20/20 Vision:Assessing the Need
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Introduction
Introduction
We are five days into the New Year. There has been lots of hype about a new decade and new opportunities. When I think of 2020, I immediately think of a vision and how to take a vision and incorporate it into reality.
When it comes to eyesight, 20/20 vision is what you want to achieve. In order to achieve that for me, I have to wear corrective lenses. I can’t just pick up any kind of lenses, I have to go get an exam and go through a series of steps to get where my vision is indeed on target to being 20/20.
Our vision gives us perspective. When our perspective is clear, our purpose is enhanced. Benjamin Disraeli, the Prime Minister of Great Britain who served in that capacity in the late 1800’s said, “The secret of success is constancy of purpose.” I would add that the constancy of purpose stems from having a clear vision.
Where there is no vision, the people perish:
But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
So how does one establish his or her vision. How does one establish 20/20 vision?
God has given us precepts and principles in His Word that will help us with our vision and outlook. A beautiful example in found in the Book of Nehemiah.
Over the next few weeks, I want to share with you from this ancient book some of the precepts and principles that will help us as individuals pursue 20/20 vision and will also help us as church as we go forward into this new year.
Listen closely to :
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Exploring
Exploring
I see Nehemiah doing something here that should be the basis of any vision plan we might have. He is prompted to speak with his brother and some other men about the Jewish remnant and the condition of Jerusalem.
A. Information
Nehemiah is seeking information about something he is concerned with and that has a meaning to him. His interest becomes the foundation for his vision. If you want to have a vision that will give you purpose for fulfilling God’s will in your life, you need to be open to receiving information.
The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
Information leads to introspection.
B. Introspection
Introspection is the contemplation of one’s own thoughts, feelings and sensations. It is a type of self-examination. Nehemiah was moved with the information he was given. The Bible says he sat down and wept. Have you ever received information that made you sit down and weep? In developing your 20/20 vision, it should be one that moves you and that you can be passionate about. Nehemiah’s example is one that can be modeled. He doesn’t just get passionate and emotional, he hears about a need that requires his response. Any vision that you and I have should be one that fulfills a need. Specifically, it should be one that fulfills what God desires for us to be about in His Kingdom work. Nehemiah then moves from introspection to insight.
C. Insight
Insight comes when we think and meditate on the information and introspection we receive. Nehemiah went through a process of fasting and praying which in turn gives more insight. It is important that we gain insight through this process and not just by hear-say or what something perceives to be.
Information, introspection and insight help us to begin an assessment process in which we can gain understanding about our vision.
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
2 Timothy 2:7
When you take these steps as Nehemiah did, you can begin a process of evaluation.
Evaluating
Evaluating
Evaluating is taking all that you have received in the exploring and looking at what it means. Nehemiah listened carefully to his brother and the other men to the concerning the Jewish remnant and the condition of Jerusalem. The evaluation process begins with an analysis.
A. Analysis
An analysis is when you breakdown parts of the whole parts to study each individually to see its makeup and how it relates to the the whole picture. If you have ever had an eye exam, you don’t just look at a chart on the wall. There are several parts of the exam that give you a breakdown of the total function of your eyes.
Nehemiah heard from his brother and the other men details to the questions he asked. He studied their answers and intently analyzed what exactly what needed to be done. When we are developing our 20/20 vision, we may need to break down parts in a way that we can see the small steps of what needs to be done next.
In , the Bible tells us that just before Christ ascended into heaven, He opened the minds of His disciples so that they could understand the scriptures. This same process is available to us in this stage of assessing needs to determine our 20/20 vision.
After the analysis comes the appraisal.
B. Appraisal
The appraisal is the process which in which we can evaluate exactly what is needed. In Nehemiah’s case, he began to gain understanding of what would be needed to repair the walls. A careful study of Nehemiah will show that he spent 4 months planning just how to present his request to the king. This was not just a thought or idea, but a well planned scenario that was specific and detailed about time, materials, expenses, and how it was to come to fruition. We will see more of these details expressed in Nehemiah chapter 2. We will also see that these details were confirmed in the physical inspection of the walls that Nehemiah carried out once he got on site. The analysis and appraisal continued during the action plan.
