Godly vision and goal setting
Nehemiah 2:1-2:10
Introduction-
Turn with me to Nehemiah chapter 2
It is in the Old Testament between the book of Ezra and the book of Esther.
I want to talk about vision casting and goal setting.
Most people have dreams/visions/goals as a young person.
They may want to be Astronauts, Sports figures, maybe even the president of the United States.
They could desire to be protectors like firemen, policemen, doctors. It gets challenging as they get older, realizing that their dreams become farther away as circumstances and situations come into our lives.
Sometimes it happens as we realize that though you may want to be a singer, you just can’t sing or you are just average at it. You may want to play on your favorite sports team, but once you see the competition you realize that it is just not going to happen.
Question to ask ourselves;
How do we acknowledge our dreams/goals and match them to our abilities and opportunities.
If that does not make it hard enough, we as Christians, have to factor in that God has a say in our future and has a say in our goal setting and vision casting.
In the text this morning, Nehemiah was a cupbearer for king Artaxerxes.
This was a high servant job that many people wanted. It is a great job unless someone is trying to poison the king.
He was responsible for testing all food before the king ate it.
He was expected to be uplifting and happy and meet all the kings needs.
He was expected to keep his personal life separate from the king because a bad attitude or bad day could have gotten him killed for raining on the king’s parade.
This will probably be a 2 part sermon on what we can learn from Nehemiah.
One- how do we acknowledge and bring to pass vision/goals?
Two- What do we do when we face opposition and it hinders us from accomplishing what God wants?
Nehemiah 2:1-2:10
Nehemiah was sad because he was looking at city of Jerusalem and saw the walls down around the city.
These walls were down for over 100 years, but Nehemiah was pondering what he could do about it.
(2) “Why does your face look sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” (depression)
Remember this could have been bad for Nehemiah because sadness and personal problems can get you killed.
“May the king live forever”
Common response to kings- and then he explains the ruined, un-walled city of Jerusalem and what he wanted to do about it.
Now get this!
(4) “The king said to me, what is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the king. If it pleases the king and your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
The king was interested in his troubles.
Before he answered the king of Israel, he prayed to the king of heaven. (Short prayer, It happened quickly between what do you want and his answer)
I want to rebuild the city wall of Jerusalem.
Again, the king is interested- how long will you be gone? (He had an answer and he set a time)
Letters of blessing for those who could help him accomplish the task.
(Protection and supplies)
Building blocks for the task (Write down)
#1- Vision begins as a concern.
You will never be able to do something productive for God until you are passionate about the things that God is passionate about.
If it is a Godly task, it will line up with God’s Word and God will get the glory for it.
What God puts on your heart, He will provide the resources needed to bring it to pass.
You will never put your all into anything until you are ready to pay the price of time and effort to see it come to pass.
Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as "the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity," "the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will," and "the center of a person. The place to which God turns."
God used Nehemiah because on his heart he had a concern that he wanted to do something with.
He went from dreamer to visionary because he was willing to put feet to his concern.
Building Block #2 -Vision does not necessarily require immediate action.
There is no way any of this happens without prayer and planning.
Before he answered the king of Israel, he sought advice from the king of heaven.
I believe for months Nehemiah had concern for Israel, and when he got opportunity to do something about it, he laid it out there for God to have something to work with.
Prayer keeps us looking up, and keeps us in the expectant mode.
Dreamers only think about it- visionaries look for opportunity to do it.
God first gives us vision by putting a heavy concern on our hearts.
It is uncommon faith to accomplish big tasks that God is involved in. if you can do it by yourself and using just your ability, it is a man-made goal setting.
Work hard, be determined and accomplish your task.
But if it is God given, it will take uncommon faith and supernatural extreme.
Example
Joshua asking God to stop the sun so they would win the battle.
Elisha asking God for double portion- twice the wisdom, twice materials, twice the people, that is bold, that is being aggressive.
Building block #3- Plan expecting God to respond.
So many times we feel God is in it, but we pray and act like we are doing it ourselves.
I believed God to help me through my surgery and get me up quickly. I will be smart and not do anything that I should not, but I expected God to respond to my request to get back in the game. He has never let me down when it comes to this pulpit and I will respond and expect that to continue.
When God puts something on your heart, it always seems impossible (it is without His help)
You cannot do the supernatural in the natural!
Ephesians 3:20-
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Nehemiah knew it was a God thing! It was way bigger than he was. He counted the cost, and was determined to go all the way.
Natural man with supernatural power “that is at work within us” Amen.
God allows us to draw on His unlimited resources to accomplish all that He calls us to do.
Why would I not think that God can do the impossible and why would I not expect Him to bring it to pass in my life.
Building block #4
Let God use you and prepare you
Nehemiah was a cupbearer for a reason. The king’s attitude was right when help was needed.
God will always give you the vision before he gives you the way that he will accomplish it.
When God is in it, we will bring it to pass.
When God puts something on your heart, he begins preparing you and He is working behind the scenes to accomplish what He has placed on your heart.
We may not see what is happening behind the scenes, but I assure you God is working.
God was preparing Nehemiah and God is preparing you and I for what He has for us also.
Nehemiah had a pretty good resume’. He had the blessing of the king. He was positioned to do what God had laid on his heart.
But what was going to get the job done was done in preparation for this day.
He had a concern for Israel and their problem.
He had a strong conviction that he needed to be a part of the solution rather than the problem.
He was right with God.
He had confidence in God and His promises.
He had commitment to get involved.
Closing
Let’s look at some of these building blocks again
#1- Vision begins with a concern.
#2- Vision does not necessarily need immediate action.
#3- Plan and expect God to respond. (If it was from Him, He will be in it)
#4- Let God use you and prepare you.
Sounds easy right?
If you are trying to do something for God without God, it will not be successful.
Some are at critical points in their life and they need God to lead and guide them.
Remember that if God gave it to you, He will bring it to pass.
Last thought as we close this morning- Sometimes God gives us a vision or task and as we share the vision, it is not well received from others.
Sometimes, because the timing is not right and we need to sit on what God has given us until the time is right.
There will be opposition and jealously and God needs to help us through it.
Next week we will continue this sermon with what do we do when there is opposition. How do we let God fight some of the battles and prepare the way for what He has started.
