Vision (Proverbs 29:18)

Start different.

A letter from daughter in college to here parents...

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know it has been a few months since the last time I contacted you here at school, so I wanted to catch you both up on how things have been going. (It would probably be best if you are sitting down)

I will get right to the point and let you know that I have dropped out of college. The last few months have been quite the adventure since I met Victor. We have done some traveling together and have had many joy-filled moments already.

I am excited to say that we plan to be married next month. We would get married sooner, but currently, Victor is waiting for his parole to be finished and his divorce to be official in 29 days, but who is counting. (Smiley face)

The timing for the wedding will be perfect because I should not be showing with my pregnancy. This leads me to my third bit of news. We found out that we are pregnant!

We are not sure where we are going to live because Victor says he has not had a stable living situation since he got out of prison. But I am sure we will figure something out, though.

Now that I have brought you up to date with everything that has been happening, I want to say that I am still in college, there is no Victor, and I am not pregnant. But, I did fail my history class this semester.

I thought that telling you the other possibilities that could happen in my life would give you both a good perspective that your daughter’s failing grade in history is not so bad…

Love Jessica

Perspective…

(Optimistic) Family

(Negative) Life

We all have perspectives…

The goal is to see things through a Kingdom lens.

(Goal for this year to be in the Bible everyday)

Perspective of the Kingdom… (We need to be in God’s Word) Amen!

Today is the last day of 2023…

2023 Some Up and Downs… (Surprises)

Our church has experienced many changes.

Going into 2023 probably no one would have expected to have almost an entire new staff by the end of the year.

Starting the new year of 2023 I would never had thought that we would be moving from Wisconsin...

Things had to happen… (Evil activity)

If that did not happen we would not be here...

The verse that Em and I held onto was...

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

When we came out here Josh prayed that over Em and I which I do not believe was a coincidence.

It’s having the right perspective of knowing that God does not cause evil

but rather works in evil circumstances.

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)

20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

This last year some have gone through some very difficult valleys...

Going into a new year,

I can’t help but wounder how God is going to use your difficult circumstances to propel you to his perfect plan for you life.

We as a local church has gone through some storms.

And I know that some of the storms have been painful and difficult.

It’s ok to acknowledge the pain and hurt that we have gone through.

But I believe it is important to have the right perspective in knowing that that pain is apart of your story and your pain will be used to bring glory to God.

Frank Peretti writes,

“God does not waste an ounce of our pain or a drop of our tears; suffering doesn't come our way for no reason, and He seems efficient at using what we endure to mold character. If we are malleable, He takes our bumps and bruises and shapes them into something beautiful.”

I firmly believe that we are going into a season that is going to be extremely fruitful.

There is not a doubt in my mind that God has a plan and is working.

2023 I believe has been preparation for 2024.

It has been a long time since I had as much excitement going into a new year as I do this year.

I don’t say that lightly...

Snow tunnel Wisconsin...

(little bit of light before the Breakthrough)

In these next few weeks I am going to laying ground work in the vision of our church and the foundation we need to be build on.

How many know that without a solid foundation we can build fast but eventually it will break? (Amen)

Building a Culture.... (Same vision) (Good Foundation)

Next week I am going to be starting a series called foundation that I am very excited about.

Today I want to focus on vision.

Today is going to be an intro of sorts of what we are going to be diving into the next few weeks.

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV 1900)

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

1. Visionary vs Reactionary

Vision

Reaction

A good leader set’s a vision that is unmovable

Whereas a bad leader reacts and changes direction in an instant

People with vision do not look for immediate growth but rather lasting fruit.

(anyone can grow weeds quick)

(takes diligence and execution from a gardener to produce fruit)

People with no vision and just react will do anything for quick growth.

(shotgun)

You can tell someone who has long term vision vs someone with no long term vision…

(quick fix)

People with no vision will change because of one person says something against the plan...

(Example)

Vision needs to be set by God...

Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

How did he get the vision...

Habakkuk 2:1 (ESV)

1 I will take my stand at my watchpost

and station myself on the tower,

and look out to see what he will say to me.

Habakkuk stationed himself...

Are you stationing yourself to hear the vision....

Once we get the vision we need to not deviate from it....

The devil will do anything possible to have you lose vision.

Devils purpose is to...

John 10:10 (ESV)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

“With no vision my people parish”

(The devil wants you to lose your vision)

Send people...

Intimidation (Strike Fear)

manipulation (Strike confusion)

The devil wants us to be always reacting instead of attacking.

When we are only reacting,

we will not carry out God’s vision for our lives.

Hitting softball

When we are always on the defensive we cannot go and posses the land God has given us...

The church has become a people who are always responding to evil

instead of a people who are setting the vision of what is good and true.

2. Thermostat vs Thermometer

The thermostat sets the temperature

whereas the thermometer tells you what the temperature is

Difference (Anyone can tell the temperature)

Not unique to see a problem

But it is unique to bring solution

Thermometer’s go to the level of temperature the environment is at...

Romans 12:2a (ESV)

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

Thermometer’s conform

Thermostats transform

When there is no set vision we will always conform to those who are around us.

When there is a vision we will bring transformation to those who are around us.

Verizon Shoot… Story

When you set the temperature people may not like it but they will respect it.

Dad respected man on campus…

When we are people of vision we will be prophetic voices to the world around.

God rose up prophets… (Never lost sight of the vision of God)

Revelation of the Word

I have to ask you a question...

is what you say on a regular basis something you are regurgitating from the news outlets you follow and the people you follow?

or

is what you say on a regular basis come from a well spring of what God is reveling to you through His Word and His revelation for your life?

Thermostat or Thermometer

When we have vision from God we will always be ready to carry out that vision each and every day which will set the temperature in whatever environment we are in.

(Visionaries set the temperature that is good)

3. Voice vs Echo

A story goes that a group of pastors got together to discuss ministry. (Discuss Strategies)

One of the Pastor’s said...

“you know if we want to grow our church’s and have more influence in our communities,

we need to learn how to be politicians.”

We have to please people and learn to “go along to get along.”

And old wise pastor stood up and said...

What you said might have some truth in it...

But it also exposes the problem...

(looked around the room)

I think we have plenty of politicians behind our pulpits...

Plenty of people who will echo what people want to hear...

So I really don’t think we need any more politicians...

What we need more men behind the pulpits who are Statesmen.

Statesmen will stand by themselves.

They will stand for what they value instead of going off the temperature in the room.

We have plenty of people who can give a good echo to make people feel good.

But we have far to few,

who will be a voice to this generation.

Proverbs 9:10a (ESV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

To carry out the vision God has for you life,

You must fear the Lord not man.

To set the temprature wherever you are at,

you need to have a fear of the Lord not of man.

To be a voice and not an echo,

you must have a fear of the Lord not a fear of man.

We cannot be a voice if we are always afraid to offend someone

We cannot be a voice if we are more concerned about what others will think about us rather then what God says about us.

A voice of truth will stand against the crowd because he or she knows the vision God has for their life.

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego...

Joshua and Caleb....

These men where voices not echo’s

Perspective....

Now we finish out this service and the new year.

May we have the perspective that this year has been preparation for us to carry the vision God has for our lives.

Our perspective to know that this last year has equipped me to be a thermostat.

That I am ready to set the temperature wherever God places me.

This last year has lunched me to understand that I need to be a voice and not an echo.