 Okay, good morning everyone and welcome to our weekly venting hour, today January 25th, the 24th. Thank you to all of you for joining us. We're going to take a moment just to share some practical things on how God gives us a vision and how we work out fulfilling that vision. So we'll talk about that for about 20 minutes, share some thoughts and then we'll open it up for a time of questions, answers and discussion, sharing. So could one of us pray and then we can start please. Anyone could just please and pray. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this hour of mentoring and we pray Father that as you, as you lead us in your word Father that your word will guide us and help us in our day to day lives Father. We pray that that we will able to apply Lord whatever we're learning Lord in this hour and prepare for blessing upon the entire faculty and all the students in Jesus's precious name we pray. Amen. Okay, can you hear me? Can you hear me? Is the audio clear? Is it loud? Okay, it's good. Let me just go ahead and share one slide and then I'll share my thoughts. Okay, are you able to see the slide? I hope you are able to see it. I can't see anyone. Again, as you may, you can see the slide in case you find somebody can let me know. Alright, so what we are talking today is going from vision to execution where God wants something to be done here on Earth. He usually, I must say all the time, but normally God co-works with us. The Bible teaches us that we are co-workers with God. Of course there are times God works independent of man. So when he wants to, for example, Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus is coming back. So whether anybody prays about it or anybody wants that to happen, the Lord will come back. And the many things that God will do independent of man that he's offering. And yet we see this amazing thing in the Bible that for much of the things that God wants done here on Earth, especially in relation to the church or in relation to what affects us and the people, God works along with us. He co-works with us. So you and I are co-workers with God. So think about this and we understand this in that God in his master plan is giving each of us a portion to fulfill in that master plan. So in the things that God wants done here on Earth, little pieces of it he gives to each one of us. And each one of us can be assured that you have a part to play in God's master plan. But the question is how does God lead us in this and how does he help us to share in these thoughts here with us. And then we will open up for the kind of questions you ask. And we can see what we're sharing now as a pattern in scripture. Old Testament, New Testament, and then you'll just reference some of this. So generally there's an inspiration on the following. So if you just follow it in this loop, starting with number one, there's an inspiration, there's a calling. In the case of Moses, the Bible tells us that when Moses was about 40 years of age, till that time he was being raised up in the first house and suddenly it came into his heart. There's some awareness, a realisation and understanding came into his heart that maybe God has raised me up in this manner because he wants me to be a deliverer for his people. So it came as a very simple inspiration. This was 40 years before the burning bush. So many times we think, oh, we have to have some big supernatural in the doctor, not on a straight. In Moses' case, it just came as a knowing in his heart. In David's case, you can see the prophet Samuel coming and anointed. He's saying, because Jesse to bring all the stars and Jesse brings everyone except David and then he says, you know, go call David and he's taking the sheep. And he anoints David. So you can imagine that it was a prophetic moment because God had sent Samuel to anoint David. But did they understand everything? You don't know whether David understood the significance of what was happening. Maybe David thought, well, he has a man who is anointing with oil and blessing me and praying. Whether he understood everything at that moment as a teenage boy to be anointed by Samuel, you don't know, but that was a prophetic moment that God was saying, hey, I've got something for you. In Amos' case, you will find he was working in the palace and the new seeker stirred his heart. So in Amos' case, you know, he's just doing his work. He's serving the king. But the news that comes gets his attention. It stirs us up. I must do something about the walls of the city of Jerusalem. So that's another different way to do it. In Amos' case, it is very supernatural. He's going to Damascus. He's actually an enemy of the church at that time. And it's very, very dramatic, very supernatural. The enemy has this encounter with the Lord Jesus. Sometimes some people have that. But you see in Moses, in David, in Nehemiah, it was not very as powerful or as dramatic as it was before that. So the point is the inspiration to do something can come in very simple ways. You know, sometimes it can just come as a thought in your head. But we need to be sensitive to what God wants to happen. Then God takes us, number two, is a kind of preparation and training. God has this. And you see this in so many ways. You see, you know, for example, in David's line, you know, this whole journey, like the early days of his life, you didn't get to see him. And he, there was coverage