Catch a Fresh Vision for Your Life
Text: Proverbs 29:18
Title: C atch A Fresh Vision For Your Life
ETS: Spiritual Vision 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 (Foxes Book of Martyrs, p.20)
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) “*/O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets,
and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often
would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen
doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would
not!” (Luke 13:34)* /
b) *“/And when he was come near, he beheld the city,
and wept over it” (/Luke 19:41)*
c) “*/But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved
with compassion on them, because they fainted, and
were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
(Matt. 9:36) /*
3. You will see self and sin for what they are.
a) */“...sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by
that which is good; that sin by the commandment might
become exceeding sinful... O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
(/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) */“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know
even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12) /*
2. We fret over what God has already taken care of.
a) Like Elisha's servant (2 Kings 6:17)*/“And Elisha
prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes,
that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of
the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the
mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round
about Elisha.” /*
/3. We focus on the problem rather than the problem
solver. /
a) (Phil. 4:13, 19*/) “ I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me... But my God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.”* /
B. Stripped of defences, 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*/) “And no marvel; for Satan
himself is transformed into an angel of light.” /*
/2. We fail to see the enemy we are fighting; leaving us
open for attack. /
a) (Eph. 6:12)*/“For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.” /*
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*/) “Say not ye, There are yet four
months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say
unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;
for they are white already to harvest.”/*
2. We fail to understand the heart of the savior.”
a) (Luke 19:10*/) “For the Son of man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost.”* /
/3. We develop a bitter, critical spirit; turning on other
believers. /
a) (Hebrews 12:15)*/“Looking diligently lest any
man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby
many be defiled” /*
b) (Galatians 5:15*/) “But if ye bite and devour
one another, take heed that ye be not consumed
one of another.”* /
c) (Ephesians 4:31-32*/) “Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,
be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath
forgiven you.” /*
III.THE DEVELOPMENT OF VISION
A. Conversion Experience
/1. It is impossible to see through spiritual eyes without
conversion. /
a) (1 Cor. 2:14)*/“But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.” /*
b) */(Eph. 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were
dead in trespasses and sins” /*
2. When conversion occurs, the Holy Spirit enters the
believer, imparting the capacity for spiritual vision.
a) (Eph. 1:13)*/“In whom ye also trusted, after that
ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” /*
b) (John 16:13)*/“ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.”* /
B. Consecration to prayer and listening
/1. It is vital that the believer spend time praying and
listening to God. /
a) (John 10:27)*/“ My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me” /*
b) (Psa. 46:10) “Be still, and know that I am God”
•Like Peter (Acts 10:9-16)
•Like John (Rev. 1:10)
C. Continual study of the scriptures.
/1.Since God speaks to us through His Word, it is vital
that we allow it to have its full effect upon our lives. /
a) (1 Thess. 2:13*/) “For this cause also thank
we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye
received it not as the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh
also in you that believe.”/*
b) */(Heb. 4:12) “For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” /*
D. Complete yieldedness to the Holy Spirit.
/1.The Spirit of God reveals the will of God to those who
are yielded to Him. /
a) (Rom. 8:27*/) “And he that searcheth the
hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.”* /
b) (1 Cor. 2:11-12)*/“For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man,
but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not
the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God.” /*
2. Yieldedness produces obedience.
a*/) (Rom. 6:16)“Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to
whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his
servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin
unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”/*
Conclusion: