This sermon series was inspired by the book “visioneering” by Andy Stanley. Parts of this sermon are taken directly from the material in his book.
20 Essential Building Blocks of Vision – Part 2
March 23, 2003
Nehemiah 1:1-2:18
Video clip “baby steps” from What about Bob?
Last week we started talking about vision. Society would like us to believe that we can accomplish whatever we put our mind to and if we work hard enough we can be successful.
While it may be true that it’s usually not a good idea to rush into things, taking baby steps does not guarantee us success.
Review building blocks #1 and #2
#1 – A vision begins as a concern
#2 – A vision does not necessarily require immediate action
We’re going to begin this week talking about what to do during the period of time where you are waiting to see what God wants you to do next.
Visions can die during this stretch of inactivity while you are waiting. It’s discouraging to continue dreaming about something that appears to have no potential of ever happening. After a prolonged period of waiting, a vision of what could and should be, slips into the realm of what won’t ever be.
So what should you do in the meantime to keep your dream alive?
Let’s look at Nehemiah 1: 1-11
When Nehemiah heard about the condition of Jerusalem, there was nothing he could physically do to remedy the situation. It seemed as if he was in the wrong place, with the wrong job, working for the wrong guy.
But Nehemiah was not inactive. The four months between hearing about the condition of the walls and finally being able to do something about it was a productive time for Nehemiah.
Nehemiah did two things to prepare for the time when God would lead Him to pursue his vision.
1. He prayed – Prayer is critical to vision development. Why? Because we see what we are looking for, and often miss what we don’t expect to see. Prayer keeps us looking. It keeps our eyes and our hearts in the expectant mode. When God begins to move, we are only going to see it we are ready and watching. Notice that Nehemiah did not pray for God to rebuild the wall. He prayed for an opportunity to go rebuild it himself. That is the difference between a dreamer and a visionary. Dreamers dream about things being different. Visionaries envision themselves making a difference. Dreamers think about how nice it would be for something to be done. Visionaries look for an opportunity to do something.
2. He planned – Nehemiah thought about what would be needed to accomplish this vision (or at least get started). If God has given us a vision, we need to go ahead and start developing a plan. Assuming you had the resources, what would you do? Assuming you had the time, what would you do first? Nehemiah laid out steps of how to pursue this vision. He made sure that if he got an opportunity to present his vision to the king, he was ready.
This is Building Block #3 – Pray for opportunities and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers.
The problem is that many of us fail to pray and fail to plan.
If the person you have been praying for were to ask you about your relationship with Christ, do you know what you would say?
If you suddenly had the opportunity to switch jobs or careers, do you know what steps you would need to make the transition successfully?
You probably have a vision for how you want your children to turn out, but do you have a plan?
You probably have a vision for your marriage, but do you have a plan?
Even as we pray about and plan for the vision, it seems overwhelming and impossible. When God puts something on our hearts, it always seems out of reach (because it is). God ordained visions are always too big for us to handle.
There are always more questions than answers and more obstacles than solutions.
As we said earlier, Nehemiah no doubt felt like he was in the wrong place doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. But God knew what He was doing. He had Nehemiah in the right place doing the right thing at the right time.
God had given Nehemiah a place among the palace servants. Then he maneuvered him through the ranks of influential Persian officials so he would be noticed for his integrity and trustworthiness. Eventually he was recommended to the king and appointed to the position of cupbearer.
On the surface it might have appeared that God was moving Nehemiah in a direction that would make it impossible to accomplish this dream. But actually, just the opposite was true. God gave Nehemiah a job and a relationship that gave him an inside track to the king. Like a master strategist, God was working behind the scenes putting everything in position.
Building Block #4 – God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you to accomplish His vision for your life.
Just as this was true for Nehemiah, it’s also true in your life. This is easy to see when we are looking back, but it always takes faith when looking ahead. Often we can not see any tangible connection between our circumstances and the vision God has given us. Even though it may not make sense to us on the surface, rest assured that God is working behind the scenes to position everything needed to accomplish the vision He has given.
The “what” of the vision, always precedes the “how”.
You will always know what God has put in your heart to do, long before you know how He intends to bring it about.
Nehemiah definitely knew what God had called him to do, but he didn’t have a clue as to how or when God would pull it off.
God on the other hand always knows how.
Let’s look at Nehemiah 2:1-8
God not only knew how to secure Nehemiah’s release from service to the king, but he also knew how the financing of the project would be handled.
Many visions die in the time between what and how. We know what God has called us to do, but over time, not knowing how causes us to lower our sights and shoot for a target that we have some hopes of hitting. We settle for a lesser vision that we think we can accomplish.
As we saw earlier, it’s important that we pray and plan as best as we know how, but we must remember that a divine vision requires divine intervention.
This brings us to building block #5 – What God originates, He orchestrates.
