An Online Devotional from Pastor Chad Carter

W e ' r e m o r e t h a n j u s t a C h u r c h . . . W e ' r e a F A M I L Y !

The Manifold Vision of God

Pastor Chad Carter

Excerpts of Pastor Carter's message

from Family Harvest Church

Habakkuk 2:2-3

"And the LORD answered me, and said,

Write the vision, and make it plain upon

tables, that he may run that readeth it.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:

though it tarry, wait for it; because it will

surely come, it will not tarry."

The Message Bible says:

"And then God answered: 'Write this.

Write what you see. Write it out in big

block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision is a witness pointing to

what's coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it

seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.' "

We’ve got tremendous vision for the Kingdom of God! I pray by now you have begun to embrace that and are ready to read it on the run!

God has "vision" for everything. God has vision for your life. God also has vision for governments. Therefore, it stands to reason that if we are going to truly understand our vision as a local church, and our vision individually, we need to find out what God’s vision is and let that be reflected in our vision.

Our vision means nothing if it is contrary to HIS vision. So we need to know what His vision is, and embrace that if we are to truly be effective and successful.

What is God’s Vision? …It is manifold!

GOD'S VISION FOR THE KINGDOM:

God had a vision for His Kingdom to accomplish! For example:

God’s vision for His Kingdom is that none perish, but ALL come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)!

God’s vision is that His Kingdom would come, His will would be done on earth as it already is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)!

God’s vision is that this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14)!

GOD'S VISION FOR THE GOVERNMENT:

I'm not just talking about internationally, nationally or even state-wide; I'm talking about right here where we live... locally! For example:

God’s vision is that the Mayor calls for advice about how to handle that nasty situation staring the city in the face.

God’s vision is that the City Council seeks OUR counsel on how to solve our county’s drug problem.

God’s vision is that our local government wants a new way of rehabilitating prisoners, and instead of sitting around a table full of booze in a smoke-filled room – they get on the horn to Family Harvest Church and ask for the answer!

God’s vision is that when the nation stands at a crossroads and has a moral dilemma that could make or break the nation, its leaders don’t take it lightly and leave the floor of congress to go call the local Madam or refer to this morning’s prayer from the Koran, but they get down to serious business and call the church in for Godly guidance!

God’s vision is that when the nations and kingdoms of the world are seeking for the key to ending starvation and poverty, the Church comes to the forefront with God’s answer in hand, and identifies that at the heart of the problems of humanity is the problem with the human heart – Sin is the cause, and Calvary holds the key!

GOD'S VISION FOR FAMILY HARVEST CHURCH:

Let’s bring it a little closer to home… What is God’s vision for Family Harvest Church at this very point in time?

God’s vision is that we take on the mind of Christ and begin to outwardly express the inward thrust of love for lost and sinful man.

God’s vision is that we come out from the blurry indistinction of “church as usual” and NOT be just another worthless, not-effective, powerless churches on the street corner that does no good for itself, for others or for the Kingdom of God!

God’s vision is that our altars are crowned with souls! …That bodies are thrown across this altar as a living sacrifice in willing submission to the calling of Spirit of God!

God's vision is that people are being saved and filled with the Holy Ghost by the dozens! …That people are receiving deliverance from the habits of sin that have held them in bondage for years!

God's vision is that people bound in sickness and disease are suddenly loosed of their conditions the moment they step foot through the door of the building! …That wheelchairs are emptied, and canes, crutches and walkers are dropped by the wayside as the power of God touches them and they start running isles like a crazy person and with the renewed strength of their youth!

God’s vision is that our Community Food & Clothing Center feeds and clothes more people next month than it did this month!

God’s vision is that our youth and children’s ministries begin to bust at the seams with children who want to be here, and volunteers that do too!

God’s vision is that our membership begins to grow exponentially because those of you who haven’t invited anyone to church since you’ve been saved begin to invite dozens at a time!

God’s vision is that those who call this their church home will quit playing hooky and start showing up to church every time the doors are open! ...That you will stop showing up to church at 10 minutes till service time and start showing up an hour and a half early to pace the floor and cry out to God for revival!

God’s vision is that you become the hands and feet of this local church that extend far beyond the four walls which enclose you this morning!

God’s vision is that you begin to love people enough that you won’t leave them alone because you don’t want them to go to hell! … God’s vision is that you go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in... Why? ...That HIS HOUSE may be full!

GOD'S VISION FOR YOU:

What is God's will for you individually? ...It is manifold! God's will for your life is revealed in the pages of the Word of God, and every blessing and promise of that blessed book is absolutely yours in Jesus' name!

God’s vision is that YOUR family are the very one’s in this altar getting their lives straightened out!

