{"id":874,"date":"2014-06-30T22:14:49","date_gmt":"2014-06-30T14:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zionfellowship.org.au\/?page_id=874"},"modified":"2014-09-08T16:12:15","modified_gmt":"2014-09-08T08:12:15","slug":"vision-of-zion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/test5.zionfellowship.org.au\/?page_id=874","title":{"rendered":"Vision Of Zion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Progressing Towards Zion<\/h4>\n
\"Dr
Dr Brian Bailey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zion Fellowship is officially affiliated with Zion Fellowship International (ZFI), a ministerial fellowship based in Waverly, New York (USA). We come under the spiritual covering and guidance from ZFI. The late president of ZFI, Dr Brian J. Bailey was instrumental in laying the foundational vision of Zion Fellowship.<\/p>\n

To understand this vision, he wrote: I would like to give you a brief summary of the spiritual vision of Zion Fellowship. First of all, we need to realize that the Lord desires to plant an onward vision within all of His people.Habakkuk 2:2<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0says, \u201cWrite the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.\u201d We all need a God-imparted vision.<\/p>\n

This vision will enable us to look beyond our present spiritual experience. It will sustain us and give us purpose in life.\u00a0Proverbs 29:18<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0warns, \u201cWhere there is no vision [or progressive vision], the people perish.\u201d Without an ongoing vision, people wander aimlessly through life. Therefore, one\u2019s spiritual vision is very important.<\/p>\n

We are living in the last days, and whenever \u201cthe last days\u201d are mentioned in Scripture, Zion is also very often mentioned as well. All the promises of God are to Zion in the last days. Zion is the ultimate goal of the Church of Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul states in\u00a0Hebrews 12:22<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>: \u201cBut you have come unto Mount Zion\u2026\u201d Geographically, Mount Zion is located in the southeast part of the city of Jerusalem. In ancient times, it was called the city of David, and prior to that it was inhabited by the Jebusites. Let us now consider the spiritual significance of this mountain.<\/p>\n

The Journey From Egypt to Zion<\/p>\n

\"exodus\"<\/figure>\n

To gain an understanding of the spiritual journey that we as believers are on, we need to study the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, and eventually to Mount Zion. This historical journey undertaken thousands of years ago is a type of our spiritual journey as believers from earth to heaven, and from newborn babes in Christ to mature fathers and mothers in the faith. It serves as a roadmap to show us where we have come from, where we are at presently, and where we are going.<\/p>\n

Exodus 15:17<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0says, \u201cThou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.\u201dPsalm 87<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0confirm that this mountain was Mount Zion. Zion was their ultimate goal from the very beginning of their journey!<\/p>\n

The Apostle Paul speaks of the journey of Israel in\u00a01 Corinthians 10:11<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>: \u201cNow all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.\u201d Paul clearly states that the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt to Zion was recorded in Holy Scripture to serve as an example or pattern for believers.<\/p>\n

Crossing the Red Sea<\/strong>
First of all, the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian bondage through a series of ten plagues that God used to punish the Egyptians. As they prepared to leave Egypt (a symbol of this world), the Israelites celebrated the Passover, which speaks of Christ, the Lamb of God, who died for the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 5:7<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>). After leaving Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea, which separated them from the Egyptians. The Red Sea represents water baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>). Water baptism is an act of obedience (Matthew 3:15<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>), and it breaks many ties with the world.<\/p>\n