When God speaks to us we always ask how, but how is never a problem for God.
What He originates, He orchestrates.
Remember the story of Mary in Luke chapter 1? An angel appears to Mary and tells her the vision that God has for her life…to give birth to the Savior of the world. How does Mary respond? She asks “how can this be, since I am a virgin?” To which the angel replies “nothing is impossible with God.”
When God puts something in your heart to do, He goes to work behind the scenes to ensure that it happens. It’s not up to us to figure out how to pull off the vision. Our job is simply to do what we know to do and then wait for God.
Think back with me for minute. Can you remember one story anywhere in the entire Bible where God gave the responsibility of figuring out how a divine vision would be fulfilled to the person that God had given the vision to?
Did Moses have to come up with the plan to get the Israelites across the red sea?
Was it David’s responsibility to figure out how to get Saul out of the way, so he could have the throne of Israel?
When Jesus told the apostles to feed the five thousand, did they have to figure out how to make five loaves and two fish go that far?
No! How the vision would be accomplished was not up to them. They just did what they knew to do, and never lost sight of the vision.
Are you with me? Are you beginning to see how these building blocks relate to each other in relation to vision?
Helping people have the faith to follow God’s plan for their lives is something that I’m really passionate about. If you know me very well, you know that it can be hard to tell when I’m really excited, or even really upset about something.
Illustration of Jenny talking about me being upset with the youth in Circleville.
Let’s continue reading in Nehemiah chapter 2:9-16
Although I’m sure Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem didn’t go unnoticed, he didn’t tell anyone right away, about the vision that God had given him.
Why? Well, no doubt it was because he knew what building block # 6 was.
Walk before you talk; investigate before you initiate.
When God lays something on your heart for you to do, it’s probably a good idea not to say anything right away.
1. Chances are, nobody is going to be nearly as excited as you are.
2. There is usually some background work that needs to be done before you go public with your idea. (Remember building block #2 – a vision does not necessarily require immediate action).
Nehemiah didn’t go on the midnight ride because he was having second thoughts about the vision. He didn’t investigate the walls in order to decide whether or not to go ahead with the project. He wanted to have a better picture of what they were up against, so he could be prepared to answer as many questions as possible, when he announced the vision to others.
Nehemiah 2:17-18
As with all visions, there comes a time to share them with others. It may be from a platform or across the dinner table.
After examining the walls, Nehemiah knew that it was time to let the people of Jerusalem know the purpose of his trip.
There are four things that Nehemiah talked about as part of his vision, and these four things are what make up Building Block #7 – Communicate your vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately.
1. The problem – Nehemiah says in verse 17 “you know full well the tragedy of our city. It lies in ruins, and its gates are burned.” The problem is often very obvious, but over time many people don’t recognize it anymore. The problem is not actually part of the vision, but rather gives reason for presenting the vision.
2. The solution – “let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem”. Stating the problem engages the mind, but the solution engages the imagination. Stating the vision invites us to imagine the future in a way that demands change in the present.
3. The reason – “and rid ourselves of this disgrace”. Stating the problem and solution is not enough without giving the people an incentive. People need to be motivated. Nehemiah knew that they were not just disgracing themselves, but also an embarrassment to God. Israel was a unique nation chosen by God, but nobody would have guessed it looking at them now. Nehemiah’s vision wasn’t just about rebuilding the wall, as much as it was reestablishing a context for God to demonstrate His power and fulfill His promises to the nations. Stating the problem engages the mind, stating the solution engages the imagination, but a compelling reason will engage the heart.
4. The timing – Can’t you imagine a heckler in the back of the crowd calling out “hey buddy, what’s the hurry? These walls have been down for over a hundred years. Relax! We’ll get around to fixing them.” Even after stating the problem, the solution and the reason, it’s important to explain why the vision needs to be pursued at this moment in time. “Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been upon me, and about my conversation with the king.” Nehemiah’s argument for the timing was based upon how God had worked to bring all of the circumstances together. This was certainly no coincidence. He told them the whole story of the burden he felt and how he wept…about being frustrated during the months when there was nothing he could do except pray and wait…about the moment when the king asked him the question that changed everything. As far as they knew up to this point, God had forgotten them.
Building Block #8 – Cast your vision to the appropriate people at the appropriate time.
People will give what they can afford to meet a need. But they will give sacrificially toward a vision that bears the marks of God’s involvement. There will always be needs, but when an opportunity comes along to invest our time and resources in something God is up to, it is amazing how much more time and treasure people are willing to invest. When Nehemiah finished casting the vision, the people responded “Good! Let’s rebuild the wall.”
It sounds easy doesn’t it? Remember that sharing and launching a vision is only the beginning. It’s another thing to see it through to completion. The enthusiasm associated with starting something, never provides enough momentum to complete it. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be looking at the rest of this story and the remaining 12 building blocks of vision.
Time of Reflection
