''On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” Revelation 1:10 -11
The above are Jesus' words to John in the book of Revelation in the bible.
There is an overseer and head of the Church and it is Jesus Christ. He has a mission to build it and then present it to YHWH his Father as a job well done. He is hands-on and still at this job. We are his co-labourers in this, however, the vision is his.
In the past, YHWH's specific goals for regions, peoples, generations etc... were often short-term. Now, everything boils down to this one vision: that all things be reconciled back to Himself through Christ.
'' For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.'' Colossians 1:19 -20
In some Christian cycles, we still quote Deuteronomy 11:24 ''Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours...'' implying we take over the places we find ourselves. But what are you taking over the place for? For... yourself? your natural ideologies? or for Jesus?
The real answer to that depends on the vision we are running with.
Here is The Father's vision according to Prophets Micah and Isaiah:
''In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and peoples will stream to it.
Many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.''
Before the end of the world arrives, this is YHWH's vision.
Whose vision are you running with? I mean - ultimately?
Just yours? Your Dad's? Your denomination's?
Christ's?
Who are you winning your family for?? Who are you reaching your country/city/town/village for? Who are you winning the world for?
The Church of Jesus must run with the vision of Jesus. YHWH's idea is that Christ gains supremacy in all things by his word (instructions/teachings) gaining supremacy in all things.
''He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.'' Colossians 1:18 AMP
To therefore fulfil our role as co-labourers with Christ, we must get our vision right.
It cannot be naturally motivated, it must be divinely motivated.
'' For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah (instruction) — indeed, it cannot. Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God.'' Romans 8:7-8 CJB
By divinely motivated, I mean it must be consistent with the declarations of vision and intention of YHWH already revealed in the Scriptures and in our Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else cannot please God.
''he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.'' Paul in Ephesians 1:9-10
''“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”'' - Jesus the Messiah Luke 10:22
''In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'' - John 1:1