Today’s Scripture:
“And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. – Acts 26:14-20
“LIVING WITH KINGDOM VISION”
The overall driving force of a Kingdom life is VISION. It is not secular vision, which begins in the mind of humans (e.g. what is your career vision, or academic vision, or family vision?) but it is spiritual vision? Spiritual vision begins in the mind of God. That is a key distinction because where a vision originates determines which entity God will bless and bring to pass with certainty – yours or His. So, let’s begin to explore what the Bible says about vision, it’s purpose, and how it is manifested.
Vision is first mentioned in Genesis 15:1 where it reads, “The Lord came to Abram in a vision.” Vision was the medium or means by which God chose to communicate to Abram. Think for a moment about this: in the natural, when someone who is a lot smarter than you tries to communicate with you, they are normally speaking in a way that is beyond your capacity to understand them, right? To assist you and/or others in understanding their communication, a super-intellectual people normally will step out of their huge, complex vocabulary and break it down for us to simplify matters! In a similar way, God’s best communication to man is not in words, but in vision. When it comes to an infinite God communicating with finite humanity (“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9), God makes things much plainer for us. He breaks it down. You see, God is a masterful communicator, and He’s so good at what He does that His will forms a picture in your mind – vision!
As a term and concept, the Hebrew term for “vision” here in Genesis 15 is chazah, whose Aramaic root means “to see or to consider.” It simply means a revelation or disclosure of an unseen reality. Vision is divinely inspired and reveals to us what God intended to come to pass before creation (time) began. Through the medium of vision, God demonstrates that He can show you better than I can tell you. God communicated with Abram by disclosing to him an unseen reality. Spiritual visions require no ‘assessment,’ ‘dreaming,’ ‘engineering,’ or ‘planning’ on your part—as is done with our secular visions. It is something that has been there ALL THE TIME; thus, you do not have to come up with it – you simply have to tap-in. In my almost 35 years of ministry, I continually observe believers trying to engineer where they desire to be and how they are going to get there when God already has a vision for your life.
Visions help you staying connected to God. That is why the writer of Proverbs writes, “Where there is no vision (chazah), the people cast off restraint. But happy is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18). This passage teaches us that vision releases God’s direction, instruction, and rule in your life, which help to keep us within the protection and will of God. When you don’t have God’s intention for your life, we will cast off restraint or “run wild.” What you have got to realize is that your personal vision for yourself fights against God unknowingly as you pray to God for your vision to come to pass against His Kingdom vision for your life. This shows us the critical necessity of spiritual vision leading and directing our lives. Beloved, we are mandated to live by God’s Kingdom vision.
A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly King, I willingly submit to Your dominion, power, and control over me and that means that I willingly submit to your Kingdom vision for my life. With my whole heart, soul, and mind, I will be intentional about knowing you and making you known daily. I seek You first, and I order my desires and all else in my life around what You desire and sovereignly chose for my existence. I bind the enemy who comes to discourage me through his tactics of fear, deception, worldliness, and divination. In Jesus name, I pray – amen.
Live Kingdom-focused in 2019
Who’s vision are you living? God’s vision or your own? Oftentimes we find ourselves back in the same situations and circumstances that we swore to ourselves we’d never be in again; if we ever managed to get out of them at all. The problem may be that you’re living your own personal vision instead of the God intended one. The good news is that if and when you strive to live for God’s Vision and put Him at the front of your decision making, you can reach desired outcomes and achieve the growth and success you’ve been longing for. If you’re ready for supernatural growth through a life centered around God’s Vision Order your copy today!
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What is a vision? If you ask the average person, they might tell you “it’s a plan or the goals you have for your life.” But is this REALLY what vision is? As believers, we all want to live a prosperous and victorious life in Christ, but how do we do that and ensure we are living a life that is also pleasing to God? In this life-transforming series, Dr. Dana Carson reveals the secret to living a victorious, prosperous, and effective Kingdom life that is driven by Kingdom vision! Order your copy of this life changing series today!
