Once You Had Limited Vision

Once You Had Limited Vision

Once You Were Separate From God

Ephesians 2:11 - 13 says:

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 

Just as Israel had no hope without turning to God, we have no hope without turning to Jesus.

            God has always given men vision to be able to complete the task that he has laid before him.

            Isaiah 14:1 says, “The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.” Isaiah wrote this in the time when Assyrian empire had taken control of Israel, yet God gave Isaiah a vision to give hope to Israel and encouraged them to continue to work for God. Genesis 37:5 - 11 says:

 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to is brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

In God’s grace, he gave Joseph a dream. Possibly, it was this dream that Joseph continued to refer back to in his tribulations that kept him steadfast and faithful to God. God gave Joseph a dream, but his brothers hated him for his dream and even his own father rebuked him for it. Timing is everything!

            Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (KJV).” However, the New International Version breaks it down even more. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law (NIV).” In other words, without vision the people are likely to back-slide and commit sinful acts. Revelation, which is the Word of God, helps us to continue to walk in the ways of the Lord. Vision comes from the Word. If your vision does not line up with the Word of God, it is not a valid vision.

Vision is the Roadmap to Success

Vision is the Road Map to Success

 

            For hundreds of years people had tried to complete the wall, but to no success. Many of their neighbors laughed when they saw that it was going to be attempted again. There was no need to try; IT COULD NOT BE DONE! There were very few tools to use and even less material. Still, he knew that it was an undertaking that must be done. It was something that indicated independence, freedom and power. The wall must be completed, but how? So many had gone before and failed. So many had attempted the great feat and did not even get started let alone finish the project. It seemed insurmountable. Nevertheless, the wall of Jerusalem had to be completed. Nehemiah had a vision of the wall of Jerusalem being complete.

            Simply asking the authority of the age for permission could be construed as treason. Nevertheless, it was a mission that had to be completed. Nehemiah was highly trusted by King Artaxerxes, therefore, when the king recognized that Nehemiah was sad and not himself he asked what he could do to help. Nehemiah then made the request to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes not only granted his request, he sent letters of recommendation as well.

            There was much opposition to building the wall. There were not only hecklers; there were those who wanted to physically oppose it. Even so, Nehemiah started to build the wall. It got to the point that the Jews had to work with a sword strapped to their side. Nehemiah was driven by his dream. He was not only successful, but completed the wall in 52 days. How was that done? Nehemiah had each clan focus on the wall in front of them. Each clan had a mission to finish what they could see. There is great wisdom in what this story teaches.

            You will have opposition to your dream, but if you have a vision you will succeed. There will be times when your dream will seem insurmountable, but without the vision you will not complete the task. Knowing where you are going is a major part of your success. The vision will help you to overcome the failures. The vision is “the big picture.” Goal setting helps you to see mile markers completed, the vision helps you to reach for your goal.

            What is your vision for yourself? What is your vision for your church, your family, your business, your job? Do you have a vision for yourself or for the church? Are you just walking merrily along not thinking about anything except what comes your way?

            A vision without action is a pipe-dream! An action without a vision is busy work! When you have a vision and put action with it you have faith in action. Your dreams will come true.

            God has given me a vision for my radio ministry, music ministry, my family and host of other things in my life. This vision has been confirmed to me time and time again and can be summed up by stating, “Give the Gospel!” However, specifics must still be realized.

            It is time that we begin to understand what God wants us to do and how we are to complete the vision he has for us. The only way to do that is through prayer and seeking God for the specifics he has for your life. Once he has spoken his vision for your life to you, you must begin to work toward that vision.

This Will Change Your Life - It Did Mine!

http://shop.hisgospelpower.org/Gods-Promise-for-Your-Success-Study-with-Bonuses-Gods-Promise-plus-Bonuses.htm

Thank You!

