When I was a little boy, I think about probably 11 or 12 years old.  We were taking a family drive on a rural road in Michigan way out in the country.  My father was driving along, my father, my mother, and my brother and I.  Suddenly he pulled the car over to the side of the road, stopped, looked in the back seat and said which one of you boys wants to drive.  Well that was music to our ears, to have the chance and opportunity to drive and we took that opportunity, my dad began to teach us.  We were both short, we could barely see over the steering wheel.  Good thing we were way out in the country, but we did a good job.  I know we did because my father continued to do that, he liked to take those drives out in the country and he gave us the opportunity to drive quite often.  

Fast forward three years later, the 15th year of my life, I was taking driver’s education in high school.  I know many of you probably have had that course, you take a written examination and also a road test to get your permit to learn more with your family to drive with that permit.  I passed the written exam with flying colors and the road test.  Then it was just a matter of time to wait for my 16th birthday to get my driver's license, something that I had been waiting for four years at least.

 Well, my 16th birthday came and my mother took me to the county seat where we had to get our driver's license in Michigan under the direction of the county sheriff.  We went inside, I took the written exam, passed, got 100%, got all the answers correct.  Then I was rubbing my hands together waiting for that road test, knowing that I would do okay.  But there was one other test that I had to take before the road test and that was the vision examination.  So the county sheriff, he was behind the desk, said young man will you look into the device and tell me what the first line reads.  I looked inside and I said what line?  And he was shocked, my mother was standing beside me and she was shocked and he said you did so well on your written examination will you tell me what line two says.  I looked inside the device and I said I can't read it; he said how about line three, I said no sir I can't. He said, young man, I hate to tell you this but you will not be able to take your road test today, you flunked the eye examination you will have to get glasses before you can get your license.  I think my heart dropped from up here down to my ankles when I heard that because I was looking forward to getting my licenses.  I had to get glasses before I could get my driver's license.  

What had happened to my vision?  It had gone downhill in just a short time.  It had deteriorated to the point that something that I wanted so badly was put on hold.  I had to get glasses to get my licenses.  What a disappointment to a young lad of 16 years of age that wanted his license so bad. Physical vision is so important to us as human beings.  It can deteriorate.  Some of us have to get glasses to read, or to be able to drive or to do normal activities and physically we can lose our vision.  But there is another dimension beyond the physical that far outweighs the physical; that is our spiritual vision.  We do not want our spiritual vision to deteriorate.  It is so extremely important that we keep our spiritual vision intact.  

The title of today's sermons is: Don't Lose Your Spiritual Vision

Today let's learn the importance of maintaining our spiritual vision.  It is something that we can have for a time but we can lose it if we don't take steps to maintain it.  It takes work, it takes dedication and it is dependent on our relationship with God.  Spiritual vision is given to us by God and boiled down, to boil it down, it is hope.  Hope for the future.  The holy days gives us, helps us focus on that hope on knowing God's plan of salvation for mankind.  Each one of the Holy Days pictures, shows God's plan for mankind.  We have already begun the fall holy day season just having had Trumpets this last Monday.  Next up is the Day of Atonement and after that the Feast of Tabernacles.  The fall holy days gives us a taste of how God's plan will finally be accomplished.  Spiritual vision involves being able to see that God has something special for each and every one of us.  God has something special for us. 

Abraham had that special vision of the future and God had given him that special vision.  Let's notice in Hebrews 11(of course Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the faith chapter.  Men and women of faith throughout the biblical history are listed here in Hebrews chapter 11)

 Hebrews 11:8 (we have talked about Abraham and his journey in the Bible study series on Genesis) 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Abraham was called to leave his homeland, his country, his family and go to a land, the land of Canaan, the Promised Land that God would show him.  It was a long journey, about a 1,000 mile journey, it was marked with a lot of hardships along the way, but Abraham obeyed and went.

  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. Abraham obeyed but when he got to the Promised Land God told him that after he arrived there he would give that land to his descendants.  He would not occupy it himself.  As we see in verse 9 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in tents on the very edge of the Promised Land.  We have talked about that in the Bible Study Series that he lived in the southern part of Canaan, in Beersheba even Isaac living in Gerar for a long while, the very southern edge.  The only piece of ground that Abraham owned in the Promised Land was a burial plot for Sarah and eventually some of the rest of the members of the family as well.  He did not actually go in and inherit and occupy the land of promise.  His descendants would.  Notice in verse 9 the phrase "land of promise".  This is the only place that this phrase is found in the Bible, the only place here in Hebrews 11:9.  And Abraham did not fully occupy it.  But God gave him the vision of a future something even greater that land of promise.  We see that in verse 10.

