Sermon Tone Analysis

Catch The Vision

Text

2 Kings 6:15-

Introduction

Sears, Kodak, Blockbuster - what do they all have in common?

They lost vision!!!

Dixie Cafe, K-Mart, Radioshack

I heard a story about a church one time - a true story of a church!

When a former saint decided to finally return years later, there was only a tombstone in the place where the church had been.

The pastor and few saints finally gave up and made up the church’s grave...

I am here to talk to you today about something that has been on my heart… and it is of grave importance...

I have never preached or taught this anywhere else.

I may preach it at our church in the very near future...

There’s something that God deeply, greatly, wholly desires for us to understand today.

I don’t believe that the greatest challenge to the Apostolic Pentecostal church is a lack of knowledge of the Bible.

I don’t believe that the greatest challenge is a lack of demonstration of the Spirit.

I certainly don’t believe that there is a challenge by a lack of worship.

I don’t believe that demons and satan himself are the biggest challenge or problem that we deal with.

I could get up here and harp on a hundred and eleven different kinds of sin today… and understand me: all of these things are pertinent, they call for preaching and they all are important issues...

But what I am here today to talk about is something that if it is gotten ahold of and received from God well, it has the potential to turn a church and its city UP.

SIDE.

DOWN.

As a matter of fact, this one thing is SO IMPORTANT, that the only way that I can best express it to you is to read it to you from the Word of God verbatim, as follows:

The biggest challenge: LACK OF VISION.

Body

The Importance of Vision

I want you to notice that in this scripture...

It does not say, “Where the Pastor has no vision, the people perish,” though that is necessary.

It does not say, “Where the church board has no vision, the people perish.”

But rather, I believe the Lord said through the man of God, very generally, “Where there is no vision, the people perish!”

I would like to submit to you that it’s not enough that God would place a vision for this church in the heart of the Pastor.

YES, it is necessary!

And YES, he’s got to be committed to it!

But what I believe God is speaking this morning is that the whole church has to catch onto the vision that He has given the man of God!

Try this on for size: “Whatever you thought was the potential for this church, is no longer adequate!”

How about this: “The type of services and moves of God you’ve had in the past that you once thought were so powerful, are not going to be able to stand in comparison!”

I am on a mandate from God to challenge your eyes and your thoughts today!!!

It’s time to expand our vision!!!

WITHOUT a vision the people perish...

WITH a vision, THE PEOPLE PREVAIL!!!!!

Elisha: “Open His Eyes!”

2 Kings 6:

Psalm 34

Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see—The invisible guard of angels that encompass and defend us ().

The opening of the eyes, which Elisha prayed for, were those of the Spirit, not of the body—the eye of faith sees the reality of the divine presence and protection where all is vacancy or darkness to the ordinary eye.

The horses and chariots were symbols of the divine power (see on ); and their fiery nature denoted their supernatural origin; for fire, the most ethereal of earthly elements, is the most appropriate symbol of the Godhead [Keil].

God gives vision to the man of God!

The Pastor!

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 234).

Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.God gives vision to the man of God!

The Pastor!

He has delivered to him a plan for this church!

Can I tell you that it is a plan for revival!!!

THAT OUGHT TO EXCITE SOME HERE TODAY!

God’s Vision For You (No Matter Who You Are!)

Worshipper

God intends for you to be a worshipper!

It is what you were MADE FOR!

Psalm 103:

It’s not the most complex message that’s ever went across a pulpit, but it rings true! God wants you to be a worshipper!

It’s His vision for you!

SIDE ILLUSTRATION: Bro.

Nazarock’s bell.

Holiness

I’m not here to preach a bunch of standards today - that’s not my job, I’m not your Pastor.

But I AM here to say that God intends for you to progress far beyond that of a newborn saint!

God’s intentions are to take us from holy place to holier place, until we are to the point where one day, we are LIKE HIM!

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M LOOKING TO MOVE INTO A HIGHER GLORY TODAY!!!

Purpose (Ministry)

IMPORTANT NEWS FLASH: EVERYBODY who has the HOLY GHOST is a MINISTER!

Ephesians 4:11

Now, I don’t know what specific calling God may have placed upon your life, but I can tell you that THERE IS A CALLING on your life!

If nothing else, God has given spiritual gifts to everyone - including you!

And there are to be many more ministers in the

Conclusion

The Tapestry Story

I heard the story of a minister who was in a far away country.

He was standing in a a foreign marketplace, checking out the different items for sale.

A merchant approached him and said, “Have you seen that wonderful blanket, that tapestry that she is sewing together over there???”

He looked, and saw this ugly, horrible blanket.

“No, honestly that looks terrible.”

He came back later, and was asked again.

“It looks worse!”

He came back once more, and walked over to the woman.

“Ma’am, I’m going to be honest, this doesn’t look good at all.”

Then she turned around the blanket, to the front, and he saw the beauty of the tapestry that he did not have a vision for.

A TAPESTRY is coming together, formed by God!

We’ve got to get a vision for it!!!

We’ve got to expand our vision!!!

I’m not looking to see us buy a new bottle of oil… I’m looking to see us start buying it in gallons!!!

You are not just a saint on a pew!

You need to see what God is calling you to!

You need a fresh vision!

“Lord, help me to see the vision you have given my pastor for this church!