“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).

“I have appeared unto thee for this purpose” (Acts 26:16).

You might remember Mr. Huxley from a previous lesson. He was the man who had just finished a series of attacks against Christians. He was in a hurry to catch a train, and as he left the hotel, he assumed that the doorman had told the taxi driver his destination. Huxley jumped in the taxi and demanded, “Hurry, I’m almost late, drive fast!” As the taxi rushed through the streets of the city, Huxley finally realized that the driver was not going in the right direction. He shouted, “Do you know where you are going?” Without looking back, the taxi driver responded, “No, but I am going very fast.”

Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, admonished the people to save themselves from this untoward generation (Acts 2:40). It was a generation going somewhere. They did not know where, but they were going very fast. We can get caught in the same situation. It has been said, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” It could also be added, “And you’ll never know when you get there.”

A small child was riding his bicycle round and round in circles. An older man asked, “Where are you going?” The boy responded, “Nowhere,” and continued to ride in circles. The man continued to ask, “Where are you going?” Each time the little boy responded, “Nowhere!” This is the sad predicament of many, going nowhere.

& Do you have any idea where you are going in life?

& Do you understand your purpose in the journey of life?

In order to understand where you are going, you must first look at where you have been (past) and where you are (present.) After Adam and Eve transgressed in the Garden of Eden, God asked, “Adam, where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9). The same question could be asked of you, “Where are you?”

& What is your ministry?

& What is your vision?

& What is the will of God for your life?

We are most effective when we are in the center of God’s will.

Imagine what it would be like to be blind. What are some of the different emotions that you would feel?

Now imagine what it would be like if you were blind, and another blind person was leading you down the street. What emotions would you feel? (Instructors should have the students try it, using blindfolds and see what happens)

Would you like to get on a bus or in a taxi with a blind driver? What about if the driver was always becoming distracted and turning around to talk to others instead of focusing on the road ahead?

No one wants to follow a leader who is blind (without a vision)—not a spouse; not a family; not students in the classroom; not workers in the workplace; not saints in the church; not members of any organization—NO ONE! Followers will always be afraid of the proverbial “falling in the ditch.”

Vision is a clear picture in our minds of what life will be like down the road. It gives us an understanding of where we are going. Vision sets direction and serves as our roadmap. Once we understand where we are going, we must know how to get there from where we are. We fix our eyes on our destination and start working on a PLAN to get there. Our destination needs to be kept clearly in sight.

Some spiritual people have a problem with planning. They think that “walking by faith,” means that you have no plan. It has been aptly said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Planning and faith go hand in hand. Effective, biblical faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith involves having something that you hope for (a goal, plan, or vision). Look at the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. Notice that many of them had a vision. God used men of vision to bring the church into existence (Acts 2).

Nehemiah was a visionary leader who prayed and planned. He did not ask God for a miracle—he asked for an opportunity. Lots of opportunities come our way. We need to take advantage of the ones that will enable us to fulfill the vision God has given us. Each opportunity and open door should be assessed by asking, “How will this help me fulfill my life’s calling and vision?”

Not all good ideas are God’s ideas, so we must be careful. Everything that moves us forward toward accomplishing our vision gets a green light. Everything else gets a caution light or even a red light. We need to continually align ourselves and focus on our vision for ministry. This way we will conform our lives to the roadmap and plan that God has prepared for us.

Once we understand where we are going, it is only natural to ask, “How will we get there?” We must be careful here because we can “how” our vision to death. In fact, others will try to “how” your vision to death by asking many questions. Where did the vision come from? If it is from God (and it should be), then “how” is God’s problem. What God has ordained, He will bring to pass.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

For each man of faith in the Bible, God provided not only the “what,” but also the “how.” Moses was asked to deliver God’s children from Egypt. He was told what to do and how to do it. Noah was told to build an ark. He was told what to do and how to do it. In the construction of both the Tabernacle and the Temple, men were told what to do and how to do it. The disciples were called to take the gospel to the whole world. They were told what to do and how to do it. (Ask the students to think of other Bible men of vision who were told what to do and how to accomplish it.)

As we look at the history of visionary leaders throughout the Word of God and throughout time, we conclude:

& “What” comes before “how.”

& You will often know “what” to do before you know “how” to do it.

It is important to wait on the Lord, in prayer, until you know the steps (the how’s) needed to accomplish the vision.

In Luke 1 a virgin named Mary was given a vision for her life. WHAT was it? She would bring forth the Messiah and call his name Jesus. Quite naturally, the first thing that came into Mary’s mind was, “HOW shall this be?” The angel gave her a brief explanation and wrapped it up with, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Perhaps, in your mind you have already made a list of “why” the vision cannot be done through you. When you complete this list of vision killers, you need to give it a befitting burial.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

(T.D. Jakes’ book, Maximizing the Moment was helpful and used in preparing this lesson.)

1.     In Acts 2:40 what did Peter mean when he spoke of an “untoward generation”?

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2.     What should take place before you can determine where you are going?

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3.     What question did God ask Adam in Genesis 3:9?

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4.     What happens when one follows a blind leader (Matthew 15:14)?

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5.     What is “vision”?

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6.     Show how effective faith includes planning or having a vision.

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7.     Nehemiah did not ask God for a miracle, but for what?

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8.     As we look at the history of visionary leaders throughout the Word of God, what can we conclude?

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9. What did the angel say to Mary in Luke 1:37?

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