A Fresh Vision

This morning we had a good time at our men's fellowship breakfast. We had a good time of fellowship, but as men, we ALWAYS have a good time eating! Before we ate, I challenged the men to get a fresh vision from God. I read from Acts 26 where Paul encountered the Lord on the Damascus Road. This vision of the Lord affected Paul and it will affect us, too. 1. A Fresh Vision Will STOP Us. Acts 26:13-14 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. ^[14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me... This vision stopped Paul in his tracks! Sometimes it is good for us to stop and re-evaluate our direction. A fresh vision from God will cause us to stop and re-evaluate our priorities. When Paul set out that morning, the LAST thing on his mind was serving God, but a vision from God changed his direction and his priorities. 2. A Fresh Vision Will STRENGTHEN Us. Acts 26:15-16 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. ^[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet... A fresh vision will remind us that our strength comes from the Lord. Up until this, Paul was laying on the ground, but once God spoke to him, He said, "rise, and stand upon thy feet." A fresh vision will give us the strength to take a stand again and stand up for the Lord. 3. A Fresh Vision Will SEND Us. Acts 26:16 ...I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Paul's vision was not just to make him feel good or feel spiritual. God had a "purpose" for him. He was sending Paul to minister and be a witness for Him. 4. A Fresh Vision Will STRETCH Us. Acts 26:19-20 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: ^[20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Paul would have never dreamed he would have gone to all those places as a witness for God, but God's vision stretched him and helped him become what he never would have become without it. We will never reach our potential if we do not allow God's vision to stretch us.