being developed. He faced the lion and the bear, and he protected the sheep. That was after a time when he was singing, playing skillfully on his hand. Singing unto God, worshipping God. So this is preparation going on, something that God is doing. And for each of us, that preparation can vary. How God does that preparation at the time when, you know, things are being built in our lives. God is training us, preparing us. Sometimes we have the opportunity to work under somebody else. Sometimes we may do something that seems very unrelated to the calling. But even in doing that unrelated thing, there are certain, you know, attitudes, skills, character building formation of us that is taking place in that unrelated place that God is preparing us for. So sometimes the preparation time can also be very, very difficult. You think about David's case. After he killed the lion, he had to run for his life approximately. About 13 years or so, he was, or 17 years or so, he was running for his life. He was living in the caves. He was, you know, all kinds of things happened during that time. But he was really, he didn't have a home. He's away from his family. He's running used to place. And David is being prepared. During the preparation time also is when God sends 400 people to come and join David. David now has small army. So you can see this as a part of his preparation. In David's case, after he has the encounter, we call this a silent case. You know, 10 or 13 years. He remains, I don't know. He is preaching, but there's nothing much recorded about what was he doing. He went to Arabia. He came back and spent most of the time in Tarsus, around Tarsus. And nobody knows whether the enemy of Paul is preaching, but nothing recorded. We don't know, you know, whether he established it, just maybe he did, maybe we don't. But it's the silent years of Paul, where Paul is being prepared. And of course, David, God is giving you social relation, understanding of Paul Christ. So we go through a time of preparation. Then very important is the location of positioning. You know, we need to be in the right place at the right time for God to start unfolding his purpose. Location could be geographically, maybe you need to be in a certain place geographically. Our location could be under somebody's leadership or part of certain ministry, or, you know, long positioning yourself to launch the ministry. So that is important and varies in different people's lives. For Moses, from Median, God said, you know, Moses, go back from, you know, he had run away from Egypt. And God said, you know, you go back, you've got a position, you've got a stand and a bit of fare. For David, David was running in the caves when King Saul died. David, God speaks to David, he said, David, now you go back to Egypt. You go there first. And the tribals in Median came. So David was king of one tribe for seven years, even though he wasn't a king. The call was to be king of one district. Nehemiah, you've got a position yourself. He left his place before the king. He had to go back to Jerusalem. He started looking at the city. Paul, Barnabas helped him. Barnabas went, looked for solid prices. He brought them to Antioch. So Antioch became a very important position for Paul. So God can use other people to guide us in this position. In the case of Paul, it was Paul. That's where he said, Paul, come, you must come to Antioch. So that kind of, in David's case, David prayed and God, David asked, God, should I go up in even? And God said, you go to the city of Judah. So God gave him instruction. So that location and positioning is also important. We need to be in the right place at the right time. Then there's the communication, which is we need to share the patience, share what God has given us to do. And so you share the vision because other people need to understand, and maybe God will speak to them to be able to play that call. Now, we have to wait for the right time to share the vision. If you look at Paul's case, you know, it is encountered with Jesus, God gave him the vision. But Paul writes in Galatians chapter 1, that in the initial years, he did not discuss that with anybody. You know, he said, I confer normal flesh and blood. So that's the right time to speak about the things that God has given you. So Paul just kept quiet. He didn't go and tell the apostles, you know, God is going to be not concerned. In fact, there is nobody really between himself. The apostles were kind of doubting him. So he waited until the time came in, you know, in Antioch. And then the Holy Spirit said, you know, while he was in Antioch, two years after being in Antioch, the next move came to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit told them, separate new promises and so on. Then they said, you know, going out, they did the ministry, then later they shared with the apostles what God was doing. So the right time came to share that God has called us to reach the Gentiles. Although Paul knew that when he came, when he encountered Jesus, the Lord said, you bear my name before King Antioch and Gentiles. He had to wait until the right time came. And he could tell me, this is what God is calling you to do. So the right time we share, we communicate the vision of the world God wants us to do. And with that comes mobilization. That means God himself starts connecting the right people at the right time. So people