Vision Proverbs 29:18 (2)

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Pray:

Matthew Henry writes of this passage:

How bare does a place look without Bibles and ministers! and what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls! That gospel is an open vision, which holds forth Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Saviour, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation: and these are precious truths to keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing. [1]

I want to talk to you about what my vision is for Westside Baptist Church. This past week I was taking food and other items by the First Baptist Church here in town for the victims of the recent tornados. And I had the pleasure of getting to meet the Pastor, Brother Seth Tucker. Though I was corrected for calling him Sir and Brother. Just Seth he said to me. He kindly offered me a tour of the facilities. And while doing so, he shared with me his vision for the church that God called him to Pastor just two years ago.

I must admit that I was very impressed with him. He was super kind and I believe that we very much have a kindred spirit. He is going to come and tour Westside and best of all, he offered to buy me lunch!!!

When he asked me about my calling. I told him, well I woke up one morning with a craving for fried chicken and didn’t feel like going to work. You know he had never heard that joke?

But seriously, we talked with each other how God called us to preach. He shared with me how he wanted to remodel his church to fit his vision. And like I said. I really like the guy

Now I used to think of the word vision like a Jr High School girl daydreaming about one day getting married to her crush. Just as she sits there thinking about how dreamy Johnny is and how one day, she is going to marry him and have the big house with the wrap around porch and two kids. And that is part of what this means. For me it is how do we envision our church in the future? What are our goals as a church? But it is also, as you will see, the man of God’s leadership in providing the word of God for God’s people steering them towards Christ-like goals. In EVERY aspect of their Christian faith and walk.

For example:

During Old Testament times. The children of Israel were given guidance through the prophets. God would give His vision and His revelations to His prophets, and they would provide leadership for the children of God.

1 Samuel 3:1:

And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

God had held back the visions and the revelations that He was giving to His prophets at that time so there was no vision for Gods people.

2 Chronicles 15:3

Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

I believe that today America is suffering for a lack of teaching priests. In a Nation where cash is King, too many ministers live in fear of losing their pay day. And so, they compromise. They stay away from controversy; they tip toe around the word of God to avoid offending people. But ladies and gentlemen we are going through a process. A process whereby God chips away at self and ego and replaces it with Christ. We cannot grow unless we are willing to undergo suffering, we cannot grow unless we are willing to surrender self and ego in service to the real King and it is NOT money it is Christ. This is what Paul meant in Galations 2:20 When he said:

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.

It is human nature to avoid controversy. It is human nature to desire to avoid suffering. It is human nature to be a slave to your ego. And many Christians will pick out a church or a pastor that allows them to keep their egos intact. One that doesn’t challenge them. One that doesn’t remind them of the commandment to live separately from the world and from those who hate Christ. And the result is a lot of ear tickling ministers who always want to tell you how great you are. And sure we should exhort one another, that’s awesome. But we should NEVER look the other way and we should NEVER Condon sin. As Christians we should not be ok with violence for example. The bible says thou shalt not kill. And while we are under the blood and born again. We know that murder is wrong. Now that is an example that is easy to agree with, but all the children of God should refuse to Condon sin any form. I read this post on social media the other day and I agree with it 100%. Listen to this, it said:

First, we overlook evil.

Then we permit evil.

Then we legalize evil.

Then we promote evil.

Then we celebrate evil.

Then we persecute those who still call it evil.

The reference being Isaiah 5:20, which says:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

It is my firm conviction that the pulpits of America have let us down as a country. We have got to remember who we serve. God, not man. These things happen because the children of God lack a biblical vision.

So many of ministers are teaching, but they are not teaching truth. They are teaching feel good sermons and scratching the backs of the members. There is no truth in them, there is no power of the Holy Spirit. And that is what the previous passage is saying. That during this time there were no priests who were teaching the vision of Almighty God. And as a result, the law was not known to Gods children.

Ezekiel 7:26

Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

Amazing how current the bible is even today. Rumor upon rumor. The internet is filled with rumors. Don’t believe everything you read or see on the internet. Do not believe everything you see on television. Don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper. Rumor on rumor. Recently the Biden administration announced that they were going to start a disinformation board. Hmmm. Because you know the government wants to protect us from truth. I mean disinformation. Isn’t it amazing how current the bible always is? So many rumors, so much disinformation how can someone possibly know what is true? (Pick up your bible) Hmmm.

