"Vision of the Past" | Greater Vision Series

“You can never see God if you don’t clearly see him in your past” Exodus 33:12-23 How has God revealed himself in your past? Joshua 24:2 “Long ago I…” God reminds them of all the ways he’s worked. Psalms of Salvation History: 78, 105, 106, 135, 136 Open your eyes to the Biblical vision of the past! Ephesians 2:11-12, 1 Peter 3:15 In the first three chapters of Ephesians there is only one imperative command: “Remember”. When asked why you’ve been sent, like Isaiah are you ready to honor the Lord with holy, holy, holy, and can you remember the way you were in the world in a way that brings God glory and others even closer to Jesus? We all have a disillusionment list. You have to make a decision. Will you allow sorrow to transform you? Will you bring it to God, and remember him in your story? Will you base your joy in the Lord or in circumstances? Will you allow a bitter root to distance you from future relationships, or distance you from God? Or will you fight even harder, press on deeply rooted in Christ Jesus? “The degree to which we grieve our losses is in direct proportion to the compassion we can offer other people.” Henri Nouwen Griefiing breaks our self will for Gods will, like Jesus weeping in the garden it enables us to take the cup going forward. It isn’t easy. It isn’t comfortable. It’s likely triggering, which may be a signal that that is exactly the thing that requires some time, focus, and spiritual formation. Handle past loss in Christ. Jesus is King, not triggers, not grief, don’t let these things obstruct your view of the King in your past! Journaling, listening to the Holy Spirit within. Ask. Seek. Pray. Think. Cleanse. Seek! ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:30-33 confucius once said he who says he can’t and he who says he can are both usually right. Your expectations, your vision of God and vision of your past will change your actions and change your reality. You will hear many say “I can’t do this” in 2022 — “I can’t meet, I can’t focus on God right now, I can't study the bible, I can't share the gospel” You have to decide what kind of disciple you’re going to be. Can you do what’s never been done before? Will you hold back and stay in the camp or advance spiritually with greater vision? “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” 1 Timothy 6:6 Look at the gains not the gap, to reframe your past with gratitude.  So in your past, how has the Lord established your steps? Better to be uncomfortable and in tune with the Lord, than to be comfortable and out of step with God.