E-pistle for January 23, 2008
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation January 23, 2008
Vision & Destiny
Hebrews 11
by: Dr. Curt Scarborough
"FAITH IS BELIVIN' WHAT YOU KNOW AIN'T SO!", according to Puddin'head
Wilson, one of Mark Twin's humorous characters. But the Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11)
gives us a more reliable definition of faith.
An analysis of the first 13 verses reveals these affirmations about faith: faith
is seeing the invisible, understanding the impossible, and embracing the future in
the present. People of faith confess three truths
1. GOD EXISTS . . .
I see the invisible, v. 6,
2. GOD CREATES BY SPEAKING . . .
I understand the impossible, v. 3,
3. GOD REWARDS . . .
I experience eternity in the "now," v. 6.
The familiar words of Hebrews 1:1, "Things hoped for . . . things not seen,"
summarize these ideas. Faith is the confidence that the future is an established reality
now. Faith also is the conviction that the unseen spiritual world is reality now.
Joel 2:28 prophesies, "old men dream dreams; young men see visions."
(Middle-aged men, I presume, do a little of both.) Proverbs 29:18 is translated:
"Where there is no vision, the people perish," (KJV) or "Where there is no revelation,
the people cast off restraint," (NKJV). It is obvious, by either translation, that
VISION IS VITAL!
A believer's true vision of destiny involves the entire soul created in God's
image. It involves the mind (created by the Father) thinking about destiny. It
involves the emotions (stirred by the Spirit) enthusiastic about destiny. It involves
the will (committed to following the Son) marching toward destiny.
As ministers, our vision of God's destiny for us should be:
1. CLEARER THAN SIGHT . . .
spiritual insight,
2. TRUER THAN A DREAM . . .
future reality now,
3. DEEPER THAN AN IDEA . . .
a living concept, and
4. HIGHER THAN ASPIRATION . . .
a magnificent obsession!
The Angel of the Lord asked, "Hagar, Sarah's maid, where have you come from,
and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Christians, also, need to examine these
particulars of destiny involving the person, the purpose, and the plan. Who am I?
Why was I created? What does God intend for me to accomplish?
A vision of destiny is both seeing and feeling. It is a perception and a
passion. Think with me about the who, what, when, where, why, how, and which of
destiny.
1. Destiny is PERSONAL. Who can . . . should . . . will I become? (WHO)
2. Destiny is a PLAN. What does God intend for my life and ministry? (WHAT)
3. Destiny is a PROMISE. In God's good time, He shall accomplish
His purpose. (WHEN)
4. Destiny is a PLACE (destination). God leads us in specific directions to
specific destinations. (WHERE)
5. Destiny is a PURPOSE. Fulfilling our destiny glorifies God and benefits
mankind. (WHY)
6. Destiny is PRACTICAL. God's "how to" instructions produce results. (HOW)
7. Destiny is PARTICULAR. Many possible choices in life are "good" or "better;"
God's is "best." (WHICH)
Here are seven reasons "VISION IS VITAL" for your ministry and mine to be
successful:
1. IT GIVES PURPOSE. We need a target at which to aim, a direction in which
to move.
2. IT ESTABLISHES PRIORITIES. It keeps us from falling into complacency or
being distracted by less important activities.
3. IT CREATES EXCITEMENT. People want to know that we are not merely
trying to pay bills and survive . . . that we are doing something important
in Jesus' name.
4. IT ATTRACTS PEOPLE. Folks want to be a part of something worthwhile;
something vital, something God-honoring.
5. IT MOTIVATES COMMITMENT. When a ministry is committed to a God-given
vision, and when the leaders of that ministry are committed to accomplishing
that vision, then people will catch that spirit and commit themselves to helping
turn the dream into a reality.
6. IT DEFINES SUCCESS. The vision establishes goals that are attainable (WE
CAN DO IT!); that are identifiable (Exactly what are we shooting for?); and
measurable (How are we progressing toward our objectives and are we on
target time-wise?)
7. IT FULFILLS DESTINY. God has a plan for each life and for each ministry.
The vision is vital because it keeps us moving toward the fulfillment of that
purpose, that destiny.
Here are three questions that we as leaders must ask about our vision of destiny?
1. I CAN DO IT!
. . . the INTELLECTUAL response, Philippians 4:13.
2. I MUST DO IT!
. . . the EMOTIONAL response, John 9:4.
3. I WILL DO IT!
. . . the VOLITIONAL response, Joshua 24:15.
4. I DO IT WITH GOD'S HELP!
. . . the ACTIVATIONAL response, Philippians 2:13.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Martin Luther King, Jr.
· Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta Georgia on January 15, 1929
· Dr. King passed the entrance examination to Morehouse College in
Atlanta, Georgia without graduating form high school. He graduated from
Morehouse on June 8, 1948 with a BA degree in Sociology.
· Dr. King received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozen Theological
Seminary in Chester, PA in May, 1951.
· Dr. King's last speech titled "I've Been to the Mountain Top" was delivered
at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968.
· Dr. King was tragically assassinated while he stood talking on the balcony of
his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968.
Since this past Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I thought these were interesting
facts about his life.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent
about things that matter."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
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