10 For he waited for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.  He did not go in to fully occupy the land of promise but God gave him a vision of something even greater, the New Jerusalem a city with permanent foundations whose foundations are eternal and its architect and designed are God.  That was the vision that God gave Abraham and you know the fall holy days gives us that same vision of the future that Abraham had, the snapshot that Abraham had the spiritual vision.  As each holy day approaches we have the opportunity, all of us, to reflect upon, meditate and internalize the deep meaning of these days to help keep that vision alive and growing.  God would love for each and every one of us to ask "please help me through the holy spirit to have more of that spiritual vision" just like Abraham had.  He wasn't disappointed because he knew and he waited for that city of promise which has foundations, eternal foundations.  

The world - people in the world, generally speaking, are living in spiritual darkness.  Not even knowing that God has a plan for them and for all of mankind.  But there are a few and we can be accounted amongst and that we can be grateful and thankful that God has given us that understanding that we are among the few that have the genuine spiritual vision. 

Let's go to Matthew 13.  We were there not too long ago in one of my sermons I believe back in August.  This section of scripture is dealing with the parable of the sower and the seed.  One of those parables, one of the ten parables that Christ gave on that Busy Day focusing on the Kingdom of God and the gospel message going forth and being preached.  In the middle of this particular parable of the sower and the seed; the disciples approached him and asked Him a question.  

Matthew 13:10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” All the crowds that were gathered around, all the multitudes that were listening to him teaching that day.  They said why are you speaking to them in parables and he gave the answer in verse eleven

 11 He answered and said to them, because it has been given to you, you disciples and that includes us to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God but to them it is not been given.  You have been blessed to have that spiritual vision to understand God's plan of salvation, to understand the Kingdom of God and what God has laid out eventually for all of mankind.  Christ was focused on the Kingdom. He told the disciples you have been given the understanding to have that genuine spiritual vision.    

II Corinthians 4 again the world, generally speaking, is living in spiritual darkness and the apostle Paul was explaining this to the Corinthian brethren.  II Corinthians 4 the city of Corinth was known for its immorality, it corruption, its spiritual immorality and the apostle had to deal with that with the brethren and their humanity and their sinfulness and he is explaining to them why the world is the way it is.

II Corinthians 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled... the gospel message he was preaching that it is veiled that it isn't fully going out because something is happening so that it can't...even if our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded who do not believe.  Less the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God should shine on them.  So Paul explains the state of affairs that God has allowed Satan to temporarily blind mankind to his plan of salvation.  Although the majority of mankind are spiritual blind now, God will eventually give every person who has ever lived or will live the opportunity to fully know him.  The opportunity to be a part of His family.  

I Timothy 2 we will be reading verses 1-4.  God will give the opportunity to all but according to His time frame for them.  I Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (of course Paul is giving this instruction to young Timothy because Timothy is going to be going out and preaching the gospel message so he says that supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks be made for all men.)

verse 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.   Again, but it is according to His time frame for them and when they will be called.  

A companion scripture we won't turn there but you can put it down in your notes if you would like to II Peter 3:9 God is long suffering toward us; not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  God is calling a few to understand now His precious truth but it is up to those who have been called to respond, to respond to that calling through repentance, through obedience and building a special relationship with God and Jesus Christ.  We must respond to the calling, the spiritual understanding that God has given to us.  

Let's take a look at a story, of a lack of response in Matthew 22, people who had received a calling, had been invited or called and let's see what response was given to their calling. Matthew 22:1-14 1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and a marriage with a wedding feast portrays the Kingdom of God and that is the theme behind this particular parable

Verse 3 and sent out his servants to call (notice the phrase to call) those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. So we see that the invitations were sent out and back in those ancient times when a wedding feast was about to take place two invitations were sent out; one invitation was sent out long ahead of time so that the guests had time to prepare.  Now think about that for a moment receiving the invitation with time to prepare; are they going to prepare like they should.  Then a second invitation was sent out to say that the feast is ready, the feast is ready come partake of the feast.  

Verse 4 This invitation is repeated again as it says: Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ So they had received their two invitations, one with enough time to prepare now everything is ready, please come.  

Verse 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Notice they made light of it.  They did not care.  They had been invited to the wedding feast but they had no spiritual vision to be preparing.  No spiritual vision to be preparing to be ready for the call that everything was ready.  They were too interested in what they had to do in today's world, one his farm another his business.  Verse 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. These particular individuals were really corrupt because they treated the servants with the invitations in such a way that they even killed them.

 Verse 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.  Notice they were not worthy, no spiritual vision to be preparing, in other words no spiritual growth, no building of character and that is something that we must take note of.

