Solomon, in his wisdom and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote, "Where there is no vision the people perish." Proverbs 29:18
Once God has given us a vision we must never let people distract or discourage us, but we must also continue to listen to the Lord for His guidance and direction as we move forward. In Nehemiah 4:6-12 – 6, we see God gave Nehemiah a vision and there were people with little faith that became a discouragement to that vision. Where God is at work, the enemy is also at work. Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was certainly no exception to this. When people take kingdom priorities seriously, Satan stirs up agitators to block the work of God. Nehemiah did finish the wall and God’s vision was accomplished in spite of all the opposition and seeds of discouragement that were planted. Nehemiah faced the threats and did three practical things:
1. He prayed to the Lord and asked for Divine intervention (v.9)
2. He Placed a a guard day and night to meet the threat (v.9)
3. He Reorganized the priorities (v.13 - “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest point of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.”)
4. He asked the people to get focused in the Lord and to praise Him (verse 14“…Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…”)
As it was with Nehemiah and so many others, it is with us as well. Once God gives us a burning vision within us to be a blessing to the Kingdom and to the King's people then we must take time, make time, to quietly listen to the Lord as He guides us into His glorious future.
When you start doing things on your own and refuse to follow God’s Vision he will not punish you but he will let you go and suffer the consequences. As a loving father God will be right there waiting for your to return to His arms of love. Just accept Divine guidance and leave this Church today with the attitude of a conqueror. You are victorious, you are blessed, you are God’s chosen child and even if people try to discourage you can always lift up your chin and tell them who you are in Christ.
How does the Lord want us to achieve this? After waiting God answers Habakkuk.
And then God answered:
“Write the vision.
Make it clear on tablets
so that anyone can read it quickly.
The vision will still happen at the appointed time.
It hurries toward its goal.
It won’t be a lie.
If it’s delayed, wait for it.
It will certainly happen.
It won’t be late.
(Habakkuk. 2:2-3 GWT)
1. Connect: Jesus had a team He "did life" with. He ate with them, walked with them, and ministered with them. He developed meaningful relationships with them and developed a strategy through which all humankind could be reconciled.
The early church connected in very natural, organic ways: "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts" (Acts 2:46 NIV). They loved to eat a good meal together, laugh together, and pray together in one another's homes as well as in their large temple gatherings.
2. Grow: Jesus "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52 NIV). Once you have connected in relationship within the church, it is time for you to grow!
3. Serve: Serving enables us to use our gifts in the body of Christ and in the world so we can become all God has created us to be. We are poised as weapons in God's hand to do great exploits and accomplishments for His kingdom: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph. 2:10 NIV).
~Bits and Pieces of Sermon by Antonio Silveira
~Through life experience, I have found sharing a God-given vision is an important way to ensure the calling is fulfilled. It is His purpose and plan for you to share you vision with others. (Habakkuk 2:2) ~Joan Hunter
