What Happens when a church has vision
Nehemiah 2
Open:
Without vision the people perish. The word of God
makes it clear that when we as his people do not get a
fresh revelation from him, in other words if we have and
are not seeking him on what he wants to do through us
then the countless people around us will perish. We,
you and I have to keep our focus on heaven and what
God desires to do through us or we become selfish and
lazy. Church becomes a mentality of me, I’m okay and
this is my church and I like the way things have always
been. That is exactly what happens to churches who do
not have a fresh vision from God. We can go from
coast to coast and without an exception we would find
churches who are closing or maintaining the flock are
those who are there to serve themselves and when they
time they might see what God wants. I don’t believe
that God is pleased with this mentality, as a matter of
fact I would have to say that it probably causes him to
be angered and grieved. I believe that God calls his
people to a people who hear from him and understand
what he wants them to do. A church with vision is a
church that is impacting the natural and supernatural for
the kingdom of God and accomplishing his will for that
fellowship.
Today I want to show you what happens to when we
have vision. The vision committee has finished what we
believe is God’s calling for our church for this hour and
time. Vision starts in the heart of the leadership of a
fellowship, but for it to become effective and impacting
it must be a shared vision. In other words every one
who calls Victory Christian Fellowship their home needs
to understand what God has called us to be. We need to
figure out what part each of us can do to make the
vision become a reality. What God desires for you is
that this vision become a part of your heart and your
life. So that you pray for it, own it, and participate in it.
Let’s look at what a vision will do for a church
1. Let us hear from God in fresh way
Neh. 2:4b
Neh. sought the Lord for answers, in his seeking God
spoke to him. The thing we see from Neh. is that
throughout the process he was in communication with
God. God was able to direct and confirm what he
wanted him say to King Artaxerxes.
When we go afte God and begin to ask him what he
wants us to do and be then we can expect that he will
answer us. By doing so we get a fresh revelation we
hear from him on what he wants us to do right now.
Not 5 years ago not 10 years ago, but right now.
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2. Vision encourages us
Neh. 2:8
And because the gracious hand of God was upon me,
the king granted my request.
You see Neh. was greatly encouraged because he knew
that God was with him in this adventure and journey.
He was able to be bold with his requests and step out
into unfamiliar territory. Remember that the Jews were
still in captivity at this time, Neh. was not talking to
another Jew he was getting father with their captors.
When we receive a fresh vision from God it gives us a
greater sense of our partnership with him in advancing
the kingdom. We become encouraged because we
know that he is with us and this is what he desires. He
wants to use me to do great things.
3. Vision gives direction on where to go and what to do
Neh. 2:11
Neh. knew to accomplish what he felt God wanted him
to do he had to saddle up and head there. He said I
can’t do from where I am, I have to go there and once
in Jerusalem he was able to survey and make plans for
the vision.
We can do a whole lot of nothing for God if we are not
careful. If we are just trying to maintain what we have
or going the wrong way we just do not accomplish
God’s will. With vision we understand the areas that we
need to address in our church, we know what training
God’s people need. We can implement programs that
can accomplish his desires. Just because something
worked 20 years ago doesn’t mean it still works today,
and something that didn’t work 20 years might work
perfectly fine today.
But we need to know where we are headed and not be
lost. It is one thing to be in unfamiliar but still know the
way and another to be completely lost and know exactly
where you are.
4. Vision creates momentum
Neh. 2:18
Neh. assessed what God had shown him, formulated a
perfect vision and then shared with the others who were
there. It is when everyone understood what God
wanted that it created a unity and momentum. They
replied Let us start...
As we share and pray about the vision that God has
given our church it will cause something that creates
momentum. Unity. It was a common ground and future
that caused them to say hey let’s get going. Unity is
powerful in the spiritual realm.
I’m not talking about a fleshly unity either, not one that
says I’m here because this is my church or I love you in
Jesus not because I want to but becasue I am told to.
The unity that I am taking about is one that comes from
believing that what God wants is more important than
what I want. It is an understanding and owning of
God’s vision for this city.
The church in Acts chapter 2 had a belief in a vision that
aloowed God to pour out the H.S. and the momentum
was astounding.
God wants to do the same thiing here with us.
Close:
Read vision statement.
Recite the first line with everyone.
