“A man determined”
By
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Nehemiah 6:15-16 “So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard [thereof], and all the heathen that [were] about us saw [these things], they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God”.
A man determined. When I was given this topic to speak upon I tried to figure out which person in the Bible to talk about and there are many, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, John the Baptist, Paul and a multitude of others could be talked about for this message, but has I began going through the Word of God something about Nehemiah just stood out and captured my attention.
Now we all understand that the Bible is a mirror that shows us what we are, how we are to be living, where we should be going, and so forth. But when we look at a particular aspect of the Word of God and a certain situation that literally is exactly what you are going through at the current time, it does something special to you down on the inside. This particular part of history that Nehemiah is living is so similar to what I am going through right now and have been going through for over the past year that it seems like almost my life. I am not saying I am anything special, but when you read the word of God you truly realize that this thing that you are going through, you are not the first one to go through it and it gives you awesome encouragement in knowing that if God did it for them guess what He is going to do it for me also.
Determined/Determination:- According to the dictionary is resolute, staunch, settled, resolved.
Synonyms:- inflexible, unwavering, unmovable, steadfast.
When I think about those words the first thing that comes to mind is the scripture in 1st Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. I want to encourage you to be determined, unmovable, unwavering, and steadfast in the work that you are doing for the Lord because your labor is not in vain.
I want to start this message off by asking a few questions and these questions are one that will cause you to look within yourself and truly cause you to inspect yourself. The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 11:28 “Let every man examine himself…” So the question that I am going to ask you the answers lie with you and no-one else can answer the questions for you because only you know you like you do.
1. Am I willing to live my life for Christ regardless of the cost, regardless of what obstacles may come at me, and regardless of the opposition that I will face from friends, family, and enemies.
2. Are you willing to live the life God has in store for you by putting behind you the old ways, old habits, and comfort zones striving toward the destiny that God has for you.
3. Do you have the determination and stick-to-itiveness to go through to the end because you understand the price that was paid at Calvary’s cross and you realize where you were purchased from.
We are talking about being determined.
Let me give you a little background first. Now to understand Nehemiah you need an understanding of Ezra as well. Understand that the Children of Israel had transgressed against God by turning to idols and God allowed them to go into captivity under the Babylonians. Babylon was the foundation of idol worship and the Children of Israel got enough of idol worship while they were in captivity in Babylon. Well after they had repented God allowed them to return from captivity into the land of Jerusalem. Understand that there were 3 different deportations back to the land of Jerusalem, the first was under Zerubbabel he was a prince, then there was Ezra and he was a priest, and finally Nehemiah who was a servant. The prince and the priest failed to rebuild the wall and cleanse the Temple so God raised up a servant that had determination in order to complete what needed to be done. See you don’t have to be a star in order for God to use you.
Nehemiah basically had it going on. His life was a privileged one because of the position that he held although captive he had it going on. As cup bearer to the great king Artexerxes, he often found himself giving advice to the king, he participated in meetings of all kinds and he was even responsible for the safety of the king. He literally was living the good life, He ate the best meals, drank the best wine was in fact in a comfort zone. I can’t find where he was trained as a brick layer or carpenter, I don’t find any place that he was a perfect man. I don’t know of an instance where he had a degree in architecture, but he had a God given purpose and destiny place upon his life. However, he was going through life and no doubt was comfortable with how he was living, but God had a call on his life, God had a purpose for Nehemiah.
Understand that when God has placed a purpose on your life that purpose is going to take you from what you are comfortable in and place you in an uncomfortable position simply so will learn how to lean and depend upon Jesus. God told Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. The enemy has torn down the wall, there are breeches in the wall and I want you Nehemiah to go and rebuild the wall, I’ll be with you, I’ll never forsake you, and I will hasten my word to perform it. I need you to do this, I got your back but understand that the enemy is going to fight against you, but if you are determined I will give you the victory.
Anybody ever been in a comfort zone and God said move to a place that I will show you. It’s not what you are used to. Things here were good, but there it’s rough, and hard, and it doesn’t seem like it is even possible the things God has said for you to do, but you made up in your mind that I am determined to go all the way through. I had it really good at my father’s church. I was his assistant pastor, I was privileged to certain information, I got to preach quite often, I had responsibilities but nothing to pressure building; it was pretty comfortable there at my father’s church. But God had a purpose for my life and a destiny that must fulfill and I couldn’t fulfill my destiny sat my father’s church.
Well that is what happened to Nehemiah God had a purpose for him and a destiny that he had to reach and he couldn’t reach that destiny in the king’s house, he had to leave his comfort zone and go to the place where God would bring him into his destiny.
So Nehemiah told the king, king I know I work for you and my job here is comfortable I enjoy what I do, but I have a purpose in my life and I am determined that I must fulfill my destiny, so I am asking you king to please let me go so that I may fulfill what thus saith the Lord in my life. I remember when I came to my father and told him what God was doing in my life and what He had told me to do. I said it’s time that I leave my comfort zone and step out and fulfill my destiny.
The king really didn’t want to let him go, but he knew that he could stand in the way of the destiny that God has placed on his life, so the king gave him his blessing and said go. Just like my father did when I told him what God had told me to do, he didn’t want to let me go but he knew that he couldn’t stand in the way of the destiny that God has for me.
But people got jealous of Nehemiah began to talk about him, even tried to conspire to kill, they threatened to fight against what Nehemiah was determined to do. I had people talk about me, I had people say you are fighting a losing battle, but I am determined that I must complete that which God has called me to do, I am doing a good work and I can’t come down.
The people tried to conspire and kill him trying to stop him from fulfilling his destiny, they said Nehemiah just come down and talk to us, but Nehemiah was determined that he had to fulfill his destiny. So he said I cannot come down for I am doing a great work. When Nehemiah refused to come down the enemy said well we will just have to go and fight against him since he won’t come down.
But because Nehemiah and the people with him had a determination to fulfill their destiny, they knew what God had done for them in the past; they understood that if God be for us who could be against us. They knew greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world. So they took in one hand a sword and with the other hand they continued to work building the wall. They were determined to do what thus saith Lord, regardless of the cost. If it would have cost them their lives they were willing to do what thus saith the Lord.
Because of his determination in 52 days the walls were rebuilt. To this day people are astonished about how quick the wall were built. Modern day architects and engineers say that it would take at least a year even with today’s advanced technology to build the wall, but because Nehemiah was determined to do what thus saith the Lord, God blessed him.
He faced false accusation but he was determined.
He had people threaten his life but he was determined.
He left a comfortable position but he was determined.
He was lied upon, but he was determined.
He faced economic hardship, but he was determined.
He was determined to do what God has purposed for him to do.
I want to know today is there anyone that is determined to do what thus saith the Lord.
There is a blessing for those that are determined.
Because of determination Noah and his family were saved from the destruction of the flood.
Because of determination Abraham was called a friend of God.
Because of determination David was able to bring the Ark of the Covenant back into the city of God.Because of determination Jesus endured the suffering of the cross.
Because of determination Paul was able to say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. 2 timothy 4:7-8.
Is there a man determined here tonight.
Pastor Maughmer
