What Are You Sad For Today?

What are you sad for?

Nehemiah 2:2 “So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart." Then I was very much afraid.”

A) BURDEN FOR SOULS

B) FAVOR COMES WHEN YOU OBEY GOD AND STICK TO HIM AND HIS PLANS

C) WHEN THE RIGHT TIME COMES:

D) DISCIPLINE AND LEADERSHIP

E) FASTING AND PRAYER

A)BURDEN FOR SOULS: Today people are sad because they: are not married, did not get a promotion, did not get increment, no kids, no money, no friends, no hair, no color, sickness, have rebellious kids and lot more stuff but here in the above scripture we read of Nehemiah who was sad because “the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates were burned with fire." The Bible says that he sat down and wept and mourned for days; and he was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4) Do we have anyone out there who has burden for the lost souls or the people who are drunk, addicted and in deep sin?

We as believers are kept in the midst of this dark period of COVID 19 and a lot more chaos, violence and uncertainty not to relax in the coach and enjoy life but to weep and pray for this world. Yesterday I received a prayer request from our church member whose father had tested positive for COVID and he was worried about his baby daughter who stayed close to his grandfather, the doctors have said that she needs to be tested too, imagine the anxiety. The believers who know the power of Jesus are the only hope for this world, are you listening? David Livingston (1813-73) was a Scottish missionary and medical doctor who went to Africa to spread the Gospel of Jesus, he became the first European to cross the African continent. While there he was attacked by a lion which crushed his arm but David Livingston did not return home to England because the city was full of lions but instead he stayed there and ministered to the poor Africans, such should be your burden for your friends, relatives and colleagues.

Right from the time of lockdown this March, 2020, I have been facing challenges with my teeth and the gums area too, the area which is being used to preach the Gospel was under tremendous pain, I am talking about my mouth area. Already I had done a root canal treatment for one tooth (very painful treatment), treated my gums area for infection but still I was visiting the dentist regularly, during this period, I did not miss my preaching assignments, we have online service daily at 6 pm from Wednesday to Saturday and I was regularly preaching. Now I had done another root canal treatment, which was agonizing for another tooth as well, during my visit to the doctor, I asked him, ‘can you spare two minutes for me?’ he replied’ yes’, immediately I shared my miraculous healing testimony with him and glorified Jesus. I saw this period of pain in my life to share JESUS with a pagan doctor, his soul is more precious that my pain…..

B)Favor comes when you obey God and stick to Him and His plans: verse 4 “Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah did not hastily blabber what was in his mind, but we read that he immediately prayed to the God of heaven. God showers us with favor when we wholeheartedly obey Him! The king gave Nehemiah letters for his safe journey and also letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city." And the king granted them because the good hand of God was on Nehemiah. Say Amen. Never forget that the Hands of God are not shortened, are you listening friend?

After we relocated our ministry and family to a new city Hyderabad from Chennai, one day along with my husband, we fasted for three days without food or water(Esther fasting), on the third day after the fasting, I had some soup and I was doing some work on my computer, during that time I received a message on my chat, “sister what do you want , I am stirred in my heart to bless your ministry”. I said, ‘sow whatever God tells you.” In about five minutes he transferred 49K in intervals ….online, in another two days, he sent 5 lakhs. Our God is awesome, He would do the same for you! This is called favor!

I want to quote the words of Makarand Waingankar, sports column writer regarding Sachin Tendulkar, ‘when two tools – bat and ball become your slave, the world becomes your slave too. But everything comes to an end and when the legend knows, he quietly quits’