ELEMENTS OF CREDIBLE VISION

1. Ministerial Focus

2. Threatens Norms

3. Plausible Imagination

4. Intolerance of Mediocrity

5. Commitment and Discipline

Commentary

Biblical Example

Vision must be ministry-focused

Example: Paul's evangelistic passion for both Jews and Gentiles was intense; his discipleship ministry was obvious; and his concern for the sick, the poor, and the elderly was exemplary. 

(Rom. 9:3; 10:1; 15:17-20)

 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,… Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. ….  I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--... So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 

Vision threatens norms,

Paul’s vision of the Gentiles obtaining righteousness by faith, while the nation of Israel was set aside, provoked sharp antagonism in the Jewish society in which Paul was reared and educated (Acts 22:22; Rom. 9:30-32; 11:11).

 Similarly, Paul threatened the cultural norms of Ephesus (Acts 19:23-29) and many other places. 

(Acts 22:22; Rom. 9:30-32; 11:11)

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"  … What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.  Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.(NIV)

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.  A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen.  He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business.  And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."  When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"  Soon the whole city was in an uproar.  (NIV)

A vision must be large enough to qualify as imaginative but practical,

Example:  Paul's vision for Macedonia, Rome, and Spain eminently qualifies.

(Acts 16:9-10). 

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Worthy vision never tolerates mediocrity.

Example: Paul's vision demanded great personal effort and sacrifice. He was never content with what had been accomplished.

(Phil. 3:12-14). 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

(NIV)

Such great vision necessitated discipline.

Example:  Paul's personal discipline and the price he paid for enduring ministerial effective­ness (1 Cor. 9:19-27; 2 Cor. 11:22-29). 

(1 Cor. 9:19-27)  Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  (NIV)