Thank you for following my posts. I hope you have received many blessings from the insights of my posts. God grants you the ability to succeed. It is up to you to take the next step. That step is, "Get to Work!" I know that is a dirty word in today's society, but it is as valid today as it was thousands of years ago. Nothing happens until someone decides to do something.

It takes a decision to get started to ensure the success you are looking for. Success follows those who work for it, but success eludes those who do nothing. Some might say, "That's not true! What about those who when the lottery or inherit a lot of money." First, most will never experience those things. Second, do you actually know someone personally who has? And thirdly, that is not true success. Most people who do not work for what they have are broke within a few short years of acquiring their wealth. Why? Because they do not have the knowledge and personal growth needed to maintain and replenish what they have.

If you have been reading my blogs, then you must understand that there are many kinds of wealth. Not everything is money oriented. Nevertheless, the same principles apply to every aspect of your life. Wealth is acquired over a period of time and is a state of mind. I have been broke in my life, but have never been poor. One who is poor sees no hope for the future. He or she gives over to the life they have; never striving for anything better. Even in Matthew 6:33 its says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." There is something that must be sought to inherit the blessings of God, including the blessing of salvation.

God expects us to seek him in everything we do and he will bless us. John 6:28-29 says, "Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent'.” There is even a work that must be done to be saved. That work is to believe. The gift is free, but it must still be received.

Tomorrow, I have an offer for you that will help you to grow even more toward the successful life that you seek. I pray that you will join with me to receive this exciting offer.

How to Succeed in Everything You Do

5 Keys to a Successful Life

God HAS Given You Eternal Salvation Through Jesus

God HAS Given You Eternal Salvation Through Jesus

      Ephesians 2:8 – 10 says:

     

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If you are a Christian, the question is not if you should work; the question is, “What would God have me to do?” What is the work God would have me to do for his glory?

      The aforementioned work must be sought in everything you do; whether a brick layer or doctor, one’s work as a believer must be to bring glory to God. In this, you will have success in everything you do. 

      Those who love Christ will want to work for him; they will want to do what pleases him. If you love your husband or wife, you do not have to be forced to please him or her. You want to do what pleases them to make them happy. You even want to do what is not pleasing for yourself to honor the wishes of the one you love. 

      If your children want to go to college, you might sacrifice for them to be able to do so. If your children want something, you might work so that their dream can be fulfilled. Most people even put their own dreams aside to be able to fulfill the dreams of a loved one. The bottom line is, people will do whatever it takes for the people they love. 

      Being a Christian is no different from any other loving relationship other than the fact that it should be stronger. How much more love should one show to the one whom has given him or her everything. Instead, many take their relationship with God for granted, which shows, at the least a selfish relationship or, at most, none at all.

      2 Timothy 1:8 – 9 says:

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own  purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time . . .”

Paul said that we should proclaim boldly our salvation. We should proclaim boldly the promised grace of God for eternal salvation. The truth is not always pleasant. There are those who do not want to believe there is only one way to get to heaven. They want to come to God on their own terms. Nevertheless, Paul says that we should not be afraid of the gospel, because it is the power of God (Romans 1:16). It is power for everyone who believes.

      What is the gospel? The gospel (The Good News) is that Jesus came to this earth and walked in the flesh. He was crucified by and for sinful men. He was buried and rose from the dead on the third day. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords will be saved. Believing that Jesus is King of kings means trusting in him in everything you do.

The Gospel is For You   

If you are dead today you can be saved. You can be alive in Jesus Christ. If you are not trusting in Christ today, it is time you allowed him to be in control. It is as simple as recognizing that you cannot handle life on your own. You do not need a crutch, you need a Savior. You need guidance from the one who has walked on this earth and understand the struggles you are facing. You need someone with the promise of help who is faithful and true. You need Jesus Christ.

      Even if you face the struggles of Job, God is in control. He will see you through the test and bless you beyond measure; actually, he already has through eternal salvation given through his Son, Jesus Christ.