Vision

[0:00] Romans 15 I want to talk on the theme of the vision that we can have as a church.

[0:17] ! And by vision we think of seeing things. The vision if you like is seeing things from a new perspective. It's looking ahead in faith. That's what we want to be as a church.

[0:29] Looking ahead. But most of all looking unto the Lord. To see where He wants us to be. To see what He wants us to be doing. And as a church we want to have a Biblical vision. A vision that's Bible based. A God imparted vision.

[0:43] That's what is most vital. And to dream God's kind of dreams. To understand God's dimension. What is God saying for my life? For us as a corporate body of people?

[0:55] What is God's destiny that He wants me to fulfill? How can I respond in faith and action and courage? Someone has said about vision. Attempt something so impossible.

[1:06] That if God is not in it. It is doomed to fail. We want to be stepping out in faith into the future. And fulfill what God's vision is for us as a church.

[1:18] So there's three aspects I've chosen as a church that we can look forward to fulfilling. And I believe they're God honouring purposes. God honouring things.

[1:30] That these things could be a part of our future together. Biblical priorities. And there are three. Learning, living and loving. Learning, living and loving.

[1:41] Romans 15, 4. Firstly, learning. How can we as a church grow in our learning? How can we learn?

[1:52] How can we grow in our learning? Romans 15, 4 it says, For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

[2:06] The Bible's written for our learning. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. God wants us to be learners. The word disciples means learners.

[2:19] Disciples are learners. This is for our learning. And we want to be disciples. I know that some especially in our needs too, they're not present, but have got a real desire for biblical discipleship.

[2:34] I likewise share that. I think it's something that's critical for us as a church. To be a disciple. To be a church that disciples. Our Lord says to go and make disciples.

[2:46] What does it mean? What does it mean to be a disciple? It means to be a learner. Someone put it like this. The Greeks were disciples of philosophy. They had philosophy as that which they learned.

[2:58] The Pharisees were disciples of procedures. Everything just had to be down pat and just sowed. The zealots of the time were disciples of protest. They wanted to protest.

[3:09] That was their ambition, their object. The disciples of Christ. What is our mission? What is our learning? As disciples of Christ we want to be learners of Him.

[3:21] We want to learn Him. We want to learn Christ. We want to learn of Him. We're called to be disciples, to be learners. And I believe the biblical model of a church is that there is learning.

[3:33] It's a place of learning. It's a people who are learning together. It's a commitment to learning. To solid doctrine. To sound discipleship. Free from fans and extremes.

[3:44] And practically expressed. To be learning the word. And applying the word. For all of us to be learners. Disciples, students. To be receptive. To be teachable.

[3:55] To be maturing together. Learning together. Learning of Christ. And learning in sound doctrine. And we need that as a church. I believe it's an area we need to pick up on. As a church.

[4:06] To take God at His word. To have that stronger devotion to the word of God. And some of the characteristics of biblical learning. Of biblical discipleship. We see in the gospels. For example.

[4:17] John 8. 31. John 8. 31. 32. The Lord Jesus says. To the Jews. Which believed on Him. He says. If ye continue in my word.

[4:29] Then are ye my disciples indeed. If ye continue in my word. Then are ye my disciples indeed. Certainly. Truly. Absolutely.

[4:40] Disciples. Those who continue in His word. And then he says. And ye shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you. Free. Free. Amen. Let's say that together.

[4:51] And ye shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you. Free. There's freedom in Christ. As we continue in His word. We shall be disciples indeed. As we sit at His feet.

[5:02] As Mary did. As we sit at His feet. Our Lord's feet. As we hear His word. As we hear the word. Of the Lord Jesus. As we continue in His word. In Matthew 11.29.

[5:14] The Lord addresses the disciples. He says. Take my yoke. Upon you. And learn of me. Learn of me. For I am meek. And lowly.

[5:25] In heart. And ye shall find rest. Unto your souls. We want to learn. Of the Lord Jesus. To learn more. Of Him. To learn more about Him. To learn to know Him. To learn to follow Him.

[5:37] Someone has said. It does not take much of a man. To be a Christian. But it takes all there is. Of Him. That's being a disciple. He wants your all. He doesn't want just some portion.

[5:49] He doesn't want some token. He wants your all. He wants you. In your fullness. And another characteristic. Of biblical learning. Of biblical discipleship.

[6:00] Is seen in Luke 6. Verse 40. Luke 6. Verse 40. It says. The disciple is not above his master. But everyone that is perfect.

[6:11] Shall be as his master. He says. Those that are complete. Those that are fulfilling that call. Of being a disciple. Is that they will follow the master.

[6:22] They will be as their master. We want to be like Jesus. That's what we want to be. As a church. To be. Men and women. Each one individually. More and more like him.

