Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0123

We continue this month with more on the important matter of Vision. Vision must be captured! If we do not capture the vision of God in our own hearts, then it will be lost. No one benefits from lost vision. From many years of walking with the Lord I have learned that the best way to capture your vision is to write it down as quickly as possible after you receive it. Write it exactly as you receive it from the Lord. Do not even change the wording. Once you have captured your vision in writing, you have got it before your eyes and you are able to share it with others in a way they can grasp what your vision is.

I like what the Amplified Bible says in Habakkuk 2:2 ~ “And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.”

I believe it is important to then capture your vision in a one-sentence statement that you can quote easily and which conveys to others quickly what that vision is. For example, The GFM one is: “Equipping For Leadership In The Nations Through The Power Of The Holy Spirit.” That is what we’re about and this is where the strength of our ministry is. Approximately 90% of those on our E-Mailing List are Christian Leaders; scores of them tell us how much their ministries are enhanced as a result of what we share with them, and many are preaching/teaching what we impart to them. As a result The GFM Ministry is able to impact many thousands of lives through those we equip for leadership.

A true vision from God captured, then spoken out and put into action, will produce good fruit. Vision has to go beyond the captured and talking stage (we have plenty of visionaries around today who are not producing and/or fulfilling the vision they talk about). When God gives us a vision, He plants it in our spirit (where no one else can see). It is then our responsibility to believe, capture and nurture that vision through into the seen world. Until that happens, no one else can receive the benefits of why the vision was given us in the first place. It is a bit like a woman being pregnant. She conceives, then carries that seed of conception through a period where it is unseen by others. Then she brings forth a beautiful new life that others can see, hear and hold.

To try and help you capture your vision more, let me ask you some serious questions:

• How real is your vision to you?

• Have you been able to write it down clearly?

• Have you simplified your vision into a one-sentence statement?

• Is your conviction of the vision being from God strong enough that you are prepared to commit yourself to it?

• Are you prepared to make personal adjustments to cater for and nurture your vision?

• Are you willing to sacrifice in order to bring your vision to birth?

• Do you know the next step in the fulfilling of your vision?

• Are there other people who hold the key to the next stage of your vision being fulfilled?

Know that “a vision that is real produces a faith that works!” Vision always starts off small, but as we “feed it” it will grow more and more. The GFM Ministry started off in 1964 with 27 names and addresses. Today it touches thousands of lives in over 107 nations of the world ~ and continues to grow in its influence. It has taken huge amounts of time and commitment to carry the vision, but we have no regrets and thank the Lord for the privilege that is ours to be able to impact others in a very definite way. Scores of testimonies are being received of God touching lives through The GFM. How I thank God that I captured something of His heartbeat for me, and has enabled me to be fruitful in His will and purposes. Capture your vision! ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:     Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 6; John 4:34-38

Please Pray This Prayer:

“Dear God, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I ask You to help me to be really serious about the vision of Jesus Christ for my life, so that I may fulfil that purpose for which He has laid a hold of me. Help me to be very clear in my own heart and understanding as to what Your vision for me is, and help me to eliminate all doubts and negative voices that would hinder me from fulfilling Your vision for my life. I ask You to stir me, and liberate me, to be the man/woman of God with power that You have called me to be. Help me to clearly listen to You, Lord Jesus, so that I may distinctly discern Your divine will and purposes. I really do want to be an effective and fruitful minister of Your Supernatural Gospel in my day and generation. I desire to fulfil Your vision for my life! Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray these things. Amen."

The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry,  New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.