C. Action Plan
Nehemiah just didn’t dream about a plan or a vision, he implemented an action plan. This began in chapter 1 in verse 5 where we see the first recorded prayer of Nehemiah. That is the first step of his action plan. You and I should make prayer the first step in all our plans. Paul said in :
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Notice what he listed first, prayer and petition.
Jesus said in :
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When we are seeking first the things about God, we should first begin with prayer. This is a process of engaging that helps us find God’s plan instead of our own. Nehemiah was thoughtful man. He began by seeking the counsel of God.
Engaging
Engaging
A. Prayer
Notice what Nehemiah did not do in his prayer. He did not start out in his prayer with “Help me God!” Rather, he started out with praise. What a lesson for us to learn! When we approach the Creator of the Universe, we should praise Him. Notice Nehemiah’s words:
Then I said:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
Nehemiah recognized the importance of praising the Lord as he began to pray. He shifts from praise to confession.
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Nehemiah 1:
Nehemiah not only confesses his sins, but also confesses the sins of his people and his country. Nehemiah realized that confession of sin should be made before a vision is established. As we are creating our 20/20 vision, we would do well to spend some time in confession before the Lord.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Nehemiah understood from scriptures that sin was corrupt action that separated him and his people from God. He knew that sin was offensive to God.
“Suppose a man says to God,
‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
Job
Sin is a known act against what God has commanded, but it can also be failing to be be what God has designed us to be. Nehemiah knew that before his vision could be cast, he needed to spend time confessing and purifying himself before God. What a lesson that is for us!
Nehemiah continued prayer of praise and confession with reciting scripture.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
Nehemiah 1:
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
God does not need to be reminded of His Word, but when we are praying, we can be assured by the promises of God’s Word that He is faithful. Knowing the faithfulness of God, Nehemiah then prays presenting a petition or request before God. First he asked for God to hear his prayer, then he asked for God to be granted favor in the presence of the king. This begins the purpose of the vision that Nehemiah was to carry out.
Nehemiah 1:8
with a petition or request before God. First he asked for God to hear his prayer, then he asked for God to
with a petition or request before God. First he asked for God to hear his prayer, then he asked for God to
B. Purpose
His purpose was to use the resources and manpower available to him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the center and the place where the temple had been positioned. It was a sacred place where the people worshiped their Holy God. It was a place believed that God dwelled and made His presence known.
Since Jesus has come into the world and redeemed us through His saving grace, He has made His dwelling place within us.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
As a point of application here, our 20/20 vision should include the strengthening of the temples which our bodies hold. In other words, for our vision to line up with God’s vision, we need to make sure our sins are confessed and our hearts are right so that we can carry out fully the plan that God desires. Our purpose is revealed to us only when we are able to see what God desires in and through us.
C. Position
There is one other thing that we can see in the incredible first chapter of Nehemiah. The very last line of the chapter tells us the position that Nehemiah held. He was the cup bearer to the king. You and I have been placed in our jobs, our positions in the community, our families, our neighborhoods, and any other role we have to carry our the plan and mission of God. Your vision can begin right where you are utilizing your position. Nehemiah began his vision assessment through exploring, evaluating and then engaging.
D. Perspective
D. Perspective
Nehemiah’s perspective helped him create his vision and his vision gave him his perspective.
So what does that mean for us today as we start out this new year? I believe that every person of under the sound of my voice has been called by God to carry specific tasks this year for His glory. As long as we have breath, we are not too old, we are not too young, we are not too poor and we are not too rich. We have been commissioned by God to build His Kingdom. I want to encourage you to begin praying about what this means to you. I want to invite you to use these same principles that Nehemiah used to cast your 20/20 Vision. I am also challenging the leadership of our church to begin praying for insight and direction for our church as we have been strategically placed on this corner to also advance the Kingdom of God. Your 20/20 Vision may be as simple as loving people better. Whatever it is, it should glorify God and build up His Kingdom. What is your vision for 2020? How will you make your vision for 2020 complete with 20/20 vision?