(May 31, 2009)

Having vision from God will allow you to have provision to achieve that vision. God is PRO-VISION. He is "for vision". He gives it to us this vision and wants us to achieve that vision, but this requires us to act.

This is a "Pace Car" Message. We need to be brought up to speed before being released to seek our vision from God and ask for the provision to achieve.

Vision is simply this: What are you trying to do and how can you do it with one heart, one mind and one goal? A church with a committment to fulfill a vision will grow. A church without a vision will not.

Some of us have blurred vision. Some of us are blinded. Vision is the finish line, but only 5% of leaders in America have a vision. All vision from God is to fall under the umbrella of the Great Co-Mission: bringing all people back to Him. If this is the big picture, that leaves a lot of wide open territory. So, what does this mean? Does everyone need to be a preacher? No, but the life you lead will bring people to God if you live it right.

1. Vision from God always begins with a need. What needs out there need to be met? Seek needs, ask about the needs of others, find out what the short-term needs are of others, find out what the long-term needs are of others, and realize that it's not "about me". For example, Sunday morning is not about you. It's about meeting the needs of others, including God. If you are trying to find out what your role is, find out what the needs are.

2. Once you begin to see the needs, you need to feel the needs. It's intentional sympathy.

3. The need will stick to you. Not every need will be yours. It's the responsibility of all to participate in finding community needs and each needs to figure out which one sticks to them. When there are certain needs that need to be met and they aren't sticking to you, you get quickly bored. But, when the need sticks to you, you are excited, fired up and ready to advance. When churches know how to meet needs, they will grow. If you just have flashing music or your church is one-dimensional, that church will have spikes in attendance, but it will go back down because there is no vision or sense of destiny.

4. Begin to research the needs. Then, find the one that sticks to you. This one will be the one that causes you to have a burden. The burden makes you emotional for the ultimate cause of the Great Co-Mission. Do you have a burden? The need has stuck to you and God reveals to you how He feels about the need; this will give you a burden and an enthusiasm about the need. Living a life without a burden is no way to live a life.

5. The need is so great that God wants to use you to meet the need. You may not know how it's going to happen, but you know that God needs you to fulfill it.]

6. Take action. So many people stop at step five. God's got a vision for your life...it counts! We will never fulfill His greater vision until we fulfill our smaller vision.

Now, you need to investigate your needs, regardless of age or station. Begin to ask questions and go through the process. Once you get a burden, take action! Understand one thing, however: The entire church may not have the same vision that you do, but if everyone does each piece of their puzzle, the Great Co-Mission will be realized! Are you ready?

- Jon Bruney