May 14, 2017 NOTES NOT EDITED
Divine Direction Pt 4—Get Started
Divine Direction Pt 4—Get Started
Nehemiah 1:1-7;
2:1-5, 19-20
Series in a Sentence:
The quality of our lives, and
our eternal destiny depends on making wise decisions, and wise decisions
require Divine Direction
Sermon-in-a-Sentence:
You cannot finish what you never
start, and you will never start until you have faith that God will help you
finish.
In this series titled, “Divine
Direction,” we have been talking about the importance of allowing God to guide
each decision we make as we build the story of our lives. We learned in part one that the most
important question we must ask in regard to Divine Direction is NOT, “what”
should I do, but “Who” should I seek.
God must be the focus of our lives if we are going to find and follow
His direction. Second, we discovered
that Divine Direction is not a matter of trying to “find the missing dot” as we
make decisions, but to apply the Way of Wisdom in choosing between various
options. God will not always tell us
exactly what to do or where to go, but He promises to give us the wisdom to
make godly choices. In part 3, we looked
at some of the particular steps involved in the process of finding and
following God’s Divine Direction. We
learned that we must be willing to deal with a lack of details. We learned that the only certainty in life is
uncertainty and predictable persecution.
Therefore, we must place our complete trust in God. This brings us to part 4. Here, we “Get Started” following God’s Divine
Direction in the next chapter of our life’s story. Here we will learn some specific steps in
taking “the next step.”
When thinking of God’s Divine Direction, a common expression is this: “Where God guides, God provides.” Several theological principles and doctrines are implied in that statement. The most recognizable doctrine is that of “providence.” Providence is not a biblical word. In fact, the Hebrew language doesn’t even have a comparable word to our word, “providence.” Even the Greek language does not a full counterpart. However, the doctrine of Providence, like that of the doctrine of the Trinity (a word that also does not appear in the Bible), has solid biblical support from beginning to end.
Divine Direction, or Providence, can be seen throughout God’s interaction with His Creation. Not only did God create the universe and all that is, but He also maintains it and sustains it. This is sometimes called the doctrine of preservation.
Way back to Adam, God preserved His relationship with Adam by sending them away from the Tree of Life that would have allowed them to live forever in sin. God preserved Noah and his kin by providing a boat to sustain them during the flood. God’s providential care continued through Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the flames of the King’s wrath. God preserved Daniel in the lions’ den. God’s providential care continued right down to the sending of His Son, Jesus. He continued to preserve His people and His creation through the Apostles, and the saints down through the ages. God providential Hand has never been lifted from His creation. The word, “providence,” may not appear in the Holy Text, but examples of it can be seen throughout. Providence is represented by the Divine Direction God provides for our lives.
When thinking of God’s Divine Direction, a common expression is this: “Where God guides, God provides.” Several theological principles and doctrines are implied in that statement. The most recognizable doctrine is that of “providence.” Providence is not a biblical word. In fact, the Hebrew language doesn’t even have a comparable word to our word, “providence.” Even the Greek language does not a full counterpart. However, the doctrine of Providence, like that of the doctrine of the Trinity (a word that also does not appear in the Bible), has solid biblical support from beginning to end.
Divine Direction, or Providence, can be seen throughout God’s interaction with His Creation. Not only did God create the universe and all that is, but He also maintains it and sustains it. This is sometimes called the doctrine of preservation.
Way back to Adam, God preserved His relationship with Adam by sending them away from the Tree of Life that would have allowed them to live forever in sin. God preserved Noah and his kin by providing a boat to sustain them during the flood. God’s providential care continued through Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the flames of the King’s wrath. God preserved Daniel in the lions’ den. God’s providential care continued right down to the sending of His Son, Jesus. He continued to preserve His people and His creation through the Apostles, and the saints down through the ages. God providential Hand has never been lifted from His creation. The word, “providence,” may not appear in the Holy Text, but examples of it can be seen throughout. Providence is represented by the Divine Direction God provides for our lives.
---------------------------------
Have any of you heard any talk about
building a “Wall?” It’s a wall that one man wants to build, many
people oppose him, and nobody wants to pay for it. It’s a wall that will represent one of the
most phenomenal building projects in all history. Of course, most of you are thinking about
Trump’s border wall. He wants to build
it. Many in Congress oppose it. Mexico doesn’t want to pay for it. But . . . I’m not talking about Trump’s
wall. I’m talking about Nehemiah’s
rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.
