HAVING A GOD GIVEN VISION FOR OUR LIFE (Living for the Kingdom Cause)

Having a clear God given vision for our life helps us to maximize our God given

potential in life

Every believer is uniquely gifted God has an unfolding plan for every believer's life God’s plan for our life is full of purpose and meaning (Life and life more abundantly)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM CAUSE AFFECTS OUR LIFE IN MANY WAYS

- It affects the choices and decisions that we make in life (We seek to please the LORD and to do His will)

- It affects the priorities that we have in life (We have a greater focus on spending time with the Lord, having fellowship with other Christians and in living for others)

- It affects the way that we use our talents and resources

- It affects the way that we use our time, and

- It positively influences our attitudes in life

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

When we live for the Kingdom Cause

i) We do things as to the Lord. We are more focused on pleasing God than receiving approval from man – The simple fact is that we will not always be appreciated for what we do for others, but God honours those who serve Him (John 12:26)

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

ii) We experience purpose and meaning even in the mundane things of life as we get joy from living for and serving others

Jesus Himself said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over

them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

iii) Our focus becomes more on helping others to succeed in life

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or

conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:3)

“Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” (1 Corinthians 14:12)

The closer we are in our walk with the Lord, the more we desire to live for others

• Mother Therese was quoted as saying, “A life not lived for others is not a life.”

• Martin Luther King was assassinated whilst pursuing his dream to see racial discrimination abolished in America. We now have a black president in the United States

iv) When we have a Kingdom perspective in life we have a greater sensitivity to the needs

of others

The Apostle John wrote, “By this we know love, because he laid down His life

for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word of tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)

v) We live to glorify God with our lives (We want to live our life in such a way that we

encourage others to come to Christ)

Jesus Himself said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they

may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

vi) We have a greater appreciation of the value of people to God. (God’s agape love in our heart helps us to see the God given potential in others)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the

love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

OUR GENUINE LOVE FOR OTHERS IS OUR GREATEST WITNESS TO THOSE IN THE

WORLD Mother Therese was quoted as saying, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

Jesus Himself said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one

another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

vii) We have a greater appreciation of the importance and urgency of helping others to come to Christ

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“...I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)

The Apostle Paul appreciated the value of each person to God and His desire that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9)

viii) We begin to live our life with an eternal perspective (This life is just a dress rehearsal for the next) We make ourselves available to be used of God to help populate heaven

Jesus Himself said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where

moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) AND

ix) We can be assured that God will meet our every need in life when we put Him and the

Kingdom first in our life

Jesus Himself said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we

eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

A GREAT KEY TO HAVING A CONTINUAL KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE IN LIFE AND TO

HAVING GOD’S HEART FOR PEOPLE IS HAVING AN INTIMATE WALK WITH THE LORD

(Everything flows out of our intimacy with and genuine love for God)

KING DAVID WROTE, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give

you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Seeking God on a regular basis is a great key to having a clear vision for our life and to seeing God's unfolding plan for our life coming to pass.

In the book of Isaiah we read, “For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD,

And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?” (Jeremiah 23:18)

Particularly when going through challenging times, spending time with the Lord helps to clarify and strengthen the vision God has for our life and to make His will for our life clear.

This is great key to remaining focused in our walk with the Lord and to overcoming discouragement

Having a clear God given vision and focus for our life helps us to remain strong and positive even during the valley experiences of our life

Having a clear understanding of God’s will and plan for our life helps us not to squander our lives on unfruitful things

In the book of Proverbs we read about the dangers of not having a clear God given vision for our life.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18)

With the spirit of the world now being so strong, more than ever before in the lawless times that we are now living in, we need a clear God given vision for our life as believers

Jesus Himself in His explanation of the Parable of the Sower said,

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:18-20)

It is also important to journal what God speaks to us during our quiet times. If we do not we can quickly forget what He has spoken to us

Journaling helps to: i) Give us clarity as we write down God’s guidance to us

ii) See God’s unfolding plan for our life come to pass, and

iii) Remind us of what God has spoken to us in the past

We need to write down the vision and make it plain and simple so that we can follow it.

The LORD said to the prophet Habakkuk, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets,

that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

IT IS GOOD TO KEEP THE VISION GOD GIVES US CONTINUALLY BEFORE US. In doing this:

• We will be more sensitive in hearing from the LORD in relation to the outworking of His Vision and plan for our life

• We can prayerfully make plans to see the vision becoming a reality

• We will live our life in a way that sees God’s plan and destiny for our life coming to pass

We must learn to dream again and believe that God can do great things through our

lives. The word of the Lord came to the Prophet

Jeremiah in prison, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you

great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly

abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

We must not limit what God wants to do in and through our life.

Having a clear God given vision and plan for our life is crucial for many reasons. I will now just quickly look at some of these reasons:

The Apostle Paul wrote, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as

fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

1) It helps us to be disciplined in the use of our time and resources. Our time is our

most precious resource

2) It helps us to overcome discouragement and setbacks in life

It is so important that we continually keep our focus on God’s plan for our life

In the book of Isaiah we read, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose

mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

3) It helps us to flow in our gifts and calling (A great key to living a life of great purpose and meaning is to flow in who God created us to be)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that

is given to us, let us use them: If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8)

4) It helps us to make plans and decisions that are in line with God's will for our life (There is

no better place than being in the centre of God’s will for our life)

In the book of Proverbs we read, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but

those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)

5) It helps us to get up every day with a sense of destiny and purpose

Jesus Himself said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and

to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

6) It helps us to connect with the people that are part of God's unfolding plan for our life. Our destiny will always be worked out in connection with others

The Apostle Paul wrote, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit

together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself IN LOVE.” (Ephesians 4:16) AND

7) It helps us to fulfil God's plan and destiny for our life

At the end of His time here on earth the Apostle Paul wrote,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8-9)

SO QUICKLY IN CONCLUSION, HOW CAN WE KNOW AND CONNECT WITH GOD’S VISION

AND PLAN FOR OUR LIFE

We need to come to God with no agenda of our own but with a desire to know His will and plan for our life. In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

1) We need to genuinely commit our plans to the Lord

2) We need to make time to seek God's face. We must get alone with God

Jesus Himself said,

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6)

3) We need to seek God with an open bible when looking for His guidance and

direction. God speaks to us through His Word

In the book of Psalms we read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my

path.” (Psalm 119:105)

“Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133)

4) The more intimate we are with the LORD the easier it is to know His UNFOLDING will and plan for our life.

King David wrote, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give

you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Jesus Himself said in relation to gaining guidance from the Holy Spirit,

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13)

5) We need to be open to receiving godly counsel from other mature believers as we seek God's direction (revelation and vision)

for our life and when making plans

In the book of Proverbs we read, “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the

multitude of counsellors they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22) AND

6) We need to write down what God speaks to us and puts on our heart to do. We need to

write the vision clearly on paper.

The LORD said to the prophet Habakkuk: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. (Habakkuk 2:3)

So in conclusion:

Having a clear God given vision for our life is crucial if we are to live a life of great purpose and meaning and to fulfil God’s plan and destiny for our life here on earth. We have one life here on earth to store up treasures for eternity.

A clear God given vision for our life helps us to remain strong during the trials of life and to see our lives bearing much fruit and making a great difference in this world for eternity. EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORD FOR ETERNITY