My One Pursuit

It’s funny what a sickness does to totally throw off your rhythm in life. It has been a week since I got an eye infection and I am finding myself rediscovering where I left off from my daily projects and planning.

Regarding vision, I am not the only person on staff who has been hit with a vision issue. About four others were hit as well. In fact, last Sunday night Wendi was teaching at CSSM and went to clean her glasses as usual, and they broke right in her hand. A number of things concerning vision have taken place over the last week that I simply do not have space to write about. I believe the Lord wants us to pay attention to these events and ask for revelation.

We are also sensing the Lord is saying something about communications through dreams and some weird events. So let’s keep this in mind as well. I find it interesting that over the past several years we’ve prayed, sung and cried out, for the Lord to open our eyes to see and to open our ears to hear.

It’s important to be leaning in to hear what the Lord is saying. I believe that the Lord often speaks to us through pictures and events that are beyond coincidence.

I will be sharing more at our Leaders EGS Friday Night.

Recently have any of you experienced events, words, pictures or dreams regarding either vision or communication?

Do you have any further insight to add?

Getting a vision from God is all about seeing. Without a vision, our life splinters into so many different directions. It’s true, that our focus does determine our reality. And we become what we behold. I am learning the more I behold the Lord the more I become like Him. And the more I become like Him the more focused His purpose and vision becomes in my life . There is really no substitutes for getting a vision from God. Ongoing encounters are mandatory (and amazing I might add)!

Look at these verses:

Hab. 2:1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me…“
Hab. 2:2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

What is so significant for us here is that the Prophet looked to see what he (God) would say. See what He will say! Weird, isn’t it? That’s a big part of what a vision from God is all about, seeing what He is saying.

The Message Bible (I know it is a paraphrase, but it works) says it like this,

Hab. 2:1 ”I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.
I’ll wait to see what God says“

“Scan the horizon” to “see what God says”. Getting a vision from God is to look out over the horizon of your life, beyond your present circumstances and day to day life, praying, scanning and looking to see what God will say about His vision for your life. Look to see! Lean in to see His voice!

When the Lord delivered Israel from Egypt, He had the nation scan the horizon. He said, ”I will bring them up out of that land (Egypt) into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8).  What do you think that meant to a people who were entrenched in over 400 years of slavery. It meant everything! Their hearts were filled with purpose and hope. He gave them a picture of their destiny. God is the ultimate visionary!

When we see what He is saying it’s important to write the revelation down (Hab. 2:2). Make it as plain and clear as possible. Write every detail you see so you can run with it. I know the verse says that the herald may run, but I think it totally applies to the one who gets the vision as well.

So what can you do next:

•    Begin asking the Lord for His vision for your life. Ask Him for greater clarity. Find a place that creates the setting to encounter God. I suggest our Prayer Room
•    Pay attention to what you see. For me, God usually rolls out the vision a step at a time. For you, it might be different. Most times it comes as a picture or a prophetic word, act, painting etc   (it comes in many different ways)
•    Pay attention to your hearts passions and interests. What would you do if time, money or failure were not an issue? This is a good starting place to determine your passion.
•    Write this stuff down. Journal! You can draw pictures or cut out things you see or have read. It is amazing to look back over time to see what He is saying.
•    Lastly, as God makes things clear…make sure your motivation is true. A vision from God always serves.

Share what you are seeing God saying?

Moses had a day that would change the course of His life. He was just minding his own business on Mt. Horeb, shepherding  a bunch of sheep when He had an encounter with God who was speaking from a  burning bush.  From Moses encounter we discover a God of vision. A God who wants to partner with people to see his purposes achieved. But with the vision comes an internal struggle. Moses had to face the reality of God’s vision against his perceived weakness.  Here is a summery of each weakness and God’s gracious response to move Moses to His purpose and assignment.

The Struggle of Insignificance: Exodus 3:11-12.

Moses felt:  unqualified, unimportant and simply not worth God’s consideration.
God’s response: “I will be with you”

Believe that you are important and worthy to receive a vision from God and complete it.

The Struggle of Ignorance: Exodus 3:13-14

Moses felt: inexperienced and uniformed
God’s response: God gave Moses information of who is sending him and what he will do

Believe that God will give you the understanding, knowledge and information to complete God’s vision.

The struggle of Influence: Exodus 4:1-9

Moses felt: he lacked credibility or proof to get God’s people on God’s agenda
God’s response: release miracles to convince people that this is His vision and Moses is His leader.

Believe that you will be anointed to lead others in God’s vision.  People will believe you and run with you when they see miracles as the vision unfolds. Expect miracles.

