Sermon Tone Analysis

Catch a Fresh Vision for Your Life

Proverbs 29:18

ETS: Spiritual Vision/guidance is vital to the Believer

ESS: The Christian must be guided by vision from above.

OSS: Christians will seek God for spiritual vision.

PQ: What is spiritual vision and how can I receive it?

UW: Points

Introduction:

I- THE DEFINITION OF VISION

A. The Hebrew word “khaw-zone”:

1. Refers to vision that comes from God.

a) Isaiah's vision (Isa.

6)

b) Ezekiel's vision (Ezek.

37)

c) Peter's vision (Acts 10:9-16)

d) Polycarp's vision

Three days before his arrest, Polycarp fell into a deep trance.

On regaining consciousness, he declared that he had received a vision.

He had seen his pillow bursting into flame around his head.

Polycarp had no question what the vision meant.

Turning to his companions, he said, “I am going to be burned alive.”

Not long after, the Roman authorities captured two slaves.

One of them broke down under torture and revealed the location of the farm where Polycarp was staying.

When soldiers arrived on horseback to seize him, Polycarp refused to run.

Instead, he offered his captors hospitality and food, requesting only that he be allowed an hour for prayer.

When they agreed, Polycarp prayed so earnestly that one hour became two, and several of the soldiers regretted their role in the arrest of such a venerable old man.

They then put Polycarp on a donkey and led him back into the city.

Upon arrival, his captors ushered him into the carriage of a man named Herod, the captain of the local troops.

Herod tried to convince Polycarp to save himself.

“Why, what harm is there in saying, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ and offering incense?”

When Polycarp refused the very suggestion of renouncing Christ, the official grew threatening and forced him out of the carriage so roughly that he injured his shin.

Without even turning, Polycarp marched on quickly as they escorted him to the stadium, where a deafening roar arose from the throngs of spectators.

As he entered, his Christian companions heard a voice from above say, “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.”

He was brought before the proconsul, who urged him to deny his faith and bow before the emperor: “Swear by the spirit of Caesar!

Repent, and say, ‘Away with the atheists!’”

Turning with a grim look toward the crowd calling for his death, Polycarp gestured at them.

“Away with the atheists,” he said dryly.

Undeterred, the proconsul pressed him further to deny Christ.

Polycarp declared, “Eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong.

How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?”

Furious, the proconsul said, “Don’t you know I have wild beasts waiting?

I’ll throw you to them unless you repent.”

Polycarp answered, “Bring them on, then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil.”

Next the proconsul threatened to burn him alive.

To this Polycarp replied, “You threaten me with fire which burns for a little while and is soon extinguished.

You do not know the coming fire of judgment and eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly.

What are you waiting for?

Do what you wish.”

The proconsul sent his herald out into the arena to announce that Polycarp had confessed to being a Christian.

At this, the assembled crowd seethed with uncontrolled fury and called for Polycarp to be burned alive.

Quickly, they assembled a pyre, gathering wood from workshops and the public baths.

Polycarp removed his clothes and tried to take off his shoes, though his advanced age made it difficult.

His guards prepared to nail him to the stake, but he told them calmly, “Leave me as I am, for the one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me strength to remain at the stake unmoved without being secured by nails.”

They bound his hands behind him.

Polycarp offered a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God.

His captors ignited the wood.

According to observers, as the flames grew, they did not consume Polycarp as expected.

The fire formed a circle around him, but his body did not burn.

Since the fire did not have its intended effect on Polycarp’s body, an executioner was ordered to stab him to death with a dagger.

His blood extinguished the flames.

Observers that day were shocked by the contrast between Polycarp’s martyrdom and the deaths of non-Christians they had witnessed.

They beheld the same faithful discipleship in Polycarp’s death that had characterized his life: a humble acceptance of God’s will; praise of God in the most extreme trial; and a joyful, unwavering commitment to Christ even when faced with death.

Polycarp’s was among the first recorded Christian martyrdoms.

His steadfast obedience to Christ was a powerful testimony, an inspiration not only to the church he pastored so faithfully in Smyrna, but to Christians throughout the centuries.

B. The hallmarks of this type of vision:

1.

You will see through the eyes of faith.

a) Like those in Hebrews 11

2.

You will see others through the eyes of Christ.

a) (Luke 13:34)

b) (Luke 19:41)

c) (Matt.

9:36)

3.

You will see self and sin for what they are.

a) (Rom.

7:13b, 24)

4.

You will see the Christian warfare for what it is.

a) (Eph.

6:10-18)- READ

II.

THE DANGERS OF NO VISION

A. Steps become ordered by what we see through the eyes of the flesh.

1.We see only in part; not the whole picture.

a) (1 Cor.

13:12)

2. We fret over what God has already taken care of.

a) Like Elisha's servant

(2 Kings 6:17)

3. We focus on the problem rather than the problem solver.

a) (Phil.

4:13, 19)

B. Stripped of defenses, sin and Satan have a field day.

1.We see only the false image of sin Satan paints for us.

a) (2 Cor.

11:14)

2. We fail to see the enemy we are fighting; leaving us open for attack.

a) (Eph.

6:12)

C. Soul-winning ceases to be a focus because we don't see others the way Jesus does.

1.

We fail to see the peril of the lost.

a) (John 4:35)

2. We fail to understand the heart of the savior.”

a) (Luke 19:10)

3. We develop a bitter, critical spirit; turning on other believers.

a) (Hebrews 12:15)

b) (Galatians 5:15)

c) (Ephesians 4:31-32)