God’s vision is that YOUR children and grandchildren are the one’s He delivers from drugs and alcohol!

God’s vision is that you’re not watching someone else get their blessing, but you’re getting your own for a change!

God’s vision is that you are finally the one flushing your pills down the toilet because the doctor doesn’t understand why, but you don’t need them anymore!

God’s vision is that YOU are finally the one moving into that new house… YOU are finally the one depositing money in the bank… YOU are finally the one walking down the street with more in your pocket than lint! …GOD has a VISION for YOU!

God’s vision is that YOU are finally the one telling your boss to “Take this job and bless it – I don’t work here anymore!”

God’s vision is that the characteristics of your God, El-Shaddai, become your own, till in your own life, YOU begin to experience MORE THAN ENOUGH, TOO MUCH, OVERFLOW, AND DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE!

God’s vision is that you are the one the banks have been bailing out for years, but suddenly they need bailed out and you’re just the one with the resources to do it!

God’s vision is that YOU’RE the one who discovers hidden riches in secret places, and you will know which part of your property to look, you’ll know which barn or which old outhouse to look in, and under which board some hilljack that hoarded his money and gold years ago hid that very thing that could be worth a million dollars to you!

God’s vision is that YOU’RE the one who prays until you see the plan He placed in you, the creative idea or invention that will bring you the very thing you’ve been seeking for all these years! You are the one who should be a success in business… You are the one who should be a success in industry… You are the one who should be a success in the market place…

Do you understand, God’s vision for you is not one of gloom, despair and defeat? …It’s a vision of hope in the midst of hopelessness; It's a vision of triumph in the midst of tribulation, and victory in the face of the devil’s defeat! Do you understand, this morning... THAT’S God’s vision for you!

What is God’s desired blessing for His people?

…3 John 2

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

Blessing… health… deliverance… prosperity. In the end (according to the Word of God in verse 3 of Habakkuk 2), it will speak for itself. In the end, it will not lie!

The vision has been written. It’s sitting in your lap this morning. God has the answer for what ails you, and its all right there in the Word of God.

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to your sickness – healing is on its way! …HANG ON, it’s on the way!

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to your lost family that you and your household shall be saved! …HANG ON, it’s on the way!

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to your trouble at work – It’s just your gift starting to make room for you, hold on ‘cause promotion is about to come! …IT WILL SURELY COME! Hang on, it’s on the way!

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to your struggling financial situations – Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” …IT WILL SURELY COME! Hang on, it’s on the way!

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to your overdue bills – Philippians 4:19, “…my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” …IT WILL SURELY COME! Hang on, it’s on the way!

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to those whom the devil has almost convinced NOT to sow in tithes and offerings – Psalm 126:6, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” …IT WILL SURELY COME! Hang on, it’s on the way!

God’s vision that speaks and does not lie says to your life, “My Word shall not return unto me void (Isaiah 55:11)! My Word holds the formula for success in your life!”

You’re not going to get it out of another book, from some other person or preacher, from someone’s tape series… You can try all that, smile from ear to ear with your pearly-whites shining, and still live your worst life now, AND forever.

God’s vision is made plain for you today… and it’s in His Word!

Some question why they’ve not seen fruit begin to manifest in their life, and the answer is very clear: You have no harvest because you’ve planted no seed.

The first questions I have learned to ask, because of the good teaching and wise advice of godly men (like my pastor, and the elders over me), when people are experiencing lack in their life, strife in their home, a marriage that’s on the rocks, is – “how is your relationship with the Lord,” AND “are you a tither and a giver?”

God says, “if you expect to get something out of my Word, you have to do what my Word says.” You cannot reap if you have not sown.

How many of you are ready to take God at His Word and begin to see its principles take effect in your life? Then you must accept the biblical truth that God’s way in which you make a withdrawal is to first make a deposit. You must take that step and begin to sow into your future. You must take that step of faith and sow toward the vision God has written before you in large letters that may be seen on the run.

God's Word is true, and if you will work the principles of the Word of God, God's principles will work for you! God's vision of total success for you is not a lie! According to His own Word, when it's all been said and done, the vision God has for you will speak for itself! Let God's Word speak for you... □

This has been an excerpt of an exhortation by Pastor Carter

to the congregation of Family Harvest Church.

This entire service, featuring music by John Robinson and a message by

Elder Bill Canfield of World Harvest Church with Pastor Rod Parsley,

is available on DVD or CD for a love gift to Family Harvest Church.

An order form is available in the FHC Online Store.

Please order it as service date: 08/19/07.

If you would like to become a follower of Jesus Christ,

we would love to lead you in that process. Click Here.

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