Vision 2019—The Grace to Fulfill the Assignment
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 05/19/2019
Foundation Scriptures:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man] — blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. Proverbs 29:18 AMPC
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-3 KJV
1. Without a vision the people perish.
a. The Hebrew word “vision” means: a dream, revelation, or oracle.
b. The Hebrew word “perish” means: to loosen; to expose; to uncover; (make) naked.
c. When the people don’t have a vision from God (and His Word), to lead them and give them direction, they are vulnerable and exposed to the elements.
d. They wander around aimlessly—with no hope and no future.
e. Too many people wake up trapped in the past.
f. They live miserable and unhappy in the present—with no hope that their future will be any different than what it is.
g. Life slips away from them, like mist in the morning sun.
h. Perhaps, deep down, they have a dream—but it lies dormant.
i. Their vision is blurred.
j. Helpless, dictated to by the circumstances of life.
k. Proverbs 29:18 (The Message Bible) — If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
2. Unless the Lord Builds the House.
a. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it.
b. Psalm 127:1 KJV — Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
c. Matthew 6:33 KJV — But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
d. God’s will: Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.
3. Grace—According to God’s Will and Call.
a. Romans 12:1-8
b. Present your bodies—a living sacrifice.
c. Vs 1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
d. Transformed by the renewing of your mind.
e. Vs 2a: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…
f. Prove, for yourselves, what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
g. Vs 2b: …that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
h. By the grace given to me, I tell you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think.
i. Vs 3a: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think...
j. Think soberly—according to the measure of faith given you by God.
k. Vs 3b: … but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4. Gifts That Differ According to the Grace God Has Given.
a. God graces each of us to operate in the specific gifts He has given us.
b. Vs 4-8: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
c. God only gives you the grace to do and to be what He has called you to.
d. Be happy and contented in your call and abilities.
e. If you try to be something else, you will end up frustrated.
f. Ephesians 4:7-16
g. Vs 7 AMPC: Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift.