BIRTH OF A VISION- Part 2
Vision #6
9-24-06

"A blind man’s world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant
Man’s world by the limits of his knowledge; a great man’s world by the limits of his vision." - E. Paul Hovey

 Neh. 1:1-5a read

5 Basic building blocks to a vision:

 I.    VISION BEGINS AS A CONCERN

      A.   A God-ordained vision will begin as a concern.

II.   VISION DOES NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ACTION Neh. 1:1 & 2:1 (4 mos.)

*    Developing or discovering a vision for a particular area of our lives takes time.

Three important things happen while we wait:

      A.   The vision matures in us

      B.   We MATURE in preparation for the vision

Note:   There seems to be a correlation between how long you have to wait & the magnitude of the                               task to which you are called.

      C.   God is at work behind the scenes preparing the way  

            1.   A god-ordained vision will eventually feel like a MORAL IMPERATIVE…

            2.   A God-ordained vision will line up with what God is up to in this world…

*    It was Israel's strategic role in God's plan that made Nehemiah's vision so COMPELLIING,

            BUT it wasn't the CONDITION of the walls & gates but the SPIRITUAL condition of

III. PRAY FOR OPPORTUNITIES & PLAN AS IF YOU EXPECTED GOD TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS

      *    What about that time between the birth of and the fulfillment of the vision you have?

            -     Waiting can kill your dreams & vision.

            -     You don't have the time, the money, the people, to bring you dream vision into reality.

            -     You slip into the mode that it won't ever happen.

*    So what do you do while waiting?

      *    Pray & plan

A.   He prayed- (1:4c)

      1.   Prayer is critical to vision development  (We often MISS what we don't expect to see.)

            -     It keeps us LOOKING! (shark teeth/ beach)

            -     Keeps the burden FRESH

            -     Keeps our eyes & hearts in an EXPECTANT mode

      *    Prayer doesn't FORCE God's hand - but keeps us on the lookout for His INTERVENTION.

            -     Prayer sensitizes us to subtle changes in the circumstances.

            a.   Nehemiah prayed for an OPPORTUNITY (Neh 1:11)

      *    Our tendency is for MIRACLES - more appropriate to pray for opportunity…

            More than likely you need an opportunity rather than something Supernatural.

      I.e.

      1.   As Parents- have vision for your kids…

      -     Instead of simply praying for them to have Character- pray for opportunities build                                  character into their lives.

*    Your vision INVOLVES YOU! - You have a role, a part

      2.   Unbelieving friends - don't just pray for them - pray for opportunity to talk to them.

Note:

      Dreamers = dream about things being different

      Visionaries = envision themselves helping make the change

      Dreamers - dream how nice it would be if …

      Visionaries - look for opportunity

            b.   He prayed for FAVOR - (Neh 1:11) "mercy"= same word for compassion

                  (pity = sorry)

                  (compassion = I'll do what I have to make it better) cp to (Neh 2:2 "sore afraid")

Note:   Think about this - if God could use the king to get the vision fulfilled - what about the vision              God gave you?

 

B.   He planned

      *    Don't let the seemingly improbability of your vision keep you from developing a strategy!

      I.e. Our plans for a buildings / the relocation of this church.

***      Plan as if someone were going to come along & give you the opportunity to fulfill your vision.

*    Compared to Nehemiah's plans, yours probably won't look so extraordinary after all!

***      Review his plans once in a while to encourage you of yours.

      This was NOT a just a dream- but truly a VISION from God.

* Remember - Just about every God-ordained vision appears to be IMPOSSIBLE!

*    The circumstances seem overwhelming - vision of a Christian marriage, a business, etc.

IV.  GOD IS USING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO POSITION & PREPARE YOU TO ACCOMPLISH HIS           VISION IN YOUR LIFE.

*    God was positioning the players - Nehemiah, "Lord you called me to build, not bartend."

This is so difficult because we CONFUSE success with the fruits of success.

*    Success- is remaining faithful to the process that God laid out for you.

      -     Success is not the raise, promotion, recognition, Christian home, or wonderful children.

           Those are simple enjoyable mile markers along the way.

      -     Success is staying faithful to the process that contributed to those things becoming a                                  reality.

*    Nehemiah became successful the day he embraced the vision of God that God had laid on his        heart.

      Why? Because he was faithful to what God had called him to do that day.

*    When are parents successful?

      -     When they emerge from adolescence without a police record?

      -     When they graduate from college?

      -     When their grown son lands his first job?

      -     When you daughter brings home your first grandchild?

      NO  - Those are rewards of parenting.

      -     Every day of responsible parenting is a day of success

*    You are a success everyday that you show up for duty.

      Every day of faithfulness where you are with what you have, is a successful day.

*    Success is: faithfulness to the PROCESS.

*    To focus on what's around you diminishes your ability to focus on what's before you!

V.   WHAT GOD ORIGINATES HE ORCHESTRATES (The HOW)

*    Agonizing principle: WHAT always precedes the HOW!

      You will always know what God has put in your heart before you know HOW He will bring it to                 pass.

*    True of Nehemiah - what came 4 months before how.

*    Too many visions die in this stage -

      "When HOW seems out of sight, it is tempting to put WHAT out of mind.

      Plan the best you can BUT remember:

      -     Divine vision necessitates Divine intervention.

*    HOW is NEVER a problem for God.  (What God originates He orchestrates)

      -     Case in point:

            1.   Mary - when told she was going to conceive (Luke 1:27-34, 37)

            2.   Moses - did he have to figure a way out of Egypt; across the Red Sea; through the                                     desert?

            3.   David - wasn't his responsibility to move Saul off the throne so he could be king.

            4.   The Apostles - feeding the 5000 - no their responsibility to make the lunch go so far.

            5.   The Disciples - weren't responsible for figuring out How to get the gospel to the                                                     uttermost parts of the earth -

      ***      NO!

            It was God that orchestrated events while THEY did what the vision was in their                                           hearts.

      *    How is NEVER a problem for God!

      *    When God puts something in your heart to do, He goes behind the scenes to ensure that it                           happens.

      -     In the meantime we must remain faithful to Him focused on the vision.

*    You are not responsible for figuring out HOW to pull off God's vision in your life

*    I light of the DIVINE vision, our daily FAITHFULNESS takes on a new significance.

*    It is no longer faithful for faithfulness' sake - more important than that.

      -     If the visionary doesn't act, something significant will not get done.

      -     Visionaries live with the knowledge the how may come independently from their planning.

            BUT it will NEVER come apart from their faithfulness!

            * Faithfulness is critical to success.

 

 

*    A Divine vision is NOT dependent upon us making something happen

      It is dependent upon God making something happen.

 

John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."