Being a People of Vision - Santosh Poonen - May 27, 2017
http://rlcf.church/sermons/being-people-vision River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker encourages the audience to maintain a high standard for Christian life and ministry, warning against settling for the status quo or accepting false visions, comparing them to desert mirages. He draws inspiration from Hebrews 13:7 and Mark 10, suggesting that spiritual blindness can occur even after experiencing revelation, and that believers must continually fix their eyes on Jesus to see the truth.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Remembering those who spoke the Word of GodThe speaker reads from Hebrews 13 to highlight the importance of imitating the faith of godly leaders whose conduct points to the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ.Hebrews 13:7
Where there is no vision, the people perishAfter losing clarity of vision while living in a place where New Covenant church life was rarely spoken of, the speaker realized the danger of settling for spiritual mediocrity.
Recognizing mirages and finding the true oasisDuring a backslidden and spiritually dry time, the speaker chased various false visions that looked like water in the desert before finally finding a true oasis among fellow believers.
Losing your sight after walking with the LordJust as Bartimaeus was a man who had sight and lost it, believers can lose their spiritual vision over time by allowing the bright things of this world to overshadow Christ.
Lord, I want to regain my sightBartimaeus asked Jesus to restore what he had lost, offering an example for believers whose critical attitudes or worldly distractions have clouded their spiritual perception.
Crying out all the more despite oppositionEven when others tried to quiet him, Bartimaeus cried out louder to the Son of David, showing the persistence needed when overcoming the fear of man and spiritual desperation.
Taking courage as Jesus calls youJesus stopped and called for the blind man, telling him to take courage, which illustrates how the Lord personally calls out to every weary and blind believer today.
Your faith has made you wholeUpon receiving his sight, Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus on the road, providing a living picture of restoration and discipleship for anyone whose vision has grown dim.
