Vision Sunday - No Limits

What is the “Vision of the Church to be?” Some confuse Vision with Mission but the two are distinct and different. Vision = “Something which is apparently seen otherwise than by ordinary sight.” The “something” the local fellowship is to see is the complete Jesus as He truly is: we are to see Him as the incarnate Son of God … Who, because of His obedience, even to obedience to death on the cross, is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Phil. 2:5-11). The Vision of Christ as reigning King should be the defining center of the vision of the Fellowship. We should see Him being worshipped in heaven as well as on earth. We should see Him sending the Spirit to do His work in revival, renewal, and awakening. We should see Him as active in all of the affairs of life on earth as well as over all of the affairs of creation; we should see Him actively bringing about the uniting of “all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Eph. 1:10). We should see Him as Lord over all. When the Fellowship sees this Vision it is one of utter majesty and sovereignty. This Jesus loves His Church. Not only does He love His Church, He is love (1 Jn. 4:8). Our response, therefore, should be to love Him in return with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Our vision is intensely personal and relational. It is one in which we dwell in the heart of Christ as He dwells in us. Since River Of Life defines its vision in terms of this “pure vision” of Christ we will have a much greater impact for the Kingdom of God than a Fellowship whose vision is defined in terms of buildings, staff, and programs alone.