Nehemiah wanted to build it. The
Amorites opposed it. Thankfully, the
Jews were willing to pay for it.
Nehemiah completed the project in only 52 days under great opposition. The builders had to work with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other. Engineers that have studied this project, completed in only 52 days under the toughest circumstances to be one of the great construction feats in all history.
I often wonder what inspires Trump to want to build his wall, but it was Divine Direction that led Nehemiah to take on this project. Let’s read a few verses that introduce us to Nehemiah and his project.
Nehemiah completed the project in only 52 days under great opposition. The builders had to work with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other. Engineers that have studied this project, completed in only 52 days under the toughest circumstances to be one of the great construction feats in all history.
I often wonder what inspires Trump to want to build his wall, but it was Divine Direction that led Nehemiah to take on this project. Let’s read a few verses that introduce us to Nehemiah and his project.
So, as we come this message titled,
“Getting Started,” I will state the obvious because it is so important: “You
will never finish what you do not start.”
A preacher I admire a great deal says it like this, “It is often the start that stops us.” This is obvious, but it is true.
I learned this lesson in the course of my college and university careers. I learned that he hardest part of writing an essay or a research paper was the first sentence. They call it, “writer’s block.” Sometimes I would be mentally paralyzed for days, even weeks, not knowing how to get started. Often, ti was only the looming deadline and impending grade of “F” for not completing the assignment that gave me the impetus to get started. Then, I usually would write feverishly through the night finishing just in time to turn it in.
It is indeed, “the start that often stops us.” With this in mind, we will pursue this matter of, “Getting Started.” We can never finish what we never start and we will never start until we have faith God will help us finish. Our divine example in this regard will be the great Hebrew leader, Nehemiah. Though not particularly gifted and skilled for the construction job he took upon himself, Nehemiah had great faith—a “spiritual compulsion” as we learned last week—that what God was “guiding” him to start, God would “provide” the means to finish. LET’S READ OUR TEXT TOGETHER: Neh. 1:1-7; 2:1-5.
I learned this lesson in the course of my college and university careers. I learned that he hardest part of writing an essay or a research paper was the first sentence. They call it, “writer’s block.” Sometimes I would be mentally paralyzed for days, even weeks, not knowing how to get started. Often, ti was only the looming deadline and impending grade of “F” for not completing the assignment that gave me the impetus to get started. Then, I usually would write feverishly through the night finishing just in time to turn it in.
It is indeed, “the start that often stops us.” With this in mind, we will pursue this matter of, “Getting Started.” We can never finish what we never start and we will never start until we have faith God will help us finish. Our divine example in this regard will be the great Hebrew leader, Nehemiah. Though not particularly gifted and skilled for the construction job he took upon himself, Nehemiah had great faith—a “spiritual compulsion” as we learned last week—that what God was “guiding” him to start, God would “provide” the means to finish. LET’S READ OUR TEXT TOGETHER: Neh. 1:1-7; 2:1-5.
We
will never finish what we never start and we will never start until we have
faith God will help us finish. Paul had such faith when he
declared (Phil. 1:6)
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Just as Paul was convinced of God’s faithfulness to help us finish, I am also very convinced of another matter: “God wants more of us, from us, and through us than we are experiencing right now.”
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Just as Paul was convinced of God’s faithfulness to help us finish, I am also very convinced of another matter: “God wants more of us, from us, and through us than we are experiencing right now.”
Successfully
discovering and implementing God’s Divine Direction for our lives involves
three integrated parts: a holy
dissatisfaction, a passionate prayer, and an expectant start.
1.
Holy Dissatisfaction (3-4)
Any successful undertaking, whether in business, government, or church, begins with “dissatisfaction.” Success requires change. Change will not happen until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Until we are dissatisfied with the status quo, we will not seek change, and without change we cannot experience anything new or better.
Notice that Nehemiah could no longer accept the state of affairs in regard to his beloved homeland, Jerusalem. For nearly 70 years, the city lay in ruins, the walls crumbled one stone upon another, and the temple destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Only a remnant of people remained in a city that was in shambles. Recall what we read earlier of the report given to Nehemiah by Hanani:
3 They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.” 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Any successful undertaking, whether in business, government, or church, begins with “dissatisfaction.” Success requires change. Change will not happen until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Until we are dissatisfied with the status quo, we will not seek change, and without change we cannot experience anything new or better.
