KEEPERS OF THE VISION
( Book by Kendrix J. Gardner)
Habakkuk 2:2-4
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 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.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
VISION KEEPERS HAVE A PASSION TO SERVE
Matthew 20:28-29
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\”
Colossians 1:11-12
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
VISION KEEPERS HAVE A PURPOSE FOR SEVING
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:20-21
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.\”
VISION KEEPERS HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED TO SERVE
2 Timothy 3:16-4:1
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Personal and corporate Bible Study is important work for all believers.
2 Corinthians 9:8-9
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
VISION KEEPERS ARE BORN AGAIN
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!
The reason you come to Bible Study is because you are driven by Christ.
John 3:16-17
\”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:20
We are therefore Christ\’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ\’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
VISION KEEPERS ARE PRAYER WARRIORS
Prayer is a two way communication between the believer and God.
Believe it or not, God wants to hear from you.
If you are not talking to God, you are talking to the world.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
James 5:14-15
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Prayer is an effective tool against the devil. When you communicate with God
your mind are on things that are spiritual.
Everyone should have a special time to communicate with God.
Praying without ceasing mean many short prayers. But we should give
more than a minute prayer.
To go to God in prayer is a privilege. As suggested by Dr Kendrick Gardner,
you can use the acronym ACTS as a guide.
A is for adoration, C is for confession, T is for thanksgiving and S is for
supplication.
What we call the Lord\’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 gives you a good guide.
Verse 9 and 10 is Adoration, Verse 11 is our daily petition, Verse 12 is confession
and verse 13 starts with intercession and ends with God\’s Glory. APCIG
We can talk to God anytime and in our own way.
Prayer is our opportunity to listen to God and get new directions.
According to Dr Gardner, there are elements of successful prayer.
1. Successful prayer has faith.
James 1:5-6
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
2. Successful prayer has thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
3. Successful Prayer Is Aligned With God\’s Word.
James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may
spend what you get on your pleasures.
1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according
to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what
we asked of him.
4. Success Prayer Has Humility
God hates the proud.
James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: \”God opposes the proud but
gives grace to the humble.\”
Proverbs 3:35
The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.
Psalms 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
5. Success Prayer Is In The Name Of Jesus.
John 14:13-14
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the
Father.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the
Father.
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
6. Successful Prayer Is Offered In The Right Frame of Mind
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —
think about such things.
7. Be Specific in your prayers
Ask God for what you want and what you need.
Psalms 37:4-5
4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
8. Pray With The Expectation of Receiving
Don\’t limit God in your prayers
Matthew 7:7-8
\”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door
will be opened.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North
Houston, Texas 77041.