in China, people became able to share in the vision. They needed to participate in the vision. They feel called to the vision. So the mobilization takes place where people are coming together. Even though God gives you a vision, perhaps you cannot do it by yourself. You have to be in China for body. So you're joining with others and others are joining with you. So we are, you know, let the body come to give them. The mobilization happens. But you are part of a community of people, or a group of people, or a team of people, in all the language we use. And then that comes together, then we are working together for the vision. And we also see progression happening. That is, God supernaturally makes whatever we need available. In Moses' case, you can see. And God works well ahead of time. We are big in some ways. But in Moses' case, when they were leaving Egypt, God moved upon the people of Egypt to release the wealth to the people. Now they go out of Egypt. They cross the Red Sea. They are joining. I want you to build me a character telling people to bring what they have. So Moses didn't plan for it. God planned for it. And the provision was there for whatever they needed to build the character. So God supernaturally, in the case of Nehemiah, that was quite fake. Nehemiah was about to go and do the work. It was the king who said, hey, whatever you want, I'll provide. I'll give you soldiers who'll escort you, whatever boat you need, whatever materials you need, I'll send it to you. So there was divine questions. You can see this in David's case. In Paul's case, God is a people of being positioned to give it to what needs to be done. So when we are moving with God and doing this wealth, we can be sure that the right approach will come. And I've seen this happen here, even at ABC. I couldn't have planned how the money would become. I didn't plan. God put the right place at the right time, blessed there so that they could bless the church. And so that they could carry out the industry. And then, of course, all of this will lead us into the execution, which is doing that. You start working, you're working now, doing the things God's called you to do. This is not easy. This is, there's a lot of hard work, sometimes a lot of cheers, sometimes a lot of sleepless nights, whatever you do, you have to do it. But, you know, I like the verse in 1 Corinthians 15. It says, I am what I am, but the grace of God, but the grace which was given to me was not in vain. For time, labor, or fundamentally, there are the others. And yet not mine, but the grace of God, which was given to me. So it's talking about grace and work. So grace is not just to work. More grace, you're able to do more work. And supernaturally, you're empowered by the grace. And so even when you do more work, you realize it's not your own efforts. It's actually the grace of God and it's helping you to do work beyond other people. And so, that's the execution part. You're able to work by grace, to work, to really retire like labor, do the things that need to be done. Then we begin to see the stuff. So we begin to see the fruit of the work. We begin to see the vision being fulfilled, things beginning to happen. And as this is happening, God expands our vision. That means he adds to it. This whole cycle begins to repeat. It keeps on happening over and over again. You're starting off with one vision as you're seeing it go. God adds to it another. He inspires you to do something more. He inspires you to do something more. And the same process repeats. And maybe it repeats in a faster way because now a lot of things are in place and new things are being built. But the same, it keeps on happening and the work keeps expanding in many different areas as God keeps inspiring vision for new things that he wants to do. So this cycle is not just one kind of thing in your life. What I feel is that you start off in the cycle and then God keeps it going. The cycle keeps repeating as it keeps giving you new vision, fresh vision, the enlarge of the vision, and you keep going. You see the same things happening over and over again as God enforces his plans and purposes in our lives. So let me pause here and let's take some time for questions and discussion. So the point is what has God called you to do? What has God speaking into your life? And how are you, how do you feel God is leading you to fulfill that vision? Are there any questions along the screen? So welcome to Riza and Tom and we'll be happy to share our thoughts on it. Thank you. Sure, thank you. I wanted to ask regarding what you mentioned regarding Paul. Apostle Paul was though he was given clarity about his purpose and vision he did not share it with others for a while. So can you elaborate more on that or can you explain why that would have been the case that he didn't do it? Is it because it was a preparation time for him or like more clarity on the vision that God has given him? I just wanted to get a clearer idea about that. I can hear you now. Who are you referring to? Sorry, I missed the first part of it. What was it? It was regarding Apostle Paul. We see that there was 13-14 years of what we call as silent years. So you're referring to that period of time? Yes. I think there were several things that we can see and Paul shares this in Galatians chapter 1 and we also see this in Acts chapter 9 that in the initial stage after his encounter with