Vision: A PICTURE of what you hope the FUTURE will be like.

As we begin Nehemiah chapter 5:

The problem is not just MOCKERY from the outside, but EXPLOITATION from the inside.

It’s not only WHAT the people are saying, it’s WHO the people are becoming.

Visions THRIVE in an environment of UNITY.

Visions DIE in an environment of DISUNITY and DIVISION.

Nehemiah 5:6-19 (pg. 756)

v.6: “When I heard their outcry and these CHARGES, I was very ANGRY.”

v.7: “...I told them, You are charging your own people, INTEREST. So I called together a large meeting to deal with them.”

v.8: “He said, As far as possible WE have BOUGHT BACK our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now, you are SELLING your OWN people, only for them to be sold back to us?”

v.11: “GIVE BACK to them IMMEDIATELY their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them.”

v.13: “At this the whole assembly said, AMEN, and praised the Lord. And the people DID as they had PROMISED.”

Nehemiah didn’t simply have POSITIONAL authority.

v.14: “...when I was APPOINTED to be their GOVERNOR in the land of Judah, ...TWELVE years...neither I nor my BROTHERS ate the food ALLOTTED to the governor.”

v.16: “Instead I DEVOTED myself to work on this wall.”

v.19: “Remember me with FAVOR, my God, for all I have DONE for these PEOPLE.”

Nehemiah had MORAL authority.

This is our goal as followers of Jesus.