Habakkuk 2:2,3Proverbs 29:18

Helen Keller was asked, “What would be worse than being blind?” she replied,

“Having sight without a vision.”

We can’t help how we came into this world, but we can help how we leave it.

I. WHEN WE HAVE A VISION IN GOD’S HOUSE WE ARE PROVIDED

WITH GREAT BENEFITS

A. A VISION CLARIFIES DIRECTION

“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for

your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get side tracked.”

Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLB)

BOTH THE HUMMINGBIRD AND THE VULTURE FLY OVER OUR NATION’S

DESERTSHummingbird Vulture

• Ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals

• Look for the colorful blossoms

• Live on what is• Seek new life• Finds what he is looking

for

• Rotting meat of dead animals

• Lives on what was• Finds what he is looking

for

B. A VISION INVITES UNITY

“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony

with each other-each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join

together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 15:5,6

About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast

of America

First year – established a town

Second year – elected a town government

Third year – planned a road 5 miles westward

Fourth year - the people tried to impeach the government

C. A VISION FACILITATES FUNCTION

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…”

Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

Satan’s greatest attack on our vision is our attitude.

EXAMPLE

Joshua and Caleb

Numbers 14:6-9

Optimist or Pessimist?

HAVING A VISION IS LOOKING ON GOD’S SIDE

Finding the vision God has for us takes time and prayer.

What if the vision God gives is not

the vision we would have chosen?

We need to put into motion

ministries that facilitate our vision.

“While the church can grow without small groups, small groups cannot grow without the church.”

Ken Houts

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth…”

D. A VISION PROMPTS PASSION

Hebrews 12:1-3

Putting a vision into action involves other people.

When Paul says, “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses...” he is demonstrating to us those in the past had a passion for God and ministry. They have shown a life of faith and running

the race with endurance can be done.

Our passion now will promote passion

to the next generations to come.

EVERETT ASSEMBLY OF GOD

• We are producing 39% move visitors than the national average for a church our size.

• We have around 100 visitors a year• Our retention percentage is 4%

We are in need to show our visitors more passion.

E. A VISION PROVIDES PURPOSE

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6

The most hopeless people in the world are those who recognize that they have a problem, but have no vision from

God about how to solve that problem.

Those with a vision end up somewhere on purpose.

Purpose helps to create confidence.

F. A VISION MOTIVATES GIVING

II Corinthians 9:6-8

Barna Research tells us that when the 911 attacks occurred there was no lasting change in people’s religious practices.

“The fact that we saw no lasting impact from the most significant act of war against our country on our own soil

says something about the spiritual complacency of the American public.”

When we have a vision we feel the need and

respond in giving ourselves to the cause.

II. WHEN WE HAVE A VISION IN GOD’S HOUSE IT BREEDS ABILITY THAT

SUPERSEDES OUR HUMAN ABILITIES

A. A VISION GIVES THE CHURCH THE ABILITY TO SEE BEYOND OUR OWN WORLD INTO A

SPIRITUAL WORLD

Hebrews 11:24-27

Moses had a spiritual vision.

He was not to look at the physical, but to look with the spiritual.

To see the unseen we have to…

Ignore what people say

Disregard what the world says

Don’t be controlled by the logical

Walk by faith, not by sight

B. A VISION OF THE CHURCH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH TO

LEVELS BEYOND OUR OWN ABILITY

Romans 4:18-26

Faith is the food that visions live on.

Factors that influence our service for God

for which we have no control over

Background

Age

Giftedness

C. A VISION OF THE CHURCH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO

FORWARD IN SPITE OF OUR FEARS

Courage is going forward in spite of fear.

God asked our Bible heroes to attempt the impossible.

What if the Bible heroes did not want to

move beyond their comfort zones.?

The biggest Goliath in our lives is our self.

“The road ahead is paved with good intentions.”

“Vision is the ability to see what others can’t.”

“Faith to believe what others will not.”

“Courage to do what others say can’t be done.”

Author Unknown

THE COURAGE OF A VISION IS TO SAY…

• “Lord if that is you let me come to you walking on the water.”

• “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

• “If God be for us, who can be against us.”

• “The trials of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory of the next life.”

When God’s people who attend His house have a vision it BENEFITS because it clarifies direction, invites unity,

facilitates function, promotes passion, provides purpose, and motivates giving.

When God’s people have a vision it BREEDS ability that supersedes our human abilities. It gives us the ability to see beyond our own world into the spiritual world. It gives us the ability to strengthen our faith to levels

beyond our ability. And it gives us the courage to go forward in spite of our fears.