Notice that Nehemiah could no longer accept the state of affairs in regard to his beloved homeland, Jerusalem. For nearly 70 years, the city lay in ruins, the walls crumbled one stone upon another, and the temple destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Only a remnant of people remained in a city that was in shambles. Recall what we read earlier of the report given to Nehemiah by Hanani:
3 They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.” 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Why is our nation is such a state
of decay? We are as divided now as we
were at the height of the civil war.
Most of the time of our representatives in Washington is spent in
court: either defending themselves from
calls of corruption, or trying to impeach the president. What about the state of the Church in
America. 8 out of 10 churches that call
themselves, “Christian,” are in varying stages of death. Where is the “holy dissatisfaction” with
the status quo? Where is the
weeping? Where is the fasting and
praying?
The first step to “Getting Started” is a holy dissatisfaction with the way things are. Have you ever wondered why someone invented the automobile? The answer is quite simple: people got tired of shoveling horse manure. That may be crude, but it illustrates that we never do anything new until we are fed up with the old. Then, this holy dissatisfaction leads us to
2. Passionate Prayer (5-11)
The first step to “Getting Started” is a holy dissatisfaction with the way things are. Have you ever wondered why someone invented the automobile? The answer is quite simple: people got tired of shoveling horse manure. That may be crude, but it illustrates that we never do anything new until we are fed up with the old. Then, this holy dissatisfaction leads us to
2. Passionate Prayer (5-11)
Yahweh,
the God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious
covenant with those who love Him and
keep His commands, 6 let
Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive
to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess
the sins we have committed against You.
Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept
the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what You
commanded Your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among
the peoples. 9 But if
you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles
were banished to the ends of the earth,
I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose
to have My name dwell.” 10 They
are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and
strong hand. 11 Please,
Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the
prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your
name. Give Your servant success today,
and have compassion on him in the presence of this man.
There you have it! Greatness, both personal and corporate, are
as close at hand as your prayers. But the
only way we will ever reach heaven’s heights is from our knees.
If Christian people did not say
grace at their meals, there would be almost no prayer in church life at
all. Notice that “holy dissatisfaction” is followed by “passionate” (notice the emphasis on “fasting”) prayer. Great Christians pray. The story of the movement of Christianity
from Pentecost to today is a story of prayer.
Years ago I read, “We can do great
things after we pray, but we cannot do anything of worth until we pray.”
Let me restate the theme of this
message on “Getting Started.” God wants more of us, from us, and for us
than we are experiencing now; but, we will never finish what we never start and
we will never start what we do not have the faith God will help us finish.
Before we ever experience the greatness God wants for us, we must develop a “holy dissatisfaction” with the status quo, and embark on “passionate prayer” for the move of God in our lives.
The question becomes: “Do you long for God to do more in you and for you?”
Before we ever experience the greatness God wants for us, we must develop a “holy dissatisfaction” with the status quo, and embark on “passionate prayer” for the move of God in our lives.
The question becomes: “Do you long for God to do more in you and for you?”
Here is the practical application
of this four-part series on Divine Direction—How to Discover and Implement God’s
Plan For Us to Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.
3. An Expectant Start
I am not talking about just any new “start,” but I emphasize an “expectant” start. Let me go back to Paul’s confident expression of faith we read earlier: God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
3. An Expectant Start
I am not talking about just any new “start,” but I emphasize an “expectant” start. Let me go back to Paul’s confident expression of faith we read earlier: God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
We
will never finish what we never start and we will never start until we have the
faith that God will help us finish.
So, “getting started” is like receiving some great, new gadget in the mail. Everything needed for that gadget to work and start blessing our lives with delight is in the package. We have dreamed of receiving this package for years, and now it has arrived. If we just sit and admire the package, we can continue to dream about all the delight the gadget COULD bring into our lives, but we will never experience anything but a dream. We must open the package. When we do, we see more packaging with all the independent parts—and, that dreaded book, “The Instruction Manual!” Everything that is needed for us to enjoy that new gadget is in that box. And, all the instructions we need for putting that gadget together is in the Instruction Manual.
