What is Our Prophetic Vision? – Acts 1:1-11
January 10, 2021Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Speaker: Jerry Cisar
“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” (Prov. 29:18 ESV)
Every January thousands of sermons are preached with reference to that verse. Most use the KJV 18a: “Without a vision, the people perish.” The sermons that follow are frequently about anything but a prophetic vision. They often lay out a vision about how you or your church can become greater, more significant, more powerful, or get everything you ever wanted.
Some months back we began a series rooted in Acts 2:42-47 which explores the various habits that characterized the early church. “They were devoted to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers.” It describes their generosity and shared life.
This Sunday I want to step back and ask the question “Why?” Why did they live that way? What was it they “saw” that enabled them to imagine of new way of living in conformity to how God created us to live? Since we cannot live what we have not yet imagined, God’s vision must reshape our imaginations so that it can reshape our living.