Why Your God Given Vision Makes You Special 2 Corinthians 4:18
Jesus lived with a crystal-clear vision from the Father—and it directed everything He did. In this episode of Light on Life, you’ll learn how a God-given vision makes you distinct, why it must be guarded, and how to pursue it despite obstacles. From Paul’s “heavenly vision” to James Irwin’s moon-walk dream, we’ll show you how to recognize heaven’s assignment, refuse excuses, and walk boldly in your God-authorized influence. Why Your God Given Vision Makes You Special, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.
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You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.
Accept the Challenge
Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.This week’s call is:
Ask the Lord to help you locate the vision God has for your life and begin to operate in that call.
Join the Conversation
Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.This week’s question is:
Question: Share a story from a God encounter that you had where the Lord shared with you the vision He has for your life. Please share your story in the comments section below.
About Emery
Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 48 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 44 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.
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Podcast Notes:
Well again, welcome.
Let’s pray.
Father God, thank you for your goodness and your mercies to us. We bless your Name and we give you the praise. Thank you for the vision that you placed in our hearts. Lord, there are some of us who have not quite tapped into the vision that you have placed inside of us when you created us. Help us to locate your distinct purpose for our lives. Make it plain and clear to us in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Heavenly Vision
We’re starting out in the book of Acts today.
Acts 26:19 (ESV) — “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision…
Paul’s words echo throughout our day.
God is no respecter of persons.
One dusty day on the road to Damascus, God began the process of showing Paul the direction for his life.
He wants to do the same for your life.
Now, don’t be confused here.
God showed Paul the vision for his life, via a vision.
Don’t confuse the two.
We could say it this way — God used a vision, one of the gifts of the Spirit, to show Paul the vision for his life.
Is that still confusing?
This vehicle that used is called discerning of spirits, that’s how visions come.
So God gave Paul a vision to show him the vision for his life that is his direction, his purpose, his reason for being on planet Earth.
In Paul’s case, this all occurred rather spectacularly.
The Lord appeared to Paul, blinded him with the glory of his light and Paul was unable to see for three days.
The Lord also appeared to Ananias in an amazing way and instructed him to go and pray for Paul so that he might receive his sight.
This is what the Lord told Ananias.
Acts 9:15 (ESV) — 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
God said, “I’m going to show him.’
The Greek word ‘show’ means just that — to show or direct one’s attention to.
God showed Paul what He wanted him to do with his life, and He will show you.
If you’re unclear right now about what God wants you to do — what direction you are to go, have a little talk with Jesus.
Now, with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.
This quote is from Helen Keller.
Helen lost her sight and her hearing at 19 months of age.
What’s inspirational about Helen is that she became the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the United States despite the fact that she couldn’t see or hear.
Helen Keller was asked, “What is the greatest calamity?” She answered, “To have eyes and not see.”
To have eyes but yet not be able to see.
Having eyes, yet not being able to see’ describes the person who walks around aimlessly — no vision — no sense of purpose — no sense of the reason they are alive and breathing on Planet Earth.
To walk aimlessly on planet Earth is one of life’s great tragedy.
Cemetaries are full of people who died with fulfilling their reason for being.
These people passed from Planet Earth never tapping into the gifts and talents God gave them.
Defining Vision
Let’s define vision — What is it?
Well, we can look at the Greek word for it.
The Greek word for ‘vision’ means just that.
It means to see.
There’s nothing fancy about it.
The word ‘seeing’ is not a natural kind of seeing.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV) — 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
If you can see your dream physically, vision is not needed.
You are already there.
Recently, I ran across this definition of vision from Myles Monroe and I like it and, with that thought, we are going to call this the Definition of the Day.
Vision is a human cause worthy of self-sacrifice. It’s when you see a cause that is so important to humanity that you are willing to lay down your life for it.[2. Myles Munroe, The Power of Vision]
Now, is this definition in line with God’s Word?
Jesus Vision for His Life
You find a part of Jesus vision in John ten.
John 10:15–18 (ESV) — 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Do you see the vision Jesus had for His life?
It included ‘other sheep who are not of this fold.’
The fold was a Jewish fold.
So other sheep not of this fold are people who are not Jewish.