Jesus even the Apostles and other believers were very suspicious of him. So they were not ready to welcome him. So even when he went to Jerusalem right after his time in Damascus, he went to Jerusalem for 15 days. People didn't, they didn't welcome him and there was also persecution. People wanted to kill him. So that was one thing. So he had to go away for his own safety. But I also think that that's one when you look at it from a natural side that was one thing that was happening but also from a spiritual side I think that was a time when God was giving to the Apostle Paul the revelation he needed. So when Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 about being caught up to the heavens third heavens and where he was receiving the abundance of revelation he saw and heard things that he couldn't even utter. It's most likely that during this time in the silent years when he really understood from the Old Testament scriptures where Jesus Christ was and all the revelation that he had to pour into the church. So it was a time when I think intentionally designed by God to give Paul the revelation to give Paul the understanding which he would then release to the church and these are two things I can think of others are free to add to this. Did that address your question Divya? Yes, yes. So this can vary from person to person correct? It's not like a general rule or like a... Yeah, so this varies from person to person. Generally what we hear people say is you know the greater the call the greater the preparation that means the preparation of course is in proportion to what God wants you to do generally I mean it's not a rule but generally that's what we see. Okay, thank you, thank you. Alright, so there's some questions in the chat. There's a question from Pratt Is it must to join a local assembly of believers during the launching phase of a vision? So Pratt there is no set formula and God works differently in different people's lives. Now we definitely see that the norm is God works through the local church right? So that's the norm that He brings people to a local church and like since we're talking about Apostle Paul you see that also Barnabas goes and brings him to Antioch and they are there serving in that local church in Antioch for at least two years and after that they are launched into the Apostolic ministry. So that's the norm. I'm not saying that God will never work differently but that's the norm He works through the local church. He works through a community or a group of believers Could God use somebody you know just send some person in some place and start a work and do all by himself or herself that is possible God can do that but we would refer to that as an exception. It's not the norm there are always you know God can work differently so that's that's fine but the norm is you be part of a church community and then God launches you from there. I hope that helps. Sam Could you speak a little bit more about waiting on the Lord? Moses, Caleb for two years versus being cellist for God and taking the kingdom violently Don the Baptist, David taking on Belayet, how does one discern Yeah I'll just share my thoughts and then others can add to it I think all of this has to be seen as part of our preparation even in David's case you know he was there taking care of the sheep he killed the lion, he killed the bear and then there was this opportunity to engage with Goliath and David was intentional about it so when he heard that Goliath had challenged the armies of Saul and nobody was willing going up something stirred he went and he took it up but it was all part of God's plan and God's preparation you know being in the right place at the right time doing the right thing killing Goliath itself was not the final assignment but it was part of the journey and you could say it was part of the preparation and so I think everything we do small things sometimes big things like killing lions bears and Goliaths or sometimes small things like taking care of the sheep or playing on the harp all by yourself taking while taking care of the sheep all of these things are adding up and are part of our preparation and we just need to be sensitive to what God wants for us as we journey with him and I think the discerning part happens when based on what you feel impressed in your spirit and as you're walking with God and I think when you see David as he journeys with God he's constantly in communion with God he's praying God what do you want me to do and so you can imagine while he's in the wilderness he's praying God what do you want me to do you have a plan for me you want me to be the king of Israel right now I don't even have a home I don't want to go about this and I can almost imagine God saying just hang in there just stay here your time will come don't do anything don't even attack Saul you don't have to do anything just be patient so he just continues that way he writes about how he just waits patiently on the Lord and finally in one of his time of prayer he says God what do you want me to do I want you to go to Judah so you know that discerning is happening through his communion with God and he knows where to be what to do through his communion with God alright I don't want to be talking all the time I just wanted to let others answer good the next question is from Prat what is the difference between a vision a mission and a mandate could