Vision Beyond Our Ability
Gtcotr/ws111704
In the times when you are doing all you can do, God is still doing nothing.
God enables us to do more than we can do. He supplies all of our need according to His riches.
Many people never allow themselves to be moved into the place of need. An adventure beyond their own ability.
Many never attempt the impossible.
Key Scripture: Luke 18:27 But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
We all face pressured moments. Moments which can test our resolve and skew our vision of the future. Moments which rob a person of peace, joy and hope if were it not for the fact that God gives us Vision Beyond Our Moment.
Although there are moments of great difficulty in life, most of life is good and profitable, pleasant and secure. The routine we find most comfortable in the varying seasons of life can, however, lead us to forget that life changes.
Change is coming to each one, and in order for us to make the most out of seasonal transitions God gives us Vision Beyond Our Current Adventure.
God gives us vision beyond our moment and vision beyond our current adventure and, when life assigns us to a task that calls for extraordinary strength, more knowledge and greater wisdom than we could possibly possess, God will then give us vision beyond our own abilities.
God is not intimidated by our enemies nor by our desire to serve Him supernaturally.
Think about:
Samson and his great feats of strength
David facing Goliath as a little shepherd boy
As good as he was, he wasn’t that good.
The prophet’s widow of 2 Kings 4 with a vision to pour the oil
Noah getting all of those animals to come into the ark
These all faced circumstances which could not be remedied without God’s intervention.
God gave each one of them a vision to proceed beyond their own abilities.
One other bible character we will focus on tonight is Peter, the young fisherman turned follower of Christ.
Matthew 14 (NKJV)
22 ¶ Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
* The disciples were on a mission for Jesus, following His command when they found their boat tossed by the waves and the winds were contrary to them.
* They are 4 or 5 miles from shore and it is between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning when they see what they think is a ghost.
* The disciples start screaming like little girlie boys in a haunted hotel on Halloween.
* Jesus speaks and comforts the disciples
* Peter then asks of Jesus: “If this is really You …; If you are really with me; If you are really out there … then … command me to do something which I cannot possibly do without You.”
* “Give me a vision, a task, an adventure beyond my own ability.”
There Are Two Unchanging Facts About Us Christians
* Without Him We Can Do Nothing
John 15:5
* With Him We Can Do All Things
Philippians 4:13
When God inspires us to get involved in something which we know is way beyond our own abilities, whether:
* In our marriage (to give or forgive, to lead or follow)
* In our ministry ( to go or to stay put, to get involved again)
* With our finances, our family or our future (whatever the task)
When God inspires us to get involved in something which we know is way beyond our own abilities, have no fear …
Where God points, He always provides.
He never gives vision beyond His provision. God, however, does demand that we participate in our miracles.
This is the confidence we have when we approach God’s word for direction in our lives. Where He points, He will provide.
God never gives His counsel or His command without His commitment.
What is impossible with man is possible with God. Luke 18:27
Mark 10:27 “With God all things are possible.”
In 1988 many of us committed to making our church important to God.
At that time we began praying a constant prayer:
“God, give us a loud voice so that we may proclaim Your gospel message.”
In the middle of October of this year, 2004, I was praying early one morning, well before daylight. There on my knees I once again lifted my prayer and asked God to give us a loud voice so that we might proclaim His word.
I heard God speak to my inner man and say to me:
“Your whisper can now be heard around the world.”
I realized that even though we had asked for the impossible, God had given it to us.
In 1988 God gave us a vision beyond our own ability. As we faithfully prayed and participated, following His leadership even when at times it moved us out of our comfort zone and into need, He watched over the vision and brought it to pass.
Now, in 2004, 16 years later, our whisper can be heard around the world.
I am now committed to a new vision which is way beyond my own ability and could move us deeper into need.
This vision and prayer is powerful and will come to pass, just like the last one. The vision:
“Lord, give the whole world ears to hear.”
If you currently don’t have something better and more important to do:
Won’t you join with me in this vision.
Make it your prayer.
Let it move you out of your comfort zone and into what will perhaps be the greatest adventure of your lifetime.
What can you do to participate in this vision beyond your own ability?
Become a player on the COTR Vision Team.
Write or e-mail me and let me know that you are partnering with me to give the whole world ears to hear the word of the Living God.
Together we can accomplish this task. God is with us and He is committed.
What will it take? We will find out along the way as we are faithful to pursue this vision, even beyond our own abilities.
This coming Sunday morning, November 21, 2004, don’t miss,
“Vision Beyond Our Lifetime”
