COME DOWN OFF THE WALL --- LET'S TALK!!! DISTRACTED AND FRUSTRATED?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Nehemiah 6:3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
Nehemiah 6:3 (MSG) so I sent messengers back with this: "I'm doing a great work; I can't come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?"
HINDER: To make slow or difficult progress, to hold back, hamper, to delay or impede action,
FRUSTRATE: to cause one to feel discouraged, annoyed, angry because they can't do something, to keep from succeeding.
YOU CAN TELL SOMETHING ABOUT A PERSON BY THE UNIFORM THAT THEY WEAR?
If a person is dressed in leather, black leather vest, boots, tattoos we might assume motor cycle?
If a person has on scrubs, a cap with no bill and a stethoscope --- we assume the person is a nurse or a doctor?
If a person has on a green uniform with stripes on the arms, and decked with metals --- we assume soldier?
If a person has shoulder pads, thigh pads, a helmet and a jersey with numbers --- we will assume that is a football player?
If a person is wearing a bullet proof vest, handcuffs, a pistol, a badge and uniform --- we assume this is a law officer?
See we recognize EXTERNALS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS ---
WHAT MARKS OF IDENTIFICATION MIGHT WE EXPECT A CHRISTIAN TO WEAR?
What kind of attitude would we expect?
WHAT SIGNS WOULD WE SEE: Love? Kindness? Understanding? Not judgmental?
CONSIDER? CONSIDER: to think about, to carefully make a choice or decision, to have understanding regarding the consequences of your choices, to be accountable,
Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
WE DIE WITHOUT A SPIRITUAL RENEWAL... GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO ARISE TO BRING ABOUT REVIVAL AND RESTORATION... WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THE ODDS ARE AGAINST US? DOES LIFE EVER LOOK IMPOSSIBLE?
LIFE CAN BE VERY HARD AND DIFFICULT AND FULL OF DISAPPOINTMENTS...
GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO SEE BEYOND THE PROBLEMS TO HEAR HIS VOICE...
GOD NEEDS PEOPLE WITH GODLY TRAITS:
*1. COMPASSION FOR GOD, HIS WORD AND PEOPLE... Do we look for the needs of others? Do we feel the need and desire to help?
*2. COOPERATION, Will we work with others and be helpful?
*3. CONFIDENCE AND COMPLETE TRUST: FAITH, A belief it can be accomplished, A charge of duty, Believe for the good, hope, reliance,
*4. COURAGE TO STAND: To do something that you know is difficult and not easy, mental and moral strength,
*5. COMMITMENT TO FINISH: a promise to do and give, and attitude of support, pledge to help,
We must understand the difference between DEDICATION and COMMITMENT.
Early one morning the rooster crowed and woke up the farm animals. All the animals were hungry. There was a discussion between the hen and the pig. The hen suggested BACON and EGGS.
That was giving and dedication for the hen, BUT THAT WAS TOTAL COMMITMENT FOR THE PIG.
Are you dedicated or ARE YOU WILLING TO BE TOTALLY COMMITTED?
GOD NEEDS YOU! GOD IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER AND LOVE PEOPLE THE WAY THEY ARE AND TRUST GOD TO BRING ABOUT THE IMPOSSIBLE CHANGE.
WILL WE CONSIDER OUR WAYS? AND TAKE CORRECTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION...
God is looking for someone to stand in the gap...
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Ezekiel 22:30 (MSG) "I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn't have to destroy it. I couldn't find anyone. Not one.
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
THERE IS BAD NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT--- THIS IS SO HEAVY IN GLOOM /DESPAIR.
Nehemiah 1:2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them
concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Nehemiah 1:2-4 (MSG) Hanani, one of my brothers, had just arrived from Judah with some fellow Jews. I asked them about the conditions among the Jews there who had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.
3 They told me, "The exile survivors who are left there in the province are in bad shape. Conditions are appalling. The wall of Jerusalem is still rubble; the city gates are still cinders." 4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God-of-Heaven.
