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VISION UNLIMITED
Proverbs 29:18
Sunday Morning Sermon
May 16, 1999
Fair Ave Baptist Church
Text: Prov. 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish...”
Over the past several months we have been introducing the Vision Unlimited Ministry to our Church.
I introduced it to our men back in October and we talked about it for several weeks. I called Bro. Gomez and we talked about the program and set the wheels in motion.
I appreciate the men who have been involved in the Vision Unlimited Ministry from the start. I appreciate the willingness of our men to move forward for the Lord.
I appreciate Bro. Tim for stepping forward and volunteering to be the Vision Unlimited Chairman.
You have heard his testimony and the testimony of others and how that each and every one of them wants to do something for the Lord.
And that is what Vision Unlimited is,
a movement forward for the Lord,
a movement for the future.
A people without a vision from God will slowly perish, but we have a clear message from God and a dream in our hearts to reach people for Christ.
I got the idea for this message from Dr. David Bouler, pastor of the Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What is Vision Unlimited?
1. STEP ONE IS THAT OUR VISION COMES FROM GOD
Acts 26:13-19
Our Biblical illustration here is the Apostle Paul, a man who set out to destroy the church.
But on his way to Damascus with letters of persecution, he met the Lord Jesus face to face.
In Acts 26:13-19, Paul shares his testimony with King Agrippa.
Look at VERSE 19, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”
Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
God wants us to call to Him,
He wants to answer us,
He wants to shew us great and mighty things,
But it all starts with a vision.
Vision Unlimited is of God.
The very title explains it, “VISION....Unlimited.”
It is a vision of the future,
It is a vision of what God can do,
It is a vision of what God wants to do.
It is a Biblical based stewardship program that God has blessed and is blessing.
2. STEP TWO IS THAT WE PONDER GOD’S VISION
Luke 2:18-19
Our example here is Mary, the young lady who had lived a pure life and was available to be used of God to bring forth Jesus.
As the shepherds worshipped the new babe and made known God’s appearance to them by the angels, and the good news which the angel of the Lord had shared, Mary “pondered” all these things in her heart.
The word “ponder” in the Greek is sumballo.
It means “to consider carefully, to evaluate and weigh, and to consult with oneself.”
As God began to put this dream of Vision Unlimited in the hearts of our men you could see the “pondering.”
We began to meditate upon it,
Pray about it,
Think about it,
But most importantly,
We began to see it as God sees it.
Each man in those early meetings,
Each man in the early planning stages,
And now, many of you,
We wonder in our hearts,
Could this be?
Could God use me in such a way?
Can I tell you that our dear Lord has a plan,
a purpose,
and a place for each one of us.
We must seek Him and follow Him with all of our hearts to do His will.
Step One - We Realize That Our Vision Comes From God
Step Two - We Ponder God’s Vision
3. STEP THREE IS OWNERSHIP OF THE VISION
Our example here is David the shepherd boy.
Saul disobeyed God and lost his privilege to be God’s king (I Sam. 15:11).
God then sent Samuel the prophet to the house of Jesse to provide a new king. (I Sam. 16:1)
Samuel anointed David as the King of Israel.
Step One has just occurred in David’s life - the vision comes from God.
Then David goes back to the sheep, not to the palace.
There was time for Step Two - he pondered God’s vision.
Then God continues to work in David’s life.
In I Samuel 17 we read the story of David and Goliath.
The children of Israel were “dismayed and greatly afraid.” (I Sam. 17:11)
In fact, they were “sore afraid.” (V. 24)
But, now we see David’s ownership of the vision.
David had been anointed to lead Israel.
The Spirit of God was upon his life (I Sam. 16:13).
There was no way David could turn and run.
To run was to deny his anointing.
To run was to offend the Spirit of God.
David stepped forward and told them that he would fight Goliath.
And David says, “Is there not a cause?” (V. 29)
We need to ask ourselves that same question today, “Is there not a cause?”
We make it personal.
The cause becomes your cause.
When we get to the point where we DO realize there is a cause, we have assumed ownership of the vision.
When you take ownership of God’s vision for your life and it grips your soul,
IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU EVER AGAIN TO BE LESS THAN THE PERSON GOD INTENDS FOR YOU TO BE!
Step One - We Realize That Our Vision Comes From God
Step Two - We Ponder God’s Vision
Step Three - We Make It Personal And Take Ownership Of The Vision
4. STEP FOUR IS THE ACTIVE SEEKING OF THE VISION
Joshua 14:12
Our example here is Caleb.
Caleb was a man who walked with God by faith in days of disobedience.
When Israel refused to go into the promised land, Caleb encouraged them to believe God and go.
Because of Caleb’s faith, he was allowed to survive the forty years of wilderness wanderings when everyone else died except for Joshua.
As the children of Israel prepared to go into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua, we hear Caleb’s request.
Caleb wanted the mountain that was given to him by God.
He was actively seeking it and ready to pay the price.
There was a hunger in his heart for the dream.
He was tired on wandering in the wilderness.
He was tired of sand in his shoes.
He was ready to put effort, energy, time and expense into seeing it come true.
We, at Fair Ave Baptist Church, want to move forward in the dream and vision that God has for us that we may touch our city and area for Christ.
Step One - We Realize That Our Vision Comes From God
Step Two - We Ponder God’s Vision
Step Three - We Make It Personal And Take Ownership Of The Vision
Step Four - We Actively Seek The Vision
5. STEP FIVE IS THE HANDLING OF CRITICISM
Our examples here are David’s brothers in I Sam. 17:28.
There are people who feel ordained of God to shoot holes in your dreams.
Dr. Bouler calls them the “cold water brigade.” They want to drench your fire with cold water.
They say, “Surely you don’t think you can do that?”
And believe it or not, a lot of people hope you fail.
Because, if you succeed, you convict them of their apathetic and backslidden condition.
The greatest battle comes AFTER you get the vision and dream.
Nehemiah had Sanballat and Tobiah.
Paul had the Judiazers who followed on his heels.
Moses had to deal with Korah.
And Vision Unlimited has had more than it’s share of the “cold water brigade.”
But, God is going to bless.
God is going to do great and mighty things.
Our best days are before us!
Step One - We Realize That Our Vision Comes From God
Step Two - We Ponder God’s Vision
Step Three - We Make It Personal And Take Ownership Of The Vision
Step Four - We Actively Seek The Vision
Step Five - We Have To Handle The Criticism
6. STEP SIX IS THE RECEIVING OF THE VISION
II Tim. 4:7-8
Our example here again is the Apostle Paul at the end of his life.
He had touched the world for his dear Lord.
Churches were growing and preaching across the Roman empire.
Notice what he told Timothy, the young preacher.
If we will keep on for Jesus,
If we will press on to the mark,
If we will run the race,
We shall receive the reward.
One day that vision,
That dream,
WILL BE SIGHT.
Here at Fair Ave Baptist Church we are dreaming a dream for God.
We are following that heavenly vision.
Plans have been completed after several years of study and discussion.
We have divided that dream into three phases.
We want to build a new auditorium and renovate this auditorium into classroom space.
We want to remodel our Nursery and Toddler rooms.
We want to pave our parking lots.
Several years ago, it was a vision,
Today, it is a dream,
In a few short years, it will be a reality.
Let’s close with Eph. 3:20-21.
Pray for us as we pursue this heavenly vision from the Lord.
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