Jesus’ vision for us life included you and me as Gentiles come into the Kingdom of God.
In the mind of God, redeeming the entire world was a cause worthy of self-sacrifice.
Aren’t you glad Jesus fulfilled the vision for His life?
Here’s the truth, there are people right now on Planet Earth, who are going to feel the same way about you for filling your vision for your life.
A cause so important to humanity, that you are willing to lay down your life for.
That’s the definition of vision.
You’re invited to the same party of laying down our life!
Let’s call it a ‘laying down your life party.’
1 John 3:16 (ESV) — 16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.John 15:13 (ESV) — 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Get Back to the Vision
What is the vision for your life?
Where do you receive such a purpose?
Paul tells us exactly.
Listen closey to what he said: ‘I was not disobedient to the ‘heavenly’ vision.’
Your purpose and your vision comes from heaven.
It comes from the words that God has spoken to your heart.
This function of God speaking to your heart is no casual thing.
He means what He says and says what He means.
It’s good to be reminded along this line.
Psalm 33:11 (ESV) — 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
You’re not going to change God’s vision for your life.
His counsel stands.
Isaiah 14:24 (ESV) — 24 The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,
If you know God’s purpose for your life and haven’t done much with it, I challenge you to get back to it.
My purpose is to write a running commentary on the New Testament and publish it as my life’s written work.
He spoke this to me twenty years ago.
It took me 9 years to get it into the form that is in now.
Someone out there in the great sea of humanity needs these words that come out of my heart.
Can I tell you, there are people who need the words that come out of yours.
God’s purposes will stand.
The vision God gave you is not about your life — it’s about someone else’s life.
The vision God gave me is to help people grow, to help people mature and develop and to do it by every available means.
So that’s why I’m always teaching the Bible and showing people how to use the Word of God in their everyday life.
September 7th, 2020, the Lord said this to my heart.
“Your job is to put the gospel out on every available avenue. That’s why you have the background that you do. That’s what I called you to do. Do it and your reward will be great in the end.”
And I’m doing it via several avenues.
By podcast
By website
By Instagram using photography
By classes at church called the Lighthouse — this class is version 2.0
By teaching ‘leadership’ at work via training classes and developing curriculum.
Instagram and leadership training is a way to slip Jesus in people are not looking.
I also have video on the drawing board.
He said ‘every available avenue.’
Who knows where else the vision must expand.
Vision: Be the Leader God Called You to Be
2 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
Then dropping down to verse seven.
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) — 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
You have the vision by God’s mercy and you possess this treasure in a earthly vessel.
Be the leader God called you to be.
Everybody in God’s family is a leader.
A leader is a person who exercises influence.
Everybody influences somebody somewhere.
Even the most introverted person on Planet Earth will influence 10,000 people in their lifetime.
Mark this down: you cannot separate leaders from the causes they promote.
Especially if the vision comes from the Father.
No can’t separate me from the vision that you can use the Bible in your everyday life.
That’s ingrained in me.
That vision is in me and it goes everywhere I go.
Same for you.
You can’t separate me from the premise that the Bible can be depended on and acted upon in your everyday life.
That Bible is way more than a book for church on Sunday.
That the Bible is a reliable source for action in your everyday life.
And with that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.
So last Sunday, we were in church nearing the end of the service and I stepped out of the sanctuary for a brief moment during which an altar call was given. Sharon responded to that altar call and she was praising God. The altar call wound down and she was still praising Him. An altar worker wrapped her arms around Sharon.
I’m sitting in the back watching this and saying quietly to myself, ‘No, don’t do that!’ Then, Sharon knelt at the altar — she’s still in the zone. Another worker knelt beside her wrapped her arm around her. I got up out of my chair — mind you, I don’t know this lady from Adam. She was a very nice lady trying to do the right thing but she didn’t know. She didn’t know that when a person is in the Spirit, don’t touch them. Physical contact pulls people out of the Spirit into the natural. God could be talking to that person and you end up interrupting the conversation! Look the person may need the thing God’s trying to get over to them! In fact, later on that’s what I asked Sharon — “What did the Lord say?”
