Clear Vision

Introduction: Mike Teunis Skit

7-Everyone Has a Vision.

- You are God’s Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

- You have a vision, you just may not call it that. It’s simply a picture of where you want to be in your faith, family, finances, career, etc. - Everyone has a picture of what they want the future to look like.

- 8-9 - Pictures of Mt. Evans - South Blendon’s Vision - A shared vision - Our Mission is to Build Disciples, Grow in Faith, and Serve in Christ’s Name. Our vision is that everyone is using their gifts (calling) to participate in God’s mission.

- Everyone has a picture of what they want the future to look like.

- Your personal vision is what we in the Church world call your calling. What is God calling you to contribute in this world.

Where does vision come from?

- Vision Map -

13-Vision is Birthed from a Holy Discontent.

Nehemiah’s Holy Discontent - Story from Exile to Zerubbabel to Ezra

Nehemiah 1:2–4 NIV

Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had 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.

Nehemiah 2:1–5 NIV

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Nehemiah 2:1-

21-Holy - From God, and for his good.

Discontent - Something is not right, the good God is seeking is not reality yet.

- God will show you a need. Then he will place a desire to meet that need. Nehemiah saw a need to rebuild the wall. If you have a burden to meet a God-given need, then you have a vision.

His Holy Discontent was the shame and lack of security his people were living in Jerusalem.

In the Grand Story it helped prepare for Jesus coming to this City, the Messiah.

He birthed a clear vision. - Rebuild the walls so Jerusalem would no longer be shamed.

Story of the Author of Vision Map - Joel Malm a law student was on a high adventure trip up a 16,000 foot mountain in Russia. He was in over his head in a blizzard, but for him this helped him feel closer to God, He felt alive, it was a real spiritual experience. He got a vision for “I wanted to start helping others create spiritual adventures.”

My Story - Coaching church planters, but not being a church planter, Young people leaving the church a few people praying over me seeing a vision of Young people coming to Christ, my family.

Malm, Joel. Vision Map (p. 16). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

My Story - Coaching church planters, but not being a church planter, Young people leaving the church a few people praying over me seeing a vision of Young people coming to Christ, my family.

The Key to any vision is making it clear so people can understand it.

22-Making Your Vision Clear.

- The Purpose of Prayer both to seek God’s vision, and how to communicate God’s vision.

Nehemiah spent a lot of time in prayer, and was strategic about his timing.

Because a Vision is really bigger than yourself as it is given by God, it can not be done unless God is in it. -

There are people who have been used by God for a vision, that are not believers in God - Cyrus, Artexerxes, but it is no less God at work even if one does not recognize it. - Things you can not control....where born, when, your capacities, who comes into your path, etc....

Prayed about his Holy Discontent. - - He thanked God, He confessed, He recognized that he is a part of the overall Story

Prayed after Artexerxes had asked him what was wrong - nervous, for courage, and for the best way to share.

Strategic in how he shared his vision with the people of Jerusalem - protection, and facts.

- My day in the library. - Seeking a God-given vision/calling will force you to grow closer to God.

- Clear - - Rebuild the walls so we are no longer in shame.

Nehemiah 2:17 NIV

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”

:17

- Like Nehemiah, you need to get really clear about the vision God has placed in your life. “I want to rebuild the walls.” Until you are clear, you won’t have something to shoot for.

- Like Nehemiah, you need to get really clear about the vision God has placed in your life. “I want to rebuild the walls.” Until you are clear, you won’t have something to shoot for.

Other Examples.

24 - Joel Malm: Take people on spiritually focused adventure trips around the world.

My examples

Malm, Joel. Vision Map (p. 24). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

My examples

25 - Bring all of my children and grandchildren to heaven with me.

Take the message that is shared here to out there.

Making Guests feel at home.

Examples: You have a desire to get out of debt so you can give more. You want to raise kids who love God in this crazy world. You want to get free of an addiction you know is holding you back. You think someone should start a ministry to a certain group. You are the person! You have a vision! - Write it down! It’s important. And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.

Create something you can run with that is visible.

Conclusion: What is your vision, your calling? If you have not clearly written those things down, I encourage you to spend some time praying to the Lord. Seeing how your vision fits into his grand vision.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 62-64, 86, 91 Belgic Confession: Article 14, 24 Canons of Dort: Head III & IV, Articles 6-16; Head V, Article 12