THE YEAR OF PROMISE: SEEING WHAT GOD IS REVEALING”

THE POWER OF SEEING WHAT OTHERS CAN’T

Walt and Ray didn’t know it, but they shared something rare.

Not talent.

Not opportunity.

Vision.

Two young soldiers, sleeping in bunks a few feet apart, marching the same drills, peeling the same potatoes — and neither realizing that the man beside him carried a world‑changing picture in his heart.

Walt Disney saw more than doodles.

He saw characters, stories, worlds.

He saw what didn’t exist yet — and he built it.

Ray Kroc saw more than a hamburger stand.

He saw a system, a future, a global movement.

He saw what the McDonald brothers couldn’t imagine — and he built it.

Different men.

Different timelines.

Different speeds.

But the same truth:

Vision is the ability to see what is not yet visible.

Vision is the ability to believe what is not yet built.

Vision is the ability to walk toward what God has already spoken.

And Lighthouse — that’s what God is calling us into again.

Not nostalgia.

Not maintenance.

Not survival.

Promise.

“Walt saw a mouse. Ray saw a hamburger stand. And because they had vision, the world was changed. But church — that’s just human vision. That’s what natural eyes can see. Today, I want to talk about something far greater. Because if earthly vision can build Disney World and McDonald’s, imagine what God‑given vision can build in the Kingdom. This is the Year of Promise — and promise requires vision. Not what we see with our eyes, but what God is showing our spirit.”

What is Vison? VISION IS SEEING WHAT GOD IS SHOWING

Vision: The formation of a mental image of something not yet present to the senses.

For Lighthouse, our vision remains clear:

Our church is committed to equipping believers to have an authentic relationship with God.  Through fellowship, worship and discipleship, believers will be encouraged, discipled and prayed for.  As a body we commit ourselves to sharing the hope found only in Jesus to our community, city and the world. 

But this year, in the Year of Promise, God is not just reminding us of our vision —

He is expanding it.

Deepening it.

Calling us to see further than we’ve ever seen.

Because vision is not optional.

Vision is spiritual oxygen.

MISSION — HOW WE GET THERE

Jesus gave the great commission after the

Mission is the assignment.

Vision is the picture.

Promise is the fuel.

God gives the vision.

God gives the promise.

But we walk the mission.

CORE SCRIPTURES

Proverbs 29:18 “18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint…”

Where there is no vision, the people perish…”

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves…”

Vision is not a luxury.

Vision is survival.

Habakkuk 2:1–3 NIV

1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. 2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

God says:

Write what you see.”

Write it big.”

Write it so people can run with it.”

The vision aches for the coming — it can hardly wait.”

If it seems slow… wait. It’s on the way.”

Vision is promise in written form.

THE FACTS ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL GOD‑GIVEN VISION

1. SEE THE NEED THROUGH THE LENS OF GOD’S PROMISE

Nehemiah didn’t start with a plan.

He started with a burden.

In the animated movie Robots (2005), the famous motto of Bigweld Industries is:

“See a need, fill a need.

Vision begins when you stop accepting what is broken as normal.

In our city…

In our schools…

In our families…

In our church…

The need is great.

But the promise is greater.

2. RECEIVE THE VISION THAT MATCHES GOD’S PROMISE

“Promise always precedes vision. God shows you the destination before He shows you the blueprint.”

When the king asked Nehemiah, “What do you want?”

Nehemiah didn’t answer immediately.

Because vision is not preference.

Vision is not personality.

Vision is not ambition.

Vision is revelation.

Vision is received, not invented.

Vision is birthed in prayer.

Nehemiah prayed — and God gave the vision. (Nehemiah 1:4; 2:4)

Habakkuk waited in prayer — and God said, ‘Write the vision. (Habakkuk 2:1–2)

Daniel fasted — and heaven released the vision.” (Daniel 9:3, 23)

Peter prayed — and God opened the door to the nations. (Acts 10:9–10)

The early church worshiped and prayed — and the Holy Spirit gave the assignment. (Acts 13:2)

Jesus prayed all night — and God revealed His team.”(Luke 6:12–13)

In the Year of Promise, God is asking Lighthouse the same question:

“What do you want Me to do in this house?”

And our answer must come from His presence.

Next week, we’ll discover how your gifts fit into the vision God is revealing

3. DEVELOP THE PLAN THAT ACTIVATES THE PROMISE AND THE PEOPLE

Vision is the “what.”

Mission is the “how.”

Promise is the “why.”

Nehemiah didn’t just pray — he planned.

a. Discover your purpose

It must be:

Scriptural

Simple

Sharable

Short

b. Define your target

Who has God positioned us to reach?

Who is in our community?

Who is missing from our community?

c. Decide your strategy

What must change?

What must never change?

What must change first?

Vision without strategy is fantasy.

Vision with strategy becomes promise in motion.

4. SHARE THE VISION SO THE TEAM CAN RUN WITH IT

Nehemiah didn’t keep the vision private.