one of our pastors please take it up thank you quickly share vision is like let's say a vision of an organization of a person is who or what we want to be it's got a long term a futuristic timeline and this is who we want to be this is what we want to be as an organization or a ministry or a church and a mission would be what are we going to do in order to get there and the third one about mandate well mandate is is a command an instruction a strong instruction or I think we can call it a decree or a command so we are going to do it we are going to do it we are going to do it or a command so those would be the differences between a vision and a mission and a mandate hope that helps thank you pastor ikhma the next question is again also from Prat is spiritual father biblical if yes what is the rightful approach again I think one of our pastors could take this up please yes spiritual fathering is as we recently had this conference and we talked about it and we see Paul writing to Titus and talking about different kinds of people in the church different levels of spiritual maturity and growth and he talks about little children young men, young women and also talks about fathers so implying fathers and mothers so mothering is biblical it is taking a person or group of people from a place of immaturity to a place of spiritual maturity and growth and of course the rightful approach would be to again what he lists down there that we would be people of integrity that we would be people of humility that we would have Paul talks about how he did not hold back anything that was beneficial for them and how his approach was that like a nursing mother would care affectionately for the children so it is with the benefit of the other person never to manipulate them or intimidate them in order to get something for us so to serve and not to be served and to simply with the focus on benefiting or bringing people to a place of maturity so that would be the rightful approach in a nutshell that would be the rightful approach thank you the next question is from jachan this is about communicating our vision and calling to others is it right for us to pray and wait on the Lord to send in the right people whom God has placed our life to more and are calling further since we can speak to them directly as in the case of David not being the place when Samuel came to an item David was later called by his father a little more clarity on the communication bit so I'll just share my thoughts and others are welcome to add to it I think it's important like so when God is calling us he's putting something in our hearts yes the first response is to pray pray before God you're holding it in your heart and you're saying God this is what I'm feeling this is what I'm sensing is this from you and then basically it's you as a person you're being convinced about what God wants you to do that's the first thing so that's the time between you and God you're praying and I think but it's also important at the right time to share it with the right people that communication needs to happen that others can participate in that mission but the key is do it at the right time Moses did it in the wrong time he got into trouble right I mean he thought his people would this is an act chapter 7 he thought that people who understand so he went out to be a deliverer it was just the wrong way to do it and the wrong time to do it and he had to run for his life but later on God said you know 40 years later Moses go back and tell the people you know go go tell Pharaoh let my people go and God said I will you know I will you know so be with you and so on so that proclamation the communication the vision it happened the right time in the right way as God directed same thing we see in the Apostle Paul's life he had to keep quiet then much later the Holy Spirit called him out with Barnabas and then end of Acts 14 they go back and they report you know to the church what the Lord had done so then people realize hey there's something happening here these people are Apostles they're planting churches right so the communication is happening at the right time to the right people same thing with Nehemiah you know he the hand of the Lord is on him favor is happening everything's happening then he goes he does the survey of the city there's Nehemiah 2 and then till that point Nehemiah verse 12 and Nehemiah says I told no one what God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem that means he realizes there's something in his heart but till that time he's just keeping quiet the only person he told was the king you know saying that this is what I feel in my heart and kings had given permission to go but till that I'm just keeping quiet he's doing the survey he's checking out the place everything but after that moment he tells the people the Jews hey you've got to do this and I see the evidence of God's favor on my life you know the king has granted me permission for all of these then the people mobilize and Nehemiah 2 20 let us arise and build for the Lord of God of heaven will prosper us so people are mobilized to participate in the vision so to answer your question there's a time we have to keep quiet and be convinced ourselves then at the right time and to the right people we share the vision and then that mobilizes the people to participate in the vision I hope that helps anyone else wants to add can please