Hebrews 11:8-10 – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  NKJV

 

It is an understatement to say “God has a plan!”  He has an ‘eternal plan’ that involves and includes the church.  His plan is the focal point of THE VISION that the Bible reveals as the Plan of God.  I find it sad when local congregations focus on their plan rather than God’s plan.  It is wonderful when that local body focuses on God’s Plan and incorporates their plan or develops their plan with that in view.

As a communicator I sometimes feel I have completely failed to communicate and in those times I more fully understand why Jesus continually repeated His message to His followers.  I more deeply appreciate why He would convey multiple unveilings of THE VISION and MESSAGE of the Kingdom.  If you notice they did not grasp the revelation until Pentecost.  One could explain their lack of understanding based on the lack of the Spirit’s indwelling but I cannot explain the modern church’s lack in the say way for Pentecost has come!  The Holy Spirit’s ministry is fully available for today’s church.

THE VISION of God for the Church will not die in a heart that has seen it.  However for it to become reality in our hearts individually and our churches collectively there must be communication.  The vision must be communicated in a way that is understood and believed.  We must find some way to communicate that vision because…

• It will take MANPOWER to accomplish.
• It is MORE IMPORTANT than self.
• It is of ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE.

In Matthew 6 Jesus that it is not only to be sought but sought ‘first’ and ‘above’ all else.  It is in placing the Kingdom of God first that everything else is taken care of by the Father.  The prophet of old said, “People perish for lack of vision or knowledge…”  I believe if we ever really understand The Vision we will adopt it and commit to it.  We will find that the focus of our world will shift from self to God and His purpose will be the center or foundational core of our being.  Therefore, I launch into an attempt to whet your appetite for THE VISION of THE CITY, the Church.

THE CITY is SPIRITUAL…

In the economy of God the City is always important.  I am not talking about natural cities but spiritual.  Unfortunately too often we miss what God is saying by applying our natural understanding to spiritual truths.  The City is not some ‘geographic municipality’ identified in the natural.  The need to apply 1 Corinthians 15:46, “First the natural then the spiritual…” is visible for in using that guide we can understand:

• WHAT the City is.
• WHY the City is important.
• The FUNCTION of the City
• HOW we can take the land for God through the development of Spiritual Cities.

 

I want you to consider the context used above.  Abraham was ‘in’ the land naturally but he “did not see” the manifestation of spiritual reality.  He was a type or shadow (picture) of what was to come.

Remember what Abraham was looking for!  Whatever he was looking for was part of his inheritance and that makes it invaluable.  We too are strangers and pilgrims in the world and looking for ultimate city but what about Spiritual cities here on earth.

More about this later but we will hit the pause button for now and allow you to evaluate your view of THE CITY and THE VISION of God for your life.   Blessings as you go through this day!