How to Develop A Vision

During my recent trip to Uganda I teamed up with three other American pastors to teach a gathering of about one hundred local church leaders.  Many of them were from the Karamoja region.  Some actually traveled all the way from the capital city of Kampala.  On day two of the seminar I shared a teaching from the first chapter of Nehemiah about developing a vision.

Nehemiah's vision discovery process started with curiosity (verse 2).  When Hanani visited Susa, Nehemiah asked him how Jerusalem was doing.  Visionary leaders are curious investigators, constantly questioning just about everyone they meet.

Step two involves collecting information (verse 3).  Nehemiah received an answer.  The residents in Jerusalem lived in shame.  The city walls were destroyed and the gates were burned.  He might have wished he wouldn't have asked the question:)

Information creates a burden.  Nehemiah sat down and wept.  Byll Hybels calls it holy discontent.  It is the soul-deep conviction that something shouldn't be.  You can't lead for long unless you're deeply disturbed:)

Multiple burdens is why leadership requires discernment (verse 4), especially since we live in the information age.  Everytime you turn on the news or connect online you're likely to see something or read something disturbing.  The reason some people major in burdens and minor in action is because they fail to ask Jesus what (if anything) they should do.  Nehemiah prayed and fasted.  He appealed to Divine sight and sound.

By the way, I think discernnment is the hinge in this whole process because no one leader can meet every need that comes across his desk.  Not even Jesus.  Discernment produces focus.

Now we can take ownership (verse 6).  Nehemiah personally repents for the sin that destroyed Jerusalem.  In reality he wasn't even alive when that sin was committed.  But now Jerusalem's problem was his personal problem.  When God burns a burden into a leader's soul it no longer matters who was originally responsible.  All that matters is that he's responsible now.

Finally, ownership leads to investment (Verse 11).  Nehemiah leveraged his most valuable asset and appeared before the king to request a transfer.  He risked his relationship with Artaxerxes.  And he was rewarded with permission to move back to Jerusalem and rebuild the city.

Consider opening a curious eye to the city around you.  Collect information.  Allow the weight of real needs to disturb you.  Submit your burdens to Jesus by prayer and fasting.  When He takes one of those burdens and adds the sensations of sight and sound, own that need.  Then you can know the thrill of giving away your life for something that will outlive you.

I dare you to dream:)

Comments

[cynthia dufty]

How can I get a copy of that seminar?

[Brad]

Hi Cynthia. We weren't able to record any of the sessions. Sorry.