That Vision Thing

“The burden of the valley of vision...For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.” Isaiah 22:1-5

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

“And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.” Genesis 42:9

“Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions.” Job 7:14

Dreams versus Visions

Visions and dreams are used interchangeably in the bible. Both can be either from God or the flesh. Jacob was a dreamer. Joseph was a dreamer. But, even though Peter and Paul had dreams, we do not call them dreamers. We call them visionaries.

Dreams seem to be a premonition of the future. Visions seem to be understandings of the future. Dreams wait to be fulfilled. Visions call for action and active faith. But our use of the words dream and vision today differ from the language of the Bible. Today, vision relates more to tomorrow; dream relates more to yesterday.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17

Visions are for the future.

Dreams are for the past.

Dreams focus on what was or what might have been.

Visions focus on what has not yet happened or what will be.

A dream needs no basis in reality in order to have value.

A vision has value precisely because it is based in reality.

A dream needs no connection to the present.

A vision thrives on its connection to the present.

Dreams happen when your eyes are shut.

Visions happen with your eyes wide open.

Everybody can dream.

Vision requires something more.

Dreams may be nothing more than fantasy.

Visions are ventures of faith.

Dreams are cheap.

Visions are expensive.

Unfulfilled dreams often fade without a second thought.

Unfulfilled visions lead to extreme discontent and frustration.

"When you say “I will do this or that” you are expressing your vision; when you say “I will not do this or that” you are also expressing your vision.

You must have a vision for the future. You cannot dream about it.

If you dream about the future, you are treating it as if it were the past.

Dreams deceive the dreamer with a false sense of rest and fulfillment.

Visions demand high energy, commitment and work.

A Dream or a Vision: Which one do you want?

The future will happen whether or not you have a vision.

Without a vision, you will perish.

With a vision, you will flourish.

Which do you want to do? Perish or flourish?

Ne Plus Ultra

In Spain , a mountain rises from the bottom of the ocean 1,500 feet above the surface, called the Rock of Gibraltar. Only a little more than 500 years ago (in history, 500 years is a very short time) the Spanish government still had carved on the Rock of Gibraltar to protect people from falling off the cliff of a flat world, the words, “Ne Plus Ultra” It means, “there is nothing beyond! Stop! Don’t go any farther!” When Columbus discovered that the world didn’t stop at Gibraltar , Spain removed the letter “ne.” “Ne plus ultra” became “Plus Ultra”, there is something beyond!

Vision recognizes something exists beyond where you stand!

The vision of Joshua and Caleb.

Your vision defines your attitude and action. In Numbers 13:1-33, God told Moses to send spies to explore the land of Canaan that he bequeathed to the Israelites. Moses recruited twelve men and instructed them to see what the land was like and to assess the strength and numbers of the people who lived there. He especially wanted to know whether the land was fertile. He told them to bring back some produce so he could judge for himself.

The men went as requested, but brought back an ambiguous report. The land, they said, "flowed with milk and honey," but powerful giants who inhabited large, fortified cities lived there. Despite Caleb's strong assertion that the Israelites could prevail, ten of the twelve spies were dead set against it. Fear of failure overwhelmed them. "We seemed like grasshoppers in their eyes," they cried. Their faith rose no higher than their vision.

Your vision informs your feelings how to feel.

When you envision weakness, you make yourself weak.

When you envision God’s strength, you will be strong.

Negative visions are as contagious as positive ones. When the evil spies’ pessimistic report was published throughout Israel , the entire nation began grumbling en mass against Moses. They spewed their bitterness out with such fury that they even cursed their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt ! An unthinkable scenario developed: they were ready to pick a new leader who would take them back to slavery.

In dramatic fashion, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the people to counteract the negative report. Joshua and Caleb then stood up and pled with Israel to change their minds and move forward. They assured everyone that Canaan was a luxuriant and fertile country and that God would give them victory over the inhabitants, even though they seemed like giants. They repeatedly pressed the people not to be afraid of the obstacles before them. Although Israel rejected their plea, dooming the people to wander thirty-eight more years in the wilderness, the vision of Joshua and Caleb never died. It took the passing of a generation, but they saw the walls of Jericho fall.

Six Musts of the Vision of Joshua and Caleb:

1. They desired to possess the land.

2. They believed they had a right to the land.

3. They believed that failure to act was to rebel against the Lord.

4. They believed they could defeat the enemy.

5. They refused to be ruled by fear.

6. They were ready to make their move.

The Bible brims with visionaries. Abraham saw a new land with a new city; Joseph envisioned power and influence; Moses saw deliverance for the Hebrew nation; King David envisioned building a beautiful temple to honor God; his son, Solomon, envisioned a kingdom that spread out over the earth; Peter saw a society free from racial prejudice; Paul envisioned preaching a gospel to every nation under the sun. Whether the vision was small, like Dorcas clothing the saints, or vast, like Christ saving the world, nothing significant happened without the force of vision birthing it into existence.

Your vision is waiting.

A vision for yourself . Start by acting upon your personal vision.

A vision for your family . You don’t work on your vision by telling others what to do. You work on your vision by investing yourself into your vision. Put a plan into action that brings reality to your family vision.

A vision for your ministry. What has God called you to do? Notice, I didn’t say “called to be.” Too many of us think to do something, we have to be something. You can win souls without thinking of yourself as a soulwinner. You can witness without being a preacher. You can care for people without being a pastor. You can work in ministry without the title or position of minister. Take care of what you do. Who you are will take care of itself.

A vision for your church.

Envision a loving church.

Envision a forgiving church.

Envision a caring church.

Envision a helping church.

Envision a participating church.

Envision a giving church.

Envision a growing church.

A vision is not “I want this.”

A vision is “I see this.”

A vision does not say, “If only I had this.”

A vision says, “I will get this done.”

Going after your vision will not be easy. “For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.” Isaiah 22:5.

These are your musts:

You must desire to take possession of your vision.

You must believe you have a right to your vision.

Failure to act on your vision will be rebellion against the Lord.

You must believe you can defeat the enemy of your vision.

You must refuse to be ruled by fear of your vision.

You must be ready to move toward your vision.

Revisit your dreams.

Have they faded and died?

Are they forgotten?

Turn those dreams into visions.

Inject life into your vision.

Your vision is worth everything.

Your vision is worth dying for.

Your vision will forevermore define your life.