Then it says: then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

They needed a word from God. They needed to hear from His prophets. But the Lord in His judgement to the disobedience and wickedness had chosen at that time to not give the revelation to the men of God to give to the people. So, they were given over to rumor and speculation. And that is going on today.

Psalm 74:9 Asaph is the author of this psalm and not David. And it says:

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

There was no prophet there, there was nobody to feed them Gods word. There was no leader from the Lord to provide the leadership that the people needed.

By the way. Asaph wrote this Psalm before the Babylonian captivity and during the Chaldean invasion. Asaph was one of three “music directors” he oversaw the music for Israel, and he wrote 12 of the Psalms. After the captivity God sent prophets to Israel: Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, Haggai and Malachai.

Now Listen to me carefully:

A church is a place where a man of God boldly preaches and teaches Gods word. In all its applications. It is not a place preoccupied with music, theatre, programs, band, social events, and sporting events, etc. The purpose of the church is for the people of God to assemble so that they can hear the man of God empowered by the spirit of God, to go out and do the work of God. That is the purpose of church.

Churches today have laser light shows and smoke and mirrors and entertainment and all sorts of music for at least 45 minutes followed by about 20 minutes of someone coming out and giving a feel-good message. And nobody has heard a word from God. Folks that is NOT church.

I remember years ago when one of my former favorite ministers said the following: Anyone can preach. You don’t need to be called by God. Just get up and preach. I cannot agree with that statement. If a man is not called by God, he cannot be an effective minister. It’s funny I was talking to brother David, I mean Virgil. I’m never gonna let that go. And I asked him did God call you to be a Sunday school teacher and he said Yes. Now brother Virgil is a very considerate guy as you all know. And sometimes he will say I am kind of preaching this and then he looks at me and says sorry Pastor. And I said brother I want a Sunday school teacher who is passionate. If you aren’t passionate about the Lord Jesus Christ, then you have no business in any church ministry.

Sometimes my passion gets the better of me too. Next thing you know I’m hollering and getting all red in the face and carrying on. Nothing wrong with getting carried away with passion for Gods word.

But we have got to have a man of God, preaching the word of God. The last thing this country needs is yet another so called church doing nothing but shameful exhibition. Again, I say that is NOT church. If it is filled with carnality, materialism, and cowardice to preach. Emotional appeals, no resistance to wickedness. Then no that’s not a church. Where do we as children of God come to be reminded of our vision in service to Christ? When even our churches have become like the world?

Never in the history of the United States has the church been weaker than it is today. It is impotent. The church of America historically has always been the strongest resistance to evil. But today that is rare. Our churches should be ashamed of themselves for trading in the power of God for a laser light show, and and these powerless so-called preachers.

Something else that has added to our society’s lack of vision. Sporting events. 70-100K people will show up to watch a football game on Saturdays in the South. Hollering and screaming and carrying on with painted faces as if they were going to war. But all they really do is watch a meaningless game. Imagine if we had that kind of enthusiasm for serving Christ. Some people get offended when church people get too excited!!! They say it’s not very dignified to carry on like that in church. Yet the very same people holler their lungs out cheering for an insignificant football game. By the way sports are something we take part in, not something we watch. Sports were never supposed to be a spectator event. They were designed for us to stay in shape physically. And the way people worship these athletes is sickening to me. If we had 60k people here every Sunday donating to the house of God, can you imagine what we could do for our communities?

Imagine if that many people came together every Saturday to rally for our God given constitutional rights? Imagine if that many people came together every Saturday to feed the poor? Our visions have been stolen from us and replaced with things that are inconsequential.

Grown men sitting around all day on sports message boards stressing out over where some high school kid is going to attend college.

The apostle Paul said. When I was a child I spake as a child, I acted as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish thing. The men in America need to grow up. Life isn’t a game. Our freedom is under attack. Our churches are under attack. Our communities are under attack. And what are these men doing? Obsessing over a game. With everything that needs to be done in this country. We waste our time on games.