It doesn’t matter how a person responds physically to God’s Presence. Some people sing when the Spirit of God comes on them. Some people dance, some shout, some screech, some throw tambourines [that’s Sharon by the way] Some cry lots of tears — some have little physical response. None of that is important — what’s important is ‘What did God say.’
So back to the altar call and this nice lady — I came there and caught her eye and waved her off and called her to me and I instructed her gently — ‘Don’t touch her and I explained why.’ So here I am, on my off day — no class is scheduled and I’m teaching this beautiful lady about Holy Spirit and how He works. You can’t separate the man, the women from the vision for their life. Now, unfortunately she didn’t understand what I was trying to show her. This is what she said to me. ‘Well, you know your wife.’
She didn’t get it at all. It’s not about knowing your wife or your husband. It’s about knowing the Spirit and He operates for in Jesus there is neither male nor female. What I was trying to teach her had nothing to do with martial relationship. I was trying to show her how the Spirit moves — how heavenly things operate.
As we talked some more, I showed her our class ‘The Lighthouse’ — talked to her a little bit about our class. “We’re teaching the New Testament verse by verse. The Spirit of God moves in our class. It meets at 10:30 AM during the Churches second service. Sharon and I go to the first service.” The lady said to me, “You know I really need this teaching but I go to second service.”
We’ve heard that over and over again from many people.
Let me address that thinking with you for a moment.
It doesn’t matter whether the class is during first service or second — it doesn’t matter.
You may think maybe we should change the times we meet.
It wouldn’t make any difference.
If we changed the time, we would get the same response we’re getting now.
Because here what is what’s being communicated in reality.
“I really need this teaching but I am not willing to lay down my life to get it.”
“I only want it if it fits my schedule.”
“I really need it but my husband…”
“I really need it but my friends…”
“I really need it but the music is better during this other time…”
I really need it BUT.
‘BUT’ is the problem.
The Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t operate in this manner.
Here’s how it operates.
Matthew 13:45–46 (ESV) — 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Jesus expects that when you find something of great spiritual value, that you throw yourself into it — sell all you have to get it.
If you value it enough, you adjust your schedule.
If you esteem it enough, you rearrange your priorities.
You go after it.
Several weeks ago, we had another visitor in our midst.
We invited this person to connect with us.
This is what this individual said, “I’ve never seen a Sunday School class like this.”
He meant that in an extremely complimentary way.
He went on to say, “And, I’ve been in many classes over the course of years [he was not a young man].”
But, if you notice, that man isn’t here today?
This is what he said, ‘Sunday is my only off day.’
What does that sound like to you?
Does it sound like what Jesus was talking about — ‘Sell all that you have?’
Now please don’t misunderstand this.
This is not meant to be condemnation or judgment.
No one in the body of Christ should be in that business.
Here’s the point that should be gained from this.
We have a tendency to sell out to things that don’t involve God.
Luke 14:15–21 (ESV) — When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’
What reason do you have to not sell all that you — to go all in on the vision God gave you?
And so here’s the New Year and we continue to go forward pressing for the mark of the high calling and refusing to be disobedient to the heavenly vision.
I thank God for Sharon — she is my partner in these things.
I thank God for all of you.
Vision: Your Area of Influence
2 Corinthians 10:12–16 (ESV) — 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.
Did you hear those words the ‘area of influence?’
Those three words ‘area of influence’ is one word in the Greek.
It means assignment or the formulation of an activity.
The ‘area of influence God assigned to us’ is in the vision God gave to your heart.
God has given each of you an ‘area of influence.’
Leadership is influence.
God’s assigment makes you a leader in that area — it makes you an influencer.
But also notice what Paul says — ‘I’m not over extending myself into someone else’s area.
Every person has an area of influence — has an assigment.
Get busy about your area.
Be faithful in your area.
There is more I have to talk to you about along these lines of flowing in the vision for your life.
But, we are out of time.
Father God. Thank you for intrusting your purpose in vessels of clay so that at the very end, all the glory goes to you because it’s obvious who should get the glory, and the honor. The credit belongs to you. Thank you for including us in these things in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Why Your God-given Vision Makes You Special.
You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.
🎧 Suggested Episode
If you found this teaching on vision helpful, check out “Why the Power of Vision Will Transform Your New Year” — it builds on today’s lesson.
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