It All Started With Vision Acts 15:36-16:15 (pew Bible p851)

1. It All Started With VisionActs 15:36-16:15 (pew Bible p851) • Philip—Acts 8 • Go to the desert, Philip obeys, Eunuch gets saved • Paul—Acts 9 • Struck blind, sees Jesus, has a vision, he obeys • Ananias—Acts 9 • Told to go heal Paul, he obeys, takes Paul to the disciples • Cornelius—Acts 10 • Seeking God, sees and angel, sent to Peter, he obeys, gets saved

2. It All Started With Vision • Peter—Acts 10 • Eat unclean animals, Gentiles coming, go, he obeys, Gentiles get saved • Church at Antioch—Acts 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

3. 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 • BUT—Acts 15:36—Time to go again • Visit the churches started last trip • Opposition tried to stop them—the John Mark thing • Both had vision • Obedience moved them forward • Both took new partners went forward

4. It All Started With Vision • Obedience moved them forward • Timothy—in obedience to Paul and Paul’s vision—was circumcised • In obedience they built up, taught and encouraged the churches

5. 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 Spirit’s voice

6. 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

7. 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 vision…”—v9 • Obedience to God gave them vision • They were driven by this vision • They were obedient to that drive

8. 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 God’s vision for their lives • Lydia got saved • God gets results through our obedience to His vision The Car Example—David Arrol Macfarlane • Director of National Initiatives • Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada

9. 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

10. 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 tired—needs a change

11. It All Started With Vision • Vision gets tired—needs a change • Asks for someone else to drive • Relationship has been there the longest and is also tired • Program is high energy and doesn’t like to drive • Management is most informed on the how’s, why’s and whereto • All agree to have management drive

12. 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 fuelled—details aren’t big to Vision • They stop for gas • Vision and relationship need a potty break • Management and program look at each other and drive away

13. 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

14. It All Started With Vision • Mr. Macfarlane suggests that most older churches are in this stage • The Church’s 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 28:18-20

15. It All Started With Vision • Why? • Because God has a vision John 3:16 "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.

16. It All Started With Vision • Why? • Jesus has a vision John 4:42 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."

17. It All Started With Vision • Why? • The Holy Spirit has a vision Acts 1:8 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."

18. It All Started With Vision • Why? • They passed that vision on to us 2 Corinthians 5:19 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.

19. It All Started With Vision • Why? • They passed that vision on to us John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Will we/you be obedient to God’s vision in our/your life?