[6:33] Becoming more like Jesus. To be coming more. With those Christ like qualities. That our Lord showed. To be a learning church. You know. Even in the secular world. They talk about learning organizations.

[6:45] While the church should be a learning organization. It should be a place of learning. It should be a people learning together. It should be a training ground. Even more so than Bible schools. Or Bible colleges. So called. Really the church. Should be that place of training. That opportunity for training.

[6:56] And even more than the learning. Is the teaching. More than the learning. Is the teaching. In Hebrews 5 verse 12. The writer says. For when. For the time. Ye ought to be teachers. You have need to one teacher again.

[7:07] To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. To be teaching. You have need to one teacher again.

[7:19] Those first principles. He says. You ought to be teachers. The some here. Who are mature Christians. Hebrews 5 verse 12. Would put to you. It's about time.

[7:30] That you. Were teachers. You ought to be teachers. There's people here today. Who could be doing more. To being a teacher. Of the word of God. Because for us to be a church. That learns together.

[7:41] We need people to. Rise up. And stand up. And take. Those opportunities. To serve. In the way of teaching. To be committed. To the spiritual growth. Of others. Let the older women.

[7:52] Teach the younger. Obviously. The older men. Teach the younger. And not necessarily. In age. It's about that. Maturity in Christ. The some here. You might be a mature Christian.

[8:03] You can take someone. Under your wings. And be a teacher. Step up to the plate. So we can all grow together. You can play a part. Every one of you. Especially you.

[8:14] That have been Christians. For longer than others. Here today. Think about. How can I be a teacher. How can I teach. Others. How can I help. Younger Christians. To grow. Number one.

[8:25] Learning. Secondly. Living. Learning has to be translated. Into action. Titus 2. Verse 11. Through it says. For the grace of God. That bringeth salvation.

[8:36] Out appeared. To all men. Teaching us. That denying ungodliness. And worldly lusts. We should live. Soberly. Righteously. And godly. In this present world. Looking for.

[8:47] That blessed hope. And the glorious appearing. Of our great God. And our Saviour. Jesus Christ. Who gave himself. For us. That he might redeem us. From all iniquity.

[8:58] And purify unto himself. A peculiar people. Zealous. Of good works. There's a learning. And that learning. Should translate. Into action.

[9:09] Into living. Into living. That as a church. We're living. In the spirit. We're living. In God's way of life. We're alive. In the spirit. We're alive.

[9:20] In faith. We're alive. In godliness. And Christ likeness. And it's demonstrated. It's demonstrated. It's evident. It's witnessed. In our families. And in our own lives.

[9:31] The truths of God's word. Are lived out. In the day. By day. By day. In practical faith. It's evident. It's demonstrated. The faith. That we profess.

[9:42] Has got legs on it. The faith. That you claim. Has legs on it. Faith without works. Is. Dead. Let your faith live. Let it be alive. Let it be lived out.

[9:53] In 2 Peter 1. We see the qualities. Of a faith lived out. Of a faith expressed. 2 Peter 1. I'll read it through. From 1 to 8. Simon Peter. A servant and apostle.

[10:05] Of Jesus Christ to them. That have obtained like precious faith. With us through the righteousness of God. And our Saviour Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied. Grace and peace be multiplied.

[10:16] Unto you through the knowledge. Of God and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power. Hath given unto us all things. That pertain unto life and godliness. Through the knowledge of him.

[10:28] That have called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. Great and precious promises. He's talking about the word of God. This is exceeding great and precious.

[10:41] And it's promises. In other words it's something you can find some treasure for yourself. There's promises for you in this bible. Exceeding great and precious ones.

[10:53] Exceeding great and precious promises. That by these you might be partakers of the divine nature. Having escaped the corruption that is in the world. Through lust.

[11:04] We're living in a world. That's consumed with evil. God wants us to live different. Here's how he says to do so. Beside this giving all diligence. Add to your faith virtue.

[11:16] And to virtue knowledge. And to knowledge temperance. And to temperance patience. And to patience godliness. And to godliness brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness charity.

[11:28] Think of all those things. Virtue. That which is pure and right. Knowledge. This is the beginning of it. Knowledge. Temperance.

[11:39] Means living appropriately. Not being led astray. Patience. Having perseverance. Going the extra mile. Godliness. Being like God.

[11:51] Brotherly kindness. The people alongside you. Who know the saviour. Are your brothers and sisters. Show kindness to them. And charity.

[12:02] Love. For if these things be in you. And abound. They make you. That you shall neither be barren. Nor unfruitful. In the knowledge. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again the knowledge.