The Struggle of Incompetence: Exodus 4:10-12

Moses felt: he lacked the ability, gifts and the skill set needed to complete the purpose of God
God’s response: He would empower Moses, helping him overcome his weakness

Believe that God will increase, or give you, the skills, gifts and anointing to fulfill His vision.

The Struggle of Insecurity: Exodus 4:13-17

Moses felt: fearful, unsure, anxious and overcome with doubt
God’s response: I will put people around you to help you

Believe He has called you.  Trust that He will put people around you to strengthen you in your weak areas.

Here is part two in a series on the importance of encountering God as a leader. Please read pt. 1 to get the full context of this post. Click the blue link above to view it.

• The Encounter of Leadership (Exodus 24:9) – Moses is now entrusted to bring others up with him into the presence of God. Seventy-four leaders ”saw the God of Israel“. Finally, he can share with others what he was experiencing himself. Your personal breakthrough as a leader leads to corporate breakthroughs to those whom you lead. Moses now leads others up the mountain to a place of encounter where they actually see God.
• The Encounter of Friendship (Exodus 24:18) – Moses again ascends up through the thick cloud of God’s presence for 40 days and 40 nights. What happened up there? I mean 40 days and 40 nights in the glory cloud. I believe that he became a friend of God, consumed by love and understanding His ways. Moses now follows out of passion instead of discipline, from the identity of a servant to that of a friend. He is moved by God’s heart, not just God’s law. Moses is now an intimate friend.
• The Encounter of Glory (Exodus 34:29) – Moses comes down from the mountain and he is ”not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord“. Can you imagine that? That is what glory does. It is revealed as a result of an encounter. It’s displayed on our faces and through our lives. From that day forward Moses wore a veil over his face. The only time he took it off was when he was alone, when he was being used as an oracle of God to the people and when he met with God personally. Moses is now reflecting the Glory of God as a direct result of encountering Him.

In 2 Corinthians 3:10 it says,

• 2Cor. 3:7-11 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Encounters with God are life-changing defining moments. Today, there is even a greater glory for you and me. We are to carry a glory of increase that comes out of our encounters with the Lord through the Spirit. It’s a surpassing glory!

Moses moved from purpose to glory through a series of encounters with God. Find time to really know God. He is waiting!

How have encounters with God impacted your life?

This is a two-part series on the importance of encountering God as a leader.

Reading Moses’ development and leadership has been interesting. One thing that keeps getting my attention is his encounters with God on a mountain. It appears to me that with each encounter He has, he finds himself more equipped to lead. I am convinced that we lead better from ongoing encounters with God. Books are fine, articles can help us and conferences are great but there is no substitute for getting face to face with the Lord.

Here is a little bit of info as background to these encounters.

• Initially, God is found on a Mountain and that He would call Moses up to the Mountain to meet Him.
• Moses never refused the invitation. “Ahh Lord, can we do this tomorrow?“ was never his response.
• Let me say that Sinai is over 7,400 ft in elevation. Thats up there. I don’t know how high Moses climbed up the mountain but on several occasions it says that God called him to the top of the mountain. That’s what you call obedience, effort and desire.
• Every meeting had purpose. You cannot encounter God and not have God rub off on you. Each trip up produced greater change within.

What happened? There is can be so much to these encounters but I want to make this as simple as possible. I do see a progression with each encounter. This can be helpful as a gauge for us.

• The Encounter of Purpose (Exodus 3) – The burning bush encounter identifies Moses’ purpose and calling. His assignment is revealed. You have to have this one or you will go through life aimlessly. Encounter God so He can reveal to you your purpose and assignment. Moses now discovering his purpose and assignment.
• The Encounter of Identity (Exodus19:5-6) – Moses encounters God and discovers that he and the nation are God’s ”treasured possession“, a Kingdom of Priests, a holy nation. He now realizes that they (including himself) are a priceless treasure to Him. They have supreme value! God is crazy for them, thats why he rescued them. He wants to make a them into a Kingdom of Priests, royalty that lives in relationship with God, a nation set apart by love and for love. Moses is now discovering his identity.
• The Encounter of Covenant (Exodus 19:20;Exodus 20:21) – Moses goes up into the thick cloud of encounter to discover the laws of God. God encounters him and gives him the blueprints on how the nation is to truly live. God’s laws are perfect and they are given to protect and provide for a new and growing Kingdom. Moses is now discovering God’s Word.

These have to be resonating currently in us in order to reach or true potential .

Your Comments?