Visual Impairment Notes

Visual Impairment

1. Many of us have dreams and visions of what God has in store for us.  We know God has a plan for us just through His word. (Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.)

1. “The dream is only as big as the one who dreams it.
2. Joyce Meyer once said “I’d rather ask a lot and get a little than to ask a little and get that.”
3. So often issues or problems that are in our lives impair our dreams.  Whether it is something spiritual, physical, financial, etc, are impairments that will keep us from the vision or goal that God has in plan for us.

2. Many of our forefathers of the faith had vision and dreams.  They were often plagued with opposition, fear, failure, their past, and waiting on the future.
1. “We have to admire the faith of the patriarchs.  They did not have the full bible, yet their faith was strong.  They handed the promises down from one generation to another.  In spite of their failures and trials, these men believed God and bore witness to their faith.  How much more faith should we have?”
2. There are five basic impairments that you and I face when it comes to our vision.

3. Visual Impairment One – FEAR (Moses)
1. What Fears?
1. Fear of Failure – Lord, I am not good enough.
2. Fear of What People Think – Lord, they’ll ask who and why.
3. Fear of the Unknown.
2. To Overcome Fear
1. You are not given a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline)
2. God is for you! (Is 41:10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.)
3. Take Off Fear (Is 54:14 You will live under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away; you will live in peace. Terror will not come near.)
4. It’s Just A Moment (1 Peter 3:14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry._
1. “Courage is being scared to death – and saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne

4. Visual Impairment Two – FAILURE (David)
1. What Failures?
1. Fallen from the plan – Affair with Bathsheba
2. Failure in Fatherhood – his children (Am non sinned with Tamar, Absalom stabbed his father in the back)
3. Failure in Marriage – Michael
2. To Overcome Failure
1. Refocus on the Plan (Ps 119:37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.)
2. Avoid Confusion (Amos 8:11-12 People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it.)
3. Trust in Him not man (Prov 3:4-6 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.)
1. ““I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.” Thomas Edison
2. “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” Zig Ziglar
3. “What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” – Robert Schuller

5. Visual Impairment Three – Opposition (Noah)
1. What Opposition?
1. He was a teacher of Righteousness but he was ignored– (2 Peter 2:5 And God did not spare the ancient world--except for Noah and his family of seven. Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. Then God destroyed the whole world of ungodly people with a vast flood.)
2. He was instructed to do something that no one else had ever done. (Genesis 7:1-6)
1. Examples:
1. Thomas Edison once told Henry Ford that he was a fool for messing around with automobiles and that he should do something more productive.
3. He endured great persecution to an idea of a flood in a dry area.

2. How to see through opposition
1. Through the door of opportunity comes great opposition. (1 Chr 16:9 for there is a wide-open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. But there are many who oppose me.)
2. Don’t cast your pears before the swine (Matt 7:6 "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.)
3. Jesus already covered it all and won (John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.")
1. “You can measure a man by the opposition it takes to discourage him” – Robert Savage’

6. Visual Impairment Four – Your Past (Where’s the Rewind Button) (Paul)
1. What Past?
1. Noted enemy to all Christians
2. Plagued with illnesses, problems in his ministry, and chronic imprisonments

2. How did Paul see his way through the past?
1. He lived a life of grace not the past. (Rom 3:23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.  /Eph 2:4-5 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much,that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)  )
2. Accepted God’s forgiveness and not the lies (Rom 4:8 Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord." & 8:1-2 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.)

7. Visual Impairment Five – The Waiting Game  (Abraham)
1. What caused this to become an impairment
1. When we get a vision, we want it now.
2. The appointed time is an eternity in the wilderness
3. Abraham would fast forward this vision through Hagar which would cause problems that are even evident in this day.

2. How to avoid this fast forward button
1. Be still.  (Ps 46:10 "Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.")
2. Tell God (Ps 37:4-5 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires, Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.)
3. And Know.  It’s coming. (Hab 2:3  But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.)
1. “One of the great disadvantages of hurry is that it takes such a long time.” –G.K. Chesterton
2. “He who is impatient waits twice as long.”  Mark McGinnis.

8. The End
1. You will be rewarded
2. You will be found faithful
3. Your vision will come
1. “Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.” – Henry Ford
2. “There are two kinds of people; those who say to God, “thy will be done,” and those to who God says, “all right, then, have it your way.” CS Lewis.
3. “ah, great it is to believe the dream as we stand in youth by the starry stream; but a greater thing is to fight life through and say at the end, the dream is true!” Edwin Markham