WANTED: PEOPLE OF VISION Nehemiah 1:1-11

·         The people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem were in a terrible condition. Over 150 years earlier, Nebuchadnezzar and the armies of Babylon had invaded Israel and had carried many of the people away as slaves.

·         The Jews desperately needed someone who had the vision needed to restore Jerusalem and Israel to her former glory. God had such a man! His name was Nehemiah and he was being prepared by God as a vessel to be used to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and to bring about its restoration.

·         You and I may be thousands of years removed from the time of Nehemiah, but we also live in a nation that needs people of vision. We live in a day when the walls of morality and virtue in society have been torn down and the gates of decency are aflame. The walls of separation between the church and the world have been torn down!

I. V. 1-4 PEOPLE OF VISION ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS

A. V. 1 The Calmness Of Nehemiah’s Life - The life Nehemiah lived as the king’s cupbearer was a life of peace, prosperity and political power.

B. V. 2-3 The Calamity Of Nehemiah’s Life - He peace and serenity was shattered by a visit from his brother. He brought news that the people of Israel were being afflicted by their enemies and that the city of Jerusalem was completely devastated.

C. V. 4 The Compassion Of Nehemiah’s Life - When Nehemiah hears this awful news, his heart breaks and he enters a time of fasting, weeping and prayer before the Lord. Instead of being happy in his position, his life is shattered and he brought to his knees!.

·         Some like Isaiah, respond to God’s invitation--Isa. 6:8.

·         Others, like Jonah, try to run from God-- Jonah 1:1-3.

·         Still others, like Moses try to take matters into their own hands and do the job their way and time, Ex. 2:11-14.

o        But, when that fails and they are brought to the place where they wait on God, the job is done the right way, Exodus 3-15.

II. V. 4-11a PEOPLE OF VISION EXERCISE PRAYER As Nehemiah goes before the Lord in prayer, he sets the example for people of vision.

A.     V. 5 Visionary Praying Involves Praise - Nehemiah begins his prayer by exalting the Lord. He praises God for His Superiority, Strength, Sovereignty, Sacredness and  Sincerity. Psalms 100:4

B.     V. 6a Visionary Praying Involves Perseverance - Nehemiah prayed “day and night”. This is what Jesus called us to do, Luke 18:1 Prayer that is born out of a genuine burden cannot be satisfied until it is answered!

C.      V. 6b-7 Visionary Praying Involves Penitence - As this man prays, he confessed his sins as an individual and the sins of His people as a nation. He  is a man with a repentant heart. This is essential for answered prayers, Psalms 66:18.

D.      V. 8-10 Visionary Praying Involves Promises -Nehemiah begins to remind God of the promises He had made to Israel.

E. V. 11 Visionary Praying Involves Partners - As Nehemiah prays he reminds God that he isn’t the only one involved in this prayer effort. He might have been the one destined to be the star of this show, but he knew that he was part of a team effort in prayer. The Lord told us there was power in corporate prayer - Matt. 18:19.

F. V. 11 Visionary Praying Involves Petitions -Nehemiah finally gets around to what is on his heart. He knows that to prevail with man, man must prevail before the Lord! The Lord is interested in His people coming to Him by faith to ask for the things they need. He may already know what we need, but He wants us to ask!

III. V. 11b PEOPLE OF VISION EMBRACE PROVIDENCE

(The final statement of Nehemiah in verse 11 seems to indicate that he felt the weight of the assignment. He knew that who he was and where he was at that moment was no accident!)

A.     Position Is No Accident - Regardless of your position in life, whether at church, at work, at school, at home, etc., you need to know that it is no accident! God has placed you where He has for a purpose.

B.     Prosperity Is No Accident - The resources you have been given are not your’s by luck! They have been given to you by the providence of God to be used for His glory.

C. Power Is No Accident - The influence you have been given in the lives of others is no accident! God has given you the ear of others for a purpose. Allow Him to use you where you are for His glory!

Conc: Would you agree with me that we desperately need people of vision in our day? I think we all see the need for people who in touch with God, for people who are moved by God and people on the move for God. We need that kind of people in our churches, our families and our communities. Those are the people who will be used to change our world in these last days.