March 22, 2020
Pursuing And Possessing Your Vision | Rev Dr Taiye Adeola
TEXT: Habakkuk 2:1-3
Our last discussion on this series on vision is Vision Agents and pointed at three things that are agents of generating vision:
- Dissatisfaction
- Readiness for something new
- Positioning yourself
Today I want us to look at Pursuing and possessing your vision. Is it possible that you have a vision that you are sure is given by God and still not fulfil it? Can dream remain only in the realm of dream and not become a reality? Yes, if no effort is made towards its realization to pursue and possess the vision. What you do not pursue, you cannot possess. If a brother gets a revelation that a sister is his wife, he will make both spiritual and practical moves to make it a reality.
- BELIEVE IN THE VISION
The first thing to do if you will pursue and possess your vision is to believe the vision. You cannot pursue what you do not believe. Some people do not even believe in their own vision not being sure of themselves and the source of their vision. Many actually saw, or heard, or were inspired by God concerning what he wants to do or where he is taking them but they do not believe; they doubt; maybe they think it is too big or they consider their own limitations. The Bible says that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). The bible also in James 1: 6-8 says that a man who doubts will not receive anything from the Lord. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let, not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. 8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
The first person that will believe in the vision that will be pursued and possessed is the one to whom the vision is given. So what have you seen or heard from God, do you believe it? If you don’t you cannot be mobilized to run with it and as such it will never become a reality. 2Ch 20:20, the scripture says “And they rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper”.
- EMBRACE OR ACCEPT THE VISION
The second thing is to embrace or accept the vision. When you believe it, you will accept it and then you run with it. In Acts 10:9-20 we find the story of Peter a disciple of Christ, an elder been shown a vision of a divine assignment which he was finding difficult to believe and accept because of his tradition and previous beliefs, but God instructed him until embraced the vision and fulfilled it. He argued with God because he did not believe the vision until God insisted that he must run with that vision. In verse 17-20 we read “ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them”.
You are to embrace the vision with joy and passion that will push you to work for its fulfilment. After you have accepted or embraced the vision the next thing to do in pursuing the vision if you will possess it is:
- TURN YOUR VISION TO A MISSION
A vision will remain at the level of conception and never get to the stage of realization if it does not translate or graduate to a mission embarked upon. Vision not turned to mission assignment can just be at the incubation stage without being hatched. One of the things to do with vision is to run with it; vision is also to be pursued and this demands setting it as an agenda to be executed, a purpose to fulfil and assignment to accomplish. Until your vision becomes a task on your hand that must be realized; it remains a mirage or a dream existing in a world that is not real. You therefore must not dwell too long in the realm of fantasy; you must move to the realm of reality and become practical in the pursuit of your visions. When vision becomes mission, it becomes your purpose, your pursuit, your passion, and the mandate that you run with. If vision does not turn to a mission, you will not run after it and it will not become your possession, so wake up, it is time to execute the vision. Turning vision to mission means turning vision to action; Vision is the big picture of what you want to do, the mission is how you want to achieve the vision through definite activities. Many people have a thing well written out but it has remained on paper, some have drawn the map on their hearts but it has not translated into practical actions, it is time to actualize the vision. The third month is almost drawing to a close and some of you are still dreaming, you need to wake up before you know it, December will be here and the year will end.
- AVOID DISTRACTION
The fourth thing is to avoid distractions and get focused. Set SMART goals and pursue them without allowing yourself to be diverted or distracted into other things that do not align with your vision. You must know that there are vision killers, avoid them, there are detractors, run away from them, their people designed by the devil to slow you down, identify them and deal with them. Distractions will slow you down or ultimately make you not to fulfil your vision. Some distractions will come as attractions, you must discern and avoid it; some distractions from your vision will come as opportunities, again, you must discern and reject such distractive opportunities.
- WORK FOR ITS FRUITION
- Be determined
- Be passionate
- Explore possibilities
- Set out strategies
- Set goals – SMART GOALS (Specific, Measurable, Achievable/Actionable, Relevant, Time-bound)
Listen to the message below: