkuk 2:2, into your daily or weekly routine? ([38:23])
5. Consider the SMART goals framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Choose one goal you have and reframe it using this framework. How does this change your approach to achieving it? ([30:34])
6. The pastor shared personal stories about how following God's plans led to greater fulfillment than his own plans. Can you identify an area in your life where you need to trust God's plan over your own? ([28:54])
7. How can you ensure that your actions and decisions are guided by spiritual wisdom and understanding, as Paul prayed for in Colossians 1:9? What practical steps can you take to seek this wisdom daily? ([10:42])
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
#### Day 1: Vision Begins with Revelation
Description: Vision is not just about setting goals or having dreams; it starts with a revelation of who God is and what He desires for our lives. Proverbs 29:18 emphasizes that without a redemptive revelation of God, people perish. This means that understanding God's character and His will is crucial for living a life that is blessed and enviable. When we prioritize knowing God and aligning our lives with His purposes, everything else falls into place. This revelation is the foundation upon which we build our vision and direction in life. [01:14]
Bible Passage: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14, ESV)
Reflection: How can you seek a deeper revelation of God in your daily life? What steps can you take today to prioritize knowing Him more intimately?
#### Day 2: Perception and Process
Description: The outcome of our lives is largely determined by our perception and the processes we follow. If we are not satisfied with where we are, it is essential to reevaluate how we see things and the steps we are taking. This self-evaluation helps us align our actions with our vision and goals. By adjusting our perception and refining our processes, we can achieve a more fulfilling and purposeful life. It is a call to introspection and intentionality in our daily walk. [06:10]
Bible Passage: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light." (Matthew 6:22, ESV)
Reflection: What areas of your life need a change in perception? How can you adjust your daily processes to better align with your vision and goals?
#### Day 3: Spiritual Vision and Strategies
Description: Being filled with the knowledge of God's will is essential for developing spiritual vision and strategies. Colossians 1:9 highlights the importance of understanding God's will to navigate life effectively. Spiritual vision is not just about seeing the end goal but also about receiving divine strategies to achieve it. God provides both the vision and the means to accomplish it. Aligning our plans with God's will ensures that we are on the path to success and fulfillment. [10:42]
Bible Passage: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: Are you seeking God's will in your plans and strategies? How can you ensure that your goals align with His divine purpose for your life?
#### Day 4: God's Plans Over Ours
Description: While we can make our own plans, true success comes from aligning our plans with God's will. Proverbs 16:1 and 3 remind us that only God can provide the wise answer and that committing our works to Him leads to success. This means surrendering our desires and ambitions to God's greater plan for our lives. Personal fulfillment and true success are found in following God's direction rather than our own. It is a call to trust in God's wisdom and timing. [25:09]
Bible Passage: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)
Reflection: What plans or ambitions do you need to surrender to God? How can you commit your daily actions to align with His will?
#### Day 5: SMART Goals
Description: To achieve our goals, they must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). Habakkuk 2:1-4 teaches us to write the vision and make it plain, emphasizing the importance of clarity and patience. A well-defined vision with clear steps and timelines increases the likelihood of success. This approach helps us stay focused and motivated, ensuring that our goals are not just dreams but actionable plans that lead to tangible results. [38:23]
Bible Passage: "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: Are your current goals SMART? How can you refine your goals to make them more specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound?
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This 5-day devotional is designed to guide you through the key takeaways from the sermon, helping you to deepen your understanding and application of these principles in your daily life. May you be blessed as you seek to align your vision with God's revelation and purpose.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "So, I have to first start anything that I'm going to start with a vision of what it should look like. Everybody clear? All right, listen to some of these things that I wrote down. You will be what you see, but what you do not see, you cannot be. You will become what you behold, but what you do not behold, you cannot become." [04:07]
2. "So, let's get into this. If the product... Listen to this. If the product is deficient, then our perception and our process must be deficient also. Can we all accept that? All right. Can I read that again? If the product... If our product is deficient... See, if my goal was to lose weight and I haven't done it, I mean, no, I can't say, God, how come you didn't help me lose weight? If the goal was to become debt-free and that needle has not moved at all, I cannot go to God and say, God, why didn't you help me get debt-free? No, I got to go right back to me and look at my perception." [07:49]
3. "So, you see what he's challenging us to do? What behavior do you have his perspective on that? How you are currently living your life and the choices that you're making, is it from his perspective or your perspective? See, would I date him or her with his perspective? But my common sense tells me, hello, they look good, I look good, we might look good together. But I can tell you, the wise person told me I've been married a long time. Boy, I tell you, you end up marrying that person. This person told me, love is blind, but marriage will open your eyes wide open." [14:30]
4. "So, remember, God's not obligated to show that to everybody. He's really only obligated to show it to one person. And then that's his job to share with other people. I get to learn their hearts by how they respond to So a vision, listen to this, plus a plan, plus action, equals a spiritually productive life. Say it again. All right. I like that right there. Push me out there. A vision, let me say it that way. A vision, uh-huh, plus a plan, uh-huh. Come on, push me out there. Plus action will produce a spiritually productive life. I know he's all right. Ain't he all right? I know he's all right." [19:35]
### Quotes for Members
1. "So, I had plans for my life. But God had other plans for my life. Now, which one do you think I'm the most fulfilled in? I promise you, we were going to be successful out there at everything else that I just told you. We were going to do that at a high level, right? But it would never, ever provided the level of fulfillment that I have in Christ today." [28:54]
2. "So, let's get into this. Now, I'm going to challenge you today, right? Let's look at under letter B, point number one. Perception leads to process, and process will lead to product. And so, all of us have to self-evaluate and look at the product, which is my life, and what has my life produced. And if I'm not happy with the product, I mean, no, I can't get upset with God. I got to go back and look at my perception and then my process, because a lot of times, the end result has more to do with my perception and my process, than it did my product." [06:10]
3. "So, ultimately, your heart, what God has on his heart. Isn't that good? Spiritual vision then ultimately is getting on your heart what God has on his heart. And that only comes through spending time with him. More time I spend in the word, the more time I spend in prayer, the more I start to get on my heart what he has on his heart. Everybody clear? Yes. Less time I spend in the word of God, less time I spend in prayer, the more I get in my heart who I am. And now I start thinking and acting based off of that and not him." [16:19]
4. "God will never give you a vision about something he wants you to become without giving you the strategy to get there. How many of y'all agree with that? Online, do you agree with that today? If you agree, type in, I agree with that. Let me say it again. God will never give you vision without also giving you strategy on how to get there." [18:02]
5. "So, if you understand what Oswald Chambers was saying is, most people are serving God out of common sense and not revelation of who He is. So, they go to church, but they do everything according to their will and not His will for their lives." [04:07]
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