[12:13] The learning. Is translated into living. Into action. Into these qualities. The Christian life. Is not meant to be. A one day a week. Kind of. Token affair. It's a lifestyle. It's a life.

[12:24] That you live. It's abundant. And it's fruitful. Life. A life that honours. Our Lord Jesus. So we see. There's a learning. Learn of him. There's a living. His truth is translated.

[12:36] Into action. Into our very lives. Into the flesh and bones. Into our very lives. Into the flesh and bones. That are here today. His life is in you. Or it ought to be. And it ought to be lived out.

[12:48] And then thirdly. We see. A loving. The learning. The living. Translates into a loving. A loving. Christianity. Is about loving.

[12:59] The Lord. Your God. Loving him. Again. Not in a token measure. But with all. Your heart. With all. Your soul. With all. Your mind.

[13:10] With all. Your strength. And then love your neighbour. As yourself. It's love. God is love. It's loving the Lord. It's loving one another. The Bible's full. Of love.

[13:21] Real love. Not as the world would call love. Which is really lust. But love. Love. Love. Love that's a love. Unconditional. A love. That's a.

[13:33] Doesn't have to be reciprocal. A love. That may be undeserved. A love. That loves. The unloving. A love. That loves. The unlovable. A love.

[13:44] Like the saviour's love. That's the kind of love. We want to. Encourage. Encourage. And foster. I pray as a church. In 1 Peter 1. Verse 22. Peter writes. Seeing you have purified your souls.

[13:57] In obeying the truth through the spirit. Unto unfeigned love. Of the brethren. That see that you love one another. With a pure heart. Fervently. Unfeigned. It means not a love that's hypocritical.

[14:09] Or put on. But a love that's real. Not unfeigned. Not pretend. Not a famed kind of thing. Where you're just pretending. Where you're just putting it on. Where it's just a thin veneer. When you're scratched beneath the surface. It's no real love at all.

[14:20] But it's a real love. Unfeigned. A real love. Of the brethren. Of God's people. And see that you love. One another. With a pure heart. Fervently. That's the kind of love. We want to have.

[14:31] And I'll pray we can. Pray for. And realize. As a church. To be that. Loving fellowship. And a part of that love. Is a love for the truth. A love for the Lord. A love for the brethren. And a love for souls.

[14:42] A love for souls. That we have the love. Of Christ. That we have the love. Of Christ. That we have the love. That we have the love.

[14:53] Of Christ. love of Christ constraining us that we must reach out to those who are yet to trust him to love souls so I pray that these things might be realized a stronger commitment to loving one another to fellowshipping together to praying together in Hebrews 10 24 it says and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works now I've been in church a long while and I've been in this church some long while now sometimes there's provoking that goes on and it's not always provoking unto love we want to provoke one another unto love and to good works not to the opposite of such things to love one another consider one another receive one another love as he has loved you how as a church can we demonstrate 1 Corinthians 13 that's a challenge isn't it read 1 Corinthians 13 and put yourself in the picture see if you can demonstrate 1 Corinthians 13

[16:00] Galatians 5 verse 6 talks about faith which worketh by love faith which worketh by love faith and love are integrally linked we should minister to one another in love in 1 Peter 3 verse 8 it says finally be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another love as brethren be pitiful be courteous now there's some churches that are pitiful but what it's saying here is having pity for others being full of pity full of mercy full of compassion full of caring of being courteous it says love as brethren these are three biblical priorities that i put to you as a church we could do better to see such things biblical priorities to have that god honoring vision to be a church that is learning living and loving in all those dimensions if we can't see more of the same if we can see more of that and how can i play a part to make this a reality that's the question for each one here today how can i play a part to see how i can be more loving how i can be more living what i profess to believe how i can be learning and helping others learn how can i play a part you know as we set the course for the future if you like as we set the sails of this fellowship that would catch the wind of the spirit and we'd see that which the lord puts his emphasis upon and see it realized as we submit to his leadership someone said a vision they said this i need a true vision lord a vision filled with thee to see the needy world again with eyes willing to see a world where people are hurting and hungry every day a world that's ready and waiting to hear what you would say i need a wider vision lord a vision filled with thee to see that lonely woman down the street from me the teenager who's all mixed up the child who's been abused the day-to-day cares in my neighborhood lord i want to be used give me a new vision lord a vision filled with thee to see the world and my neighborhood as your eyes would see help me use my gifts lord in ways that glorify you to act with loving kindness towards those with a different view a truer wider new vision lord that's what i need to carry out your commands in word and thought and deed now for the vision to be fulfilled for this vision for these biblical truths these biblical principles to be realized it takes people the vision if you like needs to be translated into flesh and blood into human beings obeying the spirit of god it takes people it takes the commitment of people to see a church grow and thrive purpose of ending ending ending ending