A private vision can inspire you…

But a shared vision can mobilize a people.

Nehemiah understood something many leaders miss:

If God shows it to you, it’s because He wants to do it through us.

Nehemiah didn’t sit on the burden.

He didn’t hide the blueprint.

He didn’t wait until everything was perfect.

He didn’t say, “Let me get all the materials first.”

He didn’t say, “Let me make sure everyone will agree.”

No — Nehemiah spoke the vision.

He gathered the people.

He pointed at the ruins.

He named the reality.

And then he cast the vision:

He didn’t whisper it.

He didn’t hint at it.

He didn’t apologize for it.

He declared it.

Habakkuk echoes it:

Vision must be spoken.

Vision must be shared.

Vision must be repeated.

Vision must be visible.

Because people can’t run with what they can’t see.

5. THE PEOPLE TOOK THEIR PLACE AND THE WORK BEGAN

Nehemiah cast the vision — and the people responded:

“A vision becomes reality only when the people take their place.

Nehemiah didn’t build the wall alone.

The miracle didn’t happen because one man had a burden —

it happened because the people said,

‘Let us rise up and build.’

Vision is received by the leader,

but it is fulfilled by the people.

Vision becomes reality when people move.

And Lighthouse — this is our moment to move.

Not because the world is easy.

Not because the timing is perfect.

Not because everything is in place.

But because God has spoken a promise over this house.

CONCLUSION — THE YEAR OF PROMISE IS A YEAR OF VISION

This year, God is calling Lighthouse to:

See what He is revealing

Write what He is promising

Build what He is calling for

Believe for what is not yet visible

Move toward what He has already declared

Walt had vision.

Ray had vision.

But we have something greater:

We have the promises of God.

And every promise of God is an invitation to see differently, believe boldly, and build faithfully.

Now church, before we close, I want us to declare this together — because vision must be spoken.

DECLARATION 1 — “I WILL SEE WHAT GOD IS SHOWING.”

I refuse to live by what I see with my eyes. I choose to live by what God reveals to my spirit.

DECLARATION 2 — “I WILL WALK IN THE PROMISE, NOT THE PROBLEM.”

The walls may be broken, but the Builder is with me. The need may be great, but the promise is greater.

DECLARATION 3 — “I WILL BUILD WHAT GOD HAS SPOKEN.”

I am not a spectator. I am a builder. I am part of God’s team.

DECLARATION 4 — “MY GIFTS MATTER IN THIS HOUSE.”

God placed me here on purpose. My gifts are needed. My calling is real. My contribution makes a difference.

DECLARATION 5 — “THIS YEAR, I WILL STEP INTO MY PLACE.”

I will discover my gifts. I will develop my gifts. I will deploy my gifts. I will take my place on the team.

Now with that said hear this — “THE BODY OF CHRIST IS A TEAM”

This is the bridge that connects today’s vision message to next week’s Team Day:

“Church, next Sunday is more than jerseys and colors. It’s a prophetic picture of who we are. Because the church is not built on the gifts of one pastor — it is built on the gifts of the whole team.”

Then:

“Every team has a role.”

“Every role matters.”

“Every player is needed.”

“And the Kingdom wins when every believer is in their position.”

Tie it to Scripture:

“The body is not made up of one part but of many.” — 1 Corinthians 12:14

Then cast the vision:

“Next week, when you put on your team colors, I want you to remember — you are part of the greatest team on earth: the Body of Christ.”

“If we’re going to build what God is showing us… If we’re going to walk in the promises He has spoken… Then every believer must know their position.”

Then:

“Some of you are encouragers.”

“Some of you are teachers.”

“Some of you are servants.”

“Some of you are evangelists.”

“Some of you are administrators.”

“Some of you are intercessors.”

“Some of you are mercy‑givers.”

Follow with:

“You are not here by accident. You are here by assignment.”

Then introduce the spiritual gifts inventory:

ALTAR CALL

ALTAR CALL: “LORD, GIVE ME YOUR VISION”

“Church, vision begins in the heart before it ever becomes a plan. Nehemiah didn’t start with a blueprint — he started with a burden. Habakkuk didn’t start with a strategy — he started with a question. And God met both of them with a promise.”

Then:

“If you’re here today and you’re saying, ‘Lord, give me Your vision for my life… Give me Your vision for my family… Give me Your vision for my calling… Give me Your vision for this house…’ I want you to step out right now.”

Pause.

“If you’re saying, ‘Lord, I don’t want to just attend — I want to build. I don’t want to just watch — I want to serve. I don’t want to just receive — I want to contribute.’ Come.”

Pause.

“If you’re ready to step into your place on the team… If you’re ready to walk in the promise… If you’re ready to say, ‘Here I am, Lord — use me’… This altar is open.”

Then pray:

“Father, today we surrender our plans and receive Your vision. We lay down comfort and pick up calling. We refuse to live small when You have spoken promise. Awaken gifts. Stir callings. Ignite passion. And build Your church — through Your people — for Your glory.”