Cross City Church - North
June 13, 2021 / 52 Days / Getting A Vision
The 52 Day Journey will follow how God used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. This series will encourage you to pray, desire to be part of something bigger than yourself, to serve, and to battle opposition to see God's promises come to fruition!
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Cross City - North
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Sunday 10:00 AM
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GETTING A VISION:
LAST WEEK:
reality:
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
Perception vs. Reality is a huge thing...
- Reality won’t always paint a positive picture!
- Reality’s plight usually calls us to fight!
- The depth of the plight determines the depth of your prayers.
- Submission and service are keys that open the King’s heart.
LAST WEEK:
reality:
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
Perception vs. Reality is a huge thing...
- Reality won’t always paint a positive picture!
- Reality’s plight usually calls us to fight!
- The depth of the plight determines the depth of your prayers.
- Submission and service are keys that open the King’s heart.
Have you ever gotten a big vision from God or from yourself & just jumped in?
1. Great passion opens the door for great vision!
Nehemiah 2:1-8...
1 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. 2 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. 3 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?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 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.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Nehemiah...as a cupbearer to the king
- he knew when the king would listen...vs.1
- he knew how to make the king listen...v.2
- he used his resources & his passion to give the king vision...v.3
- he prayed & gave a proper plan in response to the question...v.4-5
+ Nehemiah prays 10 times in his book
- his great plan pleased the king & eased his process...v..6-8
This Report...
- 100 Years since the wall had been destroyed by Babylonians
- 100 Years of despair for the Jews.
- No gates, no walls & lots of defeat.
“The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
- 100's of miles away is where Nehemiah finds himself
Nehemiah 2:1-8...
1 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. 2 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. 3 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?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 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.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Nehemiah...as a cupbearer to the king
- he knew when the king would listen...vs.1
- he knew how to make the king listen...v.2
- he used his resources & his passion to give the king vision...v.3
- he prayed & gave a proper plan in response to the question...v.4-5
+ Nehemiah prays 10 times in his book
- his great plan pleased the king & eased his process...v..6-8
This Report...
- 100 Years since the wall had been destroyed by Babylonians
- 100 Years of despair for the Jews.
- No gates, no walls & lots of defeat.
“The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
- 100's of miles away is where Nehemiah finds himself
What doors of opportunity has your passion opened for you?
2. Great vision doesn't always please all of the people.
Nehemiah 2:9-10...
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
“People pleasers rarely get past the first steps of any vision plan. They usually fall down at the first sight of people who are offended or hurt by their plan – even if that plan doesn’t pertain to them.”
v. 9...the plan was a great one
v.10...and then comes the but...
- but when Sanballat
- but when Tobiah
- not even important people
- but they were displeased
Nehemiah 2:9-10...
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
“People pleasers rarely get past the first steps of any vision plan. They usually fall down at the first sight of people who are offended or hurt by their plan – even if that plan doesn’t pertain to them.”
v. 9...the plan was a great one
v.10...and then comes the but...
- but when Sanballat
- but when Tobiah
- not even important people
- but they were displeased
What bitter parties are in your life?
How are those bitter parties keeping you from following God’s vision for your life?
How can you either get them on board with what God is doing in your life or leave them behind to pursue it alone?
How are those bitter parties keeping you from following God’s vision for your life?
How can you either get them on board with what God is doing in your life or leave them behind to pursue it alone?
3. Vision of the plan is often given when vision of the heart is priority.
- If there is no vision of the heart – the plan might be a solo act.
"Great vision sees past the pain of here and now to the potential of next and how."
Nehemiah 2:11-16...
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
Why in the night:
- Vision and passion shine bright enough to expose the biggest problems...v.12
- Let your vision keep people guessing what’s going on when they aren’t looking...v.16
- If there is no vision of the heart – the plan might be a solo act.
"Great vision sees past the pain of here and now to the potential of next and how."
Nehemiah 2:11-16...
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
Why in the night:
- Vision and passion shine bright enough to expose the biggest problems...v.12
- Let your vision keep people guessing what’s going on when they aren’t looking...v.16
4. God’s vision given to me in the dark may become the shining light to lead everyone else to follow God.
Nehemiah 2:17-20...
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:17-20...
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
"Trouble is always God’s way of saying, 'Watch this!'"
“When I know my place with the King, it’s easy to know my place with any king.”
Nehemiah finally tells them what God is about to do...
- v.17...come let US build the wall
- v.18 – The hand & voice of God has been upon me / strengthen their hands
- v.19 – What God is about to do is not dictated by who’s on board.
- v.20 – When God shows up, power shows up too.
We continue to learn from Nehemiah's life...
from the rubble of your life, God can use you to do great things.
Remember this...
“Who cares who gets the credit when God shows up and shows out inside of our little lives? Just be good at leading the people God gives you to lead.”
“When I know my place with the King, it’s easy to know my place with any king.”
Nehemiah finally tells them what God is about to do...
- v.17...come let US build the wall
- v.18 – The hand & voice of God has been upon me / strengthen their hands
- v.19 – What God is about to do is not dictated by who’s on board.
- v.20 – When God shows up, power shows up too.
We continue to learn from Nehemiah's life...
from the rubble of your life, God can use you to do great things.
Remember this...
“Who cares who gets the credit when God shows up and shows out inside of our little lives? Just be good at leading the people God gives you to lead.”