GOD IS NOT SURPRISED OR CAUGHT OFF GUARD... GOD'S PLAN WAS USING A CUP-BEARER...
GOD HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES... GOD HAS A PLAN, WE MUST TRUST THE PLAN... YOU ARE THE PLAN...
There just happened to be a young JEWISH man that God had placed with a job in the palace.
NEHEMIAH WAS PROMOTED TO THE JOB OF CUP-BEARER...
Many were out to destroy the KING ARTAXERXES, he had surrounded the throne was a group of loyal supporters. One of these leaders was a GOD APPOINTED MAN --- NEHEMIAH.
God was already at work.
The cup bearer was a position of trust and an adviser to the King.
One of his jobs was to overlook all food preparations and listen for rumors and words and keep the King abreast of information. He also tasted and ate any food that was served to King. So Nehemiah was a trusted friend of the KING and his court.
Nehemiah was a TACTFUL ADVISER TO THE KING --- GOD WAS MOVING WHEN ALL APPEARED TO BE NEGATIVE AND NO HOPE!
ALL THAT APPROACHED THE KING AND HIS THRONE HAD TO WATCH THEIR P's and Q's. EVERYONE HAD THE APPROACH THE KING WITH THE PROPER CLOTHES, ATTITUDES AND WORDS. NEHEMIAH KNEW TO APPROACH THE KING IN JOY... TODAY WOULD BE DIFFERENT...
Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
NEHEMIAH WAS TO HIDE HIS EMOTIONS WHEN HE APPROACHED THE THRONE AND TO REVEAL A HEAVINESS COULD PUT HIS LIFE IN REAL JEOPARDY.
Faith must be brave and take courage.
OUR SOCIETY SO TEACHES GOD OF LOVE THAT WE HAVE LOST ALL FEAR OF GOD AND JUDGMENT. WE MUST HAVE WORKS, THE ODDS ARE IMPOSSIBLE, THIS CAN NEVER BE DONE --- BY HUMAN HANDS --- WE HAVE TO SEE BEYOND GOLIATH AND THE GIANTS THAT MOCK US... THAT GOD CAN USE US! THE BATTLE IS WON AND SUSTAINED BY INTERCESSION...
What you gain by intercession --- YOU KEEP BY INTERCESSION...
NEHEMIAH'S GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS TO GET THE PEOPLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR FAITH BY WORKS... NEHEMIAH AND JAMES CARRIED THE SAME MESSAGE...
James 2:14 (MSG) Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?
HIP, HIP, HOORAY GOD IS MOVING IN A MIGHTY WAY... WE HAVE THE KINGS SUPPORT
AND GOD IS MOVING IN A MIGHTY WAY!!! THANK YOU GOD!!! EVERYBODY IS HAPPY?
WAIT A MINUTE?
Nehemiah 2:17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
THERE IS AN ENEMY TO YOUR WORK OF FAITH... THE DISTRACTIONS COME TO DISTRACT US AND HINDER GOD'S FAITH WORK...
Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
WE MUST REFUSE THE DISTRACTIONS THAT WILL HINDER GOD'S WORK AND HURT GOD'S PEOPLE. IT WAS CLEAR THE NEHEMIAH MUST NOT BE DISTRACTED OR FRUSTRATED...
Ezra 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5. And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
The odds were already against the work, now there are many hindrances and frustrations...
COME DOWN OFF THE WALL AND WE WILL TALK???
WE REFUSE TO COME DOWN OFF THE WALL --- THIS IS GOD'S WORK...?
Nehemiah 6:3 (MSG) so I sent messengers back with this: "I'm doing a great work; I can't come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?"
CONCLUSION: STAY ON THE WALL AND SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO!!! KEEP PUSHING --- PLOD ON... My dad has been in the pastoral ministry 60+ years, he often tells me: PLOD ON...Plod: to make progress when heavily or slowly, but to move forward... MAY NOTHING HINDER OR FRUSTRATE GOD'S WORK.
Nehemiah 6:16 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.
Nehemiah 6:16 (MSG) When all our enemies heard the news and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies totally lost their nerve. They knew that God was behind this work.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
