NEH01

The Vision
LEADERSHIP
The Vision
Henemiah 1 s-neh01
The scene is the palace in Persia. Many Jews still there. One prominent was Nehemiah. Palace cupbearer. Emmisaries from Israel. Verse 1 Chislev. Dead of winter twentieth year we now know to be 440450 BC. Susa capital of Media Persia. Verse 2 Verse 3 great distress - misery. reproach - sharp cutting. Wall is still down. City in ruins. Those words rocked Nehemiah. Cupbearer. Very prominent. Swindoll Brick see card p23. Gliding along in his comfortable world totally blind to suffering of his people. God gives him a vison.
INTRODUCTION:
Few years ago Barna wrote a book entitled, Frog in the Kettle. Based on the premise that the church is like the frog in the kettle slowly boiling to death. Get used to living in the decay of culture, and stop trying to redeem it. Sometimes it takes someone to wake us up. Remind us of the need. Restore the Vision. ill. . .Few years ago talking to a Hungarian. Astute observer of politiacal and cultural trends. Well read. Very aware of events overseas. Talked aobu the new freedoms in Eastern block. He knew all the key players that Id only read about. Made an astonishing observation: What the East needs is the church and Im afraid a new generation. Problem is in their minds. Forty years is too long. Then he said somehting that shook me like a California tremor. Is it true that they have taken crosses from all schools? (Very thick Hungarian accent). I said Yes, all public bldgs. He shook his head slowly - Same thing is happening here that happened there 40 years ago. Another wake up call. We need those to remind us of our mission. To provide the impetus for vison. We must not 2400 years ago the nation of Israel was in a similar state. They were accustomed to decay.
Same principles apply.
I. To Have Vision You Must See the Need.

Nehemiah was easy. Physical walls were down. Culturally our walls are down. We need to get a vision out of this. Nehemiahs was to rebuild the wall, Ours must be to rebuild people. Walls were used symbolically in Is 49:15-16. Walls are people. Our challenge will be more difficult. We need to hear this. We live in decay: 1. Crisis of family. Parenting is a brutally unselfish business. See many who dont care or who do care but lack basic skills. 2. Crisis of Church. 80 % of churches in SBC are either stagnant or in decline. Including us! More and more are lost. 3. Crisis of Leadership. Government comes across as incapable of making the tough decisions to save the country. For example. Finance. Recent budget cut $500 billion from deficit. Must understand debt verses deficit. Deficit is the amount we spend each year over budget. Slashing 500 at 100 per year for five years. Still spending 390 billion a year more than we bring in. over fiver years that prudent policy will end up adding nearly 2 trillion to the existing debt of 3 trillion. Not including interest.
BACKGROUND:
Following Solomon civil war. Weakened. Northern Idolatry. 722 destruction. 587 south carried into captivity. 70 years in Babylon, modern day Iraq. Babylon fell to the Persians. Cyrus issued a decree they could return. Under Zerubabel they left. 100 more years passed.
The Vision Dont have to be an economist to see the danger. Try spending like that in your family. Why doesnt somebody do something? Lack the leadership with character, and lack the character as people to allow it. Burkett, Once you start riding a tiger you cant get off. Issue is character. 4. Crisis of Justice. Have lost a sense of justice. Many are frustrated. Woman in California killed a man who molested her son because hse knew hed go free and he said if he did he would do it again. 5. Crisis of Lostness. So many who are going to hell without the saving relationship of christ. OUR VISION SHOULD BE GODS VISION: PERSON TO MATURITY IN CHRIST. TO BRING EVERY THE NEEDS ARE OUT THERE. WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY DECAY. PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN IT. HOPELESS LOST. SOME WONDER HOW TO FIND FORGIVENESS. SOME TRY TO GET BY. MORAL COMPASS IS GONE.YOU CANT CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD. BUT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE NEED PEOPLE WITH VISION. WHO SEE THE NEED. FEEL THE NEED. OWN THE NEED. Our vision it to bring every person to maturity in Christ. Specifically to grow this congregation to an average of 300 in Sunday School . CONCLUSION:
II. To Have a Vision You Must Feel the Need.

Nehemiah is a good example. Verse 4. Wept and mourned for days. He identified with their plight. We need to feel the need. ill. . .John Knox. Give me Scottland or I die.
III. To Have a Vison You Must Own the Need.

Nehemiah did not weep and then wake up and blame. No. He started making plans. Verse 5 Consultation. Verse 6. Responsibility. Verse 11 Personal involvement. FOR US TO BE A FORCE FOR CHRIST IN WISE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO IMPACT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE. THE BODY OF CHRIST MUST OWN IT. Not staff. Not deacons. You! The mission of the church is your mission.

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The Vision

Same principles apply.

I. To Have Vision You Must See the Need.

II. To Have a Vision You Must Feel the Need.

III. To Have a Vison You Must Own the Need.

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