Vision - Looking Back to Go Forward
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18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:
But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
Who here today believes that God still gives Divine Guidance. This past week we had been testing the waters with the Lord in some personal business decisions - we asked the Lord to guide the path...
In the natural we were frustrated at the path that was open and closed before us… as I prayed, I asked the Lord to show me why this was the direction and shortly after we saw something new appear - something we could not have foreseen, but would have greatly effected our decision making process had it been in the picture prior to stepping out.
In that instance - we saw why the obstacles or closed doors existed, and had to rejoice in the Lord’s DIVINE GUIDANCE.
Just because some doors close, does not mean that we are not to step out in faith and test waters, or move forward. Often the Lord shows us things -
- Things that are right in front of us that we need to see clearly...
- Things that are in the near future that we need to consider...
- Things that are far off that we need to plan or keep in sight as we move ahead...
If you notice, the picture for our sermon series — it contains a pair of reading glasses, binoculars, and a telescope --- there is a reason for each that we will explore over the next few weeks...
For this morning, I want us however to look back - because as we desire to look forward, I think we need to look back to see our history and decisions that were made with VISION at the time that have greatly affected us today!
1. Someone Had Vision Before
1. Someone Had Vision Before
Something that stood out to me is the statement made by a member of Park Avenue Assembly of God when the church was seeking to make a location change… Wilma Romine said...
She said - that God’s vision for this church was bigger than what that little Baptist church could provide! It was in relation to the SOULS that would be changed!
Look at Destiny Church these days… it has been touching lives for over 75 years in this community, and has periods of growth and decline...
In recent years however, we have had the need to extend parking, facing a second service, and have begun to fill the house in non summer months!
More than that is the lives effected. We have seen marriages restored that were struggling. Hearts return to Jesus, miracles of healing, conception, and salvation of loved ones that have been years coming!
God is fulfilling a vision proclaimed over 40 years ago!!!
What about Leona Bashore - who had a vision of a Spirit filled church here in Fort Lupton back in the early 1940’s?
She believed that the Lord wanted a work in Fort Lupton and that HE HAD A PLAN!!!
It was her initial vision for this community that started a work in some rented rooms.
Then they dug out the foundations and built a small house to meet in… a bunch of women while the men were off at war!
When the vision seemed to fizzle, God raised up another - WIlliam Hanawalt who came and initiated the work with 8 other families. A work that has remained for almost 8 decades now!
Each of these people
- Took risk
- Made sacrifice
- Invested Work, Resources, Time
Today, we each sit here enjoying the fruit of their labor!!!
Heb 11.13
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
Like those in the Hebrews “Hall of Faith” they lived a life believing in God’s direction and promises and walked that faith out even though they did not always see all things fulfilled!
2. Vision Requires Faith
2. Vision Requires Faith
All vision requires faith....
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Stepping out toward an unknown with an expectation of results in the future...
It can be scary!
Our practical mindsets of what we can touch, see, plan for often limits us from a greater picture that God has for us!
As a church - God is just beginning to bring us into the next chapter of what He wants to do in our midst.
Someone in the past believed, WILL WE???
There are several families with multiple generations who have attended here -
The Salinas Family
The Burge Family
The Martinez Family
They may not have all been here 50 years ago, but their families and next generations are growing up here now.
The investment of previous generations blessing the next generations!
Who wants there to be a Destiny Church for your children, their children and others in our community’s children?
Do we want there to be a place PROCLAIMING JESUS to each generation that LIVES WOULD BE CHANGED and TRANSFORMED???
I also love how we see those who attended here in years past return here to experience what God has for them.
Wanda and Tonya, now Bethany and Lily Mae coming here!!!
Judy who came back home!
At some point the Assembly in Hudson migrated into the church here, and even Shirley Kriske coming back —
Why - because like the heroes of old people had faith for what was ahead!
- They physically worked to build!
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
They knew that their efforts were not in vain - but would serve a purpose beyond their lifetimes...
- They spiritually gave to disciple!
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
They took the Great Commission seriously for their community!
- They financially sacrificed to establish!
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
They took God at His Word if they invested in His Kingdom - He would return blessings upon them.
They also stepped out into the UNKNOWN - letting go of the STATUS QUO of what was here, so that greater things could be done!!!
I know we can become comfortable, but there is no real advancement without risk or becoming uncomfortable!
At some point we have to try that which is new — allow for change --- if we are to move forward into new territory and accomplish new things for the Kingdom of God.
(I am not asking our church to move from our location, I am not asking us to build another building (anytime soon) - what I am asking is to be open to make advancements -
Modifications
Adjustments to ministries
Fortifying what is here
Giving of time, talent and resources so we can see God do in this generation and prepare for the next...
To not settle for what is, but desire greater things for the Kingdom of God in this place!!!
Vision is hoping for what we cannot see and believing God will reward that vision of faith with success and results!
3. VISION REQUIRES LETTING GO OF THE COAT TAILS OF THE PAST TO EMBRACE the FUTURE
3. VISION REQUIRES LETTING GO OF THE COAT TAILS OF THE PAST TO EMBRACE the FUTURE
Vision God is putting in my heart as a Pastor....
That this building will not be able to hold the souls that God wants to pour in here!!!
That the work of Destiny Church will become so POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE and full of the HOLY SPIRIT that even through multiple services this property will not be enough!!!! (that may be some years away --- but in the meantime that leaves much to happen for each of us to be a part of)
I believe that God has something way bigger than us or where we are at this moment in store!!!!
Are we afraid to grab hold of that in faith, do we lack the sight to see ahead at what He wants to do, or are we to comfortable to not be willing to participate because our lives are too busy seeking out our own desires instead of HIS KINGDOM in this region??
“May Gods will be done - I believe we can know - I believe God is greater than the Baptist Church (buying it)There isn’t really enough room for the souls that will be coming in. Believing God as we step out in faith God will provide… God is mighty - He is great lets not make Him to small” --- Wilma Romine
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Who wants to claim a promise for our children!!! For the generation here and now and those to come?
Who believes that the best is still yet to come and that even as God has been moving at Destiny, there is so much more HE WANTS TO DO?
Who is willing to say - I will seek HIS VISION for our church, I will do my part and invest my life for the Kingdom of God in this region?
Wilma was looking at a church in Fort Lupton, but Destiny is reaching further...
Brighton
Dacono
Frederick
Firestone
Platteville
Hudson
Loucbouie
Bennett
Henderson
Commerce City
Longmont
Thornton
God is doing something we can see, how much more is out there that we cannot see???
What will we do to grab hold of that vision?