While listening to the sermon online or reading the sermon notes below
think about the following questions.

1. What does vision mean?
2. What does having a personal vision mean?
3. How do we receive vision from God?
4. Why is it important to write down your vision?
5. Write down strategic areas in your life that require vision.
[Download the PDF to assist you with this exercise]

Spiritual
Physical
Mental
Social
Family
Financial

6. Spend time with God enquiring from Him the vision for each area. Please remember to journal and write down what God reveals to you concerning vision.
7. Set measurable goals for each area mentioned above to eventually reach the vision God gave you. Again, write these down so you can be reminded regularly of the goals that you’ve set for yourself.
8. Share your vision and goals with your spiritual leader to help you on your journey.

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Sermon notes 15 January 2012 Ps. Louis Els

THE IMPORTANCE OF VISION

Defining the concept of vision:

Vision is foresight with insight, having hindsight. Vision for an individual or church is the portion of the divine plan that God has for that individual or church to reach the human race and advance His Kingdom. It is seeing the invisible and making it visible. It is a bridge between the present and the future. It is a portion of the divine plan for the human race and for the advancing of the kingdom of God. It is much more than a dream or a desire. Vision comes through intimacy with God, through having an encounter with Him and spending time with Him. *1. Each one of us is unique and each one is born with a purpose *2 . The vision takes us beyond the here and now. Without it we perish.

1. Importance of vision

• Vision comes with prophetic insight; it keeps us focused and keeps us from simply “looking around”.
• It puts your mind to work with a joy in the Lord *3  and fills you with a holy discontent for the status quo.
• Vision gives you a mandate for life.
• Vision releases phenomenal energy and excitement in your heart *4. It brings a vision for the future despite the circumstances.
• Vision gives you passion and stirs it up.

2. What happens when you are without vision

People cast off restraint, resist it and make excuses. They lack discipline, accountability, commitment and focus *5.

3. What to do with the vision when you receive it

• Write it down and make it clear, like a contract to be continually referred to *6
• Ask: “What is it, God, that you are saying regarding the heart of my life, business etc?”

4. How to get smart vision

• Be specific
• It must be measurable
• It must be attainable
• It must be relevant to the circumstances and area
• There must be a timeline

5. Areas of vision:
Vision must not be too small, neither can it be self centered or selfish. It must affect everybody around you too. To be balanced, you need vision in all of these areas of your life:

• Spiritually
• Physically
• Mentally
• Socially
• Familywise
• Financially

6. How to work it out practically

• Work out a strategy
• Have an action plan
• Continually evaluate and re-evaluate – it is a process
• Stand firm

Bible verse references: 
*1 1 Sam 3:1  *2 Jer. 29v11 *3 Neh. 4v6, 8v10  *4 Neh. 4v6  *5 Proverbs 29:18, Proverbs 19:21  *6 Hab. 2v2-4