It All Started With Vision Acts 15:3616:15 pew Bible p851

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It All Started With VisionActs 1536-1615 (pew
Bible p851)

• PhilipActs 8
• Go to the desert, Philip obeys, Eunuch gets saved
• PaulActs 9
• Struck blind, sees Jesus, has a vision, he obeys
• AnaniasActs 9
• Told to go heal Paul, he obeys, takes Paul to the
  disciples
• CorneliusActs 10
• Seeking God, sees and angel, sent to Peter, he
  obeys, gets saved

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It All Started With Vision

• PeterActs 10
• Eat unclean animals, Gentiles coming, go, he
  obeys, Gentiles get saved
• Church at AntiochActs 13
• Separate Paul and Barnabas for special
  assignment, they obey, Gentile world is rocked
• It is safe to say that the church was founded on
  VISION and OBEDIENCE to VISION

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It All Started With Vision

• Paul and Barnabas were Driven by Vision
• Vision had sent them on their first journey
• Controversy had brought them back to Jerusalem
  and the church at Antioch
• BUTActs 1536Time to go again
• Visit the churches started last trip
• Opposition tried to stop themthe John Mark thing
• Both had vision
• Obedience moved them forward
• Both took new partners went forward

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It All Started With Vision

• Obedience moved them forward
• Timothyin obedience to Paul and Pauls
  visionwas circumcised
• In obedience they built up, taught and encouraged
  the churches

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It All Started With Vision

• Obedience moved them forward
• Paul and Silas traveled through the area of
  Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had
  prevented them from preaching the word in the
  province of Asia at that time.v6
• They obeyed
• They were constantly in tune to the Spirits voice

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It All Started With Vision

• Obedience moved them forward
• they headed north for the province of Bithynia,
  but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them
  to go there. Phrygia, Galatia, Asia, Mysia, and
  Bithynia were all districts in what is now
  Turkey.v7
• They obeyed
• Again they were listening and obedient

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It All Started With Vision

• So instead, they went on through Mysia to the
  seaport of Troas.v8
• Obedience moved them forward
• That night Paul had a visionv9
• Obedience to God gave them vision
• They were driven by this vision
• They were obedient to that drive

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It All Started With Vision

• So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once,
  having concluded that God was calling us to
  preach the Good News there.v10
• They were obedient to the drive to fulfil Gods
  vision for their lives
• Lydia got saved
• God gets results through our obedience to His
  vision
• The Car ExampleDavid Arrol Macfarlane
• Director of National Initiatives
• Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada

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It All Started With Vision

• The Car Example
• A person has a vision to reach the lost
• In obedience he drives where God leads
• He realizes that in order to reach people you
  need to establish relationships
• Relationship jumps into the front seat with him
  to help Vision
• Relationship suggests that maybe if we had
  programs more people would be reached
• Program jumps into the back seat to help
  Relationship serve Vision

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It All Started With Vision

• The Car Example
• They realize that they need to have organization
  and funding for the programs
• Management jumps into the back seat to serve
  Program, who is serving Relationship, who is
  serving Vision, who is driving the car
• Vision gets tiredneeds a change

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It All Started With Vision

• Vision gets tiredneeds a change
• Asks for someone else to drive
• Relationship has been there the longest and is
  also tired
• Program is high energy and doesnt like to drive
• Management is most informed on the hows, whys
  and whereto
• All agree to have management drive

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It All Started With Vision

• All agree to have management drive
• Program jumps into the front seat with him/her
• Vision has been negligent in keeping the car
  fuelleddetails arent big to Vision
• They stop for gas
• Vision and relationship need a potty break
• Management and program look at each other and
  drive away

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It All Started With Vision

• Management and program look at each other and
  drive away
• Driven by management
• Program is along to help Management
• Vision and Relationship are no longer a part of
  the trip

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It All Started With Vision

• Mr. Macfarlane suggests that most older churches
  are in this stage
• The Churchs Vision/Mission
• I have been given all authority in heaven and on
  earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all
  the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
  Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach
  these new disciples to obey all the commands I
  have given you. And be sure of this I am with
  you always, even to the end of the age.Jesus to
  us in Matthew 2818-20

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It All Started With Vision

• Why?
• Because God has a vision
• John 316 "For God so loved the world that he
  gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes
  in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
  17For God did not send his Son into the world to
  condemn the world, but to save the world through
  him.

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It All Started With Vision

• Why?
• Jesus has a vision
• John 442 They said to the woman, "We no longer
  believe just because of what you said now we
  have heard for ourselves, and we know that this
  man really is the Saviour of the world."

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It All Started With Vision

• Why?
• The Holy Spirit has a vision
• Acts 18 But you will receive power when the
  Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my
  witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
  Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

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It All Started With Vision

• Why?
• They passed that vision on to us
• 2 Corinthians 519 that God was reconciling the
  world to himself in Christ, not counting men's
  sins against them. And he has committed to us
  the message of reconciliation.

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It All Started With Vision

• Why?
• They passed that vision on to us
• John 1718 As you sent me into the world, I have
  sent them into the world.
• John 2021 Again Jesus said, Peace be with you!
  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.
• Will we/you be obedient to Gods vision in
  our/your life?