Keep Going

Ezra 5:9 " Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: 'Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls.'"

So, when you listen for the vision, share the vision, show the vision, give toward the vision, build the vision everything will fall into place, right? Wrong. Be prepared for opposition toward the vision.

Cyrus, King of Persia inspired the people to do this work, to give to this work, but Cyrus was not around forever. Apparently the work took so long that oppositon arose that challenged the work, and King Artaxerxes ordered the work to stop...and it did, for a time.

This is tough. When you think that you have heard from God and share the vision, show the vision, give toward the vision and build the vision and then it stops. This is a time of testing. Was this really God's vision or were we mistaken? That is when you have to go back to the basics. Go back to your foundation. Go back to God. Go back to the vision. "Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: 'who commanded you to build this temple and furnish its walls?" These guys asked the elders to go back to the beginning, back to the origin. What was their purpose? Why were they doing this? Who gave them this command?

Opposition to a vision is inevitable. It will come - count on it. When it does, go back to the beginning. Why are you doing what you are doing? Who told you to do it? If the foundation is solid, if the vision is from God the opposition will be inconsequential. Start over if you have to. Pick up where you left off if you have to.

Listen for the vision, share the vision, show the vision, give toward the vision, build the vision, expect opposition to the vision, revisit the vision. Keep going.