The Heavenly Vision

(#1046, Imperial, 1964, 1964)

Read Acts 26:13-19.

Little is accomplished without vision.  Vision can keep a man on a straight course, bear him up during trial and hardship, and give him purpose and direction.  This is true of God's men.  Abraham saw a great nation.  Moses saw God at the burning bush. Isaiah saw the lord high and lifted up.  And Paul saw Christ on the road to Damascus.

Often today our vision is obscured by worldly things.  Often we are not obedient to the vision from God.  the vision we need today is threefold, something we see in Paul's visions.

A vision of Christ, Acts 9.

Paul was a very religious man.  But he was the chief of sinners, blind spiritually.  He needed Christ.

w    He saw Christ.

w    He heard Christ, 9:4.

w    He acknowledged Christ, 9:5.

w    His life was transformed and he immediately preached Christ, 9:20.

A vision of the Host, Acts 16:9-10.

Paul saw a man of Macedonia and he was moved to go and preach the gospel to them.  Our "man of Macedonia" may be a fellow-worker, a classmate, a businessman you deal with, or someone in your own family.  We must see those who are lost and in need of Christ.

A vision of service and our responsibility, Acts 18:1-11.

The Lord had many people in Corinth to be reached.  This is an opportunity.  God called Paul to reach them (v9).  God gave Paul the strength and power to do it.

We need this type of 3-fold vision.  Remember:

    1.  Vision comes through the Word. Keep close to your Bible.

    2.  Let nothing obscure the vision: not materialism, pleasure, riches, or the cares of life.

    3.  We must be obedient to God's vision.

It is urgent that we see Christ, the host, and our responsibility.