Does the Vision Remain?
Proverbs 29:18
Introduction: I recently heard a message preached on this very scripture and I was very disappointed with the way it was taken out of context. As I listened to this man I began to ask myself the question “does the vision of the church remain?” I realized I cannot answer that question for anyone except myself. So I will ask you this morning “does the vision remain?” Does the church even know what God is asking when He says “where there is no vision?” This may seem strange but the word vision actually translates the Hebrew phrase “divine communication.” That’s right God is saying “where there is no divine communication the people perish.” During this time God used visions and dreams to communicate with man, usually through a prophet. Now here is something else very interesting about this passage the word perish translates the Hebrew phrase “unrestrained.” When there is no communication from God there are unrestrained people. Look at the world around us today, how much unrestraint is going on, within the church and within the world. Some of you may be asking why he just went through all of that to open his message. Well too often I hear the word vision used to communicate some kind of purpose statement or policy statement and even used to scavenge money from those in attendance, when it comes to God’s people these words have a very serious meaning and its one you and I should be aware of. Also we need to be aware of the consequences if we do not follow God’s expectations. For a little while today I want to preach to you the question “Does the vision remain?” First we need to realize our scripture tells us there is…
As I said during the introduction vision is the English translation for divine communication. In other words it is what God has to say to you and I. When we don’t listen and apply it to our lives there are some very specific things that will happen.
The people are made spiritually naked; they are stripped of their ornaments and so exposed to shame, stripped of their armor and exposed to danger. How bare would a place look without Bibles and ministers, and think about what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls!
When people
rebel, not only against
God, but against their conscience, their morals, their integrity anarchy
exists; good preaching and teaching has been proven to make people good
citizens, but, when it is lacking, they are turbulent and factious, and despise
direction, because they know no better.
When people are idle concerning God and His word, or they prefer something other than worship and service, nothing good ever comes of it, we begin to find ways to justify our actions in order to find more idle time. Then the worship, the service the Great Commission and our very standing before God becomes victim. We want of instruction what to do and how to do it.
We become scattered as sheep having no
shepherd, needing spiritual
direction to call us and keep together, Mark
6:34
And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on
them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach
them many things. We become divided from God and our duty as Christians,
from one another by issues and circumstances; God can destroy for
lack of knowledge, Hos
4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will
forget thy children.
See what reason we
have to be thankful to God for the blessing of the vision we enjoy.
Just as there is a penalty for disregarding divine communication we can rest in Gods grace and mercy if we are heeding diving communication. If we will listen and apply Gods direction to our lives we can expect His blessings upon our lives. There is a…
We are told in our verse two specific things we can expect when we listen to God. First He will give us the blessing of …
When we read “keepeth the law” we are being told to follow the directions of God. That is what we have our Bible for.
When we read, pray over, apply and appreciate the word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives we will be blessed with a contentment that only God can give. That is what God means when He ends the verse with “happy is he.”
Conclusion: Are you listening to God and His divine communication. I’m not asking about your denominational stand, your politics or how you feel on certain world affairs, God could care less about those. He is interested in your relationship with Him, especially during the trying days we live in. Close as God leads…