This is how it is with God’s Divine Direction for our lives. All we need to put God’s plan for our lives in action, we received when we accepted Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior. That’s why Paul was so confident he could “finish the race,” because He knew God would provide all the resources needed—Where God guides, He always provides!
So, let’s “Get Started” on the glorious plan God has for our lives. The package has arrived.
(1) Dream Big
So, “getting started” is like receiving some great, new gadget in the mail. Everything needed for that gadget to work and start blessing our lives with delight is in the package. We have dreamed of receiving this package for years, and now it has arrived. If we just sit and admire the package, we can continue to dream about all the delight the gadget COULD bring into our lives, but we will never experience anything but a dream. We must open the package. When we do, we see more packaging with all the independent parts—and, that dreaded book, “The Instruction Manual!” Everything that is needed for us to enjoy that new gadget is in that box. And, all the instructions we need for putting that gadget together is in the Instruction Manual.
This is how it is with God’s Divine Direction for our lives. All we need to put God’s plan for our lives in action, we received when we accepted Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior. That’s why Paul was so confident he could “finish the race,” because He knew God would provide all the resources needed—Where God guides, He always provides!
So, let’s “Get Started” on the glorious plan God has for our lives. The package has arrived.
(1) Dream Big
As we learned earlier, the
rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was a massive construction job. It was a “Big Dream!”
Our realization will never exceed
our expectations, but God’s promises always will. The Apostle Paul described how faith in God
is the foundation for Big Dreams, when he said that God “is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).
This is why I said that “I am convinced God wants more of us, from us, and for us than we are experiencing right now.
Would you allow me a moment to share what has been on my heart for the last several years, especially in that last several months. Over the last several years, especially since my heart attack 71/2 years ago, I’ve been consumed with the fact that I’m getting old. I wish it were true that one is only as old as one feels. I feel pretty good. I feel I can still hold my own in a fight, so to speak. But, it doesn’t really matter how I feel. The calendar doesn’t lie. Each birthday reminds me of the passing of time.
There’s a commercial for Viking Cruise Line that says something to the affect, “The only thing we don’t have enough of, is time. Time is the only scarce commodity.” I believe that. Each breath I take, I am one breath closer to taking my last one. Paul tells us, “make good use of time for these days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).
Now that I have completely suppressed the mood and bummed us all out, let me tell you why this is important to me. Forty years ago, in the middle of the jungle on the island of Guam, I had a vision. I hesitate to share this with you, because it sounds “sensational, theatrical,” and quite frankly, “unbelievable.” With nothing but the light of the moon to illuminate my way, I followed what was probably the path of wild hogs, feral cousins of pigs first introduced by the Spanish in the 1500’s for food. I came to a clearing in the brush. Before stood a burning cross. Like the burning bush of Moses, the cross burned but was not consumed. It was perhaps ten to twelve feet high. Whether I saw it with my mind or with my heart, matters little to me. It was a very real encounter with God that made a very real impression on my life.
The feeling of terror and awe that came over me is indescribable. I stayed just a few seconds it seems, and then I ran as fast as I could back to Proteus Point where my submarine was tied up to the Submarine Tender preparing to go to sea. I never shared this story with anybody for years. This is only the third time I have ever shared it. I went to sea for three months. It gave me time, and solitude to contemplate what this vision meant.
When I returned from being submerged for three months, we returned for our regular three month “Rest and Recuperation” in Hawaii. While attending church in the city of Kailua, I surrendered my life to full time Christian service.
I share this story because my dream from that day was to win thousands, perhaps millions to Jesus Christ. I’ve seen many come to Jesus Christ over the last forty years—I think into the thousands, perhaps. But, the dream has not been completely fulfilled. There are many more people to be saved, and I have fewer years to share the gospel.
So, it is that “Big Dream” that still drives my life. Do you have a “Big Dream?” You don’t need a vision on the Island of Guam to have a big dream for God. In fact, it is probably a testament to my lack of faith that God would have to speak to me in such a sensational way.
Without a “Big Dream,” you will never do “Big Things.” You will never understand what Paul meant when he said God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20). My body may be getting old, but my imagination is as good as it has ever been.
Divine Direction requires we “Dream Big.” But, we cannot start big. We must
(3) Start Small
When I think of the massive construction project Nehemiah took on, I am reminded of some words from the prophet Zechariah: Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin (Zech. 4:10)
Nehemiah did not start with a wall, he started with a stone. In fact, he didn’t even start with a stone. The wall that Nehemiah finished was, as I have said, considered to be one of the great construction projects in all of history. Indeed, the walls of Jerusalem were massive.
