Nehemiah was BOLD to respond in the decisive moment. Why does it seem so hard for us to follow his example?
Have you decided how you will be part of LEADING our community to Christ this Easter?
This is our second week to talk about vision.
In this message series, we’re saying that vision is:
The ability to see what COULD be, and the conviction that it SHOULD be.
Vision is a preferred future.
On Sunday, I talked about having small visions… Is there anything wrong with them?
What are some of those small visions that you have?
I think the problem is when we have ONLY small visions, though. Â What do you think?
Why is it that when it comes to God things, we only have small visions?
God used the prophet Joel to predict something very different, didn’t he… ?
Joel 2:28-32
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants, men and women alike.
Does that sound like a good description of the state of Christianity today?
Why or why not?
Nehemiah’s boldness was pretty amazing, wasn’t it… Can you imagine talking to the king the way he did?
Nehemiah 2:1-5
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.
I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”
That dude was bold! He stood before the king and cast vision… And the KING of Persia responded to the servant.
Why does this seem so different than us today? Why don’t we find ourselves speaking vision for what God wants to do in and through us?
The prophet Jeremiah certainly felt bold to speak the Word of God, didn’t he?
Jeremiah 20:9
His word burns in my heart like a fire.
It’s like a fire in my bones!
I am worn out trying to hold it in!
I can’t do it!
Is it possible that we aren’t bold because we don’t really believe that God is who he says he is, or will do what he says he will do?
How do we see that timidity, that unbelief reflected in:
• Our bank account?
• Our Relationships?
• Our business dealings?
I have one suggestion for a simple, Godly vision for us.. As you close, why don’t you spend time praying for someone specific that is far from God who needs to hear the gospel on Easter Sunday morning?
Not only that, but pray that there will be a decisive moment where God would send us into their lives, and that we would be faithful to seize that moment.