Are you facing any mountains in your spiritual life: doubt, disease, financial problems, fear, anger, relationship problems, a job you want to do for God and the like? This past week we witnessed people struggling with mountains. A number of people in west Texas lost their homes in the teeth of vicious grass fires. A number of families in West Virginia lost family members in a mining accident. Your mountain may not be as large as those but we all face them.
Last week we began a series of studies from the book of Nehemiah. I preached a message entitled “God’s Spark Plug.” I compared Nehemiah to the spark plug that ignites our engines. God used Nehemiah to inspire the Israelite people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. That project lead to a spiritual revival among those people. Once Nehemiah agreed to lead that project things did not fall into his lap. It required effort on his part. It required faith. Nehemiah was willing to face the mountain. He was willing to face the challenge. I want to see what was involved in Nehemiah climbing the mountain of faith and completing the task God laid before him.
I want to share four principles from the life of Nehemiah. These four principles resulted in Nehemiah climbing a mountain in his personal life and for God.
I. Principle one: take a bold step for God. We find this principle in Nehemiah 2:1-8. In verse 1 we read where Nehemiah, who was the king’s wine taster, came before the king to fulfill his job. (Never seek to do God’s will unless you are doing the task set before you at the present.) As Nehemiah came before the king the king noticed him to be sad (vs. 2). The king inquired as to Nehemiah’s sadness. The Bible says Nehemiah became “dreadfully afraid”. This is because such kings had the right of absolute power. He could have Nehemiah put to death at the drop of a hat. In verse 3 we find Nehemiah telling the king the reason for his sadness. In verse 4 the king asked Nehemiah what he desired. At this point we see Nehemiah take a bold step for God. He asked the king (vs. 5) if he can take a leave of absence to return to Jerusalem. Nehemiah makes his request at a time when the queen is sitting beside the king (vs. 6). Bible scholars tell us this was a very special moment between king and queen. Nehemiah requested a leave of absence and he does so in the presence of the queen. In addition, Nehemiah requested letters giving him authority to travel (vs. 7) and authority to cut down trees from the king’s forest to fulfill his building project.
Nehemiah does four things that appear risky but they reflect his willingness to take a bold step for God:
1. He asked for a leave of absence
2. He asked in the presence of the queen
3. He asked for letters of permission to
travel
4. He asked for permission to cut trees from
the king’s forest
If you are going to get into trouble you might as well do it big time. Do not be afraid to take risks. When we step out to do something bold for God we usually face two competing emotions. There is the desire to be bold. However, the human side tells us we are taking a risk.
Illustration- You have heard me say “Babe Ruth was the home run king but he was also the strike out king.” He was bold to swing but he was also bold to take risks.
What bold step do you feel God leading you to take?
1. Accepting Christ?
2. Submitting to God’s will?
3. Sharing your faith?
John Wayne once said “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
(Contributed to Sermon Central by David Hill)
Illustration- Several weeks ago one of our Godly young men shared with men that he had tried fasting for a day. He admitted that it was a struggle. At least he tried!
Illustration- Some of you may have tried teaching a Sunday School class and discovered that you were not gifted for teaching. There is nothing wrong with trying and striking out. At least you tried.
Boldness and risks go hand in hand. Who has ever heard of Harriet Tubman? Her story is an exciting one. She was a runaway slave who was able to get to the north with the help of some sympathetic people both white and black. She was so thankful for the help that she had received that she decided to risk her own life to become a conductor on the famous Underground Railroad. Although she could neither read nor write and was rather frail, she was bold in her efforts to assist escaped slaves in getting safely beyond the Mason Dixon line. In her many years of service, she made nineteen trips and freed over 300 former slaves, including several of her own family members.
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Curt Cizek)
II. Principle two: Expect Challenges. We see this principle in Nehemiah 2:9-10 and again in verse 19. When Nehemiah showed the letters of permission from the king it disturbed the government officials in that region. That must have been a funny sight. The king’s cup bearer comes riding into town. Everyone looks at this stranger and wonders, "who is this guy?" He gets down off of his horse and introduces himself. I am the kings cup bearer. That must have brought a roar from the crowd. But then he pulls out his letters, giving him authority to perform his task. Those letters irritated the government leaders. That was the beginning point of Nehemiah’s challenges. You will find at least ten challenges laid before Nehemiah. Six were directed at the group as a whole. However, the last four were targeted directly at Nehemiah.
Group challenges:
1. They laughed at him (2:19)
2. They ridiculed him (4:1-6)
3. They plotted against him (4:7-9)
4. They discouraged the workers (4:10)
5. They created fear (4:11-23)
6. Some of the leaders were corrupt (5:1-19)
Directed at Nehemiah.
7. Enemies tried to compromise (6:1-4)
8. Enemies tried to slander (6:5-9)
9. Enemies threatened (6:10-16)
10. Secret plots from the enemy (6:17-19)
Anytime you set out to do something for God you can expect challenges. If you set out to serve God you will face challenges. If you commit to be a part of the GROW outreach ministry you can expect challenges. If you sell out to Jesus Christ you can expect challenges.
III. Principle three: Partner with others. We need other people. Notice verse 17-19 of chapter 2. In these three verses we see the personal pronoun used 11 or 12 times. Nehemiah knew he could not do the work by himself. He knew it would take a team effort.
Illustration: F. B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing. F. B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, “I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ. And because He stands, I will never perish.” (Our Daily Bread)
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Lou Nicholes)
In addition he has given us a spiritual family to keep us from falling.
There is great strength when God’s people are united, cooperating and attacking the enemy together. You can do much more for God when you partner with others.
IV. Principle four: trust God for the outcome. Notice chapter 2 verse 20. Nehemiah said “The God of Heaven Himself will prosper us.” The point of Nehemiah chapters 2 and 3 is that Nehemiah stepped out in faith. Humanly speaking he took a risk. He faced his challenges. He partnered with others. Ultimately he left the outcome with God. He knew he was limited in what he could do!
One of the most challenging verses in the Bible is found in Heb. 11. This verse describes the faith of the Old Testament character, Abraham. The Bible says “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Heb. 11:8 Look at that last phrase “not knowing where he was going.” That is what it means to trust God for the outcome. Abraham sets us a good example of trusting God.
Illustration: Every single day we make choices that show whether we are courageous or cowardly. We choose between the right thing and the convenient thing, sticking to a conviction or caving in for the sake of comfort, greed or approval. We choose either to take a carefully thought-out risk or to crawl into a shrinking shell of safety, security and inactivity. We choose either to believe in God and trust him, even when we do not always understand his ways, or to second-guess him and cower in the corners of doubt and fear.
(SOURCE: Bill Hybels, Who Are You (When No One’s Looking)