The exact dimensions are still being argued. The walls were built, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. They were anywhere from 3 to 4 miles in circumference around the city. The average height was about 40 feet and the average thickness about 8 feet. The wall was massive . . . or, whuuuuuuge! as President Trump would say.
This is why I said that “I am convinced God wants more of us, from us, and for us than we are experiencing right now.
Would you allow me a moment to share what has been on my heart for the last several years, especially in that last several months. Over the last several years, especially since my heart attack 71/2 years ago, I’ve been consumed with the fact that I’m getting old. I wish it were true that one is only as old as one feels. I feel pretty good. I feel I can still hold my own in a fight, so to speak. But, it doesn’t really matter how I feel. The calendar doesn’t lie. Each birthday reminds me of the passing of time.
There’s a commercial for Viking Cruise Line that says something to the affect, “The only thing we don’t have enough of, is time. Time is the only scarce commodity.” I believe that. Each breath I take, I am one breath closer to taking my last one. Paul tells us, “make good use of time for these days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).
Now that I have completely suppressed the mood and bummed us all out, let me tell you why this is important to me. Forty years ago, in the middle of the jungle on the island of Guam, I had a vision. I hesitate to share this with you, because it sounds “sensational, theatrical,” and quite frankly, “unbelievable.” With nothing but the light of the moon to illuminate my way, I followed what was probably the path of wild hogs, feral cousins of pigs first introduced by the Spanish in the 1500’s for food. I came to a clearing in the brush. Before stood a burning cross. Like the burning bush of Moses, the cross burned but was not consumed. It was perhaps ten to twelve feet high. Whether I saw it with my mind or with my heart, matters little to me. It was a very real encounter with God that made a very real impression on my life.
The feeling of terror and awe that came over me is indescribable. I stayed just a few seconds it seems, and then I ran as fast as I could back to Proteus Point where my submarine was tied up to the Submarine Tender preparing to go to sea. I never shared this story with anybody for years. This is only the third time I have ever shared it. I went to sea for three months. It gave me time, and solitude to contemplate what this vision meant.
When I returned from being submerged for three months, we returned for our regular three month “Rest and Recuperation” in Hawaii. While attending church in the city of Kailua, I surrendered my life to full time Christian service.
I share this story because my dream from that day was to win thousands, perhaps millions to Jesus Christ. I’ve seen many come to Jesus Christ over the last forty years—I think into the thousands, perhaps. But, the dream has not been completely fulfilled. There are many more people to be saved, and I have fewer years to share the gospel.
So, it is that “Big Dream” that still drives my life. Do you have a “Big Dream?” You don’t need a vision on the Island of Guam to have a big dream for God. In fact, it is probably a testament to my lack of faith that God would have to speak to me in such a sensational way.
Without a “Big Dream,” you will never do “Big Things.” You will never understand what Paul meant when he said God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20). My body may be getting old, but my imagination is as good as it has ever been.
Divine Direction requires we “Dream Big.” But, we cannot start big. We must
(3) Start Small
When I think of the massive construction project Nehemiah took on, I am reminded of some words from the prophet Zechariah: Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin (Zech. 4:10)
Nehemiah did not start with a wall, he started with a stone. In fact, he didn’t even start with a stone. The wall that Nehemiah finished was, as I have said, considered to be one of the great construction projects in all of history. Indeed, the walls of Jerusalem were massive.
The exact dimensions are still being argued. The walls were built, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. They were anywhere from 3 to 4 miles in circumference around the city. The average height was about 40 feet and the average thickness about 8 feet. The wall was massive . . . or, whuuuuuuge! as President Trump would say.
Remember what I have said several
times, “We will never finish what we
never start.” The old Chinese
Proverb says, “The journey of a thousand
miles begins with one step.” This applies to life just as to building
of a massive wall—it begins with the first stone.
I am not suggesting that starting small means “thinking small.” The reason so many churches do not grow—among many reasons—is because people “think small.” I say, “Think Big!” Just start small.
