April 25, 2021
Title: It’s not a good time
Intro: the problem w/ distraction: Doctoral work:/ Military
Big: defeating distraction requires us deploy principles born out of a love for God and a desire to see his work progress to its logical conclusion.
A Perspective
With the parameters outlined keenly for us in Proverbs 3:5-6
The goal of everyone seeking the kingdom of God: Matthew 6- Seek ye
The task of those committed to preaching the gospel: 2 Tim 4
The goal of the seeker, disciple, and follower of God… Joshua 1; steward,
The Scripture goal oriented— its sights set on a race run with the end line clearly in view: Hebrews 12__
What we see in Nehemiah is a passion for his God, his places, and his people. (Me)
G.Campbell Morgan, ” The book thrills and throbs & pulsates with the tremendous force of this man’s will.”
And then, there is the opposition:
Sanballat: Anti-Jewish; gov. of Samaria, married the priest’s daughter. Anxious to carve out his career by showing himself loyal to Persian empire.
Tobiah: Married into an influential Jewish family (6:17-19)- Cynical,
Geshem: Arab, more powerful than companions: ruler w/ sons of Arabian tribes. thoroughly pagan. Link: Trans: So, when the work is so important, that it cannot be interrupted … what do we need?
1- CREATE A CULTURE OF PROGRESS.
Progress is the great enemy of those who are against us.
The effort as much as the walls had lain dormant for 141 years.
Creating the proper attitude that channels the need into a platform for success.
It all begins with an assessment of the need and a burden to begin. (chapters 1-2) It requires encouragement, self-sacrifice, and motivation.
A thot!
2- SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
Spiritual discernment is the great asset for those who are willing to spend the time developing it.
It requires an understanding of the world around us and its players.
Nehemiah was battling almost every imaginable test to their wills: -Their morale;
- the intrigue that surrounded those attacks;
- innuendos, that were launched without concern; (6:9)
- and outright intimidation.
The path of discernment resists the temptation of the temple and thereby deprive himself of God’s blessing. His refusal- ensured his continued credibility (6:11), his honor, and his life.
A Quote worth Remembering
“It is
3- AN AUTHENTICALLY GODLY LIFE
The desire to do the right thing and leave the rest to God (5:19; 13:14,22,29,31).
A godly man in his vision, a godly man in his compassion , a godly man in his view of himself, and a godly man who prays: (4:14; 6:9; 4:4)
A COMMITMENT TO CONSISTENCY
Consistency is the great goal for those who discipline themselves to pursue it.
The settled determination to daily unpack his tools and go to work at the mission to which God had clearly called him– whether that involved fending off potential attacks from their enemies outside the walls to the enemies of their own brothers (chap.5)
Illustration: Hank goes to work every day
The problem for our society, our workforce, and even our churches is the absence of consistency in our daily work.
YOUR APPS
Distraction’s greatest ally: Fear. Fear of failure, fear of opposition, and fear of rejection. Thrives on that fear to get us to turn back
Distraction’s greatest need is discouragement: it feeds on it. Elijah is exhausted & discouraged after Carmel and ripe for the distract from the task that followed.
Distraction’s greatest foe is fortitude. It fears the gathering up of our loins that marching forward entails. Esther: if I perish, I perish.
Distraction’s greatest weakness is truth: it lacks truth.
Truth is folks… that:
- God loves us unconditionally
- His son died for us sacrificially
- He walks with us daily: ( cool of the day)
- He keeps us eternally
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