Going to a new level

From the book of Nehemiah we find some principles that give us direction and encouragement as we pursue the Lord in our season of seeking Him for the way forward and to a new level.

I am quoting from the the New Century Version. Nehemiah chapter 1 + 2

1. VISION
verse 2,"One of my brothers named Hanani came with some other men from Judah. I asked them about Jerusalem and the Jewish people who lived through the captivity. They answered me,'Those who are left from the captivity are back in Judah, but they are in much trouble and are full of shame. The wall around Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned'".

Nehemiah has this vision of what Jerusalem should be and inquires into its present state. Leaders are visionaries. All effective leadership involves vision. Vision guides a leader and keeps him/her on the right track toward the fulfilling of their calling and destiny. Without vision people perish. Vision motivates and strengthens. Vision is the language of the Spirit.
Nehemiah had clear vision for the future and what Jerusalem should be, but his inquiry reveals that the present state of the city is one of trouble, shame and broken down conditions. Gates are broken, he hears.
For us as the church to go to another level in this season, we have to be clear about the vision Jesus has for his church. What has he said about it?

Matt 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

The glory that he has purposed to be released through her and the end result is not what we see now. Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church, but at present we see her gates burning with hell's onslaught.
Nehemiah wanted to know the state of the city of Jerusalem presently, but knew clearly and absolutely what it should be.
We need to have a clear and concise, descriptive vision and dream of our ministry, what it is, what it should look like, what it will accomplish and when.

2. PRAYER
Verse 4: "When I heard these things, I sat down and cried for several days. I was sad and ate nothing. I prayed to the God of heaven".

Once you have a vision burning in your heart, given from heaven by the Holy Spirit, and you perceive the true condition of things at present, you are moved to intercessory prayer. A deep stirring in the heart with groans and travails.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much or has much power in its working". James 5:16

Prayer is what moves the hand of heaven to move conditions, situations and men's hearts. To go to another level we need to labor in prayer for the vision. All ministry and Christian work should be 80% prayer and 20% effort. All the 'greatest' programs and efforts in the world can never accomplish what time in prayer will. True vision will inspire true prayer. No vision always dampens prayer, except the religious kind.

Nehemiah's prayerfulness and travailing, burdened heart become evident to the King.
Verse 2: So the king said,"Why does your face look sad even though you are not sick? Your heart must be sad."
Even though he says he had not been sad in the presence of the king before, he now showed his deep groaning, prayer-burden. Some Christians don't need a prayer burden, they are just sad all the time, besides, when they are mad. We should be like Nehemiah, experiencing the travail of the Spirit as He stirs us to pray for the vision and dream He has established in our heart.
At present, as I 'take on' a new project of the Spirit in planting a church again in the region here, I wake at night with groans, I find myself with a heaviness in Spirit as I begin to intercede for the manifestation of the dream the Lord has in His sight for the city.


3. THE LORD HEARS YOUR PRAYER.
Verse 4: Then the king said to me,"What do you want?"

God never ignores the cries of His children and He certainly never ignores those that are the travail of the birthing of the vision He has laid upon your heart. He asks "What do you want?"
I love Nehemiah's response. He doesn't answer immediately.
"First I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I answered..."

Its important at this stage in seeking the direction of God, to seek His will for the response to His request for what do you want. Does He know? Absolutely! But He seeks to reveal your heart for this vision He has given and wants to see fulfilled.
Answer: Send me!
Are you committed the dream, or is it just a nice ambition? Are you willing to be the vessel or do you seek convenience?
Send me so I can rebuild, restore, complete.
Isa 61:4 They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins. (GNB)

A clear mission is envisioned in this servants heart. "Send me so I can rebuild and restore". He doesn't palm it off on someone else. "Well you know Lord it is a great dream but not for me. Please send Joe Soap, I'm sure he'll pay the price". Not like Moses, who said he wasn't qualified. The vision and the process of God for your life is the qualification. It was his time and he knew it. What is your answer to the Lord's request today?
Isa 6:8 Then I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go! Send me!"
Isa 6:9 So he told me to go and give the people this message:

4. GET THE PROMISES THAT COVER YOUR VISION.

Don't presume. Know what the Lord says about what you are embarking on.
Verse 7: I also said to him, "If you are willing, give me letters..."