Before you can run, you must walk. Before you walk you must crawl. Before you can crawl you must learn to sit. Think about how you as a parent rejoiced with gladness at your baby’s first step—you know, “The Drunken Frankenstein” walk. You baby got up on his or her wobbly legs, then teetered as if suspended by ropes, and took a step. Boom! Down they went. Did you say, “Why did you fall. You should never have even tried to walk. What kind of idiot are you anyway!” Of course, you didn’t say that. When they took that first little wobbly step learning to do the Drunken Frankenstein, you jumped and clapped and giggled like a little girl—and I’m talking about Dads! Got loves it when we take even the “smallest” step of faith. Though, I’m not sure He giggles like a little girl.
One of my most influential preacher used to say, “Think Big. Start Small. Move with the movers.”
This brings us to the most important element in discovering and implementing God’s Divine Direction for your life:
I am not suggesting that starting small means “thinking small.” The reason so many churches do not grow—among many reasons—is because people “think small.” I say, “Think Big!” Just start small.
Before you can run, you must walk. Before you walk you must crawl. Before you can crawl you must learn to sit. Think about how you as a parent rejoiced with gladness at your baby’s first step—you know, “The Drunken Frankenstein” walk. You baby got up on his or her wobbly legs, then teetered as if suspended by ropes, and took a step. Boom! Down they went. Did you say, “Why did you fall. You should never have even tried to walk. What kind of idiot are you anyway!” Of course, you didn’t say that. When they took that first little wobbly step learning to do the Drunken Frankenstein, you jumped and clapped and giggled like a little girl—and I’m talking about Dads! Got loves it when we take even the “smallest” step of faith. Though, I’m not sure He giggles like a little girl.
One of my most influential preacher used to say, “Think Big. Start Small. Move with the movers.”
This brings us to the most important element in discovering and implementing God’s Divine Direction for your life:
(3)
Take the Next Step! (19-20)
Everything I’ve said so far is to
get you to this point: “taking the next
step.” “God wants more for you than you are experiencing now, but you will
never finish what you never start, and you will never start if you don’t have
faith to take the next step.”
I don’t know who said it first, but
it is a great line: “Inch by inch, anything is a cinch.”
There is also that famous joke, “How
do you eat and elephant . . . [the people answer] . . . one bite at a time!”
Are you dissatisfied with what you have done for God with your life? Does your heart cry out to God to use you more than you could have ever imagined He would use you? In short, are you ready to stand before God—face to face—and give an account of your life?
The answer to those questions should be, “No!” But, the answer can become a “Yes!” Just take the “next” step.
Are you dissatisfied with what you have done for God with your life? Does your heart cry out to God to use you more than you could have ever imagined He would use you? In short, are you ready to stand before God—face to face—and give an account of your life?
The answer to those questions should be, “No!” But, the answer can become a “Yes!” Just take the “next” step.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite,
Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked
and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling
against the king?” 20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give
us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.
Just as a journey of a thousand
miles begins with one step, so building a wall begins with one stone. What is that first stone you need to put down
to begin building a new life with Jesus?
I don’t care if you are 8 or 80—you can take the next step to a glorious
future.
Just follow Nehemiah’s example. Pick up the first stone.
If you are not quite sure what the next step is, continue to pray. Don’t give in to the status quo. Don’t give up on your Big Dream. Maybe, you want to become a consistent giver to God’s work. Start with one dime out of every dollar, every week. Maybe, you want to take a place of leadership in our church. Start by joining a Sunday School, and then perhaps taking a seminary class.
Whatever you do . . . do something. Take the next step!
The story of our lives is written with the pen of our experience dipped in the ink well of our decisions. With as much as our “eternity” at stake, it is absolutely essential to get each and every decision right.
Divine blessing comes from discovering and implementing Divine Direction.
Dream big. Start small. Take the next step.
Just follow Nehemiah’s example. Pick up the first stone.
If you are not quite sure what the next step is, continue to pray. Don’t give in to the status quo. Don’t give up on your Big Dream. Maybe, you want to become a consistent giver to God’s work. Start with one dime out of every dollar, every week. Maybe, you want to take a place of leadership in our church. Start by joining a Sunday School, and then perhaps taking a seminary class.
Whatever you do . . . do something. Take the next step!
The story of our lives is written with the pen of our experience dipped in the ink well of our decisions. With as much as our “eternity” at stake, it is absolutely essential to get each and every decision right.
Divine blessing comes from discovering and implementing Divine Direction.
Dream big. Start small. Take the next step.
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