Verse 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ Start going out in the streets and start inviting anybody that you can find. Verse 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. Did not have on a wedding garment.  He had been invited to the wedding but he had not been prepared for it.  That is what the wedding garment symbolizes here, being spiritually ready.

 Verse 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. He did not even know what to say; I've not been preparing. Verse 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” So the moral of this particular parable story is having received the invitation it is so vitally important to be spiritually prepared.  We can do that, we know how to do it; our prayer life, our study life asking God to build us up through the Holy Spirit so we can be spiritually prepared for when Jesus Christ returns.  

I Peter 2:9-10 We are going to be reading about a “you” here and the you is directed to those who have been called, we call them disciples.  Verse 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; That is talking about disciples that have been called out of spiritual darkness into His light to understand spiritual things and to understand His plan of salvation.  Notice these very beautiful phrases here, chosen generation, royal priesthood, special people very good words for those who are spiritually prepared.

 Verse 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  But even those who have been called out of spiritual blindness, we do not have complete spiritual vision but we can take care of that.  We can build it through the help of God's Holy Spirit.   God can help us to build that spiritual vision. We must continually be growing spiritually speaking.  It takes motivation, it takes zeal and it takes the heart in wanting to do it.  I think it is also very very important to keep the goal in mind, to have that finish line just like Abraham.  He did not go into the Promise Land but there was something greater that he had a vision of, his finish line that he was waiting for. 

You know I have talked about some of the marathons I have run and half-marathons.  It is not easy to run thirteen miles or twenty-six miles, you get out about 19 or 20 miles and your brain starts working on you, it says "Stop, Give It Up, Quit, You are Hurting.  Just stop and it will all be over, the pain will go away.  You have to really be focused and really be wanting to get there in order to finish.  We have something great to focus on, a spiritual goal that is even greater than a physical goal and a physical marathon.  Revelation 2

Revelation 2:10-11 actually the last part of verse 10 and verse 11.  John is writing to the churches here, specifically to the church of Ephesus.  The message was for the church of that age, the first century AD, but also for all the successive church ages down throughout the ages until the return Jesus Christ.  So this message is for us today as well.  Revelation 2 last part of verse 10 ....Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  That is what awaits us at our finish line.  The crown of life to receive it from Jesus Christ Himself and to be a part of God's family and live forever, eternal life.

 Verse 11 There is something that we have to do “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’ Again spiritual vision, that crown of life.  I have a drawn line, a little arrow, from "overcomes" to "the crown of life" because that is what we need to do, spiritual vision.  

II Timothy 4:6-8 The apostle Paul was contemplating the end of his life, the journey that he had made preaching the gospel message in his own spiritual race.  

Notice II Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. Verse 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. What great words to be able to say that

Verse 8 and here is what was waiting at the end of his finish line Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.  The crown of righteousness, the crown of life, eternal life that is what he had his focus on the spiritual vision and each and every one of us can keep that spiritual vision alive.  We are going to the Feast of Tabernacles where we are going to hear sermons about these kind of things and we can meditate upon that and think about it and keep our spiritual focus so that we can be ready.  

Isaiah 9 again here is something that we can focus on.  This is one of these sections of scripture that we quite often turn to in messages during the Feast of Tabernacles.  Could be that someone will turn here at a Feast site where you will be at.  Isaiah 9:6-7, this is talking about Jesus Christ. Isiah 9 begins to talk about His first coming and then it moves into His second coming.

 Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, again referring to Jesus Christ, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder… This part, the government will be upon His shoulder refers to His second coming.  When He came the first time He did not come to rule the earth He came to die for all of our sins, but when He comes a second time He is going to establish His government in Jerusalem and rule the world.  And the government will be upon His shoulder and the world is going to change when it does, all the war all the suffering the terrible things in this world, the corruption will be gone.  …..And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And notice Verse 7 here is what we need to focus on, with that spiritual vision Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever…. Peace without end, justice and judgement from Jerusalem; imagine that! Where war is taking place this very day grenades get lobbed across the city border of Jerusalem between the Arabs and the Jews, fighting goes on.  When Jesus Christ returns there will be peace without end and justice and judgment.  And how is going to take place?

 Notice the last stanza in Verse 7…For the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  God is zealous to see His government over this earth. He is zealous to see peace without end to see justice and judgment forever and that will happen when Jesus Christ returns.  God is zealous to see an end to killing, to hate, to child abuse, to see healing for mankind, the terrible diseases that we have today physically speaking and spiritually healing as well.  It will happen when the time is right for Jesus Christ to return and set up the Kingdom.  Barnes Notes adds this: The word zeal here denotes intense desire in accomplishing an object and it means the establishment of the kingdom was an object of intense and ardent desire on the part of the Eternal.  And if God feels so intense of desire to see this happen we should as well.  We should be encouraged and pray for God's Kingdom to come and the gospel message be preached to world as a witness to the world and then Christ will return.  Spiritual vision, and we can fire it up.