God gave Abram the vision of the stars, but also spoke into his heart "So shall your seed be." He had the vision every time he would look at the stars, but when it was a cloudy or foggy night, he had the Lord's promise reverberating in his heart. Find the scripture that 'speaks' to you concerning where you are headed. Write them down and hold onto them. Speak them when you feel like it and when you don't. They will speak to you when you need them. I cannot tell how many times in my walk with the Lord and in my pursuing the dream He has placed on my heart, I have needed the word He has spoken concerning my life and the vision he has laid on my heart.
Rom 4:20 His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God.
Rom 4:21 He was absolutely sure that God would be able to do what he had promised.

5. TRUST THE ANGELS WILL BE YOUR PROTECTION AND MINISTER STRENGTH TO YOU.
Verse9: The king had also sent army officers and soldiers on horses with me.

Psalm 34:7 His angel guards those who honor the LORD and rescues them from danger.
Heb 1:14 What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.
Luke 22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

6. REJOICE, PERSECUTION WILL COME.
A true vision from the Lord will always stir up the demons of hell to hinder, ridicule and oppose your move in the Spirit. Be sure it will happen. But Jesus said:
Mat 5:10 "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
Mat 5:11 "Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.
Mat 5:12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.

The devil does not mind when we do our 'churchy' stuff and never bring onslaught to the kingdom of darkness. If we are not experiencing opposition in spirit and from people, we need to know we are not a threat, but those that have a true vision will be shaking the status quo and will be, through their prayer and preaching and their work, shaking devils from their comfortable positions. therefore, opposition, criticism and accusation will be the order of the day. I remember at one time , a group of men I was discipling, met and were saying how wonderful it was to be fulfilling the vision of the Lord and that we were the only ones who got it, finally. My admonishment to the them was that, already, the 'enemy' was studying the weaknesses and strengths of this group and will apply himself to destroy and that we were to be vigilant and cautious of our behavior and attitude. Sure enough, it took some time, but a few years later, that enemy had found our weakness and exploited it and us.

6. INSPECT AND EXPLORE YOUR VITAL AREAS.
Verse 13: I went out at night through the Valley gate. I rode toward the dragon well and the trash gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.

Nehemiah goes out and inspects certain parts of the wall, without anyones knowledge. This is a crucial exercise and just as crucial a time. Firstly, notice he did not discuss with others what his intention was. I have thought on this and think about Paul who did not discuss his vision with anyone for 14 years and then he only mentioned it and did not give detail. We, today, find it hard to keep quiet for even 14 minutes. Before we share anything, let us first begin an inspection or investigation of some crucial elements.
The Valley Gate: The valley is the most fertile part of the land and speaks of the place where we will plough and sow and reap the harvest. Where is it that you are going to put your effort? Where is the area of provision going to come from? Where are your resources?
The Dragon Well: Know your enemy. What areas of opposition can you predict? What laws could work against you? Who will be your biggest accusers? What 'devils', strongholds and spirits can you anticipate? What are your threats?
The Trash Gate: This refers to the 'sin' of our lives. What are your weaknesses? Two areas Satan works on is your strengths and your weaknesses. Know them and be very ruthless with them bringing them to the Spirit light so they cannot 'rule' over you. What are those areas that you know, now, that could be fatal to you staying and walking in integrity? What is it in your life that could cause you to 'fall'? What could trigger your flesh?

6. GOD ADDS PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THE VISION.
verse 17: Then I said to them,"You can see the trouble we have here. Jerusalem is a pile of ruins, and its gates have been burned. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so we won't be full of shame any longer." Verse 18: Then they answered, Let's start rebuilding." So, they began to work hard.

This was commitment to the vision. People don't commit to need, but they do commit to vision.
As you receive a vision from God and dwell on it and pray it through and find scripture that backs it up and gives it substance and you commit to that vision, God sends resources in the form of people to support and carry the vision through to fulfillment with you.

By the vision the Spirit of God births into your heart you will know the guidance of the Lord into your future and into your destiny. Many do not have a vision for their ministry or their lives in its various facets. Dreams and visions are the language of the Spirit. You need to fellowship with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal the Father's will and future for you.