Write the Vision

Opening

Who would like to be part of something big?

A Pilot and a Pastor

Super Mega Busy “June” - Apologize

Honeymoon is over - This June also marks my 2nd year of service to the Lord through Agape

When the church confirmed my calling by ordaining me last June 18, you affirmed your trust in me

I am reciprocating today by affirming to the church that I’ am willing to give my life for Agape

John 10:11–12 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Who would like to be part of something big?

Saddleback Church vs. Agape Church of San Diego

Both are founded in 1980 (September 29)

Saddleback has Pastor Rick from its planting and up to this day - Agape has me as the 8th Pastor

They plateua

They plateaued from 2005-2010 - Agape for sure has plateaued at some point, and then obviously declined

Saddleback has 25,500 attendance - Agape has 55 including children

Opportunities are in our future, but lessons are in the past

Do you think there are things we need to change in our church?

Who among you truly loves Jesus?

Who would like to be part of something big?

Change

Similarity between a Pilot and a Pastor

Both their jobs are a matter of life & death

Airline manifest still counts passengers using “soul” as unit

Changing the direction or heading, when done “fast” terrifies the people on board

Before take off, the Pilot will always announce the destination

In the same manner, the Pastor has to make it clear to the church where he’s taking them

Text Habakkuk 2:1-3

Prophet Habbakuk (600 B.C.) asked the Lord two questions in midst of wickedness & injustice:

How long must I call for help but you don’t listen?

How can God possibly use the forces of evil to carry out his holy judgments?

Habakkuk 2:1 ESV

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, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

Watchmen were stationed at the the highest part of a city wall to warn people of impending danger

As watchmen, prophets were to communicate the divine message to the people

Habakkuk 2:2–3 ESV

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Agape’s Vision

“To Glorify God by building communities that are spiritually healthy, morally upright, physically fit, mentally alert, emotionally happy and financially stable. To share His love to the unchurched, unloved, uninspired, unmotivated and specially to the believers of Jesus Christ.”

“To Glorify God by building communities that are spiritually healthy,

Glorify God

1 Peter 4:16 ESV

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Spiritually Healthy

3 John 2 NLT

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.

morally upright, physically fit, mentally alert, emotionally happy and financially stable.

Morally Upright

2 Peter 1:5 NLT

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,

Physically Fit

Agape’s Mission

1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

To share His love to the unchurched, unloved, uninspired, unmotivated

Mentally Alert

1 Peter 1:13 NIV

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

“Making disciples to save the lost. Planting churches to share the gospel. Sending disciples do the same.”

and specially to the believers of Jesus Christ.”

“Making disciples to save the lost.

Planting churches to share the gospel.

Sending disciples do the same.”

Emotionally Happy

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1 Peter 3:10 NLT

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

Matthew 5:3 NIV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

Financially Stable

God sees the hearts and thoughts of people

Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Genesis 6:5 ESV

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Share His Love

John 13:34–35 NIV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Especially to the Believers

Galatians 6:10 NIV

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Vision is not the “ability” to see the future, vision is the ability to see the opportunity and move on

The physical vision of human beings

Surfer waiting for the right waves

It is given and can be taken by God

Let’s not pray for the Lord to bless what we’re doing, but instead, let’s pray that He make us part of what He is doing

Now, who wants to be used by God? come forward…

We need to move people from “crowd” to “core”

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Lay hands, pray and anoint with oil those who responded to the call to serve...

See also ; ;

Jesus Christ restores the sight of the blind

Luke 4:18 NIV

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

See also ; ;

Physical sight diminishes with age

; ; ; ; ; Ecc 12:2-5 is an allegory on ageing. It gives a graphic description of a person’s progressive deterioration.

Physical vision has its dangers

It can create fear

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It gives rise to temptation

1 John 2:16 NIV

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

Christians are to live by faith rather than by sight

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

See also ; ; ;

Visions of God

Examples of those who saw God

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God’s people will see him

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See also ; ; ;

Spiritual vision

Seeing used metaphorically for spiritual insight

2 Kings 6:17 NIV

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

See also ; Jerusalem was called “the Valley of Vision”, possibly ironically, for although God spoke through his prophets and dwelt there, its inhabitants lacked insight; ; ; ; ;

Spiritual insight given in dreams or visions

Acts 2:17 NIV

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; Daniel’s dream of four beasts; ; Daniel’s vision of a man; ; Peter’s vision; Paul’s vision of the man of Macedonia; ;

The OT prophets had visions from God

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False prophets in the OT lacked true vision

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