Again, grown men whose vision is obsessing over beating Alabama in football. All while Rome burns around us. We must regain a Godly vision to have a Godly future. Our history is being stolen from our children. Tearing down statues of our founding fathers. And all our so called men only care about a game. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with having hobbies. What I am saying is we need to have some perspective on what is important.

I want to talk to you today about my vision for Westside Baptist Church. So if you will, turn with me to Matthew 25:35

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Notice here Jesus never says when you saw that I was broke you gave me money. And I’m at least somewhat certain that Jesus spoke about money as much as or more than anything else. For example, render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and render unto God that which is God’s. There have been times when I have felt led to give money to those who are in need. But often I worry if that money will contribute to that person’s demise. What if they took that money and got so drunk that they died? What if they took that money and bought fentanyl and died from an overdose? It would hurt me to know that I contributed to that type of thing.

So, let me be more specific about my vision for Westside.

Can you envision that broke down old building beside us as a restaurant? Not just any restaurant but the type of restaurant that offers soup, soap, and salvation. Now remember we would be feeding Jesus. Right? So my vision is a very nice restaurant where paying customers are giving a donation menu where they donate money to the cause of feeding the poor, just by eating with us. And since we are a 5013C we can offer them a tax write off for that donation. But the homeless and the needy, they eat for free. And they are seated by a hostess and waited on by a waitress. And fed food that is so good that the public is not only willing to pay for it, but willing to pay extra. We should be feeding the homeless the best possible food. Why? Two reasons.One is because we are feeding Christ. Isn’t that what this verse says? Second because many of the homeless are in a battle with mal-nutrition. And often times they are self medicating a condition that could be greatly improved with the proper diet. I have a slogan posted to my refrigerator door to remind me and I have no idea who came up with this quote but it is true, it says;

“Food can be the most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison. And when diet is wrong , medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”

And if that goes well. Then we take the proceeds and build housing for the homeless. And then we offer career counseling and Christian counseling for them. Not Freudian counseling. That’s useless and ungodly. Christian counseling.

I don’t ever want any part of Arkansas to become like the tent cities that are out west. Where there are needles from drug use everywhere. Where people are using the bathroom in the streets. And the real reason communities become like that is they have refused to have a Godly vision. In those communities God has long been forgotten. In those communities God’s ways have been replaced with Government ways and socialism. The churches there failed them. We need a vision that comes from God. And we need to show the less fortunate in our communities that they have not been forgotten.

So many of them know no other way to treat their pain but through drugs and alcohol. But we know there is a better way to not only endure suffering but to enjoy it. And we need to teach them by example.

Now if you share my vision for Westside Baptist, and for helping those who are less fortunate then I’d like to ask you to do one very easy thing for me. Just one simple thing. You ready?

Every single time you go to put your tithes and offerings into the offering plate. I want you to pray: Father, I pray that the money I give this morning would go towards feeding the poor and helping people in need.

I know now that it seems we are a long way from that. We have a lot to do, but never forget. Little is much when God is in it.

That is my vision as Pastor of Westside. There is a lot we need to do here. We need to take care of the house of God. And we need to take care of our community. I sincerely hope that every single one of you here today shares my vision. I will close this morning with one of my favorite poems. One that I have quoted before. And love because it truly sums up what I believe to be the best expression of what it truly means to be a child of God.

Quoting Charles D Meigs:

1. Lord, help me live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way That even when I kneel to pray My prayer shall be for others.

o Refrain: Yes, others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be; Help me to live for others, Help me to live for others, That I may live like Thee, That I may live like Thee.

2. Help me in all the work I do To ever be sincere and true, And know that all I’d do for You Must needs be done for others.

3. Let “Self” be crucified and slain And buried deep: and all in vain May efforts be to rise again, Except to live for others.

4. So when my work on earth is done, And my new work in heav’n’s begun, I’ll praise You for the crown I’ve won, But praise You more for others.

That’s my vision for Westside. A ministry of love and compassion. A ministry of truth and wisdom. A ministry that reaches out to the less fortunate and empowers them to be independent. A ministry that follows the precepts of the word of God and makes our corner of the world just a little bit better for it. A ministry that lays up treasure in heaven and not on earth.