Vision, pt1
Leadership in Context with Keith Tucci
Episode 072
In our last three podcasts, we were following Paul’s admonitions on how to imitate him. We are going to pick up on that in a few weeks, but I wanted to interrupt that series to talk about vision, as we are in the beginning of a new year.
Vision is a word that is super-charged; it excites some people and paralyzes others. Let’s look at the word vision in the context of Scripture.
The word vision appears 77 times in the New American Standard version of the Bible. Each time it is mentioned, except for twice, it refers to a supernatural occurrence or is commentary on a supernatural occurrence. When the Bible is talking about vision, it is not just talking about someone having a plan or an objective; it’s talking about God super-imposing Himself in the form of vision. Fifteen of those 77 references to vision happen in the New Testament as God sovereignly injects vision and does something supernaturally.
Acts 10:10-11
But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground.
This was not a plan, idea, or goal that Peter was trying to accomplish. He was thinking about food, and he fell into a trance. When the Bible talks about having a vision, it is when our five senses are suspended and God intervenes.
Acts 10:17
Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate.
In the Bible, when God super-influences someone’s senses with a vision, ironically it leaves the person who has seen the vision with more questions than they had before they got the vision. Peter was perplexed as to what his vision meant.
The purpose of God working in our life is always to draw us to Him, to make us seek Him more fervently. We see this continually throughout Scripture.
Twelve times in Scripture, the word vision is used with regards to those masquerading with a false vision and that God is going to deal with them about that.
Jeremiah 23:16
Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord.”
There were false prophets there who were trying to influence people for their own agenda. It’s interesting that these people knew that to lead people effectively, you had to have a vision.
It would be better to not have a vision than to prorogate a false vision just to say you had a vision. You can be a sincere believer and leader, knowing that you need a vision, and you may copy someone else’s vision or piece together different parts that all sound good—and you get something that isn’t a vision because God has not super-imposed Himself. It is not God-given.
Vision is more than just a man with a plan. What I see in the Scripture is God super-imposing Himself.
Daniel 8:15
When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man.
Daniel 9:22
He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.”
Daniel had a supernatural vision and then a supernatural encounter. Even with both of those, Daniel did not understand everything.
When we are moving in the supernatural, that does not mean that we understand everything or that we know the next thing to do; it just means that God has encountered us so that we might, in turn, encounter Him.
How do you know you have a vision? You want to encounter God because you have been encountered. How do you know the leaders you follow have had an encounter with God and have a real vision? They are going back to God to get clarity. They are seeking God for the next steps.
These are the supernatural aspects the essence, the foundation of vision.
Next week, we are going to talk about the two exceptions in the Bible when the vision is not supernatural.
Join us next week as Keith Tucci continues to put leadership truth in the context of the local church. And as always, please like, share, rate/review, and invite others to listen. See you next week!
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