do so any other questions please just one thought here about the provision there's something to keep in mind that sometimes we wonder how am I going to receive provision for the work that God is calling me to do and of course ministry takes money anything we do requires money how is the money going to come I'm just hearing from our personal learning is that first we sow spiritually into the lives of people and there's a biblical principle we sow spiritually into their lives that means you just serve faithfully just sow spiritually into their lives and then you communicate the vision you're also communicating hey this is what God is calling me to do and I'm serving you and don't put any pressure on the people don't manipulate them don't control them don't force them to give nothing you serve spiritually you share the vision and then God will start up the hearts of people to give so we really don't have to force people manipulate them nothing so the Bible teaches we see this in Galatians 6 1st Corinthians chapter 9 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 in all these places you can see the biblical principle is let those who serve in the Word let them be cared for by the people who are being served spiritually they give back materially not only for their personal needs but also for the sake of the vision so the principle is simple spiritually communicate the vision and let God speak into the hearts of people and when we do it right we'll always find that there's more than enough supply for what God wants done but if you start engaging in you know forcing people, manipulating them all those things I think we end up creating a mess of things any other questions please so just one more thought here our progression into fulfilling the call also happens progressively step by step it's not that the day we start executing execution that day we're going to see the fruition of everything no no no so the execution happens slowly step by step and the fruition or seeing things fulfilled also happens progressively step by step so we should be patient we should be diligent and keep going and the rule over there is simply this when we are faithful in small things God will increase He'll set us up above big things so example if you feel that God wants you to do is God wants me to reach 1 million people wonderful but it's highly unlikely that when you start executing you're going to see 1 million people in front of you it's not going to happen like that the normal is when you start executing you probably see 10 people or 50 or 100 people in front of you you serve the 100 faithfully the vision may be 1 million people He wants you to reach but you have to be faithful in serving the 10 the 50 the 100 and when you're faithful in those small things you're doing well you're diligently working then God increases that you know okay now you hit impact 500 then you're faithful in that then there's an increase so that's the biblical principle then you're faithful in little things it sets you over bigger things and then you progress so that's key even though the calling and the vision may be for something big the journey into that fruition of that big vision is a progressive journey step by step we make that journey the thing that God is looking for is faithfulness doing it faithfully doing it well it doesn't happen alright comment there when the vision seems very big sometimes we feel overwhelmed how do we deal with the sense of being overwhelmed so I think one is to understand that right in every season we just do what we are given to do in that season and that if we are faithful in that little as given us in the season we will then progress into the next level or the next bigger thing and the very big vision we will get there eventually so the key is to be faithful and in every season it's God's empowering that makes us equal to the task or more than equal to the task a scripture that encourages us here is 2 Corinthians 3 verse 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves but our sufficiency is from God that means what makes us equal or more than equal to the task our sufficiency is from God it's God who makes us more than sufficient for any task given to us in each season so we journey there alright I think we will close thank you everyone for participating sharing the comments if anyone here wants to share anything any final thoughts before we close ok so may I request someone to lead us in prayer and then we will close and dismiss anyone can pray alright John Paul want to pray yes yes let's pray Heavenly Father we want to thank you for joining thank you for helping us to come together and to listen together to execute our visions of God and you are the God who leads us of God and we pray that you strengthen each one of us to see our vision come into fruition of God we declare your goodness over our lives we pray that every single one of us over each one of us of God we would receive your favor in our lives and we would plan our lives according to your purposes to see that come into fruition of God help us to execute the plans of God and we ask for your presence we ask for your guidance for this spirit then you would strengthen each one of us in Jesus name we pray Amen thank you everyone I think we have just about enough time to head off to our classes enjoy your day enjoy the rest of the week see you again next Thursday God bless bye