Visions Demand Action
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Intro
Intro
Text - Habakkuk 2.1-3
Title - Visions Demand Action
Background
Background
Habakkuk ministered to a stubborn people - Judah
Habakkuk cries out to God how long this situation will continue
God promised to discipline His people through Babylon
God tells Habakkuk to write the vision so that those who reads it may run
The Main Point
The Main Point
Everytime God gives a vision to His people, He expects His people to respond to His words with some action.
God expected the readers in Habakkuk’s time to “run”
What is God expecting from us?
What is a Vision?
What is a Vision?
A vision is a word from God.
Habakkuk 2.1 - I will WATCH to SEE what he will SAY to me
A vision is a specific Word from God for a specific time and occasion.
Purpose of Vision
Purpose of Vision
Visions are given to give direction.
Therefore, visions from God plain and straightforward, not cryptic.
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
Visions from God are vital to the progress of the life of faith.
Visions from God are vital to the progress of the life of faith.
Abraham was guided by his visions of God, from Ur to Canaan
Abraham was guided by his visions of God, from Ur to Canaan
God appeared and spoke to Abraham multiple times
Israel was guided by visions of God, from Egypt to the Promised Land
Israel was guided by visions of God, from Egypt to the Promised Land
Moses was led by his visions of God at Mount Sinai
Israel was led out of Egypt by God’s direction
Israel remained in the wilderness for 40 years because they lost sight of God’s vision for them
israel began to move from wilderness to Canaan when they were ready to be moved by visions from God.
The early church was guided by visions from God
The early church was guided by visions from God
Acts 4.20 - we can only speak what we have seen and heard
Acts 8.26 - Philip was led by an angel of God to preach to a man of Ethiopia
Acts 9.3-6 - Saul was converted via a vision
Acts 10.9-15 - Peter was led to the house of Cornelius via a vision
Acts 16.9-10 - Paul’s missionary work was guided by visions
1 John 1.3 - John’s ministry was guided by visions
2 Peter 1.16 - Peter’s ministry was guided by visions
Revelation 1.11 - John was instructed to write everything he was going to see and send them to the 7 churches of Asia
Today God continues to give visions to His people in different ways:
Today God continues to give visions to His people in different ways:
by means of the Scriptures
by means of the prophetic ministry
through personal visions and dreams
QUESTIONS
What is God’s vision in your life today?
Are you seeing a vision from God? What is that vision about?
What should you do now?
Every vision from God demands a certain action from man.
Every vision from God demands a certain action from man.
Some visions demand repentance and obedience
Isaiah’s vision drove him to acknowledge his sinfulness before he responded to God’s call - Isaiah 6.1-8
Saul/Paul obeyed the vision on the road to Damascus - Acts 26.19
Some visions demand worship and thanksgiving
King David thanked God for the vision delivered by the prophet Nathan - 2 Samuel 7.17-19
Some visions demand silence
Daniel was told to shut up the words - Daniel 12.4, 9-10
QUESTIONS
Can you see what God is showing His people today?
How is your response to God’s vision in your life?
Our actions must satisfy the demands of the vision.
Our actions must satisfy the demands of the vision.
Zacharias did not believe the words of the angel. He was made dumb until the child was born.
Luke 1.18-20
Mary responded with the right words.
Luke 1.38
King nebuchadnezzar failed to heed the warning of his own dream
Daniel 4.1-18 - his dream
Daniel 4.28-33 - the fulfillment of his dream
Jonah’s action was opposite God’s instructions to him.
Jonah 1.1-3 - he went sailed for Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh
Moses struck the Rock instead ot speaking to it as per God’s instruction.
Numbers 20.10-12 - God was not hallowed…
QUESTIONS
Are your actions commensurate to God’s vision in your life?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Every Christian needs a vision from God to direct His life.
1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
How?
by God’s Word
by personal dreams and vision
by the prophetic ministry
by prayer and waiting
Every action must satisfy the demands of the vision.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
How?
believe and act on God’s word
do more than is expected
understand the times of your life
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Do not delay your actions till it is too late - act immediately!
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