20/20 Vision, Part 1: Nearsighted

(Proverbs 29:18)  "Where there is no vision, the people perish…"  Why have a vision for life?  - A vision for life will bring focus. (Proverbs 17:24 GN)  "An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions." - A vision for life will bring endurance. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)  "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Hebrews 12:1) "…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." - A vision for life will bring peace. (Jeremiah 20:18)  "Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?" (Jeremiah 29:11) "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Nearsighted (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT)  "Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do." 1.  Discover God's vision for your life. (Psalm 139:13-16)  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Design reveals destiny.      2.  Focus on your daily agenda. (Psalm 90:12 LB)  "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." 3.  Close the gap between intentions and actions.          - Your vision must be written. - Your vision must be specific. - Your vision must stretch your faith. (Ephesians 3:20) "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," - Your vision must be shared with others. (1 Thessalonians 2:8) "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." (Proverbs 20:18)  "Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance." (Proverbs 15:22)  "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."  (Acts 17:26-27)  "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.