Faith is the Essential Ingredient of Vision
October 1, 2006
Series on Vision 7 of 8
Nehemiah 2:1-7

 

*    So what is vision?

*   Vision is:

     -   A clear mental picture of what could be fueled by the conviction that it should be.

-        Vision is a preferred future (a destination)

-        Vision always stands in CONTRAST to the world AS IS.

-        Vision DEMANDS change

-        A vision always calls for someone to champion the cause.

-        The COURAGE to ACT!

*    Vision is ALWAYS a solution to a problem!

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

*   In 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.

*   Few things provide our faith with a more thorough workout than a divinely-ordered vision.

 

Spiritually speaking FAITH: is confidence that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he promised.

     -   Faith is NOT a power or a force

     -   Faith is NOT a vehicle which we coerce God into something against His will.

     *   It simply an expression of a confidence in the person and character of God!

     *   It is the proper response to a promise or a revelation of God.

 

Nehemiah shows us that…

I.   Embracing & owning a VISION is in itself an ACT of faith. Neh 2:1-3

     To do so is to live by faith in the truest sense.

     A.  When we embrace a VISION in its INFANCY (before anything has happened) we are making a statement about our confidence in the person & character of God!

          1.  Pursuing a divine VISION is really an ACT of WORSHIP

          2.  It is a DECLARATION of our confidence in God.

          3.  It is a PROCLAMATION of how important we believe His agenda to be.

          *   And God is honored

     B.  Acting on your faith is the ultimate expression of devotion, admiration, and adoration.

          1.  Nothing is more honoring to God than making your decisions based upon WHAT He has claimed about himself.

NOTE: The difficult thing is the more contrary the circumstances the more honor God received.

          2.  The more UNLIKELY the fulfillment of our VISION, the MORE FAITH is required.

              *   Consequently the more potential glory for God.

Thus our hero Nehemiah was set up for MAXIMUM IMPACT in the glory department.

     -   His vision was against the wind in every way imaginable.
     -   No one was going to rob God of credit including Nehemiah if this deal came through.

*   This was good news for God but was FAITH-STRETCHING; TRUST-WRENCHING for Nehemiah!

Neh. 2:4-7 Nehemiah gives us a LEGACY of Faith

II.  Embracing and owning a vision leaves a LEGACY of faith  Neh. 2:4-7

     A.  Others of the same caliber of Nehemiah

          1.  Noah - Heb 11:7 (Noah's faith fueled his VISION)

          2.  Abraham - Heb. 11:8 (he envisioned a homeland where God would multiply his
 children to the point of international significance)

              -   Without great faith there would have been no FORWARD progress - he would
have died in Haran

              -   But he believed God NOT because he could see the land or the children…

                   But solely on the character of God!

          3.  Joshua at Jericho Jos 6:2

          4.  Gideon and the Midianites Jug. 6-8 chases thousands of men with 300

          5.  David in pursuit of the throne

     *   All these men were given VISIONS of what COULD be & what SHOULD be.

          Each stepped out by faith, putting ALL their hopes in God's faithfulness to His word.

*    Pursuing a vision requires FAITH

     Pursuing a Great VISION requires Great Faith.

     Pursuing a vision will test, stretch, and at times exhaust your faith.

*   While we wait & wait & wait, & trust & trust & trust - He basks in the glory reflected back to      Him by His faithful servants

*   God glories in our willingness to take Him at His word. 

     - He delights in our perseverance in the face debilitating odds.

     - Our faith and ensuing faithfulness brings Him immense honor- honor He highly deserves.

*   God-inspired visions ultimately lead back to God!

     God-inspired visions should & must lead back to God.

     He is worthy!