Vision Protection - Learn To Protect Your Vision

How To Protect Your Vision

In our previous sermon on Vision Development, we did say that, you should use real life stories to help you develop your vision.
Today, we are going to use a real life story to illustrate how you can protect your vision that you have discovered and developed. You can see our sermon on how to discover your vision, if you have not done that before now.

Protecting Your Vision - The Story of Nehemiah Building the Walls of Jerusalem

In Nehemiah chapter 4 verses 1 to 23, the story was told on how Nehemiah built the walls of Jerusalem and protected his God given vision.
But before we go into the textual analysis, suffice to say here that, there are three choices in your life, viz-a-viz:
1. You can choose to leave things they way they are. That is, you can live your life the way you grew up to see it.
2. You can also decide to live in your own way. The way it pleases you.
3. You can as well live God's way. That is the God given vision. God's purpose for you life.
Nehemiah and His God given Vision
God had a vision for Nehemiah to build the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah discovered that vision and he quickly aligned himself to the God given vision and he set to go and build the walls of Jerusalem but when this plan - vision was known by Sanballat, he became wroth and was extremely angered and ridiculed the Jews. Neh. 4:1.

Obstacles to Living God given Vision

In Neh. 4:1-3, you will discover the mockery of the enemies and their threats to invade the vision of Nehemiah. The day you decide to live your God given vision, you will eventually face a lot of obstacles. But do not be afraid. There is hope.
These are the obstacles you will encounter:
1. Apathy: So many people will not pay attention to you and your vision. Neh. 4:1-3
2. Anger: Because your vision will uplift you to a greater level, your enemies will be angry with you and your vision unnecessary. Neh. 4:1.
3. Ridicule: Another criticism you are likely to face is ridicule. Sanballat laughed and mocked the Jews.  Neh. 4:1-3.
Although, the enemies applied these three, (3) criticism techniques, but their plan to frustrate the vision of Nehemiah did not work. How did Nehemiah protect his vision? Let proceed.

God Oriented Techniques for Protecting Your God given Vision

Nehemiah did only Three, (3) Things to Protect his vision and they are as follow:
1. Prayer: Nehemiah prayed when he heard the threatening of the enemies. He did not loose heart. He knew the God whom he served and who has given him the vision. He constantly prayed to Him who is able to deliver him in the face of such criticism. Neh. 4:4-5,9.
2. Keep Working: He keep working, irrespective of their threats to fight them. He did not relent nor did he gave up the project of the his vision. He position men to watch while they were working and the workers were working with one hand and weapon of war on the hand to defend themselves when the enemies eventually appear. They did not only depend on their strength nor on their weapons of war. They prayed consistently to God for help. Neh. 4:8-9,17-21. In the New Testament, we are told that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:4. For the weapons of the Christians, please read Ephesians 6:10-18. When you apply these spiritual weapons with prayers, you are more than a conqueror already. Vision is a mission accomplished!
3. Remembrance: Nehemiah reminded the people the God whom they served. Neh. 4:14. He told them not be afraid. Fear is one that is always there to make you fail. It is the devil's weapon of mass destruction. He reminded the people that their God will fight for their fathers, sons, daughters, wives and for them. They should not fear the enemies' threats. God did fight for them. Neh.4:15. So, you aught to remember all that God has done for you or for people you have read their stories and be strengthen and encouraged to fulfilled your God given vision.

These are the only skills Nehemiah applied to his vision and he was a success. It is a promise, if you put your trust and confidence in God and walks in His way, He will keep you in all your ways.