Title: The importance of Vision 

Text: Neh 1:1-5

Date: 2-26-06.am

Thesis Statement: Usually when we think of vision in the Bible we think of a dream or trance. Another biblical definition of vision is the ability to think about the future with wisdom and imagination. It can also be defined as devine insight.

Nehemiah’s Vision: He remembered God’s call and God’s promises and God’s faithfulness. He saw what was and at the same time what could be and should be. The walls of Jerusalem broken down the gates of the city in ruins. He saw them restored and He sought the face of God to allow Him to accomplish the divine vision he had for the walls of Jerusalem.

He didn’t know all the details of how it was going to come about, but he knew God had inspired the vision so he began to plan for it’s fulfillment.

1. We must have a devine vision for our church.

In relation to Bethel we can define vision as the ability to see something extraordinary happen in this place. The universal church is a living thing, a living institution or organism. The local church is also alive and like every living thing a local church must grow and change or it dies. The Bible says without vision the people perish.

2. We must realize the importance of divine vision for our church.

Our church is His church.

His will for His church, His way in His time.

We like to think we have a good church, but we want our church to be a great church. Not great as men see greatness, but great in the exercise of our faith and our obedience seeking to become everything God wants us to be.

Devine vision is

         changing – moving away from the status quo

Devine vision is

         Challenging – doing things we have never done before in ways we have never experienced before

Devine vision is

         empowering – living up to or fulfilling our potential - being all God called us to be and do

3. Our Vision

                  Building for Ministry

4. We must actualize the vision.

         Unless a vision is acted upon it is just a dream.

         Vision + action = faithfulness, obedience, realization, accomplishment and fulfillment

Actualization of the vision involves prayer and sacrifice.

If we fail to pray - we will fail as a church.

If we fail to be obedient - we fail as a church

If we fail to be good stewards - we fail as a church

If we fail in our mission - we fail as a church

If we fail to follow God’s leadership - we fail as a church

If we fail to follow through on God’s vision for His church it becomes just a dream and we fail as a church.

Why would we fail to actualize the vision?

Is God’s message wrong? NO!

Is God too weak? NO!

Is God unable to accomplish the vision He gave? NO!

If God says we are to do it that means we can do it and that we are to do it. In order to accomplish His will for His church, in His way and in His time we must be willing to surrender all to Him, all of our time, our talent, and our resources our energy to be used as He directs. To be all that He has called us to be and to do. Are you ready to step out in faith and surrender all to Him?