This month we are dedicated to the important topic of Vision. Recently I heard a nationally recognized pastor admit a mistake that he made early in his ministry. He said, “I was guilty of not talking enough about the vision.” This is amazing considering the fact that there are those who feel that some churches talk too much about the vision. If you ever thought a church was too chatty about vision, just read Proverbs 28:19 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Visionary people are trailblazers to their generation. Jesus was the greatest trailblazers. Read John 4. In order to be a trailblazer we must do 4 things.
1. Go the unfamiliar way. Trailblazers always do. I believe that God’s vision for your life will call you to unfamiliar territory. When you step into your vision, you will come into contact with new things, new people and new favor.
2. Go the unpopular way. Trailblazers are aware of the critics. Notice that critics do not have to get to you, but we should be aware. Remember, not all criticism is bad. But there is such a thing as negativity. Trailblazers know the difference between negative criticism & positive criticism.
3. Go the uncomfortable way. Trailblazers factor the pain. Anything worth while is going to produce some pain in your life. But we have a choice. We can choose the pain of regret or we can choose the pain of progress. Trailblazers recognize that there will be a season of loneliness. There will be a season of no fruit. There will be a season of being misunderstood. All these thinsg create pain, but trailblazers keep on pressing.
4. Go the ultimate way. Trailblazers know that God’s way is always the ultimate way. What made Jesus such a powerful trailblazer was that he moved like a man under orders. We do not know exactly how much Jesus prayed but we do know that prayer was a major part of his ministry. Sometimes Jesus would pray all night. I can imagine my Lord talking to God about his mission, I can imagine Jesus asking God for strength. Here is what I want to say: Do not go…unless God has spoken to you. When you step out to trail blaze, it is going to be tough, it is going to be difficult, but remember if God said, Go! Then God will be with you.
Tags: al valdez, church growth, georgina valdez, God, Jesus, passion, trailblazer, Victory Outreach, Victory Outreach San Diego, vision
March 18, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Pastor,
I really enjoyed reading this Blog. When we see the words Unfamiliar, Unpopular, Uncomfortable, and then Ultimate, I believe that says it all. Most of the time we have to go through the first 3 U’s to be the ULTIMATE for Jesus. Someone once told me “Would you rather make the wrong decision and be Popular or make the right decision and be Respected”. A Trailblazer is what I will be, with God guiding me every step of the way. I thank God for my Trailblazing Pastors and Leaders of VOSD.
April 24, 2010 at 6:56 am
Hello,
Just happened upon your blog… This is a wonderfully inspiring message. I’m putting this on my facebook tonight *AND* sharing this tomorrow with our Music Ministry. From Victory Outreach Portland (the home of the TRAIL BLAZER Basketball team) this is particularly poignant as your message reiterates the necessity to be fearless in the face of challenge, choosing the “unfamiliar”, “unpopular”, “uncomfortable”, and your last… the “ultimate”! It comes on the heels of a word given by our own Overseer Pastor Mitchell “seek the big picture” THE KINGDOM, and last week Pastor Augie (visiting in Seattle) encouragement to give fearlessly and with new passion. These are the messages that change whole lives & futures.
Thank you Pastor Valdez.
April 24, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Timely word. I help out in The Home and God placed on my heart yesterday a message and that I need to better instill and impart the vision and heartbeat of VOI to the woman.