I Corinthians 15 and we will be reading verse 58.  I Corinthians 15 is one of the great chapters of the Bible, the resurrection chapter which reading this particular chapter we see the hope that we have that one can be resurrected from death.  Changed from corruptible to immortality as it says in Verse 54 the last part of verse 54. “Death is swallowed up in victory.” It is a great section of scripture.

Then the apostle Paul concludes the chapter and he says this in Verse 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he gives us a little clue here in Verse 58.  I shouldn't say a little clue it is a great clue in verse 58 finishing up this talk of the resurrection when the trumpet will sound and those that are come up out of the graves, death is swallowed up in victory then he gives us a little clue here a great clue on how to achieve this victory.  

Verse 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.  Now you can read through that verse rather quickly and not get the significance of it unless you dig a little deeper into what the apostle Paul is saying.  So let's do that for a few moments here.  Let's examine this verse closer because it helps us have spiritual vision.  

Notice Paul says be STEADFAST, that means to stand your ground, not shaken by the cares of this life nor being conformed to this world.  That is what being steadfast means.

\Then he says IMMOVABLE, and immovable means firm in our faith, firm in our faith.  Keeping the vision and remaining firm, not waffling back and forth, not hot for a while and then going back to cold but staying hot.  Remaining firm in our belief, immovable.

 Then he says ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, this phrase means not only working but engage in the work diligently, laboriously and excelling in it.  Whatever our work is, our Bible Study, our prayer, our meditation, digging into God's word diligently, laboriously and excelling in it.  

 Then he says this YOUR LABOR WILL NOT BE IN VAIN.  You will receive that reward, that crown of life, whatever we put in it, our prayers, our study our example our exhortation will be rewarded if we keep the spiritual vision strong.  

A couple more scriptures here as we begin to wind down, again the sermon a little bit on the shorter side because we have the Bible Study to follow.  

Psalm 27:1 this is a short psalm but it is full of a lot of meaning, this verse Psalm 27:1 a psalm of David The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Notice the first stanza here, he says The Lord is my light and my salvation.  One of the great functions of light is to show the way.  Light shows us the way out of darkness.  Physically light shows us the way during the night by our headlights, our lamps, but even more important spiritually speaking God's light, God's word shows us the way.  Notice the words here light and salvation, these two words light and salvation together, joined together means saving light. God's light saving light shows us the way through the holy days, through the scriptures.  Light here indicates deliverance from darkness to see God's marvelous light and again God shows us the way through His word.

Finally let's turn to a scripture that sums up all that we have been talking about, what the Holy Days mean - a picture to the future to come.  The spiritual vision we need to be focused on especially as we go forward towards the Feast of Tabernacles.  Let's go to Isaiah 35 this sums up so much here, the future, a picture of the future to come after Jesus Christ returns after Satan is put away and Christ sets up His Kingdom on this earth.  Isaiah 35 begins with the restoration of the earth, some of the desert places that are going to be made with life, restored the way God originally intended.

 But then we come down to Verse 3 Isaiah 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” God will come and save you.  There is coming the day when people will be given true spiritual understanding and vision.  Not just a few but many many millions of minds opened to God's plan of salvation.  Verse 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Physical healings that will take place but not only physical healings but spiritual as well.  Minds that begin to understand what God has for them.

Verse 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. And of course, water symbolizes God's Holy Spirit which will begin to be offered to people so that they can go forward and begin to walk with God.  

Verse 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  And death and sorrow shall flee away as well.

Finally, let's go to Isaiah 29:18 just a few pages back.  Again, this spiritual vision, keep this in mind as we go forward to the Feast of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement.  What God has given us, this precious truth? Isaiah 29:18 In that day…of course that is a special phrase pointing towards that day when Jesus Christ returns and sets up the Kingdom …in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, those who did not have spiritual understanding to understand God's word will begin to understand ...in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.  

There will be physical healing but even more important a spiritual healing will take place.  So let's go forward brethren as we continue on in this holy day season asking for and using God's Holy Spirit to our advantage.

 Steadfast, Immovable, Abounding in Work of the Lord and going forward in spiritual growth with the zeal to maintain our spiritual vision just like Abraham had in that vision looking to the city with permanent and eternal foundations - the New Jerusalem in the Kingdom of God.